Imaging and biochemical biomarkers of psychiatric comorbidities in a rat epilepsy model

Aims: Biomarkers of epilepsy-associated psychiatric comorbidities represent a powerful tool for an early diagnosis and personalized therapy in patients with epilepsy. Here, in order to identify new candidates as biomarkers of epilepsy comorbidities, alterations in brain metabolic activity and serotonergic neurotransmission in a rat post-status epilepticus model were explored and cross-correlated with alterations in various neurobehavioral and biochemical parameters. Methods: Status epilepticus was induced in twelve female Sprague Dawley rats by lithium chloride-pilocarpine treatment. µPET analysis to determine [18F]FDG uptake and [18F]MPPF binding were performed in the chronic phase of epil…

Observer independent analysis of cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate cerebral glucose metabolism, assessed by 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), using an observer independent analytical approach; and to characterise any observed alterations by correlating them with neuropsychological deficits. Methods: 26 patients (13 female, 13 male) were examined. They all fulfilled the CDC diagnostic criteria for CFS. Their ages ranged from 26 to 61 years (mean (SD) age, 43 (9.3) years). They underwent extensive psychometric testing including the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the short form 36 item health questionnaire (SF-36). Brain FDG-PET was done in a…

Dysarthria and Pathological Laughter/Crying as Presenting Symptoms of Corticobasal- Ganglionic Degeneration Syndrome