Site of lesion in stroke and its relation to depression

A total of 174 patients [103 males and 71 females] suffering from acute stroke was recruited for this study. All patients were subjected to complete and thorough neurological history and examination on admission, mini-mental state examination [MMSE], CT scanning of the brain within 72 hours after the onset of stroke and Barthel daily living test to compare the physical disability before stroke with that at the time of neurological examination. Six months after the stroke, the patients underwent complete and thorough psychiatric evaluation according to DSM-IV, Barthel daily living test and Beck Depression Inventory. Sixty-two patients met the DSM-IV criteria for depressive disorder. Three significant correlates for post-stroke depression were identified; namely, female gender, severity of disability and volume of lesion. Left hemisphere lesions were significantly more associated with post-stroke depression than right hemisphere lesions. Within the left hemisphere, anterior lesions were significantly more associated with post-stroke depression than the posterior ones

study of some factors triggering febrile seizures in children

Febrile seizures [FS] represent a common pediatric problem. The pathogenesis of FS is not yet clear. This study was designed to evaluate the role of some clinical and laboratory data as possible triggering factors for FS. The study included 117 patients and 100 age and sex-matched controls [febrile children without seizures]. Both groups were subjected to full history and clinical examination as well as evaluation of some laboratory data as serum iron, sodium, potassium, calcium, lead, zinc, and histamine. EEG was also performed for patients with FS. The results of the present study revealed that patients had significantly higher temperature levels at the time of admission [38.85 +/- 0.60 °C] than controls [38.16 +/- 0.45 °C] [p < 0.002]. Laboratory investigations revealed the presence of significantly lower serum levels of iron, sodium, calcium, zinc and histamine in patients than among controls. Patients with recurrent FS rather than those with single FS had significantly younger age of onset of 1[st] FS [13.80 +/- 6.37 and 19.53 +/- 10.88 months respectively, p < 0.05], and higher percentage of positive family history of FS [44.83% and 25% respectively, p < 0.02] as well as lower serum sodium levels [133.26 +/- 2.76 and 136.81 +/- 3.2 mmol/L respectively, p < 0.001]. We concluded that higher temperature levels, low serum iron, sodium, calcium, zinc and histamine could play an important role as triggering factors for FS. Younger ages at onset of 1[st] FS, positive family history and hyponatremia are possible important factors in pathogenesis of recurrent rather than single FS

Impact of stress on cognitive functions

This work was designed to study the effect of mental [exam] stress on the memory performance and on other cognitive functions. This was carried out through the evaluation of the cognitive aspects of 61 volunteer students [28 males and 33 females] during basal state by cognitive ability screening instrument [CASI] and Wechsler memory scale [WMS] together with an assessment of their anxiety levels by Hamilton anxiety scale and an estimation of the serum levels of catecholamines and cortisol. These estimates were reevaluated two months later immediately after exposure to mental [exam] stress. It was found that immediately after exposure to mental stress, there was a significant decline in all memory functions and total cognitive scales together with a significant increase in the perceived levels of anxiety symptoms and a significant rise in the serum levels of stress hormones. Stress hormones levels were found to have differential effects on memory and other cognitive functions with an end result of total impairment of these functions

Psychological stressful life events preceding cerebrovascular

The relationship of stressful life events [SLE] to cerebrovascular stroke through long term effect or short term effect was studied through evaluation of 120 stroke patients and 107 healthy controls of matched age and sex. A lot of laboratory investigations were carried out to verify the diagnosis and for detection of different risk factors. The study clarified the possible role of SLE as a risk factor through its long and short term effects. The mean scores of total SLE were significantly higher among stroke patients than controls whether along two years or one week prior to stroke. The proportion of stroke patients reporting at least one SLE was comparable to that of the controls along two years prior to stroke, but significantly exceeded the controls only during one week and one day immediately preceding stroke

Role of norharman, harman and ceruloplasmin in the aetiopathogenesis of Parkinson's disease

Determination of serum levels of Norharman, Harman and Ceruloplasmin of 39 patients with PD and 54 age and sex matched control subjects was done. The study aimed to identify the possible role of these biochemical indices in the etiopathogenesis of PD. The study clarified that most of the PD patients [59%] had moderate degree of illness. The most frequent presenting signs were in the following order: Resting tremors and bradykinesia in 97.4% of cases for each, loss of upper limb swinging during walking in 94.9%, mask facies in 92.3%, rigidity in 84.6%, postural abnormalities and speech disorders in 71.8% for each. Highly significant increase of serum levels of Harman and Norharman and highly significant decrease of Ceruloplasmin level were found among PD patients compared with the control group. The study added more support to the possible roles of the biochemical substances in the etiopathogenesis of Parkinson's disease through defects in the enzymes that regulate potential nigral neurotoxins [Norharman and Harman] or by the deficiency of one of the major plasma antioxidants [Ceruloplasmin]