Background: Comorbidities of migraine patients are not uncommon. Objective: This study was done to find out sociodemographic characteristics and the important comorbid psychiatric and physical illness in migraine patients. Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Neurology Outdoor and Headache Clinic at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka from July 2010 to June 2011 for a period of 1 year. Patients with migraine (on the basis of International headache society migraine headache criteria), age ≥16 years with total duration of headache six months or more, having comorbidities like major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM) or obesity were included in the study (n=33).The sociodemographic and relevant data were collected in a preformed data sheet from each patient. Result: The mean age of the participants was 33.8±8.8 years. Most of them were in 31-40 year age group (39.4%), followed by 21-30 year age group (36.4%). Most of the participants were female (72.7%) and housewives (57.6%). The symptoms of migraine was severe according to Migraine Severity Scale (MIGSEV) in 19 (57.6%), moderate in 8 (24.2%) and mild in 6 (18.2%) participants. Among the comorbidities, psychiatric problems like GAD and MDD was present in 8 (24.2%) and 6 (18.2%) participants respectively. Seven (21.2%) were obese, 4 (12.1%) hypertensive and 8 (24.2%) diabetic. Frequency of headache/month was observed to be higher in participants with hypertension (5.0±1.4 episodes/month) and duration of episodic migraine headache was higher in those with MDD (23.4±10.3 hours). Conclusion: Patients of migraine have comorbidities like GAD, MDD, obesity, hypertension and DM which need to be addressed appropriately for proper migraine headache management. [Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, 2017;3(1): 48-51]

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease which is also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is causes the death of neurons controlling voluntary muscles. There may have association of serum uric acid, homocystine and ferritin with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. But we have not enough data regarding these issues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of serum uric acid, homocystine and ferritin with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Methods: It was a case-control study conducted in the department of neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2010 to December 2011. Finalized 76 study people were divided into two equal groups containing 38 participants in each. In group I (case group) there were 38 patients with ALS and in group II (control group) there were 38 healthy people. The correlation of annual decline of ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALS-FRS) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were analyzed. Data were collected through pre-designed questioners and processed and analyzed by using SPSS version 11.5.Results: In this study the inverse correlation between serum uric acid and the annual decline of ALS-FRS in male, spearman rho correlation was -0.37 (p<0.01) and in female it was -0.78 (p<0.001). The inverse correlation between serum uric acid and the annual decline of FVC were in male, spearman rho correlation was -0.33 (p<0.05) and in female it was -0.39 (p<0.05). Inverse correlation between homocystine and the annual decline of ALS-FRS in male, spearman rho correlation was -0.42 (p<0.02) and in female, it was -0.64 (p<0.001). The inverse correlation between homocystine and the annual decline of FVC in male, spearman rho correlation was -0.41 (p<0.04) and in female, spearman rho correlation was -0.37 (p<0.05). The inverse correlation between serum ferritin and the annual decline of ALS-FRS in male, spearman rho correlation was 0.47 (p<0.01) and in female, spearman rho correlation was 0.76 (p<0.001). The inverse correlation between serum ferritin and the annual decline of FVC in male, spearman rho correlation was 0.49 (p<0.001) and in female, it was 0.71 (p<0.001).Conclusions: In most of the cases we found significant correlation of serum uric acid, serum homocystine and serum ferritin with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). So all these components would be considered as some potential indicators or bio-markers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Background: Clinical features are the important diagnostic tools for the detection of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage patients. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to see the clinical profiles of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage patients. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Neurology at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2012 to June 2014 for a period of two (2) years. Patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage who were admitted in the Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medicine at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka were selected as study population. Both male and female patients with the age group of ≥18 years, first ever spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage and hospital admission within 48 hours of onset were included for this study. The clinical features of the study population were collected after admission of the patients like headache, hemiplegia or paresis, vomiting, and deterioration of consciousness, dysphasia, dysarthria and hemisensory loss. Result: Headache was observed the most frequent complaint in 81.0% (n=79) patients. Hemiparesis or hemiplegia was the most frequent focal neurological deficit in 69.0% (n=68) patients. Vomiting was common also 58.0% (n=57) patients. Twenty five (26.0%) respondents were presented with deterioration of consciousness. Dysphasia/aphasia was found in 15.0% patients. Convulsion was not a common presenting feature (7%). Conclusion: In conclusion headache, vomiting and deterioration of consciousness are the most common clinical feature of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.

Background: Knowledge on tuberculosis is very important among the patients under anti-tubercular therapy for proper management. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the knowledge about tuberculosis among patients attending the DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course) corner. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in the DOTs corner of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh and Sylhet Chest Disease Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh during the period from June 2011 to November 2011 for a period of six (6) months. All the patients who were diagnosed as case of pulmonary tuberculosis and were treated with anti-tubercular drugs at DOTs corner who attended in the both Hospitals, Sylhet were selected as study population. Result: The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 70 years with the mean age of 41.2 (SD+ 12.4) years. The age of the male patients were ranging from 18 to 70 years with the mean age of 42.1 (SD: 12.8) years. Among the 194 patients, 90(46.4%) patients had good knowledge and 104(53.6%) patients had poor knowledge about tuberculosis. Conclusion: In conclusion, greater efforts therefore need to be undertaken to improve TB control among TB patients through appropriate and sustainable health education.

Background: Pulmonarytuberculosis is a very common disease in both urban and rural settings among the Bangladeshi people.Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the attitude and practice of pulmonary tuberculosis patient in urban settings of Sylhet District of Bangladesh.Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in the DOTs corner of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh and Sylhet Chest Disease Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh during the period from June 2011 to November 2011 for a period of six (6) months. All the patients who were diagnosed as case of pulmonary tuberculosis and were treated with anti-tubercular drugs at DOTs corner who attended in the both Hospitals, Sylhet were selected as study population.Result: A total number of 194 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were recruited for this study. Among the 194 patients, 36(18.6%) patients had good attitudes and practices and 158(81.4%) patients had poor attitudes and practices.Conclusion: In conclusion, majority of the pulmonary tuberculosis patients under DOTs living in the urban area of Sylhet have poor level of attitude and practices.Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, 2018;4(2): 97-100