Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41347599›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia open2026

Multimodal approach to characterize surgically removed epileptogenic zone from patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy: From operating room to wet lab.

Jenni Kyyriäinen, Adriana Della Pietra, Mastaneh Torkamani-Azar, Mireia Gómez-Budia, Polina Abushik, Nataliia Novosolova, Henri Eronen, Omar Narvaez, Ekaterina Paasonen, Vera Lezhneva and 15 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

25 authors.

Jenni KyyriäinenA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Adriana Della PietraA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Mastaneh Torkamani-AzarA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6172-7842
Mireia Gómez-BudiaA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Polina AbushikA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Nataliia NovosolovaA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Henri EronenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Omar NarvaezA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Ekaterina PaasonenA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Vera LezhnevaA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Anssi PelkonenA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4154-5686
Liudmila SavelevaA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Antti HuotarinenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Ilya BelevichElectron Microscopy Unit, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Eija JokitaloElectron Microscopy Unit, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Kuopio Epilepsy Center Epilepsy Surgery GroupKuopio Epilepsy Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Member of ERN EpiCARE, Kuopio, Finland.
Leena JutilaKuopio Epilepsy Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Member of ERN EpiCARE, Kuopio, Finland.
Tuomas RauramaaInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Arto ImmonenNeuroCenter Neurosurgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Ville LeinonenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Jussi TohkaA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1048-5860
Olli GröhnA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Reetta KälviäinenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2935-5131
Tarja MalmA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Alejandra SierraA.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5399-2056

Funding

Jane ja Aatos Erkon SäätiöResearch Council of Finland 358944
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveWe have established a comprehensive sample handling protocol designed for the multiscale assessment of epileptogenic tissue. This protocol aims to identify novel therapeutic targets and enhance the diagnosis and stratification of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, thereby optimizing their treatment with anti-seizure medications and surgical interventions.

methodsPatients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, recommended for surgical treatment, are recruited after detailed multidisciplinary preoperative evaluation at the Epilepsy Center at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland. A day before the resective surgery, patients undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including advanced methodologies. During the surgery, each piece of resected tissue is placed under oxygenation on ice-cold artificial cerebral spinal fluid solution. The pieces are then immediately transported to the laboratory, assessed by a neuropathologist, and sliced for both clinical diagnosis and research. Two adjacent slices are provided for research and are sent to the University of Eastern Finland.

resultsThe developed sample handling protocol provides the opportunity for detailed characterization of the tissue from the same patient using emerging imaging, electrophysiology, and molecular biology technologies. We have optimized the conditions for preserving the resected tissue alive for electrophysiological measurements and simultaneously making possible ex vivo studies including multi-omics acquisition, electron microscopy, histology, and MRI. Our protocol enables the mapping of functional readouts to structural and molecular alterations in human tissue. Our goal is to integrate multimodal data and co-register the resected tissues within the whole brain's in vivo MRI space. This approach aims to enhance the characterization and localization of epileptogenic zones and refine surgical treatment targets by identifying abnormalities in global connectivity and structural patterns. SIGNIFICANCE: We have successfully developed a systematic protocol for the collection and analysis of multimodal data. This protocol aims to elucidate the structural, functional, and molecular characteristics that render tissue epileptogenic, thereby enhancing the diagnosis and subsequent care of patients with epilepsy. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: We developed a new protocol for collecting and studying brain tissue removed during epilepsy surgery. By keeping the tissue alive and analyzing it with multiple techniques-such as imaging, electrophysiology, and molecular biology-we can better understand how epilepsy develops. This approach will help doctors identify treatment targets more precisely and improve diagnosis and care for people with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Indexed as

BrainDrug Resistant EpilepsyEpilepsies, PartialSpecimen HandlingAdultFemaleFinlandHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleNeurosurgical ProceduresOperating RoomsYoung Adultelectron microscopyelectrophysiologyhistologyMRImultiscaleomics

Identifiers

PMID41347599
PMCPMC12903802

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.