Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 17 3 2018 07 05 145 148 EN Fatemeh Omrani Department of Neurology, Hazrat-e-Rasool Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shahla Ansari-Damavandi Department of Pediatric Hematology, Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Babak Zamani Department of Neurology, Firouzgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zahra Omrani Department of Neurology, Hazrat-e-Rasool Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Nahid Mohammadzade Department of Neurology, Hazrat-e-Rasool Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sadra Rohani Department of Neurology, Hazrat-e-Rasool Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Rohani Department of Neurology, Hazrat-e-Rasool Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2017 07 14 2018 05 24 Background: Glucocerebrosidase (GBA) mutation is the most common genetic risk factor in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Transcranial sonography (TCS) shows increased substantia nigra (SN) echogenicity in both idiopathic and genetic forms of PD. The goal of this study was to compare maximal area of SN hyperechogenicity (aSNmax) and diameter of third ventricle (DTV) between GBA mutation carriers and healthy controls. Methods: Twenty-six carriers of GBA mutation and twenty-six healthy controls underwent TCS. The aSNmax and the DTV were measured. Mini-mental status examination (MMSE) and demographic data of the subjects were recorded, too. Results: Mean aSNmax in GBA mutation carriers was significantly higher (0.31 ± 0.06 cm2) than controls (0.16 ± 0.04 cm2). Moreover, DTV was significantly higher in GBA mutation carriers group (3.98 ± 0.90 vs 3.29 ± 0.56 cm). Conclusion: Increased SN echogenicity and increased third ventricle diameter in GBA mutation carriers may be caused by alterations in iron metabolism with reference to their genetic status. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1365

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 17 3 2018 10 27 99 104 EN Zahra Jafari Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Rahim Shahbodaghi Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Saman Maroufizadeh Department of Epidemiology and Reproductive Health, Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Tehran, Iran Abdorreza Naser Moghadasi Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2017 11 05 2018 04 28 Background: About one third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience dysphagia. Dysphagia can cause complications such as malnutrition, lung infections, aspiration pneumonia and dehydration, thus it is very helpful to diagnose dysphagia as soon as possible. The aim in this study was to translate dysphagia in multiple sclerosis (DYMUS) questionnaire into Farsi and and validate it. Methods: Forward-backward method was used to translate original English version of DYMUS into farsi, and then the questionnaire (one for each patient) was filled in through asking questions from 200 patients with MS by a speech and language pathologist. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the construct validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the DYMUS were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Results: CFA showed that a two-factor model of DYMUS including “dysphagia for solid” and “dysphagia for liquid” fitted the data well [relative chi-square [χ2/degree of freedom (df) = 1.55, CFI = 0.967, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.957, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.053, and weighted root mean square residual (WRMR) = 0.874]. The Cronbach’s alpha for total score and liquid and solid subscales were 0.776, 0.557, and 0.725, respectively. The DYMUS showed adequate test-retest reliability for the total and subscales (ICC: 0.880-0.956). Moreover, this study has shown a significant relationship between DYMUS score and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, disease duration, type of MS, and self-reported dysphagia. Conclusion: The Persian version of DYMUS is a reliable and valid tool to screen dysphagia among patients with MS. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1433

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 17 3 2018 07 05 129 136 EN Seyed Mohammad Baghbanian Bualicina Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical sciences, Sari, Iran Mohammad Ali Sahraian Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2017 05 31 2018 04 28 Interferon beta (IFN-β) and glatiramer acetate (GA) are the primary therapeutic immunomodulatory agents that interfere with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and the most commonly-used drugs as well. Induction or aggravation of other immune-mediated diseases has been reported following INF-β administration. We have reviewed the reported cases to notify the treating physicians about these rare adverse events. Although co-morbid autoimmune disorders have been reported in patients with MS, the pro-inflammatory role of disease-modifying drugs, especially INF-β, could affect and enhance this co-occurrence. Clinical or laboratory autoimmunity histories suggest the use of GA over INF-β as the treatment of choice. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1325

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 17 3 2018 08 11 152 153 EN Vida Mohammadzadeh Department of Neurology, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Samira Akbarieh Department of Infectious Diseases, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Seyed Abdolreza Ghoreishi Department of Neurology, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Manizheh Jozpanahi Department of Infectious Diseases, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran 2018 04 22 2018 08 11 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1551

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 17 3 2018 07 05 149 151 EN Morteza Faghih-Jouybari Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Soheil Naderi Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran Sara Mashayekhi Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran Tahereh Padeganeh Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sina Abdollahzade Department of Neurosurgery, Rajaayi Hospital, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran 2017 11 30 2018 05 24 Background: Patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are prone to various metabolic changes such as hypothyroidism. The present study was planned to assess the frequency of hypothyroidism in these patients. Methods: Fifty-two patients with GBM were included. All of them had been treated by tumor resection followed by cranial irradiation. Thyroid function was assessed by measurement of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3). Results: There were 33 men and 19 women. The average age was 52.4 ± 12.8 years. Among these, 32 (61%) had normal thyroid function test, whereas 4 (8%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, 5 (10%) had overt primary hypothyroidism, and 11 (21%) had secondary hypothyroidism. Sixteen patients (31%) needed thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is relatively prevalent in patients with treated GBM. Regular thyroid function test is advised to aid the introduction of appropriate hormone replacement therapy. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1454

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 17 3 2018 07 05 105 110 EN Shirin Farjadian Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Bahareh Fakhraei Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Zahra Niknam Iran Neurological Association, Tehran, Iran Mahboubeh Nasiri Allergy Research Center, Department of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Aslan Azad School of Pharmacy, International Branch, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Mojtaba Farjam Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran Alireza Nikseresht Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2017 10 19 2018 05 14 Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neuroinflammatory disease in young adults. Anxiety and depression may predispose individuals to MS and flare-ups. Serotonin transmission is modified in some brain regions of patients with MS, and these changes may contribute to their psychiatric abnormalities. We studied the frequencies of common polymorphisms of the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) gene in patients with MS according to their psychological status. Methods: The 5-HTTLPR, rs25531, and STin2VNTR polymorphisms of the SERT gene were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods in 100 patients with MS and 100 healthy controls. Results: There were no remarkable differences in SERT gene polymorphisms between patients with MS and healthy controls. Unlike the control group, 41% of the patients showed some degree of depression based on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), but no association was observed between SERT gene polymorphisms after the patients were stratified by depression status. Conclusion: In addition to SERT gene polymorphisms, modulation of serotonin at the synapses may also be regulated by genetic variations in tryptophan hydroxylase type 2 and serotonin receptors. Further studies with functional brain imaging of the serotonergic system in patients with MS can provide information on the role of serotonin in this disease. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1424

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 17 3 2018 07 05 137 144 EN Zeba Khan Department of Biotechnology, Saifia Science College, Bhopal, India Sharique Athar Ali Department of Biotechnology, Saifia Science College, Bhopal, India 2018 03 31 2018 05 07 Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized with the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in a mid-brain. This loss is believed to be associated with number of environmental and genetic factors. Oxidative stress is found to be one of the factors responsible for the initiation and progression of PD. However, studies are still continued to confirm the connection and mechanism associated with oxidative stress and PD. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the association between oxidative stress markers and PD, and explore factors that may elucidate the contradictions in these results. As per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline systematic literature search was carried out. Meta-analysis was carried out on pooled standardized mean differences with 95% confidence interval (CI) of patients with PD and controls using random effect model in comprehensive meta-analysis statistical software. Total 17 studies were included into which 25 oxidative stress markers were analyzed. The results revealed that oxidative stress markers [nitrate and nitric oxide (NO)] and antioxidant markers [total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiols] were not statistically different between the PD and control group (P > 0.05). In case of oxidative stress markers, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), and lipid hydro-peroxide (LPO) were found to be high in patients with PD as compared to controls with P < 0.05, whereas lower levels of antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were noticed in the PD group as compared to controls (P < 0.05 for all). From the results, it is concluded that patients with PD have high oxidative stress and lower antioxidant activity, and these studied biomarkers would be used as potential diagnostic tool to measure oxidative stress in patients with PD. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1538

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 17 3 2018 08 04 111 116 EN Fatemeh Akbarian Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran <, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Masoud Aghsaei-Fard Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Eye and Strabismus Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Arash Mirmohammad-Sadeghi Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Eye and Strabismus Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Samira Yadegari Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Eye and Strabismus Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2016 12 05 2017 04 17 Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy misdiagnosed as myasthenia gravis: Case report and review of literature https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1182 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/1182/329

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 16 2 2017 04 19 90 95 EN Mahmood Moosazadeh Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Ravanbakhsh Esmaeili Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nasibeh School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Mohammad Mehdi Nasehi Department of Pediatric Neurology, Mofid Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ghasem Abedi Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Mahdi Afshari Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran Fereshteh Farshidi Health Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Motahareh Kheradmand Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran 2016 05 10 2017 04 13 Background: Familial history of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been considered as one of the etiologic factors of MS by several studies. It is valuable to combine the results of these studies. The aim of this study is to estimate the pooled prevalence of familial MS in Iran using meta-analysis. Methods: Using relevant keywords, national and international databanks were searched. Considering the significant heterogeneity between the results, random effect model was utilized to estimate the pooled prevalence of familial MS using Stata software. Results: After screening the selected articles, 15 studies with total sample size of 6248 (from 60 to 1718) were identified eligible for final meta-analysis. Overall prevalence of familial MS in Iran was estimated as of 11.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.7-14.1]. Point prevalence varied between 3.3% and 26.7%. Conclusion: Our study showed that the familial prevalence of MS among Iranian people is relatively high. More studies are warranted to investigate the effect of familial history as a risk factor for MS. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/1052 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/1052/327

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 16 2 2017 04 19 72 77 EN Mohammad Zare Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Ali Asghar Okhovat Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ahmad Esmaillzadeh Food Security Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Jafar Mehvari Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Mohammad Reza Najafi Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Mohammad Saadatnia Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran 2016 02 15 2017 04 13 Background: The usefulness of the modified Atkins diet (mAD) in refractory epilepsy in adults has been rarely investigated. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of mAD in adult with refractory epilepsy. Methods: In a controlled randomized clinical trial, we enrolled 66 refractory adult epileptic cases from February 2010 to December 2012. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, case groups (22 patients) used antiepileptic drugs and mAD and control group (32 patients) only use antiepileptic drugs. The primary outcome was at least 50% decrement in seizure frequency after 2 months of therapy. Results: No significant difference was shown in our data between groups regarding baseline characteristic. The differences of mean seizure attack after 2 months (P < 0.001). 6 (17.6%) had > 50% seizure decrease at 1 and after 2 months and 12 (35.3%) had 50% decrease in seizure frequency. Furthermore, in mAD group, the mean urinary ketone positivity was 1.75 ± 0.28 and increasing liver enzyme was shown 5 cases (14.7%) in mAD group and 5 cases (15.6%) in control group (P < 0.050). Conclusion: The mAD may be effective as a cotherapy treatment for adults with refractory epilepsy and decrease 2.19 times seizure frequency in comparison with control groups. Trials with the more tolerant dietary regime, with larger sample size and longer duration, should be performed in future. https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/view/993 https://ijnl.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijnl/article/download/993/330

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Current Journal of Neurology 2717-011X 16 2 2017 04 29 78 82 EN Rajaragupathy Sujatha Department of Biochemistry, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Peelamedu, India Subramanian Kavitha Department of Biochemistry, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Peelamedu, India 2016 09 26 2017 01 21</