ObjectiveRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). This study evaluated the antidepressant effect of rTMS and examined how it affected N-asetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), lactate (Lac), myoinositol (mIns), glutamate (Glu), glutathione (GSH), and glutamine (Gln) metabolite levels in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of MDD patients who were not receiving antidepressant medication. MethodsIn total, 18 patients (10 female, 8 male) were evaluated. Each patient underwent H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) before and within 3 days of completion of TMS therapy. All patients completed 20 sessions of rTMS directed at the left DLPFC over a 2-week period. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores of patients were calculated, and their responses to treatment were assessed within 1–3 days of completion of TMS. ResultsWe found statistically significant differences in HAMD scores before and after rTMS. Moreover, the peak metabolite ratios of NAA/Cr, GSH/Cr, and Gln/Cr were significantly higher after rTMS compared to those before rTMS. ConclusionIncreased understanding of the mechanism of action of TMS will improve its application and may stimulate development of new-generation therapeutic agents.

Introduction:Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is associated with many disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems including neuralgia, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, cerebellitis, vasculopathy, myelopathy, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, and polyneuritis cranialis. Cranial nerves V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and/or XII may be affected. The neurological disorders caused by VZV usually present with rash, but may rarely present without rash.Case report:We herein present a case of polyneuritis cranialis without rash caused by VZV affecting cranial nerves VII, VIII, IX, and X. After excluding other causes of the condition, we diagnosed VZV infection based on VZV DNA in the CSF and an elevated anti-VZV IgG level in serum. The patient responded well to antiviral therapy.Conclusion:VZV infection should be kept in mind during the differential diagnosis of polyneuritis cranialis; it is important to note that VZV re-activation may occur without rash.

SummaryBackgroundWe planned to investigate contribution of DWMR to the treatment efficacy with ADC values which were measured in acute and chronic plaque before and after MS treatment. ADC changes in normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in patients with MS and healthy volunteers were also evaluated in this study.Material/Methods25 patients with MS and 30 healthy subjects with normal brain MR findings were included to our study. Contrast enhancement in plaque was evaluated as an acute, and non-contrast enhancement in plaque was evaluated as a chronic. Also, ADC measurements were performed using the same parameters in NAWM in plaque neighborhood and volunteers. Results were compared with appropriate statistical methods.ResultsADC values in acute and chronic plaques were decreased after the treatment, and these reductions were statistically significant for acute plaqus in b500 and for chronic plaques in b500 and b1000. The mean ADC values were measured as 1.53±0.49×10−3 and 1.43±0.58×10−3 in acute plaques and 1.40±0.35×10−3 and 1.34±0.36×10−3 mm2/sec in chronic plaques before and after the treatment.ConclusionsWe think that DWMR have important role due to quantitative measurement ability in the evaluation of the treatment efficacy of the MS patients with acute attack in addition to contrast-enhanced MR sequence.

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Objective: T2 blackout (TBO) effect, which is a common finding in the brains of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and older population that are imaged for other reasons on diffusion weighted imagings (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map show the existence of paramagnetic materials in the tissue. Because iron is known to accumulate in especially deep gray matter (DGM) structures in MS brains, we aimed to investigate the relationship between TBO and clinico-radiological parameters that may be iron-related in MS. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the latest MR images of MS patients on 3 Tesla MR scanner between 2018 and 2019. TBO existence and severity on DWI–ADC was assessed by two radiologists and its correlation with several outcomes of MS was investigated. Results: No significant relationship was found between TBO and gender, subtype of MS whereas TBO was positively correlated with parameters such as black-hole lesions, cortical atrophy, duration of disease, age and extended disability status scale (EDSS) score. Conclusions: TBO shows correlation with the conditions which were revealed to be associated with iron accumulation in the brain of MS patients in the literature. Therefore, we concluded that TBO and its severity in DGM may represent iron accumulation in MS brains. Advances in knowledge: TBO effect as a frequent imaging finding in daily practice may be used as predictor of the disease course of MS due to possible effects of iron accumulation in brain and thereby may be useful in modifying treatment strategies.

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