Emel Koçer

IL-6 Levels in Migraine Patients Receiving Topiramate

There is considerable evidence suggesting that cytokines play important roles in pain and in mediating neurovascular inflammation associated with migraine headaches. Although consensus exists to recommend topiramate (TPM) for migraine prevention, the mechanism of action in this regard is unknown. We measured serum interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels in 66 migraine patients. Of these patients, 23 (34.9%) were taking TPM for migraine, and 43 (65.1%) were not. The IL‐6 levels were compared with those of healthy controls without migraine, from the population living in the same region. The mean IL‐6 levels in migraine patients taking TPM and patients who did not were 67.06 ± 92.09 pg/mL and 44.09 ± 59.19 pg/mL, respectively (P > 0.05). The IL‐6 levels were higher in the patients taking TPM. The IL‐6 level in the controls was 8.60 ± 7.36 pg/mL, which was significantly lower than the patient group using TPM (P = 0.001). Our results show that, although IL‐6 may be involved in pain induction or inflammatory mechanisms of migraine attacks, the serum IL‐6 level was not reduced in migraine patients receiving TPM therapy. In conclusion, we found high IL‐6 levels in migraine patients both with and without TPM therapy, suggesting that high IL‐6 levels during pain‐free periods could be a conditioning factor, making patients more vulnerable to pain attacks in chronic migraine. Further studies investigating the possible mechanism of TPM in migraine are needed.

Interleukin-6 Levels in Tension Headache Patients

ObjectiveCytokines are pain mediators in neurovascular inflammation. This study examined interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in the serum of tension-type headache (TTH) patients, to determine if inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of this condition. MethodsSerum IL-6 levels were studied in 42 patients and 37 healthy controls from the same region. Of the patients, 20 (47.6%) experiencing TTH less than 15 days per month were placed in episodic tension-type headache (ETTH) group, and 22 (52.3%) with TTH more than 15 days per month were placed in chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) group. ResultsThe IL-6 level was significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. The IL-6 level of CTTH patients was higher than the controls (P<0.01). The IL-6 level was similar between ETTH and CTTH patients. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship only between age and IL-6 level in the patients. ConclusionsCTTH and ETTH patients had an elevated serum IL-6 level compared with controls. Therefore, we believe that IL-6 may be involved in pain induction or inflammatory mechanisms in TTH. Furthermore studies of the possible connection between chronicity of headaches and cytokine levels are needed.

Assessment of Platelet Indices in Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mean Platelet Volume Was Increased in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Platelets induce chronic inflammation which is a key step in atherosclerosis and may be involved in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). We aimed to measure the mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count (PLC) in NDD patients. The present study was designed to investigate the platelet function by measuring MPV and PLC in NDD. A total of 182 outpatients with Alzheimers (AD) or Parkinsons diseases (PD) were included. The control group consisted of 104 healthy subjects. Platelet count was similar between groups. MPV values of PD patients were higher than those of AD patients and controls (P < 0.001). MPV correlated negatively with Heohn and Yahr scale (HYS) score (P < 0.001). Increased MPV in patients with PD may point to a platelet dysfunction. High-grade inflammation presents with low levels of MPV as seen in PD patients with high HYS scores.

Dry Eye Related to Commonly Used New Antidepressants.

Abstract Antidepressants may have an impact on the course of eye dryness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of commonly used new antidepressants on eye wetting. Fifty-four patients using new antidepressants and 57 controls were recruited. The Beck Depression Scale and Beck Anxiety Scale questionnaires were completed by the patients, and drug use time and dosages were recorded. The Schirmer test was performed without prior instillation of topical anesthesia to the ocular surface, and the wetting result was recorded for each eye. Escitalopram, duloxetine, and venlafaxine were used by 27, 13, and 14 patients, respectively. The Schirmer test results in the patients were significantly lower than in the controls (P < 0.001). The patients using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) displayed lower wetting measurements (⩽5 mm) compared with those using serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which was independent of the duration of antidepressant usage (P < 0.05). Although SSRIs do not have anticholinergic adverse effects except paroxetine, we found that both SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors increased the risk for eye dryness. The lower Schirmer test results of the SSRIs may be associated with a mechanism other than the anticholinergic system. An awareness of the drugs that contribute to dry eye will allow ophthalmologists, optometrists, and other physicians to better manage patients who have this problem.

Long-term depression is a stroke risk factor.

Kocer E, Kocer A, Degirmenci Y, Eryılmaz M. Long-term depression is a stroke risk factor. Background and Aim: Only a few studies have evaluated depression prevalence in pre-stroke period in comparison to controls. We investigated this association based on a hospitalised stroke population. Methods: One hundred and forty-eight stroke patients were evaluated. The presence of depression was compared with those of 100 healthy controls without stroke, from the same region. Depression was accepted as present or not present after history and clinical evaluation according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV. Socio-demographic variables, other stroke risk factors and the time of diagnosis of depression (how many year or month they got depression) were recorded. Results: Gender and mean age of patients and controls were similar in comparison. Depression was diagnosed in 27 patients and 24 controls (p > 0.05). The time period passed after diagnosis of depression was longer in stroke patients in comparison to controls (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The risk of stroke should be considered in elderly with long-term depression. This indicates that treatment of depression is another factor which should be considered in prevention of brain stroke.

Low scores on the Benton Facial Recognition Test associated with vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

BACKGROUND Decreased posterior cerebral circulation has been observed in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI). Reduced cerebral perfusion may have an impact on mental performance as measured by the Benton Facial Recognition Test (BFRT). We evaluated the usefulness of BFRT in identifying cognitive decline in patients with VBI by correlating test performance with total blood flow in the vertebrobasilar system and other variables such as educational level and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-three participants without dementia (mini-mental state examination; MMSE >27) and cranial magnetic resonance imaging abnormality, but with atherosclerotic risk factors were involved in the study. Nineteen subjects had a total vertebrobasilar flow volume less than 200 ml/min (Group I), and 14 subjects had a flow volume more than 200 ml/min (Group II). RESULTS The groups were similar in regard to gender, age, and educational level. BFRT results were 19.53 ± 3.12 and 22.36 ± 2.73 for Groups I and II, respectively (p=0.01). The educational level was the main factor affecting the BFRT score in Group I (p=0.04). DISCUSSION BFRT is clearly impaired in VBI as measured by Doppler ultrasound examination. We concluded that the test appears to adequately distinguish cognitive levels between VBI and other patients. Additionally, our results suggest that education is associated with BFRT results, and for normative purposes, gender consideration is unnecessary. Further studies are needed to investigate the association between VBI and memory dysfunction in early dementia.

Olanzapine intoxication-related transient diabetes insipidus.

Abstract Olanzapine is a second-generation atypical antipsychotic agent approved for the treatment of psychotic disorders and mania. The effects of olanzapine intoxication include central nervous system depression, hyperthermia, myosis, tachycardia, and orthostatic hypotension. Heretofore, only one case has been reported to develop polyuria after olanzapine overdose (560 mg). We describe a case that developed diabetes insipidus following massive olanzapine ingestion and returned to normal after desmopressin treatment.

Comparison of bone mineral density levels in young-adult patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls / Genç-erişkin şizofreni hastalarında kemik mineral yoğunluğu düzeyinin sağlıklı kontrollerle karşılaştırılması

Comparison of bone mineral density levels in young-adult patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls Objective: The aim of this study was to assess bone mineral density levels of patients with schizophrenia and to compare the results with healthy controls. Methods: Fourteen patients with schizophrenia and 31 healthy controls, between 22 and 44 years of age, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Bone mineral density (BMD) levels of each group were measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorbiometry (DEXA). The patients were assessed using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). All patients had been receiving antipsychotic treatment for at least 2 years. Patients’ sociodemographic caharacteristics and risk factors for osteoporosis (antipsychotic use, sunlight exposure, physical activity, etc.) were documented. Results: As compared with the healthy controls, the patients with schizophrenia had significantly lower BMD at the lumbar spine and at all sites of the proximal femur. Correlation analysis showed that the only factor related with the femoral BMD only in patients with schizophrenia was the age. No association between BMD and gender, PANSS score, type of antipsychotic medications, and other risk factors for osteoporosis were observed. Conclusions: In this study, we found that BMD in schizophrenia patients was lower than that of healthy controls and this finding suggest that osteoporotic changes may be seen in younger ages. Further prospective studies are needed to better clarify the relationship between osteoporosis and schizophrenia.