Effect of air pollutant markers on multiple sclerosis relapses

Multiple Sclerosis [MS] is one of the autoimmune diseases with an unknown cause. The aim of this study was to explore the link between air quality and MS relapses in patients who suffer from MS. This time-series study was conducted on patients registered at the Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2011-2012. They were randomly selected from patients lived in Tehran in the last five years, and had at least one relapse in the last three years. The link between monthly mean air pollutant levels and the relapses of MS in the participants was studied. Among the registered 160 participants, at least 150 had one attack during 2009 and 2012. Most air pollutants such as NO[2], NO and CO are in high levels in the rainy season. Others like Pm10 and Nox are in high levels in the dry season. The correlation between NO[2] levels of all markers of air quality and MS relapses [P=0.03, r=0.27] is weak. Best ARIMA model [p,d,q; 1,0,1] was determined between number of monthly relapses and living place, although this model was not significant [P=0.3] [AR; P=0.000, MA;P=0.4]. Air pollutants might be regarded as a risk factor for MS relapse

concentration of serum selenium in multiple sclerosis patients compare to healthy subject in Tehran

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is an inflammatory demyelinating disease which the exact etiology is still are far to be clear. Reasons for this autoimmune disease are unknown origin. The aim of present study was to evaluate serum levels of selenium in patient with MS compare to healthy subjects. A total of 46 subjects were enrolled in the study, Sera of 23 MS cases and 23 healthy normal cohorts as control group were obtained. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was employed for estimating serum selenium level. Serum. selenium levels were significantly lower in MS than in control cohorts [60.87+/-13 compared with 85.74+/-12, P-value < 0.0001]. Serum selenium levels may thus be a marker of MS; the decreasing levels of serum selenium may be host defense strategies of body

Serum uric acid level in acute stroke patients

The role of uric acid as a risk factor for vascular disease and acute stroke is controversial and there is little information about it. In this study, we determined serum uric acid levels in patients with acute stroke and assessed its relationship with cerebrovascular risk factors. In this cross sectional study, we assessed patients with acute stroke who were admitted in Firoozgar Hospital from September 2010 to March 2011. Clinical records of patients and their serum uric acid level was investigated. Finally, collected data were analyzed using SPSS software Ver.16. Fifty five patients with acute stroke were evaluated who 25 of these patients [45.5%] were female and 30 of them [54.5%] were male. The mean age of patients was 67 +/- 14 years. Mean serum uric acid levels in the patients studied 5.94 +/- 1.70 mg/dl, and about half of the patients [47.3%] were hyperuricemic. There was a significant negative correlation between age of patients and their serum uric acid level [p=0.04, R =-0.27]. Uric acid level was significantly higher in men than women [p=0.03]. Hyperuricemia was associated with increased amounts of triglycerides and Low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol [p=0.03, p=0.02]. In patients with acute stroke, there was no significant association between serum uric acid level and diabetes mellitus, hypertension, history of ischemic heart disease, smoking, prescription rTPA, and type of stroke. Due to the high prevalence of hyperuricemia in patients with acute stroke, and its accompanying increase in triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels, it can be considered as a risk factor for acute stroke

Acute phase reactants as a prognostic factor in acute stroke

Elevated levels of CRP are present among patients at risk for further first-ever myocardial infarction and stroke. It has been shown that after ischemic stroke, increased levels of CRP are associated with unfavorable outcomes. From 120 patients admitted to the emergency unit of our hospital with the diagnosis of stroke; CRP, D-dimer and ferritin level was measured and the patients were followed until discharge or death. CRP level was significantly different between the patients with TIA and stroke. D-Dimer level was also significantly different between the TIA and the admitted groups. Ferritin was not different between the prognosis groups. There was a correlation between CRP and D-Dimer [r = 0.381, p = 0.001], and also between CRP and ferritin [r = 0.478, p= 0.000]. CRP is a useful adjuvant marker to determine the prognosis of patients with cerebro-vascular events admitted to the hospital, in both patients with stroke positive history and first-ever stroke

frequency of cerebral microembolism in acute myocardial infarction

Stroke is more common in patients with cerebral microembolisms. Frequency of cerebral microembolisms [high intensity transient signals, HITS] in acute myocardial infarction has been reported about 17%. The factors that influence on microembolism after myocardial infarction [MI] are not definitive. Type of MI, Ejection fraction, Hx of Streptokinase is the factors that were studied. During three years we studied the frequency of cerebral microembolisms in AMI patients, we studied forty patients with microembolism as a case group and ninety patients without microembolism as a control group. We detected microembolism in patients by transcranial doppler study within 72 houre after myocardial infarction. Two-dimensional echocardiogram was performed for all patients during hospitalization. Excluding criteria were prosthetic heart valves, carotid stenosis >50% and poor window for TCD monitoring. number of patients who had history of receiving SK were significantly more common in case group in comparison to control group. OR 2.4 CI [1.1-5.2]. The frequency was more prevalent in anterolateral MI in comparison to inferior MI.OR=3.3 CI [1.4-7.4]. Ejection fraction has no significant effect on frequency of microembolism. OR 0.5 CI [0.2-1.3]. Hypokinesia is also a risk factor for increasing risk of microembolism. OR 4.5 CI [1.4.13.8] frequency of microembolism has been increased in patients with history of streptokinase or in the type of Anterolateral MI or wall motion abnormality, so we should be careful for risk of microembolism in this groups