SUMMARYPurpose: In the surgical treatment of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, there is converging evidence that individually tailored or selective approaches have a favorable cognitive outcome compared to standard resections. There is, however, also evidence that due to collateral damage, selective surgery can be less selective than suggested. As part of a prospective transregional research project the present study evaluated the outcome in memory and nonmemory functions, following two selective approaches: a combined temporal pole resection with amygdalohippocampectomy ( Surgical treatment of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is an efficient and well-established method. A recent meta-analysis reports a significantly improved seizure sit-

We have characterized two previously cloned genes, F1 and F2 (1) that code for elongation factor EF - 1 alpha of Drosophila melanogaster. Genomic Southern blot hybridization revealed that they are the only gene copies present. We isolated cDNA clones of both transcripts from embryonal and pupal stage of development that cover the entire transcription unit. The 5' ends of both genes have been determined by primer extension and for F1 also by RNA sequencing. These start sites have been shown to be used consistently during development. Comparison of cDNA and genomic sequences revealed that EF - 1 alpha,F1 consists of two and EF - 1 alpha,F2 of five exons. The two described elongation factor genes exhibit several regions of strong sequence conservation when compared to five recently cloned eucaryotic elongation factors.

Cancer, cirrhosis and radiation therapy were predictors of infection. Post-PEG bleeding and other complications were rare events. Collectively, the data suggested that patients taking concurrent anticoagulants had no elevated risk of post-PEG bleeding.

We analysed the influence of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy on the thickness of the corpus callosum (CC) in a large sample of well-characterized patients (n = 96) and healthy controls (n = 28). In particular, we investigated whether callosal structures are differentially affected depending on the affected hemisphere and age of epilepsy onset. Overall, we observed that epilepsy is associated with a decreased thickness in posterior callosal regions. Patients with an early onset, especially patients with left onset, additionally exhibited a smaller callosal thickness in more anterior and midbody regions. These findings may reflect non-specific as well as specific effects of temporal lobe epilepsy on CC development and interhemispheric connectivity.

Background/Aims: Severe lung injury, responsible for up to 15% of mortality in acute necrotizing pancreatitis patients, is promoted by neutrophil (PMN) migration into the lung. We have previously demonstrated that pulmonary injury in acute pancreatitis is mediated by PMN-derived matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor doxycycline to prevent secondary pulmonary injury in acute pancreatitis. Methods: Eighteen rats were randomized into three groups: severe pancreatitis (SAP), severe pancreatitis + doxycycline (SAP+Dox) (30 mg/kg body mass) or control. Acute pancreatitis was induced by intraductal glycodesoxycholic acid and i.v. stimulation with cerulein. Lung sections were histologically graded for edema, microthrombi, atelectasis and hemorrhage. Active MMP-9 in lung tissue was measured with fluorescent assay (ELISA). Naphtol-AS-D-chloroacetate esterase staining was used to determine pulmonary PMN infiltration. The inhibitory effect of doxycycline on MMP-9-induced transmigration was confirmed in a Matrigel transmigration assay. Results: Addition of doxycycline significantly reduced TNF-α-induced PMN transmigration across Matrigel membrane (12.6 ± 2.6 vs. 20.1 ± 3.9 PMNs; p < 0.05). SAP+Dox showed decreased concentration of active MMP-9 in lung tissue (37.89 ± 1.75 vs. 46.29 ± 3.68 ng/ml; p < 0.05) and as a result decreased pulmonary infiltration of PMNs (21.2 ± 5.1 vs. 32.5 ± 6.8; p < 0.05). Histological evaluation revealed decreased pulmonary edema (1.83 ± 0.41 vs. 2.33 ± 0.51, p < 0.05), atelectasis (1.67 ± 0.52 vs. 2.33 ± 0.52; p < 0.05) and pulmonary hemorrhage (2.5 ± 0.55 vs. 1.83 ± 0.41; p < 0.05) in SAP+Dox vs. SAP. These findings were paralleled by reduced pulmonary expression of active MMP-9. Conclusions: Inhibition of MMP-9 activity with doxycycline reduced pancreatitis-associated lung injury and expression of MMP-9 in pulmonary tissue. Doxycycline reduced PMN migration in vitro and in vivo and therefore might represent a novel strategy for the prevention of secondary pulmonary complications in acute pancreatitis.