Evaluation of MR-Tractography Findings in Hemifacial Spasm Patients Injected with Botulinum Neurotoxin.

Background And Introduction: Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a potent biological toxin extracted from Clostridium Botulinum bacteria. BoNT injection is mainly used for medical purposes; it is frequently used for cosmetic purposes as well. The hypothesis that frequent application of this treatment modality may also affect the central nervous system constitutes the subject of our study.

Linking a compound-heterozygous Parkin mutant (Q311R and A371T) to Parkinson's disease by using proteomic and molecular approaches.

Parkin is an E3-protein ubiquitin ligase, which plays an important role as a scavenger in cell metabolism. Since the discovery of the link between Parkin and Parkinson's disease, Parkin was placed in the center of Parkinson's disease research. Previously, we isolated a mutant form of the Parkin protein (Q311R and A371T) from a Parkinson's disease patient.

The effect of etanercept and methylprednisolone on functional recovery of the facial nerve after crush injury.

Objective: To establish whether etanercept, a TNF-α antagonist, is an alternative and effective treatment on facial nerve after crush injury.

Method: Fifty-four rats underwent exposure of the left main trunk of the facial nerve followed by a standard crush injury. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, methylprednisolone-treated group, and etanercept-treated group.

Treatment with enhanced external counterpulsation improves cognitive functions in chronic heart failure patients.

Objectives: Chronic heart failure (CHF) has been associated with an increased risk of poorer cognitive performance in older adults. Reversibility of cognitive impairment after medical treatment has been reported, although the restorative effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on cognitive performance have not been studied. We investigated the effect of EECP on cognitive functions in CHF patients.

The effect of pulse methylprednisolone plus theophylline treatment on clinical, pulmonary and inflammatory markers in relapses of multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there was a relationship between severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbation and pulmonary function test (PFT) and to determine the effect of theophylline, which was added to intravenous methylprednisolone, on serum Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha levels and clinical scores in MS relapses.

Study Design: Double blind randomized controlled trial.

Material And Methods: The baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was determined, PFT was performed and blood was taken for analysis of TNF- alpha in patients with MS exacerbation.

Cyclic alternating pattern analysis in REM sleep behavior disorder.

Objective: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a type of REM parasomnia characterized by complex motor activity during REM sleep. In this study, cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) in patients with idiopathic RBD was analyzed to evaluate the expression of arousal instability of NREM sleep.

Methods: A total of 31 idiopathic RBD patients and age- and gender-matched 21 control subjects were consecutively recruited.

Ischemic stroke history predicts increased cardiovascular mortality in chronic heart failure.

Objective: To investigate comorbidities that predict cardiac mortality and re-hospitalization in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

Methods: Five hundred eighty patients (mean age 63 ± 13 years, 373 male, 207 female, mean ejection fraction (EF) 26 ± 9%) with mild, moderate or severe CHF [NYHA class II-IV] were included in this prospective observational study. We evaluated all comorbidities such as history of ischemic stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease in CHF patients who were hospitalized due to decompensated heart failure in Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine's Hospital between January 2003 and July 2009.

The effect of memantine in harmaline-induced tremor and neurodegeneration.

Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common and most disabling movement disorders among adults. The drug treatment of ET remains unsatisfactory. Additional therapies are required for patients with inadequate response or intolerable side effects.

Route learning impairment associated with encephalomalasia secondary to traumatic brain injury: a case report.

Topographical disorientation is marked by difficulty finding one's way in familiar or new environments. The present case study reports findings from a 30-year-old male with encephalomalasia of the left parahippocampal region secondary to brain trauma with subsequent difficulty in learning of new routes. His navigation in premorbidly known (familiar) surroundings was intact.

Correlation between retinal morphological and functional findings and clinical severity in Parkinson's disease.

Background: To measure the parapapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness and macular volume in vivo and to evaluate whether retinal structural changes and visual cortical responses may be related to the clinical severity of the PD.

Methods: We included 17 patients with Parkinson's disease and 11 healthy subjects of a similar age. Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale scores in Parkinson's disease and control subjects were assessed for clinical evaluation.

Levetiracetam-responding paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia.

We report on a patient with 7-year history of short-lasting paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia. The episodes occurred 100 to 125 times per day, lasted from 5 seconds to 3 minutes, and were not suppressed with sleeping, underlining the heterogeneity of phenomenology in paroxysmal dyskinesias. Neuroimaging studies showed calcifications in the basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem, and subcortical and cerebellar regions.

Psychiatric approach in the treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy in an adolescent girl: a case report.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is an unusual diagnosis in the pediatric age group. It is a syndrome characterized by pain in one or more extremities with a significant morbidity in childhood. Patients with RSD have frequently undergone many unnecessary investigations such that the diagnosis and treatment may be considerably delayed.

Fahr's disease presenting with paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia: a case report.

Fahr's disease is characterized by presence of abnormal calcifications in certain areas of the brain. We report on 23-year-old man admitted to us with the episodes of paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia. He was detected to have symmetrical intracerebral calcifications in basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebellar hemispheres, and diagnosed as sporadic Fahr's disease.

Magnetization transfer ratio in early period of Parkinson disease.

Rationale And Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the role of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) in the early period of Parkinson disease (PD).

Materials And Methods: Clinically diagnosed 33 patients with PD in the first year of diagnosis, and 30 healthy volunteers were assessed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed without and with magnetization transfer (MT) imaging.

Relationship between cognitive impairment and retinal morphological and visual functional abnormalities in Alzheimer disease.

Background: There is conflicting evidence as to whether Alzheimer disease (AD) is accompanied by loss of retinal ganglion cells. To evaluate this issue, we have used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess the thickness and volume of the retina. We have also sought to correlate our findings with visual function and cognitive impairment.

Fibrous dysplasia of the cranial bones: a case report and review of the literature.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a relatively uncommon disorder that affects primarily the cranial region; its occurrence in the cranial base in combination with hindbrain herniation and aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) constitutes an extremely rare condition. We report a case of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia with progressive occipital, temporal, and clival involvement. Clinical findings and differential diagnosis with special emphasis on the imaging features were discussed.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder is common in parents of children with epilepsy.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and major depressive disorder (MDD) in parents of children with epilepsy.

Methods: Parents (77 mothers and 3 fathers) of children with epilepsy were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), PTSD and MDD modules, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).

Results: The prevalence of both PTSD and MDD was 31.

Isolated abducens nerve palsy associated with retinoic acid therapy: a case report.

Isolated abducens nerve palsy is a rare complication of treatment with various drugs. Here, the authors report the case of a 23-year-old female with isolated left abducens nerve palsy after long-term retinoic acid therapy. The association is based on the temporal relationship and the exclusion of other possible etiologic factors following extensive laboratory and imaging diagnostics.

Treatment of unilateral masseter hypertrophy with botulinum toxin in two cases.

Botulinum toxin is a new method for treating masseteric hypertrophy, which offers many advantages over conventional surgical treatment. We describe the successful outpatient medical management of two patients with masseteric hypertrophy using botulinum toxin type A. No significant side effects occurred and the patients were satisfied cosmetically six months after the treatment.

The sociodemographic findings, beliefs and behaviours of the patients admitted to Kocaeli University, Faculty of Medicine, Epilepsy Section.

Using a standard questionnaire, 121 consequent epileptic patients have been evaluated sociodemographically and according to their beliefs and behaviours about their illness. Monthly income per person was between 26 and 62.5 U.