Nicotine dependence and visceral adiposity as risk factors for the development and severity of carotid artery stenosis.

Nicotine dependence (ND) and visceral adiposity are emerging as independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including carotid artery stenosis (CAS). This study aimed to determine the relationship between ND and the contribution of abdominal fat to the onset of CAS, which is indicated by a luminal narrowing of at least 60% as determined by duplex and/or Doppler ultrasound. We prospectively collected data from 60 patients with CAS and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), a common research tool, was used in the study. The original questionnaire was designed to gather social and demographic data. Anthropometric measurements, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation products (LAP) were used to assess obesity. Most patients showed a high or mild-moderate degree of ND: 46.67% and 35%, respectively. The median visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP) in patients was 3.92 and 32.83, respectively. Prolonged smoking duration, increased intensity, and high ND are hallmarks of CAS patients.

Plasma tau and neurofilament light chain as biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and their relation to cognitive functions.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is the most frequent cause of neurodegenerative dementia. The cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with this disorder often have overlapping characteristics, potentially resulting in delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. This study aimed to assess the level of peripheral blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) and total tau (t-tau) protein in AD patients and investigate their relationship with cognitive impairment. The study included 80 participants of both sexes between the ages of 60 to 85 years. The participants were divided into two groups, consisting of 40 individuals in the control group (mean age 75±6.6 years) who had no cognitive or functional impairments and 40 AD patients (mean age 74.98±5.03 years). This study utilized the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for major or mild neurocognitive disorder attributed to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The clinical and biochemical features of all participants were documented, and the Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) scores were evaluated. Sandwich ELISA was employed to determine serum NfL and t-tau protein levels. The median serum NfL and t-tau protein levels in AD patients were significantly higher than those of the controls (47.84 pg/ml versus 17.66 pg/ml and 12.05 pg/ml versus 11.13 pg/ml, respectively). Age was positively correlated with NfL, t-tau levels, and ADAS-cog. Although elevated NfL and t-tau protein levels may play a role in disease progression, their diagnostic value for AD was limited.

Botulinum neurotoxin-A in a patient with post-stroke spasticity: a neurophysiological study.

INTRODUCTION: Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) is a disorder of the sensory-motor control, leading to upper motor neuron lesions manifesting either as intermittent or sustained involuntary activation of muscles. Botulinum neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A) is mostly utilized in a variety of therapeutic indications, and it is effective and safe in the management of focal PSS in the rehabilitation scenario. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of BoNT-A administration on H-reflex of upper and lower limbs following PSS. In addition, the investigation of the association among the degree of spasticity (assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS]) and motor neuron pool excitability (assessed by analysing H-reflex excitability) was done. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty patients with a stroke of either sex aged 30 to 60 years presented with either upper or lower limb focal spasticity were studied. BoNT-A was given on two occasions to the gastrocnemius, soleus, biceps brachii muscles and flexor carpi radialis (FCR). H-reflex was documented from the FCR and soleus muscles at baseline and 3-4 weeks post BoNT-A injection. Medical Research Council scale and MAS were used to assess the PSS and muscle strength. RESULTS: H-reflex latency and amplitude, H/M ratio recorded from FCR and soleus muscles were significantly different between pre- and post-management. The MRC scale was significantly increased whereas the MAS was significantly reduced post BoNT-A injection. CONCLUSIONS: BoNT-A causes obvious improvement in PSS clinically as assessed by MAS and MRC scale as well as neurophysiologically by H-reflex. A negative correlation between H-reflex latency but not the amplitude or H max /M max ratio and MAS was observed.

Electrophysiological findings in patients with restless legs syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) manifests as an urge to move the body to relieve the discomfortable sensations, primarily when resting, sitting, laying down, or sleeping. Diagnosis of RLS relies on clinical criteria, and the immobilization test was the only instrumental tool with equivocal results. OBJECTIVES: To assess different electrophysiological findings in patients with RLS, and compare the diagnostic values of these parameters in the diagnosis of RLS. METHODS: 30 patients with primary RLS and 30 controls who were matched for age and gender were studied. Participant's demographics, laboratory findings, and electrophysiological test, namely nerve conduction studies (NCS), cutaneous silent period (CSP), H reflex and sympathetic skin response (SSR), F-wave latency, amplitude, F-wave duration (FWD), and the ratio between FWD and duration of the corresponding compound muscle action potential (FWD/CMAPD) were analyzed. RESULTS: None of the patients showed altered NCS data. FWD of upper (12.37 ± 2.77 ms) and lower limb (21.71 ± 5.24 ms) were significantly longer in patients. Also, FWD/CMAP duration of the upper (1.03 ± 0.2) and lower limb (2.02 ± 0.55) was longer in patients. Likewise, they exhibited delayed CSP latency from TA (110.62 ± 13.73 ms) and APB (77.35 ± 12.16 ms) whereas the CSP duration from TA and APB was decreased (37.36 ± 11.59 ms; 42.55 ± 7.97 ms, respectively). The SSR latency was not different, and right-sided H reflex amplitude (5.07 ± 3.98 mV) and H/M ratio (0.65 ± 1.81) were significantly increased in the patient group. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that there may be a dysfunction of the inhibitory/excitatory circuits at a spinal level; and no pathology in the peripheral nerves. The unilateral difference of H reflex amplitude and H/M ratio may suggest asymmetrical central inhibitory dysfunction. Further prospective studies with larger cohorts are now needed to evaluate the pathophysiology of RLS with different neurophysiological assessment tools.

Autonomic dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Central obesity and hyperinsulinaemia of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are associated with chronic sympathetic over activity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the autonomic functions and to indicate the superiority, if any, for those functions in the diagnosis of sympathetic over activity in PCOS women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four PCOS patients and 40 women served as the control group were studied. The two groups were subdivided according to the body mass index (BMI) into two obese and non-obese groups. Waist:hip ratio (WHR), plasma epinephrine level was estimated, sympathetic skin response (SSR); postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, heart rate variability (HRV), and valsalva ratio were measured in both groups. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, obese PCOS patients demonstrated higher BMI and WHR, reduced palmar SSR latency and higher amplitude, altered HRV, higher plasma epinephrine level, and rapid pulse rate. Moreover, non-obese patients show reduced palmar SSR latency and higher amplitude, higher plasma epinephrine level, and higher pulse rate. BMI and WHR of the patients were positively correlated with plasma epinephrine level; while the HRV was negatively correlated WHR. CONCLUSION: Women with PCOS exhibits altered autonomic function and sympathoexcitation is more pronounced in obese than non-obese patients; therefor the SSR could be useful auxiliary electrophysiological test to predict autonomic dysfunction in those patients. Receiver operating characteristics curve demonstrate the pulse rate in standing position as the autonomic function test that is superior to others in predicting sympathetic over activity in those patients.

The propensity of common peroneal nerve in thigh-level injuries.

BACKGROUND: Sciatic nerve lesions comprise the largest subset of lower extremity nerve injuries. Military gunshot injury reports in civilians are not as predominant as wartime experience. Most sciatic nerve injuries result in deficits to the peroneal component. This study aims to report experience with civilian sciatic nerve injuries and to suggest the mechanism behind the peculiarity of the common peroneal component in thigh-level injuries. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 1,463 civilian patients with military gunshot sciatic nerve injury diagnosed and evaluated by neurophysiologic studies during a period of 3 years. RESULTS: Most of the patients (95.4%) presented with thigh-level injury in which 95% suffered complete but isolated common peroneal territory palsy. The rest of the patients had either solitary complete tibial division palsy or complete tibial and common peroneal deficits. CONCLUSIONS: The propensity of the common peroneal nerve in thigh-level injuries inflicted by military-type weapons in civilians is consistent with wartime injury reports. Because of its special anatomic situation, entrapment of the common peroneal nerve whether distally or proximally may render its axons more prone to mechanical damage. Moreover, the smaller contribution of the common peroneal component to the main nerve may result in its damage more readily than the tibial component whose larger contribution may spare some of its fibers. Finally, the components of the sciatic nerve diverge at a variable distance from the knee. Thus, distal thigh injuries may involve the diverging common peroneal nerve where it has a superficial position and is more prone to injury.