literature review on the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin: an injection in post-stroke spasticity

A variety of techniques for the management of spasticity have been suggested, including positioning, cryotherapy, splinting and casting, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, and medical management by pharmacological agents, Botulinum toxin A [BTA] is now the pharmacological treatment of choice in focal spasticity. BTA by blocking acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junctions accounts for its therapeutic action to relieve spasticity. A computerized search of Pub Med was carried out to find the latest result about efficacy of BTA in management of post stroke spasticity. Among 84 articles were found, frothy of them included in this review and divided to lower and upper extremity. BTA is a treatment choice in reducing tone and managing post stroke spasticity

role of melatonin in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: a case-control study

The association between the prevalence of multiple sclerosis [MS] and latitude gradient indicates the importance of environmental factors in MS susceptibility. Sunlight's ultraviolet radiation, its ability to influence melatonin, and an imbalance of melatonin in the central nervous system [CNS] may be involved in this process. This case-control study was conducted in Isfahan MS Society [IMSS], Isfahan, Iran. Enrollment was limited to patients with MS referring to the MS clinic of Alzahra and Kashani hospital during January and February 2012. Thirty-five patients with MS and 35 healthy individuals were included in our study. The melatonin levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] kits. There was no significant difference between saliva melatonin level of two groups [patients and healthy individuals] [P = 0.417]; however, after controlling the effect of age, a significant difference [P= 0.022] was found. In the present study, it is proposed that environmental conditions in Isfahan city might have increased the susceptibility to MS, but more studies in different parts of the world are needed to evaluate this claim

comparative assessment the efficacy of intravenous infusion of sodium valproate and phenytoin in the treatment of status epilepticus

Status epilepticus [SE] is a type of persistent lasting seizure with high mortality and morbidity. Numerous medications are suggested for the treatment of SE, two of which are sodium valproate and phenytoin. The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparison between the efficiencies of intravenous sodium valproate and phenytoin in the treatment of this type of epilepsy. This is a clinical trial study conducted on SE-suffering patients admitted to the emergency departments of Al-Zahra and Ayatollah Kashani Medical Centers of Isfahan in 2009 and 2010. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups and taken under treatment, separately by intravenous infusion sodium valproate and phenytoin. No significant difference was observed between the two groups [at P = 0.06]. In terms of incidence of the clinical complications, the incidence of clinical complications in the two groups was significantly different [at P = 0.03]. Based on the findings the efficiency of sodium valproate is larger than that of the phenytoin, and thus, the treatment by sodium valproate is preferred over the treatment by phenytoin

25 Hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in patients with optic neuritis as a clinically isolated syndrome and healthy controls

The onset of multiple sclerosis in the majority of the cases occurs as a clinically isolated syndrome [CIS]. We sought to assess serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-OHD] in CIS patients and healthy controls. In this cross-sectional study 40 patients [36 women and 4 men] with CIS manifesting as a single isolated optic neuritis and 40 Age- and sex-matched healthy controls [35 women and 5 men] were enrolled between late October 2010 and early March 2011. General vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-OHD levels of lower than 20 ng/ml and was classified as mild [15 < 25-OHD <20 ng/ml], moderate [8 < 25-OHD <15 ng/ml], and severe [25- OHD <8 ng/ml]. We found no difference in the median interquartile range [IQR] between CIS patients and controls [17.95 [10.40- 29.13] vs. 17.00 [12.25-31.00]; P=0.57]. However, when stratified by the levels of deficiency, among CIS patients a significantly higher proportion had severe vitamin D deficiency in comparison to healthy controls [20% vs. 2.5%; P=0.034]. Nevertheless, the frequency of general [62.5% vs. 60%, P=0.82], mild [25% vs. 30%, P=0.80], and moderate [17.5% vs. 27.5%, P=0.42] vitamin D deficiency were not different between the two groups. Our findings do not indicate any significant difference of serum 25-OHD between CIS patients and healthy controls. However, in our series severe vitamin D deficiency was more frequent among CIS patients.

Pizotifen in migraine prevention: A comparison with sodium valproate

Background & Objective: Pizotifen is an alternative option for prophylactic treatment of migraine headache. This study aims to compare the effi cacy and safety of pizotifen with sodium valproate; one of the most-widely used drugs in migraine prevention. Methods: This was a single blind, randomized, parallel-group study. After a 4-week baseline evaluation, patients with episodic migraine were randomly assigned to get either sodium valproate or pizotifen for a period of 12 weeks. Patients were asked to fi ll a headache diary through the study. Headache characteristics and the possible side effects were evaluated throughout and at the end of trial. Results: Forty two patients aged 20 to 49 were recruited to the study. With both drugs, the frequency, intensity and duration of headaches were signifi cantly reduced (p < 0.05). Except for headache duration, pizotifen was signifi cantly superior to sodium valproate in the headache parameters assessed. Total reported side effects were initially higher in patients who received pizotifen (37 vs. 22; P= 0.038); however, persistent side effects were lower for pizotifen (6 vs. 10; P= 0.22). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that pizotifen is a safe and effective drug in migraine prevention.