Possible pathogenic link between migraine and urotensin-II.

Our aim was to determine the levels of human urotensin-II (hU-II) in the plasma of migraine patients and controls, to ascertain if there were a difference in the pathogenesis of migraine. A total of 27 patients who suffer from migraines and 27 controls were included in the study. Venous blood samples were drawn twice both from migraine patients and controls to measure hU-II plasma levels. The average levels of hU-II during migraine episode, between episodes, and controls were found to be 0.483, 0.493, and 0.737 pg/mL, respectively. The levels of hU-II in the controls were higher significantly. When comparisons were made according to sex, age groups, and types and durations of migraine, there was no significant difference in the levels of hU-II in the patients. The low levels of hU-II in the plasma of migraine patients compared with controls may be an indicator of its role in the pathogenesis.

Diffusion weighted MR findings of brain involvement in tuberous sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) is effective in identifying microstructural cerebral parenchymal changes. We studied the diffusion characteristics of hamartomas and normal white matter in cases with tuberous sclerosis (TS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diffusion weighted images of 6 TS cases (ages between 3 - 15 years, mean 9.0 years, SD 4.4 years) that presented to our center for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have been retrospectively evaluated. In addition to 56 non-calcified hamartomas of TS patients, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values measured from frontal, parietal normal white matter, and basal ganglions of TS patients were compared with values obtained from 9 normal subjects (ages 1 - 13 years, mean 8.9 years, SD 3.4 years). Hamartomas were divided into 3 subgroups based on their locations, and the ADC values measured in these groups were compared. RESULTS: ADC values of all hamartomas were between 838 and 2230, with a mean value of 1408 mm (2)/sec x 10(-3) (SD: 273.2); ADC values of the white matter of normal subjects were between 695 and 857, with a mean value of 776.1 mm (2)/sec x 10(-3) (SD: 44.23) (p < 0.0001). ADC values of subependymal nodules, white matter hamartomas, and subcortical tubers were 838-2230 (mean: 1440.5 mm (2)/sec x 10(-3); SD: 526.46), 1046-1622 (mean: 1328.6 mm (2)/sec x 10(-3); SD: 189.4), and 981-1973 (mean: 1417.4 mm (2)/sec x 10(-3); SD: 219.5), respectively (p = 0.666). CONCLUSION: Diffusion characteristics of white matter hamartomas resulting from TS clearly differ from those of normal white matter, but no significant difference was observed in ADC values of these lesions based on their locations. Moreover, the ADC measurements of normal white matter in these cases did not differ from those of the control group, indicating that the disease does not cause a common explicit damage in white matter and central gray matter, other than hamartomas, which can be detected by DWI. DWI may only be used in the differential diagnosis of hamartomas from secondary lesions with T1 and T2W signal intensities similar to those of hamartomas and with different diffusion characteristics.

Auditory brainstem response in pediatric migraine: during the attack and asymptomatic period.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the hearing parameters of children with migraine during ictal and interictal period. METHOD: 16 pediatric patients with migraine and normal otolaryngologic examination were evaluated. Hearing parameters were assessed with auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing between and during the migraine attacks. Binaural absolute latencies of waves I, III and V, interpeak latencies I-III, III-V and I-V of ABR in response to 80 dB nHL clicks were calculated. Initial findings were compared with those of 20 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Peak latencies of wave V and interpeak latencies of I-V were prolonged during the attack in migraineurs on the left. The side of latency elongation was not affected by the side of headache. When these parameters were separately compared for gender, they were prolonged in boys during the attack in migraineurs; however in girls, while there was statistically significant difference at interpeak latencies of I-V, no significant difference was noted at peak latencies of wave V. CONCLUSIONS: ABR waves did not exceed clinical norms in migraine patients in headache-free period. But, important effects on sensorineural hearing parameters were detected during the attack. Our results indicated a transient impairment of the auditory brainstem function during the headache in pediatric migraine patients.

Hallermann-Streiff syndrome associated with complete agenesis of the corpus callosum.

Hallermann-Streiff syndrome is a rare clinical entity with unknown etiology characterized by a birdlike face, microphthalmia, a beaked nose, hypotrichosis, and proportional small stature. We present a 4-year-old boy in whom magnetic resonance imaging showed complete agenesis of the corpus callosum, which has not been presented in the literature.

Merosin-negative congenital muscular dystrophy: magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings.

Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD) are heterogeneous group of muscle disorders with autosomal recessive inheritance. Merosin deficiency has been identified in some patients with CMD all of whom also had white matter abnormalities on MRI. In postmortem studies, the brain showed extensive myelin pallor with a spongy appearance of white matter and moderate astrocytosis or demyelination. Direct assessment of neuropathologic aspects of MN-CMD such as demyelination is possible with MR spectroscopy (MRS). Although previous reports have described several neuro-imaging findings of this disease, MRS findings have not been reported in literature. In this case, we report MRS features of a 4-year old girl with MN-CMD. MRS of brain demonstrated that N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/Creatine (Cr) ratio was normal. Increased Choline (Cho)/Cr and Myo-inositol (MI)/Cr ratios were obtained. These findings were interpreted as demyelination and gliosis of white matter.

An unusual case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis confined to brainstem.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disorder usually encountered in children or adolescents and characterized by multifocal neurological deficits of rapid onset. Typical target areas of demyelination include the corona radiata, centrum semiovale, periventricular white matter, cerebellar peduncles and brainstem. Involvement of deep gray matter nuclei is also frequent. We report a 6-year-old boy with ADEM who had only brainstem involvement. Serial magnetic resonance images representing the stage of disease and response to steroid treatment are presented.