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Biomedical subjects

J Walecki

Publications and source records attributed to J Walecki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Intracranial volume reserve determination using CT images, numerical analysis and lumbar infusion tests. An experimental study.

The epidural balloon compression model in the cat was used in intracranial volume reserve studies. The evaluation of the intracranial volume-pressure relations was based on the lumbar infusion test data: intracranial pressure, CSF outflow resistance, volume-pressure response and on CT images numerical analysis (CTINA) values. Two methods were applied and compared in the study: lumbar infusion test and CT images numerical analysis. The determinations were performed at the balloon volumes of 0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, and 1.5 ml. First statistically significant changes were found at the balloon volume of 0.5 ml i.e. the increase of CSF outflow resistance and volume-pressure response (data obtained in lumbar infusion test) and the decrease in CTINA values. The rise of intracranial pressure was less informative as it was observed at the balloon volume of 1.5 ml. Therefore CTINA seems to be a very useful noninvasive screening method in clinical studies of intracranial volume reserve.

Animals

[Superiority of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over computerized tomography (CT) in diagnosis of hypopituitarism].

Hypopituitarism can be a result of various lesions of hypothalamus, pituitary stalk, or of the pituitary gland itself. The aim of the study was to assess the value of CT and MRI examinations in determination of the cause of hypopituitarism. Seventeen patients with hypopituitarism (9 women and 8 men) aged 22 to 61 years have been examined. In three cases growth deficiency was observed, 4 women had galactorrhoea, 4 patients had diabetes insipidus, 16 patients had supra-adrenal insufficiency, 14 had signs of hypogonadism and 10 hypothyroidism. In each case plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, PRL, TSH, alpha-subunit, ACTH before and after appropriate stimulation with TRH, metoclopramid, LH-RH, GRF or metyrapon were determined with RIA. Every patient was examined both with CT and MRI (0.5 T Toshiba MRT 50a). All 17 patients had abnormal MR images of hypothalamo-pituitary area, while only 10 of them had abnormalities in their CT scans. In remaining 7 patients the MRI revealed: three cases of congenital malformation of hypophyseal stalk, two cases of empty sella, one posttraumatic lesion of the stalk and one case of granulomatous infiltration of the stalk. We found MRI superior to CT in establishing the case of hypopituitarism.

Adult

[A case of pituitary stalk tumor diagnosed with magnetic resonance (MRI)].

Authors present a case of 28-year old female with anterior hypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus, with properly functioning anterior pituitary cells as showed by means of measuring pituitary hormones in response to neurohormones i.v. injections. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed neoplastic tissue in the pituitary stalk destroying supraopticohypophysial and paraventriculohypophysial tracts, as well as portal blood system, thus preventing release of vasopressin and these hypothalamic neurohormones from accessing anterior pituitary.

Adult

New long-acting bromocriptine (Parlodel MR and Parlodel LAR) in the treatment of pituitary tumours with hyperprolactinemia.

In order to assess the efficacy and tolerability of new long acting bromocriptine: Parlodel MR (oral form) and Parlodel LAR (injectable form suitable for repeatable administration) 40 patients (29 women and 11 men) with pituitary tumours with hyperprolactinemia (PRL 70 micrograms/l) were investigated in a double blind study. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 20. In the first group Parlodel R or Parlodel MR in equivalent doses was given, the other group was administered Parlodel R or Parlodel LAR. During the next 6 months 20 patients were treated with Parlodel MR and the other 20 with Parlodel LAR. In all patients pituitary and peripheral hormones, CT scan and visual fields were examined before and after 28 days of bromocriptine treatment. During the next six months 20 patients were treated with Parlodel MR while the other 20 with Parlodel LAR. Serum PRL fell in all patients and values in the normal range were obtained in 36 patients. In 30 out of 35 patients with signs of pituitary tumour in CT scan, a significant tumour shrinkage was observed. Most patients achieved considerable clinical improvement: disappearance of galactorrhoea, resumed menses in women, increased potency in men. There were no difference in efficacy in Parlodel R, Parlodel MR and Parlodel LAR, but in the case of Parlodel LAR the least number of side effects was found. Treatment with long acting bromocriptine-Parlodel MR and LAR of patients with pituitary tumours with hyperprolactinemia is an efficacious, safe and better tolerated method than Parlodel R treatment.

Adult

Mixed pituitary tumours--effects of bromocriptine treatment: Parlodel MR and Parlodel LAR.

Majority of pituitary tumours secrete one of the named hormones: PRL, GH, ACTH, proopiomelanocortine, alpha and beta subunit of TSH, LH, and FSH. Some of those tumours secrete two or more hormones. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of bromocriptine (Parlodel MR and LAR) upon secretion of hormones and tumour size in 10 patients with mixed pituitary tumours. In all patients pituitary and peripheral hormones, CT scan and visual fields were examined before and after treatment with bromocriptine: Parlodel MR and LAR. Bromocriptine treatment decreased PRL secretion in all 10 patients; GH--in all 6 in whom it was increased; TSH--in 2, FSH--in 2 and alpha-subunit in all 6 in whom they were increased. In 5 patients treatment resulted in shrinkage of the tumour mass by 20 to 35%. In all examined subjects clinical improvement was achieved. Our results demonstrate that bromocriptine (Parlodel MR and LAR) is very effective and well tolerated in the treatment of patients with mixed pituitary tumours particularly those with hyperprolactinemia.

Adult

Measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in postmenopausal osteoporosis: effect of estrogen.

UNLABELLED: To determine the efficacy of the estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on the bone mineral density (BMD) measured with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in postmenopausal osteoporosis 16 women aged 46-72 were examined. They were divided into two groups: 8 women treated with conjugated estrogens (Group I) and 8 who did not received ERT (Group II). In all 16 patients the serum hormonal concentrations (LH, FSH and estradiol) were measured with radioimmunological methods. The bone densitometry was performed in all of them using the single-energy computed tomography (QCT) with the computer Picker 1200. Bone mineral density was measured in three lumbar vertebra (L1-L3) and expressed in milligrams K2HPO4 per ml. The bone mineral density (BMD) was statistically significantly higher in the estrogen treated group (Group I) in every vertebra compared with that of controls (Group II). The serum FSH concentration was statistically significantly lower in the ERT group (Group I) and a statistically significant correlation between FSH level and average BMD (Lmean) was present. IN CONCLUSION: 1. the ERT is very efficacious in preventing bone loss in postmenopausal women; 2. measurement of BMD in lumbar vertebra L1 or L3 may be a sufficiently reliable and accurate, cost-effective and time-saving method of screening for osteoporosis; 3. the serum FSH determination seems to be useful in monitoring of the estrogen therapy for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Aged

[The so-called stroke headache].

Sudden violent headache occurring for the first time in life suggests subarachnoid haemorrhage and requires diagnostic management. In 20 cases the authors failed to find blood in cerebrospinal fluid, but in 8 cases the protein level was raised. The patients were examined again after 2-10 years, and had control neurological examination and CT of the brain. In half the cases similar headaches returned after various time periods, and haemorrhage was again ruled out. In all patient chronic headaches of lower intensity developed. Control CT examination showed in 7 cases scars or atrophy of brain tissue. It is difficult to qualify such headaches as migraine and other known types of headache. Recently in the literature a new name has been coined for them--thunderclap headaches, and some authors regard them as a sign of minor intracranial haemorrhage. CT changes, raised protein level in cerebrospinal fluid, and the type of pain may suggest haemorrhage. The usefulness of cerebral arteriography in such patients should be considered. We propose the name of stoke headache for suggesting the cause and special management.

Brain

Evaluation of oedema spreading and intracranial volume reserve using CT image numerical analysis.

Using the cold lesion model vasogenic oedema was produced in 8 cats. The intracranial volume reserve was evaluated applying CT image numerical analysis (CTINA). Summarizing all voxels corresponding to CSF and brain tissue in 8 CT slices, the brain/CSF ratio was computed. The animals were studied at different time intervals after the lesion (2 h, 4 h, 6 h) then sacrificed and the spreading of oedema was estimated based on the BBB disturbances. The brain/CSF ratios varied from mean value of 0.043 in control animals to mean values of 0.022 in animals 6 hours after the lesion. The CTINA method was found very useful as a noninvasive screening method to study brain oedema development with a promising application in clinical practice.

Animals

Application of dynamic computed tomography scan and computed tomography densitometry in the evaluation of brain volume enlargement.

Cats with brain cold injury and epidural balloon compression with sudden decompression were used as models of vasogenic or ischemic edema and vasoparalysis of the brain vessels. Dynamic CT scan and CT densitometric studies were performed to diagnose and differentiate between brain edema and vasoparalytic changes. The CT methods were found to be useful in CBF and edema zone estimation. The correlation of CT scan and CT densitometry enabled us to evaluate the degree of autoregulation disorders and can be also applied in clinical investigations.

Blood-Brain Barrier

[Value of computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in difficult diagnosis of the cases of pituitary adenoma].

Thanks to endocrinological and radiological diagnostic improvement and development of pituitary adenoma neurosurgery, CT-examination became a routine examination in such cases, in selected situations supported with MRI-examination. The authors report a short bibliography review of radiologically difficult cases, explained thanks to CT and MRI-examinations.

Adenoma