Mitochondrial mutation in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis, correlation between haplogroups H, A and clinical manifestations

As multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been known to be associated with Leber, hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a disease caused by mitochondrial (mtDNA) mutations, in this study we assessed possible involvement of mtDNA point mutation in MS patients. Fifty-two MS patients whose disease was confirmed with revised McDonald criteria and referred to Iranian Center of Neurological Research of Imam Khomeini hospital during 2006–2007 entered the study. Secondary mtDNA mutations, age, gender, clinical disability according to expanded disability status scale (EDSS), course of the disease, and presenting symptoms were the variables investigated in this study. DNA purification was performed by Diatom DNA Extraction Kit. Analysis of data was done by SPSS V11.5. The prevalent mutations with frequency of 19.2% were J, L, and T haplogroups. Haplotype A was more prevalent in patients with younger age of onset (P-value = 0.012) and high proportion of haplogroup H was associated with optic nerve involvement (P-value = 0.015). No motor symptoms were seen in haplogroup H patients. There is no significant relationship between duration of the disease and EDSS in different mutation of mtDNA

Correlation of liver enzymes and sonographic findings with pulsatile index of middle cerebral and basilar arteries in nonalcoholic fatty liver

Background: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is one of the most wide-spread human diseases that can impair liver function and sometimes progresses to cir-rhosis. Recently NAFLD has been identified as an independent risk factor for cardio-vascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of fatty liver disease and its sonographic severity on the resistance of the intracranial arteries. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of 55 patients referred from Gastroen-trology clinic with diagnosis of NAFLD to Sonodoppler department of Iranian Center of Neurological Research. Pulsaltile index as a Hemodynamic parameter of Middle Cerebral (MCA) and basilar Arteries of NAFLD Patients was measured by Trans Cra-nial Doppler (TCD) sonography and the measurements were compared with normal values. Also the association of these indices with serum liver enzymes and sonographic grading of liver involvement was assessed. The analysis was done by SPSS 16. Fre-quency distribution, mean and standard deviation were used in descriptive analysis and statistical test 2 to compare qualitative variables. Results: Pulsatile Index (PI) were normal (MCA, P= 0.166, Basilar, P= 0.053) and there was no significant difference with relation to severity of fatty liver based on so-nography findings (P= 0.789), but serum liver enzyme levels were inversely correlated with basilar artery PI (P= 0.014). Conclusion: Considering the increase of cerebral arteries PI in advanced liver disease, absence of increase in vascular PI of patients in the present study could be attributed to the short duration of disease from diagnosis to perform TCD, lack of advanced liver involvement (absence of liver dysfunction) and the response effect to treatment before the TCD. Therefore, to assess vascular changes over time, repeating the TCD with assess other parameters such as Fibroscan and K18 factor that has more compatibility of liver function, could help to understand the pathophysiology of liver diseases and its effect on vascular resistance

Evaluating the Changes in Alpha-1 Band Due to Exposure to Magnetic Field

Introduction Increase in alpha band is observed when blood perfusion in frontal area of head decreases. The present study evaluated some changes in the alpha band particularly, alpha-1 of frontal and central areas of the head, when several areas were exposed simultaneously to magnetic field. Materials and Methods Five points of head (F3, F4, Cz, T3, and T4) of twenty healthy male participants were exposed to magnetic fields simultaneously by five separate coils at different frequencies of 45, 17, 10, 5, and 3 Hz, in five separate sessions. The magnetic field intensity was 100 µT at 1.5 cm distance from the coil. At the end, relative powers over these areas in common frequency and alpha-1 bands were evaluated by paired t-test. Results Significant reduction (

EEG changes during exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field on a small area of brain

Introduction: Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) with different intensities and frequencies has been investigated by several researchers. In most of these studies, the applied magnetic field has uniformly encountered whole brain and it has shown that changing intensity and frequency causes anomaly changes in electroencephalograms. The aim of current study was to investigate the effect of local exposure to ELF-MF with different intensities on EEG signals. Material and methods: Magnetic field with frequency of 10 Hz and intensity of 100, 120, 160, 200, 240, 280, 320 and 360 µT was applied to F3 zone in 10-20 system of 3 men locally. Finally, relative power spectrum in 5 points of head in conventional frequency bands was assessed. Results: An increase in alpha band in regions under exposure such as F3 and O1 in intensities of 100 and 360 µT was observed. No changes in other bands such as theta band were found. It should be noted that none of the above effects was observed in closed-eye position. Conclusion: Regular effects due to increasing intensity of magnetic field was not observed and changing potential of EEG signals from magnetic field with intensity of 100 and 360 µT is more than other intensities. Changing pattern of alpha band in F4, Cz, O2 and O1 was similar to exposed F3 zone and no resonance effect was observed at 10 Hz magnetic field

Comparison of Epstein Barr Virus Antibodies And Tcell Cytokines Production in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Individuals

Background:Multiple sclerosis(MS) is the most common autoimmune disease of central nervous system with destruction of myelin sheath mediated by auto reactive CD4+ T Lymphocytes. Because of the possible role of Epstein-Barr virus in etiology of MS and T cells immune response, the aim of this study was to evaluate anti-Epstein Barr virus antibodies as a marker of reactivity and production of TH1 and TH2 cytokines in MS patients and healthy individuals.   Methods: Blood samples were taken from 68 MS patients at different stages of diseases and 20 apparently healthy individuals and plasma levels of anti- EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) antibodies determined and concentrations of IFN- [1] , IL-12 and IL-4 in culture supernatants of PHA-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured by ELISA.   Results: The mean levels of anti EBNA-1 and VCAantibodies were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p=0.04, p=0.001 respectively). Concentrations of IFN- [1] , IL-4 & IL-12 were also significantly higher in MS patients than healthy individuals (p=0.001, p=0.005, p=0.002, respectively). Significant correlation was found between anti EBNA-1 and VCAantibodies and IL-12 production (p =0.02, r=0.27& p=0.04, r=0.25, respectively); whereas no significant correlation was found between these antibodies and production of IFN- [1] or IL-4.   Conclusions: Due to elevated level of anti-EBV antibodies and T cell Cytokines in MS patients Rather than healthy individuals, Epstein Barr virus may play role in etiology of MS disease through activation of T cells immune response

Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is an idiopathic disorder (vasculitis) restricted to the central nervous system (CNS). It often presents with focal neurological deficits suggesting stroke or a combination of confusion and headache. We herein report three cases with various combinations of fever, partial seizure, encephalopathy, paresis, headache and ataxia. One of them was initially treated as herpes simplex meningoencephalitis, but further investigations revealed primary angiitis. Primary angiitis of the CNS has protean manifestations and should always be considered in patients suspicious to have CNS infection or stroke, particularly who does not respond to the routine treatments. Clinical data, exclusion of differential diagnoses and typical angiography seem to be enough to justify the diagnosis in the majority of cases

SARS-CoV-2 and Stroke Characteristics: A Report From the Multinational COVID-19 Stroke Study Group

International audienceBackground and Purpose: Stroke is reported as a consequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in several reports. However, data are sparse regarding the details of these patients in a multinational and large scale. Methods: We conducted a multinational observational study on features of consecutive acute ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and cerebral venous or sinus thrombosis among SARS-CoV-2–infected patients. We further investigated the risk of large vessel occlusion, stroke severity as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and stroke subtype as measured by the TOAST (Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) criteria among patients with acute ischemic stroke. In addition, we explored the neuroimaging findings, features of patients who were asymptomatic for SARS-CoV-2 infection at stroke onset, and the impact of geographic regions and countries’ health expenditure on outcomes. Results: Among the 136 tertiary centers of 32 countries who participated in this study, 71 centers from 17 countries had at least 1 eligible stroke patient. Of 432 patients included, 323 (74.8%) had acute ischemic stroke, 91 (21.1%) intracranial hemorrhage, and 18 (4.2%) cerebral venous or sinus thrombosis. A total of 183 (42.4%) patients were women, 104 (24.1%) patients were <55 years of age, and 105 (24.4%) patients had no identifiable vascular risk factors. Among acute ischemic stroke patients, 44.5% (126 of 283 patients) had large vessel occlusion; 10% had small artery occlusion according to the TOAST criteria. We observed a lower median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (8 [3–17] versus 11 [5–17]; P =0.02) and higher rate of mechanical thrombectomy (12.4% versus 2%; P <0.001) in countries with middle-to-high health expenditure when compared with countries with lower health expenditure. Among 380 patients who had known interval onset of the SARS-CoV-2 and stroke, 144 (37.8%) were asymptomatic at the time of admission for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: We observed a considerably higher rate of large vessel occlusions, a much lower rate of small vessel occlusion and lacunar infarction, and a considerable number of young stroke when compared with the population studies before the pandemic. The rate of mechanical thrombectomy was significantly lower in countries with lower health expenditures