Introduction:
Recently, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proven to be useful in predicting severity, mortality, and morbidity of stroke. NLR is low cost and yet not used widely as a ...biomarker to predict prognosis.
Aims:
We evaluated the association of NLR in severity of stroke and ischemic stroke subtypes.
Methodology:
A total of 69 subjects with ischemic stroke onset within 24 h were included in the study and categorized according to TOAST classification. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was used to determine stroke severity at admission. Samples were obtained within 24 h of stroke onset and NLR measured which was later correlated with severity and subtypes of stroke.
Results:
NLR and severity of stroke showed statistically significant association (P < .05). Median (interquartile range IQR) of NLR was significantly high in severe cases (7.1 4.03-7.698), as compared to others. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for NLR to predict the stroke severity was 6.07 area under the curve 0.764; 95% confidence interval: 0.647 to 0.858). When NLR was more than 6.07, there was 90.90% chances of moderate-to-severe stroke and with milder stroke, 93.10% had NLR of less than equal to 6.07. NLR and stroke subtypes also showed statistically significant association (P < .05). Median (IQR) of NLR in embolic stroke was significantly high (4.75 2.95-8.2), as compared to other stroke subtypes.
Conclusion:
NLR, at a cut-off 6, has moderate sensitivity and higher specificity in predicting stroke severity and NLR was high in embolic stroke among other stroke subtypes.
Cognitive impairment is a progressive disorder that affects the ageing population. With the increase in the mean age of our population, it is becoming a public health problem. Homocysteinemia has ...been implicated in cognitive impairment. Whilst it is modulated by vitamins B12 and folate, it acts through MMPs 2 and 9. To assesses the relationship of cognitive impairment with homocysteine, B12, folate and MMPs 2 and 9, so as to detect cases of mild cognitive impairment which are potentially reversible, blood samples were drawn from 73 enrolled subjects, with and without cognitive impairment on basis of Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) score < 25 or ≥ 25, respectively. Homocysteine, B12, folate and MMPs2 and 9 were estimated. Correlation between MoCA score and these parameters was elucidated. After adjusting for age and gender, homocysteine was the only significant independent predictor of MoCA score. Cut-off of homocysteine for prediction of MoCA < 25 was derived at 13.5 µmol/L(PPV = 59.6%; NPV = 79.2%). The equation derived for calculation of MoCA score from homocysteine is: MoCA score = 32.893 + (− 0.223)(homocysteine in μmol/L). Homocysteine > 13.5 μmol/L predicts low MoCA (< 25) with 84.8% sensitivity and 50% specificity. Hence, patients with an Hcy > 13.5 μmol/L should be administered B12 and folate to reduce homocysteine, a modifiable risk factor of cognitive decline. Also, a novel equation for calculating MoCA score from homocysteine has been derived. Using this derived equation to calculate MoCA score, it may be possible to identify asymptomatic subjects with early cognitive impairment.
Myotonia congenita (Becker's variant) Gupta, Aparna; Batra, Anuradha M; Rohatgi, Anshu ...
Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
57
Journal Article
Vocal cord palsy can have myriad causes. Unilateral vocal cord palsy is common and frequently asymptomatic. Trauma, head, neck and mediastinal tumors as well as cerebrovascular accidents have been ...implicated in causing unilateral vocal cord palsy. Viral neuronitis accounts for most idiopathic cases. Bilateral vocal cord palsy, on the other hand, is much less common and is a potentially life-threatening condition. Myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder caused by antibodies targeting the post-synaptic acetylcholine receptor, has been infrequently implicated in its causation. We report here a case of bilateral vocal cord palsy developing in a 68-year-old man with no prior history of myasthenia gravis 2 months after he was operated on for diverticulitis of the large intestine. Delay in considering the diagnosis led to endotracheal intubation and prolonged mechanical ventilation with attendant complications. Our case adds to the existing literature implicating myasthenia gravis as an infrequent cause of bilateral vocal cord palsy. Our case is unusual as, in our patient, acute-onset respiratory distress and stridor due to bilateral vocal cord palsy was the first manifestation of a myasthenic syndrome.
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