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OBJECTIVE: Suitable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques from conventional to new devices can help physicians in diagnosis and follow up of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. The aim of present research was to compare effectiveness of Fluid Attenuation Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) sequence of conventional MRI and Diffuse Weighted Imaging (DWI) sequence as a new technique in detection of brain MS plaques. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this analytic cross sectional study, sample size was assessed as 40 people to detect any significant difference between two sequences with a level of 0.05. DWI and FLAIR sequences of without contrast brain MRI of consecutive MS patients referred to MRI center of Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran from January to May 2012, were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-two females and 8 males with mean age of 35.20±9.80 yr (range = 11-66 yr) were evaluated and finally 340 plaques including 127(37.2%) in T2WI, 127(37.2%) in FLAIR, 63(18.5%) in DWI and 24(7.1%) in T1WI were detected. FLAIR sequence was more efficient than DWI in detection of brain MS plaques, oval, round, amorphous plaque shapes, frontal and occipital lobes, periventricular, intracapsular, corpus callosum, centrum semiovale, subcortical, basal ganglia plaques and diameter of detected MS plaques in DWI sequence was smaller than in FLAIR. CONCLUSION: Old lesion can be detected by conventional MRI and new techniques might be more useful in early inflammatory phase of MS and assessment of experimental treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine headache is a prevalent periodical and neurological impairment that is associated with functional disorders. Regarding the side effects of available medications, research is continuing in an effort to identify new, effective pharmaceutical regimens with limited side effects. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of vitamin B2 versus sodium valproate in migraine prophylaxis. Methods: This was a single-blind clinical trial conducted on 90 migraine patients in two parallel groups. The first group underwent vitamin B2 treatment (400 mg/day) for three months, and the second group was treated with sodium valproate (500 mg/day). The patients were examined at the beginning of the study and 4, 8, and 12 weeks later. After the administration of the drugs in both groups, we recorded the duration of migraine pain, the frequency of migraine episodes, and the severity of the headaches. Potential complications of this study that were measured were weight gain, dizziness, and gastrointestinal problems. Results: The findings showed that the frequency, median duration per month, and severity of the headaches decreased in both groups, but the difference between them was not significant (p > 0.05). However, there were significantly fewer side effects in vitamin B2 group (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Sodium valproate and vitamin B2 have similar effects on the reduction of migraine attacks, but vitamin B2 had fewer complications and fewer adverse effects; therefore, vitamin B2 can be administered to patients who are prohibited from taking sodium valproate or who have adverse side effects when they take it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium valproate (SV) has been approved for migraine prophylaxis and its intravenous form is used to treat acute migraine attacks. We compared the efficacy and safety of intravenous SV and subcutaneous Sumatriptan in managing acute migraine attacks. Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial divided 90 patients into two groups: one group received 400 mg of intravenous SV and the second group received 6 mg of subcutaneous Sumatriptan. Headache severity before treatment and half an hour, one hour, and two hours after treatment was measured based on the VNRS in the groups. Associated symptoms, i.e., photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, and vomiting, were assayed on admission and 2 hours after treatment. Side effects of the drugs were checked 2 hours after injection. Obtained data from the groups were compared. Results: In both groups, pain decrement at the mentioned time points was significant (P<0.001), but had no significant difference (P>0.05), indicating the similar effect of both drugs on pain improvement. In the SV group, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, and vomiting were improved significantly, while in the Sumatriptan group, only photophobia and vomiting were decreased significantly, indicating the advantage of SV in improving the associated symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, facial paresthesia, and hypotension were more significantly frequent in the Sumatriptan group than in the SV group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Intravenous SV (400 mg) was as effective as subcutaneous Sumatriptan in the treatment of acute migraine attacks, but with more improvement in associated symptoms and with fewer side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder that 16.2 of population in developed countries experience it at least once in their lifetime; it is a major cause of social disability according to WHO reports. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of fluvoxamine and sertraline in treating major depressive disorder. Methods: During this randomized clinical trial, 110 patients with certain diagnosis of major depressive disorder were divided in two parallel groups: fluvoxamine 200 mg daily and sertraline 100 mg daily. Beck test was done before and after intervention and the data were analyzed by chi-square and independent-sample t tests. Findings: 58 patients (52.72%) received fluvoxamine and 52 (47.28%) received sertraline. Fluvoxamine had better therapeutic effects than sertraline (P = 0.002). Although, women (P = 0.007) and age group of 43-67 years (P = 0.015) had better response to fluvoxamine. Conclusion: According to current findings, it is recommended that gender and age group be noticed in administrating the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) drugs in patients with major depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of the sensory neuropathy in type 2 diabetic patients referring to Yazd Diabetes Research Center. Neuropathy is one of the most common complications of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study on 2350 diabetic patients (1071 male, 1279 female) referred to Yazd Diabetes Research Center (Iran) from June 2007 to February 2008. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire including demographic subject, duration, body weight and length, lab test (HbA1c, 2hpp, FBS), Body Mass Index (BMI). Blood Pressure was measured on the right arm after a five-min rest. Neuropathy was confirmed using a Semmes Weinstein 10 g monofilament over 10 areas of the feet, ankle reflexes and vibration over the great toe and ankle. RESULTS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and diabetic sensory neuropathy in Yazd province is 14.5% and 51.7%, respectively. The prevalence of sensory neuropathy in male was 49.9% and 53.2 % in female, that increased by age (P = 0.001), duration of diabetes (P = 0.001), HbA1c (P = 0.001) and poor glycemic control (high FBS and 2hpp). CONCLUSION: Age, duration of diabetes, HbA1c and poor glycemic control were considered to be the risk factors for sensory neuropathy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]