Melatonin acts as antioxidant and improves sleep in MS patients.

The relationship between the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and sunlight's ultraviolet radiation was proved. Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenic traits of MS. Melatonin possesses antioxidative properties and regulates circadian rhythms. Sleep disturbances in MS patients are common and contribute to daytime fatigue. The aim of study was to evaluate 5 mg daily melatonin supplementation over 90 days on serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and its influence on sleep quality and depression level of MS patients. A case-control prospective study was performed on 102 MS patients and 20 controls matched for age and sex. The Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale, magnetic resonance imaging examinations, Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Beck Depression Inventory questionnaires were completed. Serum TOS and TAC levels were measured. We observed higher serum levels of TOS in all MS groups, while after melatonin treatment the TOS levels significantly decreased. The TAC level was significantly lower only in mitoxantrone-treated group and it increased after melatonin supplementation. A strong positive correlation between T1Gd(+) number lesions and TAC level in interferon-beta-1A group was observed. AIS group mean score above 6 defining insomnia were observed in interferon-beta-1B-group, glatiramer acetate-group and mitoxantrone-group: 6.62 ± 2.88, 8.45 ± 2.07, 11.1 ± 3.25, respectively. After melatonin treatment the AIS mean scores decrease in glatiramer acetate-group and mitoxantrone-group achieving 5.25 ± 1.14 and 7.08 ± 2.39, respectively (p < 0.05). Finding from our study suggest that melatonin can act as an antioxidant and improves reduced sleep quality in MS patients.

[Role of perfusion imaging in computed tomography in diagnostics of cerebral gliomas]. / Rola obrazowania perfuzji w tomografii komputerowej w diagnostyce glejaków osrodkowego ukladu nerwowego.

CT perfusion is a new diagnostic method which enables imaging of the hemodynamics of tissues and organs. Until now most of the publications have been focused on the use of this technique to assess acute stroke. The aim of the presented work is to show the role of CT perfusion in the diagnosis of cerebral gliomas. These tumors are characterized by intensive vascularity which results in an increased blood volume (CBV), blood flow (CBF) and permeability surface (PS) values in perfusion CT examination. A correlation has been reported between perfusion parameters and the histopathological tumor grade. CT perfusion provides morphological and functional information which is useful in the diagnosis, planning treatment strategies and monitoring of the therapeutic effect in cerebral gliomas.

Extracolonic findings at CT colonography - additional advantage of the method.

BACKGROUND: In virtual colonoscopy (VC) we are capable to assess all organs located between a diaphragm and pelvic bottom. This report provides a breakdown of extracolonic pathological findings in VC performed in standard indications. MATERIAL/METHODS: We reviewed 71 consecutive VC (29 men and 42 women) performed using double-slice scanner General Electric High Speed NX/I Pro. Pathological findings were presented in a tabular form illustrated by sample images. RESULTS: Extracolonic findings were found in 53 cases (74.6%), and were equally frequent in subgroups with pathological colon and free from colon lesions. Renal cysts occurred most often. In 15 cases the extracolonic pathologies were clinically important, most of them tumors. CONCLUSIONS: VC is found to be a very useful tool in the detection and evaluation of extracolonic pathologies.

The integration of the computer advisory system together with neuroimaging procedures, neurophysiological markers and psychological cognitive tests in order to obtain evidence based system for the physician treating affective disturbance.

WHO has classified depression disturbances--due to widespread existence and serious medical consequences and resulting social and economic effects--as a priority health problem in all the developed countries. The significance of the depression disturbances is fully comparable to such illnesses as heart diseases, cancer and HIV infection. The research made in the USA (NIMH programmer) shows that first contact doctors are not able to detect depression in relation to 50-70% of the people ill with it. Also the research made in other countries shows that a doctor properly identifies only one out of four persons with clear indications of depression. The wrong choice of the antidepressant drug may result in inefficient therapy and in growing risk of suicide. In 1993 the analysis of 50 best selling medicines in the EU made by two Italian pharmacologists showed that in France and Italy in over 45% of the cases the medicines with doubtful efficiency are applied. The aim of our project is to build a European network, which will integrate the research capabilities of a group of research institutes and university departments to provide an infrastructure for creation of the computer advisory system for diagnostics of affective disorders. This network will integrate our original computer expert advisory system called "Salomon" with modem brain imaging techniques and neurophysiological methods, which allows for the delineation of specific subtypes and particular episodes of mental disorders and their neural bases will be studied by state-of-the art (high tech) imaging techniques. This approach will lead to new investigatory, diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.

[Virtual colonography in CT and MRI examinations]. / Wirtualna kolonoskopia w badaniach TK i MR.

The paper presents new ways of visualizing internal structures of the large intestine. Use of spiral computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with appropriate software leads to imaging that can be compared with colonoscopy or double contrast enema. The authors discuss patients' preparation, methods for CT and MRI variants, indications, advantages and costs.