Can cortical silent period and motor threshold be practical parameters in the comparison of patients with generalized epilepsy and patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?

Background/aim: This study aimed to compare the cortical excitability of patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCSs) and that of patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs).

Methods: Patients were classified into groups according to their electroencephalogram (EEG) findings and seizure types: group 1 = GTCS with an abnormal EEG, group 2 = GTCS with a normal EEG and group 3 = PNES with a normal EEG. The control group included healthy volunteers with normal EEGs.

Normal blood flow velocities of basal cerebral arteries decrease with advancing age: a transcranial Doppler sonography study.

Transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) is a non-invasive diagnostic tool enabling evaluation of blood flow characteristics of basal intracerebral vessels via thin calvarian regions. Several factors may affect the normal values of cerebral hemodynamic parameters, and standard reference values for each laboratory are needed for precise interpretation of the results. The aims of this study were to determine normal values of flow velocities of basal cerebral arteries of our TCD laboratory, and to study the influence of age and gender on normal values.

Paraoxonase/arylesterase ratio, PON1 192Q/R polymorphism and PON1 status are associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke.

Objectives: In recent years, importance of enzyme activity measurements, in addition to genotyping, in epidemiological studies relating paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and vascular disease was emphasized. This is the first report evaluating paraoxonase and arylesterase activities as risk factors for ischemic stroke. In addition, PON1 192Gln(Q)/Arg(R) and 55Leu(L)/Met(M) polymorphisms were also analyzed.

Evaluation of event-related potentials in Klinefelter syndrome and idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.

Background: Many studies have evaluated patients with idiopathic hypogonadothropic hypogonadotropism (IHH), but few of these studies utilize event-related potentials (P300).

Aims: To assess the cognitive functions of hypergonadotropic vs. hypogonadotropic patients.

Evaluation of periodic leg movements and associated transcranial magnetic stimulation parameters in restless legs syndrome.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), a sensorimotor disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations commonly localized in the legs, is frequently associated with periodic limb movements (PLMs) during sleep. We investigated the role of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and cortical silent period (CSP) duration as diagnostic and monitoring tools in 20 patients with primary RLS before and after 1 month of treatment and also studied 15 normal age- and gender-matched subjects. Polysomnographic assessment was undertaken and the PLM index determined in 17 of the 20 patients.

Dysautonomia in fibromyalgia syndrome: sympathetic skin responses and RR interval analysis.

This study was planned to investigate the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system in fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) using sympathetic skin responses (SSR) and RR interval analysis. Thirty-four FM and 22 healthy subjects were recruited for the study. They were questioned for symptoms that are characteristic for FM and medical outcome study short form-36 (SF-36) was used to determine the quality of life of the subjects.

Evaluation of central neuropathy in type II diabetes mellitus by multimodal evoked potentials.

The electrophysiological results in 51 patients with diabetes mellitus type II were compared with those in 30 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. Peripheral and cortical latencies of median and tibial somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), bilateral I-III and I-V interpeak latencies (IPL) of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), bilateral P100 latency of visual evoked potentials (VEP) and bilateral cortical latency and central motor conduction time of motor evoked potentials (MEP) were evaluated. We observed prolonged latencies suggestive of central neuropathy in DM type II.

Auditory event-related brain potentials in fibromyalgia syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive functions using auditory event-related brain potentials (ERP) in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Methods: The P300 component of ERP was studied in 36 female FMS patients and 22 control subjects. The short form 36 (SF-36) medical outcome study was used to determine quality of life.

Paraplegia associated with brucellosis involving the anterior lumbrosacral nerve roots.

We report the case of a 21-year-old man with paraplegia due to brucellosis involvement of lumbosacral anterior roots. Lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging showed contrast enhancement of anterior roots and the anterior part of duramater. Conduction block was found at the level of the lumbosacral anterior roots by electrophysiological studies, including magnetic stimulation study.

Discriminant analysis of various concentric needle EMG and macro-EMG parameters in detecting myopathic abnormality.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various concentric needle electromyography (EMG) motor unit action potentials (cnMUPs) and macro-EMG motor unit potentials (mMUPs) parameters for differentiation between myopathic motor unit action potentials (MUPs) and normal MUPs.

Methods: We have analyzed 112 cnMUPs and 84 mMUPs recorded from 7 patients with myopathy and 256 cnMUPs, 256 mMUPs from 14 healthy subjects. Biceps brachii muscle was investigated.