A Comparative Study of the Detection of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the Peripheral Blood of Alzheimer's Patients and the Healthy subjects as a Biomarker for the diagnosis of Alzheimer

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease, which usually helps some biomarkers, such as amyloid proteins, to diagnose the disease. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the expression of a protein binding protein to the adjuvant responder to circular adenosine monophosphate (CREB) in peripheral blood of patients to Alzheimer's and healthy elderly people as a biomarker for diagnosing Alzheimer. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 32 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 32 normal blood samples were taken. Using real time PCR, CREB expression was evaluated. Results: The mean CREB level in the case group was 0.89 ± 0.30 and in the control group was 1.01 ± 0.03. The mean of BDNF level in the case group was significantly higher than the control group (P <0.001). There was no significant relationship between the level of CREB with age, sex, MMSE score and Cornell scale for depression in dementia (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Reducing CREB levels in people with Alzheimer's disease can be a factor in diagnosis in comparison to healthy people

Effect of twelve weeks balance training in water on postural Balance in Patients with Parkinson's disease

Abstract Background: Parkinson is a chronic, degenerative and destructive disease of the nervous system that is caused by the destruction of dopaminergic neurons that reside in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. It often happens in the ages of between 50 and 60 and one of its characteristics is the lack of balance. The goal by this present research was to study the effect of balance training in water on the patients with PD. Materials and Methods: The present semi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest control group design. The study population included patients referred to the Hospital of Alzahra. 36 men patients with Parkinson that were non-randomly selected and randomly divided into experimental (n=20) and control (n=16) groups. The experimental group in addition to medication, performed activity in water 3 times/ week, 60 minutes for 12 weeks whereas control subjects were treated only by medication and routine activities performed. Before intervention and three months after the intervention, the patient's balance was assessed by BBS. Data using ANCOVA (P<0.05) and SPSS 19 software was analyzed. Results: In comparison with the control group, the intervention group balance scores after 12 weeks of balance training in the water were greatly improved(49/1 to 53/70). Conclusion: Findings showed that balance training in water can be used as useful and effective method to improve balance and in turn daily functioning of PD patients. According to the severity of disease in patients participating in this study (I-III), the results can be extended only to this group of patients

Hallervorden-Spatz disease

Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) is a rare disorder characterized by progressive extrapyramidal dysfunction and dementia. Hallervorden and Spatz first described the disease, in 1922 as a form of familial brain degeneration characterized by iron deposition in the brain. Here we present four HSD cases with different clinical pictures

Effects of eight weeks laughter yoga training on motor function, balance, and flexibility in subjects with Parkinson's disease

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common disorders of the central nervous system. Laughter Yoga (LY) combines the complementary therapies, stretching, and breathing techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LY training on motor function, balance and flexibility in subjects with Parkinson's disease. Materials and Methods: Twenty four female participants with PD (stages 3-1 based on Hoehn and Yahr scale) voluntarily were recruited in this study. They were randomly assigned into two groups of experimental (mean age ± SD; 52.6 ± 6.8 years, weight ± SD; 61.1 ± 7.8 kg, height ± SD; 157.8± 4.3 cm) and control (mean age ± SD; 55.5 ± 6.7 years, weight ± SD; 67 ± 6.8 kg, height ± SD; 158.4± 5.5 cm). In addition to pharmacotherapy, the experimental group received 8 weeks LY (3 sessions per week, each session; 45 minutes), while the control group didn’t follow any effective physical activity. The patient’s motor function (Part 3 questionnaires UPDRS), balance (Berg) and flexibility (sit and reach test) were evaluated at the beginning and the end of 8-week. All data were analyzed by SPSS, version16. Results: The results of this study showed a significant improvement (P 0.05). An upward significant was observed in flexibility (P < 0.05) in the experimental group (11.1 vs 13.3), but it decreased in control group (P < 0.05, 13 vs 12.5). In all variables, significant differences were found between two groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that LY has a positive effect on motor functional and flexibility in individuals with PD; therefore it should be suggested to organize some LY sessions for these subjects each week to improve their balance, motor function, and finally activity daily living. Keywords: Parkinson's disease, Laughter Yoga, Berg scale, Sit and reac

Jacksonian seizure as the relapse symptom of multiple sclerosis

Epilepsy is more common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population, occurring in 2-3% of patients. Convulsions may be either tonic-clonic in nature or partial complex. In these individuals, seizures most likely result from lesions present in the cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter. A Jacksonian seizure is a type of simple partial seizure characterized by abnormal movements that begin in one group of muscles and progress to adjacent groups of muscles. We describe a case of Jacksonian seizure as the relapse symptom of MS. Focal motor seizures of this patient have been observed before and presumably marking the clinical onset or during acute bouts of MS. In this case, Jacksonian seizures appear to be the sign of a flare of MS, while the majority of seizures had been reported occur unrelated to MS relapses

Celecoxib or Prednisolone for Treatment of Medication Overuse Headache: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial in Migrainous Patients

Background:Treatment of Medication Overuse Headache (MOH) is yet under debate and Celecoxib as a Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) -inhibitor has not been tried widely as a pain relief drug for this type of headaches in migrainous patients.  Objectives: comparing the efficacy of celecoxib versus prednisolone for withdrawal period of MOH. Materials & Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was carried out, on 75 patients with MOH who visited the Isfahan Neurology Clinic in 2016. They were assigned into two groups of oral prednisolone and celecoxib prescribed for 15 days. Any changes in the duration (average hours of daily headache), frequency, and severity of headaches, and intake of rescue medication and their side effects were recorded after the 15-day intervention period. Data were analyzed by independent t, paired t, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon test, and chi-square tests in SPSS software version 20. Results: Average duration of headache in both groups significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.001). It decreased significantly in celecoxib group (P=0.04). Headache frequency decreased more but not significantly in the celecoxib group (P=0.08). Considering MIGSEV (Migraine Severity) and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) scales, headache severity alleviated significantly after treatment in both groups (P<0.001). The decrease was more noticeable in the celecoxib group. Need for rescue medications (P=0.048), and side effect appearance (P=0.001) was also lower in patients who took celecoxib, compared to the other group. Conclusion: Celecoxib showed higher efficacy and fewer side effects, compared to prednisolone in treatment of medication overuse headache in migrainous patients

بررسي مقايسه‌اي تأثیر تمرينات Frankel و Swiss Ball بر بهبود بالانس و افسردگي افراد مبتلا به مولتيپل اسكلروزيس

مقدمه: مولتيپل اسكلروزيس شايع‌ترين بيماري نرولوژي پيش‌رونده در جوانان بالغ مي‌باشد. اين بيماري باعث تخريب ميلين در آكسون‌هاي عصبي شده، در نتيجه ضايعات عملكردي ايجاد مي‌كند. يكي از مناطق مهم درگير در MS مخچه مي‌باشد. مشكل در اين ساختار باعث ايجاد اختلال در تعادل و ... مي‌شود كه به تبع آن كيفيت زندگي كاهش مي‌يابد. بنابراين استفاده از روش‌هاي كم هزينه و بدون عوارض جانبي براي برطرف كردن اين مشكل ضروري به نظر مي‌رسد. مواد و روش‌ها: اين مطالعه از نوع آينده‌نگر، شبه تجربي و يك سويه كور بوده، كه در سال 88-87 در شهر اصفهان انجام گرفته است. در اين مطالعه طي 10 جلسه، به 23 بيمار مبتلا به MS كه در هر گروه درماني قرار مي‌گرفت، تمرينات Frankel يا Swiss Ball به مدت 45 دقيقه در هر جلسه تحت نظارت مستقيم تراپيست آموزش داده مي‌شد. قبل و بعد از كامل شدن جلسات درماني جهت ارزيابي بالانس و افسردگي به ترتيب از پرسش‌نامه‌هاي معتبر Berg balance scale and beck استفاده شد. جهت تجزيه وتحليل داده‌ها با توجه به كمي بودن آن‌ها در هر گروه از آزمون Dependent t-test و بين دو گروه از Independent t-test موجود در نرم‌افزار آماري 13SPSS استفاده شد. یافته‌ها: بين وضعيت تعادل بيماران، قبل و بعد از درمان در گروه تمرينات Frankel و در گروه تمرينات Swiss Ball تفاوت معني‌داري وجود داشت (01/0 > P). بين وضعيت افسردگي بيماران، قبل و بعد از درمان در گروه تمرينات Frankel و در گروه تمرينات Swiss Ball تفاوت معني‌داري وجود داشت (01/0 > P). بين وضعيت تعادل بيماران، قبل از درمان بين دو گروه تفاوت معني‌داري وجود نداشت (18/0 = P). اما بعد از درمان بين دو گروه تفاوت معني‌داري وجود داشت (01/0 > P). بين وضعيت افسردگي بيماران، قبل از درمان بين دو گروه تفاوت معني‌داري وجود نداشت (29/0 = P). همچنين بعد از درمان بين دو گروه تفاوت معني‌داري وجود داشت (30/0 = P). نتیجه‎گیری: انجام تمرينات Frankel و Swiss Ball به صورت مداوم و با فرض ثابت بودن شرايط بيمار باعث بهبودي در تعادل و افسردگي بيماران مبتلا به MS شد. همچنين تمرينات Frankel در بهبود تعادل مؤثرتر از تمرينات Swiss Ball است. کلید واژه‌ها: مولتيپل اسكلروزيس، تعادل، افسردگي، تمرينات Frankel و تمرينات Swiss Bal

Does levetircetam decrease of the rubral tremor in patients with multiple sclerosis

Background: One of the frequent symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is tremor which can severely cause disability. Treatment of tremor in MS patients is still very challenging to manage. In this study, we sought to determine the efficacy of Levetiracetam on treatment of MS-related tremor. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted among 22 patients from July 2012 to April 2012 in Alzahra-Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Patients were given 500 mg Levetiracetam twice a day for 1 week. The drug dosage increased 1000 mg per week until reaching the peak dose of 50 mg/kg. After a 2 week period of washout, first phase was repeated. The subjects were assessed at baseline, after first intervention, after wash-out period, and after second intervention. Results: A total of 20 patients (17 females and 3 males) were enrolled in our study. There was a significant difference among tremor rate before and after intervention (P = 0.001). The drug was well tolerated and without any serious side effect during follow-up. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that although Levetiracetam caused a decrease tremor rate in MS it surged again after washout period

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome presenting with encephalopathy

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) is a rare syndrome affecting tissues containing melanocytes. The possibility of its autoimmune pathogenesis is supported by high frequent HLA-DR4 presentation, commonly associated with other autoimmune diseases. Eyes are the main affected organs, resulting in blindness. Brain disease is a late-onset event, and is extremely rare. Here, we are reporting a 57-year-old woman, a known case of VKH syndrome, presenting with brain encephalopathy several decades after the initial presentation. We think this long period between initial presentation and presentation of encephalopathy due to VKH syndrome has not been described before. She was treated with corticosteroids and discharged home with a good general condition