Birth outcomes in pregnant women with epilepsy: A Nationwide multicenter study from Türkiye.

Objective: The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of anti-seizure medications (ASMs), patient demographic characteristics, and the seizure type and frequency on the development of congenital malformations (CMs) in the infants of pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE).

Methods: PWWE followed up at the neurology outpatient clinic of 21 centers between 2014 and 2019 were included in this prospective study. The follow-up of PWWE was conducted using structured, general pregnant follow-up forms prepared by the Pregnancy and Epilepsy Study Committee.

Retrospective analysis of effectiveness of fingolimod in real life setting in Turkey (REFINE).

Background: During multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment different modes of action such as lateral (interferon beta to glatiramer acetate or glatiramer acetate to interferon beta) or vertical (interferon beta/glatiramer acetate to fingolimod) drug switch can be performed. This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of switching from the first-line injectable disease modifying treatments (iDMTs) to fingolimod (FNG) compared to switching between first-line iDMTs.

Methods: This is a multicenter, observational and retrospective study of patients with relapsing-remitting MS who had lateral and vertical switch.

The Turkish experience of COVID-19 infection in people with NMOSD and MOGAD: A milder course?

Background: COVID-19 is a multisystemic infection with variables consequences depending on individual and comorbid conditions. The course and outcomes of COVID-19 during neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders (MOGAD) are not clearly known.

Objective/methods: The aim of this study was to examine the features and outcomes of COVID-19 infection in NMOSD and MOGAD patients.

Neuropathic Pain Frequency in Neurology Outpatients: A Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Neuropathic pain is common, but the frequency of misdiagnosis and irrational treatment is high. The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of neuropathic pain in neurology outpatient clinics by using valid and reliable scales and review the treatments of patients.

Methods: The study was conducted for 3 months in eleven tertiary health care facilities.

Can T2 blackout effect be a marker of iron accumulation in brains of multiple sclerosis patients?

Objective: T2 blackout (TBO) effect, which is a common finding in the brains of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and older population that are imaged for other reasons on diffusion weighted imagings (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map show the existence of paramagnetic materials in the tissue. Because iron is known to accumulate in especially deep gray matter (DGM) structures in MS brains, we aimed to investigate the relationship between TBO and clinico-radiological parameters that may be iron-related in MS.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the latest MR images of MS patients on 3 Tesla MR scanner between 2018 and 2019.

A case of high grade glioma following treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with fingolimod.

Multiple sclerosis is a major cause of neurological disability, especially in young adults. There have been several case reports of an increased risk of cancer after long-term treatment for multiple sclerosis. Fingolimod is an immunomodulating agent used in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Hemoglobin A1c-related histologic characteristics of symptomatic carotid plaques.

Background: The aims of our study were to compare the histomorphological characteristics of carotid plaques and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which are risk factors for ischemic stroke, in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy for carotid artery stenosis. Moreover, we aimed to identify the structures that were histologically affected by symptomatic carotid plaques in cases with elevated HbA1c.

Materials And Methods: A total of 64 patients who presented with ischemic stroke and had not previously been diagnosed with diabetes were retrospectively evaluated.

Listeria monocytogenes rhombencephalitis in a patient with multiple sclerosis during fingolimod therapy.

Objective: To describe a case of Listeria monocytogenes rhombencephalitis in a patient receiving fingolimod.

Methods: This is a case study.

Results: Our patient developed acute rhombencephalitis with hydrocephalus induced with Listeria monocytogenes while on fingolimod.

Neurological autoantibodies in drug-resistant epilepsy of unknown cause.

Background: Autoimmune epilepsy is a rarely diagnosed condition. Recognition of the underlying autoimmune condition is important, as these patients can be resistant to antiepileptic drugs.

Aims: To determine the autoimmune and oncological antibodies in adult drug-resistant epilepsy of unknown cause and identify the clinical, radiological, and EEG findings associated with these antibodies according to data in the literature.

Analysis of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms in Patients with Familial Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: Genetic and environmental factors are important in the development of the multiple sclerosis (MS). Vitamin D shows its effects on the immune system with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the nucleus. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VDR gene can lead to alterations in vitamin D functions and metabolism.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Phase-Contrast MRI in the Differential Diagnosis of Active and Chronic Disease.

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease characterized by demyelinating plaques in the white matter. Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has been proposed as a new hypothesis for the etiopathogenesis of MS disease. MS-CCSVI includes a significant decrease of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the cerebral aqueduct secondary to an impaired venous outflow from the central nervous system.

The association between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and multiple sclerosis in a Turkish population.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Genetic and environmental factors are important in disease development. Many studies have investigated the relationship between MS and VDR polymorphisms.

Two New Cases and Literature Review of CLIPPERS Syndrome with Long-Term Follow-up.

Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. The pathophysiology of CLIPPERS is unknown. The disease has characteristic radiological lesions located in the pons, bulbus, and cerebellum.

A Rare Presentation of Cranial Polyneuropathy Without Rash Caused by Varicella Zoster Virus.

Introduction: Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is associated with many disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems including neuralgia, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, cerebellitis, vasculopathy, myelopathy, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, and polyneuritis cranialis. Cranial nerves V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and/or XII may be affected. The neurological disorders caused by VZV usually present with rash, but may rarely present without rash.

BK virus-induced acute motor-axonal polyneuropathy in a renal transplant patient.

Neurological complications are not uncommon in patients with renal transplantation, mostly affecting the central nervous system, and less frequently the peripheral nerves. BK virus infection is relatively common in transplant recipients and in some cases may lead to neurological complications. In this report, we present an interesting case of a patient who developed acute axonal motor polyneuropathy in the course of BK virus infection 3 months after kidney transplantation.

Effects of phenytoin and lamotrigine treatment on serum BDNF levels in offsprings of epileptic rats.

The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is to promote and modulate neuronal responses across neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Therefore, abnormal BDNF signaling may be associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Low BDNF levels have been reported in brains and serums of patients with psychotic disorders.

Familial Pompe Disease.

Introduction: Pompe disorder is a rare glycogen storage disorder that is due to a deficiency of the lysosomal alpha glycosidase enzyme. The heart, skeletal muscle, liver and nervous system can be affected from the lysosomal glycogen accumulation. Symptoms such as muscle weakness, hypotony, myopathy and respiratory failure develop.

Evaluation of aqueductal CSF flow dynamics with phase contrast cine MR imaging in idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients: preliminary results.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate dynamic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients with new MRI technology phase contrast cine (PCC) MRI.

Patients And Methods: Nineteen patients diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and 11 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Nine of the IIH cases had been previously diagnosed and had been on drug treatment and 10 cases were diagnosed with IIH recently and had not been put on drug treatment yet.

What are the Predictors of Death in Patients With Cranio-Cervical Artery Dissection?

Introduction: Few studies have reported the predictive factors related to mortality in patients with cranio-cervical artery dissections (CCAD). Our aim was to investigate the predictors related to in-hospital mortality in patients with CCAD and its subgroups.

Methods: Sixty-seven patients diagnosed with carotid artery dissection (CAD) or vertebral artery dissection (VAD), admitted to our clinic between 2000 and 2013, were retrospectively reviewed.

Reflex Seizures Triggered by Exposure to Characters With Numerical Value: A Case With Right Temporal Cortical Dysplasia.

Reflex seizures can be triggered by a variety of stimuli. We present a case with drug-resistant complex partial seizures originating in right temporal lobe triggered extensively by visual, auditory, and mental exposure to multidigit numbers. The patient was investigated in video-EEG monitoring unit and seizures were triggered by numerical stimuli.

Hesperidin, a Citrus Flavonoid, Has the Ameliorative Effects Against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in a C57BL/J6 Mouse Model.

The aim of this study was determined the effects of Hesperidin (HP) on neuronal damage in brain tissue caused by Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established model of multiple sclerosis in C57BL/J6 mice. To explore 40 mice were equally divided into four groups: (1) Control, (2) EAE, (3) HP, and (4) HP + EAE. 14 days after induction of EAE with MOG35-55 and pertussis toxin, the mice treated with HP at the doses of 50 mg/kg/day for 7 days subcutaneously.

Fish oil protects the peripheral and central nervous systems against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.

Objective: The protective effects of fish oil (FO) on cisplatin (CP)-induced central and peripheral neurotoxicity were investigated in rats.

Methods: Rats (n = 28) were divided equally into four groups, the first group was kept as a control. In the second and third groups, CP and FO were given at doses of 7 mg/kg and 1 softgel/rat/day, respectively.

Neuromuscular transmission in hypoxemic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Many studies have focused on the systemic effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but none has examined neuromuscular junction transmission (NMT). We evaluated NMT dysfunction using single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) in patients with COPD. Twenty patients with COPD and 20 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study.

Hesperidin protects brain and sciatic nerve tissues against cisplatin-induced oxidative, histological and electromyographical side effects in rats.

In the present study, the beneficial effect of hesperidin (HP), a citrus flavonoid, on cisplatin (CP)-induced neurotoxicity was investigated. A total of 28 rats were equally divided into four groups; the first group was kept as control. In the second and third groups, CP and HP were given at the doses of 7 and 50 mg/kg/day, respectively.