Cognitive dysfunction can emerge during the clinical course of Parkinson's disease (PD) even beginning in early stages, which requires extended neuropsychological tests for diagnosis. There is need for rapid, feasible, and practical tests in clinical practice to diagnose and monitor the patients without causing any discomfort. We investigated the utility of quantitative analysis of digital EEG (qEEG) for diagnosing subtle cognitive impairment in PD patients without evident cognitive deficits (ie, "normal cognition"). We enrolled 45 patients with PD and age- matched 39 healthy controls in the study. All participants had Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score greater than 25. qEEG analysis and extensive neuropsychological assessment battery were applied to all participants. Test scores for frontal executive functions, verbal memory processes, attention span, and visuospatial functions were significantly lower than healthy controls ( P < .01). qEEG analysis revealed a significant increase in delta, theta, and beta frequencies, and decrease in alpha frequency band in cerebral bioelectrical activity in patient group. In addition, power spectral ratios ([alpha + beta] / [delta + theta]) in frontal, central, temporal, parietal, and occipital regions were significantly decreased in patients compared with the controls. The slowing in EEG was moderately correlated with MMSE scores ( r = 0.411-0.593; P < .01). However, qEEG analysis and extensive neuropsychological assessment battery were only in weak correlation ( r = 0.230-0.486; P < .05). In conclusion, qEEG analysis could increase the diagnostic power in detecting subtle cognitive impairment in PD patients without evident cognitive deficit, perhaps years before the clinical onset of dementia.

HT is a major complication in AIS that considerably increases the morbidity and mortality. To reduce the occurrence of HT, risk factors for each patient population should be determined. Acute thrombolytic therapy should be used cautiously in high-risk patients, and appropriate alternative therapies should be revised in them.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) accounts for 0.5-1 % of all strokes. Although dural puncture is proposed as one of the rare risk factors, this association has only been mentioned in anecdotal reports. Headache, i.e., usually the first and the most frequent clinical symptom on admission, is often attributed to the dural puncture itself. We investigated the frequency of CVT following a recent dural puncture in our stroke database, together with the other risk factors. The computerized medical records of patients (n = 10,740) registered in our tertiary-care neurology clinic stroke database were reviewed retrospectively. Patients diagnosed with CVT were reanalyzed. Patients who had a dural puncture in the preceding 7 days were included in the study. A total of 46 patients were diagnosed with CVT. Nine patients (19.6 %) had a recent dural puncture before the onset of the symptoms. Patients were younger than 45 years and had at least one more predisposing condition for thromboembolism other than the dural puncture. All patients have received either spinal anesthesia or intrathecal chemotherapy. Dural puncture seems to trigger CVT particularly in patients with predisposing disorders. Although reported as an extremely rare complication, our data indicate a much higher association. This case series emphasize the importance of reevaluation of patients with persistent/progressive headache following dural puncture. The effect of change in the biochemical composition of CSF due to intrathecal drug administration in pathogenesis is not known. Larger controlled trials are warranted to clarify the causal relationship between lumbar puncture and/or intrathecal drug administration and CVT.

In view of the possible antiplatelet effects of general anesthetics, we investigated the in vitro effects of desflurane, a new inhalation agent, on platelet aggregation. For 15 patients who underwent elective operations, blood was sampled with desflurane induction before and after anesthesia but prior to surgery so that platelet aggregation in the drawn blood could be tested before desflurane anesthesia and again after exposure to the anesthetic. Platelet aggregation was measured with a whole-blood aggregometer. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, and ristocetin were used as aggregating agents. Our results showed that aggregation in response to ADP, collagen, or ristocetin was not inhibited in patients who received desflurane anesthesia. This study with an in vitro model showed that desflurane had no influence on platelets in clinically relevant doses.

Objective: Neuromodulation therapies are successful treatment options for pain raised from a variety of etiologies. Careful patient selection and multidisciplinary evaluation are essential to achieve the best outcome. We aimed to discuss the common indications of neuromodulation therapies, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of patient follow-up to 3 and 6 months. Methods: Twentytree patients completed the 6-month followup: four underwent cervical spinal cord stimulation (SCS), sixteen had thoracic SCS, and three had sacral neuromodulation (SNS). Outcome measures were pain (visual analog scale[VAS]), quality of life (36-Item Short Form Survey [SF-36]), Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]), and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) neuropathic pain scale questionnaire. The overactive bladder assessment form and the pelvic pain impact questionnaire were performed on patients who would undergo SNS. Results: A significant difference was shown in regards to the scores of the VAS, SF-36 parameters, ODI, and LANSS between admission and the third and sixth-month follow-ups (p<0.001). Visual Analog Scale, ODI, and LANSS sixth-month scores were also lower than the third-month scores (p=0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of sex. Conclusion: Neuromodulation therapies provide short and longterm pain relief and quality-of-life improvements in patients with refractory chronic pain syndromes.