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Biomedical subjects

J Kulczycki

Publications and source records attributed to J Kulczycki.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Multiple system atrophy.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system with three components, usually variously expressed: nigrostriatal degeneration (NSD), olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) and Shy-Drager syndrome of autonomic system dysfunction (SDS). The clinical progression of MSA leads to death in a shorter time than in any of the components occurring separately. A common, and according to some authors, pathognomonic neuropathological finding in MSA cases is the presence of argyrophilic inclusions in the cytoplasm of glial cells, mainly oligodendrocytes, in the structures of the encephalon with most pronounced atrophic changes.

Disease Progression↗
PubMed1996

The effects of early postnatal stimulation on Morris water-maze acquisition in adult mice: genetic and maternal factors.

Following stressor exposure BALB/cByJ mice exhibit hypersecretion of corticosterone and marked brain catecholamine alterations. In addition, mice of this strain exhibit impairments of performance in a Morris water-maze, which may be exacerbated by footshock application. In the present investigation it was demonstrated that early-life handling of mouse pups (coupled with brief separation periods from the dam over the course of 21 days postpartum) reduced the learning impairments seen when mice were tested in the Morris water-maze at 120 days of age and also prevented stress-induced disturbances in this task. Likewise, cross-fostering BALB/cByJ mice with a C57BL/6ByJ dam prevented the performance deficits. In contrast, C57BL/6ByJ mice cross-fostered to a BALB/cByJ dam exhibited proficient performance. Thus, maternal factors may be important in determining the Morris water-maze disturbances, provided that this was applied on the BALB/cByJ genetic background. Stressor exposure exacerbated the performance disturbances in BALB/cByJ mice, while diazepam treatment disrupted Morris water-maze performance in both BALB/cByJ and C57BL/6ByJ mice. Paralleling the behavioral changes associated with handling, the stress-induced hypercorticosterone secretion characteristic of the BALB/cByJ mouse was attenuated by the early handling procedure. Stressor exposure also produced strain-dependent variations of NE and 5-HT, but these effects were not appreciably influenced by the handling procedure. These data are consistent with the proposition that performance disturbances of BALB/cByJ mice tested in the Morris water-maze task are associated with excessive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal reactivity. Moreover, it appears that the influence of early-life stimulation may interact with genetic factors in determining endocrine and behavioral stress responses.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Adult schizophrenic-like variant of adrenoleukodystrophy.

A 35-year-old man died after 30 months following the onset of the disease. There was a history of changes in his mental condition, including disturbances of behavior as well as the evidence of progressing dementia. The patient revealed gait disturbances and finally became bed ridden. Bizarre behavior and changes of mood with concurrent growing irritability which predominated during the course of disease, may explain the initial diagnosis of schizophrenia. Then cerebellar and spastic movement disorders leading to paraparesis and sphincters disturbances developed. Clinical symptoms of adrenal failure were not found apart from episodes of arterial pressure fall. After two years a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an extensive diffuse demyelinative process in white matter of cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. Activity of lysosomal enzymes was normal. A general autopsy revealed atrophy of adrenal cortex and the presence of ballooned cells with striated cytoplasm in the reticular and fasciculate zones. Neuropathological examination revealed an extensive demyelination of white matter in cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres and of the long paths of the brain stem, corresponding to changes in MRI examination. Within demyelination areas damage of axons and diffuse cellular and fibrous gliosis were found as well as perivascular lymphocytic infiltrations with the presence of strong PAS (+) and Sudan (+) macrophages. Immunocytochemical reactions with HAM-56 and RCA1 in macrophages were positive. Electron microscopy examination revealed lamellar inclusions in cytoplasm of macrophages. Similar structures were present in the lysosomes of astrocytes. Morphological examination of adrenal glands as well as morphological and ultrastructural study of the brain allowed us to diagnose the cerebral form of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Topography and character of the brain changes seems to be in keeping with a rare schizophrenic-like variant of ALD with progressive dementia. Abnormal plasma profile and increased VLCFA concentration in the patient's 13-year-old daughter confirm the ALD diagnosis.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗
PubMed1995

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in Poland in the years 1990-1993. Stage V of epidemiologic studies].

The authors summarize the results of the fifth stage of epidemiological investigation on SSPE. The first stage covered the years 1971-1976, the next stages covered the periods: 1977-1983; 1984-1986; 1987-1989. In the period 1990-1993 data on 95 patients with SSPE were obtained. Morbidity rates continued to show a decreasing tendency (from 0.8 to 0.6 per 1,000,000 population) in the years 1990-1993, being lower the median morbidity (amounting to 0.98) in 1985-1989. Morbidity rates continued to shift towards older age groups: while the peak morbidity (25.7%) in the years 1990-1992 was noted in the 14-15 age range, in 1993 the peak (28.6%) was found in the age group of 16 to 19 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). A case report.

The authors present a case of relatively rare tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) in a 19-year-old female, who died 18 months after the first manifestation of meningismus, increased intracranial pressure and secondary hydrocephalus. Brain autopsy revealed abundant neoplastic infiltrations, which spread through the subarachnoid space. Neoplastic infiltrations were also present in the third ventricle and in a form of small subependymal nodules along the whole ventricular system. The microscopical examination showed that neoplasm consisted of small cells, which formed neuroblastic Homer Wright rosettes. Immunohistochemical studies (for synaptophysin, chromogranin A, GFAP, vimentin) together with morphology and localization of neoplasm suggested diagnosis of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) that spread mainly in the leptomeninges and caused obliteration of subarachnoid space.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[The relationship between Bergson's philosophy and medicine].

The relationship between Bergson's philosophy and medicine follows an outline of theoretical situation in philosophy in the second half of 19c. The former relationship is evident in Bergson's mind-body considerations and thoughts concerning philosophical importance of Claude Bernard's works and are of bilateral nature. Bergson criticized lokalization theory and psychophysical paralelism on the ground of the contemporary neurology and psychiatry. Conversely his ideas, particularly those concerning the nature of conscioiusness and aphasia were reflected in both psychopathology and neurology. Bergson perceives the philosophical importance of Claude Bernard primarily in his theoretical experimental bases for research in medicine and biology. The paper closes considering the importance of various conceptions of personality (including Bergson's) in philosophy of medicine and medical practice.

France↗
PubMed1994

Multifocal central nervous system glioma--a case history.

A case history of the multifocal brain glioma in 13-year-old girl is reported. Numerous neoplasmatic foci were found using MRI within the vermis and cerebellar hemisphere and, later, also within the brain stem, cervical spinal cord and both brain hemispheres. Bioptical examination of the tumors revealed the structure of anaplastic astrocytoma with oligodendromatous component. The authors suggest that the foci may be considered as multiple metastases from the primary cerebellar astrocytoma and the neoplastic cells might have been transported within CNS through cerebrospinal fluid.

Cerebellar Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

[Changes in NMR and CT images in SSPE].

In 25 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in various phases of the disease CT and NMR imaging of the brain were done at the same times and the findings were related to clinical symptomatology. NMR imaging, in contrast to CT imaging, demonstrated even very small brain changes in the initial stage. The inflammatory-demyelinizing process begins in SSPE as a rule in the white matter of the occipital lobes, and only later in appears in the vicinity of the anterior horns of the lateral ventricles. Spreading of subcortical changes in the occipital lobes and their later penetration into the parietal lobes causes the development of ideatory apraxia frequent in these cases, and involvement of the cortex of the occipital lobes leads to visual agnosia. The paresis of extremities in later stages not always are correlated with greater intensity of changes in the contralateral cerebral with greater intensity of changes in the contralateral cerebral hemisphere. Hydrocephalus developing after longer duration of the disease is an expression of postinflammatory brain atrophy and not of disturbances in cerebrospinal fluid absorption.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Role of aluminum in the etiopathogenesis of neurological disturbances].

Some more important former and recent views on Aluminium influence on degenerative changes of nervous tissue-including those of Alzheimer's type-were presented. Attention was payed also to Aluminium participation in developing of encephalopathy in dialysed persons and in accumulation of metallic deposits in brain in the so-called Fahr's syndrome.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1992

Effect of treatment on oligoclonal IgG bands and intrathecal IgG synthesis in sequential cerebrospinal fluid and serum from patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Oligoclonal IgG bands were analyzed in matching pairs of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum from 12 subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) patients, using isoelectric focusing and immunofixation. Each patient was given isoprinosine, and four of the 12 patients were given alpha-interferon in addition. Two to 4 serial CSF and serum samples were collected from each SSPE patient during periods ranging from 1 to 16 months. In 3 SSPE patients a small number of new oligoclonal bands were seen in the follow-up CSF samples. In the other 9 SSPE patients there was no change in CSF band patterns between initial and follow-up specimens. Band patterns in serum remained unchanged between initial and follow-up samples. Although all 12 SSPE cases had higher IgG indices and increased rate of intra blood-brain barrier (BBB) IgG synthesis in comparison to patients with other neurological diseases, the values did not significantly differ between the first and follow-up specimens. We conclude that treatment of SSPE patients with isoprinosine or with isoprinosine and alpha-interferon had no significant effect on the CSF oligoclonal band profiles or IgG synthesis within the central nervous system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Increased levels of beta 2-microglobulin, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and soluble CD8 in patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

We measured beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and soluble CD8 (sCD8) antigen levels in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera from patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other neurological diseases (OND) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. beta 2-M was significantly increased in CSF of the SSPE group compared to the MS or the OND group. Similarly, beta 2-M in the MS versus OND group was significantly increased in CSF. Although serum levels of beta 2-M were similar in the three groups, the CSF/serum ratios were higher in SSPE versus the MS group and in the MS versus the OND group. Levels of sIL-2R and sCD8 were higher in SSPE CSF than OND CSF; however, there were no differences between levels in SSPE and MS CSF. The levels of sIL-2R were increased in SSPE sera compared to those of MS or the OND group, whereas levels of sCD8 in serum from the three groups were similar. The findings of increased CSF/serum ratio of beta 2-M and higher levels of serum sIL-2R and CSF sCD8 in SSPE patients are consistent with those seen in patients with acute and chronic viral infections. When the levels between the initial and follow-up CSF and serum samples from SSPE patients were compared, the data showed that CSF levels of sCD8 elevated during periods of clinical worsening and decreased during clinical improvement. In contrast, serum beta 2-M decreased during periods of worsening and increased during improvement. The measurement of serum beta 2-M and CSF sCD8 may be useful in SSPE patients as markers to monitor disease activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in young people.

Three neuropathologically confirmed cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in young people (19, 23, and 27 years of age) are described. None had received pituitary hormone therapy. At the onset of illness all patients were suspected of having SSPE or other viral encephalitis, because of the similarity of clinical symptomatology and the shift towards older age of SSPE onsets observed in Poland in recent years.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Measles virus-specific immunoglobulin D antibody in cerebrospinal fluid and serum from patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and multiple sclerosis.

Quantitation of measles-specific immunoglobulin D (IgD) antibody was carried out in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 18 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), 12 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and seven normal controls with high measles antibody titers in serum, using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for human IgD and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Measles-specific IgD activity was significantly higher in CSF and serum from SSPE patients compared to that found in patients with MS or normal controls. The IgD antibody to measles virus was not due to high levels of measles-specific IgG since significant measles IgD activity was found after eluting IgG from SSPE serum. The increased level of measles-specific IgD found in SSPE sera is consistent with the levels observed in patients with acute and chronic viral infections.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1990

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in Poland 1987-1989. Stage IV of the epidemiological studies].

In the years 1987-1989 111 patients of SSPE who react positively to laboratory tests were found in Poland. The incidence rate of the disease was in 1987-1.30; in 1980-0.98 and in 1989-0.66 per million inhabitants (in the years 1984-1986 the incidence of SSPE was respectively 1.22; 1.05 and 0.9 per million). The authors observed a shift in the incidence peak of SSPE from the age group 8-9 years in 1977-1983 and 10-12 years in 1984-1986 to the age group 13-14 years in 1987-1989. Among 111 SSPE cases only 6 children (5.4) had been vaccinated against measles while the coverage of measles vaccination in Poland reached over 95%.

Adolescent↗