Recurring disease activity in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: The multicenter RDA-RMS study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the gap in understanding the dynamics of recurring disease activity (RDA) in RRMS patients after fingolimod (FGL) treatment discontinuation. The aim is to investigate RDA in RRMS patients after stopping FGL, aiming to improve management and comprehension of disease progression post-treatment. METHODS: In this multicenter, retrospective study, data from 172 of 944 RRMS patients aged 18-55, across nine centers in Turkey, who discontinued FGL treatment, were analyzed. The collected data included EDSS scores, annualized relapse rates (ARR), lymphocyte counts, and MRI findings, with follow-up assessments conducted at 6 months, 1 year, and up to 2 years. RESULTS: RDA was observed in 31.9 % of patients, with incidences of rebound and reactivation at 20.3 % and 11.6 %, respectively. Factors like younger age, longer treatment duration, lower lymphocyte counts, and higher lesion burden increased RDA risk. Notably, 52.9 % of pregnant patients experienced RDA (16.4 % of the overall RDA group), with rebound occurring in six and reactivation in three. Patients with RDA had longer medication-free intervals and increased ARR. Discontinuation reasons varied, with disease progression linked to a lower RDA risk. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the necessity for personalized management and vigilant monitoring after FGL discontinuation in RRMS patients, offering critical insights into RDA risk factors, and the complex interplay between treatment cessation, pregnancy, and disease progression.

The role of oligoclonal band count and IgG index in treatment response and disease activity in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disease. Among the paraclinical tests, brain and spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is primarily involved in the diagnosis process, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is fundamental in diagnosing MS and the differential diagnosis. A positive relationship was demonstrated between oligoclonal band (OCB) positivity, CSF band number and immunoglobulin G(IgG) index. The study aimed to evaluate whether the number of OCB can predict disease activity and determine a correlation with the IgG index. METHODS: Our study included 401 MS patients who had relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), clinic isolated syndrome (CIS), radiologic isolated syndrome (RIS), Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with OCB number groups of 2-4, 4-8, 8-12, and 12 and above. RESULTS: No significant correlation was observed between IgG index, pre-and post-treatment EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores) and disease-modifying therapies (DMT). Drug response was better in the patient group with band number between 2 and 8 and post-treatment EDSS scores were lower (1.62±0.44). CONCLUSION: The study results suggested that band number may be as valuable as the IgG index and a predictive biomarker for disease activity.

Investigation of Neurological Symptoms Caused by COVID-19 in Intensive Care Unit.

We examined the neurological symptoms of patients treated in intensive care for COVID-19 in this study. We obtained the study data retrospectively from data records of 1,699 patients treated in the COVID-19 clinics of a training and research hospital. The study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and Disease Information Form were used for data collection. Statistical Packed for the Social Sciences 25.0 IBM was used in Data analysis. It was observed that 37% of the COVID-19 patients were between the ages of 66-80 years and 55.6% of the COVID-19 patients were male. The most common neurological symptoms in the disease process and their rates were as follows: insomnia 74.6%, taste loss 74%, smell loss 75.6%, muscle pain 83.2%, headache 45.1%, dizziness 32.2%, weakness 20.2%, and agitation 34.7%. Assessment of neurological symptoms of patients followed up for COVID-19 is of great importance. We suggest that neurological problems should be tried to be cured with appropriate treatment protocols and therapy support before they progress further and the neurological prognosis progresses.

Validity and reliability characteristics of the Silhouettes Fatigue Scale in measuring multiple sclerosis-related fatigue in Turkish-speaking adults.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the reliability and validity as well as the clinical utility of the Silhouettes Fatigue Scale (SFS), a single-item visual scale to assess fatigue, in adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: The study included 61 MS patients and 73 matched healthy controls. Demographic data and disease-related variables of all participants were recorded. Then, the SFS, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-fatigue, Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were applied. SFS, VAS-fatigue, and FSS were repeated after one week. Reliability was evaluated with the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. Validity was tested by comparison of healthy controls and patients with MS and correlations with other scales. Accuracy and clinical utility were also evaluated. RESULTS: SFS scores were 4.49 ± 3.11 (mean ± SD) in MS patients and 1.40 ± 1.44 in healthy controls (p < .001). The ICC for SFS was 0.946. The mean difference between test-retest measurements of SFS was -0.04651 (-95% CI, -0.4815-0.38848), and there was no systemic bias. SFS scores were not correlated with the expanded disability status scale, whereas they were poorly correlated with BDI. Correlations ranging from poor to good were calculated between the SFS and other fatigue-related scales. The optimum cut-off score of the SFS scale was four, with a sensitivity of 0.72 and a specificity of 0.84. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the SFS is a reliable, responsive, and valid scale with acceptable sensitivity and specificity to assess and quantify clinically significant fatigue in MS patients. These findings as well as the brief and understandable nature of the SFS were encouraging that this scale has good clinical utility.

Early and late predictors of postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction in cardiac surgery.

Background and purpose: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a multifactorial image characterized by insufficiency in features such as the ability to perform tasks requiring high brain functions. Cognitive dysfunction such as memory loss and decreased concentration, confusion, and delirium are common conditions in some patients in the early period after major surgical interventions such as cardiac surgery. POCD causes delays in postoperative recovery, long return-to-work times, and decreased quality of life. This study aims to demonstrate POCD in early and late stages in patients undergoing cardiac surgery through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini Mental Test (MMT). In addition, we aim to determine predictive factors with these neurocognitive tests. Methods: MMT and MoCA tests were applied to the patients included in the study before cardiac surgery, on the sixth postoperative day and third month. Neuro-cognitive dysfunction detected on the sixth postoperative day was accepted as an early period, its detection in the postoperative third month was accepted as a late period. Results: 127 patients without neurocognitive dysfunction in the preoperative period were included in the study. For early neurocognitive impairment, age, mean platelet volume (MPV), New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, x-clamp time, cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) time, postoperative intensive care and hospital stay duration, and an event of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the preoperative period were determined as predictive factors. In addition, in late-period of neurocognitive dysfunction age, MPV, NYHA classification, x-clamp duration, CPB time, postoperative intensive care and hospital stay duration were shown as predictors of neurocognitive dysfunction. Conclusion: The results of our study support the literature findings showing that delirium is associated with a decline in cognitive functions three months after cardiac surgery. As a result, the lack of agreed diagnostic tests in the definition of POCD makes it difficult to standardize and interpret the research in this area. Therefore, a consensus to be reached in the diagnosis of POCD will ensure the use and correct interpretation of neurophysiological tests. In our study, advanced age and long hospital and intensive care stays were shown as predictive factors for both early and late neurocognitive dysfunctions. Furthermore, smoking was shown as a predictive factor only for late neurocognitive dysfunction.

The effect of starting a meal with salt and date palm on taste impairment caused by COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effect of starting a meal with salt and date palm on the sense of taste in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This study was conducted using a randomized controlled method. Patient and disease information forms and Visual Analog Scale were used for data collection. Salt and date palm were used to stimulate the sense of taste in two different experimental groups. No procedure was made in the control group except for the practice of the clinic. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 25. RESULTS: The mean ages of all groups were between 43.42 ± 8.60 and 47.22 ± 12.04 years. Fever, sore throat, dry mouth, cough, muscle weakness, and similar symptoms were present in all groups. Significant improvements were found in patients with hypoageusia and ageusia after date palm and salt application (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: For taste impairment caused by COVID-19, consumption of date palm and tasting very little salt for therapeutic purposes may help to alleviate taste impairment. Based on the data obtained from this study, the pathophysiology of the effects of date palm and salt on taste complications should be investigated.

The effect of sniffing Turkish coffee on olfactory disorders in COVID-19 patients: An experimental clinical study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The current study aimed to examine the effect of sniffing Turkish coffee on the sense of smell in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This study utilized the experiment-control method. Data were collected using a patient and disease information form and the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) Test. An experimental group of patients sniffed Turkish coffee, and the coffee's effect on the patients' sense of smell was examined. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 (IBM). RESULTS: Of the patients in the experimental group, 25% had moderate hyposmia, 58.3% had severe hyposmia, and 16.7% had anosmia prior to sniffing Turkish coffee. After sniffing the Turkish coffee, 13.3% of these patients regained their ability to smell normally, while 18.3% had mild hyposmia, 45% had moderate hyposmia, 6.7% had severe hyposmia, and 16.7% had anosmia. There was no difference in the control group between first and second measurement. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients who sniffed Turkish coffee intermittently regained some of their sense of smell for one hour. Turkish coffee is cheap, fragrant, widely available, and easy to access. Therefore, results of this study suggest that it may be recommended for treating olfactory disorder in COVID-19 patients.

Effects of valproate, carbamazepine and levetiracetam on Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratio.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate P-wave dispersion before and after antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment as well as to investigate the risk of ventricular repolarization using the Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in patients with epileptic disorder. METHODS: A total of 63 patients receiving AED therapy and 35 healthy adults were included. ECG recordings were obtained before and 3 months after anti-epileptic treatment among patients with epilepsy. For both groups, Tp-e and Tp-e/QT ratio were measured using a 12-lead ECG device. RESULTS: Tp-e interval, Tpe/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were found to be higher in the patient group than in the control group (p<0.05, for all), while QTmax ratio was significantly lower in the patient group. After 3 months of AED therapy, significant increases in QT max, QTc max, QTcd, Tp-e, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTc were found among the patients (p<0.05). When the arrhythmic effects of the drugs before and after treatment were compared, especially in the valproic acid group, there were significant increases in Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc values after three months of treatment (p<0.05). Carbamazepine and levetiracetam groups were not statistically significant in terms of pre- and post-treatment values. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that an arrhythmogenic environment may be associated with the disease, and patients who received AED monotherapy may need to be followed up more closely for arrhythmia.

Mid-term oral isotretinoin therapy causes a predominantly sensory demyelinating neuropathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate whether mid-term treatment with oral isotretinoin may impact peripheral nerve function. METHODS: In this study, we included 28 patients with no apparent neurological or neurophysiological findings. The patients received treatment with oral isotretinoin for papulopustular or nodulocystic acne. The patients with normal findings in the first examination were given 1 mg/kg/day oral isotretinoin. Neurological examinations and electroneurographic studies were performed before and 6 months after the onset of isotretinoin treatment. RESULTS: Clinical examinations and electroneurographic evaluations prior to treatment revealed no abnormalities in any of the patients. However, 20 patients (72%) displayed one or more abnormal values in the tested parameters after treatment. Although the mean amplitudes of compound muscle action potential of the ulnar and median nerves did not vary, significant decreases were observed in the mean sensory conduction velocities of median, ulnar, sural, medial plantar, medial dorsal cutaneous, and dorsal sural nerves 6 months after the onset of treatment. CONCLUSION: Systemic use of isotretinoin may cause electroneurographic changes. Probable electroneurographic alterations may be detected at a much earlier period via dorsal sural nerve tracing when electrophysiological methods used in routine clinical practice cannot detect these changes.

Evaluation of Optical Coherence Tomography Results and Cognitive Functions in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether retinal neural network was impaired and cognitive functions were disturbed in restless legs syndrome (RLS) considering the hypothesis that there may be a dysfunction in dopaminergic pathways in RLS like in Parkinson's disease. Therefore, we evaluated retinal neural network with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and presence of cognitive impairment with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). METHODS: OCT evaluations were performed for 30 RLS patients and 30 healthy controls. Ganglion cell complex was segmented to retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), and inner plexiform layer (IPL) automatically by the device, and recorded. Additionally, all the patients and the controls were evaluated using MOCA. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was detected between RLS and controls in RNFL, GCL, IPL, and choroidal thicknesses. However, total MOCA score and all of its subscale scores were significantly lower in the RLS patients compared with the controls. No significant correlation was detected between OCT and MOCA parameters. CONCLUSION: No degeneration was detected in retinal neurons (RNFL, GCL, and IPL) of RLS patients. However, impairments were seen in MOCA total and subscale scores of these patients. On the other hand, no significant correlation was detected between MOCA scores and RNFL, GCL, or IPL thicknesses. These findings suggest decrease in cognitive functions of RLS patients probably due to dopaminergic dysfunction regardless of anatomical neural degeneration. Longitudinal follow-up studies are warranted to evaluate whether neuronal degeneration will develop.

Neuroretinal evaluation using optical coherence tomography in patients affected by pituitary tumors.

AIM: To investigate the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and choroid thickness (CT) in patients with pituitary tumours, microadenoma and macroadenoma, using spectral optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Thirty six patients who had micro and macroadenoma, and 34 healthy participants (control group) were included in the study. Spectral OCT was used to measure the RNFL, GCL, IPL, and CT values for all patients. CT measurements were performed by the same author (A.S.K). Additionally, retinal nerve fiber length, which is a sublayer of ganglion cell complex (GCC), was also measured for each patient and after segmentation oF GCC. RESULTS: No difference was detected between group according to sociodemographic data. The mean age of patients and the control group was 34.31 ± 12.47 and 33.12 ± 11.75 years, respectively. In the patient group had RNFL thinning while there was a thickening of the choroid layer. When all pituitary tumours patients (without grouping) were compared with the control group and there were significant differences on all parameters: RNFL, GCL, IPL thickness, and CT (p<0.05), while there were no significant differences in RNFL and GCL measurements between microadenoma and macroadenoma (p>0.05). All patients were significantly different from one another with respect to CT (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that neurodegeneration occurs in the course of pituitary tumours, and this degeneration may be presented by decreased GCL at early stages, and as the disease progresses it may also affect ather layers of GCC like RNFL and IPL. RNFL and GCL were significantly thinner in the all patients as compared with the control subjects. In pituitary tumours, both microadenoma and macroadenoma, when evaluating ophthalmological findings patients' choroid thinning should be considered. KEY WORDS: Choroid thickness Ganglion cell layer thickness, Optical coherence tomographyl Pituitary tumours, Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

Protective effects of l-glutamine against toxicity of deltamethrin in the cerebral tissue.

BACKGROUND: Deltamethrin (DLM) is a broad-spectrum synthetic dibromo-pyrethroid pesticide that is widely used for agricultural and veterinary purposes. However, human exposure to the pesticide leads to neurotoxicity. Glutamine is one of the principal, free intracellular amino acids and may also be an antioxidant. This study was undertaken in order to examine the neuroprotective and antioxidant potential of l-glutamine against DLM toxicity in female Wistar albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were divided into the following groups (n=10): Group I: control (distilled water; 10 mL/kg, po one dose), Group II: l-glutamine (1.5 g/kg, po one dose), Group III: DLM (35 mg/kg, po one dose), and Group IV: DLM (35 mg/kg, po one dose) and l-glutamine (1.5 g/kg, po one dose after 4 hours). Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6 levels and apoptosis were evaluated in brain tissue. RESULTS: DLM-treated animals had a significant increase in brain biochemical parameters, as well as TOS and TAS. Furthermore, the histopathological examination showed neuronal cell degeneration in the cerebral tissue. l-Glutamine treatment decreased the elevated brain levels of TOS and neuronal cell degeneration. There was no difference in tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 levels between the groups. CONCLUSION: l-Glutamine may reduce the toxic effects of DLM in the cerebral tissue through antioxidant properties.

Relation between electrophysiological findings and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

AIM: As only a limited number of studies have used diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE), the present study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the non-invasive DWI technique in patients with UNE. METHODS: A total of 26 elbows in 19 healthy controls (age range: 22-56 years) with no symptoms and 24 elbows in 21 symptomatic patients (age range: 21-46 years) with cubital tunnel syndrome underwent DWI. The electrophysiological and clinical criteria for the diagnosis of UNE were examined. RESULTS: No pathological signal from the ulnar nerve was detected in the healthy controls, whereas there was an increase in signals on DWI in all patients with UNE. On T2-weighted (T2W) imaging, there was increased signal intensity in 20 elbows, while low signal intensity was observed in the remaining four. A positive correlation was found between disease duration and presence of hyperintensity (P=0.044, r=0.42) on T2W images. CONCLUSION: DWI can be used together with electrophysiological methods for the diagnosis of UNE. Furthermore, DWI might be preferred in some cases, as it is non-invasive compared with the electrophysiological method for UNE diagnosis.

The effects of levetiracetam, carbamazepine, and sodium valproate on P100 and P300 in epileptic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Although the unfavorable effects of early antiepileptic drugs, valproic acid, and carbamazepine (CBZ) on cognitive functions and visual functions have been investigated, the unfavorable effects of levetiracetam (LEV) on cognitive and visual functions remain unknown. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether there is a difference between the adverse effects by comparing the P300 and P100 latencies of LEV with epileptic patients using CBZ or sodium valproate (VPA) and healthy subjects. METHOD: A control group of 20 healthy subjects and 53 patients receiving monotherapy with CBZ (n = 15), VPA (n = 14), and LEV (n = 24) who admitted to neurology policlinic for investigation and treatment were enrolled in this study. Visual evoked potentials and event-related evoked potentials were studied according to these groups. Standard "oddball paradigm" (unpredictable stimuli series) was used to obtain P300. RESULTS: The P300 latencies of epileptic patients receiving CBZ, VPA, and LEV were longer compared with the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.001, 0.001, and 0.03, respectively). The P300 latency of patients receiving LEV was significantly shorter than the group receiving CBZ and VPA with statistically significant difference (P < 0.01 for both). The P300 amplitude was lower in the groups receiving CBZ, VPA, and LEV compared with the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that LEV disrupts P300 latency less than VPA and CBZ and does not prolong P100 as much as them.

Diagnostic value of F-wave inversion in patients with early carpal tunnel syndrome.

Routine electrophysiological studies usually give normal results in patients with early stage carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Diagnostic significance of the F-wave inversion (the median of F-wave minimal latencies (FWML) exceeds a normal ipsilateral ulnar FWML by 1ms) has not been previously reported in early stage CTS. In this study, our primary aim was to investigate the diagnostic value of F-wave inversion in early stage CTS. Additionally, we aimed to demonstrate any possible relationship between F-wave inversion and symptom scores of the Boston questionnaire and functional capacity in early stage CTS. The study included 60 early stage CTS patients who presented with a median sensory nerve conduction velocity of ≥50m/s. The symptom severity and functional status of the patients were assessed by using the Boston questionnaire. The control group consisted of 45 healthy volunteers. We compared early stage CTS patients and healthy control subjects in terms of the results obtained from median-ulnar FWML. Existence of F-wave inversion was found in 32 (53.3%) of the early stage CTS patients and in 3 (8.7%) of the healthy controls (p=0.001). It was also found to be positively correlated with the Boston questionnaire scores (p=0.001, r=0.41) and functional capacity scores (p=0.001, r=0.41). The sensitivity and specificity of F-wave inversion for the diagnosis of early stage CTS were calculated as 53.3% and 93.3%, respectively. The addition of F-wave inversion measurement to the set of the routine nerve conduction studies can increase the reliability of the electrophysiological studies in patients with early stage CTS.

Ellagic acid attenuates oxidative stress on brain and sciatic nerve and improves histopathology of brain in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of ellagic acid in brain and sciatic nerve tissues of diabetic rats. Also, the impact of ellagic acid on catalase and paraoxonase (PON-1) activities, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were examined. The rats were randomly divided into four groups, with eight rats each: Normal controls (not diabetic), only ellagic acid treated (ellagic acid controls, not diabetic), Diabetic controls (streptozotocin, diabetic), ellagic acid-treated diabetic (streptozotocin + ellagic acid). After a 4 week experiment, rats were sacrificed, and biomarkers for oxidative stress in the brain and sciatic nerve tissues of the rats were measured. There was significant depletion in the PON-1, catalase, and TAS levels in the brain and sciatic nerve tissues compared to the control groups (for both parameters, p<0.05). The values of catalase, PON-1 and TAS reversed back to normal levels in ellagic acid-treated diabetic rats compared to untreated diabetic rats (for both parameters, p<0.05). The levels of MDA, TOS, NO and, OSI in the brain and sciatic nerve tissues were higher in untreated diabetic rats compared to control group (for both parameters p<0.05). However, MDA, TOS, OSI, and NO levels were found to be significantly reduced in the ellagic acid-treated diabetic group compared to the untreated diabetic group in these tissues (for both parameters, p<0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that ellagic acid exhibits neuroprotective effects against oxidative damage in diabetic rats.

The medial plantar and medial peroneal cutaneous nerve conduction studies for diabetic polyneuropathy.

Objective of this study was to determine which nerve conduction is more sensitive electrophysiologically in the diagnosis of polyneuropathy in diabetics by evaluating the sensory conduction in medial plantar nerve and medial peroneal (dorsal) cutaneous nerves. Additionally to investigate the relation between Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS) and Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS) values used in the diagnosis of these conduction studies. Forty patients with diagnosis diabetic neuropathy were included into this study. In diabetic polyneuropathic patient group, both medial plantar and medial dorsal cutaneous nerve sensory action potential were not bilaterally obtained in 19 patients (47.5%). Sensitivity and specificity of medial dorsal cutaneous nerve and medial plantar nerve sensory conduction abnormalities in diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy were higher compared to sural nerve conduction abnormalities. This study showed that both medial plantar and medial dorsal cutaneous nerve conduction study performed bilaterally was a highly sensitive and specific method in diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.