علیرضا رنجبر نایینی

 The pilot has a continuous flow of various activities that require navigation, attention, and navigation working memory. Fighter pilots are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment due to positive gravitational acceleration. This point indicates the importance of their cognitive assessments.

 This study aimed to evaluate visual-spatial cognitive function and attention in the pilots of the Airforce of the Islamic Republic of Iran and compare these factors between fighter pilots and other aviation personnel.

 An analytic observational cross-sectional study was performed on 49 fighter pilots (group 1) and other aviation personnel (group 2). A list of demographic variables and flight histories was recorded. Then Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised, Rey– Osterrieth complex figure test, Forward and Backward Digit Span (FDS and BDS), and Brief Visual-spatial Memory Test-Revised were token. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18 (P <0.05).

 Both groups were homogeneous regarding age, sex, education, military-grade, flight history, and complaints of cognitive symptoms. The scores of the tests were not statistically significant between the two groups. More than 10 years of flight history and equal or less than 10 years of flight history were respectively related to higher and lower scores in BDS and “recalling words”. The scores of FDS were higher in those with equal or less than 400 hours of flight history. The scores of “delayed recalling” were higher in people with more than 400 hours of flight history and those with more than 40 hours of flight history in the last 6 months.
Discussion and

 There was no difference in visual-spatial function and attention between fighter pilots and other aviation personnel, but flight history was related to the scores of some cognitive subtests.

Cerebrolysin، a preparation of low molecular weight neuropeptide and free amino acids، has been shown to have a great affect against excitotoxicity، inhibiting free radical formation، microglia activation and additionally neurotrophic action، promoting neuronal sprouting، and improving cellular survival and stimulating neurogenesis following stroke. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Cerebrolysinon acute ischemic stroke. The present study was a randomised double blind clinical trial. The sample was 89 patients with confirmed the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. The patients divided in the intervention or control group with simple randomization. Patients in intervention group received 50ml cerebrolysin diluted in 100ml normal saline solution (totally 150 ml) infused over a time period of 30 minutes for 7 days and for control group patients، administered just 150ml normal saline infusion. Patients were assessed on days 1، 30 and 90 by Orgogozo، barthel index، MRS and NIHSS score. The findings indicated that the mean of scores at the end of the first month was increased in comparision with the first day، 1. 68 in intervention and -10. 95 in intervention and case groups respectively and these differences were meaningful statistically (p<0. 05). The comparison of scores at the end of three month treatment to the first day reported meaningful too (p<0. 05). The findings demonstrated that at the end of the third month as compared with the first day، added 1. 68 to case group score and reduced -13. 21 from the control group score. Cerebrolysin is efficient in acute ischemic stroke patients and decreases the tissue damage severity in these patients. On the other hand، presumably it can reduces disabillity of the disease.