Caspian Journal of Neurological Sciences
Volume:3 Issue: 8, Feb 2017

High dose Interferon Beta and Fingolimod are efficient in Multiple Sclerosis.
Comparison the efficacy of these two drugs in patients with treatment failure on low dose interferon beta.
The MS patients (McDonald criteria 2010) with the history of unbeneficial treatment on low dose interferon beta participated in this randomized clinical trial in MS clinic in a university hospital in Isfahan from 2014 to 2016. They were randomly assigned to two groups receiving high dose interferon beta-1a (Recigen) or Fingolimod. The number of relapses, EDSS, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings were evaluated at the beginning, 3, 9, 12, and 18 months after intervention. The t-test and Mann Whitney U test and ANCOVA in SPSS version 20 were used.
A total of 120 MS patients with the mean age of 38.07±9.0 years included in this study and 35.8% of whom were males.
The mean EDSS was lower in Fingolimod group from the 9th month to the end of intervention (1.80±1.05 vs. 2.17±0.95 in the 9th month and 1.95±0.92 vs. 2.30±0.96 in 18th month). The mean number of relapses was lower in Finglimod group significantly in the 12th and 18th months (0.91±0.76 vs. 1.27±0.77 in the 12th and 0.6±0.55 vs 1.0±0.71 in the 18th month). The mean values of new T2 lesions (1.00 vs. 1.47) and gadolinium enhancing lesions (0.467 vs. 0.817) were lower in Fingolimod group at the end of the study.
Both treatments were beneficial with a significant superiority of Fingolimod.

Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) is used in the assessment of upper extremity motor function in stroke patients. This scale contains 15 items and assesses joint-segment movements and functional tasks.
Translation and assessment of internal consistency and reliability of the Persian version of WMFT in Iranian stroke patients.
After translation (based on the international quality of life assessment method), the Persian version of WMFT was used in 56 stroke patients. Item-level internal consistency was assessed using Spearman’s correlation, reliability in frequent tests using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient.
Translation was simple in 94.4% of items, and the quality of translation was favorable in 89.7% of cases. A high correlation was observed between the most of items and total WMFT score. Based on ICC, reliability in frequent tests was high (from 0.97 and 0.99). Internal consistency was 0.78 in scores obtained.
The Persian version of WMFT has a favorable reliability for use in the assessment and development of rehabilitation programs for improving functional abilities of upper extremities in Iranian stroke patients.

The prevalence of migraine headaches significantly increased in girls after menarche. This indicated that there is a closely relation between hormonal changes especially the estrogen level with migraine headaches.
The aim of this work was to determine the frequency of migraine and its associated factors in medical students affected with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
This cross-sectional study was done on 218 of medical students (between 18 to 30 years old) in Mashhad in the North-East of Iran from March 2015 to March 2016. Premenstrual syndrome was confirmed by Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST). Migraine headache was determined according to International Headache Society (HIS) criteria. The frequency of menstrual migraine and its associated factors including educational degree, life style, marital status, menstrual regularity, family history and type of migraine were determined among the participants with PMS. Data analyze was performed by SPSS 21 and STATISTICA 10.
Of 218 students with premenstrual syndrome, 32 persons (14.7%) had migraine headache. 84.4% of migraines were without aura and the mean attacks per months were 4.34±1.93. The most prevalence of migraine observed in students with 22.09±2.44 years old, intern students (16.1%), Mariel students (20%), students with irregular menstruation (26.3%), students with positive family history (36.5%) and students which lived in dorm (26.1%).
According to our results, the prevalence of migraine in students with PMS is in the range of 14.7%. Therefore, it is recommended that women suffering from PMS be evaluated for migraine based on diagnostic criteria of HIS.

Parkinson's disease as a progressive disorder of the nervous system leads to the disability of postural control system.
In the present study the effects of Pilates exercises on functional balance in patients with Parkinson's was investigated.
This control trial included 30 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who were selected as subjects randomly and assigned into either exercise groups or control group. Participants in exercise and control groups attended an 8-week Pilates program or walking program respectively. Functional balance, core stability and lower limb strength were evaluated by Fullerton Balance Scale (FAB), valid functional core stability and strength tests respectively, before and after interventions. In order to analyze the data paired samples t-test and independent samples t-test and SPSS version 22 were used.
Attending an eight-week Pilates exercise was associated with a significant improvement in functional balance, core stability indicators and lower limb strength (p=0.000), while the difference of the variables in control group was not significant. Also the difference between the results of functional balance, core stability and lower limb strength of two groups in post-test was significant (p=0.000).
Given that Pilates exercises involve both musculoskeletal system and nervous system, can be an effective intervention to improving balance in patients with Parkinson's disease.

It is believed that environmental and genetic factors may be responsible for autism. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and its gene polymorphisms have been shown to be implicated as risk factors in autism.
To analyze MTHFR C677T polymorphism (rs1801133) in autistic patients.
This study was carried out in 2014 and 2015 in northern Iran. One hundred and seventy-one male autistic patients and 198 healthy males were included in this study. Autism was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria. Each autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patient was also evaluated by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). All participants were tested for C677T polymorphism by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.
Statistical analyzes were performed using MedCalc version 12.1 by the χ2 test and logistic regression model. A value of p The mean age±SD of case and control groups was 13.5±2.7 and 15.6±3.7 years. The mean±SD of CARS score was 36.2±1.7.
The genotype frequencies of CC, TC, and TT in children with autism were 50.9%, 45.6%, and 3.5%, respectively, and in control group were 54.5%, 44.0%, and 1.5%, respectively (p>0.05). The allele frequencies of C and T in children with autism were 73.0% and 27.0%, and in control group were 76.0% and 24.0%, respectively (p>0.05).
MTHFR C677T polymorphism is not associated with autism in a population in the north of Iran.

The B cell is a vital contributor to humoral immunity. The B cell-specific antigen CD20 is expressed during B cell development, starting at the pre-B cell level and persists through B cell differentiation, but is lost during terminal differentiation to plasma cells.
Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that destroys both normal and malignant B cells that have CD20 on their surfaces and is therefore used to treat diseases characterized by excessive B cells, overactive B cells, or dysfunctional B cells.
The connective tissue diseases and vasculitis mediated by B cell may cause various disorders of the peripheral nervous system especially axonal neuropathy. B cell–directed therapies may represent a promising new treatment for autoimmune axonal neuropathies.

Pompe disease, also termed glycogen storage disease type II or acid maltase deficiency, caused by deficient activity of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), the glycogen degrading lysosomal enzyme. As a result, massive lysosomal glycogen deposits in the numerous organs including the muscles. In Pompe disease weakness of truncal muscles is a prominent presentation which results in respiratory failure as a main clinical presentation in the early stages of the disease. Even sleep may be affected by nocturnal respiratory disturbances. Specific treatment with enzyme replacement (human recombinant GAA) is available.
Here we present a case of progressive muscular weakness which had been misdiagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy. A history of severe morning headaches led authors to think about sleep apnea, which was confirmed by polysomnography and therefore provided a clue for appropriate diagnosis of Pompe disease.
As a conclusion, Morning headaches and sleep insufficiency in any stage of a progressive muscular disorder can lead us to think about respiratory muscle involvement, which is more prominent in Pompe disease.