[Assessment of regional blood flow in patients after mild head trauma]. / Ocena przeplywu krwi u chorych po przebytym lekkim urazie glowy.

Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) using radioisotope markers was applied for analysis of regional blood flow in the brain. The method makes possible demonstration of the presence and extent of damage to the nervous tissue caused by trauma. The degree of blood flow impairment is of prognostic significance in cases of cerebral concussion. In the present study the regional brain blood flow was assessed shortly after trauma and one year in cases of mild cerebral concussion. In the studied group immediately after trauma blood flow impairment was found mostly in the left temporal area and in frontal areas. Changes of rCBI were present also late after trauma. In 7 out of 16 cases SPECT image failed to change one year after trauma. In 8 cases the rCB improved up to normalization. In 1 case the changes progressed, in another case hyperperfusion focus changed to hypoperfusion. In 2 cases the pattern was normal early and lata after trauma. In the studied group in cases with changed rCBF no changes were found in CT and MRI examinations. This evidence a greater sensitivity and usefulness of SPECT in the assessment of early and late consequences of head trauma.

[Electrophysiological assessment of pain sensitivity in neurotic patients]. / Elektrofizjologiczna ocena wrazliwosci na ból u pacjentów z nerwica.

The results are presented of a study of pain sensitivity in neurotic patients comparing them with the results obtained in 40 controls. For the study the electrophysiological method of nociceptive flexion reflex was used in which reflex threshold is closely correlated with pain threshold. It was found that pronounced neurotic symptoms caused an evident lowering of the pain threshold, and its clinical counterpart was increased pain sensitivity.

[Dexamethasone test in the assessment of depression grade in patients with low back pain]. / Zastosowanie testu deksametazonowego dla oceny stopnia depresji u chorych z bólami krzyza.

The results of the dexamethasone test were compared with the depression depth and pain intensity in patients with low back pain caused by degenerative changes and/or disc prolapse. In the light of these studies no correlation was demonstrated between the positive results of the dexamethasone test and depression symptoms and the intensity and duration of pain.

[Analgesic effect of imipramine in the treatment of ischium pain and circadian rhythm of cortisol release into the serum]. / Efekt przeciwbólowy imipraminy w leczeniu rwy kulszowej a okolodobowy rytm wydzielania kortyzolu w surowicy.

In the paper the results are presented of treatment of ischialgia with Imipramine, taking into account the circadian rhythm of cortisol release into the serum. The obtained results encourage to the use of tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment refractory cases of ischialgia. No significant differences were observed in the circadian rhythm of cortisol release into the serum before and after the treatment with Imipramine.

[Assessment of dexamethasone effectiveness in the treatment of ischalgia]. / Ocena skutecznosci leczenia rwy kulszowej deksametazonem.

The authors studied 43 patients admitted to hospital with acute episodes of ischalgia or recurrences caused by intervertebral disc disease. The patients were randomly selected into two groups treated with dexamethasone in high but rapidly decreasing doses, or tramadol. A comparison of the results in both groups showed that dexamethasone was effective and safe when given by this method to patients with ischalgia.

[Recurrent painful ophthalmoplegia (Tolosa-Hunt syndrome)]. / Nawrotowa bolesna oftalmoplegia (Zespó Tolosa-Hunta).

A case is presented of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegia of atypical course, with pain in the orbit, eyelid oedema, and paralysis of external eye muscles. Disease symptoms occurred intermittently in both eyeballs. The performed MRI examination showed the presence of inflammatory focus in the posterior ethmoid.

[Use of nociceptive flexion reflex in the evaluation of morphine analgesia]. / Zastosowanie nocyceptywnego odruchu zgieciowego w ocenie analgezji morfinowej.

A close correlation between the threshold of the nociceptive flexion reflex and pain threshold makes this reflex useful for the examination of pain and analgesia level. Earlier investigations showed that in sciatica the threshold of the nociceptive reflex was decreased in the extremity with pain, and that the degree of this decrease was proportional++ to pain intensity and intensity of radicular sings. In the presently reported study the nociceptive flexion reflex was investigated in 20 patients after epidural injection of 5 mg of morphine. After this blockade the degree of analgesia and the value of the reflex were determined. Improvement was obtained in 80% of patients, with complete disappearance of pain in 55%. In all improved patients the previously decreased threshold of the nociceptive flexion reflex increased again to normal values.

[Late results of Horton's headache treatment using peripheral stimulation]. / Odlegle wyniki leczenia bólu glowy hortona metodami stymulacji obwodowej.

The effects were assessed of peripheral stimulation (chemical acupuncture and electroacupuncture) on the character of pain and duration of remission in 48 patients with Horton's headaches. A direct analgesic effect was obtained in about 48% of cases, and a prolongation of the time interval without pain was 2 to 21 times longer than the duration of the longest interval without pain before the treatment with acupuncture in about 40% of cases. In some cases, despite absence of a direct analgesic effect, prolongation of remission was obtained.

[Beta endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the blood of patients with chronic pain treated by pinpoint receptor stimulation (acupuncture)]. / Zachowanie sie immunoreaktywnosci beta-endorfinopodobnej we krwi chorych z przewleklym bólem leczonych punktowym draznieniem receptorowym (akupunktura).

The authors present the results of determinations of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in the plasma carried out before and after pinpoint receptor stimulation (prs) that is acupuncture in patients with long-standing pain. No significant differences were observed in this immunoreactivity after prs, and the clinical analgesic effect was independent of the level of this immunoreactivity and its changes during these procedures. On the other hand, a positive correlation was demonstrated between plasma beta-endorphin concentration and the neuroticism index as evaluated by Eysenck's personality inventory. The reliability of this observation requires, however, confirmation in a greater material.

[Questionnaire method of evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment of pain]. / Kwestionariuszowa metoda oceny skutecznosci postepowania przeciwbólowego.

A Polish version of pain questionnaire for pain intensity definition has been prepared after an inquiry study on the "pain glossary" which showed that in the Polish language a large number of words are used for characterization of pain. These words contain information about pain intensity understandable for the studied population. The authors describe this questionnaire and discuss a preliminary evaluation of its usefulness for assessing the effectiveness of pain management. The presented questionnaire makes possible evaluation of pain intensity in several indices whose values correlate significantly with each other. In comparative investigations a significant correlation has been found also between the indices of pain intensity in the questionnaire and the index in the 24-hour observation card. The mean differences of pain intensity scores calculated before and after the treatment differed significantly in definite categories of verbal evaluation of treatment effectiveness. This justifies the conclusion that the questionnaire may be useful for evaluating treatment effectiveness by a method not depending on the utterances of the patients.

[The analgesic effect of interference currents in radicular pains]. / Ocena przeciwbólowego dzialania pradów interferencyjnych w bólach korzeniowych.

The authors tried out the analgetic effectiveness of interference currents generated by an Interdyn--ID 79 unit of Polish production in the treatment of radicular pains caused by disc prolapse. The analgesic effect, its degree and duration were assessed. In 72% of cases a good analgesic effect was obtained lasting at least one month, and in 35% of cases complete remission of pain was was achieved. It is stressed that the obtained effects were similar to those obtained by other methods of nervous system electrostimulation, such as: percutaneous electrostimulation, electroacupuncture, spinal cord electrostimulation, or diadynamic currents.

[2 cases of congenital analgesia]. / DWA przypadki wrodzonej obojetnosci na ból.

The authors describe two cases of congenital indifference to pain in a man aged 34 years and a woman aged 23 years. The clinical manifestations in both cases fulfilled the criteria for the diagnosis of these disturbances.