Polysomnographic and clinical characteristics of sleep apnea headache patients.

PURPOSE: Sleep apnea headache can be defined as a persistent, widespread, throbbing headache that occurs recurrently, is not accompanied by any additional symptoms after waking up, and usually resolves within four hours. Diagnosis of the condition requires confirmation through polysomnography with an apnea-hypopnea index of at least 5, indicating the presence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). While sleep apnea headaches are common in 10-15% of individuals with OSAS, morning headaches are experienced by 5% of this population. The aim of this study is to examine both polysomnographic and clinical features associated with sleep apnea headache in individuals confirmed to have OSAS by polysomnography. METHOD: The study was conducted in the sleep center of University of Health Science, Erenköy Mental and Nervous Disease Training and Research Hospital. We have examined the clinical and polysomnographic data of the patients with sleep apnea headache (SAH) diagnosed according to IHS-3 criteria retrospectively and grouped the patients as mild, moderate and severe OSAS. Patients with morning headache except sleep apnea headache and under PAP titration treatment were excluded. The differences between the sleep macro structures of patients with (WSAH) and without sleep apnea headache (WOSAH) were examined. RESULTS: The WSAH group consisted of 384 participants and the control group (WOSAH) consisted of 294 participants The mean age was 46.29 ± 12.18 and 45.08 ± 12.62 years, respectively. Patients in the WSAH group had significantly higher scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (p = 0.004) and higher periodic limb movement index (PLMI) (p = 0.014) compared to the WOSAH group. WSAH patients exhibited shorter wake times after sleep onset (WASO) and lower scores on the sleep quality index, in contrast to WOSAH patients. Additionally, within the WSAH group, there was a negative correlation between age and several sleep parameters, including total sleep parameters. A positive correlation was observed between sleep duration (p = 0.009), waking up after sleep (p = 0.043), sleep efficiency (p = 0.001) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (p = 0.018). Additionally, ESS scores were positively correlated with AHI and total awake time (p = 0.000 and p = 0.008, respectively), while negatively correlated with stage N3 sleep percentage and mean minimum oxygen level (p = 0.001 and p = 0.020, respectively) in the WSAH group. CONCLUSION: The causes and possible mechanisms of sleep apnea headache are not fully clarified and the underlying processes are not fully understood. Sleep apnea headaches appear to be related to disturbances in nocturnal sleep. Dysregulation in regions that modulate sleep and nociception may be one possible mechanism.

Distinctive sleep complaints and polysomnographic findings in antibody subgroups of autoimmune limbic encephalitis.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep disturbances are being increasingly recognized in association with autoimmune encephalitis (AIE). We investigated the prevalence of sleep-related symptoms and polysomnographic features of patients with AIE and the long-term outcomes in these patients in a multi-center, prospective study from Turkey. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated patients with definite AIE in a common database including demographics, AIE-related and sleep-related symptomatology. Maximum and latest modified Rankin scores (mRS) and Liverpool Outcome Score (LOS) were noted. RESULTS: Of 142 patients, 87 patients (61.3%) fulfilled the criteria for definite AIE (mean age, 46.8+18.8 years; 51.7% women; mean disease duration, 21.0+38.4 months). 78.9% of patients had at least one or more new onset or worsened sleep-related symptomatology: insomnia (55.3%), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS, 28.0%), sleep apnea (18.7%), REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD, 17.3%), restless legs syndrome (10.7%) and oneiric stupor (9.3%). Sleep efficiency, N3 and REM sleep were decreased and N1 sleep was increased in patients with Ab[+] AIE. LOS points were highest in those with insomnia and sleep apnea, and lowest in those with EDS, RBD and oneiric stupor. RBD and sleep apnea were more common in anti-LG1 Ab[+] group than anti-NMDAR Ab[+] group. Index of periodic leg movements was highest in anti-LG1 Ab[+] group. Patients with EDS and oneiric stupor had more common memory problems. Maximum and latest mRS scores were positively correlated with EDS and oneiric stupor. EDS, RBD and oneiric stupor were negatively correlated with LOS points. CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the presence and importance of early diagnosis of sleep disturbances in AIE in regard to their deteriorative influences on disease prognosis.

One Patient, Three Providers: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Managing Common Neuropsychiatric Cases.

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric cases require a multidisciplinary approach for effective management. This paper presented case-based discussions on migraine, dementia, epilepsy, mood disorders, neuralgia, and psychosis from the perspectives of a family physician, neurologist, and psychiatrist. The goal was to highlight the importance of collaboration between healthcare providers in managing these complex cases. METHODS: The paper was based on the proceedings of the Mediterranean Neuropsychiatry Symposium, where experts from family medicine, neurology, and psychiatry came together for comprehensive case-based discussions. The CARE framework (Case Report, Appraisal, Research, and Education) was developed to guide reporting and evaluation of case reports in clinical practice. RESULTS: Six cases were presented and discussed, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing neuropsychiatric cases. The cases included chronic migraine with medication overuse, memory dysfunction with language and behavioral problems, refractory epileptic seizures with subjective sensory symptoms, bipolar affective disorder with normal pressure hydrocephalus, postherpetic neuralgia in a case with bipolar affective disorder, and psychosis with recurrent attacks with the abuse of several substances. CONCLUSION: A biopsychosocial multidisciplinary approach is essential for managing neuropsychiatric cases effectively on behalf of the patients and public health of the country. The CARE framework can guide the reporting and evaluation of case reports in clinical practice, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive and effective care. Healthcare providers should collaborate to provide the best possible care for patients with complex and multifaceted needs.

The Influence of ADORA2A on Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia.

Background: Dopamine deficiency causes Parkinson's disease (PD), and on treatment, levodopa is the gold standard. Various drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug receptors are believed to be involved in prompting dyskinesias due to the extended usage of levodopa. Shreds of evidence in genomic studies have presented that ADORA2A receptor antagonism has beneficial outcomes to avoid these drug-induced side effects. Objective: The aim of this study was to study the polymorphisms of rs2298383, rs35060421, and rs5751876 in the ADORA2A in patients diagnosed as PD and describe their possible relationships with levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID). Methods: One-hundred and seventy-two patients were recruited and separated as the study and the control group. DNA was achieved from peripheral venous blood, high resolution melting analysis, and reverse-transcriptase PCR was performed. Results: The allele differences among the groups were not statistically significant. Although it was not statistically significant, the rs35060421 allele was observed to repeat more frequently. However, we did not find an association between such polymorphisms of ADORA2A and LID. Conclusions: Although this result showed that a higher sample number might produce different results as possible, current results in the Turkish sample indicated that these alleles of ADORA2A might not be related to LID in patients.

Uric acid: The role in the pathophysiology and the prediction in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease: A Turkish-based study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Oxidative stress has been associated as an essential contributor to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent developments in the field of Parkinson's Disease (PD) pathophysiology have led to a renewed interest in this field. As an antioxidant, uric acid (UA) has arisen as a potential neuroprotectant. Higher concentrations of UA are linked to reducing the risk of the development of the disease and preventing its progression. However, the expositions are unsatisfactory because the outcomes of these reports have not been consistent. This study is set out to assess the association of whether lower UA concentrations increased the PD risk by investigating its relationship with patients' demographic and clinical data, and to determine whether previous studies are compatible with the Turkish-sampled population. Furthermore, we aimed to determine UA's probability of being an early-stage diagnostic marker. METHODS: A total of 305 patients and 100 healthy controls were included. Serum UA levels of patients and controls were compared with clinical features. We classified the patients into three motor subtypes and determined the disease severity by modified Hoehn&Yahr Staging Scale (mH&Y) and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-TR) was assessed for cognition. RESULTS: There were not any significant differences of age and sex between patients and controls (p=0.030, p=0.132). The mean UA was 5.06±1.33 mg/dL in patients and 5.46±1.44 in controls, and a statistical significance was detected (p=0.022). The mean MMSE-TR were 24.83±4.35 in patients and 27.09±2.13 in controls, and statictical significance was revealed (p=0.001). The mean duration of the disease was 6.31±4.16 years, mean UPDRS scores were 59.74±22.33, and mH&Y scores were 2.29±0.91. In binary comparisons, patients with tremor-dominant motor subtype had lower UA concentrations than controls (p=0.014). ROC curve analysis revealed UA's cut-off as ≤9.15, the specificity was 99.3, the sensitivity was 10.0, and the area under the curve was 0.576 (p<0.005). Regression analysis revealed age as an independent risk factor on UA values. Oxidative stress might be a factor in the development of PD, and UA may be a possible prospective protecting factor in the clinical course of the disease. However, it does not affect the severity. CONCLUSION: Our results support that lower uric acid concentrations are associated with PD; however, it is not a powerful indicator for predicting PD risk. As we reveal more about UA and its effect in further investigations, its significant role will become well-defined.

Headache as the sole presenting symptom of cerebral venous sinuses thrombosis: Subgroup analysis of data from the VENOST study.

OBJECTIVES: Headache is the most common complaint in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and it may sometimes be the only symptom in these patients. This retrospective and prospective study was an investigation of any differences in terms of clinical risk factors, radiological findings, or prognosis in patients with CVST who presented with isolated headache (IH) and cases with other concomitant findings (non-isolated headache [NIH]). METHODS: A total of 1144 patients from a multicenter study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST study) were enrolled in this research. The demographic, biochemical, clinical, and radiological aspects of 287 IH cases and 857 NIH cases were compared. RESULTS: There were twice as many women as men in the study group. In the IH group, when gender distribution was evaluated by age group, no statistically significant difference was found. The onset of headache was frequently subacute and chronic in the IH group, but an acute onset was more common in the NIH group. Other neurological findings were observed in 29% of the IH group during follow-up. A previous history of deep, cerebral, or other venous thromboembolism was less common in the IH group than in the NIH group. Transverse sinus involvement was greater in the IH group, whereas sagittal sinus involvement was greater in the NIH group. The presence of a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) mutation was significantly greater in the IH group. CONCLUSION: IH and CVST should be kept in mind if a patient has subacute or chronic headache. PAI, which has an important role in thrombolytic events, may be a risk factor in CVST. Detailed hematological investigations should be considered. Additional studies are needed.

A Case of Pregabalin-Induced Parkinsonism.

Drug-induced parkinsonism is the second common movement disorder after Parkinson's disease. It occurs due to the use of not only neuroleptics but also some other medications as pregabalin. Pregabalin is an antiepileptic drug and a structural analog of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and its use decreases the release of several neurotransmitters. In this case report, we present a 53-year-old female patient with the signs of parkinsonism following pregabalin treatment. Drug-induced parkinsonism was diagnosed based on the clinical features, investigations, and resolution of the complaints. The symptoms relieved after the treatment stopped at a follow-up of 10 days. Due to the rare report of pregabalin-induced parkinsonism, we aim to enhance clinicians' awareness of pregabalin's probable side effects.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Women: Subgroup Analysis of the VENOST Study.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) associated with reproductive health-related risk factors (RHRF) including pregnancy, puerperium, and oral contraceptive (OC) use can prevent severe neurological sequelae; thus, the symptoms must be documented in detail for each group. METHODS: Out of 1144 patients with CVST, a total of 777 women were enrolled from a multicenter for the study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST). Demographic, biochemical, clinical, and radiological aspects were compared for 324 cases with RHRF and 453 cases without RHRF. RESULTS: The mean age of the RHRF (-) group (43.2 ± 13 years) was significantly higher than of the RHRF (+) group (34 ± 9 years). A previous history of deep venous thrombosis (3%), isolated cavernous sinus involvement (1%), cranial neuropathy (13%), comorbid malignancy (7%), and its disability scores after 12 months (9%) were significantly higher in the RHRF (-) group. The RHRF (+) group consisted of 44% cases of puerperium, 33% cases of OC users and 23% of pregnant women. The mean age was found to be higher in OC users (38 ± 9 years). A previous history of deep venous thrombosis was slightly higher in the pregnancy subgroup (4%). Epileptic seizures were more common in the puerperium group (44%). CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that the risk of CSVT increases parallel to age, OC use, and puerperium period. In addition, when considering the frequency of findings and symptoms, epileptic seizures in the puerperium subgroup of the RHRF (+) group and malignancies in the RHRF (-) group may accompany the CSVT. In daily practice, predicting these risks for the CSVT and early recognition of the symptoms will provide significant benefits to patients.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis as a Rare Complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Subgroup Analysis of the VENOST Study.

AIM: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an unusual risk factor for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). As few CVST patients with SLE have been reported, little is known regarding its frequency as an underlying etiology, clinical characteristics, or long-term outcome. We evaluated a large cohort of CVST patients with SLE in a multicenter study of cerebral venous thrombosis, the VENOST study, and their clinical characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among the 1144 CVST patients in the VENOST cohort, patients diagnosed with SLE were studied. Their demographic and clinical characteristics, etiological risk factors, venous involvement status, and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: In total, 15 (1.31%) of 1144 CVST patients had SLE. The mean age of these patients was 39.9 ± 12.1 years and 13 (86.7%) were female. Presenting symptoms included headache (73.3%), visual field defects (40.0%), and altered consciousness (26.7%). The main sinuses involved were the transverse (60.0%), sagittal (40.0%), and sigmoid (20.0%) sinuses. Parenchymal involvement was not seen in 73.3% of the patients. On the modified Rankin scale, 92.9% of the patients scored 0-1 at the 1-month follow-up and 90.9% scored 0-1 at the 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SLE was found in 1.31% of the CVST patients, most frequently in young women. Headache was the most common symptom and the CVST onset was chronic in the majority of cases. The patient outcomes were favorable. CVST should be suspected in SLE patients, even in those with isolated chronic headache symptoms with or without other neurological findings.

Behçet's disease as a causative factor of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: subgroup analysis of data from the VENOST study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the rate of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) among cases of Behçet's disease (BD) included in a multicentre study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST). METHODS: VENOST was a retrospective and prospective national multicentre observational study that included 1144 patients with CVST. The patients were classified according to aetiologic factors, time of CVST symptom onset, sinus involvement, treatment approach and prognosis. RESULTS: BD was shown to be a causative factor of CVST in 108 (9.4%) of 1144 patients. The mean age of patients in the BD group was 35.27 years and 68.5% were men, whereas in the non-BD CVST group, the mean age was 40.57 years and 28.3% were men (P < 0.001). Among the aetiologic factors for patients aged 18-36 years, BD was predominant for men, and puerperium was predominant for women. The onset of symptoms in the BD group was consistent with the subacute form. The transverse sinuses were the most common sites of thrombosis, followed by the superior sagittal sinuses. The most common symptom was headache (96.2%), followed by visual field defects (38%). CONCLUSIONS: BD was found in 9.4% of patients in our VENOST series. Patients with BD were younger and showed a male predominance. The functional outcome of CVST in patients with BD was good; only 12% of patients presenting with cranial nerve involvement and altered consciousness at the beginning had a poor outcome (modified Rankin Score ⩾2).

Screening for bipolar disorder among migraineurs: the impact of migraine-bipolar disorder comorbidity on disease characteristics.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of comorbid bipolar disorder (BD) among migraineurs and the impact of migraine-BD comorbidity on disease characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 120 adult patients diagnosed with migraine at a single tertiary care center were included in this cross-sectional study. Data on sociodemographic and migraine-related characteristics, family history of psychiatric diseases, comorbid psychiatric diseases, and first-episode characteristics were recorded. Mood Disorders Diagnosis and Patient Registration Form (SCIP-TURK), Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), and Hypomania Checklist-32-Revised (HCL-32-R) were applied to all patients by experienced clinicians, and clinical diagnoses were confirmed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) was used to evaluate the headache-related disability. Study parameters were compared between migraineurs with and without comorbid BD. RESULTS: The diagnosis of comorbid BD was confirmed in 19.2% of migraineurs. A significantly higher percentage of patients with comorbid BD than those without comorbid BD had family history of BD (39.1% vs 6.2%, P<0.001), suicide attempt (30.4% vs 5.2%, P<0.001), and physical abuse (52.2% vs 26.8%, P=0.019). MIDAS scores were significantly higher (50.6 [43.2] vs 33.8 [42.7], P=0.0422) in migraineurs with comorbid BD than in those without comorbid BD. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that a positive family history of type I BD (odds ratio [OR], 14.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.94-70.73; P=0.001) and MIDAS scores >30 (OR, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.12-12.19; P=0.032) were associated with 14.42 times and 3.69 times increased likelihood of BD, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed comorbid BD in a remarkable percentage of migraineurs and a higher likelihood of having BD in case of a positive family history of type I BD and MIDAS scores >30. Comorbid BD was associated with a higher rate for a family history of BD, suicide attempt, and childhood physical abuse as well as aggravated migraine-related disability among migraineurs. Migraineurs with and without comorbid BD showed similar sociodemographic and migraine disease characteristics as well as similar high rates for comorbid anxiety and first-episode depression.

Blink reflex in migraine headache.

OBJECTIVE: Activation of trigeminovascular system is thought to play an important role in migraine pathogenesis. Blink reflex (BR) test is an easy method to study the trigeminal system. Latencies recorded in BR test were evaluated to examine neurophysiological changes that occur in migraine patients. METHODS: A total of 40 patients diagnosed with migraine (9 with aura and 31 without aura) according to the International Headache Society (IHS) International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition, and 30 healthy control subjects were assessed using BR test. Supraorbital nerve was stimulated on each side, and unilateral early component (R1), and bilateral late component (R2) latencies were evaluated. RESULTS: Significantly longer latency values were recorded on both right and left sides (RR1 and LR1) as well as both ipsilateral and contralateral R2 on the left side (LR2i and LR2c) in the migraine group compared to the control group. Longer RR1 and LR1 latencies were found in patients with migraine who had an attack at the time of study (p<0.01). There was no statistically significant correlation between the location of pain and latencies in the interictal period (p>0.05). But significantly longer R1 and R2i latencies were found at the symptomatic side of patients examined during the headache attack (p=0.037 and p=0.028 respectively). There was no statistically significant correlation between the recorded latencies and gender, attack duration, attack frequency and migraine type (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Results of BR test in the present study are thought to point to a dysfunction in brainstem and trigeminovascular connections of patients with migraine headache and support the trigeminovascular theory of migraine.

Neurosyphilis: a case report.

Syphilis is a multisystem chronic infection caused by treponema pallidum. It can cause psychiatric disorders including depression, mania, psychosis, personality changes, delirium and dementia. With the introduction of penicillin into practice, the number of cases with syphilis decreased and its incidence increased with AIDS and HIV seropositivity. In this article, we present a case of neurosyphilis that manifested itself with neuropsychiatric symptoms.

IL-6 levels in migraine patients receiving topiramate.

There is considerable evidence suggesting that cytokines play important roles in pain and in mediating neurovascular inflammation associated with migraine headaches. Although consensus exists to recommend topiramate (TPM) for migraine prevention, the mechanism of action in this regard is unknown. We measured serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in 66 migraine patients. Of these patients, 23 (34.9%) were taking TPM for migraine, and 43 (65.1%) were not. The IL-6 levels were compared with those of healthy controls without migraine, from the population living in the same region. The mean IL-6 levels in migraine patients taking TPM and patients who did not were 67.06 +/- 92.09 pg/mL and 44.09 +/- 59.19 pg/mL, respectively (P > 0.05). The IL-6 levels were higher in the patients taking TPM. The IL-6 level in the controls was 8.60 +/- 7.36 pg/mL, which was significantly lower than the patient group using TPM (P = 0.001). Our results show that, although IL-6 may be involved in pain induction or inflammatory mechanisms of migraine attacks, the serum IL-6 level was not reduced in migraine patients receiving TPM therapy. In conclusion, we found high IL-6 levels in migraine patients both with and without TPM therapy, suggesting that high IL-6 levels during pain-free periods could be a conditioning factor, making patients more vulnerable to pain attacks in chronic migraine. Further studies investigating the possible mechanism of TPM in migraine are needed.