Cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics in patients with multiple sclerosis: a phase contrast magnetic resonance study

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics, which supposedly have a strong relationship with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), might be expected to be affected in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In this study, CSF flow at the level of the cerebral aqueduct was evaluated quantitatively by phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) to determine whether CSF flow dynamics are affected in MS patients. We studied 40 MS patients and 40 healthy controls using PC-MRI. We found significantly higher caudocranial(p=0.010) and craniocaudal CSF flow volumes(p=0.015) and stroke volume (p=0.010) in the MS patients compared with the controls. These findings may support the venous occlusion theory, but may also be explained by atrophy-dependent ventricular dilatation independent of the venous theory in MS patients

The Relationship Between Carotid Intima-media Thickness and Homosystein in Ischemic Stroke

Objective: The vast majority of ischemic strokes occur due to atherosclerosis. Although the precise mechanism is unknown, high homocysteine (HM) levels are considered to play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, the relationship between high HM and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), as an early predictor of atherosclerosis, is evaluated in patients with ischemic stroke

Knowledge of Food Literacy and Food Safety Among Turkish Adults

Objective: Having information about food safety and food literacy enables us to access healthy food. Nutrition and food habits are some of the most basic factors that affect human health. It will be a big step forwards in terms of public health to measure and influence consumers' knowledge about accessing safe food and food literacy. The aim of the present study was to measure consumers' knowledge about food safety and food literacy and to determine the factors that affect them

Epileptic Seizure as First Presenting Symptom of Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report

While epileptic seizures are seen in the course of multiple sclerosis, they are rarely the first symptom. The first epileptic seizure of a 26-yearold woman with multiple sclerosis is described in the present report. The patient presented to the emergency department with generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Neurologic examination was normal except for right-sided hemiparesis and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes. Cranial MRI revealed periventricular, multiple millimetric lesions and a 45x27-mm, semi-ring-enhanced, cortical, T2/FLAIR, hyperintense lesion in the centrum semiovale. IgG index was high, and oligoclonal band was positive in cerebrospinal fluid examination. Electroencephalography showed prominent fronto-temporal activity on the left side and sharp wave paroxysms. Multiple sclerosis was diagnosed, and pulse corticosteroid therapy was initiated. Due to recurrent seizures, antiepileptic drug was added to treatment; seizures were controlled with monotherapy. It is known that patients with multiple sclerosis experience seizures. Multiple sclerosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young patients presenting with seizures

Predictive value of early serum cytokine changes on long-term interferon beta-1a efficacy in multiple sclerosis

WOS: 000357245400005PubMed ID: 25026220Background: In a previous study, we had evaluated short-term effects of interferon beta-1a (IFNB-1a) 44 mu g s.c. three times per week treatment on serum levels of IFN-gamma (IFNG), IL-23, IL-17, IL-10, IL-9, IL-4 and TGF-beta (TGFB) and found a reduction only in IL-17 and IL-23 levels after 2 months of treatment. Methods: Using the same multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort, we assessed the predictive value of early cytokine level changes (difference between 2nd month and baseline levels as measured by ELISA) on the efficacy of long-term IFNB-1a treatment. Results: The alteration in IFNG levels of patients without any relapse was statistically lower than that of patients having one or more relapses (p = 0.019, Student's t-test). When patients with or without expanded disability severity scale (EDSS) progression were compared, none of the cytokine level changes showed a significant difference between groups. IL-17 and IL-23 level changes did not predict relapse and EDSS progression in IFNB-1a-treated MS patients. Conclusion: Our results show that the predictive power of early IFNG measurement on relapse occurrence may potentially extend a time span of several years

Effects of Trans-Cinnamaldehyde on Reperfused Ischemic Skeletal Muscle and the Relationship to Laminin

Purpose Ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury is a serious problem caused by vascular trauma, tourniquet use and/or compartment syndrome. Studies have reported that skeletal muscle function is impaired due to the lower extremity I-R injury. There are insufficient studies on the treatment methods used for the recovery of dysfunction. This study is designed to investigate the effects of trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA), a volatile oil of cinnamon structure, on the contractile dysfunction due to I-R injury of rat extensor-digitorum-longus (EDL) muscle. Materials and methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Except for the animals in the control group, all animals received saline (3-ml/kg) or TCA solution (30-mg/kg) which was administered orally three times with an 8-h interval before ischemia. After 24-hours, experimental groups were subjected to 3-h of lower extremity ischemia followed by 5-h reperfusion period. Then, the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and mechanical activity of muscle were recorded using the standard electro-biophysical techniques. Results There was a decrease in the maximum contractile force in I-R group compared to the control group (p  0.05). Conclusion We concluded that TCA has a potential protective effect with antioxidant effects against I-R injury and may maintain laminin levels

Influence of the long term use of a computer on median, ulnar and radial sensory nerves in the wrist region

Objectives: Repetitive microtrauma or overuse injuries may often affect upper extremities of the long term computer users. The aim of this study was to compare sensory nerve conduction velocities (SNCV) for median, radial and ulnar nerves in the wrist of computer users with the same parameters in controls who do not use computers regularly. Material and Methods: Twenty one male computer users (age: mean (M) = 28.3 years ± standard deviation (SD) = 7.5 years) and 21 male control subjects (age: M±SD = 24.1±4.6 years) were recruited for the study. Limb length and the perimeters of the dominant arm and forearm were measured for each subject. The neurophysiological study consisted of measuring sensory nerve conduction of the median, ulnar and radial nerves. Results: The sensory conduction velocities of both median and ulnar nerves were significantly delayed in the dominant arm of the computer users compared to the controls. In addition, sensory conduction velocity of the median nerve was significantly delayed in the dominant extremity of the computer users compared to their non-dominant extremity. Conclusions: This study shows that computer users have a tendency toward developing median and ulnar sensory nerve damage in the wrist region. Mechanism of delayed SNCV in the median and ulnar nerves may be due to sustained extension and ulnar deviation of the wrist during computer mouse use and typing. Reduced SNCV changes were more apparent on the dominant side of the median nerve. This may indicate the increased neural deficits related to an increased use of the dominant side. Further investigation is needed to determine how to reduce potential risk factors at this stage in order to prevent development of median or ulnar neuropathy in the long term computer users