Semiology characteristics and location of epileptogenic zone in motor seizures of axial and shoulder girdle muscles assessed by video stereoelectroencephalography study in 65 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the semiology characteristics of motor seizures of axial and shoulder girdle muscles (ASMs) by stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) and its value in determining location of epileptogenic zone. METHODS: A total of 598 patients underwent SEEG assessment in Sanbo Brain Hospital were reviewed; 65 patients with ASMs selected. Thirteen semiology feature items were extracted according to the location and symmetry of involved axial muscles, direction of movement, etc. Seizures were grouped with items, and the k-means was used to analyze association between ASMs semiology characteristics and seizure-onset zone (SOZ). RESULTS: The SOZs of ASMs involved 23 combinations of seven different brain regions: 31 patients (47.7%) had one brain region, 19 (29.2%) had two, 14 (21.5%) had three, and one patient (1.5%) had four. One hundred and fifteen brain regions were analyzed. Seven brain regions accounted for a significant difference in chi-square test, χ2 = 62.79, p < 0.0001, with the highest proportion of insular and perisylvian. The k-means method identified two clusters: cluster 1 had a high degree of agreement with temporal lobe epilepsy (12/15), characterized by less shrug-like movement, later involvement of axial shoulder girdle muscles, longer duration, and lower seizure frequency; cluster 2 had a high degree of agreement with posterior cortex epilepsy (14/18), characterized by earlier involvement of axial shoulder girdle muscles, shorter duration, and higher seizure frequency. In frontal lobe, insular and perisylvian, anterior and middle cingulate gyrus, are the two categories accounted for similar proportion. Seizure-onset lateralized at the contralateral of unilateral cervical tonic, with rate of seizure-free was 73.7%. SIGNIFICANCE: The incidence of ASMs is high in insular and perisylvian. Unilateral cervical tonic seizures have good lateralizing value. Based on semiology characteristics, ASMs can be roughly clustered into two categories, which can only effectively distinguish the origins of temporal lobe and posterior cortex, with low discrimination for the seizure-onset of other lobes.

Semiological characteristics and clinical application value of bilateral asymmetrical tonic seizures / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To illustrate the semiological characteristics of the three sub-types within the broad bilateral asymmetric tonic seizures (BATS),summarize their predictive values on lateralization and localization of seizure onset zone (SOZ),and analyze the difference between BATS and asymmetrical tonic limb posturing (ATLP).Methods A retrospective review of 385 patients who underwent stereotactic electrode implantation in the Sanbo Brain Hospital,Capital Medical University from September 2011 to May 2018 was performed.As long as there was a clinical epileptic seizure in the presence of BATS or ATLP,the patients were classified into the corresponding groups.Postoperative prognosis was assessed using Engel's grading criteria for a follow-up of no less than six months.Seizure descriptions were based on the classification of epileptic seizures introduced by Lüiders,which used arrows to connect the symptoms in chronological order.Results There was no statistically significant difference between the classic BATS and bilateral proximal tonic seizure in terms of whether it could be an independent seizure,as the onset and end of the seizure,with version and generalized tonic-clonic seizure (P＞0.05).Compared with the ATLP,except for whether it could be an independent seizure (P=1.000) and onset before versive seizure (P=0.068),the BATS showed significantly different semiological features (P＜0.05).The classic BATS and secondary motor area epilepsy had a 100.0％ predictive accuracy on the lateralization of SOZ.In the patients with broad BATS,the SOZ distribution was more extensive,but it was rare in the orbitofrontal gyrus,frontal pole and mesial temporal lobe.Compared with the bilateral proximal tonic seizures from the other regions,those originated from supplementary somatosensory motor area and its adjacent areas were rare and showed no statistically significant difference (0/8 vs 40.0％ (18/45),x2=3.226,P=0.072) but a low trend.The predictive value of BATS on lateralization of SOZ was higher than that of ATLP (84.9％ (45/53) vs 57.1％ (24/42),x2=9.086,P=0.003),and BATS was less originated from temporal lobe than ATLP (3.8％ (2/53) vs 23.8％ (10/42),x2=8.523,P=0.004).Conclusion Different from ATLP,the broad BATS are characterized by tonic proximal upper limb posturing,and have a higher predictive value on lateralization and localization of SOZ.

Adipocyte Ceramides Regulate Subcutaneous Adipose Browning, Inflammation, and Metabolism.

Adipocytes package incoming fatty acids into triglycerides and other glycerolipids, with only a fraction spilling into a parallel biosynthetic pathway that produces sphingolipids. Herein, we demonstrate that subcutaneous adipose tissue of type 2 diabetics contains considerably more sphingolipids than non-diabetic, BMI-matched counterparts. Whole-body and adipose tissue-specific inhibition/deletion of serine palmitoyltransferase (Sptlc), the first enzyme in the sphingolipid biosynthesis cascade, in mice markedly altered adipose morphology and metabolism, particularly in subcutaneous adipose tissue. The reduction in adipose sphingolipids increased brown and beige/brite adipocyte numbers, mitochondrial activity, and insulin sensitivity. The manipulation also increased numbers of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages in the adipose bed and induced secretion of insulin-sensitizing adipokines. By comparison, deletion of serine palmitoyltransferase from macrophages had no discernible effects on metabolic homeostasis or adipose function. These data indicate that newly synthesized adipocyte sphingolipids are nutrient signals that drive changes in the adipose phenotype to influence whole-body energy expenditure and nutrient metabolism.

Temporoparietooccipital and parietooccipital disconnection in patients with intractable epilepsy

Objective: To assess the surgical techniques and surgical outcomes of temporoparietooccipital and parietooccipital disconnection. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review of clinical, neuropsychological, EEG, imaging data in 16 patients with intractable epilepsy who underwent temporoparietooccipital and parietooccipital disconnection between April 2008 and October 2011. Of the 16 cases, 12 were males and 4 were females. The age of seizure onset was from 0.1 to 27 years (average 6.6) and disease duration of 0.1 to 18 years (average 7.5). The surgery was performed between the age of 3 and 37 years (average 14.1). Nine patients underwent temporoparietooccipital disconnection, 5 patients parietooccipital disconnection and 2 patient parietooccipital disconnection and temporal lobotomy. Results: After a mean follow-up of 1.6 years (range 0.5–3.9 years), 13 patients (81%) were seizure free, 1 patient had Engel Class II seizure outcome and 2 patient had Engel class III outcome. Two patients exhibited severe brain swelling and one patients had second resective operation with good recovery. None of the patients developed new motor defi cits postoperatively and there was no mortality. Conclusion: Temporoparietooccipital and parietooccipital is a safety and effective epilepsy surgery procedure for patients with epileptic zone localization to the posterior quadrant on one side. The results of surgical disconnection for posterior quadrantic epilepsy have yielded excellent seizure outcomes in 81% of the patients, with no mortality or major morbidity.

Lipid-induced insulin resistance mediated by the proinflammatory receptor TLR4 requires saturated fatty acid-induced ceramide biosynthesis in mice.

Obesity is associated with an enhanced inflammatory response that exacerbates insulin resistance and contributes to diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. One mechanism accounting for the increased inflammation associated with obesity is activation of the innate immune signaling pathway triggered by TLR4 recognition of saturated fatty acids, an event that is essential for lipid-induced insulin resistance. Using in vitro and in vivo systems to model lipid induction of TLR4-dependent inflammatory events in rodents, we show here that TLR4 is an upstream signaling component required for saturated fatty acid-induced ceramide biosynthesis. This increase in ceramide production was associated with the upregulation of genes driving ceramide biosynthesis, an event dependent of the activity of the proinflammatory kinase IKKß. Importantly, increased ceramide production was not required for TLR4-dependent induction of inflammatory cytokines, but it was essential for TLR4-dependent insulin resistance. These findings suggest that sphingolipids such as ceramide might be key components of the signaling networks that link lipid-induced inflammatory pathways to the antagonism of insulin action that contributes to diabetes.