The possible role of oxidative stress marker glutathione in the assessment of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.

Oxidative stress markers have a distinct role in the process of demyelination in multiple sclerosis. This study investigated the potential correlation of markers of oxidative stress (glutathione [GSH], catalase) with the number of demyelinating lesions and the degree of disability, cognitive deficit, and depression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Sixty subjects meeting the criteria for RRMS (19 men and 41 women), and 66 healthy controls (24 men, 42 women) were included.

Updated Perspectives on Lifestyle Interventions as Secondary Stroke Prevention Measures: A Narrative Review.

Despite being highly preventable, stroke is the second-most common cause of death and disability in the world. Secondary prevention is critical as the stroke recurrence risk is 6- to 15-fold higher than the risk of stroke in the general population. Stroke recurrence is associated with higher mortality rates and increased disability levels.

Creative therapy in health and disease: Inner vision.

Can we better understand the unique mechanisms of de novo abilities in light of our current knowledge of the psychological and neuroscientific literature on creativity? This review outlines the state-of-the-art in the neuroscience of creativity and points out crucial aspects that still demand further exploration, such as brain plasticity. The progressive development of current neuroscience research on creativity presents a multitude of prospects and potentials for furnishing efficacious therapy in the context of health and illness. Therefore, we discuss directions for future studies, identifying a focus on pinpointing the neglected beneficial practices for creative therapy.

Stroke Scales as Assessment Tools in Emergency Settings: A Narrative Review.

In the last 20 years, substantial improvements have been made in stroke recanalization treatment. Good outcomes after modern reperfusion treatment require the rapid and accurate identification of stroke patients. Several stroke rating scales are available or have been proposed for the early recognition of stroke and the evaluation of stroke severity and outcome.

Comorbidity from a Neuropsychiatric Perspective.

Comorbidity in neurology and psychiatry involves the onset of a mental illness with the simultaneous presence of a neurological disorder or other illness. The degree of comorbidity of mental and neurological disorders is unexpectedly high. In addition to the direct connection and simultaneous occurrence of mental and neurological illness, the indirect impact of mental illness on the occurrence of neurological problems is even more significant.

THE VALUE OF BLINK REFLEX IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

The aim was to determine differences of blink reflex in clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) in patients presented with symptoms and signs of brainstem impairment. The study included 20 patients diagnosed with CDMS, 20 with CIS, and 20 healthy controls. We recorded latencies of early (R1) and late component ipsilaterally (R2) and contralaterally (R2'), and occurrence of irritative component (R3).

The role of thyroid hormones in carotid arterial wall remodeling in women.

Thyroid hormones affect the cardiovascular system, but the precise mechanisms of their effects on the development of atherosclerosis are not entirely clear. The relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism, dyslipidemia and carotid atherosclerosis has been widely investigated, but the findings were controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine whether female subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) have increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) compared with euthyroid subjects, as well as to examine the association of SHypo, carotid atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia.

Antithrombotic therapy in patients with non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage and atrial fibrillation: A retrospective study.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the outcome, prescribed therapy, and localization of non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with atrial fibrillation hospitalised for non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage from 2004 to 2013. We compared the patients according to previous antithrombotic therapy, demographics, previous CHADS2 score, comorbidities, the international normalised ration, localisation of intracerebral hamorrhage, stroke severity, prescribed antithrombotic therapy and outcome.

Possibilities of Dementia Prevention - It is Never Too Early to Start.

Dementia represents one of the greatest global challenges for health and social care in this century. More than 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, and this number is predicted to triple by 2050. Ageing is often associated with cognitive impairment.

Genetic and lifestyle predictors of ischemic stroke severity and outcome.

Background: Different models that include clinical variables and blood markers have been investigated to predict acute ischemic stroke treatment course and recovery.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate associations between lipid levels, lifestyle factors, hemostatic (F5, F2, SERPINE1, F13A1, and FGB), and atherogenic (APOA5 and ACE) gene variants and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) severity.

Materials And Methods: This study included 250 patients with AIS in which F5, F2, SERPINE1, F13A1, FGB, APOA5, and ACE genotypes were determined.

Use of Multiple Ultrasonographic Parameters in Confirmation of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Objectives: Ultrasonography (US) of the median nerve has been increasingly studied and used for confirmation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, a consensus on the choice of parameters to be evaluated is still not established. The aim of this diagnostic accuracy study was to assess the diagnostic value of multiple parameters individually, as well as in different combinations of variable complexity, and to find an optimal approach for US-based confirmation of a CTS diagnosis.

Intravenous thrombolysis for patients with in-hospital stroke onset: propensity-matched analysis from the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-East registry.

Background And Purpose: Recent cross-sectional study data suggest that intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with in-hospital stroke (IHS) onset is associated with unfavorable functional outcomes at hospital discharge and in-hospital mortality compared to patients with out-of-hospital stroke (OHS) onset treated with IVT. We sought to compare outcomes between IVT-treated patients with IHS and OHS by analysing propensity-score-matched data from the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-East registry.

Methods: We compared the following outcomes for all propensity-score-matched patients: (i) symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage defined with the safe implementation of thrombolysis in stroke-monitoring study criteria, (ii) favorable functional outcome defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1 at 3 months, (iii) functional independence defined as an mRS score of 0-2 at 3 months and (iv) 3-month mortality.

Dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroidism requires assessment of small dense low density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C).

Background: Usually both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are related to the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease development. The relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism has been widely investigated but the findings remain controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the lipid profile in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) in comparison to controls and to determine the association of SHypo and dyslipidemia in attempt to find importance of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) in atherosclerosis.

Intravenous thrombolysis for ischemic stroke in the golden hour: propensity-matched analysis from the SITS-EAST registry.

As there are scarce data regarding the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) within 60 min from symptom onset ("golden hour"), we sought to compare outcomes between AIS patients treated within [GH(+)] and outside [GH(-)] the "golden hour" by analyzing propensity score matched data from the SITS-EAST registry. Clinical recovery (CR) at 2 and 24 h was defined as a reduction of ≥10 points on NIHSS-score or a total NIHSS-score of ≤3 at 2 and 24 h, respectively. A relative reduction in NIHSS-score of ≥40% at 2 h was considered predictive of complete recanalization (CREC).

Efficacy and safety of standardized extract in the treatment of vascular cognitive impairment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to determine the efficacy and safety of extract in patients diagnosed with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).

Methods: A total of 90 patients (aged 67.1±8.

Arts, Brain and Cognition.

Art is a product of human creativity; it is a superior skill that can be learned by study, practice and observation. Modern neuroscience and neuroimaging enable study of the processes during artistic performance. Creative people have less marked hemispheric dominance.

SIX DECADES OF THE PULA NEUROPSYCHIATRIC MEETINGS--FROM NEUROPSYCHIATRY TO BORDERLANDS OF NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY BRAIN AND MIND.

In 2010, the International Neuropsychiatric Pula Symposia, from 2005 Congresses (INPS/INPC), founded in 1961 by Zagreb and Graz University Neuropsychiatry Departments, celebrated their 50th anniversary of successful development. The co-author of the paper, Bosko Barac, witnessed their growth from 1966, collaborating in their organization from 1974 with the first Secretary General Gerald Grinschgl; elected for his successor after his unexpected death in 1985, he was leading the Kuratorium (Scientific Board) as Secretary General for 23 years, collaborating in this period with his Austrian partner and friend Helmut Lechner. In 2007, Barac handed over this responsible function to the co-author Vida Demarin.

Incidence of Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack in Croatia: A Population Based Study.

The aim of this population based neuroepidemiological study was to establish the real incidence rates of acute cerebrovascular disease (CVD): stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the Republic of Croatia. Multicentric study included 89 501 persons of all ages in four regional centres in Croatia: Zagreb, Osijek + Slavonski Brod, Rijeka and Split. The following incidence rates of stroke, expressed at population of 100 000, have been established: Zagreb 290.

Intravenous Thrombolysis for Stroke Recurring Within 3 Months From the Previous Event.

Background And Purpose: According to the European license, alteplase can be given no sooner than 3 months after previous stroke. However, it is not known whether past history of stroke influences the effect of treatment. Our aim was to evaluate safety and functional outcome after intravenous thrombolysis administered in everyday practice to patients with previous stroke≤3 months compared with those with first-ever stroke.

Management of ischemic stroke in Central and Eastern Europe.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability in Europe. Central and Eastern European countries have the highest incidence and mortality rates through Europe. The improvements in stroke prevention and treatment in Central and Eastern European countries did not completely reach the quality parameters present in Western European countries.

Safety of Statin Pretreatment in Intravenous Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Purpose: A recent meta-analysis investigating the association between statins and early outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) indicated that prestroke statin treatment was associated with increased risk of 90-day mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. We investigated the potential association of statin pretreatment with early outcomes in a large, international registry of AIS patients treated with IVT.

Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected data from the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke-East registry (SITS-EAST) registry on consecutive AIS patients treated with IVT during an 8-year period.

[Guidelines for diagnosis, therapy and follow up of Anderson-Fabry disease].

Fabry disease (Anderson-Fabry disease) is one of the most common lysosomal storage diseases (after Gaucher disease) caused by deficient activity of the α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) enzyme, which leads to progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in various cells, predominantly in endothelium and vascular smooth muscles, with multisystem clinical manifestations. Estimates of the incidence range from one per 40,000 to 60,000 in males, and 1:117,000 in the general population. Pain is usually the first symptom and is present in 60%-80% of affected children, as well as gastrointestinal disturbances, ophthalmologic abnormalities and hearing loss.

Person-oriented perspectives in neurology.

Person-oriented medicine is characterized by a holistic approach in patient ma- nagement that embraces physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of health and dise- ase. It responds to the needs of patients and health care workers to form an effective therapeutic relationship based on trust, empathy, compassion and responsiveness to the individual needs of a patient. Person-oriented perspectives in neurology include active collaborative partnership between a physician and a patient, and intuitive perception, which has a neurobiological correlate in the hu- man mirror neuron system, thus expressing a considerable impact on the quality of the physician's diagnostic and therapeutic activities.