The diagnostic value of neurogranin in patients with carbon monoxide poisoning: Can it show early neurological damage?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Carbon monoxide poisoning is a toxicological emergency that causes neurological complications. High serum neurogranin can be detected in acute or chronic conditions where brain tissue is damaged. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of serum neurogranin level and its role in demonstrating neurological damage in patients admitted to the emergency department with carbon monoxide poisoning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted prospectively on patients with carbon monoxide poisoning (patient group) and healthy volunteers (control group). Demographic characteristics and serum neurogranin level of all participants and symptoms at admission, neurological examination findings, laboratory results, and Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging results of the patient group were recorded. We used an independent sample t-test to compare neurogranin levels and bivariate correlation analysis to compare the relationship between serum neurogranin levels and data belonging to the patient group. RESULTS: Sixty eight participants (patient group, n = 36; control group, n = 32) were included in the study. Serum neurogranin level was significantly higher in patients with carbon monoxide poisoning (0.31 ± 0.16 ng/ml) compared to control group (0.22 ± 0.10 ng/ml) (p = 0.015). The mean Glasgow Coma Scale of the patients with carbon monoxide poisoning was 14.59 ± 0.23, and of Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging results were completely normal in 94.4% (n = 34). There was no correlation between serum neurogranin level and Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging results (r = -0.011; p = 0.953). CONCLUSION: Serum neurogranin level may be a new diagnostic biomarker in patients admitted to the emergency department with carbon monoxide poisoning. The high serum neurogranin levels detected in patients with normal diffusion-weighted imaging after carbon monoxide poisoning suggest that there is neurological damage in these patients, even if imaging methods cannot detect it.

ADC evaluation of the corticospinal tract in multiple sclerosis.

Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values derived from diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) provide important information about tissues. The goal of this study was to evaluate the ADC values in the corticospinal tract regions in multiple sclerosis (MS). The ADC values of 42 patients with multiple sclerosis and 46 healthy people were measured. The ADC values in the corticospinal tract at the capsula interna posterior crus from six points and mesencephalon from three points bilaterally in MS patients were compared with those of controls. An ANOVA post hoc test was used to analyse the differences in mean ADC values between the MS and control groups. The mean ADC values of the right (p = 0.008) and left internal capsules (p = 0.000) and right (p = 0.002) and left mesencephalons (p = 0.044) in MS patients were significantly lower than in the control group. There was no significant difference between the right and left side ADC values in MS (p = 0.313 vs. p = 0.223) and control groups (p = 0.756 vs. p = 0.105), respectively. The mean ADC values of the corticospinal tract in MS patients were significantly lower than in the control group. This decreased diffusion may be the result of cellular infiltration due to inflammation, cytotoxic oedema, demyelination or remyelination processes.

Better visualization of vermiform appendix with tissue harmonic imaging compared to conventional sonography.

BACKGROUND: Surgery of appendicitis carries 7-11% negative appendectomy rates. Sonographically visualized normal appendix precludes unnecessary computed tomography (CT) examination and may reduce negative appendectomy rates. Tissue harmonic imaging (THI) has been reported to improve the overall image quality. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess whether THI is more successful than conventional ultrasonography (US) in detecting normal and pathologic appendices. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 185 patients who applied for routine US examinations in whom clinical findings of appendicitis were detected in 25. We searched for the appendix; applying both THI and conventional US to each patient, one before and the other after the routine US examinations. Patients were divided into two groups; one was evaluated first with conventional US and the other first with THI. When the appendix was found, localization, diameter and time spent for visualization were recorded. Twelve patients were operated; all of whom had appendicitis pathologically. Two methods were compared for: 1. Success rates in all patients; female, male and child groups separately; 2. Visualization of pathologic and normal appendices; 3. Time for visualization of appendix; 4. Comparison of success rates in the adult and child population. The relationship between the rate of visualization and body mass index was evaluated. RESULTS: The appendix was visualized better by THI in all patients, and in the female and male groups (P < 0.001). In children, both methods were more successful compared to adults (P < 0.001, compared to male group, P < 0.001, compared to female group), with no difference between the methods (P = 0.22). When only the normal appendices were concerned, there was significant difference between both methods (P < 0.000). Both methods detected pathologic appendices better than normal ones, with a higher ratio for THI (P = 0.022 for the THI group, and χ(2) = 7.22, P = 0.07 for the conventional US group). THI visualized the appendix faster. Both methods were more successful in lean patients (P = 0.004 for THI, P = 0.001 for conventional US imaging). CONCLUSIONS: THI visualizes appendix better than conventional US. It is a simple and time saving method that may eliminate further diagnostic imaging, and it may decrease negative appendectomy rates and related complications.

Cerebral hemodynamics in ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cerebral blood flow velocity in patients with ocular hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four ocular hypertensive patients and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited in a prospective comparative study. All subjects had normal findings on full-threshold visual field tests and clinically normal optic nerves. All patients with ocular hypertension had an intraocular pressure (IOP) of >21 mmHg on three separate occasions without treatment. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure by cuff, heart rate by palpation, IOP by Goldmann applanation tonometry, central corneal thickness by ultrasound pachymetry, blood flow velocities, and pulsatility index of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery by transcranial color Doppler were measured. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (P=0.40 and P=0.45, respectively), heart rate (P=0.30), and central corneal thickness (P=0.23) were similar in each group. Peak and end-diastolic blood flow velocities in the middle cerebral artery did not differ between ocular hypertensives and controls (P=0.37 and P=0.87, respectively). In addition, pulsatility index did not significantly differ between ocular hypertensives and controls (P=0.61). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that ocular hypertension is not associated with reduction in blood flow velocity and elevation of resistance in the middle cerebral artery.

Short-term effect of latanoprost on ocular circulation in ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE: To determine the short-term effects of latanoprost on retrobulbar circulation in ocular hypertension. METHODS: Forty-six eyes of 23 consecutive bilateral ocular hypertensive patients with an intraocular pressure (IOP) of greater than 22 mmHg were evaluated in a prospective controlled study. All subjects received a single drop of latanoprost 0.005% in one eye and placebo in the fellow control eye. Systemic circulatory parameters, intraocular pressure, blood flow velocities, and resistance indices of the ophthalmic, short posterior ciliary and central retinal arteries were measured using colour Doppler imaging at baseline and 2 h and 8 h after dosing. RESULTS: Latanoprost lowered IOP significantly after 2 h and 8 h (P < 0.01). The mean IOP reduction was 6.7 mmHg 8 h after dosing. At baseline, there were no statistically significant differences in any retrobulbar vessels of eyes that received a single drop of latanoprost when compared with the eyes that received placebo (P > 0.05). Comparisons with baseline and latanoprost conditions revealed that latanoprost did not alter the blood flow velocities and resistance indices in the ophthalmic (P > 0.05), posterior ciliary (P > 0.05) and central retinal (P > 0.05) arteries 2 h and 8 h after dosing. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p = 0.74, p = 0.29, respectively) and pulse rate (p = 0.68) remained unchanged over the 8-h period. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that a single drop of latanoprost significantly reduces intraocular pressure 8 h after dosing. However, it does not have any short-term effects on the retrobulbar haemodynamics in ocular hypertensive eyes.