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Biomedical subjects

J Stankiewicz

Publications and source records attributed to J Stankiewicz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Levetiracetam for seizures after liver transplantation.

Seizures may occur after orthotopic liver transplantation. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are used to treat these seizures, but the immunosuppressant regimen also may be altered. Levetiracetam is an attractive treatment because of its efficacy, lack of hepatic enzyme induction, and its rapid attainment of serum levels. Treatment with levetiracetam is efficacious, and levetiracetam-treated patients require significantly lower doses of immunosuppressant medications to achieve an equivalent antirejection effect.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2004

The effect of monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphisms on levodopa therapy in patients with sporadic Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: The etiology of sporadic idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered multifactorial with both genetic and environmental factors modifying the disease expression. Recent studies suggest that polymorphism in monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) might influence the risk and treatment of PD. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of MAOB and COMT genetic polymorphism on effective daily dose of levodopa applied during the first 5 years of treatment, and to find out if a relationship exists between MAOB and COMT haplotypes and motor disturbances onset in PD patients treated with levodopa preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 95 patients (40 females and 55 males) of Polish origin diagnosed with sporadic PD were enrolled into the study, and were divided into two groups. Group 1 - patients treated with doses of levodopa below 500 mg/day during the first 5 years of treatment. Group 2 - patients requiring levodopa doses exceeding 500 mg/24 h during the first 5 years of treatment. Low activity alleles of MAOB and COMT, i.e. MAOB allele A and COMT(L) as well as high activity ones, i.e. MAOB allele G and COMT(H), were determined using PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in MAOB and COMT allele distribution in the two groups. However, the frequency of COMT(L/L) homozygotes was higher in the group treated with low doses of levodopa when compared with the second group. MAOB and COMT AG-HH haplotype predominated in the group of females treated with high daily doses of levodopa when compared with AG-LL haplotype in the group of females treated with low daily doses of levodopa (<500 mg/24 h). CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that patients with COMT(L/L) genotype and possibly MAOB genotype A may benefit from more efficient and safer levodopa therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Endoscopic versus traditional approaches to choanal atresia.

With the introduction of endoscopic techniques and powered instrumentation for pediatric sinusitis, one would expect that the definitive treatment of congenital choanal atresia has been established. An international survey of pediatric otolaryngologists and the plethora of surgical approaches in the literature, however, indicate that there is still much controversy in its management. This article addresses this controversy between endoscopic and traditional approaches to neonatal bilateral bony choanal atresia and proposes guidelines for optional treatment.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1999

Surgical experience and complications during endonasal sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: The introduction of optical aids for endonasal sinus surgery has not produced the expected drop in the rate of serious intraoperative complications. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: 1. Retrospectively, consecutive procedures of different surgeons were analyzed in regard to major complications (periorbital injury, orbital lesion, dural injury, endocranial lesion, damage to the internal carotid artery). The chronological distribution was transformed into a personal learning curve. 2. From our own experience and as surveyors, we analyzed the experiences of surgeons having encountered severe complications and compared them with the above-mentioned learning curve. RESULT: In total, 1,500 operations carried out by five surgeons with 16 serious complications were assessed. For the learning curve, the following stages were defined. stage I: greatest risk of complication, with dural injury (1st to 30th operation); stage II, slighter risk of complication, with frequent periorbital injuries (31st to 180th operation); and stage III, least risk, corresponding to an experienced surgeon. Serious complications occur most frequently among experienced surgeons. CONCLUSION: The beginner enjoys the most effective type of assistance, in the form of personal guidance of an experienced surgeon who is constantly present during the first 30 operations, and who should then be readily available during the next 70 operative procedures. The use of multimedia software appears to be helpful, though its actual value still remains to be determined. The experienced surgeon in particular must be willing to exercise repeated self-criticism to keep his or her rate of complications to a minimum.

Dura Mater↗
PubMed1999

Microglia and neuritic plaques in familial Alzheimer's disease induced by a new mutation of presenilin-1 gene. An ultrastructural study.

The results of the ultrastructural study of the brains of two sisters with familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) induced by a new mutation of presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene who died at the young age (35 and 37 years) are presented. In both cases, the changes typical of AD with particularly large number of neuritic plaques (NPs) were found. Microglial cells were located between amyloid core and neurites. At the ultrastructural level, the content of microglial cytoplasm was differentiated (amyloid fibrils or/and phagocytic bodies). This may suggest that microglial cells participate in forming of amyloid fibrils and/or phagocytosis of amyloid.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The role of functional endoscopic sinus surgery in asthmatic patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) on sinus and asthma symptoms. METHOD: Seventy-nine patients with asthma and medically unresponsive sinusitis were evaluated. Maximal medical therapy was attempted to relieve both sinus and asthma symptoms. The surgical procedures involved standard FESS techniques. Fifty-six percent of patients had undergone a sinus procedure prior to the FESS. Nasal polyposis was noted in 73% of the group. The majority of patients had pansinusitis. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent of patients stated that FESS improved their sinusitis. Nine of 11 sinus symptoms recorded preoperatively diminished significantly (p < .05) following surgery. Eighty percent of patients noted improvement of their asthma following FESS. The factors associated with treatment failure and the unique characteristics of this disease process were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: FESS is a viable option in the treatment of asthma when medical therapy fails.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The influence of repeated systemic penicillin injections at subconvulsive doses on spontaneous spike-wave discharges in the rat.

Changes in nonconvulsive spontaneous epileptic activity-Spike-Wave Discharges (SWD)-induced by repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of crystalline penicillin (PC) at subconvulsive doses were evaluated in imp-DAK rats. Three groups received ten daily i.p. injections of PC at doses of 750,000, 500,000 and 250,000 IU/kg b.w. For comparison, another classic convulsant, pentylenetrazol (PTZ) was applied in the same way to another group. PTZ was also given to all rats before and after injection series for better evaluation of changes in CNS excitability. Repeated PC injections resulted in a progressive increase in the basal level of the spontaneous SWD activity and in an increase in the SWD response to PC, which was statistically significant in the case of the dose 750,000 IU/kg. Moreover, in all rats given PC the response to PTZ (increase in SWD activity) was reduced. The results obtained in this and previous experiment suggest that in the course of repeated systemic Pc administration adaptive changes in the rat CNS develop which prevent the convulsive effects of Pc but promote the occurrence of the spontaneous nonconvulsive SWD activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of repeated systemic penicillin injections on nonconvulsive and convulsive epileptic seizures in the rat.

Changes in the spontaneous and induced epileptic activity in the course of repetitive systemic i.p. administration of crystalline penicillin (Pc) were examined in imp-DAK rats. In all the rats used, nonconvulsive seizures characterized by bursts of spike and wave discharges (SWD) in the neocortex occurred spontaneously. A single i.p. injection of Pc at doses of 1,000,000, 1,500,000 or 2,000,000 IU/kg resulted in a transient increase in SWD activity. For the latter two doses, Pc injections also induced convulsive activity, i.e. single spikes and trains of spikes accompanied by myoclonies. When 1,500,000 IU/kg of Pc was administered repeatedly (six injections, one every 48 h), the amount of the convulsive activity induced by successive injections decreased but the increase in the number of SWD bursts became more pronounced. This result gives rise to some questions about the development of tolerance to the epileptogenic Pc effects in the course of repeated administration of this antibiotic.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Latex allergy.

Over the last ten years allergy to latex has become a serious, life-threatening medical problem. Exposure to latex may result in immediate hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria, dyspnoe, rhinitis, angioedema and anaphylactic shock in sensitized individuals. People occupationally exposed to latex--health care and rubber industry workers and children suffering from spina bifida--are the most important risk groups. Clinical manifestations, immunological mechanisms, trials for identifying latex allergens and laboratory testing are reviewed here. Moreover, the authors present two cases of latex allergy diagnosed with the use of a nasal challenge test. 0.0005% latex solution (Stallergen) and latex extract prepared at the Clinic were used. Nasal washings were performed before, 30 minutes, 3 and 24 hours after provocation. The test evaluation was based on changes in the number and type of cells present in the washings. As there is no laboratory test to be used in latex allergy diagnosis approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the nasal provocation test seems to be worthy of further investigation. Ways of reducing of the allergenicity of latex products and preventing hypersensitivity reactions are also presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Effect of environmental factors on prevalence of epileptic seizures].

A decreased convulsant threshold is found in 10% of human population. This population is at higher risk of epileptic seizure in the case of exposure to harmful factors at working place or outside it. The following harmful factors should be taken into consideration: 1. traumas, 2. physical agents (high temperature, electrocution, specific sensory stimuli), 3. toxic agents (organic solvents, organophosphorus compounds, lead, alcohol, some drugs and narcotics). Therefore, detection of the decreased convulsant threshold and gathering knowledge about potential epileptogenic factors at working places and in community environment should become one of the goals for medical personnel dealing with occupational problems. The authors recommend to perform pre-employment EEG examination whenever an increased risk of epileptic seizure is suspected in a given person following an interview and information on working conditions. It is also recommended to supplement work safety and hygiene instructions.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1992

Impairment of peripheral nervous system in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas treated with CBVPM/AVBP and CHOP schedules.

Clinical examination and conduction velocity measurements in peripheral nerves have been done on 56 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of high malignancy (NHL). It is suggested that: the evaluation of the influence of chemotherapy on peripheral nervous system (PNS) is possible by means of systematic neurological and electroneurographic studies; electroneurographic assessment is most important in the diagnosis of early subclinical stages of peripheral neuropathy; toxic influence of CBVPM/AVBP protocol on PNS is greater than CHOP schedule; impairment of PNS due to chemotherapy is reversible in patients during complete remission (CR).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The endoscopic approach to the lateral accessory sphenoid sinus.

In summary, an interesting case of an accessory parasphenoid sinus mucocele in a 10-year-old girl is reported. By choosing an endoscopic approach, hearing and balance were preserved, and an external sinus or neurosurgical procedure avoided. The surgery was done on an outpatient basis, with minimal postoperative discomfort and no complications. The mucocele was adequately drained and there has been no recurrence over the following 12 months.

Child↗