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Biomedical subjects

W Drozdowski

Publications and source records attributed to W Drozdowski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

A prospective study of the financial costs of multiple sclerosis at different stages of the disease.

The aim of our study was to estimate the costs of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Poland according to severity of disease. Total, direct and indirect costs were compared in 148 patients divided into three groups categorized by disease severity: stage I Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS <3.5), stage II (EDSS 4.0-6.0) and stage III (EDSS >6.5). Cost evaluation was performed from the societal perspective and covered the 5-month period. Simple sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the tariffs and valuing caregiving at 40% of the average wage. The mean total cost/patient for 5 months was estimated at 10,955, 15, 603 and 18, 464 PLN for stage I, II and III, respectively [exchange rate: 4 PLN=1 EUR; purchasing power pariety: 1 EUR=2.05 PLN] (P <0.0001). Regardless of EDSS stage indirect costs exceeded direct costs. Both direct and indirect costs increased with MS progression. For indirect cost the main item was productivity loss. This study confirms that MS represents a high economic burden, with indirect costs greatly exceeding direct costs. As costs increase with disease progression, treatment efforts should focus on patients in the early stages of MS.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Emotional disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, especially young adults. Although MS is usually looked on as a disorder of the sensory and motor systems it can also be associated with emotional dysfunctions and changes in personality. The depression, bipolar disorders, euphoria, and pathological laughing and crying are most frequently associated with the disease. Authors present a review of current opinions on pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria and treatment of emotional problems in MS patients.

Affective Disorders, Psychotic↗
PubMed1999

Effects of clobazam and vitamin E on the lipid peroxidation in the rat brain after electroconvulsive shock.

The effect of vitamin E and clobazam on lipid peroxides [LP] in the rat brain and the pattern of electroshock-induced seizures were assessed. Significant increase in the concentration of brain LP at the peak of seizures was found. Both vitamin E and clobazam reduced the levels of LP in the rat brain after electroshock. Clobazam combined with vitamin E inhibited markedly formation of LP in the rats with electroshock-induced seizures. Vitamin E augmented anticonvulsant effect of clobazam though itself it had not exhibited any anticonvulsant effect in this model of seizures. The action of two drugs combined resulted in reducing the intensity and the duration of seizures, and only minimal seizures were observed. In our opinion the obtained results possess some interesting clinical aspect They suggest that the combined treatment with clobazam and vitamin E of epileptic patient may decrease the intensity of epileptic seizures due to inhibition of LP formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Empty sella syndrome--diagnostic difficulties].

The authors present three middle-aged patients (1 male, 2 females) presenting with empty sella on magnetic resonance or computed tomography imaging. Their main complaints were severe headache and dizziness. Neurological examination showed no abnormalities, except for local tenderness on palpation and percussion in the fronto-parietal or fronto-temporal regions. Endocrine evaluation showed no functional deficit of the pituitary gland. Visual fields, fundi and EEG records were normal as were the CSF composition and pressure, a skull X-ray radiograms showed an enlarged sella with thinned floor and blurred posterior oblique processes. MRI revealed a liquid space below the plane of the sellar diaphragm which pressed on the pituitary gland. The diagnostic and therapeutic problems of empty sella syndrome are briefly discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Post lumbar puncture syndrome and the manner of needle insertion].

We have analysed the correlation between the direction of needle bevel insertion and the occurrence of post-puncture syndrome appearing after diagnostic lumbar puncture. Post-puncture headache was observed in 38 of 380 patients (13.6%). The syndrome occurred in 11 patients (7.9%) in whom the needle bevel had been inserted parallel to the patient's backbone and in 27 patients (19.3%) in whom the needle bevel had been inserted perpendicularly to the backbone. The complications after lumbar puncture could be reduced by inserting the needle bevel parallel to the patient's backbone.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

F wave in acute cerebellar damage.

Studies of occurrence of the F wave can be considered as a method of assessment of excitability of the spinal cord motoneurones. So far it has been analyzed in relation to the damage to the pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems. In the present paper, various parameters of the F response (maximal and mean amplitude-absolute and in relation to the M response, frequency of occurrence of all and identical F waves, minimal latency and chronodyspersion) were given analysis in 15 patients with hypotonia after acute cerebellar damage, and in 35 healthy subjects. In the patients, the F response was found to be decreased in amplitude (mean-absolute and ratio to M) and in frequency. Therefore, a conclusion can be drawn that it confirms the decrease of segmental motoneurone excitability after cerebellar damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Neurogenic muscle hypertrophy in radiculopathy.

The course of radiculopathy is sometimes associated with weakness and wasting of muscles. Very rarely in such cases, however, is hypertrophy of muscle fibres observed. Three cases are presented of sciatica with enlarged calves caused by hypertrophy of type 1 or types 1 and 2 muscle fibres. In light of the literature and the results obtained, an attempt is made to explain the cause of rare clinical symptoms and draw attention to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[F wave occurrence in patients after stroke].

F wave parameters are connected with spinal motoneuron excitability. In view of this, the authors performed the study of the evolution of that response in 30 patients after cerebral stroke in three subsequent periods: I--1st or 2nd day, II--14th or 15th day, III--5 to 6 weeks after stroke. We found F wave occurrence to be reduced in the first period after stroke; subsequently its parameters increased greatly. Changes of F wave parameters could be observed earlier than changes of clinical status, especially of muscle tonus.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessment of blink reflex in hemiparetic patients after stroke].

Blink reflex (BR) was evaluated in a group of 50 hemiparetic patients after stroke with lesions localized in cerebral hemispheres and in a group of 12 healthy controls. The response was examined and compared, after stimulation of the supraorbital nerve, on both paretic and "healthy" side in affected patients. Abnormalities of BR were observed in late response only. The damage of one hemisphere affects the BR bilaterally. We found prolongation of latency and decrease of amplitude of late responses bilaterally when stimulating the supraorbital nerve of the paretic side. On the contrary, stimulation of the "healthy" side evoked similar abnormalities mainly contralaterally.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Spontaneous dissection of carotid and vertebral arteries. II. Vertebral arteries and their branches].

Dissection of the extra- and ntracranial portions of vertebral arteries, as well as basilar artery and their branches are discussed based on the up-to-date literature. Formerly, arterial dissections were found exclusively at necropsy, yet they have currently arisen to the field of interest of not only neurologists but also radiologists, neurosurgeons, and vascular surgeons. Ischemic strokes frequently result from arterial dissection, in particular subintimal dissection (most often in the extracranial portion of vertebral artery), by formation of emboli or reduced perfusion. Conversely, subadventitial and transmedial dissections produce aneurysms (most often in the intracranial portion of vertebral arteries and basilar artery) which may result in subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhages. The other possible mechanism of focal lesions is the compression of adjacent structures by dissected artery, most frequently by dolichoectasia of basilar artery which originates from its multiple intramural lesions. The dissections may present with cranial nerve palsies, symptoms of ischemia of cervical spine, cerebellum, and cerebral trunk, as well as occipital lobe syndromes. Arterial dissection may occur in adolescents and young adults. The clinical symptom that should be stressed is headache which precedes the occurrence of stroke for several days. The right diagnosis gives a chance for proper treatment, including operative procedures, and improved prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Empty sella syndrome].

The authors present two middle-aged female patients with empty sella revealed at imaging studies (CT, MRI). Their main complaint was severe fronto-parietal and fronto-temporal headache. Physical examination showed obesity, hypertension, and local hypersensitivity on deep palpation and percussion in the above-mentioned regions, in both cases. Endocrine function of pituitary gland, visual fields and fundi were normal as was EEG. The CSF composition and pressure also showed no abnormalities. The diagnostic and therapeutic problems of empty sella syndrome are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sensory neuronopathy].

The authors present the question of sensory neuronopathy which are disorders affecting intervertebral ganglia. The neuropathological background and clinical symptoms of sensory neuronopathy are emphasised, as well as diagnostic difficulties resulting from a variety of ethiological conditions: toxic, inflammatory, and autoimmunological ones, and from lack of unequivocal clinical criteria enabling a difference diagnosis along with neuropathy and radiculopathy, which in turn requires a broad spectrum of diagnostic tests and prolonged observation of patients. The authors discuss also the clinical outcome, prognosis, and current therapeutic possibilities focusing on intensive immunosuppressive management.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Subcortical infarcts (caudate nucleus) in a case of bilateral anterior cerebral artery occlusion].

The authors describe a patient with bilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA) occlusion. CT and MRI revealed bilateral encephalomalacia in the regions supplied by Heubner arteries and/or by perforating branches of ACA. The patient presented mainly with frontal symptomatology resulting from caudate nuclei lesion. Frontal symptomatology due to caudate impairment is discussed in the sense of frontal-subcortical circuits: lateral orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate ones. We emphasise a similarity of behavioural and cognitive disorders in early Huntington's disease and in frontal lobe lesion.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗