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The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. Epileptic seizures (ESs) and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs) are frequently differentially misdiagnosed. This study aimed to evaluate changes in serum cortisol and prolactin levels after ESs and PNESs as possible differential diagnostic biomarkers. Patients over 18 years with ESs (n = 29) and PNESs with motor manifestations (n = 45), captured on video-EEG monitoring, were included. Serum cortisol and prolactin levels as well as hemograms were assessed in blood samples taken at admission, during the first hour after the seizure, and after 6, 12, and 24 h. Cortisol and prolactine response were evident in the ES group (but not the PNES group) as an acute significant increase within the first hour after seizure. The occurrence of seizures in patients with ESs and PNESs demonstrated different circadian patterns. ROC analysis confirmed the accuracy of discrimination between paroxysmal events based on cortisol response: the AUC equals 0.865, with a prediction accuracy at the cutoff point of 376.5 nmol/L 0.811 (sensitivity 86.7%, specificity 72.4%). Thus, assessments of acute serum cortisol response to a paroxysmal event may be regarded as a simple, fast, and minimally invasive laboratory test contributing to differential diagnosis of ESs and PNESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is aimed at developing an economic-mathematical instrumentarium for defining and analyzing the economical effects of combining production systems considering the innovation factor. The publication allocates a complex of the basic and derivative economic effects reflecting influence of the implemented integration processes as separate factors of various nature (rational technological interrelations, innovation activity, aggregate interaction) and their possible combinations on economic results. In order to determine the specified effects in terms of the «costs-output» models, optimization tasks have been formulated that describe the functioning of individual production subsystems, taking attention of the possibility of conducting an innovation activity and their Interaction within a single system. The numerical analysis of the built models was carried out that allowed to identify some specific features of formation of the discussed economic effects. Possible direction of further researches on the given subject can be connected with development of mathematical models reflecting various forms (economic mechanisms) of integration of production systems, and with comparative analysis of efficiency of their implementation.

Background and objectives: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is a significant concern in the elderly population, with stroke being a leading cause of epilepsy in this demographic. Several factors have shown consistent associations with the risk of developing PSE, including cortical lesions, initial stroke severity, younger age, and the occurrence of early seizures. The primary objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) to determine the incidence of PSE and (2) to identify the risk factors associated with PSE in a prospective cohort of post-stroke patients. Methods: A prospective single-hospital study was conducted, involving patients diagnosed with acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The patients were followed up for 2 years (or until death) from the time of admission. Data about seizure occurrence and recurrent stroke were collected. Kaplan–Meyer curves were used for the assessment of PSE incidence and mortality. Possible predictors of PSE and mortality were selected from between-group analysis and tested in multivariable regressions. Results: Our study enrolled a total of 424 patients diagnosed with acute stroke. Among them, 97 cases (23%) experienced early post-stroke seizures, and 28 patients (6.6%) developed PSE. The cumulative risks of developing PSE were found to be 15.4% after hemorrhagic stroke and 8.7% after ischemic stroke. In multivariable fine and gray regression with competitive risk of death, significant predictors for developing PSE in the ischemic cohort were watershed infarction (HR 6.01, 95% CI 2.29–15.77, p < 0.001) and low Barthel index at discharge (HR 0.98, CI 0.96–0.99, p = 0.04). Furthermore, patients who eventually developed PSE showed slower recovery and presented a worse neurologic status at the time of discharge. The in-hospital dynamics of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were significantly worse in the PSE group compared to the non-PSE group (p = 0.01). Discussion: A higher proportion of cases experienced early seizures compared to what has been commonly reported in similar studies. Watershed stroke and low Barthel index at discharge were both identified as independent risk factors of PSE in ischemic strokes, which sheds light on the underlying mechanisms that may predispose individuals to post-stroke epilepsy after experiencing an ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents methods for the accounting of autonomous and induced scientific and technological progress in the Harrod-Domar model of economic dynamics that imply determining the incremental capital/output ratio of the model in the form of special functions of time. As part of the received version of the Harrod-Domar model, on the basis of conditional data there conducted a numerical study of some aspects of the impact of parameters of scientific and technological progress and the initial state of the economy being modeled on peculiarities of corresponding trajectories of its dynamics. A simple economic and mathematical problem of determining an optimal value of investments in the implementation of the induced STP is formulated, and content interpretation of the obtained solution is carried out. Possible directions of development of the obtained results may be associated with the application of the proposed modification of the Harrod-Domar model to build and analyze mathematical models of optimal economic growth in view of the induced STP, as well as with the prospective use of these results to improve dynamic models of the Leontief type in terms of considering innovation processes (scientific and technical progress of various kinds).

Effects of modulation of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors (GR and MR, respectively) on acute neuroinflammatory response were studied in the dorsal (DH) and ventral (VH) parts of the hippocampus of male Wistar rats. Local neuroinflammatory response was induced by administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the DH. The modulation of GR and MR was performed by dexamethasone (GR activation), mifepristone, and spironolactone (GR and MR inhibition, respectively). Experimental drugs were delivered to the dentate gyrus of the DH bilaterally by stereotaxic injections. Dexamethasone, mifepristone, and spironolactone were administered either alone (basal conditions) or in combination with LPS (neuroinflammatory conditions). Changes in expression levels of neuroinflammation-related genes and morphology of microglia 3 days after intrahippocampal administration of above substances were assessed. Dexamethasone alone induced a weak proinflammatory response in the hippocampal tissue, while neither mifepristone nor spironolactone showed significant effects. During LPS-induced neuroinflammation, GR activation suppressed expression of selected inflammatory genes, though it did not prevent appearance of activated forms of microglia. In contrast to GR activation, GR or MR inhibition had virtually no influence on LPS-induced inflammatory response. The results suggest glucocorticosteroids ambiguously modulate specific aspects of neuroinflammatory response in the hippocampus of rats at molecular and cellular levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]