[Survey of various post stroke pain syndromes and the related risk factors]

Stroke is the most common cause of disability among neurologic disorders. Post stroke pain is a common and often neglected complication with prevalence in several studies ranging from 18.6% to 49%. Different types of pain occur following stroke that including central, nociceptive, and spastic, headache, and others. It is also important to differentiate between various causes of pain because of their different clinical pictures, risk factors and treatments. To evaluate the relative frequency of post stroke pain syndromes and respective related risk factors. In this cross -sectional descriptive study 389 consecutive patients with stroke during the last 3 months, who visited in spring 2011 at the neurology clinic of Poursina Hospital for their routine follow up, were interviewed and examined for the presence and classification of post stroke pains. Demographic data and stroke characteristics were also registered. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software version. Among the 389 patients, 142 [36.5%] complained about post stroke pain. The most common types of pain were spastic pains and headaches [12.9% and 11.1%, respectively] and the most common locations of pain were upper limbs, and head [18.5% and 11.3%, respectively]. Nociceptive and central pains were significantly more common in deep gray nuclei and internal capsule infarcts [P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively] and headache was more common in brainstem infarcts [p=0.022]. There were no associations between other types of pain and location of lesion. Post stroke pain is a common complication of stroke. As pain syndromes adversely affect the quality of life, and are potentially treatable, it is important to consider the occurrence of pain in all stroke patients in any outpatient visit. Pattern of correlated risk factors such as location of the lesion can help predict certain types of post stroke pain syndromes

[Elevated plasma copper/zinc ratios in patients with schizophrenia]

Copper and zinc, two essential trace elements, are neuroactive substances that can be synaptically released during neuronal activity. These metals have been implicated in diseases with neuropathological components, including Alzheimer's disease, Menkes disease, Wilson's disease, Pick's disease, stroke and seizures. Copper and zinc levels in body tissues reflect many physiological and pathological conditions, including dietary factors, hepatic disease, and acute and chronic infections. The purpose of the present study was to examine the plasma levels of copper [Cu] and zinc [Zn] in schizophrenic patients and to compare the Cu/Zn ratios with that of matched healthy subjects. Forty patients with schizophrenia [diagnosis were made according to DSM-IV] were sampled along with 50 healthy controls. Exclusion criteria included another concurrent psychiatric disorder, pregnancy, and medical disorders [endocrine, immune, liver cirrhosis, renal] or drugs [anticonvulsants, contraceptives, glucocorticoids] known to affect trace element metabolism. Fasting blood samples were withdrawn from an antecubital vein between 07.00 and 09.00 h. Plasma copper and zinc levels were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer [Perkin Elmer GmbH, Uebelingen, Germany]. Two-tailed t test was used to determine statistical differences. All data were analyzed with the computer program, GRAPHPAD software [V2.01+]. Mean +/- SE of sera copper levels in cases and controls were 145 +/- 28 and 65 +/- 3 mg/dl respectively [P<0.05]. Also Mean +/- SE of sera zinc level in cases and controls were 67 +/- 2 and 81 +/- 4 mg/dl, respectively [P<0.05]. Cu/Zn ratios was 2.07 +/- 0.38 and 0.87 +/- 0.04 in cases and controls respectively [P<0.05]. There was a significant higher Cu/Zn ratio in schizophrenic patients compared to healthy subjects. These results suggest that Cu and Zn may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia

Use of herbal medicines by pregnant women in Shahr-e-Kord

Researchers have shown that herbal medicines are used by a large portion of pregnant women. Herbs are generally perceived as safe, harmless and free from side-effect but there have been reports on side-effects in pregnant mothers and their fetuses as well as on drug interactions. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of the use of herbal medicines among pregnant women referring to health care centers in Shahr-e-Kord. In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, 447 pregnant women, referring to health care centers and Hajar Hospital in Shahr-e-Kord, were interviewed while employing a structured questionnaire. The cases were chosen by simple random sampling. For the data analysis, student t-test and X[2] were used. In all, 51.9% of the pregnant women reported the use of herbal medicines during pregnancy. 91.7% of the women, had a positive attitude toward the use of herbal medicines during pregnancy, but 15% believed that the use of herbal medicines in pregnancy was unsafe. Among respondents, 55.9% had not reported the use of herbs to their physicians and the most common reasons for nondisclosure were the belief that herbal medicines were natural and safe [39.1%] and that doctors never asked about them [34.8%]. The most commonly reported uses of herbs were for common cold [29.1%], abdominal pain [17.4%] and induction of labor [11.7%]. Anchusa officinalis was the most commonly used herb among 55 other species of herbs. 74.2% of medicinal herb consumers cited family and relatives as their main source of information on the herbs. Factors associated with the use of herbal medicines in pregnancy were number of parities 1-3, monthly income more than 1,500,000 Rials and age 20-29, but none were statistically significant. There were significantly lower frequencies of herbal use in pregnancy among women with academic education [p=.004]. The widespread use of herbal medications and the positive attitude toward them during pregnancy, indicates an increased need to educate health-care providers on these issues to advise women not to expose themselves and their fetuses to the probable risks of herbal preparations