Findings of Optical Coherence Tomography of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Two Common Types of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent disease caused by the inflammatory demyelinating process that causes progressive nervous system degeneration over the time. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive optical imaging technology, which can measure the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer as well as the diameter of the macula. The purpose of the study is evaluation OCT findings in two common types of multiple sclerosis.

Reasons for uncontrolled seizures in adults; the impact of pseudointractability.

Purpose: We investigated the various possible reasons for uncontrolled seizures in patients 18 years of age and older to determine the impact of pseudointractability. We also tried to investigate the various forms of pseudointractability.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all patients 18 years of age and older with their first seizure occurring at least six months prior to the referral date, taking at least one antiepileptic drug (AED) and having at least one seizure in the past three months were studied.

Stromal cell derived factor-1 genetic variation at locus 801 in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the most common disorder of neuromuscular junction in which autoantibodies develop against nicotinic acetylcholine receptor for unknown reasons. The association of immunomodulator genes with different autoimmune disease has been studied in recent years.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate correlation between a genetic variation in Stromal Cell Derived Factor-1 (SDF1) and susceptibility to MG in an Iranian population.

Atypical Basal Ganglia germ cell tumor presenting as cerebral and brainstem hemiatrophy.

We describe a 20-year-old male patient with a germ cell tumor of the basal ganglia who presented with progressive hemiparesis and hemisensory loss. Initial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed ipsilateral cerebral and brain stem hemiatrophy predominantly in the left basal ganglia and thalamus, whereas no mass or enhancement was depicted. Single photon emission computed tomography revealed mild hypoactivity of the left cerebral hemisphere.

Bone loss with multiple sclerosis: effect of glucocorticoid use and functional status.

Background: Emerging data suggest a significantly increased prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) in men and women with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to age matched controls. This study was performed to evaluate bone mineral mass in patients with MS in comparison to healthy age-and sex matched controls and to determine association of glucocorticoid use or ambulation ability with changing in bone mass in these individuals.

Methods: Eighty two patients with MS and 328 age-sex matched healthy controls participated in the study.

CTLA4 exon 1 and promoter polymorphisms in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The polymorphisms of exon 1 (+49 A/G) and promoter regions (-1722 T/C, -1661 A/G and -318 C/T)of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and also haplotypes constructed from mentioned loci were investigated amongst 153 Iranian patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 190 healthy controls.

Methods: The polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms and PCR-amplification refractory mutation system. The 4-locus haplotypes were estimated by Arlequin software (University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland).

Association of HLA-DQA1*0101/2 and DQB1*0502 with myasthenia gravis in southern Iranian patients.

Background: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular junction characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and fatigability. Different genes may control the induction and clinical presentation of this disease. Various HLA alleles are reported as predisposing or protective genetic elements in myasthenia gravis.

Neurological manifestations of Behçet's disease.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and laboratory features of Neuro-Behçet's disease.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out in the Behçet's Research Clinic in Shiraz (south-west Iran) and included the patients referred from 1990-1999. The patients' clinical records, images, CSF analyses, and electrodiagnostic studies were reviewed.

Neurological manifestations of Behcet`s disease.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and laboratory features of Neuro-Behcet`s disease.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out in the Behcet`s Research Clinic in Shiraz (south-west Iran) and included the patients referred from 1990-1999. The patients` clinical records, images, CSF analyses, and electrodiagnostic studies were reviewed.