ABSTRACT
Finding an acute brain lesion by diffusion-weighted [DW] MRI upon an episode of transient ischemic attack [TIA] is a predictor of imminent stroke in the near future. Therefore, exploring risk factors associated with lesions in DW-MRI of the brain is important in adopting an approach to TIA management. In the current study, we tried to determine the risk factors associated with lesions in DW-MRI of the brain in patients experiencing TIA episodes. Fifty patients with TIA were recruited consecutively in Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran, over a 6-month period between July 2008 and January 2009. All of the patients underwent a complete neurological examination and laboratory tests. Brain DW-MRIs were performed for all the patients within 72 hours of a TIA episode. DW-MRI revealed an acute lesion in 16% of the participants. There was a significant correlation between presence of an acute lesion in DW-MRI and TIA duration, history of diabetes mellitus and presence of unilateral facial palsy [P=0.0003, P=0.02 and P=0.008, respectively]. Other variables such as age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, past history of TIA, headache, vertigo, and sensory or visual disturbances had no significant relation with the presence of an acute lesion in DW-MRI. Duration of TIA, presence of diabetes mellitus and unilateral facial palsy are risk factors for an acute lesion in DW-MRI, meaning that patients with such risk factors are at risk for stroke in the near future
ABSTRACT
In cases of isolated vertigo, physicians are unable to definitely distinguish between central and peripheral vertigo by history and physical examination. Some central causes of isolated vertigo such as cerebellar stroke can be life-threatening and require intervention. On the other hand, brain infarction can be detected shortly after the onset of clinical symptoms by using diffusion-weighted MRI [DWI]. We have conducted this study to perform DWI in isolated vertigo patients with a higher probability of brain infarction. We enrolled 55 consecutive patients with isolated vertigo who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. A questionnaire that consisted of cardiovascular risk factors was completed and DWI performed for each patient. We analyzed the association of cardiovascular risk factors with infarction as identified by DWI. Using DWI, 5 [9.1%] patients had an acute ischemic stroke. Among cardiovascular risk factors, analysis showed a significant relationship between diabetes mellitus [DM] and infarction. Isolated vertigo may occur due to the occlusion of a small artery in the area of brain circulated by the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. According to our results, DWI may be used in diabetic patients with isolated vertigo to locate a probable infarction
ABSTRACT
Our aim was to determine the relationship between genuine premature ejaculation and serum and seminal plasma magnesium. In a case-control study carried out between January 2002 and December 2003, 19 patients with premature ejaculation were evaluated and compared with 19 patients without premature ejaculation. Patients with organic and psychogenic causes were excluded. Seminal plasma and serum magnesium levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometery. Seminal plasma magnesium levels in study patients [94.73 +/- 10.87 mg/L] were significantly lower than they were in controls [116.68 +/- 11.63 mg/L, P<0.001], but there were no such differences regarding serum magnesium levels [study patients, 20.26 +/- 2.66 mg/L; controls, 20.73 +/- 2.80 mg/L]. Semen-to-serum-magnesium ratio was significantly lower in patients with premature ejaculation [P<0.001]. Also, a reverse relationship between body mass index and genuine premature ejaculation was found [P=0.027]. Genuine premature ejaculation has a significant relationship with decreased levels of seminal plasma magnesium. Further studies are needed to clarify the actual role of magnesium in the physiology of the male reproductive tract, especially its association with premature ejaculation