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Background: The C-reactive protein (CRP) level, as an early prognostic factor of functional outcome after stroke, may be of clinical importance. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of CRP on functional outcome and death in stroke patients. Methods: This prospective study was conducted from 2015 to2016 in Hamadan province, Iran. Patients with both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke who were admitted in the first 12 hours were enrolled. The clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded at time of admission as well as on the fourth and the 90th day after stroke. Blood sample was taken and CRP levels were measured at time of admission. Results: From 186 admitted patients, 155 patients remained in this study for analysis. Mean time between stroke onset and admission was 4.42 hours. Mean level of CRP was 20.03 mg/L. CRP levels in 68 patients (43.8%) were 7 mg/L or above. Prevalence of diabetes (P = 0.001), angina pectoris (P = 0.001), death (P = 0.001), pneumonia (P = 0.004), and DVT (P = 0.002) was significantly higher among patients with CRP levels ≥7 mg/L than patients with CRP levels <7 mg/L. A CRP level ≥7 was associated with poor clinical outcome, including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥13 (P = 0.001) as well as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) >2 (P = 0.004) and Barthel Index (BI) <70 on the first (0.047, 0.001), fourth (0.005, 0.001), and 90th day (0.001, 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that elevated CRP levels in the very early phase of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were associated with poor clinical outcomes and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optic neuritis (ON) can be the first presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Antiaquaporin-4 IgG (AQP4 IgG) is a highly specific and moderately sensitive biomarker for NMO. This study was designed to assess the rate of seropositivity for AQP4 IgG, and the short-term outcome of patients presenting with single isolated ON (SION). Methods: A cohort of 41 consecutive patients experiencing severe (< 20 / 200) SION (not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for MS or NMO), was prospectively recruited. Blood sampling was carried out immediately after the diagnosis of ON, and AQP4 IgG was tested qualitatively, using an indirect immunofluorescence kit. After clinical and paraclinical investigations, all the patients were followed up for a short-term period of at least 18 months. Results: The seroprevalence among the initial ON patients was 9.7% (4 / 41). The short-term conversion rate to MS and NMO was estimated to be about 7.3 and 4.9%, respectively. The conversion rate to NMO in initially seropositive patients was greater than that for the whole cohort [2 / 4 (50%) vs. 2 / 41 (4.9%); P = 0.035; Odds ratio: 19.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.73 to 219.50]. Conclusion: AQP4 IgG seropositive SION patients were more likely to develop NMO in comparison to the total SION population. Further studies, with a longer follow-up period and larger sample sizes are warranted to assess the clinical and prognostic value of assessing AQP4 IgG in SION. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The sensitivity and specificity of electrodiagnostic parameters in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have been reported differently, and this study aims to address this gap., Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 57 cases with CTS and 58 controls without complaints, such as pain or paresthesia on the median nerve. The main assessed electrodiagnostic parameters were terminal latency index (TLI), residual latency (RL), median ulnar F-wave latency difference (FdifMU), and median sensory latency-ulnar motor latency difference (MSUMLD)., Results: The mean age in cases and controls were 50.7 years (SD 9.9) and 47.9 years (SD 12.1), respectively. The CTS severity was mild in 20 patients (34.4%), moderate in 19 patients (32.8%), and severe in 19 patients (32.8%). The sensitivity and specificity of the electrodiagnostic parameters in diagnosing CTS were as follows: TLI 75.4% and 87.8%; RL 85.9% and 82.5%; FdifMU 87.9% and 82.9%; and MSUMLD 94.8% and 60.0%, respectively., Conclusion: Our findings indicated that electrodiagnostic parameters are significantly associated with the clinical manifestation of CTS, and are associated with high diagnostic accuracy in CTS diagnosis. However, further studies are required to highlight the role of electrodiagnostic parameters and their combination in CTS detection., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024 Mazaheri et al.)