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Biomedical subjects

Zbigniew Stelmasiak

Publications and source records attributed to Zbigniew Stelmasiak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The interleukin-10 levels as a potential indicator of positive response to interferon beta treatment of multiple sclerosis patients.

OBJECTIVES: Only a part of MS patients treated with interferon beta (IFN) respond positively to the applied treatment and to date no parameter predicting the response to treatment has been found. The aim of the study was to determine whether the levels of interleukin-10 and -12 (IL-10 and IL-12) might be the parameters enabling us to distinguish those patients who would best respond to therapy before the IFN treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 29 patients with clinically definite relapsing-remitting MS treated with IFN beta. In all of them the levels of IL-10 and IL-12 in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid were determined before treatment using ELISA method. After the 2-year therapy the patients responding and nonresponding to IFN therapy were distinguished on the basis of clinical parameters. RESULTS: In the patients responding positively to IFN treatment the level of IL-10 in blood serum before treatment was found to be significantly lower (p<0.05) and distinctively differentiated responders from nonresponders. The IL-12 levels were similar both in cerebrospinal fluid and serum and no significant differences between responders and nonresponders were found. CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest that IL-10 level may be a useful parameter to identify the patients potentially responding to IFN therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Steroid therapy altered serum levels of CCL2 and CCL5 chemokines in multiple sclerosis patients during relapse.

Chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of steroid therapy on the levels of CCL2 and CCL5 chemokines. The study encompassed 30 patients with clinically definite relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were treated with methylprednisolone due to the relapse of the disease. The control groups consisted of 20 patients during the stable stage of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and of 15 patients with noninflammatory diseases of the nervous system. Both chemokines were markedly expresssed in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. During relapse, the levels of both chemokines differed significantly from the levels measured in both control groups. After the methylprednisolone treatment, the chemokine levels changed significantly: the levels of CCL2 increased, whilst the levels of CCL5 decreased. These alterations did not correlate with the clinical state of the patients or with the therapeutic effect of the treatment and indicated that the inflammatory reaction accompanying the relapse was receding.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[The formation and significance of antibodies to interferon beta during immunomodulating treatment of multiple sclerosis].

Patients with multiple sclerosis receiving interferon beta (IFN) may develop neutralizing anti-interferon beta antibodies (NABs). The importance of NABs has not been completely explained, however it is generally reckoned that they might be one of the factors diminishing treatment efficacy. This paper presents the consequences of NABs formation during IFN therapy. Differences of immunogenicity between the interferon beta products with regard to their structure, formulation, dose, route of administration were presented and the influence of NABs on the biological and clinical activity of IFN beta therapy was shown.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2004

[Development of binding antibodies to interferon-beta during treatment of multiple sclerosis with different types of interferon-beta].

Interferon beta (IFN-beta) is generally considered an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). Importance of binding antibodies (BAb), which are created during the treatment of MS by the use of IFN-beta, hasn't been completely explained, however it is generally reckoned that they might be one of the factors diminishing treatment efficacy. The aim of the study was the appreciation of BAb occurrence during the treatment of MS by the use of different types of interferon beta and their impact on clinical efficacy. The study included 47 patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Within 24 months 37 patients were given two different preparations of IFN-beta 1-a and 10 patients were given IFN-beta 1-b. Every 6 months clinical parameters and BAb level in serum by EIA method were estimated. All preparations of IFN-beta induced appearance of BAb, but frequency of developing BAb to IFN-beta varied according to the IFN beta given. The high levels of BAb appeared significant frequently in patients treated with IFN-beta 1-b than in patients treated with both preparations of IFN-beta 1-a. After 2 years of treatment greater disability, measured by EDSS scale was encountered in patients with high levels of BAb but differences weren't statistically significant. As well, it wasn't stated significant correlation between exacerbation numbers during the treatment.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2004

Rare first symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

The most frequent first symptoms of multiple sclerosis are the following: sensory symptoms, optic neuritis, motor and cerebellar syndromes. Three female patients have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on the basis of Poser's criteria. The onset of the disease was manifested in these cases with non-typical and rare symptoms. Patient 1, a woman, aged 24. The first symptom of the disease was an isolated lesion of nerve VI on the right side. Patient 2, a women, aged 30. The first symptom of the disease was acute pain localised within the area of the lumbar-sacral spine. Patient 3, a woman, aged 43. The first symptom of the disease was loss of taste and smell.

Abducens Nerve Diseases↗
PubMed2004

Diagnosis: miner's nystagmus.

We present the patient with pendular nystagmus. The condition is secondary to long-term work as an underground coal miner. The issue is worth describing because of its rare presence in contemporary either neurological or ophthalmological literature.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Oligoclonal bands measured in unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid and other biochemical parameters in multiple sclerosis.

Various biochemical parameters of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from sixty-nine patients with RRMS (relapse-remitting MS) were compared in this study. Total protein level, white blood cells (WBC) count and presence of oligoclonal bands (OB) in CSF were examined. The presence of OB in unconcentrated CSF using an isoelectrofocusing assay on agarose gels and silver staining were measured in 72 percent of patients. The average CSF total protein level measured by Lowry assay was 269 mg/l (range from 61 to 712 mg/l). The mean level of white blood cells (WBC) was higher than in general population and it was 12 cells/microl. We found an increased level of WBC count among patients with the presence of oligoclonal bands in CSF.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Tumour of great occipital foramen.

We present the case of tumour of the great occipital foramen in a patient who was having headaches and significant mobility restriction of the cervical spine. Attention is called to diagnostic and surgical difficulties related to this location of neoplasm.

Humans↗
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↗
PubMed2003

[Acute phase proteins in patients with cerebral infarction with or without a coexisting infectious disease].

The aim of the work was evaluation of influence of infectious process before and in first few days of cerebral infarction on concentrations of acute phase proteins (APP). We evaluated also dynamics of changes of APP and correlation between infection and clinical status and size of ischemia. We examined 47 sick: 30 without infections and 17 with infectious process. Concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen in serum were estimated on 1, 3 and 7 day of infarction. Fisher's scale was used to evaluate patients' clinical status. Comparing to patients without infection, in patients with infection, concentrations of CRP and fibrinogen were higher in all days of investigation but dynamic of changes was different. The highest concentrations of APP in patients without infection were observed on 3 day of infarction (CRP 3.55 +/- 6.76 mg/dl, fibrinogen 425.7 +/- 117.9 mg/dl). In group with infection APP gradually increased and was highest on 7 day (CRP 7.91 +/- 9.28 mg/dl, fibrinogen 422 +/- 119.5 mg/dl). Clinical status of patients with infection compare to patients without infection was heavier and the ischemic focus was larger. Infectious process coexisting witch infectious process influences on deterioration of clinical status and intensifies neurological disorders.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[The assessment of development of binding antibodies to interferon beta during interferon beta 1a treatment of multiple sclerosis].

The importance of binding antibodies (BAb) that develop during the treatment of multiple sclerosis with interferon beta has not been fully explained yet. However, they are generally regarded as one of factors that may diminish treatment efficacy. The aim of the study was to evaluate firstly, BAb occurrence in interferon beta 1-a (IFN beta 1-a)-treated MS patients and secondly, BAb impact on clinical efficacy of this medication. In the 36-month study participants were 21 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, RR-MS, (14 women, 7 men, aged 29.6 +/- 8.5). All the patients were receiving intramuscular IFN beta-1a (Avonex) for 24 months, in the dose of 30 micrograms per week. Clinical parameters and serum BAb levels (the EIA method) were estimated every 3 months. Two control groups, examined only once, included 20 RR-MS patients without IFN-beta therapy and 20 healthy volunteers. While before treatment a high BAb level was found in 2 patients (9.5%), at 6 months of treatment it was found in 8 patients (38.1%). A similar number of patients with high BAb levels was seen throughout the study during the IFN-beta treatment. On therapy completion serum BAb levels decreased very rapidly. After 2 years of treatment, disability as measured by the EDSS scale was more pronounced in patients with serum BAb, but the differences were statistically not significant. No statistically significant relationship was found either between elevated BAb levels and the number of relapses during the IFN-beta treatment (including relapses that required steroid therapy).

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2003

[Fronto-temporal dementia: case report].

Frontotemporal dementia is a relatively common form of primary dementia. The article presents a case of a female patient with probably inherited frontotemporal dementia, originally diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2003

[Botulinum toxin A in the treatment of stiff man syndrome].

Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS) is a very rare disorder characterised by progressive fluctuating muscle rigidity and episodic spasm. So far, only two reports have demonstrated a significant clinical improvement in the patients with SPS when muscle were injected with Botulinum Toxin A (BTA). We investigated the effectiveness of intramuscular injections of BTA in a patient with clinical, biochemical and electrophysiological evidence of SPS. A 41-year-old woman with coexisting epilepsy and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was hospitalised in our Department because of stiffness and paroxysmal spasm of trunk and proximal limbs muscles. Because of not sufficient results of the pharmacological treatment the injections of BTA into involved muscles were done. Clinical observations included measure of pain, frequency of spasm, well-being and selection's activities were performed at baseline and in 1, 2, 7, 11, 16, 20, weeks. Significant improvement started one week after injections and lasting about 4 months was observed. Using BTA injections into involved muscles for the treatment of SPS can be followed by marked functional improvement and reducing the need for systemic drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Thyroid function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Etiopathogenesis of the disease is not known. It is supposed that immunological disturbances play a role, which is among others confirmed by coexistence of ALS with autoimmunological disorders, including thyroid diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the thyroid function in ALS through the measurement of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the serum of ALS patients. The hormones level was measured by radioimmunoassay method. The study showed that the hormones level in ALS patients was not different from controls, and the clinical parameters of the disease did not influence the measured hormones level.

Adult↗
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↗