Correlation between neurofilament, HMGB1, MMP9, ds DNA blood levels and cognitive impairment in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is challenging due to nonspecific biomarkers. High serum levels of neurofilament protein light subunit (NFL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and have been reported in several autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether their plasma levels could serve as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for NPSLE. Methods: There were 90 SLE patients enrolled in this cross-sectional study (87.8% women and 12.2% men with a mean age of 41.67±11.05 years). We assessed the mental status of patients, also we measured the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR (SLICC/ ACR) Damage Index or SDI scores. Serum levels of NFL, HMGB1, MMP9, and ds-DNA were investigated to find a role in the pathophysiology of NPSLE. Results: Among the 90 patients with SLE, 63 (70%) met the criteria of NPSLE syndrome. Our results have shown a notable difference concerning SEDIAC-2k score, SDI score, PANS, MoCA, and Beck anxiety depression, between the two groups (p < 0.05). Although serum level of all measured serum biomarkers (NFL, MMP-9, HMGB1, dsDNA) were higher in patients with NPSLE, the difference was not statistically significant. Interestingly, our results showed that the serum level of NFL was correlated with the serum level of HMGB-1 and MMP-9. (r: 0.411, P=0.003). Conclusion: Serum level of NFL, HMGB-1 and MMP-9 may be used to detect abnormal mental status in patients with SLE.

COLQ-Congenital myasthenic syndrome in an Iranian cohort: the clinical and genetics spectrum.

BACKGROUND: Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a group of neuromuscular disorders caused by abnormal signal transmission at the motor endplate. Mutations in the collagen-like tail subunit gene (COLQ) of acetylcholinesterase are responsible for recessive forms of synaptic congenital myasthenic syndromes with end plate acetylcholinesterase deficiency. Clinical presentation includes ptosis, ophthalmoparesis, and progressive weakness with onset at birth or early infancy. METHODS: We followed 26 patients with COLQ-CMS over a mean period of 9 years (ranging from 3 to 213 months) and reported their clinical features, electrophysiologic findings, genetic characteristics, and therapeutic management. RESULTS: In our population, the onset of symptoms ranged from birth to 15 years. Delayed developmental motor milestones were detected in 13 patients (∼ 52%), and the most common presenting signs were ptosis, ophthalmoparesis, and limb weakness. Sluggish pupils were seen in 8 (∼ 30%) patients. All patients who underwent electrophysiologic study showed a significant decremental response (> 10%) following low-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation. Moreover, double compound muscle action potential was evident in 18 patients (∼ 75%). We detected 14 variants (eight novel variants), including six missense, three frameshift, three nonsense, one synonymous and one copy number variation (CNV), in the COLQ gene. There was no benefit from esterase inhibitor treatment, while treatment with ephedrine and salbutamol was objectively efficient in all cases. CONCLUSION: Despite the rarity of the disease, our findings provide valuable information for understanding the clinical and electrophysiological features as well as the genetic characterization and response to the treatment of COLQ-CMS.

Neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy: clinicopathological and genetic features of nine Iranian patients.

The rare disorder known as Neutral Lipid Storage Disease with Myopathy presents with a variety of clinical manifestations, including myopathy, cardiac dysfunction, and other organ complications. Early diagnosis is crucial due to the increased risk of cardiomyopathy. We describe the clinical, histopathological, muscle imaging, and genetic findings of nine neutral lipid storage myopathy patients. Proximal weakness and asymmetric involvement may suggest lipid storage myopathy. While skeletal muscle weakness was the main manifestation in our patients, one case presented only with hyperCKemia. Additionally, three patients had fertility issues, two suffered from diabetes mellitus, two had cardiomyopathy, and one had a history of hypothyroidism. Muscle histopathology revealed lipid depositions and rimmed vacuoles, prompting peripheral blood smears to detect Jordan Anomalies. All muscle biopsies and peripheral blood smear showed lipid droplets, rimmed vacuoles, and Jordan anomaly. Identifying PNPLA2 gene mutations is important for diagnosing neutral lipid storage myopathy; our cases showed some novel mutations. This study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and comprehensive evaluation in managing neutral lipid storage myopathy cases.

A nomogram-based clinical tool for acute ischemic stroke screening in prehospital setting.

Background: We believe that designing a new tool which is comparable in terms of both sensitivity and specificity may play an important role in rapid and more accurate diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in prehospital stage. Therefore, we intended to develop a new clinical tool for the diagnosis of AIS in the prehospital stage. Methods: This was a cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study. All patients transferred to the emergency department (ED) who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with impression of AIS were evaluated by 9 clinical tools for stroke diagnosis in the pre-hospital phase including Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation (RACE), Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS), Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen (LAPSS), Melbourne Ambulance Stroke Screen (MASS), Medic Prehospital Assessment for Code Stroke (Med PACS), Ontario Prehospital Stroke Screening Tool (OPSS), PreHospital Ambulance Stroke Test (PreHAST), Recognition of Stroke in the Emergency Room (ROSIER), and Face Arm Speech Test (FAST), and totally 19 items were reviewed and recorded. The new clinical tool was developed based on backward method of multivariable logistic regression analysis. The discrimination power of the new clinical tool for diagnosis of AIS was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). Results: Data from 806 patients were analyzed; of them, 57.4% were men. The mean age of the study patients was 66.9 years [standard deviation (SD) = 13.9]. In the multivariable model, 8 items remained. The AUC-ROC of the new clinical tool was 0.893 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.869-0.917], and its best cut-off point was score ≥ 3 for positive AIS. At this cut-off point, sensitivity and specificity were 84.42% and 79.72%, respectively. Conclusion: We introduced a new nomogram-based clinical tool for the diagnosis of AIS in the prehospital stage, which has acceptable specificity and sensitivity; moreover, it is comparable with previous tools.

Visual impairment following aluminum phosphide poisoning: A rare case.

Key Clinical Message: Aluminum phosphide poisoning may cause rare visual impairment. In a case, a 31-year-old female, visual loss was linked to shock-induced hypoperfusion, causing oxygen lack and cerebral atrophy, emphasizing the need for identifying atypical symptoms. Abstract: This case report describes the multidisciplinary evaluation of a 31-year-old female patient who suffered from visual impairment as a result of aluminum phosphide (AlP) poisoning. Phosphine, which is formed in the body when AlP reacts with water, cannot cross the blood-brain barrier; therefore, visual impairment seems unlikely to be the direct result of phosphine. To our knowledge, it is the first documented report of such impairment due to AlP.

The Possible Role of COVID-19 in the Triggering of Underlying Mitochondrial Dysfunction in MELAS Syndrome, A Brief Report of three cases.

BACKGROUND: During corona virus pandemic, various neurological complications of COVID-19 have been reported. Recent studies demonstrated different pathophysiology for neurological manifestations of COVID-19 such as mitochondrial dysfunction and damage to cerebral vasculature. In addition, mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a mitochondrial disorder with a variety of neurological symptoms. In this study, we aim to assess a potential predisposition in mitochondrial dysfunction of COVID-19, leading to MELAS presentation. METHODS: We studied three previously healthy patients with the first presentation of acute stroke-like symptoms, following COVID-19 infection. We analyzed the patients' clinical data and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions that presented to the neurological center of a university-affiliated hospital in Tehran, Iran, from September 2020 to August 2021. RESULTS: All cases are characterized by a temporoparietal abnormality in imaging studies and electroencephalogram (EEG). Based on electrodiagnostic tests, three patients were diagnosed with myopathy. In two brothers with relatively the same symptoms, one performed muscle biopsy finding myopathic process, and genetic testing confirmed a 3243A>G point mutation in a heteroplasmic state in one of our patients. CONCLUSION: Although MELAS is not a prevalent condition, the recent increase in the number of these patients in our center might indicate the potential role of COVID-19 in triggering the silent pre- existing mitochondrial dysfunction in these patients.

SARS-CoV-2 infection might be a predictor of mortality in intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with uncommon complications such as intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), with a high mortality rate. We compared a series of hospitalized ICH cases infected with SARS-CoV-2 with a non-SARS-CoV-2 infected control group and evaluated if the SARS-CoV-2 infection is a predictor of mortality in ICH patients. METHODS: In a multinational retrospective study, 63 cases of ICH in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients admitted to 13 tertiary centers from the beginning of the pandemic were collected. We compared the clinical and radiological characteristics and in-hospital mortality of these patients with a control group of non-SARS-CoV-2 infected ICH patients of a previous cohort from the country where the majority of cases were recruited. RESULTS: Among 63 ICH patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 23 (36.5%) were women. Compared to the non-SARS-CoV-2 infected control group, in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, ICH occurred at a younger age (61.4 ± 18.1 years versus 66.8 ± 16.2 years, P = 0.044). These patients had higher median ICH scores ([3 (IQR 2-4)] versus [2 (IQR 1-3)], P = 0.025), a more frequent history of diabetes (34% versus 16%, P = 0.007), and lower platelet counts (177.8 ± 77.8 × 109/L versus 240.5 ± 79.3 × 109/L, P < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality was not significantly different between cases and controls (65% versus 62%, P = 0.658) in univariate analysis; however, SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (aOR = 4.3, 95% CI: 1.28-14.52) in multivariable analysis adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 may be associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality in ICH patients.

The effectiveness of anodal tDCS and cognitive training on cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis; a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study.

BACKGROUND: Forty to 70% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from cognitive impairment during their illness. Only a few studies have examined the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) along with cognitive training on cognitive performance in MS patients. This study aims to determine whether multi-session a-tDCS with or without cognitive training impacts cognitive performance in MS. METHODS: Eighty MS patients received a-tDCS, cognitive training, a-tDCS plus cognitive training, and sham for ten consecutive daily sessions. Cognitive function (including episodic memory, attention, and inhibitory control, working memory, and visuospatial skill) was measured at baseline, week 4, and week 12 after the intervention. RESULTS: All cognitive functions significantly improved after the intervention compared to the sham condition. This effect also showed persistence during follow-up for some cognitive tasks in the a-tDCS and a-tDCS combined cognitive training groups. Although the cognitive training group experienced an immediate improvement in attention and inhibitory control, the difference was not significant at follow-up. Also, there were no significant differences between these three groups in cognitive scores after the intervention. CONCLUSION: a-tDCS alone and a-tDCS paired with or without cognitive training as compared to sham appears to be a promising therapeutic option for cognitive performance in MS patients.

Evaluation of the epidemiologic, clinical, radiologic, and treatment methods of patients with subacute and chronic meningitis.

BACKGROUND: Meningitis is known as a meningeal inflammation accompanied by pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and can be classified into acute, subacute, and chronic meningitis based on symptoms duration of ≤ 5 days, ≥ 5 days and ≥ 4 weeks, respectively. Subacute and chronic meningitis are caused mainly by indolent infectious agents and noninfectious causes such as autoimmune, and neoplastic. In this study, we investigated the characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of subacute and chronic meningitis. METHODS: We extracted the medical records of patients with chronic and subacute meningitis who were referred to three tertiary centers from Jun 2011 to Jun 2021. Initially, 2050 cases of meningitis were screened, and then 79 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: Headache (87.3%), nausea and vomiting (74.7%), fever (56.4%), and visual impairments (55.7%) were the most prevalent symptoms. The most common signs were nuchal rigidity (45.3%), altered mental status (26.9%), and papillary edema (37.5%). Brain computed tomography (CT) was normal in 68.6% of the patients while 22.9% of the cases had hydrocephalus. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was normal in 60.0% of the patients. The most common abnormal MRI findings were leptomeningeal enhancement (16.0%) and hydrocephalus (16.0%). We had a 44.3% definite diagnosis with bacterial (n:25, 31.6%) and neoplastic (n:8, 10.1%) being the most prevalent etiologies. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (60%) and Brucella spp. (12%) were the most prevalent bacterial pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: The most common etiologies include infectious, neoplastic, and immunologic. Due to insidious presentation and uncommon etiologies, establishing a proper diagnosis, and providing timely targeted treatment for patients with subacute and chronic meningitis remains a challenge for clinicians.

Increased levels of neurofilament light chain in suicide attempters' serum.

Background: A specific biological vulnerability underlies suicidal behavior. Recent findings have suggested a possible role of inflammation and neuroaxonal injury. However, the relationship between inflammation and clinical symptoms in this disorder is still unclear. The objective of this study is applying novel blood markers of neuroaxonal integrity such as neurofilament light chain (NfL) and comparing the results with the healthy control subjects. Methods: In this cross-sectional study patients with suicide attempts were evaluated. The serum concentration of NfL on admission was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: A total of 50 patients with a suicide attempts and 35 healthy controls were included in the study. The levels of NfL in attempted suicide patients were significantly higher in comparison with healthy controls (40.52 ± 33.54 vs 13.73 ± 5.11, P < 0.001). A significant association between serum levels of NfL and risk factors for suicide was not found. Conclusion: These findings indicate that axonal damage may be an underlying neuropathological component of suicide attempt patients, although no correlation was observed with clinical features. This line of work could lead to new horizons in understanding the neurobiology of suicidal attempts and the development of better management strategies for these patients.

Altered serum and cerebrospinal fluid TNF-α, caspase 3, and IL 1ß in COVID-19 disease.

Background: We evaluated the levels of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and caspase-3 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of COVID-19 patients to improve our knowledge about underlying mechanisms caused by this virus in central nervous system involvement. Case Presentation: This case series study included six COVID-19 patients from March 26, 2020, to April 17, 2020, and six healthy control patients. CSF and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and caspase-3 have been assayed using monoclonal antibodies-based ELISAs.Patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher level of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and caspase-3 in serum (239.16±35.73 pg/ml, 100.50±12.49 pg/ml, 3.58±0.11pg/ml, p < 0.001) and CSF (146.66±17.55 pg/ml, 63.16±14.68 pg/ml,3.22±0.03pg/ml, p<0.001), respectively as compared to control. In addition, our results showed that these biomarkers were significantly higher in serum compared with CSF of the COVID-19 patients (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study provides essential information for understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection and sheds light on the potential mechanisms of virus transmission. The obtained data could be useful for designing new prevention and treatment strategies for COVID-19.

The impact of brain lesions on sexual dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review of magnetic resonance imaging studies.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction is common but underestimated clinical symptom in MS patients. A growing body of evidence has been suggested the link between brain lesions and sexual dysfunction (SD) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the clinical research investigating this relationship have shown inconsistent results. Here, we aimed to systematically review the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies evaluating the association between the brain lesions and SD in MS patients. METHODS: This study was provided according to the recommendations of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement. A comprehensive systematic search of online databases was performed to find eligible studies up to December 2020. The quality of studies was methodologically assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score. RESULTS: We identified eight articles regarding MS brain lesions and SD through the search strategy. Seven studies showed significant associations between SD and brain lesions. Three studies investigated the brain stem, two studies the insular and occipital region, one study the frontal lobe, prefrontal cortex, and temporal lobe and one study the parietal area. CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic review showed that lesions in different brain areas are correlated with SD in MS patients. Plaques in the occipital and hippocampus areas, as well as left insula appear to be related to dysfunction of sexual arousability or lubrication/erection in MS patients. Orgasmic dysfunction in MS patients may be associated with brain lesions in pons, left temporal periventricular, and right occipital areas.

Association of Changed Serum Brain Biomarkers With Perihematomal Edema and Early Clinical Outcome in Primary ICH Patients.

BACKGROUND: Perihematomal edema (PHE) following primary intracranial hemorrhages (ICHs) affects the patient outcome. Also, serum biomarkers such as S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) have been associated with ICHs outcome. We aimed to investigate the association between these biomarkers and PHE in ICH patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with primary ICH between January 2020 and August 2020 were evaluated. All participants underwent spiral brain computed tomography scans upon admission, and 48 to 72 hours later and quantification of initial hematoma volume was performed. Serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), GFAP, and S100B on admission were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Acute clinical outcome was assessed by the modified-Rankin scale, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and ICH score. RESULTS: Thirty-seven ICH patients (21 patients with a favorable outcome and 16 unfavorable) were studied. Compared with survival patients, nonsurvivor patients showed a higher serum level of MMP-9, VEGF, GFAP, and S100B ( P <0.05). Scores of absolute PHE, edema expansion distance, and PHE growth rate in the nonsurvivor group were higher than the survivors ( P <0.001). The regression model revealed that MMP-9, VEGF, ICH score, and hematoma volume were associated with the PHE growth rate. S100B and ICH score were associated with edema expansion distance. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the serum level of molecular biomarkers was associated with higher PHE volume and PHE scores were higher in nonsurvival patients, suggesting it may have a pathogenic role in developing PHE after ICH.

The outbreak of methanol intoxication during COVID-19 pandemic: prevalence of brain lesions and its predisposing factors.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, methanol-containing beverages' consumption has risen because people mistakenly believed that alcohol might protect them against the virus. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predisposing factors of brain lesions in patients with methanol toxicity and its outcome. A total of 516 patients with confirmed methanol poisoning were enrolled in this retrospective study, of which 40 patients underwent spiral brain computed tomography (CT) scan. The presence of unilateral or bilateral brain necrosis was significantly higher in the non-survival group (p = 0.001). Also, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and brain edema were prevalent among patients that subsequently died (p = 0.004 and p = 0.002, respectively). Lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was related to a higher mortality rate (p = 0.001). The mortality rate in chronic alcohol consumption was lower than the patients who drank alcohol for the first time (p = 0.014). In conclusion, increasing the number of methanol poisoning and its associated mortality and morbidity should be considered a threat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is Selenium Supplementation Beneficial in Acute Ischemic Stroke?

BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) plays a significant role in brain physiology. The existing human data demonstrate that stroke is associated with significantly reduced Se levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. This study proposed to investigate the effect of intravenous Se (Selenase) administration in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) on neurological outcomes, antioxidant enzyme activity, and inflammatory marker levels. METHODS: AIS patients (n=50) were recruited from a neurology unit of a university-affiliated hospital. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either Selenase or placebo (saline) for 5 days. The modified ranking scale, the national institute of health stroke scale, and the mini-mental state examination, as primary outcomes, and the serum GPx concentration, total antioxidant activity, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, as secondary outcomes, were measured at the baseline and on day 30. RESULTS: Eventually, 44 patients with AIS completed the intervention study. A notable increase in GPx and total antioxidant activity levels was detected in the treatment group compared with the placebo group (110.63±52.48 m/mL, 1.34±0.30 mmol/L, P<0.05), whereas the serum tumor necrosis factor-α level in the Selenase group was significantly lower than that of the placebo group (58.58±61.33 pg/mL, P<0.05). In addition, Selenase improved the modified ranking scale and national institute of health stroke scale scores significantly (P<0.05 and <0.04, respectively), but no statistical difference was observed between the 2 groups in the mini-mental state examination score. CONCLUSION: Selenase, plausibly due to its antioxidant function, results in positive outcomes in terms of neurological deficits, antioxidant enzyme activity, and inflammatory marker levels.

SARS-CoV-2 and Stroke Characteristics: A Report From the Multinational COVID-19 Stroke Study Group.

[Figure: see text].

Neurological manifestations as the predictors of severity and mortality in hospitalized individuals with COVID-19: a multicenter prospective clinical study.

BACKGROUNDS: The reports of neurological symptoms are increasing in cases with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This multi-center prospective study was conducted to determine the incidence of neurological manifestations in hospitalized cases with COVID-19 and assess these symptoms as the predictors of severity and death. METHODS: Hospitalized males and females with COVID-19 who aged over 18 years were included in the study. They were examined by two neurologists at the time of admission. All survived cases were followed for 8 weeks after discharge and 16 weeks if their symptoms had no improvements. RESULTS: We included 873 participants. Of eligible cases, 122 individuals (13.97%) died during hospitalization. The most common non-neurological manifestations were fever (81.1%), cough (76.1%), fatigue (36.1%), and shortness of breath (27.6%). Aging, male gender, co-morbidity, smoking, hemoptysis, chest tightness, and shortness of breath were associated with increased odds of severe cases and/or mortality. There were 561 (64.3%) cases with smell and taste dysfunctions (hyposmia: 58.6%; anosmia: 41.4%; dysguesia: 100%). They were more common among females (69.7%) and non-smokers (66.7%). Hyposmia/anosmia and dysgeusia were found to be associated with reduced odds of severe cases and mortality. Myalgia (24.8%), headaches (12.6%), and dizziness (11.9%) were other common neurological symptoms. Headaches had negative correlation with severity and death due to COVID-19 but myalgia and dizziness were not associated. The cerebrovascular events (n = 10) and status epilepticus (n = 1) were other neurological findings. The partial or full recovery of smell and taste dysfunctions was found in 95.2% after 8 weeks and 97.3% after 16 weeks. The parosmia (30.9%) and phantosmia (9.0%) were also reported during 8 weeks of follow-up. Five cases with mild headaches and 5 cases with myalgia were reported after 16 weeks of discharge. The demyelinating myelitis (n = 1) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (n = 1) were also found during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Neurological symptoms were found to be prevalent among individuals with COVID-19 disease and should not be under-estimated during the current pandemic outbreak.

Prevalence and correlates of chronic fatigue syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder after the outbreak of the COVID-19.

As the SARS-COV-2 becomes a global pandemic, many researchers have a concern about the long COVID-19 complications. Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a persistent, debilitating, and unexplained fatigue disorder. We investigated psychological morbidities such as CFS and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors of COVID-19 over 6 months. All COVID-19 survivors from the university-affiliated hospital of Tehran, Iran, were assessed 6 months after infection onset by a previously validated questionnaire based on the Fukuda guidelines for CFS/EM and DSM-5 Checklist for PTSD (The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 or PCL-5) to determine the presence of stress disorder and chronic fatigue problems. A total of 120 patients were enrolled. The prevalence rate of fatigue symptoms was 17.5%. Twelve (10%) screened positive for chronic idiopathic fatigue (CIF), 6 (5%) for CFS-like with insufficient fatigue syndrome (CFSWIFS), and 3 (2.5%) for CFS. The mean total scores in PCL-5 were 9.27 ± 10.76 (range:0-44), and the prevalence rate of PTSD was 5.8%. There was no significant association after adjusting between CFS and PTSD, gender, comorbidities, and chloroquine phosphate administration. The obtained data revealed the prevalence of CFS among patients with COVID-19, which is almost similar to CFS prevalence in the general population. Moreover, PTSD in patients with COVID-19 is not associated with the increased risk of CFS. Our study suggested that medical institutions should pay attention to the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Does vitamin D administration play a role in outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke? A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Clinical studies have reported improved neurological outcomes in patients who were taking vitamin D supplements. This study investigates the effect of intramuscular (IM) vitamin D supplementation in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) on neurological outcomes and inflammatory marker levels. Methods: This study included patients diagnosed with AIS (n = 60) from the Neurology Unit of Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during the year 2019. Patients with AIS were allocated randomly into two groups who received a single dose of 300000 IU IM vitamin D and a control group that did not receive vitamin D supplementation. Serum vitamin D concentration, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels, as primary outcomes, and the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), as secondary outcomes, were measured at the baseline and the end of the study (6 weeks). Results: Eventually, 59 patients with AIS completed the intervention study. A single dose of 300000 IU increased vitamin D level; moreover, vitamin D supplementation improved MRS and IL-6 levels significantly (P = 0.01, P = 0.02, respectively). There were reverse correlations between serum vitamin D and NIHSS and TNF-α after vitamin D administration. However, no statistically significant effect of vitamin D on the TNF-α or NIHSS and MMSE was seen compared to the control group. Conclusion: Vitamin D probably due to a single dose and short duration of administration, as well as a short follow-up period, had no favorable effects on TNF-α level and NIHSS score.

The Role of Anxiety and Cortisol in Outcomes of Patients With Covid-19.

INTRODUCTION: The outbreak due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is n global public health emergency and challenges psychological resilience. The central nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system are complex interacting systems. Cortisol has been implicated as the cause of a wide range of mental and physical health disorders; however, the impact of cortisol on outcomes in patients with COVID-19 is not clear. METHODS: The current study enrolled patients with COVID-19 (onset of disease within 7 days of the first symptom) to evaluate the serum concentration of cortisol and levels of anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to investigate a possible relationship between cortisol, depression, and anxiety levels and outcomes of patients with COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients with COVID-19 were studied. The levels of cortisol and HADS score in patients who died of Covid-19 were significantly higher in comparison with surviving patients (P<0.017 and P<0.001 respectively). We also found that the HADS score was positively correlated with serum cortisol levels (r= 0.842, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that stress and anxiety are associated with patients' outcomes. Psychological interventions can improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.