COVID-19 Infection and Seropositivity in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Guilan in 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. COVID-19 has presented a significant challenge to the care providers of patients with MS. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of COVID-19 infection and its seropositivity in MS patients in Guilan, Iran, in 2021. Materials & Methods: In this analytical-cross-sectional study, all patients with relapsing-remitting MS registered in the Guilan MS Association with an expanded disability status scale of less than 5 who were referred for evaluation participated in the study. Information related to the clinical and serological symptoms of COVID-19 infection, changes in drug use, and the occurrence of new attacks were collected. Serological results of COVID-19 (IgG) among them were registered. Results: In total, 260 patients with MS (78.8% women, and 21.2% men) with a Mean±SD age of 38.7±9.9 years, and a Mean±SD duration of MS of 8.9±4.9 years were investigated. The most commonly used drugs were Dimethyl fumarate, Interferon, and Rituximab, respectively. Thirty-three patients (12.6%) had a clinical COVID-19 infection, of which 32 people had a mild and only one had a critical infection. Eight patients (1.3%) had positive COVID-19 IgG tests. No significant relationship was found between the COVID-19 infection with the type of medication, medication change, clinical attack of MS, and co-morbidities (P>0.05). Conclusion: A few patients had positive COVID-19 IgG tests and clinical COVID-19 infection. The vast majority had mild disease, and the clinical attack was not related to COVID-19 infection

Serum Uric Acid as a Potential Concomitant with Carotid Atherosclerosis

Background: Common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT) measured by ultrasonography as a non-invasive method is nowadays known as a marker for early atherosclerosis. Objectives: Survey the relationship between serum uric acid and carotid intima-media thickness considering hypertension. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a comparative cross-sectional study in northern Iran in 2013–2014. The samples for uric acid level were taken from 90 patients. Data were collected through questionnaires and a non-invasive ultrasound technique was used to measure IMT. The analysis of data was done by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests and logistic regression model using SPSS software version 21. The significance level was set as 0.05. Results: Patients in the 3 groups were the same age and gender. The measured carotid intima-media thickness was significantly different among the groups (p=0.004). Using multivariate logistic regression and entering all variables, The intima-media thickness of the carotid in the group with hypertensive and hyperuricemia was significantly higher than that of the other research groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: An association was found between serum uric acid level and increased thickness of carotid intima-media and hyperuricemia can be considered as a risk factor for atherosclerosis

The Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in Patients With Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran

Background: Headache is one of the most common medical complaints occur in all ages. Migraine is the second leading cause of headache and is associated with many other disorders, such as obesity and metabolic syndromes.  Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with migraine referring to the neurological clinic. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on patients with migraine headache or history of migraine based on the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria referring to a neurology clinic in the north of Iran in 2016. The obtained data were entered in SPSS V. 22. The qualitative information were shown by average and standard deviation, also frequency and percentage were used to present nominal information. Results: A total of 360 qualified patients were studied. Their Mean±SD age was 33.25±10.64 years. About 31.1% of participants were female. A total of 31 patients (9.4% of all under study population) had diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with migraine was 9.4% which is close to what reported in normal population

Diagnosis of Meningitis Caused by Pathogenic Microorganisms Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Bacterial meningitis is an acute infectious inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain. Its early diagnosis is vital because of its high morbidity and mortality. It is mostly diagnosed by a gold standard diagnostic tool i.e. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) analysis. However, it is sometimes difficult and or impossible to do this procedure and an alternative diagnostic tool is needed. Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can detect the pus or other changes in subarachnoid space. But our optimal aim is to use an imaging method without using contrast to be useable and available in more specific condition. Methods: This study aimed to survey the role of non-contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of the bacterial meningitis. MEDLINE/PubMed Central, Web of Science and Scopus were searched without time period and language limitation until March 2017. We found 6410 papers in our initial search. After assessing the content of the papers based on Cochrane library guidelines and inclusion/exclusion criteria, 6 relevant studies were included in the systematic review. All of included studies were observational studies. Results: MRI studies demonstrated that Fluid Attenuation Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) and Diffusion-Weighted Image (DWI) MR imaging among all MRI modalities can detect some abnormalities compatible with bacterial meningitis. FLAIR and DWI-MR imaging are potentially useful to diagnose bacterial meningitis and can be used in emergent condition in which bacterial meningitis is highly suspicious and the other diagnostic tools are not available or feasible

The Relationship Between Bridging Integrator 1 Gene Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. The role of genetic factors in AD development remains non-demonstrated. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between one of the BIN1 gene’s single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs744373 and Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (LOAD) in an Iranian population in Guilan Province. Materials & Methods: In this case-control study, 110 patients with LOAD and 110 unrelated healthy controls were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) was performed for genotyping the BIN1 gene’s SNP rs744373. Electrophoresis was thereafter conducted using agarose gel and DNA-safe stain, and the gels were visualized under an Ultraviolet (UV) trans-illuminator. The allelic and genotypic frequencies were determined. Results: The frequency of allele T (Wild-type allele) in the control and the LOAD groups was 70.9% (n=159) and 58.6% (n=129), respectively (P=0.007). The frequency of allele C in the LOAD group (41.4%) (n=91) was significantly higher than that of the control group (29.1%) (n=64) (P=0.007). BIN’s homozygous genotype (CC) frequency was significantly higher in the LOAD group than in the control group (P=0.043). Conclusion: The rs744373 SNP of the BIN1 gene is significantly associated with the risk of developing AD in the studied population

Non-adherence to Disease-Modifying Treatments in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system. Usually, long-term MS medications are injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously, making them intolerable for many MS patients. Objectives: In the present study, the rate and the causes of non-adherence to MS disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) were assessed in patients with MS. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and three MS patients of Guilan MS Society were interviewed demographic and clinical data of the patients were collected. Results: Among the 203 patients, 73.9% were female. The mean±SD age of the patients was 32.47±9.15. Non-adherence to DMDs was due to side effects (21.7%) and requests of the families (21.7%) or ineffectiveness (17.4%). Significant association was seen between the non-adherence to DMDs and gender (p=0.015) and relapses (p=0.021). Conclusion: The evidence from the present study suggests that there is a high rate of non-adherence to DMDs in MS patients in Guilan