Investigation of the Albumin/Globulin Ratio as a Biomarker in Restless Legs Syndrome.

Background Measurement of serum/plasma levels of inflammatory factors in restless legs syndrome (RLS) has been the subject of a few studies, as various inflammatory diseases may demonstrate an association with RLS. The albumin/globulin ratio (AGR) is a parameter that considers two proteins that are indicators of inflammation and has been shown to increase in some inflammatory diseases. No study has evaluated the relationship between RLS and AGR yet. In our study, we examined the usability of AGR as a diagnostic biomarker in RLS patients. Methodology A total of 88 patients and 89 control individuals were included in the study retrospectively. The two groups were compared in terms of AGR levels. RLS patients were divided into four groups according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale score and the relationship between disease severity and AGR values ​​was examined. Results Albumin levels of the study group were higher than the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding globulin and AGR levels. Conclusions Serum albumin levels could be useful in RLS compared to globulin or AGR values. This needs to be supported by new studies with larger patient series, multicenter design, and including multiple parameters such as patients' muscle mass, nutritional habits, and exercise status.

[Association of upper extremity anthropometry and subcutaneus adipose tissue with carpal tunnel syndrome]. / A felso végtag antropometriájának és subcutan zsírszövetének a carpalis alagút szindrómával való összefüggése.

Background and purpose:

Body mass index (BMI) is positively correlated with the frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, there are different types of obesity, and the localization of adipose tissue differs between the genders. In this study, we purposed to investigate whether there was an association between the amount of local adipose tissue thickness and anthropometry in upper extremity with the presence and/or electrophysiological severity of CTS on both genders.

Our study included 150 patients who were diagnosed with CTS clinically and electrophysiologically and 165 healthy controls. The biceps and triceps skinfold thickness, the diameters of the wrist and metacarpal joints, and the upper arm circumferences over the belly of the biceps muscle were measured by using skinfold caliper and measuring cylinder. All data were analyzed by using the Statistics Open For All package (SofaStats) programme. To detect the role of anthropometric indexes, we used multivariable multinomial logistic regression models. 

We revealed that BMI, biceps and triceps adipose tissue thicknesses were higher in females and also in patients with CTS. There was a positive correlation between electrophysiological grades of CTS and BMI with logistic regression analyzes. The mean Wrist circumference/Metacarpo­ph­arengeal Circumference ratio and biceps circumference were higher in moderate CTS groups. Metacarpofarengeal circumference was smaller in mild and moderate CTS cases compared to healthy ones.

We suggest that the differen­ces between the anatomical bone structure and local adiposity between the genders may play an important role in the occurrence of CTS. Moreover, the structures of proximal muscle groups and distal metacarpal joints may contribute both to the development and severity of CTS.

The effect of tension variability for sleep quality in headache patients: A Holter monitoring study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the common causes of headaches. Disruption in the circadian rhythm of blood pressure (BP) also leads to some chronic diseases. Sleep disturbances have a relationship with neurologic and cardiac diseases. Our aim was to compare the sleep quality of patients with headaches showing dipper and nondipper BP patterns. METHODS: This retrospective study included 57 patients who applied to a neurology clinic due to headaches and were referred to the cardiology department for Holter monitoring. Chronic diseases, drugs used, smoking and exercise habits, and physical examination findings were recorded. The 24-hour Holter monitoring results were classified as dipper and nondipper. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were determined for each patient. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores of patients with dipper and nondipper patterns were compared. RESULTS: The sleep quality of patients with dipper Holter patterns was better than that of patients with nondipper patterns (P < .001), and patients without chronic diseases had significantly better sleep quality compared with those with chronic diseases (P = .029). In the presence of chronic disease, the number of patients with a nondipper Holter pattern was higher (P = .024). There were no significant differences in Holter results or sleep quality between smokers and nonsmokers (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Diagnoses of sleep disorders and BP abnormalities in the outpatient clinic are valuable in increasing the quality of life of patients and in preventing chronic diseases, especially cardiac diseases that may develop in the future.

Availability of Fibrinogen/Albumin ratio in MS attack.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system inflammatory disease. Fibrinogen/Albumin ratio (FAR) has been studied as an inflammatory marker in the past, and its significant relationship with inflammation has been shown. In our study, we examined serum levels of albumin, fibrinogen and FAR in patients presenting with MS attack. We investigated its usability in the diagnosis and management of MS attacks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 40 patients admitted to hospital with MS attack and 40 control patients. All patients' demographics, medical history, the mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), imaging findings and laboratory tests were extracted from medical records. Patients' fibrinogen, albumin levels were recorded in the blood tests performed before steroid administration, and FAR values were calculated. The patients' and controls' results were compared. RESULTS: Fibrinogen and FAR values were significantly higher in the patient group (p<0.001 in both). There was no difference between the patient and control groups in terms of albumin (p = 0,16). No significant relationship was found between parameters such as EDSS, disease duration, smoking status and FAR value (p>0.05 in all). CONCLUSION: Serum fibrinogen and FAR levels in the patients presenting with an attack were significantly higher than the control group. FAR value did not vary with disease duration and EDSS score. Based on this information, FAR may be a useful indicator for MS attack regardless of EDSS and disease duration.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potential responses in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: - Our objectives were to determine the differences in the vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) responses in patients diagnosed with early staged idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to the normal population and evaluate the vestibular system disorder causing balance-posture disorders. Second aim of this study was to investigate caloric test responses particularly in early staged PD compared to normal popu-lation. METHODS: Thirty patients (14 females and 16 males; mean age, 60.6 ± 13.1 years) diagnosed with idiopathic PD and 28 healthy subjects (20 males and 8 females; mean age, 59.1 ± 6.4 years) were included. The patient and control groups were subdivided according to their age, gender and the patient group was subdivided according to onset time of the Parkinson symptoms, Hoehn-Yahr staging. The subgroups were compared for VEMP and caloric test responses. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the study and control groups for right and left VEMP measurements. Patients over 60 years and under 60 years did not show significant differences in terms of right and left mean VEMP measurements. However, P1 amplitude was significantly lower in patients over 60 years old (P = .004). Gender, disease duration, BERG balance scale and Hoehn-Yahr stage had no effect on the VEMP amplitudes. There was no significant correlation with the side of Parkinsonian symptoms to the side of canal paresis (P = .566) and the side on which no VEMP response was obtained in caloric test. CONCLUSION: VEMP responses were not different between PD and healthy subjects. VEMP P1 amplitude was decreased with age in PD group. Canal paresis and symptoms side were not statistically correlated in caloric test.

Severity of Carpal tunnel syndrome assessed with high frequency ultrasonography.

Although nerve conduction study (NCS) is the method most frequently used in daily clinical practice to confirm clinical diagnosis of Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), ultrasonographic (US) measurement of the median nerve cross-sectional area is both sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of CTS. Moreover, an algorithm evaluating CTS severity based on CSA of median nerve was suggested. This study is aimed to investigate the clinical usefulness of this algorithm in assessing CTS severity. The patients underwent a full clinical examination, including Tinel and Phalen test, and questioned about symptoms and the secondary causes of CTS. All of the patients refilled a Turkish version Levine Boston Carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire (BQ) and the visual analog scale for pain (VAS 0-100 mm) A MyLab 70 US system (Esaote Biomedica, Genoa, Italy) equipped with a broadband 6-18 MHz linear transducer was used for US examination. The cross-sectional area of the median nerve was measured at the proximal inlet of the carpal tunnel (US cut-off points that discriminate between different grades of CTS severity as 10.0-13.0 mm(2) for mild symptoms, 13.0-15.0 mm(2) moderate symptoms and >15.0 mm(2) for severe patients). Nerve conduction studies were carried out, and severity of electrophysiological CTS impairment was reported as normal, mild, moderate, severe and extreme. The agreement between NCS and US in showing CTS severity (normal, mild, moderate and severe) was calculated with Cohen's kappa coefficient. Ninety-nine wrists of 54 patients (male/female: 4/50) were included in the study. Mean ages of patients were (+/-SD) 43.3 +/- 11 years. Forty-nine patients had idiopathic CTS, whereas five had secondary CTS (4 had diabetes mellitus and 1 had hypothyroidism). Symptoms were bilateral in 45 patients (83.3%). There were statistical differences between the groups according to electrophysiologic severity scale in terms of age (P < 0.001), body-mass index (P = 0.034), VAS (P = 0.014), Boston symptom severity (P = 0.013) and CSA of median nerve (P < 0.001). The identification of CTS severity showed substantial agreement (Cohen's kappa coefficient = 0.619) between the US and NCS. Also the four groups based on US CTS severity classification were significantly different in VAS (P = 0.017) and Boston symptom severity (P = 0.021). The median nerve swelling detected by calculation of the CSA reflects in itself the degree of nerve damage as expressed by the clinical picture. In addition to CTS diagnosis, sonographic measurement of CSA could also give additional information about severity of median nerve involvement. Using of US may cost-effectively reduce the number of NCS in patients with suspected CTS.