Biomedical subjects

Alina Borkowska

Publications and source records attributed to Alina Borkowska.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cognitive dysfunction and emotional disturbances in children with neurofibromatosis type one (Recklinghausen's disease). Review of the literature].

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder associated with a high risk of the neuropsychological, emotional and psychosocial disturbances in children with NF1. In this research the results of the psychological and neuropsychological studies in children with NF1 were presented. According to data of current research, the most common cognitive deficits are connected with visual-spatial impairment, however verbal, working memory and executive function deficits associated with prefrontal cortex dysfunction are also important. The results indicate that the neuropsychological deficits may increase during the course of the illness.

Affective Symptoms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Eye movement disturbances and working memory deficit in bipolar affective disorder].

UNLABELLED: THE AIM AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to assess the intensity and frequency of eye movement abnormalities measured with infrared reflectometry, and working memory disturbances assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The study was performed in 87 patients with bipolar affective illness, in 119 patients with schizophrenia and in 90 healthy persons. In patients, the assessment was done during a mild symptomatic period or in remission. RESULTS: In patients with bipolar affective illness significant disturbances of eye movement and working memory compared with healthy subjects were found. Frequency and intensity of fixation abnormalities was less intense compared to schizophrenic patients, while smooth pursuit abnormalities had a similar degree. Working memory disturbances in bipolar patients were, as to the ability of formulation of logical conception, of similar degree as in schizophrenia. On the other hand, as to the effectiveness of thinking, no difference compared with healthy controls was found. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest that eye movement and working memory disturbances may constitute neurophysiological and neuropsychological endophenotypic markers of bipolar affective illness what makes possible using them in molecular genetic studies of this illness.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The assessment of temperament, quality of life and intensity of depressive symptoms in patients with Hodgkin's disease in different stages of the illness].

Hodgkin's disease is an oncology illness of unknown aetiology connected with high risk of psychological disturbances, depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess temperamental factors, intensity of depression and quality of life in patients with Hodgkin's disease in the diagnostic period, active oncology treatment and in remission. In this study 50 subjects with a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease participated, all aged 20-65 years. Temperament was assessed using the Zawadzki and Strelau Temperament Scale, quality of life was measured using the WHO QL scale. The intensity of depressive symptoms was evaluated by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The results obtained suggested a possibility of changes in temperamental factors of patients with Hodgkin's disease in different stages of the illness, a significant increase of depressive symptoms and the association between intensity of depression and quality of life as well as intensity of temperamental changes. The differences between the results obtained in male and female subjects with Hodgkin's disease indicate different coping mechanisms in male and female patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuropsychological assessment in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of fronto-temporal dementia].

Clinical diagnosis of fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) and its rare variants (semantic dementia and primary progressive aphasia) represents a special challenge bearing in mind its difficulties and is important due to therapeutic differences with the most common Alzheimer's dementia. Of note, cholinesterase inhibitors commonly prescribed in Alzheimer's disease are not effective in FTD and a novel drug, memantine, has not been evaluated as yet. Neuropsychological evaluation is an important add-on to neurological, psychiatric and neuroimaging assessments in the clinical diagnosis of FTD. In this paper, we have described characteristics of neuropsychological deficits observed in FTD (such as attention, language, visuospatial and memory impairments) as well as tools used (tests) in clinical practice. Special attention is paid to the utility of neuropsychological examination in the differential diagnosis of FTD versus Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and other, less common forms of dementia.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Working memory: neuropsychological and neurobiological issues].

Working memory denotes an ability to remember information for a short-time and to manipulate it. The memory allows including correct information depending on the situation, to keep the information on present activities for a while and enables changing the reaction according to new criteria. The relation between working memory and efficiency of complex cognitive processes and also with the control of emotional processes, plasticity of behaviour and consciousness was demonstrated. Working memory is connected with the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of the brain. Recently, it has been shown, that working memory disturbances play an important role in the aetiopathogenesis of psychiatric disturbances such as schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Working memory disturbances are also shown in a proportion of healthy first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorders. Working memory disturbances are presently regarded as a cognitive endophenotypic marker of vulnerability to these illnesses. In recent years, an association between working memory abilities and activity of different neurotransmitters, especially with the dopaminergic system in the brain, has been shown. Molecular genetic studies show an association between working memory abilities and polymorphism of the dopaminergic system genes in schizophrenia and polymorphism of BDNF gene in bipolar affective disorders. So far not much data about the genetics of working memory in healthy subjects has been gathered. Currently in Poland such research is carried on in the Clinical Neuropsychology Unit Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz in cooperation with the Department of Adult Psychiatry and Laboratory of Psychiatric Genetics University of Medical Sciences in Poznań.

Bipolar Disorder↗