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Biomedical subjects

R Podemski

Publications and source records attributed to R Podemski.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Expression of Fas antigen on T cell subpopulations in peripheral blood of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: During the relapse of multiple sclerosis, the activation of T cells, autoreactive to myelin antigens in blood, enhanced and maintained as a result of anomalous mechanisms of their earlier elimination, leads on para- and autocrine basis to the activation of antigen- non-specific cells of immune system. In consequence, activated cells secrete a range of proinflammatory cytokines and display activation antigen expression on their surface, which results in blood-brain barrier damage. The differentiation of lymphocytes into effector cells in blood during MS relapse is to increase the number of cells supporting inflammatory reactions and simultaneously to reduce the number of cells which play a role of suppressors. Fas antigen is present among activation antigens found on T cells. Once this antigen has been combined with the ligand, it transmits apoptic signal to the cell. The presence of Fas antigen on activated peripheral blood T cells may enable us to estimate their activation and it may also indicate a potential to eliminate those cells from blood. The aim of the study was to provide a quantitative assessment of the subpopulations of CD3, CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes in peripheral blood and to investigate Fas antigen expression on these subsets in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, in relation to clinical activation of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients participated in the study, including 14 patients finding themselves in clinical relapse of the disease and 21 patients in the state of remission. Additionally, 21 healthy subjects were included. Quantitative assessment of individual subpopulations and Fas co-expression was carried out with the use of monoclonal antibodies anti CD3, CD4 and CD8 as well as anti CD95 antibodies, and flow cytometer Pas/Dako Galaxy. RESULTS: The differences in the percentage of particular lymphocytes between 3 groups proved insignificant. Patients in the relapse of the disease showed significantly greater Fas expression on subpopulations CD3 and CD4 when compared to the results obtained from remission patients and control subjects. This difference was not observed for Fas expression on subset CD8. CONCLUSIONS: The investigation of Fas receptor expression may be useful in order to monitor clinical course of the disease, which is characterised by the periods of exacerbation and remission.

Adult↗

[Clinical course and changes of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in serum of multiple sclerosis patients].

UNLABELLED: Changes were assessed in serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R alpha) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), indirect indices of activation of immunological system, in the course of multiple sclerosis (ms). 12 patients (av. age 39.2 +/- 9.4 y.) with the first relapse that fulfilled criteria of clinical probable ms acc. to Poser Committee were included into the study. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of the relapse and then every 2-month periods. Simultaneously, neurological impairment (EDSS scale) was assessed. When the next relapse occurred examination was repeated from the beginning. The total time of observation was between 12 and 18 months. The levels of both soluble molecules were examined with ELISA test. In relapse mean serum levels of sIL-2R alpha and sICAM-1 were significantly elevated in comparison to the results obtained in remission (respectively: p < 0.001 and p = 0.03). Changes in serum level of both soluble molecules during the first 2 months after relapse were significantly higher than in subsequent 2-month periods (p < 0.001). Each relapse was accompanied by elevation of serum levels of sIL-2R alpha and sICAM-1. There was no obtainable correlation between improvement in EDSS scale and changes in sIL-2R alpha level during the whole time of observation. Improvement in EDSS scale was correlated with lowering of sICAM-1 but only during the first two months after relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Serum level of sIL-2R alpha and sICAM-1 in ms patients during relapse is significantly higher in comparison to the results obtained during remission. Each relapse is accompanied by elevation of sIL-2R alpha and sICAM-1 in serum, during remission serum levels of both molecules do not changed significantly.

Adult↗

[Visual and somatosensory evoked potentials in workers exposed to metallic mercury vapors].

Thirty-seven workers occupationally exposed to metallic mercury vapours were subjected to neurological examination and determination of visual (WPW) and somatosensory (SSPW) evoked potentials. In 6 cases slight sings of damage to the central nervous system was demonstrated. Prolonged WPW latency was noted in 15 cases. SSPW abnormalities were observed most frequently in the cortical components (13 cases), less frequently in the brainstem components (4 cases). Simultaneous WPW and SSPW changes were present in 10 cases. In the group of workers with changes of evoked potentials the mean urinary mercury levels were higher and the duration of exposure was longer than in the remaining workers. The use of multimodal electrophysiological methods increases the effectiveness of the diagnosis of subclinical damage to the nervous system in chronic mercury intoxication.

Adult↗

[Cortical and spinal evoked potentials in parkinsonism. Part II. Somatosensory potentials evoked form the posterior tibial nerve].

In 20 patients with parkinsonism somatosensory evoked potentials were studied. The posterior tibial nerves were stimulated successively at the medial ankle. The averaged responses were recorded at the level of the L2 vertebra, C2 vertebra and in the central parietal area (Cz/Pz). The obtained data were compared with similar values in a control group. The conduction velocity in the sensory fibres of the tibial nerves was normal in both groups. No significant differences were found also between the patients and the controls in the latency of the spinal lumbar and cervical potentials, and the spinal conduction time (L2-C2) was normal. In the patients with parkinsonism the cortical evoked response N35 was significantly prolonged. Differences were noted also in the time of central conduction (C2-cortex) between the patients and the controls, but they were not significant statistically. The effects of disturbed dopamine metabolism on the electro-physiological processes in the peripheral and the central nervous system are discussed.

Aged↗

[Cortical and spinal evoked potentials in parkinsonism. Part I. Visual potentials evoked with a checkerboard pattern].

In 21 patients with parkinsonism and 20 healthy controls visual potentials evoked with checker pattern used as an alternating stimulus were studied. The left and right eye were examined separately recording visual cortical responses in the central occipital area. The analysed elements included the latency of the first highest positive wave P100 and the amplitude of the P100/N120 complex. Prolongation of the mean latency of P100 was found in patients with parkinsonism, but it was not significant statistically. No differences were found of the P100/N120 amplitude in the group with parkinsonism in relation to healthy controls. In the patients with parkinsonian syndrome (mainly of atherosclerotic origin) the mean latency of the visual potentials was longer and the amplitude was lower than in cases of Parkinson's disease. Attention is called to the high variability of the visual evoked potentials related to the clinical state and origin of the disease (parkinsonian syndrome and Parkinson's disease).

Aged↗

[Catamnestic studies of patients with aphasia after stroke].

In 28 patients with aphasia after stroke speech ability was studied twice at intervals of 1-4 years. A comparison of the initial results with those after follow-up showed that the process of return of speech ability (especially in case of motor aphasia) is not limited to the early post-stroke period of several weeks to several months, but takes a much longer time. This justifies logopedic treatment of aphatic patients (also in sanatorium) even many months after stroke.

Adult↗

[Effect of abstinence on visual evoked potentials in alcoholics].

Visual evoked potentials (VEP) were studied in 61 alcohol-dependent subjects analysing the amplitude and latency of the first major positive wave (P100) and carrying out the determinations three times, in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks of abstinence. The results were compared with similar ones obtained in healthy subjects without a history of alcohol abuse. In the acute stage of alcohol withdrawal a significant rise was observed in the amplitude of the cortical P100/N120 complex. With regression of the clinical symptoms of withdrawal syndrome the amplitude of visual potentials decreased and demonstrated partial normalization. The mean P100 latency was significantly longer in relation to the control group and was not changed during the withdrawal period. Amplitude increase was regarded as an evidence of hyperexcitability of the central nervous system, and latency prolongation as a result of the toxic effects of alcohol and nicotine on the optic nerve.

Acute Disease↗

[Thyroid activity in patients with myasthenia].

In 27 patients with myasthenia thyroid function tests were done using radioassay methods. The levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine-binding protein (BT4) and thyrotrophic hormone (TSH) were determined simultaneously in the serum. In 4 myasthenics the levels of T3 and T4 were determined after administration of exogenous TSH (Ambinon). The control group comprised 13 subjects without thyroid function disturbances. The investigations demonstrated a statistically significant decrease of T4 (at p less than 0.05) and T3 (at p less than 0.01) in myasthenia as compared with the control group. Administration of TSH raised the T3 level by 40% and that of T4 by 6%. The results obtained by the authors indicate presence of secondary hypothyroidism in myasthenia possibly due, to failure of the hypophyseo-hypothalamic system.

Adolescent↗

[Usefulness of the "token test" in the diagnosis of aphasia].

The authors describe a method of aphasia examination, so called Token test, not known in Poland. The method is particularly useful for evaluation of speech perception disturbances, and it may also be used in cases of aphasia with expression disturbances. Speech examination by the Token test was carvied out in 45 patients with damage to the predominating hemisphere caused by stroke and the obtained results were compared with qualitative-quantitative aphasia estimation by the conventional method (determination of spontaneous speech, ordinate speech, denomination, repetition, reading, writing and understanding). A considerable agreement of the results obtained by both methods (correlation coefficient 0.80) indicates the usefulness of the test for clinical practice, especially in cases of diagnostically uncertain aphasia.

Adult↗

[Evaluation of language therapy in aphasia after stroke].

In 27 patients with aphasia and hemiparesis following strokes speech was tested before and after completion of sanatorium treatment. After three weeks of speech re-education aphasia improved in various degrees in 19 patients. The best results of logopedic treatment were obtained in patients with medium-grade or slight aphasia subjected to rehabilitation treatment during the first three months after stroke. Effective motor rehabilitation conducted parallelly with re-education exercises in early period after stroke has a favourable effect on advance in therapy and later resocialization of patients.

Adult↗

[Visual and somatosensory evoked potentials in the patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma].

Visual (VEPs) and somatosensory (SEPs) evoked potentials in a group of 33 patients (mean age 49 years) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n-HL) without CNS involvement were recorded. There were 24% of patients with pathological VEPs and 30% of patients with pathological SEPs. Pathological VEPs and SEPs were both recorded in 42% of patients. In comparison to the controls the statistically significant prolongation of mean latencies of VEPs, SEPs and transit time to cortex were found in the group of n-HL patients. These abnormalities were noted much more often in patients with long duration of the disease and with intermediate type of malignancy. In the untreated patients evoked potentials were normal. In 6 patients despite normal neurological status and normal eeg the evoked potentials were abnormal. The evoked potentials examination seems to be very sensitive method of afferent pathways involvement estimation and can be used for diagnosis and prognosis in n-HL patients. This method reveals CNS lesions more often than physical examination or eeg.

Adult↗

[Changes in blink reflex (OM) after lesions of the nervous system in various locations].

Electrically evoked blink reflex (BR) as a one of the non-invasive methods is used to diagnose function of central nervous system, specially of brainstem. It seems that this method is not fully appreciated in neurological practice. On the basis of literature and own experience the authors present typical pictures of BR on EMG analysis related to the lesions of respective parts of reflex arc and suprasegmental structures involving pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts.

Blinking↗

[Hemorrhagic manifestation of moyamoya disease in a 19-year-old woman with mental retardation].

The paper presents a case of moyamoya disease, with first clinical sign subarachnoid haemorrhage in a 19-year old woman with mental impairment. The CT screen shows the presence of ischaemic areas of haemorrhagic type. MR, angio-MR and classical angiography confirmed the presence of ischaemic areas with contraction of the distal parts of the internal carotid arteries and left anterior cerebral artery. Authors call attention to the diagnostic problems of the case and accent the very important role of MR and MR angiography in the diagnosis of moyamoya disease.

Adult↗