Substance P concentration is associated with the inflammatory response and pain perception in patients with chronic pain in peripheral artery disease.

<b>Introduction:</b> Previous studies indicate a significant role of the inflammatory response in the etiopathogenesis of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and chronic pain (CP).<b>Aim:</b> The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the concentration of SP and the level/concentration of inflammatory mediators (pro-inflammatory cytokines, positive and negative acute phase protein, anti-inflammatory cytokines) and pain intensity in people suffering from chronic pain (CP) in the course of PAD.<b>Material and methods:</b> We examined 187 patients of the Department of Vascular Surgery. As many as 92 patients with PAD and CP (study group) were compared to 95 patients with PAD without CP (control group). The relationship between SP and the level/concentration of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), antithrombin III (AT), serum albumin, interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale; NRS) was analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the R program, assuming the level of statistical significance of α = 0.05.<b>Results:</b> Patients with CP had significantly higher levels of fibrinogen (P < 0.001), CRP (P < 0.001), SP (P < 0.001), IL-10 (P < 0.001), and lower serum albumin levels (P < 0.023). Higher SP concentration was associated with higher levels of IL-10, CRP, and pain intensity. In both groups, SP concentration correlated negatively with the level of fibrinogen (P < 0.001) as well as with albumin in the control group (P < 0.001).<b>Conclusions:</b> Thus, there is a relationship between the concentration of SP and fibrinogen, along with CRP, IL-10, and the intensity of pain in people suffering from CP in the course of PAD, and the level of albumin in the group without CP.

Factors Determining the Functional Efficiency of Patients After Ischemic Stroke After Neurological Rehabilitation.

Introduction: The factors determining the level of functional efficiency in patients after ischemic stroke are: age, sex, physical condition, mental activity before stroke, previous neurological deficits, comorbidities, nutritional status and the course of the stroke. Aim: Assessment of the functional efficiency of patients before and after rehabilitation due to ischemic stroke and determination of the influence of selected factors on the effects of rehabilitation measured by functional efficiency. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in neurological rehabilitation centers among 82 people diagnosed with ischemic stroke. The examination was performed twice: on admission to the ward and after a month of neurological rehabilitation. The diagnostic survey method, the Barthel scale, the NRS 2002 scale were used, and the BMI was calculated. Results: The functional efficiency level of the patients was varied, higher after one month of rehabilitation (p <0.05). Among the patients who achieved a lower level of functional efficiency, the following factors had a significant influence: underweight and overweight (p = 0.002), risk of malnutrition (p = 0.002), right-sided paresis (p = 0.016), limited physical activity before stroke (p = 0.01) and the later rehabilitation period (p = 0.01). There was no correlation between sociodemographic data and the level of efficiency of patients after a stroke after one month of rehabilitation. Conclusion: The level of functional efficiency after rehabilitation improved in all patients, however, to a different extent depending on the nutritional status and physical activity. Therefore, it is important to to undertake rehabilitation in the shortest possible time.