The Improvement of Memory Deficits after Whole-Body Cryotherapy - The First Report.

BACKGROUND: Mild Cognitive Impairments (MCI) and dementia are still incurable. The Whole-Body Cryotherapy (WBC) - short, cyclic exposure to extremely low temperatures - has proven anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. It can also induce hormonal, lipid and neural changes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the WBC effect on cognitive functioning and blood parameters of MCI patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants with MCI undertook 10 WBC sessions. Cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were assessed before the first session, after the last session and 2 weeks later. Whole blood samples were collected. RESULTS: The cognitive functioning improved after 10 WBC sessions (p<0.05), especially memory processes. WBC caused a significant (p<0.05) increase of NO plasma level, BDNF concentration (p<0.05) and reduction of IL-6 (p<0.05). The moderate relationship between NO and cognitive functioning was noticed after WBC. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of the first study evaluating WBC on memory deficits suggest that WBC may be useful as a supportive therapy of MCI.

Quantitative evaluation of changes in the selected white matter tracts using diffusion tensor imaging in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

This study evaluated the damage to the extensive range of white matter tracts in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thirty-four patients with AD (mean age 71.5 yrs, MMSE 17.6), 23 patients with MCI (mean age 66 yrs, MMSE 27.4) and 15 normal controls (mean age 69 yrs, MMSE 29.8) were enrolled. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed in 25 directions on 1.5 T MR scanner. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values were obtained with a small ROI method in several association tracts including posterior cingulum fibers, in commissural tracts (genu and splenium of corpus callosum) and projection tracts (middle cerebellar peduncles and posterior limbs of internal capsules). In MCI significant reductions of FA were found in the inferior longitudinal fascicles, left superior longitudinal fascicle and posterior cingulum fibers compared to normal controls. In AD significantly decreased FA values were detected in the same fascicles as in MCI and additionally in inferior fronto-occipital tracts and commissural tracts. In both AD and MCI the most severe changes were found within posterior cingulum fibers. No abnormalities were detected in projection tracts in both groups. Accuracy of DTI in detecting AD and MCI reached 0.95 and 0.79, respectively. FA measurements strongly correlated with neuropsychological tests. DTI is capable of depicting microstructural changes within white matter fiber tracts in dementia and may aid the differential diagnosis of AD and MCI.

[Frame of mind among Polish population in research carried out by the Central Statistical Office: initial analysis]. / Samopoczucie ludnosci Polski w badaniu przeprowadzonym przez Glówny Urzad Statystyczny--analiza wstepna.

The authors are going to estimate the prevalence poor frame of mind and neurosis among Polish adult people, and try to appoint the relationships between psychiatric disorders and gender, age, civil status, education and maintenance. The questionnaire contains questions about quality of sleep, possibility to fix one's attention on acting, inner tension, self-confidence. Almost 1/4 of women and 18% of men have poor frame of mind. We find very strong and important relationships between neurosis and the poor frame of mind. There were no differences in mental state between people living in towns and villages. The unemployed and the cripples have worse psychological condition than working men. People who are divorced and widowed have statistically more often poor frame of mind and neurosis than the married. We also found a major correlation between poor frame of mind and neurosis and education. Low education is connected with poor psychological condition.

[An estimate of family doctor's knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of depression and anxiety disorders]. / Ocena umiejetnosci rozpoznawania oraz leczenia zaburzen depresyjnych i lekowych przez lekarzy pierwszego kontaktu.

Depression is more widespread than hypertension. Nevertheless, physicians specialized in family medicine did not have knowledge necessary to diagnose and treat depression and anxiety disorders. Only six persons out of fifty five who filled in the questionnaire could recognize depression correctly (ICD-10 criteria). Doctors knew antidepressant drugs, but they did not know therapeutic doses. We can try to explain this situation through doctor's pre and postgraduate education.

[Evaluation of prevalence of emotional low self esteem and neurosis in Poland in 1996]. / Ocena rozpowszechnienia zlego samopoczucia emocjonalnego i nerwicy w Polsce w roku 1996.

The paper presents psychiatric problems included in national, health interview survey, recommended by the WHO, carried out by the Central Statistical Office in Poland in 1996. Authors are going to estimate the prevalence of a bad frame of mind and neurosis among Polish adult people and try to appoint the relationships between psychiatric disorders and gender and place of residence. We estimated results in 49 provinces. There were significant differences between east and west Poland. People who live in eastern provinces have a worse psychological condition than western. Women have higher rate of these this psychiatric problems. We also found a major correlation between dissemination of a bad frame of mind and neurosis among men and women.