Serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels in patients with restless legs syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the predisposition for atherosclerosis in patients with RLS through serum sLOX-1 (serum Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1) measurements. BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiological studies have suggested an association of RLS with certain chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, hypertension (HT), and hyperlipidemia. LOX-1 is expressed in endothelial cells, macrophages, and in smooth muscle cells under the effect of proatherogenic conditions. METHODS: This study was a prospective, cross-sectional, case-controlled. We measured the serum sLOX-1 levels in 37 restless legs syndrome patients and 38 controls. RESULTS: Serum sLOX-1 level was significantly lower in the patient group. The two groups were similar in glucose, HbA1c, creatinine, LDL cholesterol, TG, HDL, total protein, albumin, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, HGB, HCT, MCV, transferrin saturation rate (TSR), ferritin, CRP, TSH, FT4, FT3, B12, and folic acid levels. Also the two groups were similar with respect to age at menarche, number of previous births, number of abortions and/or curettage, total duration of breastfeeding, percentage of patients in menopause, and age at menopause. CONCLUSION: Our results may suggest a lower atherosclerotic risk among RLS patients as compared to the general population (Tab. 3, Ref. 33).

Are some cases of spina bifida combined with cerebral palsy? A study of 28 cases.

AIM: This study is a description of a group of children with spina bifida who present with neurological impairments resembling cerebral palsy. Spina bifida is a complex congenital spinal anomaly causing paraparesis. Some children with spina bifida have neurological impairments, which fit into the definition of cerebral palsy. Extensive spasticity discordant with the level of the spina bifida lesion, upper extremity dysfunction and cognitive impairment are suggestive of concomitant cerebral palsy in these cases. The probable etiology for this problem may be neglected hydrocephalus, meningitis or other brain lesions common in spina bifida. METHODS: In this study we have reviewed our cohort of 365 patients and found 28 cases with the above-mentioned findings. Main evaluation parameters used were the Ashworth scale for spasticity, Green and Banks modified classification for hand function, cognitive function, mental status, ambulation and lesion level. RESULTS: Twenty-eight out of 365 children with spina bifida had neurological impairments resembling cerebral palsy. Their mean age was 59.9+/-41.3 (range, 16.8-31.2) months. Seventy percent of the patients were nonambulatory and therapeutic ambulation only was present in 30% of patients. Seventy percent of the children had spasticity of Ashworth grade 2 or higher. Upper extremity dysfunction, and cognitive impairment were also observed in 80% of the patients involved in this study. The spinal lesion was 60% thoracal and 20% upper lumbar, and none of the cases had signs of spinal tethering. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this group of children with spina bifida may be regarded as having concomitant cerebral palsy. This fact implies that the management of this group of patients having mixed findings must be changed accordingly.

The effect of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on somatosensory evoked potentials.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an electrotherapeutic modality used for analgesia. We planned to demonstrate selective stimulation of large diameter fibers with conventional type TENS by way of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP). We have analyzed index finger-wrist segment median nerve sensory potential and SEP recordings obtained from C2 and Cc before TENS and at 5, 10 and 15 minutes of TENS application of 14 adult healthy volunteers. SEP and finger-wrist segment sensory nerve conduction amplitudes were significantly decreased compared to pre-TENS values during 5, 10, and 15 minutes of TENS application (p < 0.05). These results reflect the selective stimulation of large diameter afferent fibers of conventional type TENS.

The effects of age, height and gender on the somatosensory evoked potentials in man.

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) reflect the activity of somatosensory pathways mediated through the dorsal columns of the spinal cord and the specific somatosensory cortex. In this study we aimed to demonstrate the effects of physiologic parameters such as height, age and gender on N9, N13, N20 SEP components and the central conduction time (CCT) to median nerve stimulation in Turkish population. The results revealed a statistically significant correlation between height, gender and SEP latencies (p < 0.05 and p < 0.0005 respectively) whereas no significant age related changes was found in SEPs. In all groups CCT was not influenced by these parameters.

The effect of flurbiprofen and tiaprofenic acid on serum cytokine levels of patients with osteoarthrosis.

39 patients with active knee osteoarthrosis, chosen according to ACR criteria, were assigned to receive flurbiprofen (n 12, 2 x 100 mg), tiaprofenic acid (n 14, 2 x 300 mg) and placebo (n 13) in a 3-week, placebo-controlled study. All patients completed the study, and both medications were found to be effective: improvement occurred in the clinical signs. These drugs reduced the TNF-alpha levels. Flurbiprofen especially affected the IL-6 levels. Our findings indicate that NSAIDs may be effective in the etiopathogenesis of osteoarthrosis.