Zülfikar Arlier

Personality, depression, and anxiety as risk factors for chronic migraine.

This article evaluated risk factors such as personality, depression, and anxiety in relation to migraine transformation in Turkish patients. Thirty-seven patients with chronic migraine and 50 patients with episodic migraine were investigated. The scores for hysteria, hypochondriasis, psychasthenia, depression, and social introversion were all significantly higher in the chronic-migraine group than the episodic-migraine group. Seventy-four percent of the chronic-migraine group and 26% of the episodic-migraine group had depression. Eighty percent of the chronic-migraine group and 36% of the episodic-migraine group had anxiety. The results suggest that depression, anxiety, and personality characteristics such as hysteria, hypochondriasis, psychasthenia, depression, and social introversion may be associated with chronic migraine in Turkish patients.

Predictors of a Good Outcome after Endovascular Stroke Treatment with Stent Retrievers

Background and Purpose. Successful recanalization after endovascular stroke therapy (EVT) did not translate into a good clinical outcome in randomized trials. The goal of the study was to identify the predictors of a good outcome after mechanical thrombectomy with stent retrievers. Methods. A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database included consecutive patients treated with stent retrievers. We evaluated the influence of risk factors for stroke, baseline NIHSS score, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT (ASPECT) score, recanalization rate, onset-to-recanalization and onset-to-groin puncture time, and glucose levels at admission on good outcomes. The number of stent passes during procedure and symptomatic hemorrhage rate were also recorded. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at 90 days was considered as a good outcome. Results. From January 2011 to 2014, 70 consecutive patients with an acute ischemic stroke underwent EVT with stent retrievers. The absence of a medical history of diabetes was associated with good outcomes. Apart from diabetes, the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were similar between subjects with poor outcome versus those with good outcomes. Median time from onset to recanalization was significantly shorter in patients with good outcomes 245 (IQR: 216–313 min) compared with poor outcome patients (315 (IQR: 240–360 min); P = 0.023). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was observed in eight (21.6%) of 37 patients with poor outcomes and no symptomatic hemorrhage was seen in patients with good outcomes (P = 0.006). In multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, a favorable ASPECT score (ASPECT > 7) and successful recanalization after EVT were predictors of good outcomes. Every 10-year increase was associated with a 3.60-fold decrease in the probability of a good outcome at 3 months. The probability of a good outcome decreases by 1.43-fold for each 20 mg/dL increase in the blood glucose at admission. Conclusion. To achieve a good outcome after EVT with stent retrievers, quick and complete recanalization and better strategies for patient selection are warranted. We need randomized trials to identify the significance of tight blood glucose control in clinical outcome during or after EVT.

Impact of early versus late enteral nutrition on cell mediated immunity and its relationship with glucagon like peptide-1 in intensive care unit patients: a prospective study

IntroductionGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) originates from the gastrointestinal system in response to the presence of nutrition in the intestinal lumen and potentiates postprandial insulin secretion. Also, it acts as an immune-modulator which has influences on cell-mediated immunity.The aim of this study was to determine the impact of early enteral nutrition versus late enteral nutrition on plasma GLP-1 levels and the relationship between GLP-1 changes and cell-mediated immunity.Materials and methodsThe study was designed as a prospective, single-blinded study and carried out in the neurology intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. Twenty-four naive patients with acute thromboembolic cerebrovascular events, with National Institute of Health (NIH) stroke scores between 12 and 16, were included. Any condition interfering with GLP-1 and immunity was regarded as exclusion criterion. Two patients died, and two dropped out of the study due to complicating conditions.Patients were randomly subjected to early enteral feeding within the first 24 hours (Group 1), or late enteral feeding, beginning 48 hours after admission (Group 2) via a nasogastric tube. Calculated daily energy requirement was supplemented with parenteral nutrition, starting on the first study day for both groups. Blood samples were obtained before, and at 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after the first enteral feeding for GLP-1 assays; this procedure was repeated on the third day. Before and 24 hours after the first enteral feeding, samples were also taken for immunological analysis. Clinical observations were recorded.Pre- and post-feeding plasma GLP-1 changes between the two groups and within groups were evaluated. Lymphocyte subgroup changes before and 24 hours after the first enteral feeding in relation to GLP-1 changes were sought as well.ResultsGroup 1 and Group 2 exhibited similar GLP-1 levels in the pre-feeding and post-feeding periods for both the first time and the third day of enteral feeding. Also, no significant change in pre-/post-feeding GLP-1 levels was observed within groups. T-helper and T-regulatory cells increased, T-cytotoxic cells decreased significantly in Group 1 (P = 0.02; P = 0.036; P = 0.0019), but remained the same in Group 2 after enteral feeding. Positive but statistically insignificant clinical effects in terms of predisposition to infections (10% vs 40%) and median time of ICU stay (10 vs 15 days) were observed in Group 1.ConclusionsDepending on our findings, we propose that early enteral feeding may cause amelioration in cell-mediated immunity via factors other than GLP-1 in ICU patients with acute thromboembolic stroke. However, the possible deleterious effects of parenteral nutrition cannot be ruled out.

Subclinical hypothyroidism, hyperhomocysteinemia and dyslipidemia: investigating links with ischemic stroke in Turkish patients

Abstract Objectives: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for ischemic stroke. Hypothyroidism may cause hyperhomocysteinemia. To date, no works have examined the association between hypothyroidism and hyperhomocysteinemia in ischemic stroke. We aimed to investigate the roles of hypothyroidism and hyperhomocysteinemia in ischemic stroke, and whether any relationship exists between hypothyroidism and hyperhomocysteinemia in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: The study included 249 ischemic stroke patients and 102 patients with no history of stroke. Patients were evaluated for conventional risk factors and levels of homocysteine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, vitamin B12 and folic acid. Results: Ten (4%) patients in the ischemic stroke group had subclinical hypothyroidism. We did not find any overt or subclinical hypothyroidism in the control group. Hypothyroidism was higher to a statistically significant degree in the ischemic stroke group (p<0.05). Both hyperhomocysteinemia and hypothyroidism were associated with ischemic stroke patients. However, no association was found between hyperhomocysteinemia and hypothyroidism. Ischemic stroke patients with hypothyroidism had lower levels of HDL cholesterol and levels of total cholesterol/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C were higher than those of ischemic stroke patients without hypothyroidism. Discussion: Hypothyroidism is associated with ischemic stroke. Low HDL cholesterol, high total cholesterol/HDL-C and high LDL-C/HDL-C were associated in ischemic stroke patients with hypothyroidism. Hyperhomocysteinemia was not found to be associated with ischemic stroke patients with hypothyroidism.

CKD is associated with recurrent ischemia but not with hemorrhagic transformation in acute ischemic stroke patients

Abstract Background: We investigated the associations of Recurrent Ischemic Stroke (RIS) and Hemorrhagic Transformation (HT) with CKD in acute ischemic stroke patients. Method: The subjects were 160 patients, divided into two groups: with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (CKD), with eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (without CKD). Results: Subjects having DM (p = 0.018), CKD (p = 0.025) and treated with ACEI/ARB (p = 0.039) revealed association with RIS. Regression analysis disclosed only CKD (p = 0.04). Carotid artery stenosis (p = 0.030) and serum calcium levels (p = 0.013) showed significant association with HT. Conclusion: Our results disclosed that CKD could be a risk factor for RIS. There is no relation between CKD and HT.

Does stroke etiology play a role in predicting outcome of acute stroke patients who underwent endovascular treatment with stent retrievers

AIMS The goal of the study was to identify whether the stroke etiology play a role in the recanalization and outcome of patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with stent retrievers. METHODS AND RESULTS A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database included consecutive patients treated with stent retrievers. We included patients with cardioembolic stroke and large vessel atherosclerotic disease and compared risk factors for stroke, baseline NIHSS and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT scores (ASPECTS), stroke outcome, recanalization rate, onset-to-recanalization, onset-to-groin puncture time and the procedural time between two groups. Male sex was statistically more common in patients with large vessel atherosclerotic disease. Mean time from symptom onset- to the achievement of recanalization in patients with LVAD was 242±72.4 compared with cardioembolic stroke patients (301±70.7; p=0.014). Time for groin puncture to recanalization was longer in patients with cardioembolic stroke compared to LVAD group (97.5±44.3 vs 58.2±21.8; p=0.002). Time for microcatheter to successful recanalization or procedural termination was longer in patients with cardioembolic stroke compared to LVAD group (63.6±30.2 vs 34.2±19.4; p<0.001) with cardioembolic stroke had significantly worse long-term outcome (mRS 3-6) compared to those with LVAD (60.6% vs 26.3%; p=0.036). CONCLUSION Stroke etiology may play a role in the outcome of acute stroke patients who underwent endovascular stroke therapy. Cardioembolic strokes may be more resistant to endovascular acute stroke treatment.

Hypertension alters phosphorylation of VASP in brain endothelial cells

Hypertension impairs cerebral vascular function. Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) mediates active reorganization of the cytoskeleton via membrane ruffling, aggregation and tethering of actin filaments. VASP regulation of endothelial barrier function has been demonstrated by studies using VASP−/− animals under conditions associated with tissue hypoxia. We hypothesize that hypertension regulates VASP expression and/or phosphorylation in endothelial cells, thereby contributing to dysfunction in the cerebral vasculature. Because exercise has direct and indirect salutary effects on vascular systems that have been damaged by hypertension, we also investigated the effect of exercise on maintenance of VASP expression and/or phosphorylation. We used immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry to examine the effect of hypertension on VASP expression and phosphorylation in brain endothelial cells in normotensive [Wistar–Kyoto (WKY)] and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats under normal and exercise conditions. In addition, we analyzed VASP regulation in normoxia- and hypoxia-induced endothelial cells. Brain endothelial cells exhibited significantly lower VASP immunoreactivity and phosphorylation at the Ser157 residue in SHR versus WKY rats. Exercise reversed hypertension-induced alterations in VASP phosphorylation. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry indicated reduction in VASP phosphorylation in hypoxic versus normoxic endothelial cells. These results suggest that diminished VASP expression and/or Ser157 phosphorylation mediates endothelial changes associated with hypertension and exercise may normalize these changes, at least in part, by restoring VASP phosphorylation.

Nörolojik Hastalıklarda Terapötik Plazma Değişimi: 91 Hasta ile Yedi Yıllık Deneyim Sonuçları

INTRODUCTION In this study, we report the results of our experience of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for neuroimmunologic disorders performed at our hospital over a seven-year period. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 91 patients (53 male, 38 female) who had been treated at our center with TPE. RESULTS 60 patients with Guillain-Barrè syndrome (GBS), 23 with myasthenia gravis (MG), 4 with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and 1 patient each with polymyositis, septic encephalopathy, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and Opsoclonus-Myoclonus syndrome (OMS) received TPE. 26.7% of GBS patients made complete recovery, 61.7% had partial recovery and 11.7% patients died due to respiratory failure. Despite our best efforts and effective TPE treatments, 13.4% of MG patients deceased, however, 78% had full recovery. Three patients with CIDP were discharged with full and 1 patient with partial recovery. The patient with ADEM had partial recovery with TPE at first, but deceased 2 months later due to pneumonia-related respiratory insufficiency. While, patient with polymyositis had slight-partial recovery, we obtained full recovery with TPE in septic encephalopathy and OMS patients. The side effects and complications of treatments with TPE, which included hypotension, hypocalcaemia and anemia, were mild and manageable. CONCLUSION The improvement rates were encouraging and we concluded that significant benefit can be achieved with TPE for the treatment of neuroimmunological disorders.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease presented with dizziness, weakness and neuropsychiatric symptoms: 2 Case Reports -

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is among very rare, progressive, untreatable, neurodegenerative prion diseases. While the incidence is reported as 1/1000000 years in European countries, sporadic cases are rarely presented in Turkey. Clinical findings are in the form of rapid progressive dementia, myoclonus, cerebellar, pyramidal and extra pyramidal symptoms. Definitive diagnosis is established by histopathological examination. Our case is a 64-year-old male and 70-year-old female patients admitted with dizziness emerged as sub-acute weakness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, imbalance and additional neuropsychiatric complaints. Focal activity slowness and common periodic sharp wave activities were observed in EEG. CJD was considered because bilateral symmetrical diffusion limitation was observed at both sides in the basal ganglia level in cranial diffusion MRI’s and 14-3-3 protein was resulted as positive in CSF examinations. CJD, which is a very rare disease in patients presenting with progressive neuropsychiatric symptoms and seizure, is one of the diagnosis to be considered and we wanted to emphasize that there is no treatment for it and preventive measures should be taken.

Cerebrovascular Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for stroke. Patients with CKD are susceptible to ischemic as well as hemorrhagic stroke. The impairments in the small vessel vasculature, atherosclerotic changes of the large vessels, and coagulation abnormalities probably underlie the specific characteristics of stroke in CKD patients. The clinical outcomes, including functional outcomes and short- and long-term mortality after stroke, are poor in patients with CKD. CKD is defined as a decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and/or increased urine albumin excretion. One or both of these markers were significantly associated with poor functional outcomes and mortality after stroke. Recent studies have suggested that proteinuria/albuminuria is more deeply involved in the clinical outcomes than GFR. The evidence for the most effective management of acute stroke in CKD patients is lacking, and thus, the current treatment for stroke is optimized for individual patients based on their background. In this chapter, the scope of the problem, types of cerebrovascular disease, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were defined with an emphasis regarding the role of an impaired kidney function on the features of the stroke. The management of stroke in CKD patients is also discussed, although no optimal treatment protocol has yet been established.