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Biomedical subjects

M Drobný

Publications and source records attributed to M Drobný.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Unique case of eleven Bell's palsy episodes.

Bell's palsy (BP) is a peripheral facial nerve paralysis of unknown etiology. It is not a life-threatening condition; however, incomplete recovery may leave an individual stigmatized functionally, occupationally as well as socially. Recurrent paralyses are seldom, noted in 7-8% of all BP cases. More than two BP relapses are even less frequent. Adour et al. (1977) reported only two patients with four BP episodes from 1700 patients. Only one patient with more than four BP recurrences in the group containing 2414 BP cases were reported by Yanagihara et al. (1984). The highest reported number of BP recurrences in the accessible literature has been nine. We are presenting an unusual patient who suffered a total of eleven relapses of an idiopathic facial nerve palsy. Description of the case along with review of the relevant literature are discussed.

Adult↗

Possible extrapyramidal system degradation in Parkinson's disease.

Extrapyramidal system, a rich network of nerve and glial cells consists of subcortical and cortical grey matter. The system serves as an integrator of unaware, automatic, repeated, spontaneous, complicated and purposeful motor samples. Muscle tone regulation and its distribution is another decisive extrapyramidal function. This review article concerns to some degradation mechanisms in extrapyramidal system, as either the programmed cell death or apoptosis. The physiologic extracellular decreasing signals creating apoptosis (nerve growth factor--fall) are either genetically expressed or there are neuropathophysiologic processes that may activate pathways leading to apoptosis, namely oxidative stress, glutamate toxicity and calcium homeostasis disruption. The level of dopamine transporter expression (mRNA, methyl-phenyl-pyridinium) might determine the vulnerability of the nigral neurons to the Parkinsonian insult. The most common clinical picture of extrapyramidal disorder-Parkinson's disease-consists of an active dopamine cell death-apoptosis, which is partially programmed like as programmed cell death and partially accidentally installed chain of events. Without morphological criteria, biochemical indicators such as laddered DNA fragmentation pattern and/or the requirement for macromolecular synthesis merely suggest but do not provide unequivocal evidence for apoptosis. There are either genetic or acquired conditions creating unbalance of Bax/Bcl-2 families-proapoptotic and prooncogenic factors, respectively. The first Bax gene cooperates with other genes coding the new transmembrane proteins into the mitochondrial megapores determinating transition by means of death receptors. Bcl-2 codes prooncogenic mitoses and tissue proliferation. The neuroprotective hypothesis of the dopamine agonist action is a very attractive working hypothesis and some of its tenets are derived from the oxidative stress hypothesis for neurodegeneration, but this hypothesis is still controversial.

Aged↗

Four quantitative EMG methods and theirs individual parameter diagnostic value.

Quantitative electromyography (EMG) usage in daily clinical medicine can exclude the investigation results influencing by the electromyographer's subjective factor in needle EMG. The aim of our study was to compare the diagnostic efficiency of these quantitative EMG methods which have found some more consistent application in routine neurologic practice. We have investigated 35 healthy subjects and 59 patients with two basic types of neuromuscular disorders (neuropathies and myopathies) by means of four quantitative EMG methods: 1--modified Buchthal's low threshold MUAPs (motor unit action potentials) analysis; 2--interference EMG pattern Dorfman's and McGill's limited decomposition; 3--interference EMG pattern spectral analysis; 4--interference EMG pattern turns-amplitude analysis. In results analysis parameter's 95% confidence intervals were calculated by Campbell and Gardner and the difference between three subject groups (controls, neuropathies, myopathies) was evaluated by special multidimensional statistics (Hotelling T2 test) using simultaneously all tested parameters of four quantitative EMG methods. The modified Buchthal's low threshold MUAPs analysis was the most effective method in discovering neuropathy and myopathy with area as the best discriminating parameter. The diagnostic power in neuropathies may be increased using selected quantitative EMG methods or theirs individual parameters combinations. Several aspects of applyied quantitative EMG methods and aquired data statistical analysis are discussed.

Action Potentials↗

[Memory, awareness and learning in general anesthesia].

Enough information concerning memory and other cognitive functions in total anesthesia is available in the literature. Some basic theories about neuronal mechanisms of memory and consciousness are known. An attempt trying to bridge the gap between psychological and biologic levels is the usage of anesthetics in pharmacologic tests enabling the study of their influence on awareness and memory in humans. With the help of this approach it is possible to inquire into the psychological mechanisms and to demonstrate the influence of anesthetics on them. 44 patients were included in the study, operated on in inhalation anesthesia. The effects of anesthesia on awareness, consciousness, learning and memory in our study sample were following: 1. No episode of awareness was observed during the study; 2. There was an improvement of the memory quotient (MQ) following total inhalation anesthesia (p < 0.05); 3. The pain threshold significantly decreased after anesthesia (p < 0.001); 4. There exists a learning mechanism in total anesthesia more efficient in the group of patients auditively learning pain related words (p < 0.05) comparing to the control group of patients auditively learning pain nonrelated words; 5. Statistical analysis of the number of remembered pain related words and pain nonrelated words revealed significantly higher number of words in the first group of pain related words (p < 0.001). (Tab. 3, fig. 6, Ref. 22.)

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

[Local immune defects--products of free oxygen radicals].

The discussion about the supporting task of four main active oxygen dependent mechanisms mediating and modulating immune signals was included in the work, along with the discussion on antioxidants influencing these mechanisms. The former include xanthine-oxidase, cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, aldehyde oxygenase metabolic chains. Currently, we are just beginning to realize that active oxygen and antioxidants can modulate the induction of physiological signals, and that these effects are not limited to the immune system. The effects of antioxidant treatment could represent neutralization of harmful radicals, albeit they can simply represent modulation of complex biochemical events which are essential parts of normal metabolism. Some natural antioxidants, e.g. alfa-to-copherol, ascorbic acid and beta-carotens are very good means of the primary prevention, but with acute failure of local antioxidants, they do not prevent the excessive production of proliferative inflammatory tissue. Tirilazad-mesylate has threefold beneficial influences: first as an inhibitor of the creation of oxygen radicals, second as a scavenger or quencher of free oxygen radicals, and finally in the arrangement of the defects in the phospholipid bilayer and possible receptors of macrophages, as well as T cells. The drug is suitable for active modulation of locally changed immune reactions and thus it rejects harmful proliferative inflammation in the subdural space. Until recently it has been eliminated by surgical procedure. The authors expel the thick (0.8 cm) subdural collection of the proliferative inflammatory product by tandem treatment which includes methylprednisolon+tirilazad-mesylate for three days, followed by fourteen days of methylprednisolon, which was gradually decreased in daily oral doses. This is a revolutionary change in the treatment of similar intracranial processes. (Fig. 4, Ref. 21.)

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

[Single-photon emission-computed tomography in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases].

BACKGROUND: SPECT-HM-PAO allows to detect the regional cerebral blood flow and total diminution of the brain perfusion still before morphological substrate evolution in CT scan, without invasive technologies. SEARCH GOAL: The authors have analyzed data obtained by SPECT-99mTc HM-PAO in the group of 46 patients suffering from cerebrovascular disorders and they have compared them with results aimed by CT scans. Both, the SPECT-99mTc HM-PAO and CT scan were performed within 48 hours or later after the onset of the stroke; some of CT scans were repeatedly performed. RESULTS: They discovered 40 positive and 6 negative SPECT-HM-PAO findings, 26 positive and 20 negative CT scans. SPECT investigation more frequently discovers circulatory failures in the clinically altered hemisphere than the CT scan does in a substrate; SPECT discloses hypoperfusion of the clinically unaltered hemisphere if silent hypoperfusion is present. The ipsilateral foci of CT substrates were significantly less frequently observed (p < 0.001) than some ipsilateral regional hypoperfusions. Not only the number, but also size and extent of hypoperfusional foci searched by SPECT are significantly higher and wider than the numbers and dimensions of substrates observed by CT (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CT scan diagnostic possibilities are restricted by the time factor (CT examinations performed within 48 hours since the onset of the stroke are significantly less frequently positive than those performed later-p < 0.001). SPECT examination has not such a limiting time factor (p > 0.05). MEANING: Hence SPECT-HM-PAO renders early, long lasting and wide information on the restriction of the overall and regional perfusion, independently of the fact as to whether the reduction of cerebral perfusion is, or is not going to result in ischemic necrosis and/or ischemic sclerosis. SPECT renders correlation of the perfusion disorder earlier, wider in space, and more frequently than the CT scan, and therefore it is a prerequisite to the disclosure of the mentioned silent focal blood flow reductions. (Graph 12, Fig. 3, Ref. 4.)

Adult↗

[Selected parameters of lipoprotein metabolism in cerebrovascular diseases].

In series of patients with stroke, selected by random (n = 68), mean age 62.44 +/- 9.12 years (range 39-82 yrs), there were 23 females (33.8%), mean age 65.43 +/- 10.11 yrs and 45 males (66.2%) mean age 60.8 +/- 8.3 yrs. Lp(a) reference values have been obtained from a group of 283 healthy individuals (age ranging from 15 to 65 years). The cholesterol, triacyglycerol, Apo B reference values come from the database of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry. There were 52 hypoxemic stroke patients in the whole observed group. Triacylglycerol serum level TAG < or = 2.89 mmol/l was observed in 47 cases (90.3%), the serum level TAG > 2.89 mmol/l was present in 5 cases (9.7%). The occurrence of TAG normal serum level was significantly more frequent than its pathologic increase (p < 0.001). Apolipoprotein Apo B < or = 1.67 g/l serum level was present in 41 (78.8%) and Apo B > 1.67 g/l in 11 (21.2%) cases (p < 0.001). Apo B < or = 1.67 g/l serum levels in 23 cases (82.1%) and Apo B > 1.67 g/l in 5 cases (18%) were observed among the stroke diabetes mellitus patients (n = 28)--statistic difference in 1/1000 level. In the total hypoxemic stroke group (n = 52), Lp(a) < or = 0.278 g/l was observed in 44 cases (84.6%), Lp(a) > 0.278 g/l serum level was present in 8 cases (15.4%)/ - p < 0.001. According to EASD consensus the serum level of Lp(a) = 0.278 g/l has been considered as "cut-off limit". Similar distribution of Lp(a) serum levels was observed in the diabetes mellitus stroke group (n = 28), the ischemic heart group (n = 54), the group with aortosclerosis (n = 16) and in the group with arterial hypertension (n = 50). Elevated TAG serum levels were not in correlation with the number of sites where atherosclerotic changes were proved by arteriography, ultrasound investigation e.g. in the extracranial brain supplying arteries. Elevated Lp(a) serum levels did not correlate with the stage of ischemic heart disease and they correlated with the stage of functional CNS defect in arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Metabolic disorders of lipoprotein and apolipoprotein, namely genomic transcription of lipoprotein seem to be more significant risk stroke factors, but, if they are present, they contribute to the occurrence of arteriosclerosis of some larger arteries. Elevated Lp(a) serum levels did not correlate with the stage of the heart ischemic disease and aortosclerosis, but they correlate with the stage of functional CNS defect due to arteriosclerosis and arterial hypertension, hence the increase in Lp(a) serum level as an indicator of arteriosclerotic evolution of cerebral arteries is significant. Our results, hence, do confirm a common supposition for Lp(a) serum level as an independent arteriosclerotic risk factor of the brain arteries. (Fig. 7, Tab. 1, Ref. 22.)

Adolescent↗

[Nociception and mental functions after combined neuroleptanalgesia].

In a group of 25 patients divided at random into subgroups anaesthetized by neuroleptoanalgesia or ataralgesia resp. on account of arthroscopy, the authors assessed the state of mental functions--perception, memory before, and after operation, emotional make-up, affectivity, cognitive functions and some personality parameters. By means of an algometer and the cuff of a manometer they assessed the threshold of pressure and ischemic pressure pain. They found that in no instance intraoperative experience appeared, the threshold of nociceptive pressure perception was considerably reduced after operation in both groups. The threshold of ischemic pressure pain was significantly reduced only in the group with Hb greater than 150 and Le greater than 8.0, anaesthetized by neuroleptanalgesia. A significant increase of the depressivity (5%) was recorded in the group with combined neuroleptoanalgesia. Dysphoria and emotional indifference increased (5%) in the group with neuroleptanalgesia. Within 2-4 hours after termination of anaesthesia significant consolidation of long-term memory occurred, whereby short-term memory did not display any changes in either group i.e. regardless of the type of anaesthesia. Attention was significantly improved after both types of anaesthesia, but more markedly after neuroleptanalgesia. In the group with combined neuroleptanalgesia sensory and neurasthenic complaints improved (5%). The degree of experienced fear and anxiety in conjunction with the operation as well other psychic parameters before operation were equal in both groups and the groups were thus equivalent. In relation to the plasma cortisol level (degree of preoperative stress) there was a close correlation between the emotional lability on the one hand and maladaptation on the other. The degree of preoperative stress created a close correlation between fear and maladaptation on the one hand and frightening experience on the other.

Adult↗

[Sudden cerebrovascular accidents in the District of Martin. The clinical picture and epidemiologic data].

The authors investigated stroke morbidity (incidence, prevalence) and mortality, established register, and analyzed the epidemiological situation of this disease in the Martin district. Precondition for this study has been in 35 years neurological following the stroke patients at four neurological out-patients departments of the district and their hospitalization at the Neurological Clinic in Martin. During the period from 1983-1986 559 patients with an average age of 64.1 +/- 12.8 years (the range being 4-97 years) were treated at the above institutions. During four years of the study the average incidence of the stroke was 108/100.000/year. The mortality of the group 45/100.000/year is, as compared with world-wide statistics, low and is due to the care devoted to stroke patients for many years. The calculated, so-called expected prevalence, is 920 +/- 147/100.000 and can be explained by the relatively low mortality. In the Turiec region there are some 1012 +/- 162 stroke patients. This number was obtained by calculation for the number of inhabitants of the Martin District.

Adult↗