Adalet Arıkanoğlu

Serum Levels of Calcification Inhibitors in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage

ABSTRACT The vascular calcification regulators and inflammatory markers including fetuin-A, osteopontin (OPN), and matrix Gla protein (MGP) may play an important role in the development of intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs). So far, the relationship between these parameters and ICH has not been studied. Therefore, this study was designed to elucidate whether fetuin-A, MGP, and OPN are involved in the pathophysiology of ICH. The ICH group consisted of 27 consecutive patients with spontaneous ICH evaluated in the neurology intensive care unit within the first 24 hours from the onset of the stroke. The serum OPN levels were significantly increased in patients with ICH compared to the controls. On the other hand, the serum MGP and fetuin-A levels were significantly decreased in the patients with ICH in comparison to the controls. In the patients with ICH, the serum MGP levels of the nonsurvivors were statistically significantly lower than the MGP levels of the survivors. In conclusion, the change in serum fetuin-A, MGP, and OPN levels after ICH indicates that these parameters play a role in the pathophysiological processes leading to an ICH. Measurement of the serum MGP levels may also be of value to estimate mortality.

Impact of cigarette smoking on conversion from clinically isolated syndrome to clinically definite multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to be influenced by various environmental factors including cigarette smoking. To identify the impact of smoking on conversion from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to clinically definite MS (CDMS), 95 consecutive uniformly treated smoker (n = 31) and nonsmoker (n = 64) CIS patients were evaluated retrospectively. The smoker CIS patients did not differ from nonsmokers by means of demographic and clinical findings. In addition, there was no difference between the two groups with respect to rate and time of conversion to CDMS. However, white matter lesions were detected in magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) of all smoking versus 54 of 64 (63.5%) nonsmoking CIS patients (p = 0.02). Our results show that smoking does not predict conversion from CIS to CDMS. However, smoking may be associated with the appearance of white matter lesions on MRI at CIS onset.

Diagnostic value of F-wave inversion in patients with early carpal tunnel syndrome.

Routine electrophysiological studies usually give normal results in patients with early stage carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Diagnostic significance of the F-wave inversion (the median of F-wave minimal latencies (FWML) exceeds a normal ipsilateral ulnar FWML by 1ms) has not been previously reported in early stage CTS. In this study, our primary aim was to investigate the diagnostic value of F-wave inversion in early stage CTS. Additionally, we aimed to demonstrate any possible relationship between F-wave inversion and symptom scores of the Boston questionnaire and functional capacity in early stage CTS. The study included 60 early stage CTS patients who presented with a median sensory nerve conduction velocity of ≥50m/s. The symptom severity and functional status of the patients were assessed by using the Boston questionnaire. The control group consisted of 45 healthy volunteers. We compared early stage CTS patients and healthy control subjects in terms of the results obtained from median-ulnar FWML. Existence of F-wave inversion was found in 32 (53.3%) of the early stage CTS patients and in 3 (8.7%) of the healthy controls (p=0.001). It was also found to be positively correlated with the Boston questionnaire scores (p=0.001, r=0.41) and functional capacity scores (p=0.001, r=0.41). The sensitivity and specificity of F-wave inversion for the diagnosis of early stage CTS were calculated as 53.3% and 93.3%, respectively. The addition of F-wave inversion measurement to the set of the routine nerve conduction studies can increase the reliability of the electrophysiological studies in patients with early stage CTS.

Changes in serum albumin levels and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with convulsive status epilepticus.

Aim: Inflammation may be involved in the ictogenesis and development of some partial epilepsies. Serum albumin levels and the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are markers of inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of serum albumin levels and NLR to predict inflammation in patients with convulsive status epilepticus (CSE). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 58 patients who were diagnosed with CSE and control group comprised of 58 healthy individuals. Albumin levels and NLR were evaluated during both the acute and subacute periods of CSE. Results: The average serum albumin levels were 3.27 ± 0.62 g/dL during the acute period and 3.4 ± 0.67 g/dL in the subacute period in the patient group and 3.92 ± 0.52 g/dL in the control group. Neutrophil counts were higher in patients in the acute phase of CSE, but lymphocyte counts were lower compared to the control group and the subacute phase. The average NLR values were 4.83 ± 5.1 in the acute period, 3.07 ± 3.02 during the subacute period and 1.98 ± 0.42 in the control group. Serum albumin and NLR levels were significantly different between the patients in the subacute and acute periods of CSE and the control group (p < 0.05). There were significant negative correlational relationships between serum albumin and NLR levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We found serum albumin levels were significantly lower and the NLR was significantly higher in the acute period of CSE. Neutrophil-mediated inflammation may be important in the aetiopathogenesis of CSE.

Effects of intrathecal caffeic acid phenethyl ester and methylprednisolone on oxidant/antioxidant status in traumatic spinal cord injuries.

PURPOSE To examine the effect of intrathecally given caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on peroxidation and total oxidant and antioxidant systems, and the effect of intrathecally given methylprednisolone (MP) in spinal cord injury (SCI) models. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four groups of 10 rats were formed: (1) Laminectomy, intrathecal saline injection, no SCI (sham: S); (2) Laminectomy, intrathecal saline injection, SCI (control: SCI); (3) Laminectomy, intrathecally given single dose of 3 mg/kg MP, SCISCI (SCI + MP). 4) Laminectomy, intrathecally given single dose of 1 µg/kg CAPE, SCI (SCI + CAPE). Malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant activity (TOA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) values in the spinal cord tissue were evaluated. RESULTS When group S and group SCI were compared, MDA, TOA, and SOD parameters increased post-SCI (p < 0.01). When compared with group SCI, it was observed that CAPE and MP decreased the MDA, TOA, and SOD levels (p < 0.01). This decrease was more pronounced in the SCI + CAPE group. When group S and group SCI were compared, a statistically substantial decrease was observed in the post-SCI TAC levels. When compared with group SCI, it was shown that CAPE and MP treatment substantially increased TAC levels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Intrathecal injection of both CAPE and MP inhibits lipid peroxidation and increase of oxidants in SCIs.

Clinical and Demographic Features of Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome Diagnosed in a University Hospital

Objective: Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS) is characterized by symptoms and signs of increased intracranial pressure without ventriculomegaly, intracranial tumor or mass. This study aimed to explore and analyze 34 patients with PTCS according to age, sex, symptoms of the disorder, cranial magnetic resonance images findings, etiology, and treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 34 patients who were diagnosed as having PTCS and followed up between January 2011 and August 2016 by Dicle University Medical School Neurology Department were included in this study. PTCS was diagnosed in accordance with the modified Dandy criteria. Results: Thirty-four patients were identified as having PTCS. Twenty-one (91.2%) had headache, 19 (55.9%) had blurred vision, 6 (17.6%) had diplopia, 2 (5.9%) had vertigo, 1 (2.9%) had tinnitus, and 1 (2.9%) had numbness of the face. Twenty-seven patients were diagnosed as having idiopathic intracranial hypertension, 21 (61.8%) had no etiologic factors. Six (17.6%) patients were obese, one of whom had recently gained weight and another had polycystic ovary syndrome. Seven patients were thought to have secondary PTCS with the following etiologic factors: 2 (5.9%) patients had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, 1 (2.9%) had a history of all-trans retinoic acid intake due to a malignancy, 1 (2.9%) had choroid plexus granuloma, 2 (5.9%) had sinus venous thrombosis, and 1 (2.9%) had Familial Meditteranian Fever. Conclusion: Although PTCS was described many years ago, its physiopathology and exact treatment procedures are not clearly understood. The most important target of its treatment is to prevent loss of vision and improve symptoms. With a better understanding of its pathophysiology, effective treatment protocols will be developed.

İntraserebral kanamalı hastalarda serum fibroblast büyüme faktörü düzeyleri

Objectives: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most mortal subtypes of stroke. Due to the angiogenic, neurotropic, and vessel-dilating properties of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the brain, role of bFGF has been investigated in a number of neurological disorders. So far, there is only study about serum bFGF levels in patients with ICH. The first aim of the present research is to investigate whether increased serum bFGF in patients with ICH. Also, second aim was to study the association between serum levels of bFGF and clinical status in patients with ICH. Materials and methods: We measured the serum levels of bFGF in 30 patients with ICH during acute period. Age and sex matched healthy subjects (n=30) were included in controls. Serum bFGF levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: The patients with intracerebral hemorrhage had higher serum levels of bFGF when compared with the healthy controls (12.89±3.23 ng/ml, 5.28±1.75 ng/ml; p=0.001). No statistically significant difference was determined between bFGF levels of the patients who died as compared to the patients who lived (13.49±4.13 ng/ ml; 12.43±3.43 ng/ml, p>0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between bFGF levels of the patients with intraventricular hemorrhage as compared to the patients without intraventricular hemorrhage (13.54±3.92 ng/ml; 12.24±2.29 ng/ml, p>0.05). There was no correlation between serum bFGF, hematoma volume, Gloskow coma scale, and National Institutes of Health stroke scale (p>0.05). Conclusion: The increased bFGF level may be one of the mechanisms that lead to angiogenesis and neuroprotection after ICH in human. . J Clin Exp Invest 2011; 2 (3): 282-286.