Relationship between genetic polymorphisms MTHFR (C677T, A1298C), MTR (A2756G) and MTRR (A66G) genes and multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.

Recent studies have reported elevated plasma homocysteine and reduced folate and vitamin B levels in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between MS and the following four DNA polymorphisms: MTR A[2756]G, MTHFR C[677]T, MTHFR A[1298]C and MTRR A[66]G. The DNA polymorphisms were genotyped in 80 patients with confirmed MS and 80 healthy control age- and gender-matched subjects using PCR-RFLP approach. Our results show that the frequency of the T/T genotype homozygotes for the MTHFR C[677]T polymorphism was significantly higher in patients than in controls (p = 0.04, OR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.23-8.17). In turn, the A/A genotype of the MTHFR A[1298]C polymorphism was more frequent in controls than in patients (41.3% vs. 32.5%, p = 0.04). There were no differences in distribution of genotypes for the MTR A[66]G and MTR A[2756]C polymorphisms between patients with MS and controls (p > 0.05). Our findings suggested that the MTHFR C[677]T and MTHFR A[1298]C gene polymorphisms might be associated with MS as genetic factors influencing the risk of the disease.

Affective Temperament Profiles in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Association with Mood Disorders.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to screen for bipolarity and to investigate the affective temperaments of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the possible association between the clinical and demographic characteristics of MS patients and temperament profiles. METHODS: A total of 65 patients with MS and 66 healthy volunteers completed the 32-item hypomania checklist (HCl-32), the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) tests. The HCl-32, MDQ, and TEMPS-A scores were compared between the patients and healthy volunteers. RESULTS: MS patients had significantly higher scores for the depressive, cyclothymic, irritable, and anxious domains of the TEMPS-A scale than the control group, whereas relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) patients had higher MDQ and TEMPS-A hyperthymia scores than secondary progressive MS patients. MS patients who were being treated with interferon beta 1-b therapy had significantly higher MDQ scores than those being treated with interferon beta 1-a, glatiramer acetate, or who were without medication. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were positively correlated with TEMPS-A depressive and hyperthymic temperaments. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that higher scores for affective temperament in MS patients indicate subclinical manifestations of mood disorders. Higher hyperthymia scores and manic symptoms detected in the RRMS group could shed light on the relationship between bipolarity and MS. Thus, the screening of bipolarity and affective temperament profiles in MS patients could help clinicians predict future mood episodes and decrease their impact on disease severity.

[A Case of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease That Developed With Psychiatric Symptoms]. / Psikiyatrik Bulgularla Baslayan Sporadik Creutzfeldt-Jakob Hastaligi Olgusu.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a fairly rare prion sickness characterized by rapidly progressive dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The diversity of clinical characteristics of the disease causes difficulties during diagnosis. The first finding of the disease might be psychiatric symptoms. The male patient who was diagnosed with CJD after dementia, ataxia, and myoclonus developed rapidly following psychiatric symptoms, was presented in order to draw attention to the onset with psychiatric symptoms in CJD.

Parotid Abscess with Involvement of Facial Nerve Branches.

Facial nerve paresis is only rarely seen with benign diseases of the parotid gland. A 22-year male had muscle loss in the preauricular region of the right side of his face that extended towards the mandibular angle for the last 6 months. The neurological examination did not reveal any pathology other than right preauricular region muscle atrophy that was limited by the mandibular angle. The Electroneuronography (EnoG) provided a ratio of 55.38%, compared the affected side to left side. Ultrasonography of the defined region showed two mass lesions 13.5 x 7 mm and 10 x 5 mm in size in the anteromedial section of the right parotid gland that were close to each other, without internal calcific foci, and heterogenous hyperechogenic structure without internal vascularization. Fine needle aspiration obtained many polymorphonuclear leukocytes, cell debris, a few mononuclear inflammatory cells and many crystalloid structures. The lesion was diagnosed as a parotid abscess. Antibiotic treatment was started for the parotid gland abscess.

Effects of Tannic Acid on the Ischemic Brain Tissue of Rats.

Many studies of brain ischemia have shown the role played by massive ischemia-induced production of reactive oxygen species, the main mechanism of neuronal death. However, currently, there is no treatment choice to prevent cell death triggered by reactive oxygen species. In our study, we researched the effects of tannic acid, an antioxidant, on the ischemic tissue of rats with induced middle cerebral artery occlusion. The animals were divided into three groups of eight animals. The sham group were only administered 10 % ethanol intraperitoneally, the second group had middle cerebral artery occlusion induced and were given 10 % ethanol intraperitoneally, while the third group had middle cerebral artery occlusion with 10 mg/kg dose tannic acid dissolved in 10 % ethanol administered within half an hour intraperitoneally. The rats were sacrificed 24 h later, and brain tissue was examined biochemically and histopathologically. Biochemical evaluation of brain tissue found that comparing the ischemic group with no treatment with the tannic acid-treated ischemia group; the superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were higher, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were lower, and nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) was higher in the tannic acid-treated group. Histopathological examination showed that the histopathological results of the tannic acid group were better than the group not given tannic acid. Biochemical and histopathological results showed that tannic acid administration had an antioxidant effect on the negative effects of ischemia in brain tissue.

Tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 10 and interleukin 6 gene polymorphisms of ischemic stroke patients in south Marmara region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is an important cause of adult mortality and morbidity; however its pathogenesis is still unknown. Several studies have examined to determine the role of genetic polymorphism of proinflammatory cytokines in the occurence of stroke. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between three polymorphisms; including tumour necrosis alpha (TNFα)-238 GA, interleukin( IL-10)-1028 GA (rs1800896), IL-6-(rs1800795) and ischemic stroke in a Turkish population. METHODS: Forty two stroke patients and 48 healhty controls were genotyped using PCR analysis for TNFα-238 G/A, IL-10-1028 GA and IL-6-rs1800795 AG polymorphisms. RESULTS: The frequency of the CC and CG, GG genotype of IL-6 gene (rs1800795) were statiscially significiantly higher in IS patients than controls (for C/C genotype, P=0.03, OR=4.3; 95% CI: 1.13 to 16.29 and for C/G genotype, P=0.04, OR=3.6; 95% CI: 1.03 to 12.95, for G/G genotype, P=0.02, OR=0.25; 95% CI: 0.07-0.85 respectively). CONCLUSION: Il-6 CC genotyped was found strongly associated with ischemic stroke than other two polymorpisms TNF-α and IL-10 in our population.

Prevalence and related risk factors of tobacco, alcohol and illicit substance use among university students

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of cigarette, alcohol and substance use and the possible associations between different types of substance use and various risk factors among university students. Methods: A self-assessment questionnaire was administered to 4762 students from Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University. The risk factors associated with cigarette, alcohol and substance use were investigated with logistic regression analysis. Results: The frequencies of regular or occasional tobacco and alcohol use were 38.6%and 46.3% respectively. The frequency of using substance at least once in life time was6.3% among students. In the present study, male gender was found to be a statistically significant risk factor associated with all of the three dependent variables. The statistically significant risk factors for using alcohol were studying in college and vocational schools, having a parent with high school and above educational level, having a family income of1226 USD’s and above, having tried tobacco once or a couple of times and using tobacco occasionally or regularly, and having used another substance at least once. Substance use risk was found to be higher in those with higher depression scores, in those who tried tobacco once or a couple of times and who were not using regularly, and who were using tobacco or alcohol occasionally or regularly. Conclusions: The practices and activities of the health center incorporated in the university should be enhanced for the establishment of effective control programs related to tobacco, regular alcohol and substance use (AU)

Subjective sleep quality in premenstrual syndrome.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cyclical disorder observed in late luteal phase and presenting with behavioral changes that can affect interpersonal relationships and normal daily activity. Sleep disturbances are also common. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between PMS and subjective sleep quality with Pitsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in the Medical Academy students, whom have considerable information about menstruation. PMS was detected with "Premenstrual Syndrome Scale", and PSQI was used to evaluate subjective sleep quality. Chi-square test and Kendall's rank correlation analysis were used in statistical analysis. p values (p < 0.05) were considered as statistical significant. Poor sleep quality was found in the 75.6% of the participants with PMS, and 58.8% of the participants without PMS (p < 0.05). Only component 5 (sleep disorder component) of the PSQI components revealed statistically significant difference (1.7 ± 0.6 in participants with PMS, and 1.5 ± 0.6 without PMS, p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between total PSQI score and all of its' components, except component 6 (sleeping pill usage component) (p < 0.05). The strongest association was found to be in the component 5 (r = 0.528; p = 0.0001). Results of our study suggested the poor sleep quality due to sleep disorders in women with PMS.

Lightning strike: a first case of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.

Lightning injury is the second most common cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. Despite the several neurological complications such as polyneuropathy, myelopathy, spinal cord injury, motor neuron disease due to the lightning-induced injury, there is no documented case of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. We describe the case of a patient with a history of lightning strike at childhood period, prior the onset of isolated, diaphragmatic paralysis, unilaterally. Clinical and electrophysiological findings suggest an injury restricted to the phrenic nerve, unilaterally.

Perceptions of epilepsy of three different groups in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate epilepsy-related knowledge, behavior, perceptions, and attitudes of people with epilepsy, their relatives, and a control group (390 participants in total) at the State Hospital Neurology Clinic, Yuksekova City, Turkey. METHODS: The Survey of Epileptic Patient Relatives on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Regarding the Disorder was used and included questions about descriptive characteristics, familiarity with epilepsy, attitudes toward epilepsy, and understanding of epilepsy. Data on SPSS 15.0 software were analyzed with the χ(2) test. RESULTS: Patients (95.3%), their relatives (89.2%), and controls (63.3%) felt primarily fear when they heard the diagnosis of epilepsy. Most participants would not let their child marry a person with epilepsy, with no statistically significant difference between groups (P>0.05). Patients (66.7%) and relatives (70%) saw no problem in people with epilepsy having children; there was a statistically significant difference between groups on this point because of the control group's response (31.5%) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients and relatives showed similar attitudes and behaviors, perhaps because they had common information and experience regarding the disorder.