Elena Freri

Dr. Elena Freri

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

22Years (2005-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 January 2006 in Epilepsia
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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GBGiorgio Battaglia
Giorgio Battaglia
LCLuisa Chiapparini
Luisa Chiapparini
SFSilvana Franceschetti
Silvana Franceschetti
EFElena Freri
Elena Freri
LTLaura Tassi
Laura Tassi
TGTiziana Granata
Tiziana Granata

28 March 2011 in PLOS ONE
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NMNicola Marchi
Nicola Marchi
TGTiziana Granata
Tiziana Granata
EFElena Freri
Elena Freri
ECEmilio Ciusani
Emilio Ciusani
FRFrancesca Ragona
Francesca Ragona
DJDamir Janigro
Damir Janigro
Targeting pro-inflammatory events to reduce seizures is gaining momentum. Experimentally, antagonism of inflammatory processes and of blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage has been demonstrated to be beneficial in reducing status epilepticus (SE). Clinically, a role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of drug resistant epilepsies is suspected. However, the use anti-inflammatory drug such as glucocorticosteroids (GCs) is limited to selected pediatric epileptic syndromes and spasms. Lack of animal data may be one of the reasons for the limited use of GCs in epilepsy. We evaluated the effect of the CG dexamethasone in reducing the onset and the severity of pilocarpine SE in rats. We assessed BBB integrity by measuring serum S100β and Evans Blue brain extravasation. Electrophysiological monitoring and hematologic measurements (WBCs and IL-1β) were performed. We reviewed the effect of add on dexamethasone treatment on a population of pediatric patients affected by drug resistant epilepsy. We excluded subjects affected by West, Landau-Kleffner or Lennox-Gastaut syndromes and Rasmussen encephalitis, known to respond to GCs or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The effect of two additional GCs, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone, was also reviewed in this population. When dexamethasone treatment preceded exposure to the convulsive agent pilocarpine, the number of rats developing status epilepticus (SE) was reduced. When SE developed, the time-to-onset was significantly delayed compared to pilocarpine alone and mortality associated with pilocarpine-SE was abolished. Dexamethasone significantly protected the BBB from damage. The clinical study included pediatric drug resistant epileptic subjects receiving add on GC treatments. Decreased seizure frequency (≥50%) or interruption of status epilepticus was observed in the majority of the subjects, regardless of the underlying pathology. Our experimental results point to a seizure-reducing effect of dexamethasone. The mechanism encompasses improvement of BBB integrity. Our results also suggest that add on GCs could be of efficacy in controlling pediatric drug resistant seizures.

1 March 2010 in Epilepsy Research
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CMCarlo Efisio Marras
Carlo Efisio Marras
TGTiziana Granata
Tiziana Granata
AFAndrea Franzini
Andrea Franzini
EFElena Freri
Elena Freri
FVFlavio Villani
Flavio Villani
GBGiovanni Broggi
Giovanni Broggi

26 January 2011 in Epilepsia
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
FRFrancesca Ragona
Francesca Ragona
TGTiziana Granata
Tiziana Granata
BBBernardo Dalla Bernardina
Bernardo Dalla Bernardina
FOFrancesca Offredi
Francesca Offredi
FDFrancesca Darra
Francesca Darra
CDCharlotte Dravet
Charlotte Dravet

1 March 2006 in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
EGElena Gennaro
Elena Gennaro
FSFilippo M. Santorelli
Filippo M. Santorelli
EBEnrico Bertini
Enrico Bertini
DBDaniela Buti
Daniela Buti
RGRoberto Gaggero
Roberto Gaggero
FZFederico Zara
Federico Zara

1 January 2010 in Brain and Development
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
FRFrancesca Ragona
Francesca Ragona
DBDaniela Brazzo
Daniela Brazzo
IGIlaria De Giorgi
Ilaria De Giorgi
MMMonica Morbi
Monica Morbi
EFElena Freri
Elena Freri
TGTiziana Granata
Tiziana Granata