Background: There are few epidemiological studies on neurological disorders in Albania. Methods: A door-to-door survey was undertaken in two geographical areas (Tirana and Saranda) with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Two random samples of the local population underwent a structured interview to ascertain headache, epilepsy, dementia, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathy, stroke and cerebral palsy. Each diagnosis was made using standard criteria for epidemiological studies and was confirmed by history, neurological examination and, where available, the review of personal medical records. Lifetime prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Of the 9,869 individuals screened (Tirana 4,953; Saranda 4,916), 4,867 were males aged 1–91 years (median 39 years) and 5,002 were females aged 1–96 years (median 37 years). Crude prevalence ratios (per 1,000) were: headache 241.9 (233.5–250.3), polyneuropathy 32.5 (29.0–36.0), epilepsy 14.2 (11.7–16.3), stroke 12.4 (10.2–14.6), dementia 9.6 (7.7–11.5), parkinsonism 8.0 (6.2–9.8), cerebral palsy 4.8 (3.4–6.2), and multiple sclerosis 0.3 (0.0–0.6). Prevalence varied with age and gender, with differences across diseases. Except for polyneuropathy (Tirana 39.8; Saranda 25.2), ratios were not different in the two study areas. Conclusions: The prevalence of selected neurological disorders in Albania is higher than in other countries. Differences may be explained by study design, population structure and/or genetic and environmental factors.
Late-onset Krabbe disease may have variable misleading clinical manifestations and be a puzzling problem for physicians. We report clinical and peripheral nerve studies of three patients with adult-onset Krabbe disease. Two cases had a predominantly spastic paraparesis; in one case, the symptoms mimicked a cerebrovascular disorder. Predominantly, demyelinating neuropathy was observed in one case and axonal neuropathy in two cases. In all cases, no typical intracytoplasmic inclusions were found. These observations suggest that peripheral neuropathy in adult-onset Krabbe disease has variable clinical and pathological characteristics, different from those described in the classic form.
Background:Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory pathology with large regional variations in incidence and etiologyAim:The aim of the study was to provide a description of the epidemiologic situation of AP in Albanian population, regarding incidence, etiology and severity of the diseaseMethods:We have studied all the files of all patients with acute pancreatitis admitted at the UHC ‘Mother Theresa” during an eight year period (2005-2012).The results:We had 964 admissions with the diagnosis acute pancreatitis, making an incidence of 5.64 per 100 000 inhabitants per year. Mean age of patients was 54.5 ± 16.93 years old. Among risk factors, alcohol consumption was found in 382 patients (39.6%), gallstone in 362 patients (37.6%), and others in 220 patients (22.8%).Conclusion:The incidence of acute pancreatitis in Albania ranges from 3.6 – 5.64 new cases per 100 000 inhabitants per year, with an increasing trend during the last years. The incidence of AP among females almost doubles during 2005-2012. Alcohol consumption is the predominating etiologic factor among young males.
BACKGROUND:Lightning injuries may produce a variety of medical conditions, and specific neurological complications have been identified, with the character of immediate aftershock effects or even long-term consequences.AIM:The authors describe the incidental finding following a routine unenhanced brain MRI performed to a young female patient, suffering from a headache.CASE REPORT:Diffuse white matter changes with the character of a leukoencephalopathy were seen, which strictly interested only the right cerebral hemisphere. The parents referred that she suffered from an indoor lightning strike at age of seven months, although she survived with almost no external burns or signs, and recovered uneventfully at that time. A discussion over the effects of electrocution and lightning strike on the human body in general, and over the nervous system, is made. Particular attention must be shown when making the differential diagnosis of leukoencephalopathies with a strictly one-hemisphere extension since several other conditions might resemble each other under the radiological aspect, here including brain viral infections, genetic disorders, and so on.CONCLUSION:The particularity of the long-term aftershock effects of the lightning strike on the central nervous system raise again the necessity of collecting data and duly reporting every electrical accident, lightning events included.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.