Brief activation of GABAergic interneurons initiates the transition to ictal events through post-inhibitory rebound excitation.

Activation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptors have been associated with the onset of epileptiform events. To investigate if a causal relationship exists between GABAA receptor activation and ictal event onset, we activated inhibitory GABAergic networks in the superficial layer (2/3) of the somatosensory cortex during hyperexcitable conditions using optogenetic techniques in mice expressing channelrhodopsin-2 in all GABAergic interneurons. We found that a brief 30ms light pulse reliably triggered either an interictal-like event (IIE) or ictal-like ("ictal") event in the in vitro cortical 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) slice model. The link between light pulse and epileptiform event onset was lost following blockade of GABAA receptors with bicuculline methiodide. Additionally, recording the chronological sequence of events following a light pulse in a variety of configurations (whole-cell, gramicidin-perforated patch, and multi-electrode array) demonstrated an initial hyperpolarization followed by post-inhibitory rebound spiking and a subsequent slow depolarization at the transition to epileptiform activity. Furthermore, the light-triggered ictal events were independent of the duration or intensity of the initiating light pulse, suggesting an underlying regenerative mechanism. Moreover, we demonstrated that brief GABAA receptor activation can initiate ictal events in the in vivo 4-AP mouse model, in another common in vitro model of epileptiform activity, and in neocortical tissue resected from epilepsy patients. Our findings reveal that the synchronous activation of GABAergic interneurons is a robust trigger for ictal event onset in hyperexcitable cortical networks.

Differential expression of astrocytic connexins in a mouse model of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Maternal alcohol consumption during gestation can cause serious injury to the fetus, and may result in a range of physiological and behavioral impairments, including increased seizure susceptibility, that are collectively termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The cellular mechanisms underlying increased seizure susceptibility in FASD are not well understood, but could involve altered excitatory coupling of neuronal populations mediated by gap junction proteins. We utilized a mouse model of the prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) to study the expression pattern of connexin (Cx) major components of gap junctions, and pannexin proteins, which form membrane channels, in the brain of 2-3weeks old PAE and control postnatal offspring. PAE during the first trimester-equivalent period of pregnancy in mice resulted in significant up-regulation of Cx30 mRNA and Cx30 total protein in the hippocampus of PAE animals compared to age-matched controls. Surface level expression of both dimeric and monomeric Cx30 were also found to be significantly up-regulated in both hippocampus and cerebral cortex of PAE animals compared to age-matched controls. On the membrane surface, the fast migrating form of Cx43 was found to be up-regulated in the hippocampus of PAE mice. However, we did not see any up-regulation of the phosphorylated forms of Cx43 on the membrane surface. These results indicate that the expression and processing of astrocytic connexins (Cx30, Cx43) are up-regulated in the brain of PAE offspring, and these changes could play a role in the cerebral hyperexcitability observed in these animals.

Hippocampal hyperexcitability in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Pathological sharp waves and excitatory/inhibitory synaptic imbalance.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can lead to long-lasting neurological alterations that may predispose individuals to seizures and neurobehavioral dysfunction. To date, there exists limited information regarding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The hippocampal CA3 region generates excitatory population activity, called sharp waves (SPWs), that provide an ideal model to study perturbations in neuronal excitability at the network and cellular levels. In the present study, we utilized a mouse model of PAE and used dual extracellular and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cells to evaluate the effect of 1st trimester-equivalent ethanol exposure (10% v/v) on SPW activity and excitatory/inhibitory balance. We observed that PAE significantly altered in vitro SPW waveforms, with an increased duration and amplitude, when compared to controls. In addition, PAE slices exhibited reduced pharmacological inhibition by the GABA-A receptor antagonist bicuculline (BMI) on SPW activity, and increased population spike paired-pulse ratios, all indicative of network disinhibition within the PAE hippocampus. Evaluation of PAE CA3 pyramidal cell activity associated with SPWs, revealed increased action potential cell firing, which was accompanied by an imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory synaptic drive, shifted in favor of excitation. Moreover, we observed intrinsic changes in CA3 pyramidal activity in PAE animals, including increased burst firing and instantaneous firing rate. This is the first study to provide evidence for hippocampal dysfunction in the ability to maintain network homeostasis and underlying cellular hyperexcitability in a model of PAE. These circuit and cellular level alterations may contribute to the increased propensity for seizures and neurobehavioral dysfunction observed in patients with a history of PAE.

Roles of gap junctions, connexins, and pannexins in epilepsy.

Enhanced gap junctional communication (GJC) between neurons is considered a major factor underlying the neuronal synchrony driving seizure activity. In addition, the hippocampal sharp wave ripple complexes, associated with learning and seizures, are diminished by GJC blocking agents. Although gap junctional blocking drugs inhibit experimental seizures, they all have other non-specific actions. Besides interneuronal GJC between dendrites, inter-axonal and inter-glial GJC is also considered important for seizure generation. Interestingly, in most studies of cerebral tissue from animal seizure models and from human patients with epilepsy, there is up-regulation of glial, but not neuronal gap junctional mRNA and protein. Significant changes in the expression and post-translational modification of the astrocytic connexin Cx43, and Panx1 were observed in an in vitro Co(++) seizure model, further supporting a role for glia in seizure-genesis, although the reasons for this remain unclear. Further suggesting an involvement of astrocytic GJC in epilepsy, is the fact that the expression of astrocytic Cx mRNAs (Cxs 30 and 43) is several fold higher than that of neuronal Cx mRNAs (Cxs 36 and 45), and the number of glial cells outnumber neuronal cells in mammalian hippocampal and cortical tissue. Pannexin expression is also increased in both animal and human epileptic tissues. Specific Cx43 mimetic peptides, Gap 27 and SLS, inhibit the docking of astrocytic connexin Cx43 proteins from forming intercellular gap junctions (GJs), diminishing spontaneous seizures. Besides GJs, Cx membrane hemichannels in glia and Panx membrane channels in neurons and glia are also inhibited by traditional gap junctional pharmacological blockers. Although there is no doubt that connexin-based GJs and hemichannels, and pannexin-based membrane channels are related to epilepsy, the specific details of how they are involved and how we can modulate their function for therapeutic purposes remain to be elucidated.

Surname lists to identify South Asian and Chinese ethnicity from secondary data in Ontario, Canada: a validation study.

BACKGROUND: Surname lists are useful for identifying cohorts of ethnic minority patients from secondary data sources. This study sought to develop and validate lists to identify people of South Asian and Chinese origin. METHODS: Comprehensive lists of South Asian and Chinese surnames were reviewed to identify those that uniquely belonged to the ethnic minority group. Surnames that were common in other populations, communities or ethnic groups were specifically excluded. These surname lists were applied to the Registered Persons Database, a registry of the health card numbers assigned to all residents of the Canadian province of Ontario, so that all residents were assigned to South Asian ethnicity, Chinese ethnicity or the General Population. Ethnic assignment was validated against self-identified ethnicity through linkage with responses to the Canadian Community Health Survey. RESULTS: The final surname lists included 9,950 South Asian surnames and 1,133 Chinese surnames. All 16,688,384 current and former residents of Ontario were assigned to South Asian ethnicity, Chinese ethnicity or the General Population based on their surnames. Among 69,859 respondents to the Canadian Community Health Survey, both lists performed extremely well when compared against self-identified ethnicity: positive predictive value was 89.3% for the South Asian list, and 91.9% for the Chinese list. Because surnames shared with other ethnic groups were deliberately excluded from the lists, sensitivity was lower (50.4% and 80.2%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These surname lists can be used to identify cohorts of people with South Asian and Chinese origins from secondary data sources with a high degree of accuracy. These cohorts could then be used in epidemiologic and health service research studies of populations with South Asian and Chinese origins.

A combination of micronutrients is beneficial in reducing the incidence of prostate cancer and increasing survival in the Lady transgenic model.

We have previously shown that administration of a combination of micronutrients (selenium, vitamin E, and lycopene) inhibits prostate cancer (PCa) development in the Lady transgenic model. In the present study, we examine timing of initiation of micronutrients, and the effect of micronutrient combinations, on PCa development in Lady transgenic model. Transgenic males were randomized to either a control diet; control diet supplemented with human equivalent doses of vitamin E, selenium, and lycopene (E+S+L); or control diet supplemented with vitamin E and selenium (E+S). In separate experiments, the combination of E+S+L was initiated at varying time points (4, 8, 20, and 36 weeks of age). A combination of E+S+L resulted in a significant reduction in PCa and liver metastasis when intervention was commenced within 8 weeks of age (P < 0.0001). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a strong correlation between disease-free state with up-regulation of the prognostic marker p27(Kip1) (P < 0.0001) and decreased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and significantly increased apoptotic index (P < 0.0001). On the contrary, a combination of E+S was not effectual in preventing PCa, with a high proportion (84.6%) of animals developing PCa and a small proportion (11.5%) developing high-grade PIN. Early commencement of micronutrients (E+S+L) is beneficial in reducing PCa. Lycopene is an essential component of the combination and effective (when used with E+S) for PCa prevention. These observations provide support for their chemopreventive effect and some clues about their mechanism of action. These key findings will be complementary to the outcome from the Selenium and Vitamin E Chemoprevention Trial.

Embolization before radiosurgery reduces the obliteration rate of arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the arteriovenous malformation (AVM) obliteration rate and the clinical outcome after radiosurgery in patients with and without previous embolization. METHODS: Of 244 patients who underwent linear accelerator radiosurgery for AVMs at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre between 1989 and 2000, 61 patients had embolization before radiosurgery and complete follow-up for at least 3 years. For 47 of these 61 patients (Group A, embolization plus radiosurgery), we were able to find 47 matching patients without previous embolization (Group B, radiosurgery alone). This group of matching patients had the same AVM volume (after embolization in Group A), location, and marginal dose. The radiosurgery-based AVM score and the obliteration prediction index were calculated. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 44 months. Nidus obliteration was achieved in 22 patients in Group A (47%) and 33 patients in Group B (70%, P = 0.036). Permanent deficit related to hemorrhage or radiation occurred in three patients (6%) in Group A and three patients (6%) in Group B. During the first 3 years after radiosurgery, two patients (4%) in Group A experienced hemorrhage; in Group B, five patients (11%) experienced hemorrhage (P = 0.2). In Group B, two patients (4%) died and two patients (4%) had their AVM surgically removed. Both deaths were related to hemorrhage during the latency period. The excellent outcome (obliteration plus no deficit) in Group A was 47% compared with 64% in Group B (P = 0.146). There was no difference in the obliteration prediction index and the radiosurgery-based AVM score between Groups A and B. The predicted rates of obliteration and excellent outcome were 55 and 62.5%, respectively, according to the obliteration prediction index and the radiosurgery-based AVM score. CONCLUSION: Embolization before radiosurgery significantly decreases the obliteration rate, even in AVMs with the same volume, location, and marginal dose. Although an excellent outcome rate was higher in the group without embolization, this was not statistically significant.

Radiosurgical treatment for rolandic arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECT: The authors reviewed the radiosurgical outcomes in patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) located in the rolandic area, including the primary motor and sensory gyri. METHODS: The study population consisted of 38 patients with rolandic-area AVMs who underwent linear accelerator radiosurgery at the University of Toronto between 1989 and 2000. Obliteration rate, risk of hemorrhage during the latency period, radiation-induced complications, seizure control, and functional status were evaluated. Patients were also divided into two subgroups according to AVM volume (< 3 cm3 and > or = 3 cm3). Patients were followed up for a median of 42.4 months (range 30-103 months), and the median age of the patients was 40 years (range 12-67 years). The median AVM volume was 8.1 cm3 (range 0.32-21, mean 8.32 cm3), and the median dose at the tumor margin was 15 Gy (range 15-22, mean 16.8 Gy). The risk of hemorrhage after radiosurgery was 5.3% for the 1st year, 2.6% for the 2nd, and 0% for the 3rd. Two patients (5.3%) sustained adverse effects related to radiation for more than 6 months. Complete nidus obliteration after a single radiosurgical treatment was achieved in 23 patients (60.5%). The obliteration rate for AVMs smaller than 3 cm3 was 83.3% (10 of 12) and that for AVMs larger than or equal to 3 cm3 was 50% (13 of 26). Among the patients who had seizures as the initial presentation, 51.8% were free of seizures after radiosurgery and the seizure pattern improved in 40.7% during the 3rd and last year of follow up. Overall, excellent results (obliteration and no new or worsening neurological deficit) can be achieved in approximately 60% of patients. This percentage varies according to the AVM size and can reach 83% in patients with AVMs smaller than 3 cm3. CONCLUSIONS: Radiosurgery is a safe and effective treatment for people with rolandic AVMs. The low rate of morbidity associated with radiosurgery, compared with other treatments, indicates that this method may be the first choice for patients with AVMs located in this area.

Testing the radiosurgery-based arteriovenous malformation score and the modified Spetzler-Martin grading system to predict radiosurgical outcome.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to validate the radiosurgery-based arteriovenous malformation (AVM) score and the modified Spetzler-Martin grading system to predict radiosurgical outcome. METHODS: One hundred thirty-six patients with brain AVMs were randomly selected. These patients had undergone a linear accelerator radiosurgical procedure at a single center between 1989 and 2000. Patients were divided into four groups according to an AVM score, which was calculated from the lesion volume, lesion location, and patient age (Group 1, AVM score <1; Group 2, AVM score 1-1.49; Group 3, AVM score 1.5-2; and Group 4, AVM score >2). Patients with a Spetzler-Martin Grade III AVM were divided into Grades IIIA (lesion >3 cm) and IIIB (lesion <3 cm). Sixty-two female (45.6%) and 74 male (54.4%) patients with a median age of 37.5 years (mean 37.5 years, range 5-77 years) were followed up for a median of 40 months. The median tumor margin dose was 15 Gy (mean 17.23 Gy, range 15-25 Gy). The proportions of excellent outcomes according to the AVM score were as follows: 91.7% for Group 1, 74.1% for Group 2, 60% for Group 3, and 33.3% for Group 4 (chi-square test, degrees of freedom (df) = 3, p < 0.001). Based on the modified Spetzler-Martin system, Grade I lesions had 88.9% excellent results; Grade II, 69.6%; Grade IIIB, 61.5%; and Grades IIIA and IV, 44.8% (chi-square test, df = 3, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The radiosurgery-based AVM score can be used accurately to predict excellent results following a single radiosurgical treatment for AVM. The modified Spetzler-Martin system can also predict radiosurgical results for AVMs, thus making it possible to use this system while deciding between surgery and radiosurgery.