Lennox–Gastaut syndrome in south Iran: Electro-clinical manifestations

PurposeLennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is an uncommon epileptic encephalopathy. In this study, we tried to determine the clinical and EEG characteristics of patients with LGS in south Iran.MethodsIn this retrospective study, all patients with a clinical diagnosis of LGS were recruited at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from 2008 through 2012. Age, gender, age at seizure onset, seizure type(s), epilepsy risk factors, EEG and imaging findings of all patients were registered routinely.ResultsDuring the study period, 2500 patients with epilepsy were registered at our epilepsy clinic. One-hundred and thirty-five patients (5.4%) were diagnosed as having LGS. Age of onset (mean ± standard deviation) was 3.2 ± 3.8 years. In 14 (10.4%) patients, age of onset was above 8 years. Eighty-three patients (61.5%) were male and 52 (38.5%) were female. The most common seizure type was tonic, followed by generalized tonic–clonic and myoclonic seizures. The most common EEG finding was slow spike-wave complexes. The most common abnormal MRI finding was brain atrophy.ConclusionLGS is an uncommon epileptic encephalopathy characterized by multiple seizure types, a specific electroencephalographic pattern and psychomotor retardation, beginning in childhood. However, variants of this classical triad including atypical EEG findings, normal psychomotor function, and late-onset disease could be seen in some patients. These atypical findings in a patient with typical history for LGS should not deter from the correct diagnosis. The mainstay for making a correct syndromic diagnosis is a detailed clinical history.     

The anti-dermatophyte activity of Commiphora molmol

Context: Commiphora molmol Engl (Burseraceae) or myrrh has been traditionally used for the treatment of skin fungal infections.

Objective: This study evaluates the antifungal activity of myrrh ethanol extract and essential oil against skin dermatophytes.

Materials and methods: The antifungal evaluations were performed by the food poisoning technique (250?ppm) and micro-broth dilution assay (800–6.25?µg/mL) against Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, and T. verrucosum. The chemical composition of myrrh oil and ethanol extract was analyzed by GC and GC-MS.

Results: Furanoeudesma 1,3-diene and menthofuran were the main components of myrrh oil, while 2-tert-butyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, benzenemethanol,3-methoxy-α-phenyl, and curzerene were the main components of myrrh ethanol extract. The inhibitory effect of myrrh oil and ethanol extract against dermatophytes were 43.1–61.6% and 12.5–27.5%, respectively. The MIC and MFC values of myrrh oil were 25–100 and 25–200?µg/mL while these amounts for ethanol extract were 25–400 and 25–400?µg/mL, respectively. Therefore, myrrh oil had higher antifungal activity than that of the ethanol extract. Both extracts showed good anti-elastase activity.

Conclusion: The results of our investigation confirmed the traditional uses of C. molmol as a poultice for the treatment of cutaneous fungal infections.     

Online and offline effects of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning in healthy older adults: a randomized double‐blind sham‐controlled study

The aim of this randomized double blinded sham‐controlled study was to determine the effect of cerebellar anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a‐tDCS) on online and offline motor learning in healthy older individuals. Thirty participants were randomly assigned in experimental (n = 15) or sham tDCS (n = 15) groups. Participants in experimental group received 2 mA cerebellar a‐tDCS for 20 min. However, the tDCS was turned off after 30 seconds in sham group. Response time (RT) and error rate (ER) in serial RT test were assessed before, during 35 minutes and 48 h after the intervention. Reduction of RT and ER following the intervention session was considered as short‐term (35 min post intervention) and long‐term offline learning (48 h post intervention), respectively. Online RT and ER reduction were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). RT was significantly reduced 48 hours post intervention in cerebellar a‐tDCS group (P = 0.03). Moreover, RT was significantly increased after 35 minutes and 48 hours in sham tDCS group (P = 0.03, P = 0.007), which indicates a lack of short‐term and long‐term offline learning in older adults. A‐tDCS on cerebellar region produced more short‐term and long‐term offline improvement in RT (P = 0.014, P = 0.01) compared to sham tDCS. In addition, online, short‐term and long‐term (48 h) offline error reduced in cerebellar a‐tDCS as compared to sham‐control group, although this reduction was not significant (P > 0.05). A deficit suggests that a direct comparison to a younger group was made. The findings suggested that cerebellar a‐tDCS might be useful for improvement of offline motor learning in older individuals.     

Chemical Composition of Ferula galbaniflua Essential Oils from Different Geographical Regions of Iran

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Ferula galbaniflua Boiss. & Buhse is an important economic and medicinal oleo-gum resin. There is one...     

Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Mentha pulegium L. essential oil

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The flowering aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. (Labiatae) has been traditionally used for its antiseptic properties for treatment of infectious diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to validate its antiseptic properties with respect to traditional uses, we have screened the antimicrobial activity of flowering aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. essential oil against different microorganisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This oil was obtained using hydrodistillation method and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The antimicrobial activity was achieved using disc diffusion method and microbroth dilution assay. RESULTS: Analysis of the essential oil revealed the presence of piperitone (38.0%), piperitenone (33.0%), alpha-terpineol (4.7%), and pulegone (2.3%) as the major components. The results showed a significant activity against microorganisms especially Gram-positive bacteria with inhibition zones and minimal inhibitory concentration values in the range of 8-21mm and 0.25-4mul/ml, respectively, whereas the least susceptible were Gram-negative bacteria especially Escherichia coli. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation showed that the oil of Mentha pulegium L. has a potent antimicrobial activity and the Iranian Mentha pulegium L. oil belongs to piperitone/piperitenone type. Further research is required to evaluate the practical values of therapeutic applications.     

The effectiveness of nano-curcumin on patients with COVID-19: A systematic review of clinical trials

The main aim of the current study was to summarize the findings of available clinical studies to assess nano-curcumin's influence on COVID patients. A comprehensive online search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar until March 2022 to identify trials that investigated the effects of nano-curcumin in patients with COVID-19. Eight studies comprising 569 patients were included in this review. Compared with placebo, nano-curcumin had no significant effect on C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, gene expression of IL-6 and gene expression as well as secretion of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) significantly decreased following nano-curcumin intervention. Nano-curcumin had beneficial effects on fever, cough, chills, myalgia, and olfactory and taste disturbances. The duration of hospitalization and mortality rate were significantly lower in the nano-curcumin group compared with the control group. Lymphocyte count was significantly increased after curcumin supplementation. Nano-curcumin also had favorable effects on O₂ saturation, sputum, chest pain, wheeze, and dyspnea in patients with COVID-19. No major adverse effects were reported in response to nano-curcumin supplementation. In summary, the results of this systematic review of clinical trials suggested that nano-curcumin supplementation has beneficial effects on inflammation, respiratory function, disease manifestations, and complications in patients with COVID-19 viral infection.