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Biomedical subjects

J Kwasucki

Publications and source records attributed to J Kwasucki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Use of nociceptive flexion reflex in the evaluation of morphine analgesia].

A close correlation between the threshold of the nociceptive flexion reflex and pain threshold makes this reflex useful for the examination of pain and analgesia level. Earlier investigations showed that in sciatica the threshold of the nociceptive reflex was decreased in the extremity with pain, and that the degree of this decrease was proportional++ to pain intensity and intensity of radicular sings. In the presently reported study the nociceptive flexion reflex was investigated in 20 patients after epidural injection of 5 mg of morphine. After this blockade the degree of analgesia and the value of the reflex were determined. Improvement was obtained in 80% of patients, with complete disappearance of pain in 55%. In all improved patients the previously decreased threshold of the nociceptive flexion reflex increased again to normal values.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessment of regional blood flow in patients after mild head trauma].

Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) using radioisotope markers was applied for analysis of regional blood flow in the brain. The method makes possible demonstration of the presence and extent of damage to the nervous tissue caused by trauma. The degree of blood flow impairment is of prognostic significance in cases of cerebral concussion. In the present study the regional brain blood flow was assessed shortly after trauma and one year in cases of mild cerebral concussion. In the studied group immediately after trauma blood flow impairment was found mostly in the left temporal area and in frontal areas. Changes of rCBI were present also late after trauma. In 7 out of 16 cases SPECT image failed to change one year after trauma. In 8 cases the rCB improved up to normalization. In 1 case the changes progressed, in another case hyperperfusion focus changed to hypoperfusion. In 2 cases the pattern was normal early and lata after trauma. In the studied group in cases with changed rCBF no changes were found in CT and MRI examinations. This evidence a greater sensitivity and usefulness of SPECT in the assessment of early and late consequences of head trauma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Late results of Horton's headache treatment using peripheral stimulation].

The effects were assessed of peripheral stimulation (chemical acupuncture and electroacupuncture) on the character of pain and duration of remission in 48 patients with Horton's headaches. A direct analgesic effect was obtained in about 48% of cases, and a prolongation of the time interval without pain was 2 to 21 times longer than the duration of the longest interval without pain before the treatment with acupuncture in about 40% of cases. In some cases, despite absence of a direct analgesic effect, prolongation of remission was obtained.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Beta endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the blood of patients with chronic pain treated by pinpoint receptor stimulation (acupuncture)].

The authors present the results of determinations of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the plasma carried out before and after pinpoint receptor stimulation (prs) that is acupuncture in patients with long-standing pain. No significant differences were observed in this immunoreactivity after prs, and the clinical analgesic effect was independent of the level of this immunoreactivity and its changes during these procedures. On the other hand, a positive correlation was demonstrated between plasma beta-endorphin concentration and the neuroticism index as evaluated by Eysenck's personality inventory. The reliability of this observation requires, however, confirmation in a greater material.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[2 cases of congenital analgesia].

The authors describe two cases of congenital indifference to pain in a man aged 34 years and a woman aged 23 years. The clinical manifestations in both cases fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of these disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Questionnaire method of evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment of pain].

A Polish version of pain questionnaire for pain intensity definition has been prepared after an inquiry study on the "pain glossary" which showed that in the Polish language a large number of words are used for characterization of pain. These words contain information about pain intensity understandable for the studied population. The authors describe this questionnaire and discuss a preliminary evaluation of its usefulness for assessing the effectiveness of pain management. The presented questionnaire makes possible evaluation of pain intensity in several indices whose values correlate significantly with each other. In comparative investigations a significant correlation has been found also between the indices of pain intensity in the questionnaire and the index in the 24-hour observation card. The mean differences of pain intensity scores calculated before and after the treatment differed significantly in definite categories of verbal evaluation of treatment effectiveness. This justifies the conclusion that the questionnaire may be useful for evaluating treatment effectiveness by a method not depending on the utterances of the patients.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The analgesic effect of interference currents in radicular pains].

The authors tried out the analgetic effectiveness of interference currents generated by an Interdyn--ID 79 unit of Polish production in the treatment of radicular pains caused by disc prolapse. The analgesic effect, its degree and duration were assessed. In 72% of cases a good analgesic effect was obtained lasting at least one month, and in 35% of cases complete remission of pain was was achieved. It is stressed that the obtained effects were similar to those obtained by other methods of nervous system electrostimulation, such as: percutaneous electrostimulation, electroacupuncture, spinal cord electrostimulation, or diadynamic currents.

Electric Stimulation Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diurnal rhythm of pain in sciatica. Preliminary report].

Similarly as nearly all processes taking place continuously in the organism pain shows also frequently a circadian rhythm. In 30 patients with ischalgia pain intensity was studied over 24-hour periods during 7 successive days. The patients noted graphically the intensity of pain on a specially prepared scale. In the light of the data obtained from the patients three types of circadian pain rhythm curves were isolated. In 83,3% of cases the co urse of pain had an evident circadian rhythm returning during successive days. In 19 cases (63.3%) pain was particularly increased in the evening and night hours. In 6 cases (20%) the peak intensity of pain was in the morning hours (5-10 a.m.). In the remaining 5 cases (16%) its intensity was unchanged, without any circadian fluctuations. No relationship was demonstrated between pain rhythm and the age, sex, disease duration, spinal radiological changes, sensory or motor deficit. Pain rhythm is individual feature connected, probably, with other rhythmic processes in the organism, particularly with the rhythm of corticosteroid or endorphin release. Increased intensity of pain may be connected with falling level of these substances in the organism. In 35 patients with a significant nocturnal rhythm of ischalgic pain a trial was undertaken of treating the pain with dexomethasone administered in the evening hours in the painless period. The doses were 1-2 mg. In nearly 70% of cases (24 patients) a good effect of this treatment was obtained. This work based exclusively on clinical observations requires further studies and it is regarded by the authors as a preliminary communication.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cough-induced headache].

The authors present a case of cough-induced headache and discuss the probable mechanism of its development.

Cough↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Modified acupuncture in the treatment of pain].

The authors report the results of treatment with a modification of acupuncture associated with chemical stimulation in 144 patients with painful radicular syndromes and headaches. In 57 cases sciatic pains were present, in 21 cases shoulder pains, in 20 migraine and in 46 vasomotor headaches. Permanent disappearance of pain, that is disappearance of pain during the procedure and lack of recurrence within several successive days, was obtained in about 40% of cases of radicular syndromes and in 62% of cases of headaches, early disappearance of pain for 3 to 48 hours after the procedure was obtained in 14% of radicular syndromes and nearly 26% headaches, while improvement, that is reduction of pain intensity, was achieved in 29.5% of radicular pains and 3% of headaches, while in 15.3% of cases of radicular syndromes and 9% of cases of headaches no improvement was observed. Both vasomotor headaches and neuralgias belong to the group of nervous system diseases in which pain is the basic and sole symptom, while treatment includes its removal. In these cases acupuncture is a valuable analgesic method. The presently reported results agree with those in the literature on the use of classical acupuncture and its modifications. It is worth stressing that insertion of needles into the traditional points used in classical acupuncture is without any greater importance was shown by the presently reported experiences (various points were used in the same case) as well as by the reports of other authors. The modification of acupuncture with addition of chemical stimulation has been tried by the authors for 4 years. A weak stimulus resulting from insertion of the needle and irritation of the nerve endings with concentrated sodium chloride acts similarly as mechanical or electrical irritation. The method is simple and completely safe.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Type of pain, personality traits and effectiveness of modified acupuncture].

In 50 patients with headaches and 50 with radicular pains pain sensitivity and pain tolerance as well as personality traits (Eysenck and Cattell questionnaire) were determined and a modification of acupuncture (with additional chemical stimulation) was used for treatment. The results of treatment were compared with personality traits. Differences were found in the personality traits between patients with paroxysmal headaches and patients with radicular pains. No statistically significant correlation was found, on the other hand, between the results of treatment and personality traits. The obtained results were best in the group of patients with paroxysmal headaches (permanent analgesic effect obtained in 70% of cases). The results of treatment obtained in the group of patients with continuous headaches and with radicular pains were similar. In patients with a lower threshold of pain sensitivity a higher proportion of permanent disappearance of pain was observed after treatment, and this observation may be useful for establishing indications to this therapy. Lack of any influence of personality traits on the result of this modified acupuncture may suggest that the basic analgesic action of these procedure is at lower levels of the nervous system and that it causes blockade of inflow of pain stimuli.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the direct analgesic effect of ministimulators].

Percutaneous electrostimulation is a new method of analgesia and it is hoped that good effects can be obtained in painful syndromes resistant to other therapeutic methods. Its basic advantage is the possibility of controlling the parameters during the stimulation by the patient who is wearing a miniaturized apparatus generating impulses of desired parameters. The authors tried out the effectiveness of ministimulators of Polish design for the treatment of neuralgic pains in inpatients and outpatients. The electrodes were placed at the sites of greatest pain and along peripheral nerves. The immediate analgesic effect of the stimulation, its degree and duration were evaluated. In 67% of patients an immediate improvement was obtained, and in 16% of them the pain disappeared completely. The authors stress that the effectiveness of this method equals that of various types of acupuncture and discuss a possible common mechanism of action of both methods.

Analgesia↗