Sule Aydin Turkoglu

Sympathetic skin responses of the face and neck evoked by electrical stimulation

The sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) were recorded from different facial regions and neck in 25 subjects evoked by electrical stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist. Recordings from all regions were cross-compared with each other and within right and left sides individually. In one subject postauricular SSR, and in another subject upper lip SSR could not be elicited on both sides. Other responses could be obtained in all the remaining subjects. In 11 subjects, the responses did not appear by the first stimulus, and began to appear by repeated stimuli. Mean latencies and the highest amplitudes of the responses were similar for both sides. Gradual amplitude increase was observed in the first three or four set of responses in 20 subjects, although the stimulus intensity was constant. In conclusion, face and neck SSRs are symmetric, can be evoked by electrical stimulation and can be used to investigate the sympathetic innervation of these areas.

The histopathological and electrophysiological effects of thymoquinone and methylprednisolone in a rabbit traumatic facial nerve paralysis model

OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the effects of methylprednisolone and thymoquinone on nerve healing in a traumatic facial nerve paralysis animal model. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: group I: control group received no medication and no trauma; group II: sham group received no medication after facial nerve trauma group III: 5mg/kg/day thymoquinone administered; group IV: 1mg/kg/day methylprednisolone administered. An initial electrophysiological assessment was performed in all the animals. The buccal branch of the facial nerve was then clipped to form a traumatic facial paralysis model. The drugs were administered for two weeks once a day. At the end of the second month, the electrophysiological assessments were performed and the distal part of the traumatic facial nerve were dissected and examined under light microscopy. RESULTS Best nerve regeneration was observed in the control and the thymoquinone groups, respectively, whereas the weakest regeneration was determined in the sham group. Thymoquinone and methylprednisolone significantly increased nerve recovery, as measured by histopathological scores and electrophysiological assessment. In the thymoquinone group, due to postoperative amplitude, axon diameter and thickness of myelin sheath values were significantly further increased nerve regeneration compared to that of the methylprednisolone group and these values were close to those of the values of the control group. CONCLUSION Thymoquinone was slightly better than methylprednisolone for functional nerve recovery. The neuroprotective effect of thymoquinone was attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thymoquinone can have a new treatment option to ameliorate the nerve injury.

Investigation of a 6-year seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii in Abant Izzet Baysal University Educational Research Hospital

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in patients who were admitted in Abant İzzet Baysal University Education and Research Hospital between January 2010 and December 2016 with a suspicion of toxoplasmosis. METHODS Anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies and IgG avidity test determined by ELISA method in 14,262 serum samples belonging to the Abant İzzet Baysal University Education and Research Hospital were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS IgG was detected in 4079 serum samples with 78% negative, 21% positive, and 0.8% gray zone. IgM was detected in 13,671 cases with 98% negative, 1.2% positive, and 0.5% gray zone. (3.8%, n=540) and neurology (3.4%, n=478) patients who were referred to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic (88.3%, n=12,588) for the majority of the cases requested for the detection of T. gondii antibodies. It has been found that a request has been made. CONCLUSION The seropositivity of T. gondii has been found to be so large that it should not be ignored. It has come to the conclusion that the events in the risk group should be taken into consideration for this parasite, and awareness should be established. In recent years, this awareness has been observed, especially in neurology clinics.

Role of developmental venous anomalies in etiopathogenesis of demyelinating diseases

Abstract Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. T2W-hyperintense demyelinating lesions are detected in cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) have frequently been detected in enhanced cranial MRI images, and are generally accepted as normal variants of venous development. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there was an association between demyelinating diseases and venous anomalies. Methods: One hundred five patients who were diagnosed as having MS in accordance with the McDonald diagnostic criteria, and 105 patients who were diagnosed as having vascular headache who had no lesions similar to MS were included in the present retrospective study. Results: DVAs were detected in 31 of the study group and in 14 patients in the control group. A statistically significant higher rate of DVAs and abnormal signal increase in the neighboring tissue was detected in the study group (p = 0.004) (p = 0.006). The DVA was superficially localized in the RRMS, It was deeply located in RIS. Conclusion: Recent studies have emphasized the association of the central vein and the lesion severity of MS with the detection of the central collecting vein in MS lesions. In our study, DVAs, which are generally regarded as innocent developmental anomalies, and neighboring signal increase were found significantly higher in the MS group compared with the control group. The role of DVAs in the etiology of demyelinating lesions must be clarified through comprehensive future studies that use more advanced techniques.

Autoantibodies and Vitamin Levels: Is A Player Or Not in Pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis Patients?

Introduction and Aim: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. ANA, anti-dsDNA, and ENA profiles have been used in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases. Low vitamin D and B12, and folate levels, and high homocysteine levels are often detected in autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we aimed to investigate these parameters in patients with Multiple sclerosis and Multiple sclerosis like disease, as diagnosed in accordance with the revised McDonald criteria. Methods: The laboratory results of 161 (53Multiple sclerosis, 108 Multiple sclerosis like) patients who were examined for the differential diagnosis of vasculitis/Multiple sclerosis in the last 14 months were evaluated in this present retrospective, cross-sectional study. ANA, anti-dsDNA, ENA profile, vitamin D and B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels were recorded. Results: ANA levels in 12 patients with Multiple sclerosis and in 34 patients with Multiple sclerosis like disease were positive; however, ANA levels were negative in 37 patients Multiple sclerosis, and 72 patients with Multiple sclerosis like disease. Anti-dsDNA levels in 4 patients Multiple sclerosis and in 23 with Multiple sclerosis like disease were positive; however, they were negative in 44 patients with Multiple sclerosis and 81 with Multiple sclerosis like disease. The mean vitamin B12 and D, and folate levels of 111 patients were found below the lower normal limit, whereas PTH and homocysteine levels were found over the upper normal limit. Conclusion: The present study was the first to report the autoimmune parameters and vitamin D levels in patients with Multiple sclerosis and Multiple sclerosis like disease in Bolu province in the Western Black Sea region. Although ANA positivity comes to the forefront in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, high anti-dsDNA positivity in patients with MS-like disease suggests different underlying mechanisms. In the present study, vitamin D and B12, and folic acid levels were detected at the lower limit of normal, and homocysteine levels were found at the upper limit of normal. Prospective studies including a control group, in addition to retrospective studies are required to elucidate the roles of autoantibodies and vitamins in the pathogenesis Multiple sclerosis.

Vasculitis and neurobrucellosis: Evaluation of nine cases using radiologic findings

Brucellosis is an important multisystemic disease with many different clinical symptoms, and its early diagnosis and treatment are possible. Neurobrucellosis (NB) is a rare but serious finding of brucellosis. Brucella can be seen as meningitis and encephalopathy, and it can cause cranial nerve pathologies, vascular syndromes, myopathy, spinal diseases, and psychiatric disorders. In NB, vascular syndromes secondary to inflammation are rarely seen. Here, we present nine young patients with vascular and nonspecific neuropsychiatric findings who had NB as the etiology of stroke.

Atipik Özellikler Gösteren Akut Enflamatuvar Polinöropatili Bir Olgu

A case report with progressive weakness, bilateral facial paralysis and acute motor axonal polyneuropathy demonstrating electrodiagnostic evaluation will be presented. The condition was preceded by diarrhea, flu-like infection, abdominal pain and gastric tenderness; eventually, autonomic manifestation with episodes of visual hallucinations and disordered speech was added. Relation with Campylobacter jejuni infection, Lyme disease and porphyria are debated in differential diagnosis. Western-blot tests confirmed Lyme disease, and porphyrin specific test

IS RDW A PREDICTIVE PARAMETER FOR CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME PATIENTS REQUIRING SURGERY

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether haemogram parameters are predictive factors for both the severity of the disease and a decision in favor of surgical treatment in patients with an established diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). Methods: The medical files of patients with a diagnosis of CuTS who were followed-up conservatively (n=92) or surgically treated (n=92) were retrospectively screened and the haemogram parameters were recorded. Results: The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an area of 0.665 under the curve, with 76.3% sensitivity and 84.8% specificity at the cut-off of a red cell distribution width (RDW) level grater than 15.45%. RDW levels higher than 15.5%, electromyography (EMG) severity, and a clinical score higher than three were found to be independently associated with surgery. Conclusion: An elevated RDW value was related to the severity of the electromyogram. RDW may, therefore, be a useful independent predictor for the decision to surgical treatment of CuTS. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Study.