In this chapter, the pathophysiology and neurochemical pathology of epileptic brain damage is discussed on the basis of an integrative approach in which a comparison is made to cell necrosis resulting from ischemia and hypoglycemia. Two main questions are asked. First, is the brain damage resulting from these three disorders of cerebral energy metabolism similar in distribution and structural char

The possibility that neuronal damage due to hypoglycemia is induced by agonists acting on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor was investigated in the rat caudate nucleus. Local injections of an NMDA receptor antagonist, 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid, were performed before induction of 30 minutes of reversible, insulin-induced, hypoglycemic coma. Neuronal necrosis in these animals after 1

Extracellular levels of striatal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine were monitored during insulin-induced hypoglycemia using microdialysis. At the onset of isoelectricity in the electroencephalogram (EEG), a transient 5-fold increase in the levels of GABA occurred. Taurine levels increased 5 min following the onset of isoelectricity and continued to increase during the entire isoelectric perio

Rats were exposed to insulin-induced hypoglycemia resulting in periods of cerebral isoelectricity ranging from 10 to 60 min. After recovery with glucose, they were allowed to wake up and survive for 1 week. Control rats were recovered at the stage of EEG slowing. After sub-serial sectioning, the number and distribution of dying neurons was assessed in each brain region. Acid fuchsin was found to s

During the action of pancreatic lipase and colipase on racemic 1,2-didodecanoylglycerol monolayers in the absence of bile salts, biphasic kinetics was observed under conditions of high lipid packing. Similar kinetics has earlier been reported using phospholipid-emulsified triolein droplets. These kinetics are characterized by a lag time τ(d), dependent on products accumulation at the substrate/wat

The possibility that the noradrenergic locus coeruleus system influences brain damage following ischemia was explored in rats. Bilateral lesions of the locus coeruleus projections to the forebrain aggravated the neuronal necrosis in the hippocampal CAI region and neocortex following complete cerebral ischemia induced by transient cardiac arrest. These findings provide evidence that the postischemi

Unilateral ablations of the motor cortex were performed on rats. One to two weeks following the ablation they were subjected to 30 min of reversible insulin-induced hypoglycemic coma. The levels of glutamate, aspartate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), taurine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and phosphocreatine (PCr) were determined in frozen ti

One of the greatest challenges to the use of probabilistic reasoning in the assessment of criminal evidence is the ‘problem of the prior’, i.e. the difficulty in establishing an acceptable prior probability of guilt. Even strong supporters of a Bayesian approach have often preferred to ignore priors and focus on the likelihood ratio (LR) of the evidence. But to calculate if the probability of guil

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of leptin secretion and functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may be involved in the pathophysiology of suicide. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown interactions between the HPA axis and leptin. There is also evidence for a negative relationship between leptin and anxiety in humans. However, these possible associations have not been studied

In this short article, we describe the energy transition of the Danish island of Ærø to renewable energies.

In this contribution, we discuss the menu of policy regimes available for Iceland. Each regime is evaluated against the characteristics of the Icelandic economy. We start with a short description of the Icelandic economy. We then examine the costs and benefts of alternative monetary regimes. We conclude that no regime Iceland has tried since attaining full sovereignty in 1918 has provided economicIn this contribution, we discuss the menu of policy regimes available for Iceland. Each regime is evaluated against the characteristics of the Icelandic economy. We start with a short description of the Icelandic economy. We then examine the costs and benefts of alternative monetary regimes. We conclude that no regime Iceland has tried since attaining full sovereignty in 1918 has provided economic