Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Epilepsy: A Systematic Review.

This study was conducted to summarize the results of studies investigating the role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in epilepsy. The search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to December 25, 2021. Finally, a total of seven studies were included in the review. The NLR in patients who were in the acute phase was higher than that of healthy. NLR in the patients who were in either acute or subacute phase was higher than in healthy controls. A significant difference in NLR levels between the acute and subacute phases was also noted. Epilepsy is one of the most important neurological diseases in the world, and millions of people around the world suffer from it, and a cheap and fast biomarker is needed for it. The interesting thing is that inflammation plays a role in epilepsy, and elevated NLR value can be a good biomarker of inflammation and, as a result, for epilepsy.

Does the Serum Expression Level of High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) in Multiple Sclerosis Patients have a Relationship with Physical and Psychological Status? A 12-Month Follow-Up Study on Newly Diagnosed MS Patients.

Background: There is a strong need to identify simple and cost-effective biomarkers for multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives: To evaluate the serum levels of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) ligand, the high-mobility group box (HMGB) 1 and its correlation with changes in the physical and psychological indicators in MS patients. Methods: During the 12-month follow-up, the serum level of HMGB1, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score, rate of clinical relapse, quality of life, and other psychological indicators were assessed at baseline, after 6 months, and after 12 months and compared between 60 newly diagnosed MS patients with 60 healthy controls (HCs). Data were analyzed using t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results: A significant decrease was observed in the EDSS score (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in the serum level of HMGB1 in all MS patients (P = 0.009). The serum level of HMGB1 was higher in MS patients, compared with HCs (baseline: 65.8%, P = 0.007; six-month follow-up: 73.9%, P = 0.004; and 12-month follow-up: 77.6%, P = 0.021). There were significant positive correlations between the serum level of HMGB1 and scores of MS impact scale-psychological subscale (MSIS-PS) (r = 0.59, P < 0.001), Beck depression inventory (BDI) (r = 0.491, P = 0.031), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) (r = 0.471, P = 0.035). Conclusion: The serum level of HMGB1 could predict the patients' psychiatric status better than their physical status.

Intradural Intramedullary Teratoma Presenting in the Lumbar Spine: Report of a Rare Case.

BACKGROUND: Intradural teratomas are an exceedingly unusual phenomenon. They are tumors with the cellular constituent source of all the 3 germ cell layers. CASE DESCRIPTION: We here report a case of an 18-year-old man with special pathologic features. There was no history of spinal dysraphism, congenital spinal abnormalities, previous spinal surgery, or lumbar puncture. Lumbosacral spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-delineated, intramedullary mass at the L2-3 level. Histopathology examination of the resected tumor revealed cystic spaces lined with simple columnar epithelium as well as mucus secreting epithelium, adipose tissue, salivary gland-like serous cells, and bundles of smooth muscle cells. We have seen unusual histopathologic features in the case, for example, there were no cartilage components that are mostly found in mature teratomas, abundant Pacinian corpuscle nerve endings, and nerve trunks. There were no immature elements or malignant cells. CONCLUSIONS: Teratomas should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of intramedullary lesions, even after the imaging reveals tissue homogeneity.