Yang, Xiaofeng

Contact Information Phone: 612-625-2939 Fax: 612-625-7950 Email: yangxf@umn.edu Address: Department of Neurology University of Minnesota MMC 295, 420 Delaware St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

Associate Professor

Primary Hospital Affiliation

University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview

Education & Training

Year of Appointment: 2007

Medical School: Peking University, School of Medicine

Fellowships: University of Missouri - Columbia, Washington University in St. Louis

Professional Organizations

Society for Neuroscience, Member
American Epilepsy Society, Member

Research Interests

Dr Yang’s research focuses on the basic biological mechanisms in the brain underlying epilepsy with the ultimate purpose of developing new therapies for epilepsy patients. We have developed and modified several novel animal models of epilepsy (in vitro and in vivo). A wide variety of experimental approaches are utilized in our laboratory, including electrophysiological, histological, and modern cellular imaging techniques.

• In the past few years, our experiments have already demonstrated that focal cooling by utilizing small thermoelectric devices (Peltier) can rapidly terminate experimental neocortical seizures. Our long-term goal is to apply the focal cooling technique to clinical treatment of epilepsy patients.
• Our second major project of research investigates the potential antiepileptic effect of caged GABA on focal epilepsy. The recent results have shown that GABA uncaging with LED flashing can rapidly stop focal neocortical seizures in rodent seizure models (in vitro and in vivo). 
• Our third research focus is on the mechanism of antiepileptic drugs Levetiracetam and Seletracetam. We have found these drugs reduce neurotransmitter release in a time- and stimulation-dependent pattern.

Selected Publications

Yang XF, Schmidt BF, Rode DL, Rothman SM. Optical suppression of experimental seizures in rat brain slices. Epilepsia. 2010 Jan; 51(1):127-35.

Yang XF, Rothman SM. Levetiracetam has a time- and stimulation-dependent effect on synaptic transmission. Seizure. 2009 Nov; 18(9):615-9.

Xu L, Rensing N, Yang XF, Zhang HX, Thio LL, Rothman SM, Weisenfeld AE, Wong M, Yamada KA. Leptin inhibits 4-aminopyridine- and pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures and AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission in rodents. J Clin Invest. 2008 Jan; 118(1):272-80.

Yang XF, Weisenfeld A, Rothman SM. Prolonged exposure to levetiracetam reveals a presynaptic effect on neurotransmission. Epilepsia. 2007 Oct; 48(10):1861-9.

Rothman SM, Perry G, Yang XF, Hyrc K, Schmidt BF. Optical suppression of seizure-like activity with an LED. Epilepsy Res. 2007 May; 74(2-3):201-9.

Yang XF, Kennedy BR, Lomber SG, Schmidt RE, Rothman SM. Cooling produces minimal neuropathology in neocortex and hippocampus. Neurobiol Dis. 2006 Sep; 23(3):637-43.

Rensing N, Ouyang Y, Yang XF, Yamada KA, Rothman SM, Wong M. In vivo imaging of dendritic spines during electrographic seizures. Ann Neurol. 2005 Dec; 58(6):888-98.

Rothman SM, Smyth MD, Yang XF, Peterson GP. Focal cooling for epilepsy: an alternative therapy that might actually work. Epilepsy Behav. 2005 Sep; 7(2):214-21.

Yang XF, Ouyang Y, Kennedy BR, Rothman SM. Cooling blocks rat hippocampal neurotransmission by a presynaptic mechanism: observations using 2-photon microscopy. J Physiol. 2005 Aug 15; 567(Pt 1):215-24.

Chang JH, Yang XF, Zempel JM, Rothman SM. The unilateral cobalt wire model of neocortical epilepsy: a method of producing subacute focal seizures in rodents. Epilepsy Res. 2004 Sep-Oct; 61(1-3):153-60.

Rothman S, Yang XF. Local Cooling: A Therapy for Intractable Neocortical Epilepsy. Epilepsy Curr. 2003 Sep;3(5):153-156.

Yang XF, Chang JH, Rothman SM. Long-lasting anticonvulsant effect of focal cooling on experimental neocortical seizures. Epilepsia. 2003 Dec; 44(12):1500-5.

Yang XF, Chang JH, Rothman SM. Intracerebral temperature alterations associated with focal seizures. Epilepsy Res. 2002 Dec; 52(2):97-105.

Yang XF, Duffy DW, Morley RE, Rothman SM. Neocortical seizure termination by focal cooling: temperature dependence and automated seizure detection. Epilepsia. 2002 Mar; 43(3):240-5.

Yang XF, Rothman SM. Focal cooling rapidly terminates experimental neocortical seizures. Ann Neurol. 2001 Jun; 49(6):721-6.