Evaluation of the Auditory System in Autistic Children Using Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions and a Contralateral Suppression Test.

In this study, we evaluated the cochlea, medial olivocochlear system, and brainstem function in autistic children using evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and a noninvasive contralateral suppression (CLS) test. In total, we included 21 autistic children with normal hearing (study group) and 11 healthy children (control group). Transient-evoked OAEs (TEOAEs) and CLS of TEOAE were evaluated in the left and right ears of all patients. In a silent room, spontaneous, transient, and dP ILO292 were evaluated. The mean age of the study and control group was 9.1 years (range: 6-13 and 6-12 years, respectively). For the study group, there was no statistically significant difference between the OAE and CLS values of the right ear (P > .05). However, for the left ears, OAE values were statistically significantly higher than the CLS values (P < .05). In the control group, the OAE values of both ears were statistically significantly higher than the CLS values (P < .05). In autistic children with normal hearing, the medial olivocochlear system functions more effectively in the right ear than the left ear. Asymmetry between the ears is likely responsible for the peripheral auditory lateralization and independence in auditory function between the left and right ears.

Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine and nitric oxide levels in Turkish patients with acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is present in the brain and cerebral arteries and it enables the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which plays a critical role in brain perfusion. Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous NOS inhibitor. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum ADMA levels, which are an indicator of endothelial dysfunction of the renal functions in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and to determine whether there is a possible correlation between ADMA and NO levels and the l-arginine-to-ADMA ratio. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients (22 male and 30 female; mean age: 75.2 ±10.1 years) with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke in the first 24 h post-stroke and 48 healthy individuals (controls; 13 male and 35 female; mean age: 60.1 ±7.92 years) were included in this study. The risk factors recorded and evaluated were age and gender of the patients, serum lipid levels, serum ADMA levels, nitrate-to-nitrite ratios, l-arginine, l-arginine-to-ADMA ratios, sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), urea and creatinine levels, and glomerular filtration ratio (eGFR). RESULTS: The mean serum ADMA level was 0.48 ±0.23 µM for the patients and 0.36 ±0.18 µM for the controls. The mean NO level was 2.78 ±0.59 µM for the patient group and 4.49 ±2.84 µM for the controls. The ADMA levels for the patient group were significantly higher than for the control group (p = 0.011); the NO levels for the patients were significantly lower than for the controls (p < 0.001). The logistic regression method demonstrated that ADMA and NO levels may be independent risk factors for the patient group, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that both of these variables were discriminative risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: An increased serum level of the NOS inhibitor ADMA was found to be a possible independent risk factor for ischemic stroke.

A prospective case control questionnaire study for restless leg syndrome on 600 pregnant women.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with restless leg syndrome (RLS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 600 pregnant women were asked to complete a questionnaire of RLS and medications. RESULTS: The educational and socio-economical status was significantly lower in study group. The number of patients living in joint family in the study group was statistically higher compared to control group. Hypothyroidism was more frequent in the study group. Calcium and magnesium intake were significantly higher in patients with RLS inversely iron intake was higher in patients without RLS. Lower hemoglobin levels were found to increase the risk of restless leg in pregnancy. Living in a joint family and low educational status were also independent risk factors for restless leg in pregnancy. Iron intake was found to decrease the risk of restless leg. Lower hemoglobin levels were found to be discriminative factor for the presence of RLS. Severity of RLS decreased by iron intake and increased by magnesium intake. CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin levels, iron intake, living in joint family, educational status are the independent risk factors for restless leg in pregnancy. Lower hemoglobin levels and supplementation of iron are the independent predictors for severity of RLS in pregnant women.

COMPARISON TACHOCOMB WITH SURGIWRAP, SURGICEL AND LYODURA IN EPIDURAL FIBROSIS: AN EXPERIMENTAL RAT MODEL.

OBJECTIVES: We designed this study to evaluate the effect of TachoComb and to compare it with SurgiWrap, Surgicel, and Lyodura in an experimental rat model for epidural fibrosis (EF). METHODS: This prospective and experimental rat model study was performed at Dicle University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, between January 2005 and June 2005, using 50 Sprague Dawley rats (30 female and 20 male) with a mean weight of 290 g. The rats were divided into five groups: TachoComb, Surgicel, SurgiWrap, Lyodura, and control. RESULTS: Eight weeks after laminectomy, the rats were killed and EF was evaluated. EF was statistically different between the groups. The lowest EF score was in the TachoComb group (F = 6.915, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, TachoComb was found to be a more effective agent in decreasing EF than Surgicel, SurgiWrap, or Lyodura.

Is there an association between the Expanded Disability Status Scale and inflammatory markers in multiple sclerosis?

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease characterized by inflammation of white matter in the central nervous system. It has been indicated that this inflammation causes increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate if there is a possible association between inflammatory markers and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in patients with MS. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 127 patients (91 women and 36 men) who were retrospectively diagnosed as MS according to the revised Mc Donald's criteria who were seen at our facility between January 2007 and December 2012. Patients were divided into two groups according to EDSS score: Group 1, EDSS < 5; and Group 2, EDSS ≥ 5. The risk factors that were evaluated included age and sex of the patients, duration of MS, drugs, thyroid function tests, vitamin B12 levels, homocysteine levels, immunoglobulins (Ig) A, G, and M, rheumatoid factor, complement 3 and 4, antistreptolysin O, C reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, and neutrophile-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age, duration of the disease, drug received, Ig M, free T3, serum homocysteine levels, CRP, and NLR (p < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between age, duration of MS, IgM, serum homocysteine levels, CRP, and NLR. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, IgM and NLR were discriminative factors in patients in Group 2. CONCLUSION: According to this study, inflammation may have a role in the pathogenesis of MS and in patients with EDSS > 5. Additionally, NLR and CRP levels may be discriminative factors of adverse clinical outcomes.