Epidemiology of neurological disorders is still lacking in Egypt. The door-to-door method is the most suitable one to screen neurological disorders in our country. Over a 4-year period (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009), screening and examination had been carried out to ascertain the incidence and prevalence rate of epilepsy, stroke, cerebral palsy and Bell’s palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural population of Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt. A total of 62,583 people were screened by 3 neurologists in a door-to-door manner, including every door, using a standardized Arabic questionnaire to detect any patient with a neurological disorder. This was a project study of neurological disorders including 3 stages: first stage (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006) for data collection, designing a standardized questionnaire and screening; second stage (June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2008) for case ascertainment, classification of logical disorders and investigations, and third stage (June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009) for data entry and statistical analysis. The results of this study revealed that the total prevalence rate of neurological disorders in Al Kharga District, New Valley was 2.4/100 with no significant difference among both sexes. The highest prevalence rate was recorded among elderly people (60+ years; 9.25%) and among children ( ^18 years; 2.9%).

Epidemiology of neurological disorders is still lacking in Egypt. The door-to-door method is the most suitable one to screen neurological disorders in our country. Over a 4-year period (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009), screening and examination had been carried out to ascertain the incidence and prevalence rate of epilepsy, stroke, cerebral palsy and Bell’s palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural population of Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt. A total of 62,583 people were screened by 3 neurologists in a door-to-door manner, including every door, using a standardized Arabic questionnaire to detect any patient with a neurological disorder. This was a project study of neurological disorders including 3 stages: first stage (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006) for data collection, designing a standardized questionnaire and screening; second stage (June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2008) for case ascertainment, classification of logical disorders and investigations, and third stage (June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009) for data entry and statistical analysis. The results of this study revealed that the total prevalence rate of neurological disorders in Al Kharga District, New Valley was 2.4/100 with no significant difference among both sexes. The highest prevalence rate was recorded among elderly people (60+ years; 9.25%) and among children ( ^18 years; 2.9%).

Epidemiology of neurological disorders is still lacking in Egypt. The door-to-door method is the most suitable one to screen neurological disorders in our country. Over a 4-year period (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009), screening and examination had been carried out to ascertain the incidence and prevalence rate of epilepsy, stroke, cerebral palsy and Bell’s palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural population of Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt. A total of 62,583 people were screened by 3 neurologists in a door-to-door manner, including every door, using a standardized Arabic questionnaire to detect any patient with a neurological disorder. This was a project study of neurological disorders including 3 stages: first stage (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006) for data collection, designing a standardized questionnaire and screening; second stage (June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2008) for case ascertainment, classification of logical disorders and investigations, and third stage (June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009) for data entry and statistical analysis. The results of this study revealed that the total prevalence rate of neurological disorders in Al Kharga District, New Valley was 2.4/100 with no significant difference among both sexes. The highest prevalence rate was recorded among elderly people (60+ years; 9.25%) and among children ( ^18 years; 2.9%).

Epidemiology of neurological disorders is still lacking in Egypt. The door-to-door method is the most suitable one to screen neurological disorders in our country. Over a 4-year period (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009), screening and examination had been carried out to ascertain the incidence and prevalence rate of epilepsy, stroke, cerebral palsy and Bell’s palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural population of Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt. A total of 62,583 people were screened by 3 neurologists in a door-to-door manner, including every door, using a standardized Arabic questionnaire to detect any patient with a neurological disorder. This was a project study of neurological disorders including 3 stages: first stage (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006) for data collection, designing a standardized questionnaire and screening; second stage (June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2008) for case ascertainment, classification of logical disorders and investigations, and third stage (June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009) for data entry and statistical analysis. The results of this study revealed that the total prevalence rate of neurological disorders in Al Kharga District, New Valley was 2.4/100 with no significant difference among both sexes. The highest prevalence rate was recorded among elderly people (60+ years; 9.25%) and among children ( ^18 years; 2.9%).

Epidemiology of neurological disorders is still lacking in Egypt. The door-to-door method is the most suitable one to screen neurological disorders in our country. Over a 4-year period (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009), screening and examination had been carried out to ascertain the incidence and prevalence rate of epilepsy, stroke, cerebral palsy and Bell’s palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural population of Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt. A total of 62,583 people were screened by 3 neurologists in a door-to-door manner, including every door, using a standardized Arabic questionnaire to detect any patient with a neurological disorder. This was a project study of neurological disorders including 3 stages: first stage (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006) for data collection, designing a standardized questionnaire and screening; second stage (June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2008) for case ascertainment, classification of logical disorders and investigations, and third stage (June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009) for data entry and statistical analysis. The results of this study revealed that the total prevalence rate of neurological disorders in Al Kharga District, New Valley was 2.4/100 with no significant difference among both sexes. The highest prevalence rate was recorded among elderly people (60+ years; 9.25%) and among children ( ^18 years; 2.9%).

Epidemiology of neurological disorders is still lacking in Egypt. The door-to-door method is the most suitable one to screen neurological disorders in our country. Over a 4-year period (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009), screening and examination had been carried out to ascertain the incidence and prevalence rate of epilepsy, stroke, cerebral palsy and Bell’s palsy, as well as the prevalence of dementia, extrapyramidal syndromes, muscle and neuromuscular disorders, cerebellar ataxia and primary nocturnal enuresis among the urban and rural population of Al Kharga District, New Valley, Egypt. A total of 62,583 people were screened by 3 neurologists in a door-to-door manner, including every door, using a standardized Arabic questionnaire to detect any patient with a neurological disorder. This was a project study of neurological disorders including 3 stages: first stage (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006) for data collection, designing a standardized questionnaire and screening; second stage (June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2008) for case ascertainment, classification of logical disorders and investigations, and third stage (June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2009) for data entry and statistical analysis. The results of this study revealed that the total prevalence rate of neurological disorders in Al Kharga District, New Valley was 2.4/100 with no significant difference among both sexes. The highest prevalence rate was recorded among elderly people (60+ years; 9.25%) and among children ( ^18 years; 2.9%).

Abstract BACKGROUND: Up to one-third of patients experience swallowing problems in the period immediately after a stroke. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on post-stroke dysphagia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with post-stroke dysphagia due to monohemispheric stroke were randomly allocated to receive real (n = 14) or sham (n = 12) rTMS of the affected motor cortex. Each patient received a total of 300 rTMS pulses at an intensity of 120% hand motor threshold for five consecutive days. Clinical ratings of dysphagia and motor disability were assessed before and immediately after the last session and then again after 1 and 2 months. The amplitude of the motor-evoked potential (MEP) evoked by single-pulse TMS was also assessed before and at 1 month in 16 of the patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between patients who received real rTMS and the sham group in age, hand grip strength, Barthel Index or degree of dysphagia at the baseline assessment. Real rTMS led to a significantly greater improvement compared with sham in dysphagia and motor disability that was maintained over 2 months of follow-up. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the amplitude of the oesophageal MEP evoked from either the stroke or non-stroke hemisphere. CONCLUSION: rTMS may be a useful adjunct to conventional therapy for dysphagia after stroke.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Up to one-third of patients experience swallowing problems in the period immediately after a stroke. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on post-stroke dysphagia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with post-stroke dysphagia due to monohemispheric stroke were randomly allocated to receive real (n = 14) or sham (n = 12) rTMS of the affected motor cortex. Each patient received a total of 300 rTMS pulses at an intensity of 120% hand motor threshold for five consecutive days. Clinical ratings of dysphagia and motor disability were assessed before and immediately after the last session and then again after 1 and 2 months. The amplitude of the motor-evoked potential (MEP) evoked by single-pulse TMS was also assessed before and at 1 month in 16 of the patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between patients who received real rTMS and the sham group in age, hand grip strength, Barthel Index or degree of dysphagia at the baseline assessment. Real rTMS led to a significantly greater improvement compared with sham in dysphagia and motor disability that was maintained over 2 months of follow-up. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the amplitude of the oesophageal MEP evoked from either the stroke or non-stroke hemisphere. CONCLUSION: rTMS may be a useful adjunct to conventional therapy for dysphagia after stroke.

Background. Recent neuroimaging studies on poststroke aphasia revealed maladaptive cortical changes in both hemispheres, yet their functional contribution in language recovery remains elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of dual-hemisphere repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on poststroke aphasia. Methods. Thirty patients with subacute poststroke nonfluent aphasia were randomly allocated to receive real or sham rTMS. Each patient received 1000 rTMS pulses (1 Hz at 110% of resting motor threshold [rMT] over the right unaffected Broca’s area and 1000 pulses (20 Hz at 80% rMT) over the left affected Broca’s area for 10 consecutive days followed by speech/language training. The language section of the Hemispheric Stroke Scale (HSS), the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire–Hospital Version (SADQ-H), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were measured before, immediately after the 10 sessions, and 1 and 2 months after the last session. Results. At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups in demographic and clinical rating scales. However, there was a significantly greater improvement in the HSS language score as well as in the SADQ-H after real rTMS compared with sham rTMS, which remained significant 2 months after the end of the treatment sessions. Conclusion. This is the first clinical study of dual-hemisphere rTMS in poststroke aphasia. Combining dual-hemisphere rTMS with language training might be a feasible treatment for nonfluent aphasia; further multicenter studies are needed to confirm this result.

Background. Recent neuroimaging studies on poststroke aphasia revealed maladaptive cortical changes in both hemispheres, yet their functional contribution in language recovery remains elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of dual-hemisphere repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on poststroke aphasia. Methods. Thirty patients with subacute poststroke nonfluent aphasia were randomly allocated to receive real or sham rTMS. Each patient received 1000 rTMS pulses (1 Hz at 110% of resting motor threshold [rMT] over the right unaffected Broca’s area and 1000 pulses (20 Hz at 80% rMT) over the left affected Broca’s area for 10 consecutive days followed by speech/language training. The language section of the Hemispheric Stroke Scale (HSS), the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire–Hospital Version (SADQ-H), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were measured before, immediately after the 10 sessions, and 1 and 2 months after the last session. Results. At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups in demographic and clinical rating scales. However, there was a significantly greater improvement in the HSS language score as well as in the SADQ-H after real rTMS compared with sham rTMS, which remained significant 2 months after the end of the treatment sessions. Conclusion. This is the first clinical study of dual-hemisphere rTMS in poststroke aphasia. Combining dual-hemisphere rTMS with language training might be a feasible treatment for nonfluent aphasia; further multicenter studies are needed to confirm this result.