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Biomedical subjects

Zbigniew Stelmasiak

Publications and source records attributed to Zbigniew Stelmasiak.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Serum bilirubin concentration in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Oxidative stress plays probably an important role in the etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is known that bilirubin (BR) is an endogenous antioxidant. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum BR concentration in ALS patients. BR was determined by automated analyzer in the serum from 30 ALS and 26 healthy control group people. The study showed that serum BR concentration is significantly decreased in ALS patients with a long duration of ALS compared with patients with a short duration (P<0.05), and it is also significantly decreased in ALS patients with a moderate clinical state compared with control group patients (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in BR concentration between the groups of patients classified according to their age and sex, the clinical state, and the type of ALS onset (P>0.05). Results suggest a possibility of endogenous antioxidant system dysfunction in later phase of ALS. A decrease in BR concentration might diminish its protective effect against oxidative injury and could accelerate motor neuron degeneration.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Oral citicoline treatment improves visual pathway function in glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Increased latency and reduced amplitude of visual evoked potentials (VEP), frequently encountered in ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma, suggest slowed neural conduction in the visual pathways. An improvement in VEP latency and amplitude has been reported following repeated intramuscular injections of citicoline, a neuroprotective drug. Our aim was to find whether citicoline given orally would produce a similar effect. MATERIAL/METHODS: VEP latency and amplitude were measured in 21 glaucomatous eyes prior to and after two bi-weekly courses of citicoline taken orally in a dose of 1 gram/day. The treatment courses were separated by a two-week break; post-treatment VEP measurement was performed two weeks after the end of the second treatment. RESULTS: 62% of the eyes showed a response to the treatment, with VEP latency reduced from 123.5 (3.9 SEM) ms to 111.9 (1.9 SEM) ms (P=0.0008), and VEP amplitude increased from 6.56 (1.39 SEM) to 7.88 (1.16 SEM) (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Citicoline given orally improves visual evoked potentials in some glaucoma patients.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

Transforming growth factor-Beta 1 (tgf-Beta 1) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Previous investigations have shown that the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) may protect neurons against excitotoxic and oxidative damage and may inhibit apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TGF-beta 1 in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study involved 24 ALS patients and 15 control group people. The ALS patients were divided into groups according to their clinical status, and duration of ALS. The TGF-beta 1 in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that TGF-beta 1 concentrations in the serum, and CSF in the whole group of ALS patients did not differ from those of the controls, but the serum TGF-beta 1 concentration was significantly higher in ALS patients with a terminal clinical status than in controls. The TGF-beta 1 concentration was significantly higher in the CSF of the patients, with a long duration of ALS, than in the patients with a short duration of ALS, and there was a significant positive correlation between the CSF TGF-beta 1 and the duration of ALS. TGF-beta 1 may play a role in neurodegeneration of ALS, and may be an indicator of the duration of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Decreased level of kynurenic acid in cerebrospinal fluid of relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis patients.

The present study was undertaken to measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA) in patients with relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) during remission or not progressing for at least 2 months. In these patients the levels of CSF KYNA were found to be significantly lower compared with subjects with non-inflammatory neurological diseases, as well as those with inflammatory disease (median (interquartile range): 0.41 (0.3-0.5) pmol/ml, n=26 vs. 0.67 (0.5-1.1), n=23, P<0.01 and 1.7 (1.5-2.6), n=16, P<0.001, respectively). These results provide further evidence of the alterations in the kynurenine pathway during remitting-onset MS.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Increased serum levels of endogenous protectant secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor in acute ischemic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Activated leukocytes and their mediators may participate in ischemic brain injury. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) plays an important role in regulating the activity of the proteases, and may limit tissue damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in SLPI level in ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: The study comprised 20 patients with ischemic stroke and 20 controls. SLPI levels were measured in serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on the 1st, 5th and 12th day after stroke onset. RESULTS: SLPI was increased in the whole group of ischemic stroke patients compared with controls. It was also significantly increased on the 1st, 5th and 12th day after stroke in patients with larger brain tissue damage involving one or more lobe of the brain and in patients with more severe clinical status compared to controls (p < 0.05). A significant correlation between SLPI and the extent of brain tissue damage was observed on the 12th day after ischemic stroke onset (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that SLPI takes part in the anti-inflammatory reaction after ischemic stroke. Endogenous SLPI may have a neuroprotective effect, and could be a prototype therapeutic approach for ischemic stroke.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

[Neurologic problems in tick-borne diseases--clinical and diagnostic aspects].

Tick carried illnesses frequently lead towards neurological complications. The tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis are the most frequently encountered illnesses having such aetiopathogenesis. In the study there are presented clinical aspects of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis with special consideration of various neurological symptomatology. Simultaneously there are discussed current diagnostic rules of the diseases, mainly on the basis of serologic investigation.

Borrelia burgdorferi↗
PubMed2002

Histological examination of the extrabulbar segment of the optic nerve in experimental animals after administration of Cladribine.

The experiment was carried out on rabbits, females of New Zealand breed, weighting about 3 kg. Rabbits from the experimental group I received Cladribine in the dose corresponding to the schema of the experimental treatment in the hairy cell leukemia and animals from the experimental group II, the dose corresponding to the experimental treatment in multiple sclerosis. The optic nerves were collected for histological examinations in the light microscope. It appeared that administration of Cladribine in the dose corresponding to the therapeutic dose used in therapy of hairy cell leukemia and sclerosis multiplex does not cause evident morphological changes in the extrabulbar segment of the optic nerve on the level of the light microscope.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Influence of the new medicine--2-CDA (Cladribine) on the ultrastructure of the extrabulbar segment of the optic nerve in rabbits of New Zealand breed.

Experiments were carried out on the rabbits of New Zealand breed weighting about 3 kg. Rabbits from the experimental group received Cladribine in the dose of 0.07 mg/kg/24 h each morning subcutaneously for 6 days, three cycles with 5-week intervals. Specimens of the optic nerve were stained according to the Reynold's method and observed in Tesla BS-500 transmission electron microscope. Results achieved from examinations of slides in experimental group indicate that Cladribine administered in the dose corresponding to therapeutic dose used in humans for experimental treatment of sclerosis multiplex does not cause the damage of extrabulbar segment of optic nerve in experimental animals. The achieved results suggest necessity of new research works regarding the eye structures of mesenchymal origin.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The effect of epilepsy on emotional state in Hamilton and Beck questionnaire studies.

Patients with epilepsy present higher rate of psychological and psychiatric problems and emotional disturbances are estimated as the most frequent ones with prevalence of depression about tree times higher than it was observed in general population. In the presented study the occurrence of depressive symptoms was compared in a total of 60 adult patients with newly recognized and chronic epilepsy during remission of illness as well as pharmacoresistant. 21-items Hamilton Depressive Scale and Beck Depressive Inventory were applied once in each testified patient, consecutively by a physician or a patient himself during interictal period. Our study has found a higher level of depressive signs in newly diagnosed than in chronic patients during remission of illness but also in patients with an active process. The scoring rates both on HDRS and BDI were respectively characteristic of moderate or mild intensity of depressive disturbances. This comparison allows us to make a suggestion that diagnosis of epilepsy with its well-known stigmatization and limitations of different life activities may act as a stressing factor that enhances anxiety and depressive reactions in early phase of illness.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Effectiveness of adjunctive therapy with tiagabine in mentally disabled patients with epilepsy.

Previous reports justified positive impact of tiagabine, a new-generation antiepileptic drug on neuropsychological functioning as well as minimal risk of psychiatric exacerbations. In this prospective, open, observational, non-comparative, short-term--6 months' study we evaluated efficacy and tolerability of tiagabine as add-on in polytherapy in 30 young adults with both refractory epilepsy and mild or moderate mental retardation. About 40% of patients experienced improvement in seizure frequency of 50% or more and none complained of seizure deterioration. Overall seizure frequency fell down from a mean 9.9 at the baseline to 6.3 seizure days per month. The seizure rate was reduced from 14.9 to 9.2 per month after 24 weeks of add-on phase. Adjunctive tiagabine therapy appeared to be associated with reduction in overall seizure severity characteristics expressed as enhancement of mild seizures from 30 to 50% of patients and reduction in severe seizures from 30 to 16%. Responders reported an improvement in most health-related quality of life domains but mostly cognition, medication effects and social functioning. The majority (90%) of patients did not report additional adverse effects with tiagabine; the most common complains associated with central nervous system (vertigo, weakness, nervousness) were transient and did not cause discontinuation. Blood counts and liver functional tests did not show any clinically relevant changes. In this short-term observation tiagabine seemed to be a beneficial antiepileptic drug for mentally retarded patients with epilepsy as it decreased seizure frequency and severity, improved the patients' sense of the quality of life without enhancement of the risk of adverse effects in polytherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Analysis of epileptic pregnant women delivering between 1992-1998 in obstetric departments of the University Medical School in Lublin].

Pregnancy in woman with epilepsy arouses several serious medical problems and always belongs to the group of high obstetric risks. The aim of the present clinical study was the evaluation of the antiepileptic treatment efficiency during pregnancy, including risk factor, effects on pregnancy and delivery in epileptic patients. The study group consisted of 84 epileptic pregnant women which delivered between 1992-1998 in Obstetric Departments of University Medical School of Lublin. A randomised group 80 healthy pregnant women constituted the control group. The mean age of the analysed patients was 25 years. 51 epileptic patients were pregnant for the first time, 23 patients for the second time and 10 patients for the third time or more. The mean duration time of the disease was 8.6 years. In our study group: 45 (53.8%) patients experienced primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures and 39 (46.6%) patients experienced partial seizures. 26 patients were treated with monotherapy and the rest with polytherapy methods. The estimation of the seizure frequency during pregnancy in 52 (61.9%) patients did not change, in 13 (15.4%) patients increased. Among obstetric complications: urinary tract infections, hypertonia (EPH-gestosis) were observed. In 4 newborn congenital defects have been noted. Mothers of three of them were treated with Phenydantin (heart lesion, developmental anomaly of fingers). The fourth mother used Convulex (meningoarachnided hernia, hydrocephalus).

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Axonal damage in multiple sclerosis].

Traditionally, it was believed in MS, that axonal loss occurred in chronic lesions. However, new findings suggest that axonal transection can begin very early in the course of multiple sclerosis and axonal damage was found in active and chronic active MS lesions, particularly in areas of acute inflammation and demyelination. The mechanisms of axonal loss are uncertain, but may involve axonal degeneration secondary to demyelination, the action of inflammatory mediators and immune attack directed at axonal components. Axonal destruction and it's progression, is the major cause of irreversible damage in the CNS and the increase of disability in MS patients. Currently, new diagnostic methods (MRI, MR spectroscopy, magnetic transfer, histopathological and biochemical study) allow better to know the mechanisms of neuronal damage.

Axons↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Detection of cerebral microemboli by transcranial doppler. Technical aspects].

The technical aspects of microemboli detection are summarised in this paper. The physical principles of the microembolus signals detection, their ultrasound characteristics, the possibility of identification of microembolus signals in Doppler spectral wave and advised equipment settings have been reviewed. Then the methods of automatic microemboli detection are described, problems concerned with identification of the nature of the microembolic material and an advised time of monitoring patients with various indications. Technical progress in microembolus signals detection, especially improved methods of their automatic both detection and recording make a good prognosis for full explanation of the clinical relevance of this phenomenon.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The importance of transcranial Doppler (TDC) in the assessment of cerebrovascular hemodynamics of the acute phase of ischemic stroke].

Most recent studies on transcranial Doppler (TCD) in the acute phase of ischemic stroke are reviewed in this paper. TCD is a highly sensitive and specific method of quick, bedside assessment of cerebrovascular circulation hemodynamics in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. The following issues are discussed in the paper: a new classification of ultrasound pathological changes associated with intracranial arteries occlusion or stenosis, the frequency of spontaneous re-canalisation by TCD, a comparison of TCD results with findings obtained by means of other vascular imaging techniques (e.g. DSA, CTA and MRA), relationship between TCD baseline assessment of primary blood flow changes and thrombolysis efficacy (the so-called TIBI classification, Thrombolysis in Brain Ischemia), and prognostic significance of TCD in the acute ischemic stroke. Moreover, first clinical reports on an additive effect of TCD on thrombolytic therapy are presented. The main limitations of TCD include the lack of sufficient bone window in 5-15% of patients and the lack of sufficiently trained staff capable of performing the examination a 24 h duty, since results of the examination to a large degree depend on the examiner's skills.

Acute Disease↗