Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 4 2016 03 03 1 1 EN Iranian Journal of Neurology Iranian Journal of Neurology Official Journal of Iranian Neurological Association 2016 02 20 Click to download the index of this issue.   https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/998 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/998/268

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 4 2016 03 03 185 189 EN Kazem Anvari Cancer Research Center AND Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mahmoud Reza Kalantari Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Fariborz Samini Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shahid Kamiab Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Soodabeh Shahidsales Cancer Research Center AND Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mehdi Seilanian-Toussi Cancer Research Center AND Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Zakiyeh Ghorbanpour Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Omid Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2015 10 11 Background: Intracranial lesions of the pituitary gland are common pituitary adenomas, accounting for 6-10% of all symptomatic intracranial tumors. In this retrospective study, the clinicopathologic features and survival rate of pituitary adenomas were evaluated. Methods: The present retrospective study was conducted on 83 patients with pituitary adenomas, referring to radiation oncology departments of Ghaem and Omid Hospitals, Mashhad, Iran, over a period of 13 years (1999-2012). Data obtained from clinical records including clinical features, type of surgery (if performed), treatment modality, overall survival rate, and progression-free survival rate were analyzed. Results: Eighty-three patients including 44 males (53%) and 39 females (47%) participated in this study. The median age was 40 years (age range: 10-69 years). Chiasm compression was reported in 62 patients (74.4%), and 45.78% of the subjects suffered from headaches. Functional and non-functional adenomas were reported in 44 (53.01%) and 39 (46.99%) patients, respectively. In cases with functional and non-functional adenomas, the disease was controlled in 95 and 84.5% of the subjects for 3 years, respectively. Furthermore, 1- and 3-year survival rates for functional adenoma were 84.6 and 23%, respectively; the corresponding values were 90.9 and 22.7% in non-functional adenomas, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, a significant correlation between headache severity and type of adenoma was observed. So, application of surgery and radiotherapy together could be a highly effective approach for treating functional adenomas, although it is less efficient for the non-functional type. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/273 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/273/251

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 4 2016 03 03 190 194 EN Mohammad Mehdi Heidari Department of Biology, School of Science, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran Mehri Khatami Department of Biology, School of Science, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran Shahriar Nafissi Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Faezeh Hesami-Zokai Department of Biology, School of Science, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran Afshin Khorrami Department of Biology, School of Science, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran 2015 10 11 Background: Non-dystrophic myotonias are a heterogeneous set of skeletal, muscular channelopathies, which have been associated with point mutations within sodium channel α-subunit (SCN4A) gene. Because exons 22 and 24 of SCN4A gene are recognized as hot spots for this disease, the purpose of the study is to identify mutation in exons 22 and 24 of SCN4A gene in Iranian non-dystrophic myotonias patients. Methods: In this study, 28 Iranian patients with non-dystrophic myotonia analyzed for the mutation scanning in exons 22 and 24 of SCN4A gene by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing. Results: We found 29073G>C substitution in SCN4A gene in one case and 31506A>G substitution in seven cases. The 29073G>C substitution causes a missense mutation G1306A, located in the conserved cytoplasmic loop connecting repeat III and IV of the SCN4A channel but, 31506A>G substitution do not alter amino acid in SCN4A protein. Conclusion: G1306A residue is located in functionally important protein region. In “hinged-lid model” for Na+ channel inactivation in which glycines1306 act as the hinge of the lid occluding the channel pore. Mutation in this region slowed fast inactivation. Therefore, it might be a pathogenic mutation. The causal relationship of this mutation with the disease is an object for further discussion. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/280 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/280/17

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 4 2016 03 03 195 203 EN Javad Hami Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Mehran Hosseini Research Centre of Experimental Medicine AND Department of Public Health, Deputy of Research and Technology, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Sekineh Shahi Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran Nassim Lotfi Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand AND Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Abolfazl Talebi School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Mohammad Afshar Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran 2015 10 11 Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease resulting from the degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Increasing evidence demonstrated that mice treated intranasally with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) suffered impairments in motor functions associated with disruption of DA neurons in SNc conceivably analogous to those observed in PD. L-arginine has been proposed as a novel neuroprotective agent that plays protective roles in several models of neuronal cellular damage. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of L-arginine on the numerical density of dark neurons (DNs) in the SNc of Balb/c mice subjected to MPTP administration. Methods: In the present study, we demonstrated that repeated treatment with L-arginine (300 mg/kg, i.p.) during 7 consecutive days attenuated the production of DNs in SNc of adult male Balb/c mice infused with a single intranasal administration of MPTP (1 mg/nostril). Results: Pre-treatment with L-arginine significantly decreased the numerical density of DNs in SNc of mice 21 days after intranasal MPTP administration. Conclusion: This investigation provides new insights in experimental models of PD, indicating that L-arginine represents a potential neuroprotective agent for the prevention of DA neuron degeneration in SNc observed in PD patients. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/291 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/291/18

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 4 2016 03 03 204 210 EN Davood Kashipazha Department of Neurology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Seyed Ehsan Mohammadianinejad Department of Neurology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Nastaran Majdinasab Department of Neurology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mostafa Azizi Department of Neurology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Majid Jafari Department of Neurology, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran 2015 10 11 Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an uncommon neuro- inflammatory syndrome that has shown to be distinct from multiple sclerosis (MS) and associated with the autoantibody marker NMO-immunoglobulin G (IgG). There are still only a few studies regarding the epidemiology of NMO in Iran. In the present study, we tried to describe the epidemiology of NMO in Khuzestan as one of the densely populated regions in Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed during the period 2013-2014. Multiple regional sources of data were used including hospital records, details from neurologists and MS society database. The diagnosis of NMO was based on clinical presentation, abnormal findings on neuroimaging and serological tests. Results: A 51 Caucasian patients (36 patients with NMO and 15 with NMO-spectrum disorder) were identified with a female/male ratio of 7.5:1.0. The crude prevalence of NMO was 1.1/100,000 population. The mean age at onset was 29.2 ± 6.1 years and the mean duration of symptoms was 5.0 ± 0.4 years. The majority of patients (60.8%) were classified as having mild disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale = 0-3.5). Among of 35 patients whose titer of NMO-IgG was measured, 19 (54.2%) were seropositive. Conclusion: Our study suggests that NMO prevalence rate in South West Iran (Khuzestan Province) is much lower than that reported for MS prevalence rate (16.2/100,000) and our patients had a lower age at onset presentation and milder course of the disease than western countries. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/301 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/301/252

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 4 2016 03 03 211 218 EN Sima Rafiei Department of Health Management, School of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran Mohammad Arab Department of Management and Health Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Arash Rashidian Department of Management and Health Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahmood Mahmoudi Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 12 Background: Health workforce shortages in rural and remote areas are a global challenge that almost every health system has to deal with. This study aimed to discover neurosurgeons’ job preferences and propose policy interventions that could possibly increase their retention in rural, remote, or underserved areas. Methods: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted in November 2014 with a sample of Iranian neurosurgeons selected from five contrary’s provinces representing the geographical diversity. Job attributes included income, dual practice opportunities, workload, proximity to family, clinical infrastructure, housing, educational facilities, and work location. Probit regression model was used to estimate the importance of different job attributes and examine the extent to which neurosurgeons were willing to tradeoff between monetary and nonmonetary attributes. Results: Findings indicated that increased salary, permission to undertake dual practice and access to adequate clinical infrastructure were the most important retention policies. Provision of subsidized housing and educational facilities also increased neurosurgeons’ attraction and retention in rural areas. Conclusion: A range of policy interventions focusing on both monetary and nonmonetary incentives are required to increase neurosurgeons’ retention in rural, remote, or underserved areas. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/544 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/544/21

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 4 2016 03 03 219 221 EN Mi Song Choi Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Hwaseong Si, Republic of Korea Bom Choi Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Hwaseong Si, Republic of Korea Soo Jin Cho Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Hwaseong Si, Republic of Korea Joo Yong Kim Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Hwaseong Si, Republic of Korea Ki Han Kwon Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Hwaseong Si, Republic of Korea Suk Yun Kang Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Hwaseong Si, Republic of Korea 2015 10 11 No Abstract https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/310 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/310/19

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 4 2016 03 03 222 224 EN Payam https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/736 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/736/7

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 3 2015 10 14 158 163 EN Babak Daneshfard Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine AND Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plant Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Sadegh Izadi Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center AND Department of Neurology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Abdolhamid Shariat Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center AND Clinical Neurology Research Center AND Department of Neurology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Mohammad Amin Toudaji Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center AND Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Zahra Beyzavi Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center AND Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Leila Niknam Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center AND Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2015 10 14 Background: Stroke is the main cause of physical disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Two-thirds of all strokes occur in the developing countries. Despite being preventable, stroke is increasingly becoming a major health issue in these countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of stroke in Shiraz, Iran, one of the main referral centers in the southwestern part of Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on all stroke patients admitted to the Namazee Hospital, affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, between August 2010 and January 2011. Patients’ demographic data, atherosclerosis risk factors, type of stroke, drug history, outcomes, and neurological signs were recorded. Chi-square test, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, t-test, and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 305 patients with stroke, aged 27-97 years (mean ± SD = 68.33 ± 12.99), 269 patients (88.2%) had ischemic stroke (IS) and 36 (11.8%) had hemorrhagic stroke (HS). 133 patients (43.6%) were men and 172 (56.4%) were women. 11.4% of the patients with IS and 40.6% with HS died during hospitalization, causing 12.1% death in all stroke patients [Odds ratio (Or) = 5.34, 95% Confidence intervals (CI) = 2.35-12.11]. Hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and recurrent stroke were the most common risk factors. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that the epidemiology of stroke in the southwestern part of Iran may be similar to other places. However, it seems necessary and helpful to design a registration system for patients with stroke in Shiraz Namazee Hospital. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/737 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/737/8

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 3 2015 10 14 164 167 EN Hatice Kose-Ozlece Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University Medical Faculty, Kars, Turkey Faik Ilık Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mevlana University, Konya, Turkey Kursat Cecen Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University Medical Faculty, Kars, Turkey Nergiz Huseyınoglu Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University Medical Faculty, Kars, Turkey Ataman Serım Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kafkas University Medical Faculty, Kars, Turkey 2015 10 14 Background: Besides the well-known adverse effects of valproate (VPA), disorders related to male reproductive functions have been reported. Furthermore, only a limited number of previous studies have reported the relationship between VPA dose and impairment of the hormonal axis and semen quality. A patient with reversible changes that occurred in the sperm parameters after a dose increment of VPA. Methods: A 34-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy almost 15 years ago was admitted to our clinic. His seizures responded well to high doses of VPA treatment. Results: As the VPA dose was increased, consecutive semen analyses were performed and averaged for each dose; the results showed a remarkable decline in the sperm count and a manifest loss of sperm motility. VPA treatment was gradually diminished and stopped; meanwhile, treatment with another antiepileptic (lamotrigin) was initiated to control the patient’s seizures. Nine months later, the patient’s semen analysis was within normal ranges. After modification of the patient’s treatment regimen, he and his wife had a healthy baby. Conclusion: We suggest that VPA-dependent impairments in the hormone and semen analysis parameters were reversible after the termination of medical treatment, and that the VPA treatment did not cause permanent hormonal deregulation and, these side effects are dose dependent. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/738 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/738/9

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 14 3 2015 10 14