Study Objectives: About a quarter of strokes and transient ischemic attacks occur in the vertebrobasilar distribution. Vertebrobasilar stroke is particularly prone to devastating consequences especially brain stem inf...Study Objectives: About a quarter of strokes and transient ischemic attacks occur in the vertebrobasilar distribution. Vertebrobasilar stroke is particularly prone to devastating consequences especially brain stem infarctions due to damage of the regional brain tissues that contain vital centers, and is associated with high rates of death and disability. Study Design: This was across sectional observational prospective hospital-based study conducted on 60 patients with first-ever acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke. The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between different risk factors and different infarction patterns in posterior circulation;single small lacunar lesion, single large lesion, or multiple scattered lesions. Diagnosis of ischemic stroke and stroke subtypes were defined using the Trial of ORG 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria as well as clinical and brain imaging features. Stroke severity using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was done on admission, after 24 hours from admission, and at 7 days from onset of symptoms. The patients functional status was assessed by modified Rankin scale (mRS) done on admission and on discharge from hospital and at 7-day follow up from onset of symptoms. Patients were classified according to infarction patterns into a single small lacunar lesion (group I), a single large lesion (group II), and multiple scattered lesions (group III) 20 patients in each group. Results: There was no significant difference between the three groups as regard the presence of vascular risk factors and the only significant difference as regard vascular risk factors was atrial fibrillation (AF). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard the occurrence of previous transient ischemic attacks (TIA). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard NIHSS score on admission, after 24 hours, and at 7 days from admission. There were significant differences between the three groups as reg展开更多
<strong>Introduction:</strong> The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be used as a marker of subclinical inflammation, and may have a predictive power in prognosis and severity of atherosclerosis-rel...<strong>Introduction:</strong> The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be used as a marker of subclinical inflammation, and may have a predictive power in prognosis and severity of atherosclerosis-related diseases. This study aimed to assess an association between the NLR, and clinical characteristics and one-month outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). <strong>Subjects and Methods:</strong> This case-control observational prospective study included 75 patients admitted to stroke unit of Ain Shams University hospitals with AIS, sub grouped into 3 equal groups according to subtype of AIS, in addition to 25 healthy individuals. The demographic characteristics of the patients, complete blood picture test results at presentation, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were recorded. The clinical outcome was assessed by the NIHSS and mRS scores after one month. <strong>Results:</strong> The total leucocyte count was significantly higher in large artery atherosclerosis (P = 0.004) and cardioembolic (P = 0.020) stroke groups, unlike lacunar stroke group (P = 0.082), when compared to controls. The neutrophils count was higher (P < 0.001) and the lymphocyte count was lower (P < 0.001) among all the stroke groups compared to the control group. The NLR was higher among all the stroke groups compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The NLR at cutoff value more than 1.34 had predicted stroke with a sensitivity of 89.33% and specificity of 72% and accuracy reached 88.6%. There was non-significant association between NLR and each of NIHSS and mRS after one month from onset of AIS. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> NLR was significantly higher among AIS subtypes compared to controls, but not a good predictor for one month outcome.展开更多
Study Objectives: Stroke is a major neurological disease significantly threatening the human health and life with a high morbidity, disability, and mortality. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is one of the common complica...Study Objectives: Stroke is a major neurological disease significantly threatening the human health and life with a high morbidity, disability, and mortality. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is one of the common complications of stroke. PSD has been a major factor hindering the recovery of neurological functions and daily activities in stroke patients and is closely related to the social avoidance and increased mortality of stroke patients. Although antidepressant drug treatment has improved during the last decades, symptoms in about 20% of the patients are not in remission two years after initiation of pharmacological intervention. Nowadays, non-invasive brain stimulation;techniques;transcranial direct current stimulation (tCDS) has gained an important interest in the treatment of many neuropsychiatric disorders which might be of some help in treatment of PSD. The goal of the current study is to evaluate the beneficial short term role of tDCS on post-stroke depression. Study Design: This was a randomized double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial included forty hemiparetic patients with post-stroke depression from outpatient clinic of Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, in the period between June 2018 to June 2019. All patients diagnosed as having a PSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Depression was evaluated by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) pre and post treatment and quality of life was evaluated by the Stroke Specific Quality Of Life scale (SS-QOL). Patients were assigned randomly into two groups: the study group A and the control group B. Both groups received antidepressant medication in addition to physical therapy program. Group A received tCDS for 30 minutes, three times per week for one month, while the group B received sham transcranial direct current stimulation. Results: Active tDCS was significantly superior to sham with significant improvement in depression and Stroke Specific Quality Of Life in treated group in comparison to grou展开更多
Study Objectives: Growing evidence suggests that sleep disturbances is common in vascular dementia (VaD). The goal of the current study is to assess the disturbance in sleep pattern in patients with VaD, and compare i...Study Objectives: Growing evidence suggests that sleep disturbances is common in vascular dementia (VaD). The goal of the current study is to assess the disturbance in sleep pattern in patients with VaD, and compare it to healthy normally cognitive elderly individuals. We next studied whether there are meaningful differences in the Subjective sleep assessment: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep measurements by polysomnography (PSG) in VaD patients. Study design: Case control study. Subject and methods: Overnight PSG recordings and self-reported sleep measures were obtained from 20 healthy elderly subjects and 20 VaD patients at the sleep laboratory. Results: This study showed abnormal subjective sleep quality in all patients and revealed that the most common sleep complaints among VaD patients were: excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), sleep disordered breathing (SDB), insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movements (PLMS) and REM behavioral disordered (RBD) respectively. Moreover, patients spent more time in stage I sleep, but less time in slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep compared to control populations, with delayed REML and less 1st REML. Also, increased sleep fragmentation;wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO) & sleep fragmentation index (SFI), increased arousal index (AI) & PLMS index were detected in VaD patients. Finally, VaD patients had significant high Apnea, Hypopnea and Respiratory Distress Index (RDI) score with high average SpO2 Desaturation. Conclusions: Sleep is significantly impaired in patients with VaD at both the objective and subjective level, which may be used as a diagnostic marker of VaD. SDB is a common feature of VaD and leads to fragmented sleep, increased nocturnal confusion, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Subjective sleep assessment questionnaire (ESS and PSQI) can be used in VaD patients when objective sleep assessment by PSG recordings is difficult to be done. The PSG study of sleep continuity, sleep architecture, and R展开更多
Study Objectives: Migraine is a complex neurovascular disease and is believed to be due to a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Study design: This was a cross-sectional observational prospective hospital ba...Study Objectives: Migraine is a complex neurovascular disease and is believed to be due to a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Study design: This was a cross-sectional observational prospective hospital based study conducted on 100 participants. They were divided into two groups;Group A: 50 migrainous patients according to the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders and Group B: 50 healthy subjects both groups were age and sex matched. All subjects underwent a full neurological and psychiatric examination. Full headache evaluation sheet used in headache outpatient clinic in Ain Shams University Hospitals and HIT-6? Headache Impact Test was used. Assay of serum level of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) as mitochondrial function marker was done. Results: There was no significant difference between both groups regarding gender, age or age group, marital state, education, residence and special habits. However, there was a statistical significant difference as regards family history of migraine more in patient group. In this study, serum NAA levels in migraine patients were significantly lower than in healthy controls. Decreased NAA level is generally believed to be a sign of reduced neuronal and glial mitochondrial function. Also, migraine with aura patients showed lower NAA levels when compared to migraine without aura subtypes. However, there was no significant correlation was found between NAA serum levels, and gender, age at onset, age group, type of aura, duration of the illness, type of onset of pain, frequent site of pain, time to max severity, severity of attack, and daily functions (social life, work, psychological wellbeing, sleep and cognition). Conclusions: Findings of this study indicate that NAA in serum may be a marker for neuronal dysfunction predisposing to migraine, probably related to the reduced mitochondria function.展开更多
Background: Antioxidants such as vitamin C can eliminate free radicles responsible for oxidative stress. Objective: To assess the serum level of vitamin C in a sample of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to investigate...Background: Antioxidants such as vitamin C can eliminate free radicles responsible for oxidative stress. Objective: To assess the serum level of vitamin C in a sample of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to investigate a possible role of vitamin C in the pathogenesis of MS. Subjects and Methods: Forty patients with MS and twenty healthy controls were included in this study. Vitamin C level was estimated for each participant. Results: Serum vitamin C levels were significantly lower among the patients (ranging from 0.28 mg/dL to 0.75 mg/dL with mean 0.47 ± 0.14 mg/dL and median of 0.46 mg/dL) compared to controls (ranging from 0.60 mg/dL to 2.90 mg/dL with mean 1.87 ± 0.61 mg/dL and median of 1.90 mg/dL) (P Conclusion: Patients with MS tended to have low serum vitamin C levels, and younger patients had lower serum levels.展开更多
Study Objectives: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute-onset, monophasic immune-mediated disorder of the peripheral nervous system that often follows an infection. The outcome and prognosis of GBS depend on many ...Study Objectives: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute-onset, monophasic immune-mediated disorder of the peripheral nervous system that often follows an infection. The outcome and prognosis of GBS depend on many factors such as the etiology, clinical features, neurophysiology and immunological parameters. The aim of this study was to assess the factors (clinical, investigatory tools, and therapies) that may affect the outcome of patients with GBS. Patients and methods: this was an analytical observational study that was conducted at Ain Shams university hospitals and Kobri Elkoba Military Hospital including twenty patients with the diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome in the duration from 2016 to 2018. This study included twenty patients with the diagnosis of GBS within two weeks from onset of neurologic symptoms, whom their diagnosis based on the established clinical criteria and verified by investigations. Patients were selected from both genders and aged from 18 to 65 years old. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography were performed within two weeks from admission. Various lines of treatment such as plasma exchange (PE), intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) or both were used during the period of admission in hospital. Outcome was assessed by the Hughes functional score (F-score), that was applied to the patients on admission, at end of 4 weeks from onset of neuropathy and at the end of 8 weeks. The final outcome at the end of 8 weeks was classified as follow: Group I: good prognosis (0 - 2) on the Hughes functional score (15 patients) and Group II: poor prognosis (3 - 6) on the Hughes functional score (5 patients). Results: the age of the study population ranged from 18 to 65 years with mean of 36.10 ± 16.08 years. Fifteen (75%) patients were males and 5 (25%) patients were females. There was no statistically significant difference found between poor and good prognosis regarding gender. The most common electrophysiological subtype was demyelinating followed by axonal neuropathy. Most patients (75%) h展开更多
Objectives: To study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients. Patients and Methods: It is a case control cross matching age related study done on totally 40 subjects (2...Objectives: To study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients. Patients and Methods: It is a case control cross matching age related study done on totally 40 subjects (20 patients are newly diagnosed as MS;patients don’t start any medication for MS (naive patients) and 20 subjects are controls with the same age and sex). Base line vitamin D level was measured (i.e. vitamin D, 25-OH (total)) and MRI brain with contrast was done for all patients. Results: Low total vitamin D level was seen among 65% of patients with MS (13/20);however, this was only 20% of normal controls (4/20). Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D is common in MS patients.展开更多
Objective: To study the effect of cerebral ischemic vascular insult on the localization of language areas as regard to automatic speech, initiation, and mutism. Materials and Methods: Seventy ischemic stroke patients ...Objective: To study the effect of cerebral ischemic vascular insult on the localization of language areas as regard to automatic speech, initiation, and mutism. Materials and Methods: Seventy ischemic stroke patients were selected within the first 48 h of the onset of stroke with left hemispheric stroke with aphasia. Inclusion criteria: any age above seven years, both sexes, first ever clinical stroke, admitted within the first 2 days of stroke insult. Patients underwent careful history taking, neurological examination, routine laboratory investigations, echo cardiography, and carotid duplex and language assessments. Results: Automatic speech disorders were mainly seen along left insular, left supramarginal and left frontal inferior orbital lesions. Initiation difficulty is seen mainly along as left insular, left temporal superior and left periventricular lesions. Mutism is seen along left external capsule, left internal capsule, left pallidum, left frontal inferior orbital and left inferior trigone lesions. Conclusions: Deep periventricular white matter and insular area in the dominant hemisphere play an important role in many language tasks. Thus aphasia is not a mere cortical function.展开更多
Objectives: To assess the impact of heart failure diseases on stroke severity and short term (1 month mortality). Materials and Methods: Totally, 200 patients admitted to Ain Shams university specialized hospital, wer...Objectives: To assess the impact of heart failure diseases on stroke severity and short term (1 month mortality). Materials and Methods: Totally, 200 patients admitted to Ain Shams university specialized hospital, were diagnosed clinically to have acute ischemic stroke within 3 days. History taking about previous heart disease was taken, and full general and neurological examinations were done. Full metabolic profile, cardiac examination and investigations were done. Carotid duplex, MRI stroke protocol and lastly clinical reevaluation using NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) after 1 month from stroke onset were done. Results: Patients with systolic dysfunction (EF ≤ 40%) had lacunar infarction in 18.75% of cases, partial anterior circulation infarction in 62.5% of cases, posterior circulation infarction in 6.25% of cases and total anterior circulation infarction in 12.5% of cases. Leucoaraiosis was present in 87% of cases and significant intracranial vessel stenosis was showed in 87.5% who had done MRI. Their median NIHSS score at admission was 10.5 with IQR of 5 - 21 and at follow-up it was 5 with IQR of 2.5 - 10.5. At follow-up 22.7% (5 patients) were dead. Conclusion: Systolic dysfunction (EF < 40) i.e. heart failure has no significant effect on stroke severity and 1 month follow up prognosis.展开更多
Objective: To study the prevalence of silent cerebral infarction in Type II diabetes mellitus. Patients and Methods: The study was a prospective on 80 patients recruited from neurology, endocrine outpatient clinics. P...Objective: To study the prevalence of silent cerebral infarction in Type II diabetes mellitus. Patients and Methods: The study was a prospective on 80 patients recruited from neurology, endocrine outpatient clinics. Patients were type II diabetics as described by the American Diabetes Association, 2011 criteria. All patients underwent full metabolic profiles to diagnose diabetes mellitus and MRI brain scans to detect cerebral infarction. Results: Silent cerebral infarctions were detected in 60% of patients (48/80 patients) predominately along periventricular white matter area and subcortical areas (Basal ganglia, Thalamus). Conclusion: Asymptomatic Type II diabetes mellitus patients could have vascular cerebral changes without neurological symptoms. MRI brain scans could be recommended as routine diagnosis (if possible) for early cerebral infarct detection in type II diabetic patients.展开更多
Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess volumetric Corticospinal Tract infiltration by Astro-cytoma using Diffusion Tensor Tractography. Material and Methods: Preoperative, anatomic (T1- and T2-weighted) and dif...Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess volumetric Corticospinal Tract infiltration by Astro-cytoma using Diffusion Tensor Tractography. Material and Methods: Preoperative, anatomic (T1- and T2-weighted) and diffusion tensor MRI were performed in 9 patients with supratentorial gliomas (WHO grade II and III). The tumors were manually segmented from the T1- and T2-weighted MRI, and their volume calculated. A three-dimensional tractography was performed in each case. A second segmentation and volume measurement was performed on the tumor regions intersecting adjacent white matter fiber tracts. Results: We identified that white matter tracts were infiltrated by 6 Astrocytoma tumors. The median tumor volume (±standard deviation) in our patient population was 33 ± 26.82 ml. The median tumor volume (±standard deviation) infiltrating white matter fiber tracts was 4.15 ± 9.23 ml. The median fraction of tumor volume infiltrating white matter fiber tracts was 26.3% ± 10.1%. Conclusions: Diffusion tensor MR Tractography is a reliable preoperative assessment tool since it detects extensive white matter infiltration by Astrocytoma irrespective of brain tumors volume. Recommendations: Prospective large population studies are required to clarify how infiltration relates to tumor location.展开更多
Objectives: To assess the impact of atrial fibrillation on stroke severity and short-term (1 month) mortality. Materials and Methods: Totally 200 patients admitted to Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital were rec...Objectives: To assess the impact of atrial fibrillation on stroke severity and short-term (1 month) mortality. Materials and Methods: Totally 200 patients admitted to Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital were recruited and diagnosed clinically to have acute ischemic stroke within 3 days. Patients with hemorrhagic infarctions were excluded. History taking about previous heart disease was taken, full general and neurological examinations were done. Full metabolic profile, full cardiac investigations, carotid duplex, MRI brain stroke protocol with initial clinical evaluation and after 1 month re-evaluation using (NIHSS ) scale. Results: All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography which revealed absence of “A” wave corresponding to atrial fibrillation in 33 patients (16.5%). Those Patients with atrial fibrillation had a median NIHSS score of 11.00 with IQR of 6.00 - 18.50 at admission and 6.00 with IQR of 2.00 - 14.50 after one month. Patients with atrial fibrillation showed significantly higher NIHSS at admission than patients in sinus rhythm, P < 0.05. Magnetic resonance imaging findings showed that MRA showed significant intracranial vessel stenosis in 117 (79.1%) patients. 51 (34.4%) patients had lacunar infarction, 65 (43.9%) patients had partial anterior circulation infarction, 25 (16.2%) patients had posterior circulation infarction and 7 (4.7%) patients had total anterior circulation infarction. 111 (75%) patients showed leucoaraiosis. Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation was found not to have significantly statistical effect on stroke severity and short term mortality.展开更多
文摘Study Objectives: About a quarter of strokes and transient ischemic attacks occur in the vertebrobasilar distribution. Vertebrobasilar stroke is particularly prone to devastating consequences especially brain stem infarctions due to damage of the regional brain tissues that contain vital centers, and is associated with high rates of death and disability. Study Design: This was across sectional observational prospective hospital-based study conducted on 60 patients with first-ever acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke. The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between different risk factors and different infarction patterns in posterior circulation;single small lacunar lesion, single large lesion, or multiple scattered lesions. Diagnosis of ischemic stroke and stroke subtypes were defined using the Trial of ORG 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria as well as clinical and brain imaging features. Stroke severity using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was done on admission, after 24 hours from admission, and at 7 days from onset of symptoms. The patients functional status was assessed by modified Rankin scale (mRS) done on admission and on discharge from hospital and at 7-day follow up from onset of symptoms. Patients were classified according to infarction patterns into a single small lacunar lesion (group I), a single large lesion (group II), and multiple scattered lesions (group III) 20 patients in each group. Results: There was no significant difference between the three groups as regard the presence of vascular risk factors and the only significant difference as regard vascular risk factors was atrial fibrillation (AF). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard the occurrence of previous transient ischemic attacks (TIA). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard NIHSS score on admission, after 24 hours, and at 7 days from admission. There were significant differences between the three groups as reg
文摘<strong>Introduction:</strong> The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be used as a marker of subclinical inflammation, and may have a predictive power in prognosis and severity of atherosclerosis-related diseases. This study aimed to assess an association between the NLR, and clinical characteristics and one-month outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). <strong>Subjects and Methods:</strong> This case-control observational prospective study included 75 patients admitted to stroke unit of Ain Shams University hospitals with AIS, sub grouped into 3 equal groups according to subtype of AIS, in addition to 25 healthy individuals. The demographic characteristics of the patients, complete blood picture test results at presentation, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were recorded. The clinical outcome was assessed by the NIHSS and mRS scores after one month. <strong>Results:</strong> The total leucocyte count was significantly higher in large artery atherosclerosis (P = 0.004) and cardioembolic (P = 0.020) stroke groups, unlike lacunar stroke group (P = 0.082), when compared to controls. The neutrophils count was higher (P < 0.001) and the lymphocyte count was lower (P < 0.001) among all the stroke groups compared to the control group. The NLR was higher among all the stroke groups compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The NLR at cutoff value more than 1.34 had predicted stroke with a sensitivity of 89.33% and specificity of 72% and accuracy reached 88.6%. There was non-significant association between NLR and each of NIHSS and mRS after one month from onset of AIS. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> NLR was significantly higher among AIS subtypes compared to controls, but not a good predictor for one month outcome.
文摘Study Objectives: Stroke is a major neurological disease significantly threatening the human health and life with a high morbidity, disability, and mortality. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is one of the common complications of stroke. PSD has been a major factor hindering the recovery of neurological functions and daily activities in stroke patients and is closely related to the social avoidance and increased mortality of stroke patients. Although antidepressant drug treatment has improved during the last decades, symptoms in about 20% of the patients are not in remission two years after initiation of pharmacological intervention. Nowadays, non-invasive brain stimulation;techniques;transcranial direct current stimulation (tCDS) has gained an important interest in the treatment of many neuropsychiatric disorders which might be of some help in treatment of PSD. The goal of the current study is to evaluate the beneficial short term role of tDCS on post-stroke depression. Study Design: This was a randomized double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial included forty hemiparetic patients with post-stroke depression from outpatient clinic of Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, in the period between June 2018 to June 2019. All patients diagnosed as having a PSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Depression was evaluated by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) pre and post treatment and quality of life was evaluated by the Stroke Specific Quality Of Life scale (SS-QOL). Patients were assigned randomly into two groups: the study group A and the control group B. Both groups received antidepressant medication in addition to physical therapy program. Group A received tCDS for 30 minutes, three times per week for one month, while the group B received sham transcranial direct current stimulation. Results: Active tDCS was significantly superior to sham with significant improvement in depression and Stroke Specific Quality Of Life in treated group in comparison to grou
文摘Study Objectives: Growing evidence suggests that sleep disturbances is common in vascular dementia (VaD). The goal of the current study is to assess the disturbance in sleep pattern in patients with VaD, and compare it to healthy normally cognitive elderly individuals. We next studied whether there are meaningful differences in the Subjective sleep assessment: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep measurements by polysomnography (PSG) in VaD patients. Study design: Case control study. Subject and methods: Overnight PSG recordings and self-reported sleep measures were obtained from 20 healthy elderly subjects and 20 VaD patients at the sleep laboratory. Results: This study showed abnormal subjective sleep quality in all patients and revealed that the most common sleep complaints among VaD patients were: excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), sleep disordered breathing (SDB), insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movements (PLMS) and REM behavioral disordered (RBD) respectively. Moreover, patients spent more time in stage I sleep, but less time in slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep compared to control populations, with delayed REML and less 1st REML. Also, increased sleep fragmentation;wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO) & sleep fragmentation index (SFI), increased arousal index (AI) & PLMS index were detected in VaD patients. Finally, VaD patients had significant high Apnea, Hypopnea and Respiratory Distress Index (RDI) score with high average SpO2 Desaturation. Conclusions: Sleep is significantly impaired in patients with VaD at both the objective and subjective level, which may be used as a diagnostic marker of VaD. SDB is a common feature of VaD and leads to fragmented sleep, increased nocturnal confusion, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Subjective sleep assessment questionnaire (ESS and PSQI) can be used in VaD patients when objective sleep assessment by PSG recordings is difficult to be done. The PSG study of sleep continuity, sleep architecture, and R
文摘Study Objectives: Migraine is a complex neurovascular disease and is believed to be due to a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Study design: This was a cross-sectional observational prospective hospital based study conducted on 100 participants. They were divided into two groups;Group A: 50 migrainous patients according to the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders and Group B: 50 healthy subjects both groups were age and sex matched. All subjects underwent a full neurological and psychiatric examination. Full headache evaluation sheet used in headache outpatient clinic in Ain Shams University Hospitals and HIT-6? Headache Impact Test was used. Assay of serum level of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) as mitochondrial function marker was done. Results: There was no significant difference between both groups regarding gender, age or age group, marital state, education, residence and special habits. However, there was a statistical significant difference as regards family history of migraine more in patient group. In this study, serum NAA levels in migraine patients were significantly lower than in healthy controls. Decreased NAA level is generally believed to be a sign of reduced neuronal and glial mitochondrial function. Also, migraine with aura patients showed lower NAA levels when compared to migraine without aura subtypes. However, there was no significant correlation was found between NAA serum levels, and gender, age at onset, age group, type of aura, duration of the illness, type of onset of pain, frequent site of pain, time to max severity, severity of attack, and daily functions (social life, work, psychological wellbeing, sleep and cognition). Conclusions: Findings of this study indicate that NAA in serum may be a marker for neuronal dysfunction predisposing to migraine, probably related to the reduced mitochondria function.
文摘Background: Antioxidants such as vitamin C can eliminate free radicles responsible for oxidative stress. Objective: To assess the serum level of vitamin C in a sample of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to investigate a possible role of vitamin C in the pathogenesis of MS. Subjects and Methods: Forty patients with MS and twenty healthy controls were included in this study. Vitamin C level was estimated for each participant. Results: Serum vitamin C levels were significantly lower among the patients (ranging from 0.28 mg/dL to 0.75 mg/dL with mean 0.47 ± 0.14 mg/dL and median of 0.46 mg/dL) compared to controls (ranging from 0.60 mg/dL to 2.90 mg/dL with mean 1.87 ± 0.61 mg/dL and median of 1.90 mg/dL) (P Conclusion: Patients with MS tended to have low serum vitamin C levels, and younger patients had lower serum levels.
文摘Study Objectives: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute-onset, monophasic immune-mediated disorder of the peripheral nervous system that often follows an infection. The outcome and prognosis of GBS depend on many factors such as the etiology, clinical features, neurophysiology and immunological parameters. The aim of this study was to assess the factors (clinical, investigatory tools, and therapies) that may affect the outcome of patients with GBS. Patients and methods: this was an analytical observational study that was conducted at Ain Shams university hospitals and Kobri Elkoba Military Hospital including twenty patients with the diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome in the duration from 2016 to 2018. This study included twenty patients with the diagnosis of GBS within two weeks from onset of neurologic symptoms, whom their diagnosis based on the established clinical criteria and verified by investigations. Patients were selected from both genders and aged from 18 to 65 years old. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography were performed within two weeks from admission. Various lines of treatment such as plasma exchange (PE), intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) or both were used during the period of admission in hospital. Outcome was assessed by the Hughes functional score (F-score), that was applied to the patients on admission, at end of 4 weeks from onset of neuropathy and at the end of 8 weeks. The final outcome at the end of 8 weeks was classified as follow: Group I: good prognosis (0 - 2) on the Hughes functional score (15 patients) and Group II: poor prognosis (3 - 6) on the Hughes functional score (5 patients). Results: the age of the study population ranged from 18 to 65 years with mean of 36.10 ± 16.08 years. Fifteen (75%) patients were males and 5 (25%) patients were females. There was no statistically significant difference found between poor and good prognosis regarding gender. The most common electrophysiological subtype was demyelinating followed by axonal neuropathy. Most patients (75%) h
文摘Objectives: To study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients. Patients and Methods: It is a case control cross matching age related study done on totally 40 subjects (20 patients are newly diagnosed as MS;patients don’t start any medication for MS (naive patients) and 20 subjects are controls with the same age and sex). Base line vitamin D level was measured (i.e. vitamin D, 25-OH (total)) and MRI brain with contrast was done for all patients. Results: Low total vitamin D level was seen among 65% of patients with MS (13/20);however, this was only 20% of normal controls (4/20). Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D is common in MS patients.
文摘Objective: To study the effect of cerebral ischemic vascular insult on the localization of language areas as regard to automatic speech, initiation, and mutism. Materials and Methods: Seventy ischemic stroke patients were selected within the first 48 h of the onset of stroke with left hemispheric stroke with aphasia. Inclusion criteria: any age above seven years, both sexes, first ever clinical stroke, admitted within the first 2 days of stroke insult. Patients underwent careful history taking, neurological examination, routine laboratory investigations, echo cardiography, and carotid duplex and language assessments. Results: Automatic speech disorders were mainly seen along left insular, left supramarginal and left frontal inferior orbital lesions. Initiation difficulty is seen mainly along as left insular, left temporal superior and left periventricular lesions. Mutism is seen along left external capsule, left internal capsule, left pallidum, left frontal inferior orbital and left inferior trigone lesions. Conclusions: Deep periventricular white matter and insular area in the dominant hemisphere play an important role in many language tasks. Thus aphasia is not a mere cortical function.
文摘Objectives: To assess the impact of heart failure diseases on stroke severity and short term (1 month mortality). Materials and Methods: Totally, 200 patients admitted to Ain Shams university specialized hospital, were diagnosed clinically to have acute ischemic stroke within 3 days. History taking about previous heart disease was taken, and full general and neurological examinations were done. Full metabolic profile, cardiac examination and investigations were done. Carotid duplex, MRI stroke protocol and lastly clinical reevaluation using NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) after 1 month from stroke onset were done. Results: Patients with systolic dysfunction (EF ≤ 40%) had lacunar infarction in 18.75% of cases, partial anterior circulation infarction in 62.5% of cases, posterior circulation infarction in 6.25% of cases and total anterior circulation infarction in 12.5% of cases. Leucoaraiosis was present in 87% of cases and significant intracranial vessel stenosis was showed in 87.5% who had done MRI. Their median NIHSS score at admission was 10.5 with IQR of 5 - 21 and at follow-up it was 5 with IQR of 2.5 - 10.5. At follow-up 22.7% (5 patients) were dead. Conclusion: Systolic dysfunction (EF < 40) i.e. heart failure has no significant effect on stroke severity and 1 month follow up prognosis.
文摘Objective: To study the prevalence of silent cerebral infarction in Type II diabetes mellitus. Patients and Methods: The study was a prospective on 80 patients recruited from neurology, endocrine outpatient clinics. Patients were type II diabetics as described by the American Diabetes Association, 2011 criteria. All patients underwent full metabolic profiles to diagnose diabetes mellitus and MRI brain scans to detect cerebral infarction. Results: Silent cerebral infarctions were detected in 60% of patients (48/80 patients) predominately along periventricular white matter area and subcortical areas (Basal ganglia, Thalamus). Conclusion: Asymptomatic Type II diabetes mellitus patients could have vascular cerebral changes without neurological symptoms. MRI brain scans could be recommended as routine diagnosis (if possible) for early cerebral infarct detection in type II diabetic patients.
文摘Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess volumetric Corticospinal Tract infiltration by Astro-cytoma using Diffusion Tensor Tractography. Material and Methods: Preoperative, anatomic (T1- and T2-weighted) and diffusion tensor MRI were performed in 9 patients with supratentorial gliomas (WHO grade II and III). The tumors were manually segmented from the T1- and T2-weighted MRI, and their volume calculated. A three-dimensional tractography was performed in each case. A second segmentation and volume measurement was performed on the tumor regions intersecting adjacent white matter fiber tracts. Results: We identified that white matter tracts were infiltrated by 6 Astrocytoma tumors. The median tumor volume (±standard deviation) in our patient population was 33 ± 26.82 ml. The median tumor volume (±standard deviation) infiltrating white matter fiber tracts was 4.15 ± 9.23 ml. The median fraction of tumor volume infiltrating white matter fiber tracts was 26.3% ± 10.1%. Conclusions: Diffusion tensor MR Tractography is a reliable preoperative assessment tool since it detects extensive white matter infiltration by Astrocytoma irrespective of brain tumors volume. Recommendations: Prospective large population studies are required to clarify how infiltration relates to tumor location.
文摘Objectives: To assess the impact of atrial fibrillation on stroke severity and short-term (1 month) mortality. Materials and Methods: Totally 200 patients admitted to Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital were recruited and diagnosed clinically to have acute ischemic stroke within 3 days. Patients with hemorrhagic infarctions were excluded. History taking about previous heart disease was taken, full general and neurological examinations were done. Full metabolic profile, full cardiac investigations, carotid duplex, MRI brain stroke protocol with initial clinical evaluation and after 1 month re-evaluation using (NIHSS ) scale. Results: All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography which revealed absence of “A” wave corresponding to atrial fibrillation in 33 patients (16.5%). Those Patients with atrial fibrillation had a median NIHSS score of 11.00 with IQR of 6.00 - 18.50 at admission and 6.00 with IQR of 2.00 - 14.50 after one month. Patients with atrial fibrillation showed significantly higher NIHSS at admission than patients in sinus rhythm, P < 0.05. Magnetic resonance imaging findings showed that MRA showed significant intracranial vessel stenosis in 117 (79.1%) patients. 51 (34.4%) patients had lacunar infarction, 65 (43.9%) patients had partial anterior circulation infarction, 25 (16.2%) patients had posterior circulation infarction and 7 (4.7%) patients had total anterior circulation infarction. 111 (75%) patients showed leucoaraiosis. Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation was found not to have significantly statistical effect on stroke severity and short term mortality.
