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Biomedical subjects

W Kuran

Publications and source records attributed to W Kuran.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Taste responses in patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Preclinical studies indicate that dopaminergic transmission in the basal ganglia may be involved in processing of both pleasant and unpleasant stimuli. Given this, the aim of the present study was to assess taste responses to sweet, bitter, sour, and salty substances in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Rated intensity and pleasantness of filter paper discs soaked in sucrose (10-60%), quinine (0.025-0.5%), citric acid (0.25-4.0%), or sodium chloride (1.25-20%) solutions was evaluated in 30 patients with PD and in 33 healthy controls. Paper discs soaked in deionised water served as control stimuli. In addition, reactivity to 100 ml samples of chocolate and vanilla milk was assessed in both groups. Taste detection thresholds were assessed by means of electrogustometry. Sociodemographic and neuropsychiatric data, including cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, tea and coffee drinking, depressive symptoms, and cognitive functioning were collected. RESULTS: In general, perceived intensity, pleasantness, and identification of the sucrose, quinine, citric acid, or sodium chloride samples did not differ between the PD patients and controls. Intensity ratings of the filter papers soaked in 0.025% quinine were significantly higher in the PD patients compared with the control group. No inter-group differences were found in taste responses to chocolate and vanilla milk. Electrogustometric thresholds were significantly (p = 0.001) more sensitive in the PD patients. CONCLUSIONS: PD is not associated with any major alterations in responses to pleasant or unpleasant taste stimuli. Patients with PD may present enhanced taste acuity in terms of electrogustometric threshold.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Primary malignant lymphoma of the brain.

A primary lymphoma in the left temporal lobe of the brain in a 66-year old man is presented. The brain tumor was diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms (temporary dizziness, mixed aphasia and right hemiparesis) and repeated CT scanning of the brain. The patient with diagnosed malignant, non-operative brain tumor underwent a series of radiotherapy and steroidtherapy. The patient died twelve months after the first signs and symptoms had occurred. A general autopsy did not reveal any neoplasmatic changes. A macroscopic neuropathological examination showed large tumor's mass in the left temporal lobe which was not separated clearly from its surrounding. A microscopic examination included histopathological (HE, Kanzler-Arendt, Perdrau, PATH, PAS) and immunocytochemical techniques (GFAP, anti-galactocerebroside, LCA, CD45RO, OPD4, CD20). It was found that the examined brain tumor was B-cell malignant lymphoma with the presence of T-cells. Since no changes were revealed in internal organs, the tumor was diagnosed as a primary brain lymphoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Abolished phosphaturic response to parathormone in adult patients with Fahr disease and its restoration after propranolol administration.

The similar localization of intracranial calcification in hypoparathyroidism and in Fahr disease without parathyroid gland disorder suggests that in these two disorders the pathomechanism of calcium phosphate deposition in the brain may be similar. It may be that in Fahr disease some factors, such as chronic respiratory alkalosis, could lead to hypoparathyroidism-like changes in the brain tissue. Abolition of the phosphaturic response to parathormone (PTH) was recently demonstrated in acute experimental hypocapnia. In three adult patients with Fahr disease, a tendency towards compensatory respiratory alkalosis and arterial hypocapnia was found. The parathormone test revealed a marked decrease in phosphaturia response to PTH, but normal cAMP response. In one patient, the parathormone test was repeated during propranolol administration and showed a considerable improvement in the phosphaturic response to parathormone. It is postulated that chronic hyperventilation and hypocapnia as well as phosphaturic resistance to PTH, intracellular increase of phosphate concentration and development of hypoparathyroidism-like intracranial calcification in patients with Fahr disease could all be caused by disturbance of adrenergic receptors and their relationship to PTH receptors.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (ophthalmoplegia dolorosa)].

In the reported case unilateral external ophthalmoplegia developed in a young woman, with concomitant pain and anaesthesia in the area innervated by the 1st branch of the trigeminal nerve. After ruling out an expanding lesion of the central nervous system, aneurysm, diabetes, myasthenia, multiple sclerosis and other diseases dexamethasone was administered in a total dose of 30 mg. Complete clinical remission was achieved. In the light of observations and a survey of the peritinent literature it has been accumed that the disease was caused by a non-specific process in the small vessels in the vicinity of the cavernous sinus.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Progressive supranuclear palsy, diagnostic problems in the light of own case].

A case is reported in which the neurological findings and disease course meet fully the criteria of the possible progressive supranuclear palsy. The authors discuss the principles of clinical diagnosis of the syndrome, characteristic oculomotor disturbances and parkinsonian syndrome especially pronounced in this disease in the muscles of the nape, trunk and upper extremities. The main features of neuropathological changes are described fibrillary degeneration and atrophy of neurons in midbrain and pons, with accumulation of tau protein in the neurons and astrocytes in the areas involved by the process.

Astrocytes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Electroencephalographic studies of family members of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy].

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a common idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE); it has a clinical and probably a strong genetic relation to the other IGE forms. Generalized spike/polyspike-wave discharges (SW/PSW) are typical of all IGEs. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of epilepsy and SW/PSW in EEG of family members of 12 JME patients. 35 first degree relatives aged over 15 years were examined. 40 min EEG with 5 min HV were recorded. IGE was diagnosed in 3 (8.6%) persons: JME in 2 and childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) in 1 person. Six more relatives (17.1%) had typical SW/PSW traits in EEG. Thus the IGE features were found in 9 (25.7%) individuals--members of 7 out of 12 families (58%). EEG of 7 other relatives (20%) revealed non-specific episodic diffuse or focal abnormalities. The above results reveal higher incidence of different kinds of ICEs and typical EEG traits in families of JME patients. This findings confirm familial susceptibility to IGE and may be helpful in genetical counselling.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Adrenomyeloneuropathy: a form of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Report of a family].

A family with adrenoleucodystrophy linked to chromosome X (X-ALD) is reported. Three patients, one man (proband) and two female monozygotic twins, had adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) which is a form of the disease. The proband had characteristic changes in MRI with demyelination of the white matter in the cerebral hemispheres. Both women (one of them was proband's mother) has somewhat less severe AMN form, but in her twin sister the syndrome was much more intense. The clinical diagnosis of the disease was confirmed by biochemical investigations--determination of the level of very long chain fatty acids, ALDP protein and the activity of peroxysomal beta-oxidation.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[PLED pattern and its clinical significance in stroke patients].

The pathophysiological connection between periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLED) and epileptic seizures is still not clear. In the study clinical data and EEG findings were analysed in 22 patients aged 43-90 years with a history of stroke in whom EEG disclosed PLED. Eleven patients were studied in the acute phase of stroke and 11 were studied years after stroke when the diagnosis was established of poststroke epilepsy. In 2 patients in acute stroke group single epileptic seizures occurred and 5 had partial status epilepticus. In the group with poststroke epilepsy 4 had single seizures and 4 had epileptic status with partial epilepsy seizures. Thus, in 15 out of 22 patients PLEDs were noted after epileptic seizures. In all cases PLED appearance was connected with consciousness disturbances, lasting 1 to 17 days. In 6 cases PLED pattern was interrupted by seizure activity over one hemisphere, in 3 of them partial epileptic seizures were associated with it. In acute phase of stroke neuroimaging demonstrated the presence of fresh ischaemic foci, but in cases of poststroke epilepsy no such fresh foci were observed. These results suggest that PLED frequently can be associated with epilepsy, and in some patients it can be a bioelectrical manifestation of partial status epileptic.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiology of epilepsy in school children at Pruszkow and Ursus].

The purpose of the study was calculation of the prevalence rate of epilepsy in school-children (7-15 years) in Prusków and Ursus on the basis of cases recorded in specialistic medical sources and determination and description of elementary clinical and social features in the studied group of children. The calculated prevalence rate of epilepsy in the studied population is 6.73/1000. It is higher in boys (7.45) than girls (5.96) and higher in older children - above 10 years (7.52) than in younger children (5.81). Approximate evaluation of the number of epileptic children at school-age on the basis of this rate shows that in the year 1970 there were about 34000 epileptic children registered in medical institutions in Poland. The analysis of all clinical and social data and certain differences in comparison with data in the literature may show that in childhood epilepsy recorded groups of children are formed by the process of selection. Of a significant role in the formation of these groups may be clinical as well as non-clinical factors. It may be expected, thus, that the actual prevalence rate of epilepsy in children population is higher than that calculated from registered cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment of parkinsonism with L-dopa and peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor].

In 38 patients with Parkinson's syndrome Madopar preparation was used (L-dopa with peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor) in 33 cases as the main drug and in 5 cases as an addition to L-dopa. In the group of 33 patients 39 could complete the treatment, one patient died suddenly, three had the treatment withdrawn in view of side effects. The effectiveness of Madopar was assessed by means of five-rate scoring systems NUDS and ART. Clinical improvement was found in 22 cases (about 67%). The improvement included mainly bradykinesia and rigidity, while tremor was only slightly improved. Side effects developed in about 40% of patients and were slight and transient (apart from 3 cases). The main contraindications seem to be psychotic disturbances. In the group of 5 cases treated with Madopar as an additional drug in low doses improved the result of long-term treatment with L-dopa.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[EEG value in cases of epileptic seizures in early phase of stroke].

The aim of our work was to assess the usefulness of EEG in patients with seizures in acute phase of stroke. EEG patterns of 54 patients with epileptic seizures at the onset of stroke were evaluated: 45 of ischaemic, 6 of haemorrhagic origin and 3 with lacunar stroke as confirmed by CT or MR examination. Out of 40 patients, who had a single or multiple seizures at the onset of stroke, EEG revealed focal slow waves in 90% and in 22.5% they were accompanied by interictal epileptiform discharges. None of those patients had recurrent seizures during the time of hospitalisation irrespectively of applying antiepileptic drugs. In the remaining 14 patients prolonged disturbances of consciousness were observed. EEG examination revealed simple partial status epilepticus (SE) in 10 and complex partial SE in 4 of them. In 11 of those patients EEG disclosed fragments of periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLED) interrupted by seizure activity. The findings indicate that in patients with seizures in the acute phase of stroke EEG examination is very helpful in making the proper therapeutic decision by recognizing the SE. The introduction of antiepileptic drugs is generally not necessary in stroke patients with single seizures.

Acute Disease↗