Genetics of epilepsy: epilepsy research foundation workshop report.

The Sixth Epilepsy Research Foundation workshop, held in Oxford in March 2006, brought together basic scientists, geneticists, epidemiologists, statisticians, pharmacologists and clinicians to consider progress, issues and strategies for harnessing genetics to improve the understanding and treatment of the epilepsies. General principles were considered, including the fundamental importance of clear study design, adequate patient numbers, defi ned phenotypes, robust statistical data handling, and follow-up of genetic discoveries. Topics where some progress had been made were considered including chromosomal abnormalities, neurodevelopment, hippocampal sclerosis, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, focal cortical dysplasia and pharmacogenetics. The ethical aspects of epilepsy genetics were reviewed. Principles and limitations of collaboration were discussed. Presentations and their matched discussions are produced here. There was optimism that further genetic research in epilepsy was not only feasible, but might lead to improvements in the lives of people with epilepsy.     

Bacterial meningitis in the first three months of life.

A retrospective study of infants with bacterial meningitis admitted to our hospital during 1949-52, highlighted the lack of ''classical'' signs of meningitis in these infants. We carried out a similar review of 44 infants aged less than three months, admitted during 1982-91. We also determined the causative organisms and their antibiotic sensitivities. Symptoms and signs were similar in the two series. Forty infants in the later series were either febrile, irritable or had seizures on the day of admission. Overall mortality fell from 30% to 11%. Between 1982 and 1991 Group B Streptocococcus and Neisseria meningitidis were the commonest causes of meningitis. All organisms, except one, were sensitive to ampicillin and/or cefotaxime. Bacterial meningitis should be suspected in young infants who are febrile, irritable or having seizures. Initial treatment with ampicillin and cefotaxime is appropriate.     

Inhibition of 2-nitropropane-induced rat liver DNA and RNA damage by benzyl selenocyanate

We observed that pretreatment of male F344 rats with benzyl selenocyanate, a versatile organoselenium chemopreventive agent in several animal model systems, decreases the levels of DNA and RNA modifications produced in the liver by the hepatocarcinogen 2- nitropropane. To clarify the mechanisms involved, we pretreated male F344 rats with either benzyl selenocyanate, its sulfur analog benzyl thiocyanate, phenobarbital or cobalt protoporphyrin IX; the latter is a depletor of P450. We then determined (1) the ability of liver microsomes to denitrify 2-nitropropane, (2) effects on 2-nitropropane- induced liver DNA and RNA modifications and (3) amount of nitrate excreted in rat urine following administration of the carcinogen. Pretreatment with benzyl selenocyanate or phenobarbital increased the denitrification activity of liver microsomes by 217 and 765%, respectively, increased liver P4502B1 by 31- and 435-fold, respectively, decreased the levels of 2-nitropropane-induced modifications in liver DNA (29-70% and 17-30%, respectively) and RNA (67-85% and 30-50%, respectively), and increased the 24-h urinary excretion of nitrate by 157 and 209%, respectively. Pretreatment with benzyl thiocyanate had no significant effect on any of these parameters. Pretreatment with cobalt protoporphyrin IX decreased liver P4502B 1 by 87%, decreased the denitrification activity of liver microsomes by 76%, decreased the 24 h urinary excretion of nitrate by 88.5%, but increased the extent of 2-nitropropane-induced liver nucleic acid modifications by 17-67%. These results indicate that the metabolic sequence from 2-nitropropane to the reactive species causing DNA and RNA modifications does not involve the removal of the nitro group. Moreover, they suggest that benzyl selenocyanate inhibits 2-NP-induced liver nucleic acid modifications in part by increasing its detoxication through induction of denitrification, although it is evident that other mechanisms must also be involved.      

Mutations of ras protooncogenes and p53 tumor suppressor gene in cardiac hemangiosarcomas from B6C3F1 mice exposed to 1,3-butadiene for 2 years

1,3-Butadiene is a multisite carcinogen in rodents. Incidences of cardiac hemangiosarcomas were significantly increased in male and female B6C3F1 mice that inhaled 1,3-butadiene (BD) for 2 years. Eleven BD-induced cardiac hemangiosarcomas were examined for genetic alterations in ras protooncogenes and in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Nine of 11 (82%) BD-induced hemangiosarcomas had K-ras mutations and 5 of 11 (46%) had H-ras mutations. All of the K-ras mutations were G-->C transversions (GGC-->CGC) at codon 13; this pattern is consistent with reported results in BD-induced lung neoplasms and lymphomas. Both K-ras codon 13 CGC mutations and H-ras codon 61 CGA mutations were detected in 5 of 9 (56%) hemangiosarcomas. The 11 hemangiosarcomas stained positive for p53 protein by immunohistochemistry and were analyzed for p53 mutations using cycle sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA isolated from paraffin-embedded sections. Mutations in exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene were identified in 5 of 11 (46%) hemangiosarcomas, and all of these were from the 200- or 625-ppm exposure groups that also had K-ras codon 13 CGC mutations. Our data indicate that K-ras, H-ras, and p53 mutations in these hemangiosarcomas most likely occurred as a result of the genotoxic effects of BD and that these mutations may play a role in the pathogenesis of BD-induced cardiac hemangiosarcomas in the B6C3F1 mouse.     

Contribution of magnetic resonance microscopy in the 12-week neurotoxicity evaluation of carbonyl sulfide in Fischer 344 rats

In this carbonyl sulfide (COS) study, magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) and detailed light microscopic evaluation effectively functioned in parallel to assure that the distribution and degree of pathology in the brain was accurately represented. MRM is a powerful imaging modality that allows for excellent identification of neuroanatomical structures coupled with the ability to acquire 200 or more cross-sectional images of the brain, and the ability to display them in multiple planes. F344 rats were exposed to 200-600 ppm COS for up to 12 weeks. Prior to MRM, rats were anesthetized and cardiac perfused with McDowell Trump's fixative containing a gadolinium MR contrast medium. Fixed specimens were scanned at the Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy on a 9.4 Tesla magnetic resonance system adapted explicitly for microscopic imaging. An advantage of MRM in this study was the ability to identify lesions in rats that appeared clinically normal prior to sacrifice and the opportunity to identify lesions in areas of the brain which would not be included in conventional studies. Other advantages include the ability to examine the brain in multiple planes (transverse, dorsal, sagittal) and obtain and save the MRM images in a digital format that allows for postexperimental data processing and manipulation. MRM images were correlated with neuroanatomical and neuropathological findings. All suspected MRM images were compared to corresponding H&E slides. An important aspect of this study was that MRM was critical in defining our strategy for sectioning the brain, and for designing mechanistic studies (cytochrome oxidase evaluations) and functional assessments (electrophysiology studies) on specifically targeted anatomical sites following COS exposure.