Carotid artery stenting for symptomatic carotid near occlusions: Feasibility, safety and outcome analysis.

Introduction: Extracranial internal carotid stenosis (EICS) is a well-established cause of stroke. Carotid near-occlusion (CNO), either distally collapsed or not, is a rare sub-type of EICS with conflicting data regarding the necessity for treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of carotid artery stenting (CAS) for patients with symptomatic CNOs.

Muscle mass as a modifier of stress response in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Stroke triggers a systemic inflammatory response over the ensuing days after the cerebral insult. The age and comorbidities of the stroke population make them a vulnerable population for low muscle mass and sarcopenia, the latter being another clinical condition that is closely associated with inflammation, as shown by increased levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). In this study, we evaluated the relationship between post-stroke NLR changes and muscle mass in a prospective cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients (n = 102) enrolled in the Muscle Assessment in Stroke Study Turkey (MASS-TR).

Discrimination of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and meningeal inflammation/infection with internal acoustic canal enhancement.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the presence and pattern of enhancement at the internal acoustic canal (IAC) could help in discriminating between leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LCa) and meningeal inflammation/infection (MMI).

Methods: Magnetic resonance (MR) images of patients with leptomeningeal enhancement were retrospectively evaluated. MR images of the LCa group (n = 33), MMI group (n = 19) and control group (n = 33) were evaluated for the presence, type (moderate/prominent), and localization (unilateral/bilateral) of the IAC enhancement.

Characterizing Camptocormia in Parkinson's Disease Using Muscle Ultrasonography.

Background: Camptocormia (CC) is the forward-bending of the spine of more than 30 degrees that can be found in Parkinson's disease (PD) as a disabling complication. Detection of changes in paraspinal lumbar musculature in CC is of value for choosing treatment strategies.

Objective: To investigate whether these changes can be detected using muscle ultrasonography (mUSG).

Nutritional Status in patients with Neuro-Behçet's disease.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and risk factors for malnutrition in Behçet’s disease (BD) and neuro-Behçet’s disease (NBD) patients.

Materials And Methods: Medical recordings of 74 patients with BD without neurological involvement (BDWoNI), 72 patients with NBD, and 50 patients with other diseases (carpal tunnel syndrome or lumbar discopathy) were analyzed retrospectively. The serum analyses were performed in the inactive period of disease.

Determinants of preventable stroke-Ankara ACROSS stroke preventability study.

Background: Unhealthy lifestyle and inadequate control of vascular risk factors are the major contributors of stroke burden. Failure in achieving the target levels in control of these factors, not only designate missed opportunities contributing to the preventability of an incident stroke, but also set the post-stroke treatment goals in a case wise basis. In this study, we analyzed pre-event clinical features that play a role in stroke preventability, and determined the cumulative burden of risk factors that necessitate optimization following the ischemic insult.

Sexual dysfunction in Neuro-Behcet's disease.

The aim of the study was evaluation of sexual dysfunction in neuro-Behcet's disease (NBD). A total of 25 patients with NBD, 22 patients with Behçet's disease (BD) without neurologic involvement (BDWONI) and 19 persons in control group were prospectively included in the study. We collected all demographic data.

Prediction of degree of carotid stenosis with the transluminal attenuation difference ratio.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of transluminal attenuation difference (TAD) in predicting the severity of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods: The study cohort consisted of 48 patients with <50% stenosis, 50%-69% stenosis, 70%-99% stenosis, and 51 controls without plaque development in ICA. A total of 143 measurements were performed through right and left internal and common carotid arteries.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of Neuro-Behçet's disease.

Objective: Neuro-Behçet's disease (NBD) is a rare manifestation of Behçet's disease (BD) and may cause severe disability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment response in patients with NBD and to investigate the parameters that may influence the prognosis of the disease in patients with severe to mild-moderate disability.

Methods: The files of 60 patients admitted to our outpatient clinic for NBD between January 2007 and June 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.

Evaluation of the effect of non-ergot dopamine agonists on left ventricular systolic function with speckle tracking echocardiography.

Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder, and ergot dopamine agonists (DAs) are no longer usually preferred in the treatment due to the increased risk of valvular heart disease. Some recent studies have shown that commonly used non-ergot DA also increases the risk of heart failure. On the other hand, there are studies showing conflicting data about this relationship.

Prevalence of and risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Multi-center, controlled trial.

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common problem in multiple sclerosis (MS), may occur either in early or late phase of the disease, and impairs quality of life.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CI and related risk factors in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients in Turkey.

Methods: The present cross-sectional, multi-center, and nationally representative study included RRMS patients.

Risk Factors, Biomarkers, Etiology, Outcome and Prognosis of Ischemic Stroke in Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Cerebrovascular disease is the second most common complication in individuals with tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors, biomarkers, etiology and prognosis of ischemic stroke in cancer patients (ISCPs). Methods: The medical records of 619 consecutive patients who were admitted with acute ischemic stroke from January 2012 to November 2014 were retrospectively evaluated.

GNE missense mutation in recessive familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease eventually leading to death from respiratory failure. Recessive inheritance is very rare. Here, we describe the clinical findings in a consanguineous family with five men afflicted with recessive ALS and the identification of the homozygous mutation responsible for the disorder.

Perioperative and follow-up results in carotid artery stenting with contralateral carotid occlusion.

Purpose: Contralateral carotid occlusion (CCO) increases the risk of carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We determined the outcome of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS), an alternative to CEA, in the setting of CCO through an independent analysis of imaging and clinical outcome.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 26 consecutive patients with CCO who underwent CAS by a single operator using the same procedural protocol (with distal protection and closed-cell stents) were retrospectively evaluated.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Behçet's Disease Patients Compared to Other Causes of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: a Retrospective Study.

Objectives: This study aims to report the outcomes of patients with Behçet's disease (BD) with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) due to BD compared to patients with CVT due to other causes and to discuss the treatment options.

Patients And Methods: Files of 47 patients admitted to our outpatient clinic for CVT between January 2007 and November 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups; group 1 included 21 CVT patients with BD (9 males, 12 females; mean age 47±12 years; range 27 to 69 years) and group 2 included 26 CVT patients without BD (11 males, 15 females; mean age 45±16 years; range 25 to 79 years).

Restless legs syndrome in multiple sclerosis.

Background/aim: There have been conflicting results in the literature regarding the relationship between functional system involvement, the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), and the presence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Materials And Methods: Ninety-one patients with MS and 40 patients in a control group (headache, essential tremor, and benign positional paroxysmal vertigo) were studied. The patients underwent a complete neurological examination and Kurtzke functional system scores were calculated.

Bilateral optic neuritis in a patient with Behçet's disease who respond to therapeutic plasma exchange.

Bilateral optic neuritis has been reported very rarely as a manifestation of neuro-Behçet's disease. We present a 50 year old woman who had 20-year history of Behçet's disease presented with acutely blurred vision associated with orbital pain in both eyes. Visual acuity was 0.

Etiologic Subtypes of Watershed Infarcts.

Background: Two types of watershed infarcts (WI) are recognized. Internal WI are usually attributed to either severe stenosis in large arteries or acute hypotensive events, whereas external WI are thought to be caused by embolism. The aim of this study was to determine the etiologic background and prognosis of external and internal WI in our patients.

Botulinum toxin injections for the treatment of hemifacial spasm over 16 years.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and side effects of botulinum toxin (BTX) in the treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS). We also focused on the divergence between different injection techniques and commercial forms. We retrospectively evaluated 470 sessions of BTX injections administered to 68 patients with HFS.

Is malnutrition a problem for multiple sclerosis patients?

Nutritional problems associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been observed in a number of studies and case reports. However, the prevalence of malnutrition in MS patients is currently unknown. The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malnutrition in MS patients and to compare the frequency of malnutrition in MS to that of other diseases.

Intravenous immunoglobulin for prophylaxis of acute exacerbation in Myasthenia Gravis.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment for acute exacerbations of Myasthenia Gravis (MG) was shown in several open-label studies. There are only two studies demonstrating the efficiency of regular intermittent IVIg therapy on MG patients who are not in their acute attack periods. Thirteen patients who had displayed an inadequate clinical response to immunosuppressive treatments, or who were not appropriate for immunosuppressive treatment due to the age factor and thus were given regular IVIg therapy, were retrospectively investigated.

Therapeutic plasma exchange in treatment of neuroimmunologic disorders: review of 92 cases.

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a procedure that reduces amount of circulating antibodies in patients through filtration for the treatment of neurologic diseases in which autoimmunity plays a major role. We reviewed the medical records of 92 neurologic patients who had been consecutively treated by TPE between June 2000 and April 2011 at Ankara University School of Medicine, Neurology Department and The Apaheresis Center. Neurological indications included myastehia gravis (MG, 16 patients), Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS, 37 patients) and miscellaneous diseases (39 patients).