Evaluation of cognitive dysfunction by the clock drawing test in multiple sclerosis and clinically isolated syndrome patients: Correlation with other neuropsychological tests.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cognitive status with a simple practical test, clock drawing test (CDT), in a larger multiple sclerosis (MS) patient group and in comparison, with controls. METHODS: We included 171 patients (17-65 years) with MS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and 98 healthy controls who applied between date 2018-2020 years in Neurology Department of Pamukkale University. The CDTs were applied to all subjects. In addition, the cognitive functions of the patient group were evaluated with the neuropsychological test battery. RESULTS: The CDT scores were significantly lower in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) group than the control group (p<0.005). Progressive MS patients' CDT scores were significantly lower than RRMS and CIS (p<0.0001). According to our results, the CDT showed progressive deterioration in MS better than another practical and free tests. Additionally, the CDT scores were statistically better in patients whose disease began with sensory symptoms than whose disease started with motor and brainstem symptoms (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The CDT cognitive impairment prediction performance is 60%, CDT is a useful, easy-to-administer, practical test that can be used in cognitive assessment in MS and CIS.

Antiamnesic and Antioxidants Effects of Ferulago angulata Essential Oil Against Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Laboratory Rats.

Ferulago angulata (Apiaceae) is a shrub indigenous to western Iran, Turkey and Iraq. In traditional medicine, F. angulata is recommended for treating digestive pains, hemorrhoids, snake bite, ulcers and as sedative. In the present study, the effects of inhaled F. angulata essential oil (1 and 3%, daily, for 21 days) on spatial memory performance were assessed in scopolamine-treated rats. Scopolamine-induced memory impairments were observed, as measured by the Y-maze and radial arm-maze tasks. Decreased activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase along with increase of acetylcholinesterase activity and decrease of total content of reduced glutathione were observed in the rat hippocampal homogenates of scopolamine-treated animals as compared with control. Production of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde significantly increased in the rat hippocampal homogenates of scopolamine-treated animals as compared with control, as a consequence of impaired antioxidant enzymes activities. Additionally, in scopolamine-treated rats exposure to F. angulata essential oil significantly improved memory formation and decreased oxidative stress, suggesting memory-enhancing and antioxidant effects. Therefore, our results suggest that multiple exposures to F. angulata essential oil ameliorate scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment by attenuation of the oxidative stress in the rat hippocampus.

The ratio of monocyte frequency to HDL cholesterol level as a predictor of asymptomatic organ damage in patients with primary hypertension.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the ratio of monocyte frequency to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level (the monocyte/HDL ratio (MHR)) and asymptomatic organ damage (AOD) in primary hypertension (PHT). A total of 366 participants were enrolled in the study, including 275 cases currently being followed up after a diagnosis of PHT in our clinic and 91 healthy volunteers. The MHR was higher in patients with PHT than in individuals in the control group. In the PHT group, the MHR was higher in patients with AOD (AOD+) than in patients without AOD (AOD-). In the correlation analyses performed in the PHT group, there were positive correlations between the MHR and the following AOD indicators: carotid intima media thickness, left ventricular mass index, urinary protein levels and urinary albumin levels. In a multivariate linear regression analysis, the MHR was found to be an independent risk factor associated with these indicators of AOD. In conclusion, our study shows that MHR is associated with AOD in patients with PHT.

Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil inhalation prevents memory impairment, anxiety and depression in scopolamine-treated rats.

Anthriscus nemorosa (Bieb.) Sprengel is used for medicinal purposes in traditional medicine around the world, including Turkey. Ethnobotanical studies suggest that Anthriscus essential oil could improve memory in Alzheimer's disease. The current study was hypothesized to investigate the beneficial effects of inhaled Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil on memory, anxiety and depression in scopolamine-treated rats. Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil was administered by inhalation in the doses of 1% and 3% for 21 continuous days and scopolamine (0.7mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30min before the behavioral testing. Y-maze and radial arm-maze tests were used for assessing memory processes. Also, the anxiety and depressive responses were studied by elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests. As expected, the scopolamine alone-treated rats exhibited the following: decrease the percentage of the spontaneous alternation in Y-maze test, increase the number of working and reference memory errors in radial arm-maze test, decrease of the exploratory activity, the percentage of the time spent and the number of entries in the open arm within elevated plus-maze test and decrease of swimming time and increase of immobility time within forced swimming test. However, dual scopolamine and Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil-treated rats showed significant improvement of memory formation and exhibited anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in scopolamine-treated rats. These results suggest that Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil inhalation can prevent scopolamine-induced memory impairment, anxiety and depression.

The Effects of Inhaled Pimpinella peregrina Essential Oil on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment, Anxiety, and Depression in Laboratory Rats.

In the present study, we identified the effects of inhaled Pimpinella peregrina essential oil (1 and 3 %, for 21 continuous days) on scopolamine-induced memory impairment, anxiety, and depression in laboratory rats. Y-maze and radial arm-maze tests were used for assessing memory processes. Also, the anxiety and depressive responses were studied by means of the elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests. The scopolamine alone-treated rats exhibited the following: decrease of the spontaneous alternation percentage in Y-maze test, increase of the number of working and reference memory errors in radial arm-maze test, along with decrease of the exploratory activity, the percentage of the time spent and the number of entries in the open arm within elevated plus-maze test and decrease of swimming time and increase of immobility time within forced swimming test. Inhalation of the P. peregrina essential oil significantly improved memory formation and exhibited anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in scopolamine-treated rats. Our results suggest that the P. peregrina essential oil inhalation ameliorates scopolamine-induced memory impairment, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, studies on the P. peregrina essential oil may open a new therapeutic window for the prevention of neurological abnormalities closely related to Alzheimer's disease.

Association of synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) gene polymorphism with temperament and character traits in women with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract Background: Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) may be contribute to the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) by affecting the release of neurotransmitters. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the SNAP-25 gen (DdeI = rs1051312 and MnlI = rs3746544) polymorphism and the temperament and character traits. Methods: A total of 85 female patients diagnosed with FMS and 70 age-matched healthy female subjects were enrolled into the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) were performed on all the patients. SNAP-25 gene polymorphism was determined in the patients group and controls group. Results: No significant difference between groups was found regarding the distribution of SNAP-25 MnlI polymorphism (p > 0.05), but it was seen that the frequency of TC genotype for DdeI gene was higher in the patients group (p < 0.05). Increased hazard avoidance was found in the patients group (p < 0.05). When TCI scores were assessed in terms of SNAP-25 gene polymorphism, no statistically significant relationship was detected between the TT, TG, GG genotypes for MnlI gen and TCI scores (p > 0.05). However, increased hazard avoidance was detected in patients with TC genotype for DdeI gene compared to patients without such genotype. Discussion: SNAP-25 might be an etiological factor in FMS pathogenesis and might affect personality traits of FMS patients by mediating neurotransmitter release.