Gulsen Kocaman

Bio: Gulsen Kocaman is an academic researcher from Bezmialem Foundation University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mean platelet volume & Infarction. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 25 publications receiving 276 citations. Previous affiliations of Gulsen Kocaman include Düzce University.

Volumetric differences suggest involvement of cerebellum and brainstem in chronic migraine

Abstract: BackgroundChronic migraine (CM) is a disabling neurologic condition that often evolves from episodic migraine. There has been mounting evidence on the volumetric changes detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in migraineurs. These studies mainly focused on episodic migraine patients and less is known about the differences in CM patients.MethodA total of 24 CM patients and 24 healthy control individuals (all females) were included in this study. All participants underwent neurological examination and MRI. High-resolution anatomical MRI images were processed with an automated segmentation method (FreeSurfer). White-matter abnormalities of the brain were also evaluated with the Age-Related White-Matter-Changes Scale.ResultsThe volumes of the cerebellum and brainstem were found to be smaller in CM patients compared to healthy controls. White-matter abnormalities were also found in CM patients, specifically in the bilateral parieto-occipital areas. There was no correlation between the clinical v...

COST: Cognitive State Test, a brief screening battery for Alzheimer disease in illiterate and literate patients.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The aim was to develop a brief screening battery, Cognitive State Test (COST), for detecting the presence of dementia in both illiterate and literate patients and to assess its validity and reliability. METHODS COST is a cognitive screening tool that consists of almost all cognitive domains. It takes 5-7 minutes to administer, and has a maximum score of 30. Data were obtained from 114 healthy volunteers and 74 Alzheimer dementia (AD) patients. Subjects' age divided into two groups: A1: <65 years; and A2: ≥65 years and their education level divided into three groups: E1: illiterate; E2: 1-5 years; and E3: ≥6 years. For assessing concurrent validity, total COST score was compared to the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL). Sensitivity and specificity were determined through a discriminant analysis using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's coefficient α. RESULTS For normal and AD subjects, mean age was 64.9±9.8 years (50 women and 64 men) and 67.2±13.2 years (55 women and 19 men), respectively. Schooling ranged from 0-15 years (mean 5.7±4.2 and 3.3±3.8 years, respectively), and 21 and 37 subjects were illiterate, respectively. The COST significantly and positively correlated with MMSE and MoCA, and significantly and inversely correlated with CDR, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and BADL. In the E1, E2, and E3 education groups, the optimal cut-off points of COST chosen for diagnosis of AD were 23/24 (sensitivity: 81%, specificity: 99%), 24/25 (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 86%), and 26/27 (sensitivity: 77%, specificity: 84%), respectively. When illiterate and literate subjects were then pooled, the optimal cut-off score of COST was 24/25, which yielded a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 87%. Reliability of the COST was good (0.86). CONCLUSION The COST is a valid and reliable screening battery for detection of dementia both in the illiterate and the literate Alzheimer patients.

Relationship between electrodiagnostic severity and neuropathic pain assessed by the LANSS pain scale in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Abstract: Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the presence of neuropathic pain assessed by the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) scale and electrophysiological findings in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Splinting is effective for night-only symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome patients.

Abstract: [Purpose] Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve Splinting is one of the most used conservative treatment methods for carpal tunnel syndrome The aim of this study was to show the effectiveness of splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome patients who were divided into two groups according to their level of symptoms [Subjects and Methods] A total of 40 carpal tunnel syndrome patients were divided into 2 groups based on having symptoms only at night or during the day were included in this study These two groups were compared at the end of a 3-months splinting therapy in terms of improvement of severity of symptoms, functional capacity, pain level, and electrophysiological findings [Results] Pain levels of both groups were similar at baseline After splinting, pain levels of night-only symptomatic patients were lower than those of sustained symptomatic ones No differences were found in symptom severity, functional capacity, and the electrophysiological findings in either group after the splinting [Conclusion] The results of this study show that splinting alone may be sufficient to decrease the pain for night-only symptomatic patients Combined therapy methods may be needed for sustained symptomatic patients

Autoantibodies associated with diseases of the CNS: new developments and future challenges

Abstract: Summary Several CNS disorders associated with specific antibodies to ion channels, receptors, and other synaptic proteins have been recognised over the past 10 years, and can be often successfully treated with immunotherapies. Antibodies to components of voltage-gated potassium channel complexes (VGKCs), NMDA receptors (NMDARs), AMPA receptors (AMPARs), GABA type B receptors (GABA B Rs), and glycine receptors (GlyRs) can be identified in patients and are associated with various clinical presentations, such as limbic encephalitis and complex and diffuse encephalopathies. These diseases can be associated with tumours, but they are more often non-paraneoplastic, and antibody assays can help with diagnosis. The new specialty of immunotherapy-responsive CNS disorders is likely to expand further as more antibody targets are discovered. Recent findings raise many questions about the classification of these diseases, the relation between antibodies and specific clinical phenotypes, the relative pathological roles of serum and intrathecal antibodies, the mechanisms of autoantibody generation, and the development of optimum treatment strategies.

Morvan syndrome: Clinical and serological observations in 29 cases

Abstract: Objective: A study was undertaken to describe the clinical spectrum, voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex antibody specificities, and central nervous system localization of antibody binding in 29 patients diagnosed with Morvan syndrome (MoS). Methods: Clinical data were collected using questionnaires. Radioimmunoassay, cell-based assays, and mouse brain immunohistochemistry were used to characterize the serum antibodies. Results: Neuromyotonia (100%), neuropsychiatric features (insomnia 89.7%, confusion 65.5%, amnesia 55.6%, hallucinations 51.9%), dysautonomia (hyperhidrosis 86.2%, cardiovascular 48.3%), and neuropathic pain (62.1%) were the most common manifestations. A total of 93.1% of MoS patients were male. VGKC-complex antibodies were present in 23 of 29 (79%) MoS patients at referral; 24 of 27 available sera had CASPR2, LGI1, or both CASPR2 and LGI1 antibodies (3 also with contactin-2 antibodies). CASPR2 antibodies were generally higher titer than LGI1 antibodies. Tumors (41.4%), mainly thymomas, were associated with CASPR2 antibodies and a poor prognosis, whereas LGI1 antibodies were associated with serum hyponatremia. In brain tissue regions including the hypothalamus, raphe, and locus coeruleus, commercial antibodies to LGI1 bound to neuronal cell bodies including the antidiuretic hormone-secreting and orexin-secreting hypothalamic neurons, whereas CASPR2 commercial antibodies bound more often to the neuropil. MoS antibodies bound similarly, but there was evidence of additional antibodies in some sera that were not adsorbed by LGI1- or CASPR2-expressing cells and bound to mouse Caspr2−/− tissue. Interpretation: MoS is clinically distinct from other VGKC-complex antibody-associated conditions, and usually is associated with high-titer CASPR2 antibodies, often accompanied by lower-titer LGI1 antibodies. CASPR2 and LGI1 antibodies bind to multiple brain regions, which helps to explain the multifocal clinical features of this disease, but other antibodies are likely to play a role in some patients and need to be characterized in future studies. ANN NEUROL 2012;

A Meta-Analysis of Oxidative Stress Markers in Depression

Abstract: Object Studies have suggested that depression was accompanied by oxidative stress dysregulation, including abnormal total antioxidant capacity (TAC), antioxidants, free radicals, oxidative damage and autoimmune response products. This meta-analysis aims to analyse the clinical data quantitatively by comparing the oxidative stress markers between depressed patients and healthy controls.

Validity and reliability of geriatric depression scale-15 (short form) in Turkish older adults.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of Geriatric Depression-15 Scale (GDS-15) in Turkish older adults and to compare the results with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fifth edition (DSM-5) depression criteria. METHODS A total of 329 outpatients were enrolled. In the first step, the patients underwent the Mini-Mental State Examination. After assessing whether the patients meet the diagnosis of depression based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, another researcher applied the long form of GDS. After sorting the items of short form out of the long form, two separate scores were obtained. The scores of GDS-30 and GDS-15 scales were compared with the scores of DSM-5. RESULTS The correlation of GDS-30 with GDS-15 was r=0.966 (p<0.001). The analysis performed considering DSM-5 criteria revealed that the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of GDS-15 in determining depression were 92%, 91%, 76%, and 97%, respectively, when the cutoff value was taken as ≥5. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve [95% confidence interval (CI)] was 0.97 (95% CI=0.947-0.996) for GDS-15 (p<0.001). The Cronbach alpha coefficient for the total scale was 0.920. CONCLUSION GDS-15, just as GDS-30, is a beneficial scale in determining depression in older adults. This study provides an evidence for the validity and reliability of GDS-15 in Turkish elderly population and primary care centers.