Birth outcomes in pregnant women with epilepsy: A Nationwide multicenter study from Türkiye.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of anti-seizure medications (ASMs), patient demographic characteristics, and the seizure type and frequency on the development of congenital malformations (CMs) in the infants of pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE). METHODS: PWWE followed up at the neurology outpatient clinic of 21 centers between 2014 and 2019 were included in this prospective study. The follow-up of PWWE was conducted using structured, general pregnant follow-up forms prepared by the Pregnancy and Epilepsy Study Committee. The newborns were examined by a neonatologist after delivery and at 1 and 3 months postpartum. RESULTS: Of the infants of 759 PWWE, 7.2% had CMs, with 5.6% having major CMs. Polytherapy, monotherapy, and no medications were received by 168 (22.1%), 548 (72.2 %), and 43 (5.7 %) patients, respectively. CMs were detected at an incidence of 2.3% in infants of PWWE who did not receive medication, 5.7% in infants of PWWE who received monotherapy, and 13.7% in infants of PWWE who received polytherapy. The risk of malformation was 2.31-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.48-4.61, p < .001) higher in infants of PWWE who received polytherapy. Levetiracetam was the most frequently used seizure medication as monotherapy, with the highest incidence of CMs occurring with valproic acid (VPA) use (8.5%) and the lowest with lamotrigine use (2.1%). The incidence of CMs was 5% at a carbamazepine dose <700 mg, 10% at a carbamazepine dose ≥700 mg, 5.5% at a VPA dose <750 mg, and 14.8% at a VPA dose ≥750 mg. Thus the risk of malformation increased 2.33 times (p = .041) in infants of PWWE receiving high-dose ASMs. SIGNIFICANCE: Birth outcomes of PWWE receiving and not receiving ASMs were evaluated. The risk of CMs occurrence was higher, particularly in infants of PWWE using VPA and receiving polytherapy. The incidence of CMs was found to be lower in infants of PWWE receiving lamotrigine.

Effect of cerebral microhemorrhages on neurocognitive functions in patients with end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Death is the most serious complication of intracerebral hemorrhage. Microbleeding can be a precursor of intracerebral hemorrhage. Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) should be included in imaging protocols for some specific groups such diabetic hemodialysis patients in terms of prediction of macrohemorrhages. PURPOSE: To investigate intracerebral microbleeding in hemodialysis patients and the correlation between microbleeding and neurocognitive impairment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-nine hemodialysis cases were involved in the study. Locations of microbleeding, correlation between microbleeding and hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), age, and duration of dialysis were analyzed. Standardized mini-mental test was performed. The tested cases were divided into two groups: intracerebral microbleeding (group 1, n = 26) and without intracerebral microbleeding (group 2, n = 17). RESULTS: Incidence of microbleeding and macrohemorrhage was noted as 59% and 14%, respectively, in all cases. All macrohemorrhagic cases also have microbleeding. In group 1, neurocognitive impairment was detected in 10 (38.4%) cases: six and four cases with moderate and mild impairment, respectively. In group 2, neurocognitive impairment was detected in 2 (11.7%) cases, both with mild impairment. A significant positive correlation was detected between microbleeding and neurocognitive impairment (P = 0.031). Although there was no correlation between attention disorder and microbleeding, a positive correlation was detected between close memory impairment and microbleeding (P = 0.027). A positive correlation was detected between DM and microbleeding (P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: In hemodialysis patients, microbleeding can be a cause of neurocognitive impairment which will be important for guide to treatment protocols. SWI should be included in the imaging protocol of diabetic hemodialysis patients with neurocognitive deterioration.

Effectiveness of home exercise in pregnant women with carpal tunnel syndrome: Randomized Control Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a home exercise programme in pregnant patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. METHODS: The randomised, single-blind, controlled clinical study was conducted at Vakif University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, From December 2017 to June 2018 and comprised pregnant women with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) . Clinical evaluation of each patient was performed by a blind researcher and (EMG) Electromyography measurements were performed by another blind researcher. Patients were divided into two groups with normal and (mild or moderate) CTS based on EMG results and clinical examination. Patients with symptoms, clinical signs and CTS in EMG were included in group 1, while patients whose symptoms and clinical evaluation (such as Tinel, Phalen, Reverse Phalen and Durkan's test) were positive but not CTS in EMG were included in group 2. Exercise forms were given to both groups and they were asked to perform the exercises stated in the form in 3 sets each day and 10 repetitions in each set. The Sick Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire was administered face-to-face to collect data which was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 33 subjects, 19(57.6%) were in patient group 1 and 14(42.4%) in control group 2. The overall mean age of the sample was 28.84±3.62 years. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of symptoms and clinical tests (p>0.05). The symptom severity scale between the groups was significantly high in group 1 (p<0.05). Patients receiving treatment showed a decrease in symptom severity and functional capacity, but only the former showed a significant decrease in group 2 (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nerve and tendon slip exercises for patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms were found to be simple and reliable methods that could be applied to patients to increase their functionality and to reduce the severity of the disease.

Could Heterozygous Beta Thalassemia Provide Protection Against Multiple Sclerosis?

BACKGROUND Heterozygous beta thalassemia (HBT) has been proposed to increase the risk of developing autoimmune disease. Our aim in this study was to examine the prevalence of HBT among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS HBT frequency was investigated in our MS group (243 patients with MS). Hemoglobin electrophoresis (HE) was carried out if MS patients had a mean corpuscular volume of (MCV) <80 fL and a mean corpuscular hemoglobin level of (MCH) <27 pg/L according to a complete blood count (CBC). If MCV was lower than 80 fL, MCH was lower than 27 pg/L, and Hemoglobin A2 equal to or higher than 3.5%, a diagnosis of HBT was established. The frequency of patients with HBT in our MS patient group was statistically compared with the prevalence of HBT in the city of Istanbul, where our MS patients lived. RESULTS The HBT prevalence was 0.823% (2 patients) in the MS patient group. The prevalence of HBT in Istanbul has been reported to be 4.5%. According to the z-test, the HBT prevalence in our MS patient group was significantly lower than that in Istanbul (Z=6.3611, two-sided p value <0.0001, 95% confidence interval of prevalence of HBT in our MS patient group: 0.000998-0.029413). CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our hypothesis at the outset of study, the reduced HBT prevalence in the MS group compared to HBT frequency in the city of Istanbul might indicate that HBT is protective against MS.

Burning mouth syndrome: Evaluation of clinical and laboratory findings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Burning mouth syndrome is a chronic and persistent painful condition characterized by burning sensation in the oral mucosa. We investigated the etiological factors of patients presented with the history of burning in the mouth who admitted our outpatient clinics over the 8-years period and who had no underlying identifiable local factors. We also tried to determine their demographic and clinical characteristics. Our aim was to investigate the association between burning mouth and psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM) and other laboratory studies in patients complaining of solely burning in the mouth. METHODS: The study included patients with the history of burning in mouth who presented in our outpatient clinic between 2005 and 2012. They were evaluated by a neurologist, a psychiatrist, an internist, and a dentist. Complete blood counts, biochemical analysis and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed for all patients. RESULTS: A total of 26 (22 (84%) females, 4 (15%) males; mean age 55.9 years) patients were enrolled in this study. Five (19.2%) of the patients had depression, 2 (7.7%) had anxiety disorder, 2 (7.7%) had diabetes mellitus, 8 (30%) had B12 vitamin deficiency, 3 (11.5%) had decreased ferritin levels in blood, and 1 (3.8%) had folic acid deficiency. Cranial MRI of all patients were normal. Nine patients (34.6%) had no etiological causes. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary approach in the management of burning mouth and establishment of common criteria for the diagnosis would provide insight into the underlying pathophysiological mechanism.

Results of a multinational study suggest the need for rapid diagnosis and early antiviral treatment at the onset of herpetic meningoencephalitis.

Data in the literature regarding the factors that predict unfavorable outcomes in adult herpetic meningoencephalitis (HME) cases are scarce. We conducted a multicenter study in order to provide insights into the predictors of HME outcomes, with special emphasis on the use and timing of antiviral treatment. Samples from 501 patients with molecular confirmation from cerebrospinal fluid were included from 35 referral centers in 10 countries. Four hundred thirty-eight patients were found to be eligible for the analysis. Overall, 232 (52.9%) patients experienced unfavorable outcomes, 44 died, and 188 survived, with sequelae. Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.05), Glasgow Coma Scale score (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.93), and symptomatic periods of 2 to 7 days (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.79) and >7 days (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.72 to 8.15) until the commencement of treatment predicted unfavorable outcomes. The outcome in HME patients is related to a combination of therapeutic and host factors. This study suggests that rapid diagnosis and early administration of antiviral treatment in HME patients are keys to a favorable outcome.

The relationship between Willis-Ekbom disease and serum ferritin levels among children in Northwestern Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) among children with iron deficiency, or iron deficiency anemia, or both, and the relationship between RLS prevalence and serum ferritin levels. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional, case controlled study was carried out between January and June 2013, and included 98 iron deficiency and/or iron deficiency anemia, and 102 healthy children referred to the Neurology and Pediatric Departments of the Medical Faculty of Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey. Both groups were evaluated according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The range of ferritin levels was 0.01-12 mg/ml in patients while it was 12.3-91.8 mg/mL in the control group. Restless legs syndrome was detected in 61.2% of children with iron deficiency anemia, and in 37.3% of children with normal biochemistry values. A statistically significant correlation was found between serum ferritin levels and frequency of RLS. In patients with serum ferritin levels higher than 50 ng/ml, 92.3% had no RLS, while 55.2% of patients with serum ferritin levels lower than 50 ng/ml had RLS. The patients with serum ferritin levels of > 50 ng/ml had a significantly higher incidence of RLS. Serum ferritin levels were significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The incidence of RLS, also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease, is high in children aged between 8-18 years with iron deficiency, or iron deficiency anemia, or both. This finding supports the importance of iron replacement therapy especially during the growth and development of children.

Ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathy at the elbow: relationship between the electrophysiological findings and neuropathic pain.

[Purpose] Ulnar nerve neuropathies are the second most commonly seen entrapment neuropathies of the upper extremities after carpal tunnel syndrome. In this study, we aimed to evaluate pain among ulnar neuropathy patients by the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs pain scale and determine if it correlated with the severity of electrophysiologicalfindings. [Subjects and Methods] We studied 34 patients with clinical and electrophysiological ulnar nerve neuropathies at the elbow. After diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow, all patients underwent the Turkish version of the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs pain scale. [Results] The ulnar entrapment neuropathy at the elbow was classified as class-2, class-3, class-4, and class-5 (Padua Distal Ulnar Neuropathy classification) for 15, 14, 4, and 1 patient, respectively. No patient included in class-1 was detected. According to Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs pain scale, 24 patients scored under 12 points. The number of patients who achieved more than 12 points was 10. Groups were compared by using the χ(2) test, and no difference was detected. There was no correlation between the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs pain scale and electromyographic findings. [Conclusion] We found that the severity of electrophysiologic findings of ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow did not differ between neuropathic and non-neuropathic groups as assessed by the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs pain scale.

Splinting is effective for night-only symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome patients.

[Purpose] Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve. Splinting is one of the most used conservative treatment methods for carpal tunnel syndrome. The aim of this study was to show the effectiveness of splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome patients who were divided into two groups according to their level of symptoms. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 40 carpal tunnel syndrome patients were divided into 2 groups based on having symptoms only at night or during the day were included in this study. These two groups were compared at the end of a 3-months splinting therapy in terms of improvement of severity of symptoms, functional capacity, pain level, and electrophysiological findings. [Results] Pain levels of both groups were similar at baseline. After splinting, pain levels of night-only symptomatic patients were lower than those of sustained symptomatic ones. No differences were found in symptom severity, functional capacity, and the electrophysiological findings in either group after the splinting. [Conclusion] The results of this study show that splinting alone may be sufficient to decrease the pain for night-only symptomatic patients. Combined therapy methods may be needed for sustained symptomatic patients.

Oxidative stress and autonomic nervous system functions in restless legs syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress has been implicated in over 100 disorders in recent years; however, the situation in restless legs syndrome (RLS) has not been studied yet. METHODS: Fifty patients with RLS not medicated for RLS and 50 sex- and age-matched, healthy controls and controls with no pathology except mild iron deficiency or iron deficiency anaemia were enrolled. Patients with secondary RLS other than iron deficiency were excluded. Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), arylesterase (ARE), paraoxonase (PON), stimulated paraoxonase (stim-PON), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs), acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BuChE) were measured. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was performed. RESULTS: TOS, ARE and AChE were increased (P = 0·018, P < 0·001 and P < 0·001, respectively), whereas LOOHs were decreased (P < 0·001) in RLS group. TAS, OSI, PON and stim-PON were comparable. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) were increased (P = 0·021 and P = 0·037, respectively) in RLS group. HRV triangular index (HRVi) was lower (P = 0·012) in RLS group. Other HRV parameters were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Increased AChE and decreased LOOHs, which were influenced by increased PON1, were considered as indicators of efforts towards the protection of dopaminergic activity in central nervous system in RLS group. Increased ESR, MPV and low HRVi indicate elevated sympathetic activity in RLS group. Elevated sympathetic activity might be beneficial in relieving RLS symptoms, also causing increases in TOS. The evidence we found regarding oxidative stress and autonomic nervous system might be seminal in RLS treatment.

Prevalence of gluten sensitive enteropathy antibodies in restless legs syndrome.

The prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is increased in gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE); but prevalence of GSE is not known in RLS. 96 RLS patients and 97 healthy controls, both with or without iron deficiency were enrolled. All secondary RLS patients except iron deficiency were excluded. Subjects underwent a thorough biochemistry and routine blood analyses, and tissue transglutaminase antibodies (TTGA), endomysium antibodies (EMA) and gliadin antibodies (AGA) were also tested. In RLS patients positivity rates of all GSE antibodies were similar to those in controls. The rate of iron deficiency anaemia in RLS patients with at least one positive GSE antibody was significantly higher than that of RLS patients whose GSE antibodies were all negative. The prevalence of GSE antibodies in RLS patients is not increased. GSE might have a role in the aetiology of RLS in association with iron deficiency anaemia. Since the prevalence of GSE antibodies is not increased in RLS, it seems unlikely that GSE is involved in the aetiology of RLS through different mechanisms (e.g. immunological mechanisms) other than iron deficiency as proposed in some published papers.

Compatibility of MRI and FDG-PET findings with histopathological results in patients with focal cortical dysplasia.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to determine if the specific characteristics of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) analyses of the FCD subgroups were compatible with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical findings of the patients in these subgroups. METHODS: This study included 71 patients who had a presurgical evaluation workup performed due to drug-resistant seizures, who underwent epilepsy surgery, and who were histopathologically diagnosed with FCD. Relationships involving MRI and FDG-PET findings and clinical data from pathological subgroups and patients were assessed. RESULTS: According to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classifications of FCD, 28 of the patients were type I and 43 were type II. FCD was visible on the MRI scans of 53 patients, and a majority of this group was classified as type II FCD (n=34). Of these 53 patients, FCD was located in the temporal area of 21 patients, the extratemporal area of 29 patients. Of the patients who exhibited FDG-PET hypometabolism (PET-positive), 23 were classified as temporal, 17 as frontal, 11 showed involvement of the posterior cortex. The age of seizure onset was younger in PET-positive patients (p=0.032), and histopathological analyses revealed that 23 patients had type I FCD and 30 patients had type II FCD. CONCLUSION: PET scans reveal a lesion by showing hypometabolism in patients who have refractory epilepsy and an early age of onset with FCD. The lesions of MRI-negative/PET-positive FCD patients tend to be localized in the temporal lobe and that FCD may be localized in the frontal lobe of MRI-negative/PET-negative patients. However, the histopathological examinations of MRI-positive/PET-positive, MRI-negative/PET-positive, and MRI-negative/PET-negative patients did not exhibit a particular histopathological subtype.

Reduced bone resorption and increased bone mineral density in women with restless legs syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate bone resorption and formation markers as well as bone mineral density in women with restless legs syndrome (RLS). METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional case-control study involving drug-naive women with RLS and age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched female controls. Routine blood analyses, markers of bone formation, procollagen 1 n-terminal peptide, bone resorption, c-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX), sclerostin, and bone mineral density (BMD) were compared between the 2 groups. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and individuals with comorbidities other than iron deficiency, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or hypertension were excluded. RESULTS: A significant increase in lumbar BMD was found among 78 women with RLS as compared to 78 age- and BMI-matched controls (p = 0.001). The proportion of patients with osteopenia as defined by a lumbar T score was significantly lower among patients with RLS (p = 0.040). CTX and sclerostin were significantly lower in patients with RLS (p = 0.006 and p = 0.011, respectively), as were the levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, calcemia, and free T3 (p = 0.017, p = 0.017, and p = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Despite lower 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, patients with RLS had lower bone resorption markers, higher lumbar BMD, and lower frequency of lumbar osteopenia. As patients with RLS make movements night and day to decrease the severity of their symptoms, they unconsciously perform exercise, which may potentially explain the better bone profile among patients with RLS than in controls.

Cobalamine deficiency associated with neuropathy and oral mucosal melanosis in untreated gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

A 32-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of difficulty in walking and hypoaesthesia and tingling in her legs. She had short stature and brown-black hyperpigmentation, cheliosis, dental irregularities and scars in the axillary regions. Neurological examination revealed mild, symmetric, predominantly distal weakness of the legs; deep tendon reflexes were depressed. There was glove-and-stocking decrease in pinprick and temperature perception but proprioception and light touch were normal. Investigations established a diagnosis of celiac disease; her neurological features improved on gluten-free diet, but oral pigmentation persisted.

Serum endocan levels in women with restless legs syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Endocan is a recently introduced marker of endothelial dysfunction. The objective of this study was to compare serum endocan levels in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and control subjects in order to elucidate whether RLS is associated with endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: A total of 31 drug naïve female patients with RLS and 31 age- and BMI-matched women were included in the study. Patients with pathological or physiological conditions or with a history of medication use that could potentially influence endothelial functions were excluded, as well as those with alcohol or drug abuse history. The two groups were compared with routine blood tests and serum endocan levels. RESULTS: Patients with RLS had lower serum endocan levels than the controls (P=0.037). There was a negative bivariate correlation between RLS severity score and serum endocan levels (r=-0.406, P=0.023). While white blood cell count was significantly higher in RLS group, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, vitamin B12, transferrin saturation rate, and HDL-cholesterol were significantly lower. Creatininemia and diastolic blood pressure were also marginally insignificantly lower in RLS group. Due to the presence of differences between two groups in these variables, a linear regression analysis was performed that showed a positive association between endocan and creatininemia (ß=0.310, P=0.022), and a negative association between endocan and RLS (ß=-0.502, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study seem to suggest that patients with RLS may have better endothelial functions when compared with the general population and that these patients may be better protected against atherosclerosis.

A rare entity in multiple myeloma: six nerve paralysis.

Ophthalmic involvement appears rarely in multiple myeloma (MM). Ophthalmic findings are mostly noted as complications caused by disease or treatment. MM-associated with 6th nerve paralysis is a rare entity. Bortezomib, one of the novel agents used to treat MM, has neurotoxic effect and may cause permanent nerve damage. Herein, we report a 50-year-old male patient with MM who developed the 6th nerve paralysis while receiving bortezomib and discuss its relevant causes.

Influences of socio-demographics on depression and anxiety in patients with complex partial and tonic-clonic seizures.

AIM: To compare the levels of anxiety and depression in patients with milder epilepsy characterized by complex partial seizures versus more severe epilepsy comprised of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. METHODS: A total of 60 patients aged between 18 and 80 admitted with seizures were prospectively enrolled. Patients with history of any psychiatric disorders were excluded. Imaging studies were performed to rule out any organic brain lesions that might be responsible for seizures. Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of the seizures: group 1 (n=30) with complex partial seizures without focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and group 2 (n=30) with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I/ NP) were performed in all patients. Additionally, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) were administered to the patients where appropriate. All the parameters were statistically compared. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 29.66±10.33 years, 38 (63.3%) were females. Both groups were comparable in terms of age, educational status, marital status, occupational status, age of epilepsy onset, and Hamilton scores. Mean HAM-D score (2.11) and mean HAM-A total score (2.31) of the patients employed during the last 6 months were different than the mean HAM-D score (4.76) and mean HAM-A total score (5.66) of the patients unemployed during last 6 months. Patients with no reliable employment within the past 6 months demonstrated significantly higher depression and anxiety scores (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study clearly demonstrated a relationship among the features of epileptics and levels of depression and anxiety. There was a relationship between employment and depressive and anxiety symptoms of epileptic patients. Also, unemployment may be indicative for treatment compliance.