Psychiatric disorders in patients with idiopathic tonic-clonic seizure

Mental disorders severely affect the quality of life of epileptic patients. Due to the lack of adequate research, in the present study we assessed psychiatric disorders in patients with idiopathic tonic-clonic seizure. This descriptive-cross-sectional research was conducted on 170 patients using the SCL-90-R questionnaire and the results were analyzed by t-test and chi[2] test. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients was 38.8%. In order, the highest frequency belonged to obsessive compulsive, depression and interpersonal sensitivity 46.5%. Mental disorders are present in a high percentage of epileptic patients, which shows the need for psychological evaluation

Relationship between white blood cell count and mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Stroke is the most frequent and highly fatal neurologic disease. Many clinical symptoms and paraclinical methods have been suggested have a prognostic value in stroke, including the shift in white blood cell [WBC] count which has attracted much attention at the moment. The objective of this study is to assess the prognostic value of admission-time WBC count of patients with acute ischemic stroke on their hospital mortality in Rafsanjan. This is a descriptive-cross sectional study on 200 patients with acute ischemic stroke, that the diagnosis was confirmed with neuroimaging. WBC count during the first 12 hours of admission was assessed. Subsequently, the patients were divided in 2 groups of normal WBC count and high WBC count and followed until discharge or death. The data were analyzed statistically using Fisher Exact test. In our study, 54% of our patients were men and the others were women. 17.5% of patients had abnormal WBC count. 27 patients [13.5%] were expired, consisting of 5 patients with increased WBC count and 22 with normal WBC count. No significant relationship was observed between the WBC count and hospital mortality. Also, no significant relationship was observed between the WBC count and hospital mortality in terms of age and gender. The findings of our study show that WBC count doesn't have any predictive value on hospital mortality in patients with ischemic stroke

Effects of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia on visual evoked potential in women

Visual evoked potential is one of the main methods to investigate visual pathway. Some studies in children show that iron deficiency anemia affects on visual evoked potential waves. In this study, we evaluated the effect of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia on visual evoked potential in adults. This cross sectional study was conducted on 99 non-pregnant women. Patients divided into three groups. Women whose ferritin and hemoglobin levels are less 15 ng/1 and 12 mg/dl placed in iron deficiency anemia group, women whose ferritin level is less than 15 ng/1 and hemoglobin level is more than 12 mg/dl, placed in iron deficiency group and women whose ferritin and hemoglobin levels are more than 50 ng/1 and 12 mg/dl, chosen as control group. Visual evoked potential was done from both eyes and the results evaluated by ANOVA test. The average of N75 latency was 65.24 +/- 5.06 miliscecond in anemia group, 66.27 +/- 7.77 miliscecond in iron deficiency group and 67.19 +/- 6.79 miliscecond in control group. The average of P100 latency was 101.60 +/- 9.05 miliscecond in anemia group, 102.75 +/- 7.91 miliscecond in iron deficiency group and 100.67 +/- 7.34 miliscecond in control group. The average of N135 latency was 139.18 +/- 31.21 miliscecond in anemia group, 144.81 +/- 10.73 miliscecond in iron deficiency group and 141.81 +/- 10.73 miliscecond in control group. There is no significant difference between the average of waves' latency in iron deficiency and anemic groups with control group. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia don't make any disruptions on visual evoked potential and are not considered as confounding factor of visual evoked potential in adults

prediction of malignant course in cerebral infarction by electroencephalography

Prediction of the malignant course is important in patients with stroke in order to begin interventional treatment strategies. In this study, predictive value of electroencephalography was evaluated in detection of malignant cases. In this study electroencephalography findings were evaluate in 36 patients suffering stroke. Data were analyzed with Fishers exact test. Fourteen patients had malignant and 22 patients had a non-malignant course. Six patients in malignant course group and 1 patient in non-malignant course group had focal delta activity [p=0.008]. Electroencephalography findings had predictive value in malignant course in stroke patients

Visual evoked potentials in patients with classic migraine

Migraine is considered as a chronic disease. Ocular symptoms and sensitivity to light stimuli are common in the patients with such disease. There are some evident that visual system function in the patients with migraine is impaired even between the attacks as compared with health people. In this study, we examine Visual Evoked Potential in 30 patients suffered from migraine before, during and after aura. 30 patients suffered from classic migraine and with visual aura were evaluated in terms of visual stimulatory potentials before, during and after aura. P 100 latency and amplitude were evaluation criteria in our study. The results of this investigation were evaluated by chi[2] test. Abnormal amplitude frequency was occurred in 17 cases before aura, in 27 cases during aura and in 20 cases, it occurred after aura. Reduction of the amplitude wave p-100 during and after aura was significantly more in both eyes [p<0.05]. Ten cases had abnormal P-100 latency during aura and the other two cases had it after aura. There is a significant difference in the P-100 latency during aura [p<0.05]. There is no difference between the changes in visual stimulatory potentials with gender. Some changes were found in the parameters in the visual stimulatory potentials in the patients with classic migraine before, during and after aura

Serum iron and ferritin in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is one of the most frequent and debilitating disease of the nervous system. Some recent studies show the possible role for iron and ferritin in the course of MS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of serum iron and ferritin in patients with MS and comparision of them with control group. In this descriptive study, serum iron and ferritin were determined in 30 patients with MS and compared with 30 healthy persons, which were matched in terms of age and gender. Data were analyzed with statistical descriptive methods and and t-test. In this study, 30 patients were evaluated. The mean age of both groups was 35.2. Mean serum iron in patients group was 85.16 +/- 38.38, and in control group was 91.73 +/- 27.89. Mean serum ferritin in patients group was 132.20 +/- 80.71 and in control group was 147.40 +/- 75.02. There was no significant relationship between serum iron and ferritin in both groups, and also there was no relationship between serum iron and ferritin with age and sex and the type of disease. This study did not show any difference between serum iron and ferritin in patients with multiple sclerosis and control group

Serum uric acid level in patients with Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease is one of the most prevalent degenerative nervous system diseases. Some recent studies show the possible effects of uric acid on this disorder. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum level of uric acid in patients with Parkinson disease. Serum uric acid were determined in 50 patients with Parkinson's disease and compared with 50 healthy persons, which were matched with age and sex. Data were analyzed with software SPSS-16 and statistical descriptive methods [mean-percentage, SD] and t-test. In this study, 26 men [52%] and 24 women [48%] were evaluated. The mean serum uric acid in patients was 4.79 +/- 1.21 and in the control group was 5.85 +/- 1.41. This difference was statistically significant [p

Heart rate variability and QT dispersion study in brain death patients and comatose patients with normal brainstem function

To compare heart rate variability [HRV] and QT dispersion in comatose patients with normal brainstem function and with brain death. Cross-sectional comparative study. The Intensive Care Unit of Ali-Ebn-Abitaleb Hospital, Rafsanjan Medical University from September 2007 to June 2009. Fourteen brain death patients with clinical signs of imminent brain death and 15 comatose patients were examined by neurologist in intensive care unit. HRV, RR interval and QT dispersion on ECG were assessed for 24 hours in both groups. Independent t-test and chi-square test were for statistical analysis to determine significance which was set at p< 0.05. According to Holter Findings, mean of standard deviation of RR-interval in the comatose and brain death groups was 48.33 and 35 respectively [p= 0.045]. Mean of covariance coefficient of RR-interval was 0.065 in the comatose group and 0.043 in the brain deaths [p= 0.006]. QT dispersion was not significant difference in two groups. HRV and RR-interval analysis appeared as an early finding for the diagnosis of brainstem death in comparison to comatose patients with normal brainstem function. QT dispersion had not significant in this regard

Post-stroke depression and hospital admission need for nursing care partition according to the clinical condition

To investigate the prevalence of post stroke depression and its association with hospital admission conditions. In this case-control study, 120 patients with ischemic cerebral stroke from Aliebne-Abitaleb Hospital, Rafsanjan, Iran, during 2004-2006 were evaluated. Sixty patients were hospitalized near very ill patients including patients with delirium, decreased consciousness, stupor, coma, sphincteric disorders, ingestion disorder with nasogastric tube insertion, and deceased patients] [cases], and 60 were admitted not adjacent to ill patients [controls]. All patients were matched for stroke risk factors and location and size of lesion, and all were admitted to hospital for at least one week. Depression was assessed on admission and after one week according to the Beck inventory questionnaire. The results were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. The mean age of the patients was 63 +/- 4 years, and 65% were female. The depression rate in all patients adjacent to ill patients significantly increased by the seventh day of admission compared with the control group [p<0.001]. On analysis according gender, this increase was significant only in women. [p<0.001] Hospitalization of stroke patients without considering separation according to clinical condition, increases the depression rate in these patients

Post stroke depression among Iranian patients

To assess the incidence of depression and its contributing factors after an episode of stroke. This prospective study was performed on 200 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to Aliebne-Abitaleb Hospital in Rafsanjan, Iran, from September 2006 to September 2007. The diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke was made by a neurologist and confirmed by MRI. Frequency of depression, according to DSM-IV criteria, as well as demographic data and some contributing factors were registered and analyzed by chi squared test and the logistic regression method. The mean age of patients was 61.15 +/- 8.66 years. Thirty-two percent of patients suffered depression. The frequency of depression was significantly higher in women [40.9%] than men [21.1%] [p=0.004]. There was no significant relation between depression and age, location of lesion, and risk factors for stroke. Hypertension [34%], diabetes [15%], smoking [14%], and hyperlipidemia [14%] were the most common risk factors. Generally, our results show that post stroke depression is prevalent in our society, and this is more prominent among women. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to improve quality of life of these patients

Doppler sonography of extracranial and intracranial vessels in patients with thrombotic stroke

The results of intracranial and extracranial vessel color Doppler sonography, which is now an inseparable part of patient evaluation, vary in different studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pattern of vascular involvement in thrombotic stroke and its relationship with risk factors of stroke. One-hundred patients [45 males and 55 females] with thrombotic stroke underwent transcranial sonography and color Doppler sonography of extracranial vessels. The pattern of vascular involvement was analyzed. The risk factors of stroke were also evaluated. Forty-seven percent of the studied individuals had some variations in their color Doppler sonography of extracranial vessels, 27% had changes in the intracranial vessels and 26% showed changes in both. The most frequently involved vessels among the intracranial and extracranial vessels were the middle cerebral artery and the internal carotid artery, respectively. The pattern of vascular involvement was unrelated to hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia or history of ischemic heart disease. Extracranial involvement in patients with positive history of MI was more prevalent than in those without such history. Extracranial vessel involvement in thrombotic stroke was found to be more prevalent than intracranial vessel involvement in the city of Rafsanjan; however, intracranial vessel involvement was more prevalent than in western countries

[Critical appraisal of the submitted theses by medical students of Rafsanjan medical school during 1993- 2003]

Submitting thesis is one of the most important tasks of medical students. Moreover medical theses can be considered as a basic source for improving the health statues of the society. The aim of this study was critical appraisal of the submitted theses by medical students of Rafsanjan Medical School during 1993- 2003.In the present cross- sectional study, 332 Medical theses were evaluated by using a questionnaire. Data analysis was done by using simple descriptive methods and Chi- square test.According to the results, 258 theses [77.7%] have been well written. Theses submitted during the recent years had better quality comparing to others [92.4% versus 73.9%]. Theses supervised by more than one leader were better in comparison to those with only one leader [91.5% versus 73.9%, P= 0.002]. Moreover theses with at least one advisor had a better quality than those conducted without any advisor [88.4% versus 39.7%, P= 0.0001].Better quality of theses submitted during the recent years can show the beneficial effect of participation of both medical students and their supervisors in Research Methodology Workshops held in the recent years. This fact has also been reported in other studiesSubmitting thesis is one of the most important tasks of medical students. Moreover medical theses can be considered as a basic source for improving the health statues of the society. The aim of this study was critical appraisal of the submitted theses by medical students of Rafsanjan Medical School during 1993- 2003.In the present cross- sectional study, 332 Medical theses were evaluated by using a questionnaire. Data analysis was done by using simple descriptive methods and Chi- square test.According to the results, 258 theses [77.7%] have been well written. Theses submitted during the recent years had better quality comparing to others [92.4% versus 73.9%]. Theses supervised by more than one leader were better in comparison to those with only one leader [91.5% versus 73.9%, P= 0.002]. Moreover theses with at least one advisor had a better quality than those conducted without any advisor [88.4% versus 39.7%, P= 0.0001].Better quality of theses submitted during the recent years can show the beneficial effect of participation of both medical students and their supervisors in Research Methodology Workshops held in the recent years. This fact has also been reported in other studies