169,792 research outputs found
An extension theorem in SBV and an application to the homogenization of the Mumford-Shah functional in perforated domains
No full textThe aim of this paper is to prove the existence of extension operators for SBV functions from periodically perforated domains. This result will be the fundamental tool to prove the compactness in a non coercive homogenization problem
Interatrial septal abnormalities, risk of subsequent stroke and migraine headaches in patients with cryptogenic stroke
No full textSeizure course during pregnancy in catamenial epilepsy
No full textOBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate seizure course in catamenial epilepsy (CE) and noncatamenial epilepsy (NCE) during pregnancy. METHODS: We prospectively followed women referred to our Epilepsy Center for pregnancy planning to the end of the pregnancy. According to their seizure frequency variations across the menstrual cycle, all patients were divided into either the CE or the NCE group. Data on seizure frequency during pregnancy were collected for each patient and compared
with seizure frequency during the pregestational 9 months.
RESULTS: Fifty-nine women with CE and 215 with NCE were included. Forty-seven subjects (79.7%) with CE and 48 subjects (22.3%) with NCE remained seizure-free throughout pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.612, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.901-3.323, p < 0.001), whereas 30 (50.8%) in the CE group and 18 (8.4%) in the NCE group had reduced seizure frequency during pregnancy (OR = 2.427, 95% CI 1.724-3.129, p < 0.001). Decreases in seizures ≥50% occurred in 26 women (44.1%) with CE and 14 women (6.5%) with NCE (OR = 2.426, 95% CI 1.679-3.173, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression models confirmed the significant role of catamenial pattern as predictor for better outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Better seizure control during pregnancy in the catamenial group may be attributable to the absence of cyclical hormone variations and the increase in circulating progesterone levels. These data may have practical implications for therapeutic management of patients with CE during pregnancy
A global method for deterministic and stochastic homogenisation in BV
No full textIn this paper we study the deterministic and stochastic homogenisation of free-discontinuity functionals under linear growth and coercivity conditions. The main novelty of our deterministic result is that we work under very general assumptions on the integrands which, in particular, are not required to be periodic in the space variable. Combining this result with the pointwise Subadditive Ergodic Theorem by Akcoglu and Krengel, we prove a stochastic homogenisation result, in the case of stationary random integrands. In particular, we characterise the limit integrands in terms of asymptotic cell formulas, as in the classical case of periodic homogenisation
Lacosamide monotherapy for partial onset seizures
No full textPURPOSE: To evaluate the 1-year efficacy and safety of oral lacosamide as conversion monotherapy in adult patients with partial onset seizures with or without generalization.
METHOD: We prospectively followed-up consecutive patients converted to lacosamide monotherapy after 1-year seizure freedom on lacosamide add-on therapy and withdrawal of the concurrent antiepileptic drug (AED). Seizure occurrence, treatment compliance and drug toxicity were assessed every 3 months up to 1 year. The study outcomes were the retention rate of lacosamide as single AED and the seizure freedom under lacosamide monotherapy at 1 year from withdrawal of background AED. The safety variable was the prevalence of lacosamide related adverse events (AEs).
RESULTS: Among the 58 included patients, at 1 year from withdrawal of background medication, 37 (63.8%) retained lacosamide as single AED and 32 (55.2%) were free from seizure occurrence under lacosamide monotherapy throughout the entire follow-up. The history of less than three lifetime AEDs turned out to be significant predictor of seizure freedom (adjusted OR=6.38, 95% CI 1.85-21.98, p=0.003). Twelve (20.8%) subjects reported mild to moderate AEs, with the commonest being drowsiness, dizziness, and headache.
CONCLUSION: Conversion to lacosamide monotherapy could be effective and well tolerated in selected adults patients with partial onset seizures who had achieved seizure freedom during lacosamide add-on therapy
Stochastic Homogenisation of Free-Discontinuity Problems
No full textIn this paper we study the stochastic homogenisation of free-discontinuity functionals. Assuming stationarity for the random volume and surface integrands, we prove the existence of a homogenised random free-discontinuity functional, which is deterministic in the ergodic case. Moreover, by establishing a connection between the deterministic convergence of the functionals at any fixed realisation and the pointwise Subadditive Ergodic Theorem by Akcoglou and Krengel, we characterise the limit volume and surface integrands in terms of asymptotic cell formulas.</p
Emergency room access for recurring seizures: when and why
No full textBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To develop a hypothetical model identifying potentially modifiable predictive factors of Emergency Room (ER) visits by patients suffering from drug resistant epilepsy.
METHODS: During a 1-year period, all adult drug resistant patients followed by the same epileptologist were recruited after the occurrence of one or more epileptic attacks. They were divided into two groups based on whether they went to the ER after seizures. A prospective comparative analysis of the clinical and social characteristics of the two groups was performed in order to identify independent predictors of ER visits. Logistic regression analysis was used to confirm the potential predictive role of the evaluated variables.
RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis confirmed the potential role in predicting ER visits for these variables: foreign nationality, current psychiatric therapy, current antiepileptic drug polytherapy, comorbidities, more than one episode in the same day and changes in usual seizure pattern. A relevant association was also found between the frequency of ER neuroimaging use and the following variables: occurrence of episodes on holidays or weekends, current antiepileptic drug monotherapy, multiple comorbidities and brain injury after seizure.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study evaluated factors, some potentially amenable to change, related to drug resistant epileptic patients' ER visits following a seizure. This information may serve to improve the clinical and therapeutic management of patients, decrease the need for urgent care and reduce subsequent patient stress and related costs
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