Objective
To evaluate the favorite colors of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Methods
Following examination, 50 patients were diagnosed in accordance with the 2005 proposal of the International ...League Against Epilepsy and the definition of drugresistant epilepsy since 2010. The favorite color examination used a six-color tape and Trycolors, an online color mixing tool. The patients' color preferences were compared with those of 50 individuals without epilepsy.
Results
Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy preferred the color blue the most (30%), significantly more yellow (p = 0.0001), and significantly less green (p < 0.0001) compared to individuals without epilepsy. By mixing these colors at a certain percentage, we obtained the Go Ben color.
Significance
This information on preferred colors can help to improve compliance and can be utilized in designing medications and environments for patients with epilepsy.
Cognitive syndromes after the first stroke Salihović, Denisa; Smajlović, Dževdet; Mijajlović, Milija ...
Neurological sciences,
08/2018, Letnik:
39, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Aim
The aim of this study is to determine impairments of certain cognitive functions in certain vascular cognitive syndromes and to identify predictors of dementia.
Patients and methods
One-year ...prospective study included 275 patients, who were hospitalized at the Department of Neurology Tuzla and therefore fulfilled certain criteria. Patients were divided into following subgroups of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI): dementia of strategic infarct (DSI), cortical dementia (CD), sub cortical dementia (SCD), hemorrhagic dementia (HD), and patients without dementia. Each of the patients underwent the clinical examination and scoring with appropriate measurement scales.
Results
Some of the types of VCI were verified in 190 (69%) patients, and the most common was SCD (58%). There was statistically significant connection between the level of intelligence and occurrence of VCI in patients after stroke (
p
< 0.001). We found significant connection between occurrence of dementia and impairment in narrative memory, numerical memory, visual perceptive, and visual constructive functions in patients with dementia compared with non-demented (
p
= 0.0001). The executive functions were statistically impaired in patients with CD (
p
= 0.004) and SCD (
p
< 0.001). Patients without dementia have significantly better quality of life than the demented ones (
p
< 0.0001). The algorithm “tree of decision” can help us in the prediction of dementia based on the impairment of certain cognitive functions.
Conclusion
Vascular cognitive syndromes are common after stroke. Some of the cognitive functions are significantly impaired in patients with dementia. Impairment of the certain cognitive functions can help in predicting the onset of dementia. Patients without dementia have better quality of life.
Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of symmetry, asymmetry and hypoplasia of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA), and the possible presence of other variants ...of the ICA by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Subjects and methods. This prospective-retrospective study included 1000 subjects who underwent consecutively MRA of the cerebral arteries. 3D–time of flight angiograms were performed according to the standard protocol. We measured the diameter of the ICA and the diameter of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA). The symmetry, asymmetry and hypoplasia of the ICA, as well hypoplasia of the A1 segment of the ACA were analysed using the vascular asymmetry coefficient. Results. The right and left ICA were symmetrical in 93.9% examinees, and asymmetrical in 6%, while ICA hypoplasia was found in only one patient (0.1%). Other variants of the ICA were not found. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of individual variations between male and female patients, and no significant frequency difference was found between anatomical variations in terms of the right and left ICA. In 38.3% patients with asymmetrical ICAs, aplasia or hypoplasia of the A1 segment of the ACA was found on the side of the ICA with a reduced diameter. Conclusion. Congenital hypoplasia of ICAs is a very rare abnormality, while asymmetry of ICAs is more common. After evaluating severe asymmetry of intracranial ICAs by MRA, MRA of the neck is recommended, especially in patients with a complete anterior part of the circle of Willis.
To evaluate memory in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Following an examination, 50 patients were diagnosed in accordance with the 2005 proposal of the International League Against Epilepsy and ...the definition of drug-resistant epilepsy from 2010. The neuropsychological examination used the Wechsler Memory Scale. It assessed seven structural types of memory: general knowledge, orientation, mental control, logical memory, number memory, associative memory, and visual reproduction. The values were compared with 50 subjects without epilepsy.
Patients with epilepsy had statistically significantly lower values in five of seven structural units of memory. The average value of overall memory efficacy in subjects with epilepsy was 96.5 ± 19.6, while in subjects without epilepsy it was 118 ± 15.6 (p = 0.0002). Memory impairments are greater in those taking polytherapy (p = 0.0429). The overall memory efficiency correlated significantly negatively with seizure frequency (p = 0.0015) and insignificantly negative with the duration of epilepsy (p = 0.1935).
Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy have lower memory efficiency. Memory impairments are greater in those taking polytherapy, as with those with more frequent seizures. The duration of epilepsy has no significant effect on overall memory performance.
Strokes in young adults are reported as being uncommon, comprising 10%-15% of all stroke patients. However, compared with stroke in older adults, stroke in the young has a disproportionately large ...economic impact by leaving victims disabled before their most productive years. Recent publications report an increased incidence of stroke in young adults. This is important given the fact that younger stroke patients have a clearly increased risk of death compared with the general population. The prevalence of standard modifiable vascular risk factors in young stroke patients is different from that in older patients. Modifiable risk factors for stroke, such as dyslipidemia, smoking, and hypertension, are highly prevalent in the young stroke population, with no significant difference in geographic, climatic, nutritional, lifestyle, or genetic diversity. The list of potential stroke etiologies among young adults is extensive. Strokes of undetermined and of other determined etiology are the most common types among young patients according to TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) criteria. Prevention is the primary treatment strategy aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality related to stroke. Therefore, primary prevention is very important with regard to stroke in young adults, and aggressive treatment of risk factors for stroke, such as hypertension, smoking, and dyslipidemia, is essential. The best form of secondary stroke prevention is directed toward stroke etiology as well as treatment of additional risk factors. However, there is a lack of specific recommendations and guidelines for stroke management in young adults. In conclusion, strokes in young adults are a major public health problem and further research, with standardized methodology, is needed in order to give us more precise epidemiologic data. Given the increasing incidence of stroke in the young, there is an objective need for more research in order to reduce this burden.
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