Ghaydaa A. Shehata

Cognitive impairment after cerebrovascular stroke: Relationship to vascular risk factors.

Background: Cognitive decline after cerebrovascular stroke has adverse outcome consequences. Since some vascular causes can be prevented and treated, the identification of stroke-related cognitive impairment is a challenge. Patients with cognitive impairment and vascular diseases exhibit higher homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations. Whether Hcy is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment after stoke is still in question. The objectives of this study were to determine: 1) the relative frequency of first-ever post-stroke dementia (PSD) (three months after onset) in a consecutive sample of our population, 2) the risk factors associated with PSD, and 3) the relationship between Hcy levels and PSD. Methods: Eighty-one inpatients with first-ever stroke were prospectively evaluated with a neuropsychological battery and event-related evoked potentials (P300) at onset and then after three months. A wide range of demographic, clinical, radiological and laboratory variables were examined. PSD was diagnosed if the clinical presentation fulfilled DSM-IV criteria of vascular dementia, the patient scored ≤21 on Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and ≤67 points on Cognitive Abilities Screening Instruments (CASI). Results: PSD was diagnosed in 21%. PSD was significantly associated with increasing age, low levels of education, large sized and lacunar infarctions, severity of stroke, prolonged P300 latency, smoking, hypertension, and elevated Hcy levels. High Hcy levels increased the odds ratio of PSD after adjustment of significantly relevant variables including age, smoking, size of infarction, and carotid stenosis. Conclusions: Cognitive decline is common after stroke. The results of this study indicate that PSD may result from stroke and its related risk factors including possible direct association with high Hcy levels. Better knowledge of the risk factors for PSD should increase the effectiveness of preventive strategies in patients with this condition.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Antibiotic Combinations in Neurobrucellosis: Results of the Istanbul Study

ABSTRACT No data on whether brucellar meningitis or meningoencephalitis can be treated with oral antibiotics or whether an intravenous extended-spectrum cephalosporin, namely, ceftriaxone, which does not accumulate in phagocytes, should be added to the regimen exist in the literature. The aim of a study conducted in Istanbul, Turkey, was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of ceftriaxone-based antibiotic treatment regimens with those of an oral treatment protocol in patients with these conditions. This retrospective study enrolled 215 adult patients in 28 health care institutions from four different countries. The first protocol (P1) comprised ceftriaxone, rifampin, and doxycycline. The second protocol (P2) consisted of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, rifampin, and doxycycline. In the third protocol (P3), the patients started with P1 and transferred to P2 when ceftriaxone was stopped. The treatment period was shorter with the regimens which included ceftriaxone (4.40 ± 2.47 months in P1, 6.52 ± 4.15 months in P2, and 5.18 ± 2.27 months in P3) (P = 0.002). In seven patients, therapy was modified due to antibiotic side effects. When these cases were excluded, therapeutic failure did not differ significantly between ceftriaxone-based regimens (n = 5/166, 3.0%) and the oral therapy (n = 4/42, 9.5%) (P = 0.084). The efficacy of the ceftriaxone-based regimens was found to be better (n = 6/166 [3.6%] versus n = 6/42 [14.3%]; P = 0.017) when a composite negative outcome (CNO; relapse plus therapeutic failure) was considered. Accordingly, CNO was greatest in P2 (14.3%, n = 6/42) compared to P1 (2.6%, n = 3/117) and P3 (6.1%, n = 3/49) (P = 0.020). Seemingly, ceftriaxone-based regimens are more successful and require shorter therapy than the oral treatment protocol.

Epidemiology of Major Neurological Disorders Project in Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt

Background/Methods: A door-to-door (‘every door’) study was carried out to assess the incidence and prevalence rates of epilepsy, stroke, Bell’s palsy and cerebral palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural populations of Al Kharga district, New Valley, Egypt. The study was carried out in 3 stages from June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009. A door-to-door screening including every door was carried out using a standardized questionnaire, which was administered by 3 neurologists to all inhabitants (62,583) of Al Kharga district. The study was designed to assess the prevalence, incidence and risk factors of major neurological disorders in Al Kharga district and aimed to reduce the burden of these neurological disorders in the entire region. Results/Conclusions: This study clarified that dementia, primary nocturnal enuresis, epilepsy, stroke and cerebral palsy are the most common neurological disorders. On the other hand, Bell’s palsy, extrapyramidal syndromes, cerebellar ataxia, muscle dystrophies and myasthenia gravis are less common neurological disorders in Al Kharga district.

Cognitive function and event-related potentials in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with cognitive changes, but the extent of cognition decline depends on age at onset, duration of diabetes, and occurrence of attacks of hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis. This study was designed to assess cognitive function in a group of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. A total of 40 diabetic children were recruited from the pediatric department of Assiut University Hospital, Egypt. Forty healthy children matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status were chosen as controls for comparison. Cognition was assessed using Stanford—Binet and event-related potentials tests. Compared to the control group, patients reported a significant reduction in intelligent quotient, comprehension, abstract visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning, bead memory, and total short memory testing for cognitive functions. Prolonged N1, P200, N2, and P300 latencies and reduced P300-N2 amplitude were reported. Significant negative correlations were identified in most studied cognitive functions and ketoacidosis or family history of diabetes mellitus.

Knowledge, attitude and practice with respect to epilepsy among school teachers in Assiut city, Egypt

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice with respect to epilepsy among secondary school teachers in Assiut city, Egypt. METHODS A cross sectional study was applied among secondary schools in Assiut city, Egypt. A 12-item questionnaire was self administered to 189 teachers, who selected randomly. RESULTS All teachers had heard about epilepsy. 54% of teachers deal with students with epilepsy as normal students. About one quarter (23.8%) of teachers accepted to give student with fit in the class first aid measures and 12.7% accepted to give the student, who was having a seizure in the class any form of prescribed treatment. Positive attitudes were common among females and single teachers. CONCLUSION The current study suggests that, a well directed health educational program about causes and management of epileptic seizures may improve the perception of epilepsy by teachers in Egypt. Teacher-targeted interventions aimed at reducing epilepsy-associated stigma and its sequel in Egyptian students.

The microbiological diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: results of Haydarpasa-1 study

We aimed to provide data on the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in this largest case series ever reported. The Haydarpasa-1 study involved patients with microbiologically confirmed TBM in Albania, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Syria and Turkey between 2000 and 2012. A positive culture, PCR or Ehrlich-Ziehl-Neelsen staining (EZNs) from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was mandatory for inclusion of meningitis patients. A total of 506 TBM patients were included. The sensitivities of the tests were as follows: interferon-γ release assay (Quantiferon TB gold in tube) 90.2%, automated culture systems (ACS) 81.8%, Löwenstein Jensen medium (L-J) 72.7%, adenosine deaminase (ADA) 29.9% and EZNs 27.3%. CSF-ACS was superior to CSF L-J culture and CSF-PCR (p <0.05 for both). Accordingly, CSF L-J culture was superior to CSF-PCR (p <0.05). Combination of L-J and ACS was superior to using these tests alone (p <0.05). There were poor and inverse agreements between EZNs and L-J culture (κ = -0.189); ACS and L-J culture (κ = -0.172) (p <0.05 for both). Fair and inverse agreement was detected for CSF-ADA and CSF-PCR (κ = -0.299, p <0.05). Diagnostic accuracy of TBM was increased when both ACS and L-J cultures were used together. Non-culture tests contributed to TBM diagnosis to a degree. However, due to the delays in the diagnosis with any of the cultures, combined use of non-culture tests appears to contribute early diagnosis. Hence, the diagnostic approach to TBM should be individualized according to the technical capacities of medical institutions particularly in those with poor resources.

Door-to-door survey of major neurological disorders (project) in Al Quseir City, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt.

A door-to-door survey, including every household, was conducted for all inhabitants of Al Quseir City (33,283), Red Sea Governorate, Egypt by three specialists of neurology as well as nine senior staff members of neurology and 15 female social workers to assess the epidemiology of major neurological disorders. Over six phases, from July 1, 2009 to January 31, 2012, screening of all eligible people in the population was carried out, by which case ascertainment of all major neurological disorders included in the study was done according to the accepted definitions and diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization. The order of frequency of prevalence of the studied neurological disorders was dementia (3.83% for those aged > 60 years), migraine (2.8% for those aged > 8 years), stroke (6.2/1000 for those aged > 20 years), epilepsy (5.5/1000), Parkinson’s disease (452.1/100,000 for those aged > 40 years), cerebral palsy (3.6/1000 among children < 18 years), spinal cord disorders (63/100,000) dystonia (39.11/100,000), cerebellar ataxia (30.01/100,000), trigeminal neuralgia (28/100,000 for those aged > 37 years), chorea (21.03/100,000), athetosis (15/100,000), and multiple sclerosis (13.74/100,000). The incidence rates of stroke, epilepsy, and Bell’s palsy were 181/100,000, 48/100,000, and 98.9/100,000 per year, respectively.

Results of a Multinational Study Suggest the Need for Rapid Diagnosis and Early Antiviral Treatment at the Onset of Herpetic Meningoencephalitis

ABSTRACT Data in the literature regarding the factors that predict unfavorable outcomes in adult herpetic meningoencephalitis (HME) cases are scarce. We conducted a multicenter study in order to provide insights into the predictors of HME outcomes, with special emphasis on the use and timing of antiviral treatment. Samples from 501 patients with molecular confirmation from cerebrospinal fluid were included from 35 referral centers in 10 countries. Four hundred thirty-eight patients were found to be eligible for the analysis. Overall, 232 (52.9%) patients experienced unfavorable outcomes, 44 died, and 188 survived, with sequelae. Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.05), Glasgow Coma Scale score (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.93), and symptomatic periods of 2 to 7 days (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.79) and >7 days (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.72 to 8.15) until the commencement of treatment predicted unfavorable outcomes. The outcome in HME patients is related to a combination of therapeutic and host factors. This study suggests that rapid diagnosis and early administration of antiviral treatment in HME patients are keys to a favorable outcome.

Door-to-door survey of major neurological disorders in Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt: methodological aspects.

Epidemiology of neurological disorders is still lacking in Egypt. The door-to-door method is the most suitable one to screen neurological disorders in our country. Over a 4-year period (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009), screening and examination had been carried out to ascertain the incidence and prevalence rate of epilepsy, stroke, cerebral palsy and Bell’s palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural population of Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt. A total of 62,583 people were screened by 3 neurologists in a door-to-door manner, including every door, using a standardized Arabic questionnaire to detect any patient with a neurological disorder. This was a project study of neurological disorders including 3 stages: first stage (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006) for data collection, designing a standardized questionnaire and screening; second stage (June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2008) for case ascertainment, classification of neurological disorders and investigations, and third stage (June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009) for data entry and statistical analysis. The results of this study revealed that the total prevalence rate of neurological disorders in Al Kharga District, New Valley was 2.4/100 with no significant difference among both sexes. The highest prevalence rate was recorded among elderly people (60+ years; 9.25%) and among children (≤18 years; 2.9%).

Neuropsychiatric evaluation of patients with brucellosis

Brucellosis is a multisystem disease that may present with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Neurobrucellosis is one of the complications. The objective of this study was to determine neuropsychiatric manifestations among patients with brucellosis. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with brucellosis (14 patients with manifest neurological manifestation and 13 patients without apparent neurological manifestation) were recruited from Assiut University hospital and compared with 50 healthy controls matched with respect to age, sex, and social economic and educational levels. They were subjected to systemic, meticulous neuropsychiatric evaluations, laboratory, radiological, neurophysiology, and psychometric assessment with Mini-Mental State Examination, Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised. and Hamilton Depression Rating. Overt or apparent neurological manifestation was recorded in 14 patients (51.85%) and 13 patients (48.15%) with brucellosis without apparent neuropsychiatric involvement. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement (vascular stroke, meningeoencephalitis, and dementia) was recorded in 9 patients (33.3%) and 6 patients (22.2%) had peripheral nervous sytem (PNS) involvement (polyneuropathy, radiculoapathy, and polyradiculoneuropathy). Depression was recorded in 7 (29.2%) patients; 3 patients (21.4%) of the neurobrucellosis group and 4 patients (30.8%) with brucellosis without neurological manifestations. Patients with brucellosis (neurobrucellosis and patients without neurological manifestations) reported highly significant impairment in some cognitive function measures (mental control, logical memory, visual reproduction) and higher scores on depressive symptoms compared with controls. Patients with a Brucella infection usually manifest central nervous system involvement. Clinicians, especially serving in endemic areas or serving patients coming from endemic areas, should consider the likelihood of neurobrucellosis in patients with unexplained neurological and psychiatric symptoms, and should perform the necessary tests, including cognitive function and depression tests.