A Prospective Multicenter Study for Assessing MusiQoL Validity among Arabic-Speaking MS Patients Treated with Subcutaneous Interferon -1a.

Few studies examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Arabic-speaking multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, HRQoL tools such as the Short Form-36 QoL instrument (SF-36) and the Multiple Sclerosis International QoL (MusiQoL) questionnaire have been validated in other languages. The primary objective of this study was to prospectively assess HRQoL using the MusiQoL questionnaire among Arabic-speaking MS patients treated with subcutaneous interferon (sc IFN -1a) over 12 months, as part of a prospective, multinational, multicenter cohort study.

K-variant BCHE and pesticide exposure: Gene-environment interactions in a case-control study of Parkinson's disease in Egypt.

Pesticide exposure is associated with increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated in Egypt whether common variants in genes involved in pesticide detoxification or transport might modify the risk of PD evoked by pesticide exposure. We recruited 416 PD patients and 445 controls.

Non-Motor Symptoms as Predictors of Quality of Life in Egyptian Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study Using a Culturally Adapted 39-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire.

Objective: The prevalence of non-motor symptoms (NMSs) and their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been reported inconsistently among different populations. In this study, we aimed to investigate the NMSs and HRQoL profiles and their correlation in Egyptian PD patients, using a culturally adapted Arabic version of the 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39).

Methods: Ninety-seven PD patients were rated using the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), the non-motor symptoms scales (NMSS), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and the Arabic version of PDQ-39.

A Study of Extrapyramidal Manifestations Accompanying Decompensated Viral Hepatic Cirrhosis Patients.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of viral hepatic cirrhosis all over the world, the characteristic motor features of related Parkinsonism (extrapyramidal manifestations) are not well described. The current study aimed to characterize such disorder in a sample of Egyptian patients with chronic viral liver disease (CLD), and their clinical correlates.

Methods: Ninety-six (96) patients with CLD were examined for the presence of extrapyramidal signs.

Sonothrombolysis in acute middle cerebral artery stroke.

Objectives: The objective of the following study is to determine the effect of continuous insonation using 2-MHz transcranial Doppler-ultrasound (TCD-US) on the recanalization rate and the short-term outcome in subjects with acute ischemic stroke due to middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion.

Materials And Methods: A total of 42 patients with acute ischemic stroke due to MCA occlusion within 24 h were recruited and randomly allotted to two groups (21 patients in each group). Group 1 included patients who received 1 h continuous TCD-US for MCA and Group 2 included patients who did not receive 1 h continuous TCD-US.

MRI can Predict the Response to Therapeutic Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Stroke Patients.

Background: Previous studies suggest that purposeful modulation of excitability by up regulation in primary motor area (M1) in the lesioned hemisphere or down regulation of excitability in M1 intact hemisphere can influence function in the paretic hand..

Objectives: 1- To determine if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) delineation of lesion has an impact on the modality and site of rTMS stimulation, and 2- To determine whether MRI can predict the degree of recovery of motor function after rTMS treatment.

Clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: old tests-new concepts.

Background: The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) continues to be neurophysiologically and clinically controversial. Earlier data concluding that the higher prevalence of persons with symptoms suggestive of CTS but without evidence of median mononeuropathy highlights the need for a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and natural history of CTS to provide a less empirical foundation for diagnosis and clinical management.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the clinical manifestations of CTS with the outcome of the diagnostic tools (nerve conduction tests and ultrasonography), and its implication for clinical practice.

Altered levels of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by peripheral neuropathy.

Objective: To assess levels of 2 circulating soluble adhesion molecules, vascular cellular adhesion molecule (sVCAM) and E-selectin, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated by peripheral neuropathy compared to RA patients with no neurological complications and healthy controls.

Methods: In total, 25 RA patients with peripheral neuropathy (detected by clinical examination and confirmed by electromyography and nerve conduction studies), 40 RA patients without peripheral neuropathy, and 25 controls were studied. Clinical and laboratory assessments of disease activity were carried out and levels of sVCAM-1 and E-selectin were measured by ELISA in each of the 3 groups.