Electrophysiological assessment of the concentration and attention in patient with nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND: Nasal polyposis is a chronic disease presenting with nasal obstruction as the most frequent complaint. It has been documented that nasal polyposis results in deterioration of quality of life and disturbances of sleep. However, remarkable consequences of nasal polyposis such as psychological and cognitive outcomes are relatively poorly studied. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether there is an impairment of concentration and attention in nasal polyposis patients due to hypoxia caused by nasal obstruction. METHODS: This cross-sectional, case-control study was carried out on 30 male patients with nasal polyps and 30 healthy subjects serving as controls. Participant ages were 41.6 ± 10.2 years in the nasal polyps group and 41.3 ± 6.2 in the control group. All participants underwent systemic, neurological, and otorhinolaryngological examinations together with routine hematological and biochemical tests. Patients with nasal polyposis had bilateral complete obstruction of nasal cavity. P300 component of electroencephalography-derived event related potentials were used to monitor concentration and attention. Nasal polyposis and control groups were compared in terms of amplitude and latency of P300. RESULTS: There were significant differences between control and nasal polyposis groups in terms of latency of P300 (p < 0.001). Nasal polyposis patient latencies in P300 were longer than controls (345.8 ± 16.6 msec, 309.3 ± 16.6 msec, respectively). However, there were no significant differences between control and nasal polyposis groups in terms of amplitude of P300 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results of the current study indicate that hypoxia due to complete nasal obstruction may result in impairment of attention and concentration in nasal polyposis patients. Assessment of patients with P300 latency subcomponent can be a useful diagnostic tool to detect cognitive and psychological consequences.

Evaluation of the association between sexual dysfunction and demyelinating plaque location and number in female multiple sclerosis patients.

Purpose To investigate the frequency of sexual dysfunction (SD) in female multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and to explore its association with the location and number of demyelinating lesions. Material and Methods We evaluated 42 female patients and 41 healthy subjects. All patients underwent neurological examination and 1.5 T brain and full spinal MRI. All subjects completed the female sexual function index (FSFI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Short-Form 36 Quality of Life Scale (SF-36). All participants were also evaluated for serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T4, estradiol, and total testosterone. Results No statistically significant differences between the MS and control groups were found for age, body mass index (BMI), serum TSH, T4, E2, and total testosterone level. MS patients had a statistically significantly lower FSFI and SF-36 scores and higher BDI and BAI scores compared with healthy subjects. The location and number of demyelinating lesions were not associated with SD. Conclusion In our cohort, this difference in SD appears unrelated to the location and number of demyelinating lesions. These findings highlight the importance of the assessment and treatment of psychiatric comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety, in MS patients reporting SD.

Neuroprotective effects of octreotide on diabetic neuropathy in rats.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the possible healing effects of octreotide (OCT) on motor performance, electrophysiological and histopathological findings of diabetic neuropathy in a rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM). To induce diabetes, rats were administered a single dose (60mg/kg) of streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetic rats were treated either with saline (1ml/kg/day, n=7) or OCT (0.1mg/kg/day, n=7) for four weeks. Seven rats served as control group and received no treatment. At the end of the study, electromyography (EMG), gross motor function (inclined plate test), general histology and the perineural thickness of sciatic nerve were evaluated. At the end of study, weight loss was significantly lower in OCT treated rats than that of saline treated ones (p<0.001). Electrophysiologically, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes of the saline treated DM group were significantly reduced than those of controls (p<0.0001). Also, distal latency and CMAP durations were significantly prolonged in saline treated DM group (p<0.05) compared to control. However, treatment of diabetic rats with OCT significantly counteracted these alterations in EMG. Furthermore, OCT significantly improved the motor performance scores in diabetic rats (p<0.05). Histomorphometric assessment of the sciatic nerve demonstrated a significant reduction in perineural thickness in OCT treated group compared to saline group. In conclusion, OCT possesses beneficial effects against STZ-induced diabetic neuropathy, which promisingly support the use of OCT as a neuroprotective agent in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Intraocular pressure and ocular biometric parameters changes in migraine.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the intraocular pressure and ocular biometric parameters in migraine patients during acute migraine attacks and compare them with painless period and healthy controls using a new optical biometer AL-Scan. METHODS: In this prospective, case-control study, the axial length, corneal curvature radius, anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, and pupil size of 40 migraine patients during acute migraine attacks and painless period and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were measured using a AL-Scan optical biometer (Nidek Co., Gamagori, Japan). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination before the measurements. IOP and biometer measurements were taken at the same time of day (10:00-12:00) in order to minimize the effects of diurnal variation. RESULTS: There was not a statistically significant difference in intraocular pressure between the migraine patients during acute migraine attacks (15.07 mmHg), painless period (14.10 mmHg), and the controls (15,73 ± 0,81). Also, the ocular biometric parameters did not significantly vary during the acute migraine attacks. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to evaluate the etiopathologic relationship between intraocular pressure and ocular biometric parameters and acute migraine attack.