Botulinum neurotoxin-A in a patient with post-stroke spasticity: a neurophysiological study.

Introduction: Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) is a disorder of the sensory-motor control, leading to upper motor neuron lesions manifesting either as intermittent or sustained involuntary activation of muscles. Botulinum neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A) is mostly utilized in a variety of therapeutic indications, and it is effective and safe in the management of focal PSS in the rehabilitation scenario. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of BoNT-A administration on H-reflex of upper and lower limbs following PSS.

Nicotine dependence and visceral adiposity as risk factors for the development and severity of carotid artery stenosis.

Nicotine dependence (ND) and visceral adiposity are emerging as independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including carotid artery stenosis (CAS). This study aimed to determine the relationship between ND and the contribution of abdominal fat to the onset of CAS, which is indicated by a luminal narrowing of at least 60% as determined by duplex and/or Doppler ultrasound. We prospectively collected data from 60 patients with CAS and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects.

Plasma tau and neurofilament light chain as biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and their relation to cognitive functions.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is the most frequent cause of neurodegenerative dementia. The cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with this disorder often have overlapping characteristics, potentially resulting in delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. This study aimed to assess the level of peripheral blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) and total tau (t-tau) protein in AD patients and investigate their relationship with cognitive impairment.

Electrophysiological findings in patients with restless legs syndrome.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) manifests as an urge to move the body to relieve the discomfortable sensations, primarily when resting, sitting, laying down, or sleeping. Diagnosis of RLS relies on clinical criteria, and the immobilization test was the only instrumental tool with equivocal results.

Objectives: To assess different electrophysiological findings in patients with RLS, and compare the diagnostic values of these parameters in the diagnosis of RLS.

Correlation of staging and risk factors with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

The impairment of cardiovascular autonomic control among the underdiagnosed complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) with a high prevalence rate of up to 60% in type 2 DM (T2DM). Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, arrhythmia, silent ischemia, any major cardiovascular event, and heart failure. We aimed to evaluate cardiovascular autonomic activity by different physiological maneuvers, study risk factors for diabetic CAN including age, gender, duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and glycemic control, and correlate CAN stage with risk factors.

Association of ABCB1 gene polymorphism (C1236T and C3435T) with refractory epilepsy in Iraqi patients.

The mechanisms of refractory epilepsy (RE) are most likely multifactorial, involving environmental, genetic, as well as disease- and drug-related factors. We aimed to study is to investigate the possible association of two ABCB1 gene polymorphism (C3435T and C1236T) with the development of RE in Iraqi patients. One hundred patients with either generalized tonic-clonic seizures, myoclonic epilepsy, or absence epilepsy comprised of 60 patients responsive to AEDs and 40 patients who were refractory to treatment who used multi AEDs for at least one month were studied.

Maternal plasma kisspeptin-10 level in preeclamptic pregnant women and its relation in changing their reproductive hormones.

Aims: To evaluate plasma kisspeptin-10 (KP-10) as a marker for preeclampsia and assess its relation to altered reproductive hormones in preeclamptic pregnant women.

Methods: First time pregnant women (n = 100) at 20 weeks of gestation participated in this study and divided into preeclamptics (n = 60) and normotensives (n = 40). KP-10, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), estradiol (E2) and progesterone were evaluated during 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy for all women.

Association of BCR/ABL transcript variants with different blood parameters and demographic features in Iraqi chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by the presence of BCR-ABL fusion gene (GenBank accession NC_000022.11). In the vast majority of CML patients, the typical subtype of BCR-ABL transcript are b3a2, b2a2 or both.

Correlation of Kisspeptin-10 level and fetal well-being in preeclamptic patients.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the role of kisspeptin-10 in preeclampsia and check for possible relationship between its severity and fetal growth well-being. Kisspeptin-10 may participate in implantation of the embryo, placenta formation, and maintenance of pregnancy.

Materials And Methods: One hundred women who completed 20 weeks of gestation with singleton pregnancies were divided into 60 peeclamptic and 40 normotensive control women.

Paternal exposure to low-dose lead acetate: effect on implantation rate,pregnancy outcome, and sex ratio in mice.

Background/aim: It has been reported from in vivo exposed experimental animals that paternal lead exposure reduces birth rate; however, there is limited evidence to suggest a decrease in the proportion of male births. This study investigated the role of paternal exposure to lower lead acetate doses on early embryonic development (implantation) and the sex ratio of their offspring.

Materials And Methods: In total 180 Swiss Webster mice were used (60 male and 120 female).

Electrophysiologic and clinico-pathologic characteristics of statin-induced muscle injury.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed at evaluation of electrophysiological and histopathalogical characteristics of statin-induced muscle injury as well as clinical features of patients who develop this condition in terms of frequency and pattern of evolution.

Materials And Methods: Forty patients (age 39-74 years) including 25 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 9 with cardiovascular diseases and 6 with hyperlipidemia, who were receiving atrovastatin 40 mg/day for variable period, were studied. Thirty three healthy subjects (age 31-74 years) served as control group.

Autonomic dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Central obesity and hyperinsulinaemia of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are associated with chronic sympathetic over activity.

Objective: To evaluate the autonomic functions and to indicate the superiority, if any, for those functions in the diagnosis of sympathetic over activity in PCOS women.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-four PCOS patients and 40 women served as the control group were studied.

Diabetic hand syndromes as a clinical and diagnostic tool for diabetes mellitus patients.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia with various complications including diabetic hand syndrome (DHS); a condition characterized by association of distinct entities; limited joint mobility (LJM), Dupuytren's disease (DD), flexor tenosynovitis (FTS) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of these changes and their association to diabetes duration. We studied 142 type 2 and 45 type 1 DM patients and investigated the presence of these hand changes and peripheral neuropathy (PNP).

Smoking practices in Jordanian people and their impact on semen quality and hormonal levels among adult men.

Despite worldwide anti-smoking campaigns, cigarette smoking prevalence is increasing in the third-world countries. It is now regarded as the most important public health issue. Here, we study the current smoking situation and investigate the impact of cigarette smoking on semen quality and hormonal levels among adult people.

Somatosensory evoked potentials as a predictor for functional recovery of the upper limb in patients with stroke.

Background: Predicting motor recovery in the arm of patients with stroke is generally based on clinical examination. However, neurophysiologic measures may also have a predictive value.

Objective: We sought to assess the value of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) in predicting motor recovery of the upper limb and to determine whether any of the SSEPs components can predict the severity of the deficit so that it can document the size of the stroke (lacunar or large-vessel stroke).

The role of different neurophysiological tests in the differential diagnosis of diabetic axonal neuropathy and lumbosacral radiculopathy.

Objective: To evaluate the role of different neurophysiological tests in the differential diagnosis of diabetic axonal neuropathy (DAN) and lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR).

Methods: This study was conducted at Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, from July 2006 to February 2007. Twenty-seven healthy subjects, 44 type 2 diabetics, and 36 LSR patients were studied.

Neurophysiologic evaluation of the temporomandibular joint and related masticatory muscles in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objectives: To study the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and related muscles using CT scan and neurophysiologic tests.

Methods: Forty-two RA patients referred from the Maxillofacial Clinic at the Special Surgeries Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq from February 2006 to September 2006 were included in this study. Thirty-seven of them underwent CT scan of the TMJ and 25 of these patients were neurophysiologically examined.

The propensity of common peroneal nerve in thigh-level injuries.

Background: Sciatic nerve lesions comprise the largest subset of lower extremity nerve injuries. Military gunshot injury reports in civilians are not as predominant as wartime experience. Most sciatic nerve injuries result in deficits to the peroneal component.

Assessment of erectile dysfunction in diabetic patients.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) aetiology is multifactorial, including endocrine, neurological, vascular, systemic disease, local penile disorders, nutrition, psychogenic factors, and drug-related. This study was performed to compare the relevant comprehensive biochemical parameters as well as the clinical characteristics in diabetic ED and healthy control subjects and to assess the occurrence of penile neuropathy in diabetic patients and thus the relationship between ED and diabetes. A total of 56 patients accepted to undergo assessment for penile vasculature using intracavernosal injection and colour Doppler ultrasonography.

Vincristine-induced neuropathy in rat: electrophysiological and histological study.

Peripheral sensory-motor neuropathy is one of the most frequent side effects of vincristine (VCR) administration, which often limits its usefulness in the treatment of a wide range of neoplastic diseases. The purpose of this work is to study VCR neurotoxicity in experimental animals from clinical, electrophysiological, and histological points of view. Sixty-five rats were used as a control group and 31 rats were divided into two groups and given VCR in two different regimens: the fixed-dose group (0.