Neurology International

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Open AccessBrief Report

A Pilot Trial of Deferiprone in Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration Patients

by Mohammad Rohani, Saeed Razmeh, Gholam Ali Shahidi and Maryam Orooji

Neurol. Int. 2017, 9(4), 7279; https://doi.org/10.4081/ni.2017.7279 - 15 Feb 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 521

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is the most common form of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, it is an autosomal recessive disease due to mutation in PANK 2 on chromosome 20, which causes the accumulation of iron in basal ganglia and production of free [...] Read more.

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is the most common form of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, it is an autosomal recessive disease due to mutation in PANK 2 on chromosome 20, which causes the accumulation of iron in basal ganglia and production of free radicals that cause degeneration of the cells. Deferiprone is an iron chelator that was used in treatment of thalassemia patients, it can cross the blood-brain barrier and reverse the iron deposition in the brain. Five patients with genetically confirmed PKAN received 15 mg/kg deferiprone twice daily. All patients were examined at baseline, 12 and 18 months and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done at the baseline and after 18 months. In our study qualitative evaluation of MRI showed that deferiprone was able to reduce the iron load in globus pallidus of all the patients and the results of clinical rating scales show that in four patients, there is an improvement in the first 12 months. The results of our paper show that deferiprone can prevent the progression of the disease. Full article

1823 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Clinical Features and Electrocardiogram Parameters in Parkinson’s Disease

by Hitoshi Mochizuki, Nobuyuki Ishii, Kazutaka Shiomi and Masamitsu Nakazato

Neurol. Int. 2017, 9(4), 7356; https://doi.org/10.4081/ni.2017.7356 - 11 Dec 2017

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 421

Abstract

We investigated the relation between clinical features and electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). One hundred and fifty-six PD patients were enrolled. Their clinical features [body mass index (BMI), age, disease duration, and disease stage] and ECG parameters [RR, PR, [...] Read more.

We investigated the relation between clinical features and electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). One hundred and fifty-six PD patients were enrolled. Their clinical features [body mass index (BMI), age, disease duration, and disease stage] and ECG parameters [RR, PR, QRS, and QT intervals, and heart rate-corrected QT (QTc)] were analyzed. BMI was positively correlated with the PR and QRS intervals in patients with PD. The QRS interval was positively correlated with disease duration and Hoehn and Yahr stage, and the QT interval and QTc were positively correlated with age. Clinical features and ECG parameters are likely to be closely associated with each other. Several ECG parameters reflect autonomic dysfunction or disease progression. Clinicians should pay more attention to ECG parameters in the treatment of PD patients. Full article

597 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Depression and Anxiety as Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis - United Arab Emirates

by Taoufik Alsaadi, Khadija El Hammasi, Tarek M. Shahrour, Mustafa Shakra, Lamya Turkawi, Wassim Nasreddine, Seada Kassie and Mufeed Raoof

Neurol. Int. 2017, 9(4), 7343; https://doi.org/10.4081/ni.2017.7343 - 11 Dec 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 686

Abstract

To study the impact of depression and anxiety on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in the UAE. All consecutive patients attending the MS clinic over a fourmonth period, October 2014 through February 2015, at Sheikh Khalifa Medical [...] Read more.

To study the impact of depression and anxiety on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in the UAE. All consecutive patients attending the MS clinic over a fourmonth period, October 2014 through February 2015, at Sheikh Khalifa Medical city (SKMC) were asked to complete The World Health Organization quality of life abbreviated scale (WHOQOL-BREF), the Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item (PHQ-9) depression scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item (GAD-7) scale. These last two scales were used to screen for depression and anxiety disorders respectively. The study looked at significant variables associated with HRQOL, using multivariate analysis. Eighty patients were enrolled in the study. Both anxiety and depression had a strong positive correlation with HRQOL in univariate analysis. However, depression was the strongest predictor of HRQOL in the patients using linear multi-regression analysis. Screening and timely treatment of both anxiety and depression in MS patients should be a recommended policy when managing pwMS to improve their optimal care and ensure better quality of life. Full article

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Neurol. Int., Volume 9, Issue 4 (December 2017) – 3 articles

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