Sibel Gazioglu

Electrodiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.

OBJECTIVE Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is difficult in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy as both conditions may affect median nerve conduction in a similar manner. There is no agreement about which electrodiagnostic tests are more efficient in determining CTS accurately in these patients. In this study, we aimed to define the best electrodiagnostic test in the diagnosis of CTS in diabetic polyneuropathy patients. METHODS We prospectively investigated 72 patients with CTS (140 hands), 32 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy without CTS (61 hands), 35 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy with CTS (62 hands) and 43 healthy controls (86 hands). Standard nerve conduction studies, segmental and comparative median nerve conduction tests were performed in all subjects. Cut-off values, sensitivities and specificities of each test for the diagnosis of CTS in diabetic polyneuropathy patients were determined by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS Distoproximal latency ratio (DPLR) with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 81% for the cut-off value of 1 and median and ulnar sensory latency difference to digit 4 (MUDD4) with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 85% for the cut-off value of 0.35 showed the highest sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of CTS in diabetic polyneuropathy patients among all nerve conduction tests. Wrist-palm median sensory conduction velocity (W-P SCV) and median and radial sensory latency difference to digit 1 (MRDD1) also showed high sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS Segmental median nerve conduction studies like DPLR and W-P SCV and sensory comparative tests such as MUDD4 and MRDD1 in combination with standard nerve conduction tests should result in more accurate diagnosis of CTS in diabetic polyneuropathy patients. SIGNIFICANCE These results could be helpful to overcome the diagnostic difficulty of CTS in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.

Ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in multiple sclerosis patients

OBJECTIVE Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are thought to provide useful information about brainstem functions, as the neural pathways of both ocular and cervical VEMPs pass through the brainstem. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical value of ocular and cervical VEMP tests in the evaluation of brainstem involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and to assess their relation with clinical and cranial MRI findings. METHODS Ocular and cervical VEMPs were recorded in 62 MS patients and 35 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. The latencies, amplitude asymmetry ratios of both VEMP responses and abnormality ratios (prolonged latencies and absent responses) were compared between the MS patients and the control group and among the groups of MS patients. RESULTS oVEMP mean n1 and p1 latencies and cVEMP mean p13 latency were significantly prolonged in MS patients. Although the abnormality ratios of both VEMPs were higher in patients with brainstem clinical or MRI lesions, the correlation was not statistically significant. Both ocular and cervical VEMP latencies were significantly correlated with expanded disability status scale. CONCLUSIONS Although there is no significant correlation with clinical or MRI findings, MS patients show high frequency of abnormality in VEMP tests, especially in oVEMP tests. SIGNIFICANCE VEMP tests may be useful as an adjunct test in the evaluation of brainstem dysfunction in MS patients.

Effect of serotonergic antidepressant therapy on temperament and character scales in patients with chronic tension-type headache.

Abstract  The purpose of the present study was to assess a group of patients with chronic tension‐type headache (CTTH) and control subjects using the personality questionnaire proposed by Cloninger and to determine possible changes in the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) patterns of CTTH patients after therapy with serotonergic antidepressants. Forty‐five patients with CTTH filled out the TCI and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before and after 4‐month prophylactic therapy with serotonergic antidepressants. A total of 50 age‐, sex‐ and education level‐matched healthy subjects were selected as a control group. During the pretreatment period patients were found to have higher harm avoidance and lower self‐directedness scores than healthy comparison subjects. During the post‐treatment period, although harm avoidance scores decreased and self‐directedness scores increased, harm avoidance scores were still significantly higher and self‐directedness scores significantly lower in CTTH patients than in controls. After using BDI score and age as covariates at the post‐treatment period, harm avoidance scores were still higher in patients with CTTH while self‐directedness scores did not differ between CTTH patients and controls. These findings suggest state and trait dependence of harm avoidance, and strong state dependence of self‐directedness scores in CTTH patients. When interpreting data regarding personality measured by the TCI in CTTH patients, the effects of depressive symptomatology should be taken into account.

VEMP responses are not affected in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients with or without polyneuropathy

Conclusion. Vestibular evoked myogenic responses (VEMPs) are not affected in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients with or without polyneuropathy. Objective. To compare VEMP responses of NIDDM patients and healthy subjects. Subjects and methods. VEMP responses were collected from 25 NIDDM patients with polyneuropathy (PNP), 13 NIDDM patients without PNP and 21 healthy subjects using click stimulation. After excluding ears with hearing loss (HL) (worse than 25 dB) the VEMP responses (p13 and n21 latencies and amplitude) recorded in 105 dB stimulus intensity were compared. Results. There was no statistically significant difference between groups. VEMP responses were found to be normal in NIDDM patients with or without PNP.

Personality traits of patients with multiple sclerosis and their relationship with clinical characteristics.

Abstract Few studies have investigated personality characteristics in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and little is known about the relationship between personality and clinical characteristics in these patients. We aimed to investigate the personality traits of MS patients and their relationship with clinical characteristics. The study population consisted of 74 MS patients and age-matched, sex-matched, and education level–matched healthy controls. All participants were instructed to complete the self-administered 240-item Temperament and Character Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. The MS patients exhibited higher harm avoidance (HA) and lower self-directedness scores than the control group, although these differences disappeared after controlling for depression. Duration of the disease was positively correlated with HA and negatively correlated with novelty-seeking scores. Expanded Disability Status Scale scores were negatively correlated with reward dependence. Our results suggest a possible relationship between personality characteristics and the stage of the disease or the degree of damage in MS patients.

Diagnostic value of plasma signal peptide-Cub-Egf domain-containing protein-1 (SCUBE-1) in an experimental model of acute ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVES This study was intended to examine possible diagnostic value of plasma Signal Peptide-Cub-Egf domain-containing protein-1 (SCUBE1) levels in an experimental model of acute ischemic stroke. METHODS Twenty-four female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Blood and brain tissue specimens were collected immediately following artery ligation (control; Group 1), 1h after ligation (Group 2), 2 h after ligation (Group 3) and 6h after ligation (Group 4). SCUBE1 levels were investigated in the serum specimens. The brain samples were examined histopathologically. Correlation analysis was performed between the values. RESULTS Median SCUBE1 values were 1.75 ng/ml in the control group, 3.80 ng/ml, 3.71 ng/ml and 4.19 ng/ml in the groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively (n=6 for each, P=0.004, for each group compared to control values). Histopathological analysis revealed median atrophic neuron percentages of 16% (in group 1), 42%, 55% and 76% in group 2, 3 and 4 respectively (n=6 for each, P=0.004, for each group compared to control group). A higly significant correlation was determined between SCUBE-1 levels and percentage of atrophic neurons (r=0.744 P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS In this experimental model of acute ischemic stroke plasma SCUBE1 levels rose from the 1st hour of induced stroke and remained high up to 6th hour tested. Results of this experimental study has a potential to become the basis for a clinical study to confirm whether SCUBE1 can be used as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke patients.

Basilar artery occlusion in migraine-like headache: a possible triggering effect of sumatriptan.

Headache is a common symptom at the onset of acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Simultaneous development of migraine-like headache and stroke in the same patient makes it difficult to differentiate between migraine-induced stroke and migraine-like headache attributed to ischemic stroke. We report a case of a 34-year-old woman with no previous migraine history who presented with migraine-like headache, thought to be a first attack of migraine, and who developed brainstem infarction shortly after triptan administration. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an acute pontine infarction, and CT angiography revealed occlusion of the basilar artery. A detailed etiological evaluation revealed no risk factor for ischemic stroke. We believe that the migraine-like headache was the first symptom of cerebral ischemia and that sumatriptan accelerated the development of the infarction. This case report emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis of migraine before using triptans. Secondary causes of migraine-like headache should be excluded, especially in patients with migraine-like headache for the first time.

Evaluation of Temperament and Character Features as Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome

Background and Purpose Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sleep-related movement disorder that is frequently associated with psychological disturbances. Personality traits are of considerable importance with respect to coping with chronic illness and disease vulnerability. This study assessed the temperament and character traits of RLS patients using an approach that involves the psychobiological model of personality. Methods The personality features of 65 newly diagnosed and untreated RLS patients with no neurological or psychiatric diseases and 109 healthy controls were determined using the Temperament and Character Inventory and compared using covariance analyses. The International RLS Study Group Severity Scale was used to assess the severity of the RLS symptoms, and the Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess the presence and severity of depressive symptoms. Results RLS patients scored significantly higher than healthy controls on the temperament dimension of harm avoidance (HA, p=0.02) and significantly lower on self-directedness (SD, p=0.001). No significant difference was observed in terms of the temperament dimension of novelty seeking (p=0.435). HA scores were significantly correlated with the BDI score but not with the RLS severity or duration. Conclusions High HA and low SD scores are the main characterizing personality features of RLS patients. These personality dimensions may be among the factors predisposing patients to development of the depressive symptoms that are frequently associated with RLS.

Lack of Association between Pulse Steroid Therapy and Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of this study was to determine the possible factors affecting BMD in patients with MS. We included consecutive 155 patients with MS and 90 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Patients with MS exhibited significantly lower T-scores and Z-scores in the femoral neck and trochanter compared to the controls. Ninety-four (61%) patients had reduced bone mass in either the lumbar spine or the femoral neck; of these, 64 (41.3%) had osteopenia and 30 (19.4%) had osteoporosis. The main factors affecting BMD were disability, duration of MS, and smoking. There was a negative relationship between femoral BMD and EDSS and disease duration. No association with lumbar BMD was determined. There were no correlations between BMD at any anatomic region and cumulative corticosteroid dose. BMD is significantly lower in patients with MS than in healthy controls. Reduced BMD in MS is mainly associated with disability and duration of the disease. Short courses of high dose steroid therapy did not result in an obvious negative impact on BMD in the lumbar spine and femoral neck in patients with MS.

Magnetic resonance imaging in bilateral brachial neuritis with pure sensory involvement.

Brachial neuritis is characterized by shoulder and arm pain followed by weakness and atrophy of affected muscles and sensory loss in the arm. Isolated sensory involvement of the brachial plexus is very rare. Diagnosis of brachial neuritis is usually based on clinical history and examination, with the confirmation by electrodiagnostic tests. A 72-year-old woman presented with numbness and tingling in the bilateral upper extremities. While nerve conduction examination revealed only sensory abnormalities of the bilateral upper extremities, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed thickening and hyperintensity of the bilateral brachial plexus. We report a case of bilateral brachial neuritis with clinical and electrophysiological pure sensory involvement diagnosed using brachial plexus MRI. Although electrophysiological examination is thought to be the best diagnostic technique in the diagnosis of brachial neuritis, its findings sometimes indicate a distal lesion, while the involvement of the whole brachial plexus can be seen in MRI.