Mahboobeh Yaghoobi; Mohammad Hossein Harirchian; Kavous Firouznia; Somayeh Behzadi; Hassan Hashemi; Hossein Ghanaati; Madjid Shakiba; Amir Hossein Jalali; Shahrzad Mohebbi
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 42-46
Abstract
Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard method for observing brain plaques and contrast material injection is necessary for demonstrating the active plaque.This study compared the rate of enhancement of plaques with Gadovist and Magnevist in relapse phase of MS.Methods: In this double ...
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Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard method for observing brain plaques and contrast material injection is necessary for demonstrating the active plaque.This study compared the rate of enhancement of plaques with Gadovist and Magnevist in relapse phase of MS.Methods: In this double blind study, after neurological examination of 62 patients in the attack phase of MS, two consecutive MRIs were performed with Gadovist and Magnevist with 48 hours interval. The two contrast materials were injected in first and second imaging randomly and the reporting radiologist was blind about the contrast material.Results: With both contrast materials, the probability of enhancement of supratentorial plaques was higher than the infratentorial ones. The probability of observing a symptomatic infratentorial enhanced plaque was higher than the supratentorial region and when the symptoms were due to supratentorial lesions, the corresponding enhanced plaque was more probable. It was detected that the number of enhanced plaques was the highest if the imaging was performed in the second week after the relapse, although there was no statistically significant difference when the imaging was done within the first month after the beginning of the symptoms.Conclusion: It seems that both Magnevist and Gadovist could be used as the contrast material to detect enhancing plaques in relapse phase of multiple sclerosis.
Soodeh Razeghi Jahromi; Mansoureh Toghae; Mohammad Jamal Razeghi Jahromi; Mahdi Aloosh
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 47-53
Abstract
Background: It has been suggested that nutrition might play a role in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, dietary patterns associated with MS risk are unknown. This study was conducted to compare the dietary patterns of patients with MS and healthy controls to find the relationship between ...
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Background: It has been suggested that nutrition might play a role in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, dietary patterns associated with MS risk are unknown. This study was conducted to compare the dietary patterns of patients with MS and healthy controls to find the relationship between dietary patterns and MS.Methods:Usual dietary intake of 75 women with relapsing/remitting MS (RRMS) and 75 healthy controls were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire consisting of 168 food items. To define major dietary patterns, we used factor analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and risk of MS.Results:Traditional pattern (high in low-fat dairy products, red meat, vegetable oil, onion, whole grain, soy, refined grains, organ meats, coffee, and legumes) was inversely related to the risk of MS [odds ratio (OR) = 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.18; P = 0.028]. A similar inverse relationship was noted between MS risk and lacto-vegetarian (high in nuts, fruits, French fries, coffee, sweets and desserts, vegetables, and high-fat dairy products) and vegetarian (high in green leafy vegetables, hydrogenated fats, tomato, yellow vegetables, fruit juices, onion, and other vegetables) patterns (OR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.12-0.82; P = 0.018 and OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.19-0.90; P = 0.026, respectively). In contrast, the prevalence of MS was higher in those who had high animal fat dietary pattern (high in animal fats, potato, meat products, sugars, and hydrogenated fats and low in whole grains) (OR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.63-2.94; P < 0.005).Conclusion: Our findings showed that the risk of RRMS can be affected by major dietary patterns.
Ali Amini Harandi; Saeed Shahbeigi; Hosein Pakdaman; Seyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad; Elham Nikravesh; Roghie Jalilzadeh
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 54-58
Abstract
Background: There is a known inverse association between solar radiation and the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS). Some studies have investigated the link between vitamin D and MS. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 concentration and ...
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Background: There is a known inverse association between solar radiation and the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS). Some studies have investigated the link between vitamin D and MS. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 concentration and the severity of disease in Iranian patients with MS.Methods:Patients with relapsing-remitting MS underwent neurological examination, including measurement of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, and were categorized by disease severity into mild (0 ≤ EDSS ≤3), moderate (3.5 ≤ EDSS ≤5.5) and severe (6 ≤ EDSS). Serum concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D3, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and parathyroid hormone were also measured.Results:A total of 78 (73.1% female) patients with MS were evaluated. The mean (± standard deviation) of age was 33.9 ± 9.2 years. The mean (± standard error) serum concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D3 were 36.6 ± 5.1 mg/dL, 50.1 ± 12.6 mg/dL and 19.8 ± 6.5 mg/dL in patients with mild, moderate and severe disease, respectively. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between 25(OH) vitamin D3 concentration and EDSS score (P = 0.016, r= -0.273 by Spearman rank correlation test), which was observed in women only (P = 0.021, r = -0.305). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that a serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 concentration cutoff of 16.5 mg/dL could differentiate patients with mild/moderate MS from severe disease with 74.6% accuracy.Conclusion:Our findings further support the association between vitamin D and disease severity in MS.
Shahriar Nikpour
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 59-64
Abstract
Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity may initially present as one or more neurological signs and/or symptoms. On the other hand, it may be associated with or complicated by neurological manifestations. Neurological presentations are rare in children but as many as 36% of adult patients present with neurological ...
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Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity may initially present as one or more neurological signs and/or symptoms. On the other hand, it may be associated with or complicated by neurological manifestations. Neurological presentations are rare in children but as many as 36% of adult patients present with neurological changes. With severe malnutrition after progression of celiac disease, different vitamin deficiencies may develop. Such problems can in turn overlap with previous neurological abnormalities including ataxia, epilepsy, neuropathy, dementia, and cognitive disorders. In this study, we aimed to review the neurological aspects of celiac disease. Early diagnosis and treatment could prevent related disability in patients with celiac disease.
Payam Sariaslani; Ali Ghanbari; Parvin Ghanbari
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 65-69
Abstract
Levamisole is an anthelmintic agent and also immunostimulant drug which is used to treat colorectal cancer. The present study aimed to show accidental consumption of levamisole alone induced multifocal inflammatory leukoencephalopathy. A 53-year-old male was admitted to the Neurology Department of Farabi ...
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Levamisole is an anthelmintic agent and also immunostimulant drug which is used to treat colorectal cancer. The present study aimed to show accidental consumption of levamisole alone induced multifocal inflammatory leukoencephalopathy. A 53-year-old male was admitted to the Neurology Department of Farabi Hospital (Kermanshah, Iran) with walking inability and recognition disorder. Following clinical examinations, the patient diagnosed as multifocal inflammatory leukoencephalopathy following levamisole consumption.The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone followed by prednisolone. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done 1 month later and did not show a reduction or remission in the lesions. History of the patient showed that he had accidentally consumed levamisole 8 months ago. It seems that the consumption of levamisole can induce multifocal inflammatory leukoencephalopathy and delayed treatment of the patient with corticosteroid cannot diminish the neurotoxicity of levamisole. In addition, the cytotoxic dose of levamisole induces irreversible multifocal inflammatory leukoencephalopathy.
Mehrdokht Mazdeh; Ahmad Reza Mobaien
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 70-73
Abstract
Background: Available evidence shows that tetracycline family has cellular and molecular mechanisms to protect neurons and oligodendrocytes by modulating matrix metalloproteinases. We tried to compare the effectiveness of intramuscular and subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (INF-β1a) in combination with ...
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Background: Available evidence shows that tetracycline family has cellular and molecular mechanisms to protect neurons and oligodendrocytes by modulating matrix metalloproteinases. We tried to compare the effectiveness of intramuscular and subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (INF-β1a) in combination with oral doxycycline among patient with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).Methods: A double-blind clinical trial study was conducted at Hamedan University of Medical and Health Sciences in Iran. Sixty patients with definite diagnosis of RRMS or SPMS were treated with doxycycline and 44 µg subcutaneous IFN-β1a three times a week or 30 µg intramuscular IFN-β1a once a week for six months. Neurologic examinations were performed monthly until the end of the treatment. Changes in expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores, brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs), and frequency of receiving corticosteroid pulse were evaluated before and after the treatment.Results: Women constituted 88.3% of the participants. The mean age of the patients was 32 years. The mean EDSS scores reduced from 4.5 to 3.0. Based on the frequency of receiving corticosteroid pulse, relapse rate decreased from 3.2 to 0.8. MRI showed that the number, volume, and activity of the lesions decreased among 13.3% of the participants, increased among 15%, and remained persistent among 71.7%.Conclusion: Combination of doxycycline and IFN-β1a can decrease relapse rate and improve EDSS scores in patients with RRMS and SPMS. However, it does not affect MRI changes. Furthercontrolled clinical trials on greater number of patients with MS are needed to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy.
Mahmood Nabil Sherif; Ashraf Kashif
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 74-76
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Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Hossein Pakdaman; Ali Amini Harandi
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 77-78
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Askar Ghorbani; Farzad Fatehi
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012
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Mohammad Rohani
Volume 11, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 80-81
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Farhad Iranmanesh; Nazanin Zia Sheykholeslami; Faranak Gadari; Jafar Ahmady
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 1-5
Abstract
Background: Impact of high level of uric acid on stroke is still controversial. We conducted this study to investigate the relationship between acute ischemic non-embolic stroke and serum levels of uric acid.Methods: This was a case-control study on patients with acute ischemic non-embolic stroke in ...
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Background: Impact of high level of uric acid on stroke is still controversial. We conducted this study to investigate the relationship between acute ischemic non-embolic stroke and serum levels of uric acid.Methods: This was a case-control study on patients with acute ischemic non-embolic stroke in Rafsanjan, Iran. The control group consisted of normal persons who were similar to the case group in terms of age and gender. Serum level of uric acid in the first 24 hours of admission was measured with photometry method.Results: In a total of 130 patients (59 mens), hyperuricemia was seen in 13.0% of subjects in the control group and 10.7% of subjects in the case group. Nine patients in case group and 7 patients in control group with hyperuricemia were women. No significant relationship was found between acute ischemic non-embolic stroke and serum level of uric acid.Conclusion: There was no relationship between uric acid and acute ischemic non-embolic stroke.
Mojgan Ahmadzadeh Raji; Alireza Khosravi; Mohammad Hossein Sanati; Seyed Massood Nabavi; Reza Hajihoseini; Ahmad Ebrahimi; Mohammad Hossein Sabour
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 6-11
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder with neurodegenerative aspects, is more common among young adults, particularly women.Methods: This molecular study was designed to investigate the IL-7R α chain gene in Iranian MS patients. We studied 60 MS patients, ...
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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder with neurodegenerative aspects, is more common among young adults, particularly women.Methods: This molecular study was designed to investigate the IL-7R α chain gene in Iranian MS patients. We studied 60 MS patients, diagnosed based on 2005 R-McDonald criteria and 60 apparently healthy individuals as the control group. DNA was extracted from whole blood cells using MBST/IRAN Extraction kit and all samples were screened for possible sequence variation in three regions including promoter, exon 2 and exon 4 with single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP).Results: The alterations were confirmed with direct sequencing by ABI 3730XL. Although no mutation was detected in the studied regions, eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) consisting of rs71617734 in promoter; rs35967524, rs11567704, rs1494558, rs11567705 and rs969128 in exon 2 as well as rs1494555 and rs2228141 in exon 4 were observed. The rs1494558 in exon 2 and rs1494555 in exon 4 were missense variations. Our results also showed the substitution of isoleucine with threonine in rs1494558 (P.I66T) with this accession number, FR863587 submitted in EMBL bank. The study of exon4 areas revealed two SNPs and two sequence variations, where [p.V138I] Valine substituted with isoleucine (FR863588), as well as a silent nucleotide substitution [P. H165H] in the absence of amino acid alteration. The analysis of the SNP genotype in the controls and the patients, using χ(2) showed no significant association with multiple sclerosis in this group.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the effects of some SNPs on the IL-7R α protein in MS. Further studies are required to reveal the effects of these SNPs on the IL-7R α protein in multiple sclerosis.
Farzad Fatehi; Vahid Shaygannejad; Lida Kiani Mehr; Alireza Dehghani
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 12-15
Abstract
Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive instrument, which can be used to estimate the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and provides an indirect measurement of axonal destruction in multiple sclerosis (MS). The main aim of this study was to find out any correlations ...
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Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive instrument, which can be used to estimate the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and provides an indirect measurement of axonal destruction in multiple sclerosis (MS). The main aim of this study was to find out any correlations between P100 latency in visual evoked potential (VEP) and RNFL thickness.Methods: The patients with the definite history of optic neuritis regardless of the diagnosis of MS were included. The eyes with the history of blurred vision and increased VEP latency (> 115 milliseconds) were considered as cases and the eyes with normal latency were regarded as controls. RNFL thickness was compared between two groups of cases and controls. In addition, the correlation between VEP P100 latency and RNFL thickness in four quadrants of superior, nasal, inferior and temporal fields was estimated by spearman correlation coefficient. RNFL thickness between the patients with history of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) was also compared to other two subgroups of RRMS and SPMS.Results: There was significant negative correlation between VEP P100 latency and RNFL. In all four quadrants, with increasing VEP latency, RNFL thickness decreased. Furthermore, there was significant correlation between P100 latencies and mean RNFL thickness [Pearson correlation coefficient = -0.527, P < 0.001; RNFL (mean) = (-0.44 ± 0.087) × P100 + (153.6 ± 10.94)]. Comparing RNFL thickness between three groups of CIS, RRMS, and SPSM, no significant difference was detected in RNFL thickness (P > 0.05). Power analysis demonstrated that RNFL average had the highest area under curve.Conclusion:OCT does have good correlations with P100 latency, indicating retinal non-myelinated axonal involvement in early stages in addition to the myelinated axonal involvement. However, it cannot be used as the sole test in evaluating visual pathway in optic neuritis and complementary tests as VEPs are recommended.
Yaser Hamidian; Mansoureh Togha; Shahriar Nafisi; Shahab Dowlatshahi; Soodeh Razeghi Jahromi; Nahid Beladi Moghadam; Navid Namazi; Parvin Tajik; Masoud Majed; Mahdi Aloosh
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 16-20
Abstract
Background: The most common neurologic manifestation of gluten sensitivity is ataxia, which accounts for up to 40% of idiopathic sporadic ataxia. Timing of diagnosis of gluten ataxia is vital as it is one of the very few treatable causes of sporadic ataxia and causes irreversible loss of Purkinje cells. ...
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Background: The most common neurologic manifestation of gluten sensitivity is ataxia, which accounts for up to 40% of idiopathic sporadic ataxia. Timing of diagnosis of gluten ataxia is vital as it is one of the very few treatable causes of sporadic ataxia and causes irreversible loss of Purkinje cells. Antigliadin antibody (AGA) of the IgG type is the best marker for neurological manifestations of gluten sensitivity. This study was conducted to measure the prevalence of gluten ataxia in a group of Iranian patients with idiopathic ataxia.Methods: For 30 patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia, a questionnaire about clinical and demographic data was completed. Serum AGA (IgA and IgG) and antiendomysial antibody (AEA) were assessed. Gluten ataxic patients underwent duodenal biopsy. Magnetic resonance imaging was done for all patients to see if cerebellar atrophy is present.Results: Only 2 patients had a positive IgG AGA (6.7%) who both had a positive AEA while none of them showed changes of celiac disease in their duodenal biopsies. Conclusion: Only presence of gastrointestinal symptoms and pursuit eye movement disorders were higher in patients with gluten ataxia.Prevalence of gluten ataxia in Iranian patients with idiopathic ataxia seems to be lower than most of other regions. This could be explained by small sample size, differences in genetics and nutritional habits and also effect of serologic tests in clinical versus research setting. Further researches with larger sample size are recommended.
Marzieh Tajmirriahi; Maryam Sohelipour; Keivan Basiri; Vahid Shaygannejad; Asgar Ghorbani; Mohammad Saadatnia
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 21-24
Abstract
Background: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have beneficial effects on both specific and non-specific inflammatory reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil in migraine prevention.Methods: A 12-week, randomized, single-blind clinical ...
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Background: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have beneficial effects on both specific and non-specific inflammatory reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil in migraine prevention.Methods: A 12-week, randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted from October 2008 to June 2009. A total of 67 patients (52 women, 15 men) with migraine headache were randomly allocated to 2 groups. In the first group, 38 patients (30 females with a mean age of 35 ± 9 year) received 400 mg/day sodium valproate. In the second group, 29 patients (22 females with a mean age of 36 ± 9 years) received sodium valproate 400 mg daily plus fish oil supplementation (180 mg). Response to the treatment was assessed at 0, 1, 2, and 3 months after start of the therapy.Results: A significant decrease in duration, monthly frequency, and severity of headache after month 1, 2, and 3 in comparison with month 0 occurred in both groups. There was a significant reduction in headache severity (P = 0.046) and frequency (P = 0.044) in the group with fish oil supplementation after month 1 in comparison with sodium valproate alone. In contrast, there was no significant difference between two treatment groups in duration of the headache after month 1. Mean intensity, mean duration and mean frequency of the attacks after month 2 and 3 were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that sodium valproate plus fish oil supplementation significantly reduces migraine headache more than sodium valproate alone but only at the beginning of the treatment.
Majid Ghasemi; Farzad Fatehi; Bahador Asadi; Fariborz Khorvash
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 25-27
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neuron disease, is a progressive and devastating disease involving both lower and upper motor neurons, typically following a relentless progression towards death. Therefore, all efforts must be made by the clinician to exclude alternative ...
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neuron disease, is a progressive and devastating disease involving both lower and upper motor neurons, typically following a relentless progression towards death. Therefore, all efforts must be made by the clinician to exclude alternative and more treatable entities. ALS with laboratory abnormalities of uncertain significance is a subgroup of ALS that occurs in association with laboratory defined abnormalities that are of uncertain significance to the pathogenesis of ALS. The clinical utility of these abnormalities and what they ultimately mean in patients with ALS is discussed here, along with a review of the literature.
Marjan Asadollahi; Nasrin Shayanfar; Bibiseyedeh Rezaiyan; Mehrdad Hasibi
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 30-33
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is one of the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system of children but it is uncommon in adult age. We report a case of young male presented with a history of generalized headache that was found to have medulloblastoma with diffuse leptomeningeal involvement without prominent ...
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Medulloblastoma is one of the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system of children but it is uncommon in adult age. We report a case of young male presented with a history of generalized headache that was found to have medulloblastoma with diffuse leptomeningeal involvement without prominent mass lesion. To our knowledge, our patient is the second reported case of medulloblastoma in adults identified with primary leptomeningeal involvement without a prominent mass lesion. The clinical, radiological and pathologic features of this entity are described.
Mansoureh Togha; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Seyed Jalal Hosseini; Azar Haddadi
Volume 11, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 34-35
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Siamak Afshinmajd; Ali Davati; Farnaz Akbari
Volume 10, 3-4 , December 2011, , Pages 35-8
Abstract
Background: Migraine is a prevalent disease which is classified into two groups of migraine with aura and without aura. Eighteen percent of women and 6.5 percent of men in United States have migraine headache. Migraine headache is prevalent in all age groups but it usually subsides in adults above fifty. ...
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Background: Migraine is a prevalent disease which is classified into two groups of migraine with aura and without aura. Eighteen percent of women and 6.5 percent of men in United States have migraine headache. Migraine headache is prevalent in all age groups but it usually subsides in adults above fifty. Migraine has many risk factors such as stress, light, tiredness, special foods and beverages. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effects of body mass index (BMI) on the treatment of migraine headaches.Methods: All patients assigned to four groups according to their BMI. Patients with more than three attacks per month received nortriptyline and propranolol for eight weeks. The frequency, duration and severity of pain were measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) and behavioral rating scale (BRS-6) in regular intervals.Results: 203 patients completed the study. 153(75%) subjects were women and 50(25%) were men. Mean age of patients was 30.5 ± 7.1 years. Mean weight was 80.4 ± 14.1 kg and mean height was 1.67 ± 0.07 m. Pain frequency and duration showed statistically significant differences among four groups with better response in patients with lower BMI (P < 0.0001). VAS and BRS-6 scales showed statistically significant differences among four groups in favor of patients with lower BMI (P < 0.0001).Conclusion: This study showed that obesity has a direct influence on the treatment of migraine headaches. It could be recommended to patients to reduce their weight for better response to treatment. In addition, care should be taken about migraine drugs which make a tendency for increased appetite.
Abbas Ghorbani; Ahmad Chitsaz
Volume 10, 3-4 , December 2011, , Pages 39-42
Abstract
Background: Migraine is one of the most common headaches that affect 11% or more adult population. Recently, researchers have designed two questionnaires, namely Headache Impact Test (HIT) and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), with the aim of improving migraine care. These two tests provide a standard ...
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Background: Migraine is one of the most common headaches that affect 11% or more adult population. Recently, researchers have designed two questionnaires, namely Headache Impact Test (HIT) and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), with the aim of improving migraine care. These two tests provide a standard measurement about migraine's effects on people's life style that divide patients into 4 groups (grades) based on headaches intensity. The aim of this study was to compare the validity and reliability of these two tests.Methods: This study was designed as a multicenter, descriptive study to compare validity and reliability of Persian version of MIDAS and HIT questionnaires in 240 males and females with a migraine diagnosis according to criteria for headache and facial pain of the International Headache Society (IHS). The patients were enrolled in the study from 3 neurology clinics in Isfahan, Iran, between July 2004 and January 2005 and were evaluated at baseline (visit 1) and 4 weeks later (visit 2).Results: According to our study, there was a high correlation between two tests (r = 0.94). This decreased their MIDAS grade in comparison to their grade HIT questionnaire.Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that Persian version of HIT have the same validity and reliability as MIDAS. Replying to HIT questionnaire was easier than MIDAS for Iranian patients. Physicians can reliably use the Persian translation of both MIDAS and HIT questionnaires to define the severity of illness and its treatment strategy as a self-administered report by migraine patients. However, we recommend HIT for its simplicity in headache clinics.
Mahmoud Motamedi; Mohammad Ali Sahraian; Sasan Moshirzadeh
Volume 10, 3-4 , December 2011, , Pages 43-5
Abstract
Background: Epileptic seizures would result in embarrassment in society and have some negative impact on the patients' social activities. The aim of this study was to show the perceived impact of epilepsy by patients on different aspect of their social activities including occupation, marriage and education.Methods: ...
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Background: Epileptic seizures would result in embarrassment in society and have some negative impact on the patients' social activities. The aim of this study was to show the perceived impact of epilepsy by patients on different aspect of their social activities including occupation, marriage and education.Methods: We studied 179 epileptic patients aged 16 years and over using face to face interview. Nine domains including relation to spouses, relation to family members, social life, general health, interpersonal communications and friendships, feelings about success, hope for future, ordinary life and cope with others were considered.Results: One hundred and seven men and 72 women were studied. Nearly 78% of the patients had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. More than half of the patients believed that epilepsy had affected their social life and activities. General health was negatively affected by this disease more than any other item. This may be due to uncontrolled attacks or taking medications. About 15.5% of married and 39% of the single patients considered epilepsy as an obstacle to marry with their ideal spouses and more than half of the employed persons considered epilepsy as an obstacle for their job promotions.Conclusion: Epilepsy frequently impacts on several aspects of life. The disease negatively affects social life and activities, overall health, feelings about self, ability to work in paid employments, relationship with spouses, friends, and other family members, future plans, standards of living and ambitions of epileptic patients. Decreasing such impacts should be considered as an important part of treatment and proper management can certainly increase various aspects of life in these patients.
Alia Saberi; Hamid Reza Hatamian; Ehsan Kazemnejad; Nasim Ghorbannejad
Volume 10, 3-4 , December 2011, , Pages 46-50
Abstract
Background: Some coincidental disorders with migraine have been introduced that may have role in its pathogenesis or aggravation. In this study we determined the relative frequency of hyperlipidemia as a coincidental disorder in patients affected by migraine.Methods: A total of 102 migraine-affected ...
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Background: Some coincidental disorders with migraine have been introduced that may have role in its pathogenesis or aggravation. In this study we determined the relative frequency of hyperlipidemia as a coincidental disorder in patients affected by migraine.Methods: A total of 102 migraine-affected patients according to International Headache Society (HIS) criteria and 103 control subjects adjusted for age participated in this case-control study. Their serum level of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured.Results: A total of 84 women and 18 men with mean age of 34.9 ± 11.8 years and 79 women and 24 men with mean age of 32.8 ± 5.7 years constituted case and control groups, respectively. The means of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C levels in case and control groups were 177.0 ± 118.2 versus 108.7 ± 37.2 mg/dl (P = 0.0001), 186.2 ± 44.1 versus 152.9 ± 3.7 mg/dl (P = 0.0001), 49.9 ± 12.5 versus 46.1 ± 10.7 mg/dl (P = 0.023) and 104.8 ± 33.7 versus 84.1 ± 34.0 mg/dl (P = 0.0001), respectively. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia in case and control groups were 41.2% versus 18.4% (P = 0.0001), and 36.3% versus 9.7% (P = 0.0001). According to multivariate analysis, odds ratios were 3.11 (95% CI: 1.4 -6.6) and 17.4 (95% CI: 2.12-138.3), respectively. Odds ratio for low HDL-C was 0.2 (95% CI: 0.08-0.49).Conclusion: Hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia were more frequent in migraineurs. Conversely, low HDL-C was less frequent among the patients compared with non-migraineurs.
Ali Akbar Asadi-Pooya; Seyed Mohsen Dehghani; Mehrdad Emami
Volume 10, 3-4 , December 2011, , Pages 51-3
Abstract
Background: The main purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of treating helicobacter pylori (HP) infection on seizure frequency in patients with refractory epilepsy.Methods: A small sample of adult patients above 18 years of age with a diagnosis of refractory epilepsy was studied at ...
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Background: The main purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of treating helicobacter pylori (HP) infection on seizure frequency in patients with refractory epilepsy.Methods: A small sample of adult patients above 18 years of age with a diagnosis of refractory epilepsy was studied at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, from January 2009 through June 2011. If and when urea breath test result was positive, an upper endoscopy with multiple gastric biopsies was requested. Rapid urease test and histopathology examination were performed. For patients with confirmed HP infection, treatment with clarithromycin, amoxicillin and omeprazole was ordered for two weeks. Seizure frequency was recorded before and after HP treatment.Results: Nine patients were recruited. Using Wilcoxon signed ranks test, seizure frequency did not differ significantly after HP treatment compared to the period before treatment (P = 0.6).Conclusion: Treating HP infection in patients with refractory epilepsy did not significantly change the seizure frequency.
Samira Yadegari; Askar Ghorbani; Mitra Ansari Dezfouli; Shahriar Nafissi
Volume 10, 3-4 , December 2011, , Pages 54-7
Abstract
Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome (BVVLS) is a rare neurological disorder. We report our finding about four patients clinically and electrophysiologically diagnosed as BVVLS and denoted their clinical features with comparison to previous reports. The first symptom was bilateral hearing loss and the onset ...
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Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome (BVVLS) is a rare neurological disorder. We report our finding about four patients clinically and electrophysiologically diagnosed as BVVLS and denoted their clinical features with comparison to previous reports. The first symptom was bilateral hearing loss and the onset of other cranial nerves involvement varied between 0-15 years. Our patients represented some rare features like upper motor neuron signs in one patient and two cases interestingly developed some clinical improvement. This is the first report of BVVLS from Iran. Our patients which represent Caucasian population had generally similar features like previously reported cases.
Wen-Jun Tu; Hui Chen; Li-Hua Cui
Volume 10, 3-4 , December 2011
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