Body balance in patients with systemic vertigo after rehabilitation exercise.

The aim of this paper was to characterize structural balance of the body in people with systemic vertigo after applying rehabilitation exercise, such as motor-visual coordination on a posturographic platform and balance exercise. Physiotherapeutic procedures were carried out in a group of 12 people, aged 25-60 years suffering from vertigo. The evaluation of body balance in the standing position was performed by means of recording of postural sways based on force-plate posturography. The examination was performed before and after the rehabilitation program. Standard tests were done, with eyes open, eyes closed, and with conscious visual control-biofeedback. Patients with vertigo underwent a month-long therapy, which included: exercise of motor-visual coordination on a posturographic platform and balance exercise, which consisted of repeated visual, vestibular, and somatosensory stimulation for conscious postural control. The rehabilitation program resulted in a decrease of the range of sways, improved visuomotor coordination and thus also improved balance.

Controversial aspect of using GFP as a marker for the production of transgenic cattle.

The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of identification and selection of cattle embryos based on green fluorescence (GFP-positive) in order to obtain calves carrying an integrated transgene. The construct used (pbLGTNF-EGFP) contained the human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNFalpha) gene fused to the bovine beta-lactoglobulin promoter (bLG) in plasmid vector pCX-EGFP. In four experiments, 76 zygotes were injected; eight of them developed to the morulae/blastocysts stage of which only five were GFP positive (one of them 100%, one-50%, three- 25%). All of the GFP positive embryos were transferred to recipients. Two calves were born: one after transfer of the 100% GFP positive embryo and the other after transfer of one of the 25% GFP positive embryos. Both animals were healthy with normal weight when compared to two control calves. The integration of pbLGTNF-EGFP in the host genome could not be detected in either of the calves, suggesting that GFP is an unreliable marker for preimplantation screening of embryos.

[The evaluation of the balance organ in workers occupationally exposed to organic solvents and tinctorial dusts]. / Narzad równowagi pracowników narazonych zawodowo na pary rozpuszczalników organicznych i pyly barwnikowe.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the balance organ in persons occupationally exposed to organic solvent vapours. The study was performed in a group of 35 workers employed for eight years on average in two departments of the Polifarb S.A. factory of patients and lacquers, Wroclaw. The control group consisted of 53 healthy persons. Static and dynamic posturography was used to assess the condition of the balance organ. In the persons exposed static posturography tests revealed statistically significant increase in the field of spread area and extent of sways, and dynamic posturography tests indicated an increased radius. It was shown that posturography ensure an objective assessment of balance disorders and can be applied in the screening of persons exposed to toxic substances. It is also useful in recording functional condition of the balance organ.

[Chemodectoma: tympanic tumor]. / Chemodectoma--postac pierwotnie bebenkowa.

Glomus tympanicum tumors are the most common benign tumors of middle ear. Initially the leading symptoms are hearing loss and tinnitus. Other complications such as facial nerve paresis reflect deeper structures involvement. Sometimes the disease is masked by chronic pyogenic otitis media. It delays the diagnosis what we observed in one of three cases of chemodectoma presented. We present 3 cases of glomus tumor tympanicus that occurred in three women aged 60-68 years by the time of diagnosis. Localisation, size of the tumor and relation to other structures of the ear was made on the basis of computer tomography. The patients were operated (atticoantrotomy). In one of the cases there was recidivation of the disease two years after operation, we have made reoperation with hearing improvement. All the three patients were cured in outpatient before the correct diagnosis for a few years, they all presented typical symptoms together with typical changes in tympanic membrane. It is important to stress, that chronic pyogenic otitis media which first occurred as the patient was over fifty should arouse suspicion of neoplastic disease.

[A rare case of metastatic meningitis with unknown primary focus and atypical symptoms]. / Rzadki przypadek przerzutowego zapalenia opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych z nieznanego ogniska pierwotnego o nietypowych objawach.

We have presented the diagnostic difficulties in the case of woman aged 59 who was admitted to the clinic with the suspicion of neurinoma of acoustic nerve. The patient was admitted to hospital with peripheral facial nerve paresis on the left side together with sudden surdity and peripheral vestibular impairment. Surdity of the other side occurred after two months. In terminal phase of the disease there was aseptic meningitis. Posthumous diagnosis was made on the basis of neuropathological examination of the brain. It was carcinomatous meningitis. But there was no primary focus found during autopsy. It is important to stress that CT and MRI was completely useless in this case. However pathological brain stem response together with lack of stapedial muscle reflex were much ahead of surdity and other central symptoms. We found only one case of carcinomatous meningitis with unknown primary focus in the literature. The course of the disease is very insidious and in every suspicious cases one should be aware of cancer of unknown primary site.

Transcriptional activity of genes-encoding kinin B1 and B2 receptors and kinin-dependent genes in nasal polyps.

PURPOSE: The pro-inflammatory effects of kinins are mediated by two bradykinin receptors: BR1 and BR2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression profile of kinin receptor genes by an estimation of mRNA levels in human nasal polyps (NP) and normal mucosa (NM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: BR1 and BR2-dependent genes differentially transcribed in NP were investigated using oligonucleotide microarray technology. The mRNA copy number of BR1, BR2 and TIMP1 genes was assessed by QRT-PCR. Thirty six eosinophilic (ENP), 17 neutrophilic nasal polyps (NNP) and 28 NM samples were included into the study. RESULTS: Among 92 genes encoding proteins involved in signal transduction via B1 and B2 kinin receptors TIMP1 was found to be 2,63-fold higher in the NP than in NM. Increased TIMP1 gene expression was proved by QRT-PCR (p=0,003). Moreover two genes: FOS and PTGS1 presented higher (3,82- and 4,27-fold, respectively) expression in NM compared to NP tissues. In QRT-PCR analysis insignificantly higher expression of gene encoding BR1 in ENP [2564 mRNA copies/microg RNA (22-32863)] compared with NM [1426 copies mRNA (15-27995)] was found. mRNA expression for the BR2 in ENP [9872 copies mRNA (19-244832)] was insignificantly higher than in NM [5753 copies (46-199658)]. BR2 mRNA was the predominant transcript in most NP and NM samples followed by BR1 mRNA (p<0,01). There was a positive correlation between the expression of BR1 and BR2 in the ENP (r=0,91; p<0,01) and NNP (r=0,6; p<0,01). CONCLUSIONS: We did not document any changes in the expression profile of kinin receptors in the analyzed groups, which may suggest that kinin receptors do not make an important contribution in the etiology of NP.

Are there any disturbances in vestibular organ of children and young adults with Type I diabetes?

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the work was to evaluate the vestibular organ condition in children and young adults suffering from Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The group examined consisted of 95 children and young adults aged from 6 to 28 years with Type I diabetes diagnosed. The diabetic group was divided into subgroups according to duration of the disease, compensation of the disease, and presence and character of hypoglycaemic incidents, and presence of diabetic complications. The control group consisted of 44 healthy children and young adults aged 6 to 28 years. After collecting detailed medical history in each case an electronystagmographic test was performed using the computed two-canal electronystagmographer. RESULTS: Within the diabetic group 6 patients complained about vertigo and balance disorders. Spontaneous nystagmus occurred in 10 cases, positional one in 21 cases. Impaired optokinesis occurred in 36 cases and impaired eye tracking test in 33 cases. In caloric tests there was partial canal paresis in 4 cases and directional preponderance in 7 cases. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Metabolic disturbances present in Type I diabetes cause disturbances in different parts of vestibular organ but mostly in its central part. Comparing disturbances in the vestibular organ with clinical and biochemical parameters characterising diabetes, the range of vestibular organ impairment in diabetes mellitus type 1 seems to depend mainly on the presence and character of hypoglycaemic incidents and the duration of the disease and to some extent on the compensation of diabetes.

Sudden hearing loss as a first complication of long-standing Type 1 diabetes mellitus: a case report.

The term 'sudden hypoacusis' describes a hearing loss of a rapid onset and unknown origin that can progress to severe deafness. Its pathophysiology is still unknown, the proposed aetiological mechanisms being vascular disease or autoimmune reaction. We present the case of a 19-year-old woman with Type 1 diabetes mellitus who experienced sudden hearing loss on her right side. She had no complications related to diabetes. After being referred to the hospital she was diagnosed with sudden sensorineural right-sided hearing loss accompanied by high frequency tinnitus. After administration of vasoactive drugs, there was partial improvement after 7 days, followed by gradual improvement over the next 4 weeks to 5 months. The tinnitus did not disappear completely. We conclude that hearing organ disturbances can be present in Type 1 diabetes and represent an early complication.

Expression of cell adhesion molecules on liver-associated lymphocytes and their ligands on sinusoidal lining cells in patients with benign or malignant liver disease.

Liver sinusoids, in contrast with the capillaries of other tissues, contain large numbers of sequestered lymphocytes. These blood-borne cells preferentially home in the liver. The mechanism regulating the recruitment of these cells and molecular regulation of the recognition of endothelial cells is as yet unclear. The present study sought to evaluate the cell adhesion molecules on human liver-associated lymphocytes and their ligands on sinusoidal lining cells in 29 patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for liver tumors. Liver-associated lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies. Frozen sections of liver tissue were stained according to alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase method. Cytometric analysis showed that virtually all liver-associated lymphocytes expressed on their surface the cell adhesion molecules LFA-1 and VLA-4. This liver-associated lymphocyte population also presented a significantly higher percentage of Mac 1, ICAM-1, and LFA-3 and an increased surface expression of LFA-1, LFA-2, and NCAM in comparison with peripheral blood lymphocytes. It was likewise shown that sinusoidal cells express ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3, VCAM-1 and LFA-3 ligands. Liver-associated lymphocytes thus strongly express a number of different adhesion molecules. The corresponding ligands were also detected on sinusoidal lining cells. LFA-1 and VLA-4 would seem to be important pathways of temporary lymphocyte-endothelial adhesion in liver sinusoids.