A brief course of 2 types of tDCS stimulation is superior to sham stimulation in enhancing the effect of rehabilitation training to improve motor recovery after stroke.

No abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the commonest type of Dementia worldwide. It rapidly increases with aging especially over 70 years. Objectives: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of AD in Egyptian desert areas and to identify the risk factors and presenting symptoms. Methods: This study was carried out on desert areas Al Kharga district and Al Quseir city. All population aged 50 years and more (12,508) were included through door to door survey by seven Neuropsychiatrists. They were screened by standardized questionnaire prepared specifically. Positive cases were invited to attend Assiut Univ. Hospital where clinical evaluation, according to DSM-IV R. and necessary psychometric tests were applied. Results: One hundred twenty-six patients with AD were diagnosed out of 12,508 people aged 50 years; yielding a prevalence of 1%. Prevalence increases with age, from 0.34% for those aged 60 ≤ 70 years to 2.9% for subjects aged 70 ≤ 80 years, and 9.74% for those aged 80 years and more. AD is more common among females than males in all ages. Eighty-five percent of diagnosed patients are of mild and moderate degrees. Hypertension (14.3%), smoking (10.3%), diabetes (8.73%), prior epilepsy (5.6%), and family history of AD (3.5%) are common risk factors. Impaired self-care (88.1%), memory loss (84.1%), impaired social judgment (77%), agnosia (58.7%), and behavioral changes (48.4%) are the most frequently encountered symptoms of AD. Conclusion: Prevalence of AD was 1% for population aged 50 years and more, reaching 9.7 for patients aged > 80 years. Early onset AD (< 65 years) was recorded in 7.9%.

BackgroundEpidemiology continues to be an important research tool in the study of epilepsy and related disorders, providing a better understanding of the frequency, causes, and natural history of the disorder.ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of epilepsy in Al-Quseir, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt, and its magnitude of treatment gap.MethodsThe study was part of a door-to-door study, including every door, to screen all inhabitants in Al-Quseir (33,818 inhabitants) by three specialists of neurology and 15 female social workers (for demographic data collection) using a standardized screening questionnaire. All suspected cases were subjected to detailed history, clinical examination, and electroencephalogram. Neuroimaging studies and estimation of serum drug level were done in select cases if needed.ResultsThe study revealed that the lifetime prevalence rate of epilepsy in Al-Quseir is 5.5/1,000, with the highest peak during early childhood, while that of active epilepsy is 3.3/1,000 population. The annual incidence rate is 48/100,000, and the age-specific incidence rate has a U-shaped pattern with two peaks of incidence in early infancy and elderly life. Localization-related epilepsy is the most frequently encountered type (58.8%). The treatment gap of epilepsy in Al-Quseir is 83.8%.ConclusionThe lifetime prevalence of epilepsy in Al-Quseir city, Red Sea Governorate, was 5.5/1000.

Purpose To evaluate the ocular manifestations of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Methods A retrospective, comparative study included 100 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and 100 controls who were recruited by stratified randomization from hospital registration system and analyzed regarding history, full ophthalmological examination, general examination including internal medicine and neurological evaluation. Laboratory tests were done. Results Mean±SD of age were 55.5 ± 6.2 in COVID group vs 56.5 ± 5.8 in control group; P value = 0.7. In COVID group, 57 patients (57%) were males vs 51 patients (51%) in control group (P value = 0.39), the other compared parameters including history and risk factors showed non-significant difference except for ESR and D-dimer which were elevated in COVID group. In COVID group, 5 patients (5%) were having retinal vascular occlusion, 2 patients (2%) were having anterior ischemic optic neuropathy AION, 3 patients (3%) were having uveitis and 2 patients (2%) were having central serous chorioretinopathy CSCR. While in control group, 2 patients (2%) were having retinal vascular occlusion, and none had AION, uveitis or CSCR (P value = 0.006). Conclusion Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome could affect the eyes in the form of coagulation problems, neurological morbidities, and other manifestations. This necessitates meticulous follow-up of recovered patients from COVID-19.