Different perspectives in understanding muscle functions in Parkinson's disease through surface electromyography: Exploring multiple activation patterns.

Gait disorders are one of the cardinal features of Parkinson's Disease (PD) and might be affected by a modified pattern of motor unit activation. This work explores how PD affects the lower limb muscle control and how muscle activity contributes to gait impairment. Using clinical gait analysis data, the onset and the offset of the surface electromyographic (sEMG) signal of four lower limb muscles were determined in 18 people with PD and compared with 10 heathy controls. Different motor patterns were identified in both the populations through a statistical detector algorithm and described in terms of linear envelope, local maxima activation magnitude and occurrence, co-contractions, and bursts duration. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical parametric mapping for the sEMG envelope and linear mixed effects models for the sEMG parameters. An equivalent number of sEMG patterns was detected in PD with respect to controls. Significant differences were highlighted between the two cohorts within the same activation modality. Plantarflexors muscles activation was delayed on time and had different durations and activations peaks, while Biceps Femoris revealed a higher local maximum. These results suggested that functional tibiotarsus joint reeducation coupled with postural rehabilitation might be beneficial for people with PD.

[In vitro resistance of Candida species to antifungal agents]. / Badania in vitro lekoopornosci szczepow grzybów z rodzaju Candida.

The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility to 6 antifungal agents of 143 strains of Candida species isolated from 545 patients with suspicion of fungal infection. Test ATB Fungus (bioMérieux) was used. Among all Candida isolates 91.6% were susceptible to tested polyenes and 32.9% to all azoles. Less susceptible to polyenes isolates were noted in low percentage (0.7 to 4.2%) and to azoles more frequently (32.9 to 41.2%). Candida isolates resistant to antifungal agents tested were dependent from the kind of clinical samples and species of fungi. Monitoring of the susceptibility to antifungal agents by ATB commercial test seems to be useful tool for therapeutic purposes.

[Candida and amoebiasis acquired in tropical and subtropical climatic zones]. / Candida a ameboza nabyta w strefie klimatu tropikalnego i subtropikalnego.

The objective of the study was the analysis of occurrence and number of Candida in the alimentary tract of 209 patients with intestinal amoebiasis considering their state after the treatment. Amoebiasis was diagnosed on the grounds of Entamoeba histolytica present in the faeces, what has just recently been recognised equal to the presence of E. histolytica complex. In all patients serological investigations were performed using indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test. The cases with relapses or with the intestinal ailments after elimination of the parasite from the body at the simultaneous isolation of Candida in the faeces were focused on. In the compass of several years a wide number of qualitative and quantitative mycological tests were performed comprising 39 patients with relapses after symptomatic amoebiasis and 42 with ailments which had appeared after the treatment form asymptomatic amoebiasis. Observation of the dynamics of number of Candida cells revealed most often their increment in subsequent examinations. It occurred in 69% people examined after the treatment of asymptomatic amoebiasis and in 40,9% after the treatment of symptomatic amoebiasis. The differences obtained were statistically significant. The number of yeast remained at the same high level in 23,8% patients after asymptomatic amoebiasis and in 36% after symptomatic amoebiasis. Drop of Candida cells number was noted in 7,1% people after asymptomatic amoebiasis and in 11,4% after symptomatic amoebiasis. In the light of the results obtained it turns possible that suffering from amoebiasis could even in the long run affect Candida tendency to proliferate or the tendency to remain at the same high level. It may be presumed that the growing number of yeast was an important reason for the intestinal ailments after the elimination of E. histolytica. The results of mycoserological investigations also were taken into consideration.

[A new case of cutaneous myiasis from South America via the larva Dermatobia hominis (L. Jr.)]. / Nowy przypadek muszycy skórnej z terenu ameryki poludniowej spowodowany przez larwe Dermatobia hominis (L. Jr.).

A case of cutaneous myiasis produced by D. hominis in a 26-year Polish missionary, who spent 3 months in Peru in 1990 is presented. Practical indications helpful in the diagnosis of this parasitosis are given together with data concerning occurrence and biology of D. hominis.