Clinicogenetical Variants of Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia - An Especial Review of Non-ophthalmic Manifestations.

Progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO) is a slowly progressive myopathy characterized by extraocular muscles involvement, leading to frozen eyes without diplopia. The pattern of inheritance may be mitochondrial, autosomal dominant or, rarely, autosomal recessive. Sporadic forms were also reported.

Safety and efficacy of memantine for multiple sclerosis-related fatigue: A pilot randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, there is no approved medication for MS-related fatigue.

Objective: In this study, we aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of memantine for improving fatigue in patients with MS.

Differential serostatus of Epstein-Barr virus in Iranian MS patients with various clinical patterns.

Epidemiological evidence suggests a role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in triggering the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to assess the EBV-specific antibodies in MS patients with various clinical patterns and their association with the production of IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-4 cytokines compared with healthy individuals. We measured EBNA-1 IgG, VCA IgG, and production of IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-4 cytokines in patients with different clinical patterns and healthy controls using ELISA method.

Descriptive epidemiology: prevalence, incidence, sociodemographic factors, socioeconomic domains, and quality of life of epilepsy: an update and systematic review.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the contributions of quality of life (QOL), sociodemographic factors (age, sex, etc.), residential areas, general attitudes toward epilepsy, socioeconomic domains, prevalence and incidence in epileptic patients from Iran.

Material And Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted, including database searches in PubMed, Medline, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ISC, Health, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library Database of relevant articles, personal files and systematic reviews to identify studies examining risk factors in epilepsy.

The comparison of anti-seizure and tocolytic effects of phenytoin and magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and preeclampsia: A randomised clinical trial.

To date, magnesium sulphate (MgSO) is the treatment of choice for prevention of seizure in eclampsia and preeclampsia. However, there are some limitations in the administration of MgSO due to its tocolytic effects. The aim of this study was to compare the anticonvulsant and tocolytic effects of MgSO and another drug, phenytoin, in patients with eclampsia and preeclampsia.

MLC601 in vascular dementia: an efficacy and safety pilot study.

Background And Aim: Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common cause of dementia and currently there is scarcity of therapies for VaD. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of MLC601 in the treatment of VaD.

Methods: In this multicenter, pilot, randomized, double-blind trial, 82 patients with VaD according to DSM-5 criteria received MLC601 or placebo capsules three times a day for 2 years.

Cerebral Hyperperfusion Syndrome, an Unusual but Disastrous Complication of Carotid Recanalization: A Case Report.

Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS), known as the dark side of carotid recanalization, happens in about 0%-3% of patients. Unfortunately, physicians involving in carotid recanalization generally are not aware of diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this unusual but potentially life-threatening disorder. Severe bilateral carotid stenosis is suggested to predispose patients to CHS by decrement of cerebrovascular reactivity in a setting of chronic hypoperfusion state.

Memantine for Prophylactic Treatment of Migraine Without Aura: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Uncontrolled studies in human have suggested that memantine might be a suitable option for migraine prophylaxis.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of memantine for migraine prophylaxis.

Methods: This was a 12-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group study.

Immunosuppressive Drugs, an Emerging Cause of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: Case Series.

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a well-recognized complication of hypertensive encephalopathy. Recently, pre-eclampsia, connective tissue disorders, and immunosuppressive drugs have been reported to be the etiologies of this rare syndrome.

Methods: We evaluated 9 cases of PRES whose diagnosis were confirmed based on clinical and radiologic evidence between July 2011 and December 2013 in a tertiary center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Iranian patients.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: Forty subjects with ALS were randomly assigned to two groups, which received either subcutaneous G-CSF (5 μg/kg/q12h) or placebo for 5 days. The subjects were then followed up for 3 months using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), manual muscle testing, ALS Assessment Questionnaire-40, and nerve conduction studies.

Association of CD58 Polymorphism with Multiple Sclerosis and Response to Interferon ß Therapy in A Subset of Iranian Population.

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the leading neurodegenerative causes of physical disability world-wide. Genetic aberrations of autoimmunity pathway components have been demonstrated to significantly influence MS development. Cluster of Differentiation 58 (CD58) is pertained to a group of genes which had been assayed in several recent association studies.

Rare Association of Severe Cryptococcal and Tuberculosis in Central Nervous System in a case of Sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem noncaseating granulomatous disease with a propensity for lung, eye, and skin which recently have been proposed that mycobacterium tuberculosis may contribute in its pathogenesis, and rarely involves central nervous system (CNS). Despite CD4+ lymphocytopenia, sarcoidosis by itself does not increase risk of opportunistic infections other than cryptococcosis. Nonetheless, simultaneous association of CNS cryptococcosis and tuberculosis infection remains extremely rare event in immunocompetent states, and has not been reported in sarcoidosis yet.

Islamic fasting and multiple sclerosis.

Background: Month-long daytime Ramadan fasting pose s major challenges to multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Muslim countries. Physicians should have practical knowledge on the implications of fasting on MS. We present a summary of database searches (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed) and a mini-symposium on Ramadan fasting and MS.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the new AEDs: A review article.

The new-AEDs, whose developments were motivated following the discovery of the valproate and its marketing in the U.S in 1978, have presented more therapeutic options. There are approximately twenty four FDA-approved antiepileptic drugs for use in patients with epilepsy, five of which were identified and have come on to the market between 2009 and 2012.

Predictive ability of C-reactive protein for early mortality after ischemic stroke: comparison with NIHSS score.

We aimed to compare the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score with mortality risk and to determine the optimal threshold of CRP for prediction of mortality in ischemic-stroke patients. A series of 162 patients with first-ever ischemic-stroke admitted within 24 h after onset of symptoms was enrolled. CRP and NIHSS score were estimated on admission and their predictive abilities for mortality at 7 days were determined by logistic-regression analyses.

A simple risk score for early ischemic stroke mortality derived from National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale: a discriminant analysis.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to design a new simpler form of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for use in emergency settings, and compare its predictive ability with original NIHSS score for mortality.

Methods: A total of 152 consecutive patients with first ever ischemic stroke admitted to a university affiliated hospital were recruited. NIHSS score on admission was estimated and the predictive ability of NIHSS items for mortality at 28 days was evaluated by logistic regression.

The differential effects of OX1R and OX2R selective antagonists on morphine conditioned place preference in naïve versus morphine-dependent mice.

Conditioned place preference (CPP) has been associated with orexinergic (hypocrtinergic) system activation in naïve mice; however, the distinct role of different receptors of orexin in this paradigm has not been characterized yet. Moreover, the relationship between orexins and morphine in dependent mice may not be equal to naïve mice and seems noteworthy to investigate. We investigated the effects of systemic administration of orexin-1-receptor antagonist, SB 334867, and orexin-2 receptor antagonist, TCS-OX2-29 on the acquisition and expression of morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) in both naïve and morphine-dependent mice.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms status in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Evidences linking apolipoprotein E (APOE) to myelin repair, neuronal plasticity, and cerebral inflammatory processes suggest that it may be relevant in MS. The main goal of this study was to determine whether the APOE genotypes and alleles are associated with MS patients.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is an idiopathic disorder (vasculitis) restricted to the central nervous system (CNS). It often presents with focal neurological deficits suggesting stroke or a combination of confusion and headache. We herein report three cases with various combinations of fever, partial seizure, encephalopathy, paresis, headache and ataxia.

Effect of pain on the timing pattern of masseter muscle activity during the open-close-clench cycle in the migraine without aura and tension type headaches.

Background: The existence of a pathophysiological link between headaches and muscle activity pattern is still being debated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pain on the timing pattern of the masseter muscle in patients with tension-type headache (TTH) and migraine without aura (MOA).

Methods: 57 women (22 controls, 19 MOA and 16 TTH) participated in the study.

Predictive role of high sensitive C-reactive protein in early onset mortality after ischemic stroke.

Background: High sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a systemic inflammatory marker that is produced in a large amount by hepatocytes in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor after ischemic stroke.

Methods: Measurement of hs-CRP in the first 24 hours of onset in 162 patients suffering from ischemic stroke was done. Relation of CRP with the risk of early mortality, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), stroke subtypes and other factors was determined.

The underlying factor structure of National Institutes of Health Stroke scale: an exploratory factor analysis.

The underlying structure of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) as the most widely used scale in clinical trials has been the focus of little attention. The aim of the current study was to elucidate the clustering pattern of NIHSS items in ischemic stroke patients. A series of 152 consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic strokes admitted to a university affiliated hospital were enrolled.

Evaluation of partial epilepsy in Iran: role of video-EEG, EEG, and MRI with epilepsy protocol.

Background: We evaluated the diagnostic value of Electroencephalography (EEG), video-EEG monitoring (VEM) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with epilepsy protocol in patients with complex partial epilepsy.

Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients underwent complete neurological examination, EEG, and MRI with a modified epilepsy protocol. A subset of these patients (n = 29) also underwent VEM.