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Purpose: To evaluate serum markers of calcium metabolism in adult patients with epilepsy (PWE) treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the effect of vitamin D supplementation on seizure frequency.Methods: Serum levels of calcium, phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) were compared in 160 PWE on chronic therapy with AEDs and 42 matched controls. Blood concentrations were analyzed taking into account the different features of epilepsy and treatment. Finally, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on seizure control was assessed in a subgroup of 48 drug resistant epileptic patients.Results: PWE showed lower serum levels of 25[OH]D compared to control subjects (p < .001). Only 25% PWE showed normal 25[OH]D levels, whereas 41,9% had a vitamin D failure and 33,1% a vitamin D deficiency (p < .001). 25[OH]D serum levels depended on treatment duration, number of medications and enzyme-inducing AEDs (p < .001, p < .001, p = .013, respectively). Polytherapy and enzyme-inducing AEDs showed more detrimental effects on the 25[OH]D and calcium serum levels. The administration of vitamin D failed to significantly improve seizure control.Conclusions: PWE show deficiency of vitamin D. The serum levels of 25[OH]D depend on the features and duration of AEDs treatment. Vitamin D administration in drug resistant epilepsy patients does not result in a reduction of seizure frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The motor cortex can be stimulated transcranially producing excitatory and inhibitory phenomena in muscles controlled by the activated cortical areas. The physiologic bases of these effects are still relatively poorly understood because of the complexity of the interactions between the currents induced in the brain with an intricate arrangement of neural circuits in the cerebral cortex, which is composed of multiple excitatory and inhibitory networks of cell bodies and axons of different size, location, orientation and function. All forms of stimulation of the intact motor cortex tend to produce repetitive discharge of corticospinal neurones; however, different structures of these central motor circuits seem to be preferentially targeted by the available different techniques of stimulation. Direct recording of the evoked corticospinal output has provided important insight into the excitatory and inhibitory phenomena produced by cerebral cortex stimulation. An updated overview of human and animal studies on the physiologic mechanisms of intact motor cortex stimulation is presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents the surface microstructure of Ti and Ti6Al4V alloy irradiated with a high output energy XeCl (λ=308 nm) excimer laser. The treatments are carried out on both materials at two beam fluences and the effects of single- and multiple-pulse irradiation are compared. The results of the scanning electron micro-scopy and of the X-ray diffraction techniques suggest the possible influence of both time-behaviour and energy fluence of the laser pulse on the relative weight of the ablation rate and of the reaction product deposition rate at the sample surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]