سال:1395 | دوره: | شماره: |تعداد مقالات:7

Background: The cuprizone multiple sclerosis (MS) animal model is characteristic for toxic demyelination and represents a reversible demyelination and remyelination system. It has been shown that green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) might be effective in improving the symptoms and pathological conditions associated with autoimmune inflammatory diseases in several animal models.Objectives: In this study the effects of EGCG on proteolipid protein (PLP) and oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (Olig1) expression in the cerebral cortex of murine model of cuprizone-induced demyelination was investigated.Materials and Methods: C57BL/6 mice were treated by cuprizone for six weeks in order to induce demyelination. Immediately after the cessation of cuprizone the animals were divided into 6 groups (n=10 for each groups). The first two groups was injected intraperitoneally (IP) by EGCG in the amount of 50 mg/kg /daily body weight for 2 and 4 weeks. The second two groups (SHAM) was injected IP by phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 2 and 4 weeks and the third two groups was left without injection as controls. After two and four weeks the mice were killed and the cerebral cortex was collected and the expression of PLP and Olig1 was studied by Western blotting.Results: The results showed that there is a significant increases in PLP and Olig1 expression among the EGCG treated group as compared to the SHAM and control groups (p<0.0001).Conclusion: It is concluded that EGCG increases PLP and Olig1 expression in the cerebral cortex of mouse model of MS induced by cuprizone.

Background: For psychiatric disorders, comorbidity is a rule rather than exception. Thus it is particularly important to study additive and multiplicative effects of multiple mental disorders on suicidal behaviors.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the ethnic differences in multiplicative effects of mental disorders on suicidal ideation among Black adults in the United States.Materials and Methods: Data came from the National Survey of American Life, 2001-2003. For this study, we used data of 5, 181 Black adults (3, 570 African Americans and 1, 621 Caribbean Blacks). Lifetime depression, anxiety, and drug abuse as well as suicidal ideation were measured, using the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI). Ethnic specific logistic regressions were used to determine multiplicative effects of anxiety, depression and drug abuse on suicidal thoughts among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks.Results: Depression showed multiplicative effects with anxiety and drug abuse for African Americans, but not Caribbean Blacks. Drug abuse and anxiety showed multiplicative effects among Caribbean Blacks but not African Americans.Conclusion: Based on our study, ethnicity modifies how anxiety, depression and drug abuse contribute to suicidality among Blacks. As suicide risk is differently influenced by multiple psychiatric disorders for African Americans and Caribbean Blacks, ethnic-specific programs for screening and prevention of suicide is suggested.

Background: F-wave study, part of electrodiagnostic study, has had a controversial sensitivity in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy.Objectives: We aimed to compare F wave parameters obtained from the tibial nerve of both extremities in patients with unilateral S1 radiculopathy.Materials and Methods: The study was done from March to September 2015 in the Electrodiagnostic laboratory of an academic hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.19 consecutive patients with clinically and electromyographically approved diagnosis of unilateral S1 radiculopathy entered the study. F-wave parameters (F minimum latency, F maximum latency, F chronodispersion and F persistence) were recorded from tibial nerve of both extremities. Patients with diabetes, bilateral S1 radiculopathy or any other disease known to affect peripheral nerves were excluded from the study.Results: Of nineteen participants, 11 were men. Their mean±SD of age was 46.6±13.7 years. There were no significant differences between mean of F wave parameters recorded from affected and unaffected sides. Also, it was shown that, there was a positive correlation between these parameters in two extremities.Conclusion: The current study compared various F-wave parameters and the results did not support employing F-wave study as a sensitive method for detecting unilateral S1 radiculopathy.

Background: Despite the great number of cosmetic rhinoplasties, there are few studies on the improvement of self-concept and patient satisfaction with nose fitness.Objectives: This study attempted to examine the variability of self-concept and patient satisfaction with nose fitness before and after cosmetic rhinoplasty through three to six months of follow-up.Materials and Methods: Under a pretest-posttest single-group design, a total of 100 women and men applying for cosmetic rhinoplasty at the academic clinics in Guilan were selected though convenience sampling. The participants’ age ranged from 17-47 years old and each of them responded to the Beck Self-Concept Test (BSCT) and Satisfaction Visual Analogue Scale (S-VAS) before and three to six months after the cosmetic surgery. The data were analyzed through the independent t-test and univariate analysis of covariance (UNIANCOVA) under a 2´2 factorial design, after controlling for the two variables of age and marital status.Results: The mean age of patients was 26.85±6.60 years. We found that the self-concept in patients post-surgery had not improved compared with presurgery (p>0.05). However, the patients’ satisfaction with nose fitness significantly increased after surgery (F=70.10, p<0.0001). There was no significant difference between the female and male groups in terms of self-concept and satisfaction with nose fitness (p>0.05).Conclusion: Although many rhinoplasty applicants were satisfied about the changes in their facial features, rhinoplasty seems to have failed to improve the patients’ self-concept, the implications of which are discussed.

Background: Common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT) measured by ultrasonography as a non-invasive method is nowadays known as a marker for early atherosclerosis.Objectives: Survey the relationship between serum uric acid and carotid intimamedia thickness considering hypertension.Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a comparative crosssectional study in northern Iran in 2013–2014. The samples for uric acid level were taken from 90 patients. Data were collected through questionnaires and a non-invasive ultrasound technique was used to measure IMT. The analysis of data was done by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests and logistic regression model using SPSS software version 21. The significance level was set as 0.05.Results: Patients in the 3 groups were the same age and gender. The measured carotid intima-media thickness was significantly different among the groups (p=0.004). Using multivariate logistic regression and entering all variables, The intima-media thickness of the carotid in the group with hypertensive and hyperuricemia was significantly higher than that of the other research groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: An association was found between serum uric acid level and increased thickness of carotid intima-media and hyperuricemia can be considered as a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Hereditary spastic paraplegias are highly heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders with some special mutations. We report on a patient with pescavus, distal a myotrophy, hyper extended fingers, and pectus excavatum. Neurological examination showed that he had proximal lower limbs weakness with a positive Gower sign, exaggerated lower limbs deep tendon reflexes with spasticity, distal muscle was ting, bilateral horizontal nystagmus (direction change), and positive Romberg sign. A novel mutation in SPG11/spatacsin was detected through genetic analysis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed normal whole spine and brain anatomy.

Normal Pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterized by gait apraxia, urinary incontinence, and dementia. Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease that has never been reported to cause NPH. Our patient was a 67-year man with a one-year history of gradual worsening gait and balance, urinary urgency with urge incontinence and decreased short-term memory. Previously he was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). For him an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) with brain biopsy was agreed upon. Gliotic brain parenchyma and focal perivascular lymphocytes were noted in the gray matter. There was no lymphocytic infiltration in brain parenchyma. Immunohistochemical stains demonstrated that the mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate was limited to several small cortical blood vessels surrounded by CD3 T-cell lymphocytes with no vessel wall invasion or necrosis. No CD20 B-cell lymphocytes were observed. Viral inclusions, microglial nodules, granulomas, and amyloid deposits in the blood vessels were not noted. In summary, there was no definitive evidence of vasculitis. However, the presence of a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate around the cortical vessels was “unusual”. Considering this probable co-occurrence suggests the need for a protocol to better evaluate idiopathic NPH in patients with an underlying autoimmune component.