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Author(s): Buse Cagla Ari (corresponding author) [1]; Esma Kobak Tur [2]; Mehmetzeki Yildiz [3] Sir, We report an unusual presentation of painless legs and moving toes syndrome (PoLMT), an infrequent [...]

Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AH) is the most prevalent cause of dementia, followed closely by vascular dementia. Mixed vascular-Alzheimer's dementia (MVAD) is more evident in individuals aged 80 and above. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common cause of early-onset dementia after AH. Vascular risk factors play important role in the pathogenesis of dementia syndromes. Behavioral and psychological symptoms represent a significant portion of the non-cognitive manifestations in dementia patients. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of chronic diseases, behavioral disorders, psychiatric findings, and medication use in patients followed with different dementia diagnoses. Methods: Prevalance of chronic diseases, behavioral disorders, psychiatric findings as well as the usage of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications among patients followed up in dementia outpatient clinics with the diagnosis of AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), vascular dementia (VaD), FTD, and MVAD were investigated. Neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) was applied to the patients. Results: Four hundred and fifty-five patients were accepted in the study. The patients were distributed as follows: AD (n=303, female/male: 187/115, age = 78±8 years), MCI (n=53, female/male: 31/22, age = 69 ± 10 years), VaD (n=31, female/male: 18/13, age = 68 ± 9 years), FTD (n=32, female/male: 17/15, age = 68 ± 9 years), and MVAD (n=36, female/male: 16/20, age = 76 ± 10 years). Both AD and MVAD groups were significantly older than the other groups (F = 23.2, P<0.0001). The ratio of comorbid chronic diseases was 80% in the AD group, 72% in the MCI group, 91% in the VaD group, 59% in the FTD group, and 93% in the MVAD group. In the whole group, antipsychotic drug use was 27.5% and antidepressant drug use was 28.9%. The mean NPI score was 32.9±28 in antipsychotic users and 16±19 in non-users (P<0.0001). The mean NPI of antidepressant users was 17.6 ± 19 and 21.9 ± 25 (P=0.055) in non-users. Conclusion: There is a comorbid chronic disease burden in all dementia subtypes, although at varying intensities, and as the chronic disease burden increases, behavioral disorders and psychotic findings increase, and accordingly, the use of antipsychotics also increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bosphorus Medical Journal / Boğaziçi Tıp Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bosphorus Medical Journal / Boğaziçi Tıp Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Cervical dystonia (CD) is a movement disorder characterized by cranial muscle overactivity, leading to an abnormal head posture. CD patients often experience mood disorders and sleep disorders due to the disturbing body image associated with deformities, and these symptoms can be at least as disabling as motor symptoms. This study investigated the frequency of non-motor symptoms and their relation to CD severity. Methods: The study comprises 26 clients with CD and 26 healthy volunteers. The clinical severity of CD was assessed by the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used to evaluate non-motor symptoms in patients with CD and healthy controls. All dystonia patients we included were receiving botulinum toxin therapy. Results: The mean BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.006 and p=0.001, respectively). The mean score of SMMSE was considerably lower in the patient group than that in HCs (p=0.014). The frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness did not differ between groups. The patients with CD had worse sleep quality than HCs (p=0.001). According to the subgroup analysis of PSQI, sleep onset latency and sleep disturbance were significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.001 and p=0.012, respectively). Furthermore, sleep duration and sleep efficiency were significantly lower in the patient group (p=0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). No significant correlation was found between non-motor symptoms and disease severity, age, and duration of disease in the CD (p>0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: CD causes functional impairment in many patients and leads to difficulties such as lack of self-confidence, timidity, avoidance of social movements, and depressive mood. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of the non-motor symptoms of patients diagnosed with CD can also increase treatment success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdown may have a negative effect on the neuropsychiatric status of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases. In this study, it was aimed to find future implications by evaluating the neuropsychiatric conditions of AD cases during total and partial lockdown periods. Methods: It is a prospective, cross-sectional, and multicenter study that includes AD cases which have been followed for at least 1 year by outpatient clinics from different regions of Turkey. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, mobility, existence of social interactions, clinical dementia rating (CDR) scale, and neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) for total and partial lockdown were questioned by the caregivers with the help of case files of the patients. Results: A total of 302 AD cases were enrolled to the study (mean age: 78±8 years, mean duration of education: 5.8±9 years). The total comorbidity ratio was found to be 84%, with the most frequent comorbidity being hypertension. The mean NPI score was 22.9±21 in total lockdown and 17.7±15 in partial lockdown, which is statistically significantly different. When lockdown periods were compared with the total scores of NPI scores according to gender, existence of social interactions, mobility, and comorbidities were found higher in the total lockdown than the partial lockdown. When switching from total lockdown to partial lockdown, the presence of comorbidities, mobility, and CDR were found to be factors that had a significant effect on NPI scores. In regression analysis, CDR score was found as the most effective parameter on the neuropsychiatric status of AD cases for both lockdown periods. Conclusion: When lockdown-related restrictions were reduced, the neuropsychological conditions of AD cases were significantly improved. Lockdown rules should be considered with these data in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bosphorus Medical Journal / Boğaziçi Tıp Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Clinical Neuroscience / Ideggyógyászati Szemle is the property of LifeTime Media Kft. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bosphorus Medical Journal / Boğaziçi Tıp Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdown may have a negative effect on the neuropsychiatric status of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases. In this study, it was aimed to find future implications by evaluating the neuropsychiatric conditions of AD cases during total and partial lockdown periods., Methods: It is a prospective, cross-sectional, and multicenter study that includes AD cases which have been followed for at least 1 year by outpatient clinics from different regions of Turkey. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, mobility, existence of social interactions, clinical dementia rating (CDR) scale, and neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) for total and partial lockdown were questioned by the caregivers with the help of case files of the patients., Results: A total of 302 AD cases were enrolled to the study (mean age: 78±8 years, mean duration of education: 5.8±9 years). The total comorbidity ratio was found to be 84%, with the most frequent comorbidity being hypertension. The mean NPI score was 22.9±21 in total lockdown and 17.7±15 in partial lockdown, which is statistically significantly different. When lockdown periods were compared with the total scores of NPI scores according to gender, existence of social interactions, mobility, and comorbidities were found higher in the total lockdown than the partial lockdown. When switching from total lockdown to partial lockdown, the presence of comorbidities, mobility, and CDR were found to be factors that had a significant effect on NPI scores. In regression analysis, CDR score was found as the most effective parameter on the neuropsychiatric status of AD cases for both lockdown periods., Conclusion: When lockdown-related restrictions were reduced, the neuropsychological conditions of AD cases were significantly improved. Lockdown rules should be considered with these data in mind., Competing Interests: None declared., (©Copyright 2022 by The Medical Bulletin of Sisli Etfal Hospital.)

Background and Purpose: Oxidative stress has been associated as an essential contributor to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent developments in the field of Parkinson's Disease (PD) pathophysiology have led to a renewed interest in this field. As an antioxidant, uric acid (UA) has arisen as a potential neuroprotectant. Higher concentrations of UA are linked to reducing the risk of the development of the disease and preventing its progression. However, the expositions are unsatisfactory because the outcomes of these reports have not been consistent. This study is set out to assess the association of whether lower UA concentrations increased the PD risk by investigating its relationship with patients' demographic and clinical data, and to determine whether previous studies are compatible with the Turkish-sampled population. Furthermore, we aimed to determine UA's probability of being an early-stage diagnostic marker., Methods: A total of 305 patients and 100 healthy controls were included. Serum UA levels of patients and controls were compared with clinical features. We classified the patients into three motor subtypes and determined the disease severity by modified Hoehn&Yahr Staging Scale (mH&Y) and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-TR) was assessed for cognition., Results: There were not any significant differences of age and sex between patients and controls (p=0.030, p=0.132). The mean UA was 5.06±1.33 mg/dL in patients and 5.46±1.44 in controls, and a statistical significance was detected (p=0.022). The mean MMSE-TR were 24.83±4.35 in patients and 27.09±2.13 in controls, and statictical significance was revealed (p=0.001). The mean duration of the disease was 6.31±4.16 years, mean UPDRS scores were 59.74±22.33, and mH&Y scores were 2.29±0.91. In binary comparisons, patients with tremor-dominant motor subtype had lower UA concentrations than controls (p=0.014). ROC curve analysis revealed UA's cut-off as ≤9.15, the specificity was 99.3, the sensitivity was 10.0, and the area under the curve was 0.576 (p<0.005). Regression analysis revealed age as an independent risk factor on UA values. Oxidative stress might be a factor in the development of PD, and UA may be a possible prospective protecting factor in the clinical course of the disease. However, it does not affect the severity., Conclusion: Our results support that lower uric acid concentrations are associated with PD; however, it is not a powerful indicator for predicting PD risk. As we reveal more about UA and its effect in further investigations, its significant role will become well-defined.