2019-novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global health problem that affected >2.000.000 people in the world. Although the main component of the disease is pulmonary disturbances, recent reports suggested neurological manifestations. Neurological complications have been rarely reported with other Coronavirus associated diseases. In this short review, we would like to draw attention to COVID-19-related neurological symptoms. Heath-care providers should be aware that COVID-19 can associate neurological manifestations.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Objective: Motor imagery (MI) is the mental representation of a movement without any body movement, and it has been recently used as a therapeutic intervention in rehabilitation. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) is the most recent, modified version of the MIQ-revised, second edition, which is commonly used to measure the imagery ability of patients with movement dysfunction. The purpose of the study was to translate the MIQ-3 into Turkish and evaluate its test and retest reliability and validity for the Turkish-speaking population. Methods: Among 185 healthy participants, 181 completed the procedures. The questionnaire was applied to 86 participants with 1-week interval to evaluate internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The construct validity of the MIQ-3 was tested by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: The internal consistency of the Turkish MIQ-3 was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha was 0.87 for test and 0.86 for retest reliability). The internal consistency of subscales for test–retest reliability (internal visual items, external visual items, and kinesthetic items) was 0.73–0.68, 0.74–0.72, and 0.79–0.73, respectively. Test–retest reliabilities of each item ranged from 0.84 to 0.95. In terms of criterion validity, there was an excellent correlation between subscales and total scale correlations, which ranged from 0.50 to 0.90 (P < 0.001). The validity of the MIQ-3 was examined with CFA, and the results supported a three-factor model of movement imagery ability. Conclusion: The Turkish MIQ-3 has an excellent reliability and good-to-excellent validity in evaluating MI ability.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

A temporal overlap between vestibular symptoms, such as vertigo and head movement intolerance, and migraine symptoms, such as headache, photophobia, and phonophobia, is a requisite diagnostic criterion for the diagnosis of vestibular migraine (VM). Diagnostic criteria for VM have been proposed by an International Vestibular Research Group (the Bárány Society) and a headache research group (International Headache Society); however, in practice, it is still acceptable to divide patients suspected of VM into “definite VM” and “probable VM” groups. Here, a neuro-otologist and a headache specialist consider VM from their own points of view using four real cases, two from a dizzy clinic and two from a headache clinic, with expert opinions and arguments according to the current literature. The management is summarized on the basis of mechanism and comorbidity and the importance of prophylactic medication.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Objective: Human SH-SY5Y cell line has been frequently used for in vitro experiments in neuroscience-related research. To reflect a better neuronal characteristic the cell line needs to a differentiation. To compare the results obtained from in vitro models, the similarity of the phenotype and characteristic of the cells has great importance. However, many studies have been performed using the different medium ingredients which affect the differentiation progress of the cells. Therefore, we aimed to compare generally used differentiation mediums, contain only retinoic acid (RA) and supplemented with different ingredients, in the aspect of neuron-like phenotype characteristics and stability. Materials and Methods: The effects of medium ingredients on differentiation levels were evaluated using morphological changing, neurite length, and immunofluorescence detection of neuronal markers such as NFH, β-III Tubulin, and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2). The stability of differentiated cells was followed microscopically at the 7^th, 10^th, and 14^th days by morphological changings and neurite length using Neuron J software. Results: The results revealed that the cells pretreated with RA for 5-day treatment and followed by 5-day treatment with the mix medium and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), provided significantly higher neurite length than the other groups (P < 0.001). In this group, the expressions of β-tubulin III, MAP2, and NF-H were also significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, and P < 0.05, respectively) and differentiated cells were stable until the 7^th day. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that enriched mediums are necessary for a better differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells. We recommend 10-day treatment period and using of RA, BDNF, dc-AMP, KCI together in SH-SY5Y cell differentiation.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Objectives: Although compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes of the nerves are reduced in sciatic nerve injury due to intramuscular injection (SNIII), they may still be higher than the reference values if there is a mild axonal degeneration. In this case, comparing the outcomes of nerve conduction studies of intact and affected lower extremities becomes important. We aimed to determine the role of this comparison in the diagnosis of SNIII. Methods: Patients with SNIII were included. Reference values for lower extremity nerve conduction studies were obtained from healthy participants. Peroneal, posterior tibial, superficial peroneal, and sural nerve conduction studies were performed in both lower extremities. In the first analysis, the CMAP or SNAP amplitude of the nerve was considered abnormal if it was less than the reference value. In the second analysis, the CMAP or SNAP amplitude of the nerve was considered abnormal if it was less than the reference value or <50% of the CMAP or SNAP amplitude obtained from the intact limb nerve. Results: Thirty patients and 31 controls were included in the study. Compared with those found in the first analysis, the number of posterior tibial nerve CMAPs with reduced amplitudes, and the sural and superficial peroneal nerve SNAPs with reduced amplitudes were higher in the second analysis (P = 0.008, P < 0.001, and P = 0.031; respectively). Conclusion: This study showed that nerve conduction studies should be performed in both the intact and affected extremities in SNIII.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare the results of pharmacologic management options and vestibular rehabilitation (VR) programs in the context of dizziness, balance problems, and headache in patients with vestibular migraine. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with migraine with vestibular symptoms were evaluated in three groups in the neurology, physical medicine, and rehabilitation and otorhinolaryngology clinics of a medical school hospital. The groups were defined as routine pharmacologic therapy (PT), VR, or both. Patients were evaluated with static posturography, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale as primary outcome measures and symptom frequency and severity (headaches and vertigo attacks) as secondary outcome measures. In-group and between-group comparisons were made using relevant statistical methods. Results: DHI scores were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in all treatment groups. ABC scores increased significantly (P < 0.001) in patients taking PT and those on VR + PT. Posturographic examinations revealed that sway velocity values recorded on foam with eyes closed, which targets vestibular assessment, were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in groups taking VR either alone or with PT. VR benefited patients with migraine in terms of headaches, vertigo attack frequency, intensity, and duration. Conclusion: Patients with predominant vestibular disorders can benefit from VR alone, and patients with combined symptoms (headache and vertigo) can benefit from pharmacologic and rehabilitation therapies.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Background: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) occurs as a consequence of genetic deletion of D4Z4 repeats on chromosome 4q35. Onset of FSHD is earlier in males, suggesting that testosterone may trigger the disease. In accordance, the rapid progression of disease in women after menopause suggests a protective role for estrogen and progesterone. No studies have examined levels of all these hormones in relation with the severity of FSHD. Aims: To evaluate the possible correlation between the severity of FSHD with sex hormones, age, and genetic deletion on chromosome 4q35. Subjects and Methods: D4Z4 repeat units were investigated in 33 patients (19 males/14 females) with FSHD. In the blood samples, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, free estriol, estradiol, free testosterone and total testosterone, progesterone, 17-OH progesterone, prolactin, albumin, and fibrinogen were measured. The severity of FSHD was identified using a Clinical Severity Score (CSS) scaling system. Spearman's correlation and regression analyses were performed as statistical analyses. Results: Age (P = 0.001, r = 0.541) and total testosterone (P = 0.045, r = 0.351) were positively correlated, and the progesterone/total testosterone (P = 0.025, r = −0.390) and estradiol/total testosterone ratios (P = 0.025, r = −0.389) were negatively correlated with the severity of FSHD. Conclusions: Our results indicate that age, total testosterone, ratios of estradiol and progesterone to total testosterone, but not deletion on chromosome 4q35, have a significant relation with the severity of FSHD. Given that both estrogen and testosterone treatment are considered in therapy, our results suggest that estrogen and progesterone but not testosterone are likely to be more effective on the severity of FSHD.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Cutaneous silent period (CSP) is the temporary suppression of voluntary muscle contraction by sensory stimulation. Here, we aimed to summarize the effect of physiological and pathological conditions on CSP and to reappraise its clinical utility in daily practice. We performed a literature search using the term “cutaneous silent period.” The search included all articles published in English in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE databases until October 2018. We have analyzed all articles covering CSP to collect the work on physiological conditions such as temperature, recording site, stimulus intensity, nonpharmacological interventions, and different medications or pathological conditions. Temperature, gender, recording site, stimulus duration, and stimulus intensity affect the parameters related to CSP. CSP onset latency is mainly affected by interventions affecting A-delta fibers. CSP shows changes in entrapment neuropathies and polyneuropathies. CSP is mainly mediated by A-delta fibers with contribution of large-diameter fibers. It is a spinal inhibitory response. It should be recorded under optimum temperature. Its clinical use in the diagnosis or assessment of neuropathic pain is limited. It is sometimes used to show functions of A-delta fibers.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Objective: Pain, a nonmotor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), affects approximately 40%–85% of patients and adversely affects their daily activities. Therefore, our aim was to establish the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of King's PD Pain Scale (KPDPS) and to make it available for Turkish patients with PD patients. Methods: The first phase of the study involved the translation and adaptation of the KPDPS to Turkish. For the language validity of the scale, a translation back-translation method was applied, and expert's opinion was considered for content validity. In the second stage, the developed Turkish scale was administered to 152 patients with PD. In the study, test-retest was performed in 50 patients for 1 week. Results: The internal consistency value was found as 0.856 in the KPDPS. When the test-retest was performed, the internal consistency value of the scale showed excellent reliability. The test-retest-Cronbach's alpha value for the whole scale was 0.827. According to the data analysis results, it showed that 14 items on the scale were sufficient for the evaluation of pain in patients with PD. Conclusion: The results from this study show that KPDPS items have adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The Turkish KPDPS can be used as a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the pain symptoms common to patients with PD.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Objective: The effects of the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted from cell phones on living organisms and human health have become one of the most important topics for research because cell phones are widely used, even at early ages, all over the world. In this study, it was aimed to reveal the effects of exposure to EMFs emitted from cell phones on the hippocampus region of the brain during childhood and adolescence. Materials and Methods: In the study, newborn rats were divided into six groups as control 1–21, EMF 1–21, control 21–60, EMF 21–60, control 1–60, and EMF 1–60. The rats in the EMF groups were exposed to an EMF emitted from cell phones placed in cages every day. No procedure was performed in the control (C) groups. Sections taken from the brain tissues were evaluated using histopathologic, stereologic, and immunohistochemical methods. Results: According to the stereologic analysis results we obtained from the study, there was a significant decrease in the number of pyramidal cells and hippocampus volume in the EMF 1–60 group (P < 0.05). In the histopathologic examinations of the brain sections, it was observed that there were many damaged neurons with darkly stained cytoplasms among normal pyramidal cells in all age groups exposed to EMF. In addition, caspase 3 immunoreactivity was found to be statistically significantly increased in the EMF 1–60 group compared with all other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Chronic cell phone exposure from birth to the end of adolescence causes neuronal damage and volume reduction in the developing hippocampus.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Objective: Dopaminergic treatment is proved to ameliorate motor deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, it could have negative effects on behavior and cognition, including impulse controlling and decision-making. We aimed (1) to investigate the decision-making and impulse-control disorders (ICDs) of PD patients and their correlations with sociodemographical and clinical variables, dopaminergic treatment in particular, and (2) to determine the relation of decision-making with ICDs. Methods: The sample of 39 patients with PD and 37 healthy controls underwent cognitive tests and the task which analyzed decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task [IGT]). Besides assessing motor and nonmotor symptoms of patients with PD, ICDs were also scanned using the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease. Results: Although patients with PD performed similarly to healthy controls on IGT, decision-making profile in PD related to clinical variables: dopaminergic treatment and duration of illness. In addition to this younger age of onset, higher dose of dopamine agonists, longer duration of illness, and impaired decision-making were together accounted for a substantial amount of variance in impulsive behaviors. Conclusions: Dopaminergic medication likely contributes to the impairment in decision-making, which may be the underlying mechanism of ICDs. Further studies will be necessary to understand the potential implications of this finding.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) methods have been found to be better suited than any other electrophysiological test to study the degree and time course of lower motor unit loss. However, MUNE methods have not yet been implemented in clinics and research. This may be because an ideal method has not been developed yet. This review aims to give an overview of the strengths and limitations of the existing MUNE methods, why a new method was necessary and how the novel MScanFit MUNE can overcome some of the limitations that the other methods had. In the end, the existing literature MScanFit applied has been summarised.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate primary headache disorders and other causative comorbidities (e.g., epilepsy, atopic disorders, recurrent abdominal pain, motion sickness, and headache) in children with tic disorders (TDs) and their mothers. Materials and Methods: In a multi-center, cross-sectional, familial association study using case–control design, youth (between 7 and 17 years) with TDs (TD, as per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 criteria) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls and their mothers were evaluated in the aspect of functional syndromes spectrum including migraine, epilepsy, atopic disorders, motion sickness, and recurrent abdominal pain. Results: Seventy-nine youth with TD and 101 controls were included. Causative comorbidities, other than epilepsy and motion sickness were more common in children with TD with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.1 (atopy) and 3.9 (food allergy). Specifically, recurrent abdominal pain and migraine were found in 36.7% and 31.7% of children (vs. 18.8% and 16.8% of controls, ORs 2.5 and 2.3, respectively). Mothers of youth with TDs also have higher rates of atopy, drug allergy and allergic dermatitis (ORs; 3.8, 3.2 and 2.1; respectively). Conclusion: Results of recent studies suggest a possible link between atopic disorders, migraine, recurrent abdominal pain and TDs. Our results contribute to those studies and suggest that this relationship may extend to the mothers of children as well.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the subclinical vestibular dysfunction of patients with vestibular migraine (VM) in the interattack period who had no vestibular symptoms. We assessed ascending utricular and descending saccular pathways using cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP) in patients with VM and a healthy control group and then compared the electrophysiologic findings with each other. Materials and Methods: Between January 2017 and January 2018, 116 patients (aged 18–62 years) were enrolled in the study. The study group consisted of 68 women with VM and the control group comprised 48 healthy women. Results: For cVEMP findings, the mean left ear P1 latency of the VM group was statistically significantly longer than that of the control group (P = 0.024; P < 0.05). No statistical significance was found in left ear N1 latency, P1-N1 interpeak intervals and mean amplitudes between the VM and the control groups (P > 0.05). Amplitude asymmetry ratios (AARs) were not statistically significantly different between the two groups in cVEMP (P > 0.05). In terms of oVEMP findings, no statistically significant difference was found in the right ear parameters of N1, P1, P1-N1 intervals, and amplitudes of the VM and the control groups (P > 0.05). The left ear oVEMPs of the VM group showed absent responses in 12 cases and were statistically significant compared with the control group (P = 0.037; P < 0.05). The AARs were significantly greater for the the VM group than the control group in oVEMP (P = 0.006; P < 0.05). Conclusion: These electrophysiologic findings suggest that peripheral vestibular structures such as the utricle, saccule and also other central vestibular structures might be affected in VM. Patients with VM had subclinical vestibular dysfunction despite being in the interattack period. To support the diagnosis of VM, VEMPs are easy and cost-effective tests.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Aging population brings an ever-increasing global burden of dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent type worldwide. Many years of research have introduced characteristic cerebral histopathological and molecular changes in this disease. However, all attempts to establish an effective treatment have failed. In this review, we aim to address the basic evidence regarding the role of inflammatory mediators in AD and their link to the other pathogenetic pathways. Novel findings based on advanced biotechnology and bioinformatics are covered briefly, as well.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is characterized by progressive or relapsing motor or sensory symptoms, with variants differing in the relative distribution of these symptoms and electrophysiologic findings. We aimed to correlate the electrodiagnostic patterns of demyelination using Hughes Functional Grading Scale in patients with CIDP. Methods: A case–control study was conducted at the neurophysiology department of Al-Imamian Al-Kadhymian Medical city and Nursing Home Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad from December 2017 to June 2018. Fifteen patients with CIDP aged 30–60 years with disease duration between 6 months and 2 years and 20 age-matched healthy subjects (control group) were included in the study. The participants were submitted to medical history, clinical neurological examination, and electrophysiologic tests. Results: Patients with CIDP demonstrated prolonged distal sensory and motor latencies, decreased sensory nerve action potential amplitude, slowing of sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity, and prolonged mean F-wave latency. The majority showed absent sural sensory responses. Significant relationships were demonstrated between the Hughes Functional Grading Scale and different neurophysiologic parameters, and no correlation was found with the terminal latency index. Conclusions: Patients with high Hughes functional scoring also have severe abnormalities in motor parameters, usually in the range of demyelination. The involvement of nerve segments was multifocal affecting mostly the proximal and intermediate nerve segments; the terminal segments were involved to a lesser extent.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Objectives: Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (IPD) is a movement disorder that cause tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability and deterioration quality of life. To assess the disease different scales can be used: The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) for clinical severity, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ39) to assess quality of life, Beck Depression Scale (BD) for mood assessment and Hoehn Yahr Scale (HY) for clinical staging. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is a classification to develop an international common language for the evaluation of the functionality and disability of patients. We aimed to compare validity and efficacy of ICF classification with other scales. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were evaluated. PDQ39, UPDRS, Hoehn Yahr, Beck Depression Scale and 'Brief ICF core set for hand condition' which was recommended for Parkinson's disease were applied to patients. The brief ICF core set and other scales were compared and assessed if there was any correlation. For analyzes, the MedCalc Statistical Software version 12.7.7 programme was used. Results: The mean age of the IPD patients was 68.3 ± 6.9 years and 71% of them were female (22) and 29% were male (9). According to ICF codes, patients who have eight or more corrupted codes were recorded as 'major code impairment patients', and those with less than eight codes recorded as 'minor code impairment patients'. The total UPDRS score of major code impairment patients was 58.4 ± 29.8, while the mean score of minor code impairment patients was 21.2 ± 14.05. The PDQ39 score of major code impairment patients was 66.4 ± 24.1, while the mean score of minor code impairment patients was 19.3 ± 13.5. According to Hoehn Yahr stage, the ratio of stage 1 were higher in minor ICF patients. Conclusion: While assessing the functioning of the Parkinson's disease patients, we need comprehensive scales that include many parameters. The ICF coding system is an international system, which is very important to develop a common language. The significant correlation between ICF coding system and other scales in our Parkinson's patients, shows the validity of the coding system.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: People are divided into different chronotypes in relation to their circadian rhythm features. The Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), developed by Horne and Östberg, was the first and is the most used questionnaire for determining the chronotype of people. The reliability and validity of MEQ were tested in this study due to some deficiencies and inconsistencies in previous reliability and validity studies for the Turkish versions of MEQ and deficiencies regarding the validity and reliability of other versions of MEQ. Subjects and Methods: MEQ was translated into Turkish based on the opinions of five academics who were experts in their respective fields and the suitability and content validity of the questionnaire were ensured. The Turkish MEQ was administered to 419 undergraduate students aged 18–34 years. Robust minimum rank factor analysis (MRFA) was used to reveal the construct validity of the questionnaire. Results: As a result of the analyses, the questionnaire was examined in three factors. None of the items were excluded from the study and all items were collected under three factors. The explained total variance value was 42.7%, and the factors explained 64% of common (shared) variance in MRFA. According to the reliability analysis, Cronbach's alpha value for the MEQ Turkish version was satisfactory for the overall questionnaire (0.765). Conclusions: The MEQ version developed in this study is more valid and reliable compared with other versions. However, these results support that a more detailed instrument for morningness and eveningness can be developed.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Purpose of the Study: Sleep problems are frequently encountered in Parkinson's disease (PD), including sleep fragmentation, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), excessive daytime sleepiness, and sleep-disordered breathing. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between sleep structure and sleep disorders on motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD. Basic Procedures: Seventy-three consecutive patients diagnosed as having PD based on the United Kingdom Brain Bank Criteria were prospectively enrolled. Detailed histories of PD-related symptoms, sleep anamnesis, subjective evaluation of nocturnal sleep, and daytime sleepiness were made. All participants underwent one-night video-polysomnography (PSG) and multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) in a sleep laboratory. Main Findings: A significant correlation was present between female sex and RLS (P = 0.009). Age and body mass index showed no significant correlations with PD-related parameters including Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and PSG parameters. RLS or RBD showed no significant correlation with PD-related variables. Among PSG parameters, higher REM sleep percentages showed a statistically significant correlation with increased scores of UPDRS part III (P = 0.007). A statistically significant negative correlation was present between apnea–hypopnea index and PD duration (P = 0.005), and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was statistically significantly correlated with lower scores of UPDRS part II (P = 0.050). The mean sleep latency in MSLT decreased as the dose of dopaminergic treatment increased (P = 0.016). Principal Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that changes in sleep structure and sleep-related disorders observed in PD could be attributed to intrinsic disease-related properties. The presence of changes in sleep structure as higher REM sleep percentages and sleep-related disorders such as OSAS show correlations with the severity of PD.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Objective: Neuropathy is seen in approximately 70% of patients in the predialysis stage; it is more common in individuals with pruritus, which may be an indicator of neuropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of neuropathy and pruritus in the predialysis stage. Methods: The study included 60 patients in the predialysis stage and 30 volunteer controls. Neuropathic symptoms and severity and frequency of itching were recorded. The polyneuropathy (PNP) protocol and sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) were examined. Results: Electromyographic PNP was detected in 28.3% of the patients and pruritus in 36.7%. There was no significant difference in terms of neuropathy and SSR between the groups with and without pruritus (P > 0.05). Body mass index (BMI,P < 0.05) and uric acid levels (P = 0.022) were higher in the group with pruritus. The group in the predialysis stage was divided into two groups according to the stages. There was no difference between the groups in terms of neuropathy and pruritus (P > 0.05), whereas the amplitude and velocity of the median nerve, amplitude and velocity of the tibial nerve, amplitude of the sural nerve, and velocity of the peroneal nerve motor were found to be higher in the control group than in the two groups in the predialysis stage. Furthermore, a prolongation of the distal latency median motor nerve was found in two groups in the predialysis stage compared with the control group (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the presence of neuropathic symptoms and pruritus (P > 0.05). Conclusion: More than one-third (36.7%) of the patients had pruritus. Increased BMI and uric acid levels showed that it could be important to evaluate the patients in the predialysis stage.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Objectives: This study assesses the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Mig-SCog scale used to determine and monitor the cognitive functions of migraine patients during attacks. Methods: After completion of the translation process, for this validity and reliability study the Mig-SCog was administered to a total of 154 migraine patients (91 without aura, 32 with aura, and 31 chronic migraine patients) presenting to the Neurology Clinic of Istanbul Medipol University University. Internal consistency of the factors and the instrument as a whole were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and an alpha value >0.60 was considered acceptable. Results: As in the original, the result of factor analysis found a good fit for a 4-factor structure of the Turkish version (KMO = 0.82 and Chi-square P = 0.409), and the factor structure was similar to the original. The factors of the instrument were evaluated as consistent (Cronbach's alpha >0.60), and an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.8485 was calculated. Conclusions: The Mig-SCog showed sufficient validity and reliability to be used in Turkish society.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Objective: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a treatable disease; therefore, accurate diagnosis and detection of coexisting disorders are very important. Some authors have reported that CIDP was more frequently observed in patients with diabetes mellitus when compared with the population in general. Vitamin E deficiency leads to demyelinating neuropathy, and Vitamin E supplementation ensures clinical and electrophysiological recovery. In this study, identifying the association between insulin resistance, Vitamin E deficiency, and CIDP is aimed. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three patients with CIDP and forty healthy controls were evaluated. Two groups were compared in terms of insulin resistance and Vitamin E level status. Results: A statistically significant difference was not found between CIDP and control groups as for the distribution of mean ages, genders, Homeostatic Model Assessment Index values, impaired fasting glucose, and a statistically significant difference was not found between CIDP and control groups as for Vitamin E deficiency. Conclusion: Our study could not reveal any evidence about insulin resistance and Vitamin E deficiency in CIDP patients.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background and Purpose: We aimed to assess whether severe leukoaraiosis (LA) is associated with outcomes and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages (sICH) in patients who were treated with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for acute stroke. Methods: We analyzed the data of anterior circulation stroke patients who were treated with rt-PA at our stroke center during 2009–2016. LA was scored according to the van Swieten scale (VSS) on computed tomography (CT) and dichotomized into groups as absent or moderate versus severe LA. We used the safe implementation of thrombolysis in stroke definition for sICH and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 3 months after rt-PA were recorded. Results: Of 302 patients, 47 (15.6%) showed severe LA (VSS >4) on CT. The overall sICH rate was 3.6%. Moreover, sICH was significantly more frequent in patients with severe LA (n = 5 of 47; 10.6%) than in patients with absent/moderate LA (n = 6 of 255; 2.4%; P = 0.017). In addition, patients with severe LA had higher baseline glucose level (P = 0.006) and systolic blood pressure (P = 0.005) compared to patients with absent/moderate LA. Patients with severe LA were more likely to have a poor outcome (mRS: 3–6) compared to those without severe LA (P = 0.009). Conclusion: The presence of severe LA on CT increases the risk of sICH and poor outcome in patients treated with rt-PA for acute stroke.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

[FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Objective: The aim is to evaluate the vestibular system using the video head impulse test (vHIT) and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) without central vestibular involvement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to determine whether there was subclinical vestibular system impairment. Materials and Methods: The study comprised 27 patients with MS and 26 healthy participants. The participants had no lesions in the central vestibular system in an MRI taken in the past 3 months. Detailed neuro-otologic and neuro-ophthalmologic examinations were performed on all participants. Then, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) was completed for subjective vestibular system evaluation. In addition, vHIT and cervical VEMP (cVEMP) were performed for objective vestibular system evaluation. The results were analyzed statistically. Results: The mean age of the patients in the MS group was 39.3 ± 11.4 years and 42.7 ± 9.7 years in the control group. The median DHI score was 4 (range, 0–8) in the MS group and 2 (range, 0–6) in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the DHI score averages of the groups. The mean vestibulo ocular reflex (VOR) gain in vHIT was 0.76 ± 0.21 in the MS group and 0.99 ± 0.13 in the control group. VOR gain was statistically significantly lower in patients with MS. The VOR gain cut-off level was considered as 0.8. Gain level was below the cut-off level in 53.7% of patients with MS. There was no cVEMP response in 31.5% of patients with MS. In addition, patients with MS had prolonged P1 and N1 latencies and decreased P1-N1 peak-to-peak amplitudes. Conclusion: We found subclinical involvement in electrophysiologic tests (vHIT and cVEMP) in patients with MS without MRI lesions and without subjective vestibular system symptoms. We believe that vHIT and cVEMP can be used for subclinical evaluation in patients with MS without central vestibular system involvement in MRI.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]