Caspian Journal of Neurological Sciences
Volume:9 Issue: 35, Oct 2023

Strokes are among the major causes of disabilities worldwide. In recent years, there has been considerable interest in evaluating stroke prognoses.

In this investigation, we studied the association of lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and ESR-CRP ratio (ECR) with 3 months outcomes among those with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

We carried out the present cross-sectional investigation among AIS patients at an academic hospital in northern Iran (from 2019 to 2021). Within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms, laboratory and clinical data of the patients were obtained. We assessed the results using the modified rankin scale (mRS) 90 days after the initial assessment. Statistical significance for comparing descriptive data was determined as P<0.05.

We entered 341 participants (Mean±SD age: 69.10±13.55 years, 53.1% female) into this investigation. Based on univariate analysis, there were poor correlations between NLR (r=0.361, P<0.001), PLR (r=0.215, P<0.05), CRP (r=0.234, P<0.001), LMR (r=-0.184, P<0.05), and ECR (r=-0.191, P<0.05) and a 3-month mRS. Also, after three months, the NLR, PLR, and CRP values were higher in the patients who died, but the LMR (P<0.001) and ECR (P<0.05) were lower. In multivariate comparison, only ECR was independently higher among the participants who died within 3 months (P<0.05).

In this study, ECR within 24 hours of symptoms onset was related to functional outcomes and mortality at 3-month follow-up. Thus, ECR might provide valuable prognostic information at a relatively low cost.

The neurocycle model has been developed based on cognitive neuroscience studies and can be applied to manage the functioning of the mind.

The present study investigated the effectiveness of the neurocycle mind-management approach in the resiliency and wellbeing of female university students.

This single-subject experimental study was conducted based on the AB model. The research population comprised all single female university students aged 20 to 30 years studying at Khatam University in 2022. The participants were 3 students who attended the training intervention, and one was the control. The study data were collected using Connor and Davidson’s (2003) resilience scale and Ryff’s (1989) psychological wellbeing scale. Data analysis was performed through chart analysis, clinical improvement rate, and reliable change index.

The obtained data revealed that the students’ resilience and psychological wellbeing scores increased compared to the baseline and control values. The overall improvement rates of the participants in terms of resilience and psychological wellbeing were 45.23% and 43.89%, respectively, though not clinically significant. In all three participants, the reliable change index in both variables was higher than 1.96, so the impact of the intervention was statistically significant. Based on the follow-up phase results, the effects of the intervention increased after 1 month from the last intervention session, but the improvement was not significant.

The neurocycle mind-management technique can be explored and used as an effective intervention to improve female university students’ resilience and psychological wellbeing.

Sodium valproate is recommended as a first-line drug to prevent migraine attacks, and sodae is an herbal medicine.

Sodium valproate and herbal sodae were compared for effectiveness and side effects.

A two-center, randomized, double-blind clinical trial included migraine patients from Kermanshah and Hamadan cities into two groups: Sodae herbal recipients and valproate (200 mg) recipients, for 3 months. A numerical rating scale (NRS) scale was used to measure residual pain at the end of each month of treatment. Also, a researcher-made form and the headache impact test (HIT-6) questionnaire were used. Side effects reported by the patients were collected, and liver function tests and complete blood cell count tests were conducted.

A total of 70 migraine patients were evaluated: 33 patients (47%) in the soda group and 37 patients (53%) in the valproate group. The NRS scores in both groups decreased constantly, with no significant difference (P=0.303). Also, HIT-6 scores were constantly reduced in both groups with no significant difference (P>0.05). More side effects are significantly (P=0.043) reported in the valproate group (54.05%) than in the sodae group (30.30%). The most common side effect in the valproate group was drowsiness (13.5%), while among the sodae group, it was diarrhea (15.1%).

The sodae and valproate did not differ in headache improvement, HIT-6 scores, and changes in laboratory parameters. However, the valproate group reported more side effects than the sodae group. Sodae is a suitable herbal medicine for preventing and controlling migraine attacks.

Some evidence supports probiotics’ beneficial effects on clinical symptoms of patients with schizophrenia and relieving unwanted frequently associated side effects of antipsychotic drugs such as constipation, obesity, and metabolic disorders.

This study aimed to assess the effect of probiotic supplements on clinical psychiatry symptoms and metabolic indices in patients with schizophrenia.

First-episode schizophrenic patients were randomly assigned to probiotics and placebo groups in a randomized controlled trial that took 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were the brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) change scores and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). The secondary outcomes were clinical global impression-improvement scale (CGI-S), blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), lipid profiles, and fasting blood sugar (FBS).

A total of 62 patients were considered for the intention-to-treat analysis (mean age, 34.7 years; 23 women; 39 men). The results showed no significant differences in the primary objectives between the probiotic and placebo groups. In the probiotic group, subjects had lower levels of all biochemical variables (triglycerides, cholesterol, and FBS) compared to the subjects in the placebo group (standardized mean difference -4.3, -2.8, and -4.6, respectively; P<0.05).

We found that by adding probiotics to oral antipsychotics, BPRS or PANSS scores do not improve. However, Cohen’s d for biochemical variables showed a medium to large effect size. This study suggests probiotic supplementation may regulate and control triglycerides, cholesterol, and FBS levels. Future studies are recommended to demonstrate these findings in the confirmatory analysis.

Vaccination against COVID-19 for people with multiple sclerosis (PWMS) has been recommended, but long-term follow-up needs further research.

To follow up PWMS 3 months after vaccination with the Sinopharm vaccine regarding the relapse of MS and infection with COVID-19.

The participants in this prospective study were PWMS over 18 years of age living in Kermanshah Province, Iran, who received two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine between August and November 2021. The information on demographic and clinical characteristics of PWMS, COVID-19 infection, and relapses of MS 3 months after vaccination, were collected. We contacted the patients using the information registered in the MS registry system of Kermanshah Province, and the study data were collected by phone call and using a researcher-made questionnaire.

Overall, 197 MS patients with a Mean±SD age of 41.84±11.0 years, including 155(78.7%) females and 42(21.3%) males were studied. There was no significant difference (P=1.000) in MS relapse frequency between the time points of 3 months before the first dose (15[7.6%]) and 3 months after the second dose (15[7.6%]). The frequency of infection with COVID-19 within 3 months after the second dose (26[13.2%]) was significantly (P=0.017) higher than that in the 3 months before the first dose (12[6.1%]). Within 3 months after the second dose, most PWMS with MS relapse or COVID-19 infection used oral and anti-CD20 therapy.

During the 3 months after the second dose, the frequency of MS relapse was not different, but the frequency of COVID-19 infection was higher.

During Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with epilepsy (PWE) have faced with delayed outpatient visits, cancellation of their para-clinic tests, and problems in accessing to emergencies. Regarding to the previous studies, PWE are at increased risk of psychological disorders than healthy persons.

This study aimed to compare psychological distress between PWE and a healthy control group.

This study was performed in the sixth wave of COVID-19 in Mashhad, Iran. We evaluated 132 PWE who consecutively referred to the Neurology Clinics of 22 Bahman Hospital. Also, 132 age and sex matched-healthy persons were included as the control group. Demographic and epilepsy related-data were collected through a questionnaire. The 6-item Kessler questionnaire was used to assess psychological distress.

The included PWE and the control groups were similar among all demographic variables, unless monthly income. We found that PWE had significantly higher psychological distress level (P=0.03) and spent significantly more time following the COVID-19-related news (P=0.000). By using ANCOVA test we found that PWE have significant higher levels of concerns about COVID-19 (P=0.03) and spend more time following COVID-19-related news (P=0.04). Logistic regression revealed that PWE 1.124 times more concern about COVID-19 outbreak and 0.294 time pay less attention to COVID-19 related news.

During public health emergencies, health care professionals should focus not only on seizure control but also on the mental health status of PWE, particularly those with higher number of seizures.

Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, plays a pivotal role in cellular phenomena in neurons, like synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity. As the major glutamate receptors, N-methylD-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) undergo phosphorylation at Ser1303 on the GluN2B subunit upon glutamate binding. This effect results from the influx of calcium and subsequent activation of many known kinases that phosphorylate the receptor. However, the regulation of this phosphorylation at this site and the involved phosphatases have remained unknown, especially under excitotoxicity conditions induced by glutamate treatment.

This study attempts to investigate the regulation of phosphorylation at GluN2B-Ser1303 under excitotoxic conditions and identify the phosphatase responsible.

Primary cortical neurons prepared from embryonic rat brains were treated with glutamate, thereby inducing excitotoxicity in vitro. Then, the phosphorylation status of GluN2B-Ser1303 was studied using Western blots in the presence of various phosphatase inhibitors. Finally, the interaction of phosphatase with GluN2B was studied using immunostaining and coimmunoprecipitation analysis.

The results show that under excitotoxic conditions, there is a reduction in the phosphorylation of GluN2B-Ser1303, and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) was the phosphatase responsible. PPI was found to interact with the receptor.

This study reports for the first time the regulation of phosphorylation at GluN2BSer1303 in vitro under excitotoxic conditions, which PP1 mediates. This site could be a potential drug target for designing novel compounds which could exacerbate excitotoxicity.

Climatic conditions contribute to changes in red blood cells, thrombocyte count, and blood pressure. In cold weather, blood viscosity increases, but increasing body temperature raises coagulation factors. Also, plasma fibrinogen concentrations are higher in older patients. All of these factors can contribute to the incidence of stroke.

Our purpose was to assess the relationships between metrological factors and the rate of stroke patients in the north of Iran.

We used a time-series analysis to investigate the association between metrological factors and hospital admission of cerebrovascular events from 2014 to 2019 using distributed lag nonlinear models.

Hot temperature (≥34 ° C) was significantly associated with an increased risk of stroke admission. In the general population, severe cold (≤0 ° C) was significantly related to the risk of stroke on the third day after exposure (relative risk [RR]=1.017; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00%-1.035%). Also, a low temperature of 7 ° C on 5-6 lag days was significantly associated with the risk of stroke. The risk of stroke hospital admission was not significantly associated with low humidity. Humidity with a low percentage (8%-9%) two days after exposure was significantly related to the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (RR=5.089; 95% CI, 1.002%-25.835% ) (RR=4.841; 95% CI, 1.014%-23.109%), respectively.

The results show that hot and cold temperatures are associated with stroke admission, and low humidity increases the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. This study suggests that changes in meteorological variables can raise the risk of stroke and exacerbate the pathogenicity in vulnerable people to these diseases.