Biomedical subjects

Baki Arpaci

Publications and source records attributed to Baki Arpaci.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Clinical effectiveness of quetiapine in children and adolescents with Tourette's syndrome : a retrospective case-note survey.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tourette's syndrome is a relatively common biological genetic disorder with a broad spectrum of neurobehavioural manifestations. Unfortunately, treatment of the condition is often unsatisfactory and all available drugs are associated with potential adverse effects. We therefore aimed to investigate the efficacy of quetiapine, a newer atypical antipsychotic, in the treatment of children and adolescents with Tourette's syndrome. METHODS: This was a retrospective study carried out in outpatient clinics. Twelve patients aged 8-18 years with Tourette's syndrome (diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV criteria) who were receiving quetiapine therapy and had no diagnosis of epilepsy, major depression or psychotic disorder, were included in the study. The main outcome measure was the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) score. RESULTS: The initial dose of quetiapine was 25 mg/day, but the mean dose was increased to 114.6 +/- 51.6 mg/day and 175.0 +/- 116.8 mg/day at the fourth and eighth weeks of treatment, respectively. The YGTSS score, which was 21.6 +/- 4.0 at baseline, showed significant decreases at 4 and 8 weeks (reducing to 7.5 +/- 7.4 and 5.6 +/- 8.1, respectively; p < 0.003). Routine laboratory parameters and serum prolactin level were all normal and did not change throughout treatment. Mild but significant increases in both bodyweight and body mass index at 4 and 8 weeks compared with baseline were observed. CONCLUSION: Other than causing mild weight gain, quetiapine appears to be an effective, safe and well tolerated drug in children and adolescents with Tourette's syndrome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Motor and occipital cortex excitability in migraine patients.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated motor and occipital cortex excitability in migraine patients using transcranial magnetic stimulation. METHODS: In this study, we included 15 migraine patients with aura (MwA), 15 patients without aura (MwoA) between attacks, and 31 normal healthy controls. Motor thresholds at rest, amplitudes of motor evoked potentials, central motor conduction time and cortical silent period were measured by stimulation of the motor cortex by using 13.5 cm circular coil and recording from abductor digiti minimi muscle. Additionally, phosphene production and the threshold of phosphene production was determined by stimulation of the visual cortex with the same coil. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the groups with respect to the motor thresholds, Motor evoked potential max/compound muscle action potential max (MEPmax/Mmax) amplitudes, central motor conduction times and duration of cortical silent period. Although not statistically significant, the proportion of the migraineurs with phosphene generation (90%) was found to be higher than that of normal controls (71%). Phosphene threshold levels in migraine patients, however, were significantly lower than those of the controls with MwA patients having the lowest levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the occipital cortex, but not the motor cortex, is hyperexcitable in migraine patients.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2004

A study on awareness and attitude of teachers on epilepsy in Istanbul.

Epilepsy is a disease frequently seen among school children. Children having seizures may bother their teachers, who do not receive specific training about epilepsy during their education. Moreover, teachers feel desperate not knowing how to handle the situation. In a series of seminars it was our aim both to investigate and to improve the present awareness, knowledge, and attitude of elementary school teachers about epilepsy in Istanbul. In the pre- and post-seminar tests teachers who attended the seminar on a voluntary basis, were asked 29 questions. There were 346 male and female participants aged (mean +/- S.D.) 32.19 +/- 7.25. 69.3% of the participating teachers had either read or heard about epilepsy, while 71.9% had seen someone having a seizure and 59.4% knew someone with epilepsy. Although they had some prior misconceptions, like considering epilepsy a contagious (2.3%) or a psychological disease (17.8%), the teachers' knowledge and awareness improved after the seminar due to their special interest in the subject. Consequently, their negative attitude toward the participation of people with epilepsy in sports and social activities diminished post seminar. However, it should be noted that further education not only of teachers but also of family members is always required.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Cognitive function in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

In this study, we examined 35 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and 35 healthy volunteers. We used tests of cognitive performance (mini mental state examination, verbal and visual memory, visuospatial, frontal function, attention). In the JME group, we examined age, sex, family history, education level, age of seizure onset, seizure types, characteristics of EEG, duration of the therapy, drug dose and level, and verbal IQ level. Additionally, patients initially diagnosed as JME and patients who were initially under inappropriate drug therapy because of misdiagnosis were compared. As a result, we found statistically significant differences between JME patients and the control group with respect to verbal and visual memory. Furthermore, JME patients had impaired frontal and visuospatial function compared with the control group. We detected negative effects of younger age, family history, and absence seizures on cognitive function in JME patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Electrophysiological evaluation of peripheral and autonomic involvement in leprosy.

OBJECTIVE: Motor and sensory nerve conductions, F responses, sympathetic skin responses and R-R interval variations (RRIV) were studied to determine the type of peripheral neuropathy among patients with leprosy. METHODS: Twenty-nine consecutive patients with leprosy (25 male, 4 female) hospitalized in the "Istanbul Leprosy Hospital" between January - December, 1999 were included in this study. Ten patients had borderline lepromatous leprosy, and 19 had lepromatous leprosy. None of the patients studied had the tuberculoid form. The mean age was 55 +/- 12 years. The control group consisted of 30 (26 male, 4 female) healthy volunteers (mean age: 58.1 +/- 7.8 years). All subjects included in the study underwent neurological examination and electrophysiological evaluation. Standard procedures were performed for evaluating sensory and motor conduction studies. Motor studies were carried out on both left and right median, ulnar, tibial and common peroneal nerves while median, ulnar, sural and superficial peroneal nerves were examined for sensory studies. Sympathetic skin response recordings on both hands and RRIV recordings on precordial region were done in order to evaluate the autonomic involvement. RESULTS: The lower extremity was found to be more severely affected than the upper, and sensory impairment predominated over motor. Of 58 upper limbs examined, no sympathetic skin responses was recorded in 46 (79.3%). Compared with the controls, the RRIVs of the leprosy patients were found to be reduced during both resting and deep forced hyperventilation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that leprosy causes a predominantly axonal polyneuropathy that is more severe in the lower extremities. Sensory nerve damage is accompanied by autonomic involvement.

Adult↗