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Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide of which one third is refractory to medication. An automated and reliable system that warns of impending seizures would greatly improve patient’s quality of life by overcoming the uncertainty and helplessness due to the unpredicted events. Here we present new seizure prediction results including a performance comparison of different methods. The analysis is based on a new set of intracranial EEG data that has been recorded in our working group during presurgical evaluation. We applied two different methods for seizure prediction and evaluated their performance pseudoprospectively. The comparison of this evaluation with common statistical evaluation reveals possible reasons for overly optimistic estimations of the performance of seizure forecasting systems.

To cite this article: Chen LY, Eberlein M, Alsaaty S, Martinez-Anton A, Barb J, Munson PJ, Danner RL, Liu Y, Logun C, Shelhamer JH, Woszczek G. Cooperative and redundant signaling of leukotriene B4 and leukotriene D4 in human monocytes. Allergy 2011; 66: 1304-1311. Abstract Background: Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are important immune mediators, often found concomitantly at sites of inflammation. Although some of the leukotriene-mediated actions are distinctive (e.g., bronchial constriction for cysLTs), many activities such as leukocyte recruitment to tissues and amplification of inflammatory responses are shared by both classes of leukotrienes. Objective: We used human monocytes to characterize leukotriene-specific signaling, gene expression signatures, and functions and to identify interactions between LTB4- and cysLTs-induced pathways. Methods: Responsiveness to leukotrienes was assessed using oligonucleotide microarrays, real-time PCR, calcium mobilization, kinase activation, and chemotaxis assays. Results: Human monocytes were found to express mRNA for high- and low-affinity LTB4 receptors, BLT1 and BLT2, but signal predominantly through BLT1 in response to LTB4 stimulation as shown using selective agonists, inhibitors, and gene knock down experiments. LTB4 acting through BLT1 coupled to G-protein α inhibitory subunit activated calcium signaling, p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase, gene expression, and chemotaxis. Twenty-seven genes, including immediate early genes (IEG), transcription factors, cytokines, and membrane receptors were significantly up-regulated by LTB4. LTB4 and LTD4 had similar effects on signaling, gene expression, and chemotaxis indicating redundant cell activation pathways but costimulation with both lipid mediators was additive for many monocyte functions. Conclusion: Leukotriene B4 and LTD4 display both redundant and cooperative effects on intracellular signaling, gene expression, and chemotaxis in human monocytes. These findings suggest that therapies targeting either leukotriene alone may be less effective than approaches directed at both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a research project, a new hybrid forming process for ultrathin three-dimensional glass elements was developed. In a continuous process chain, the three-part procedure enables large-area gravity-assisted bending of thin glass, partial deep-drawing of individual small structures using CO2 laser radiation and cutting of flexible inner and outer contours. Using an experimental setup with a laser scanning system, novel component designs can be generated in a highly flexible and reproducible manner. This can open up new application fields or expand existing ones, for example in the area of cover glasses for display technology.