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Background and Objective: Multiple Sclerosis is one of the most common and disabling neurological disease. Recent studies reported the possible role of serum uric acid in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. This study was done to examine the role of serum uric acid in patients with multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: This case - control study was carried out on 70 multiple sclerosis patients as cases and 70 healthy subjects as controls in teaching hospital in Rafsanjan, Iran during 2010. The two groups were matched in age and gender. The serum uric acid level of subjects in case and control groups was measured by enzymatic colorimetric method. Data were analyzed using SPSS-17 and student t-test. Results: The mean serum uric acid level in cases and controls was 3.871±1.193 mg/dl and 4.171±1.39 mg/dl, respectively, this difference was not significant. Also, there was not significant relationship between serum uric acid level and gender in multiple sclerosis patients. Conclusion: This study indicated that the serum uric acid level is not changed in multiple sclerosis patients compared to controls.

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Background and Objective: Several studies have shown that during stroke changes occur in some paraclinic parameters which may have either prognostic or diagnostic value, including electrocardiographic changes. This study was done to evaluate the prognostic value of prolonged QT segment in patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study with an easy convenient sampling was carried out on 175 patients (73 male and 102 female) with acute ischemic stroke whome have been diagnosed by brain imaging (computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging). All patients were suffering from stroke for the first time and if they use any drug or have underlying disease except diabetes mellitus- hypertension- heart disease and hyperlipidemia were excluded. In the first 24 hours of admission, an electrocardiogram (ECG) were taken for measurement of QT segment and according to death or discharge, patients were divided into two groups, and the mean of QT segment (corrected QT) subsequently were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS-15, Chi-Square and independent t-tests. Results: Twenty patients died in the course of admission. The mean of QT segment (corrected QT) in dead patients was 471.15±61.70 and in discharged patients was 421.52±62.96 (P<0.05). The abundance of prolonged QT segment accompanied with death was more frequent. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and heart disease were significantly correlated with morbidity and mortality (P<0.05). There is no relation between mortality with age and sex. Conclusion: This study showed that mean of QT segment (corrected) and also cases of prolonged QT segment were abundant among dead patients, therefore prolongation of QT segment has prognostic value in patients with ischemic stroke.

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Background and Objective: The silent brain infarctions are common in first-ever stroke. Some recent studies show the possible role of silent brain infarction in ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of silent brain infarction in acute first-ever ischemic stroke and its association with stroke risk factors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive - analytical study was carried out on 203 (94 males, 109 females) patients with acute first-ever ischemic stroke in Shafa hospital in Kerman, Iran during 2010. The diagnosis of ischemic stroke was made by physical examination and was confirmed by MRI and CT Scan. A questionnaire containing demographic information and risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease for stroke as well as presence of silent stroke was completed for each patient. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and logistic regression test. Results: The mean age of patients was 62.56±17.35 years. Among our patients history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, diabetes, history of ischemic heart disease, history of other cardiac disease and silent stroke were observed in 66 (32.5%), 26 (12.8%), 16 (7.9%), 40 (19.7%), 27 (13.3%), 16 (7.9%) and 31 (15.3%), respectively. The probability of silent stroke among patient with hyperlipidemia, was 3.7 times more than those without hyperlipidemia (95%CI: 1.556-12.780, P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between silent stroke and the above risk factors. Conclusion: Silent stroke was found in 15% of patients with ischemic stroke. Control of hyperlipidemia can have a vital role in the prevention of silent stroke.

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Background and Objective: Diabetes is a major risk factor for stroke. Some studies have shown that difference between clinical signs and prognosis in diabetic patients with stroke compared to non-diabetic patients with stroke is due to difference in pattern of cerebral vascular involvement. This study was done to compare the findings of extracranial and transcranial doppler sonography in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with thrombotic stroke. Materials and Methods: This case – control study was done on 70 diabetic patients and 70 non-diabetic patients with thrombotic stroke. All patients were new cases. Extracranial and transcranial doppler sonography was performed for all subjects. Results: Basilar artery stenosis was significantly more frequent in diabetic cases in comparison with non-diabetic patients (P<0.05). The prevalenc of posterior circulation stenosis in diabetic patients was significantly higher than non-diabetic patients (P<0.05). Conclusion: In diabetic patients, stenosis in vertebrobasilar circulation was more frequent. Higher morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients may be due to vascular stenosis pattern.