Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in autism research: literature review.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains a behaviourally defined condition. Its molecular basis is unknown; however, its prevalence has been increasing significantly. There have been several abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems reported in ASD. In our review, we described studies involving positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that can provide useful and corroborative data. METHOD: We conducted a literature review by comprehensive database searching on EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and PsychINFO looking for articles published since January 2009. Thirty-one studies were carefully selected - 22 PET studies and 9 SPECT studies - and reviewed by 2 independent researchers. References of the articles were also cross-checked. RESULTS: Results of the studies, which mainly involve small groups of participants, are frequently inconclusive and often controversial due to the nature of ASD and its wide spectrum. Studies are conducted under different conditions and with poor control for confounding factors which creates difficulties in comparing the data. CONCLUSIONS: There is ongoing need to improve methodology of the studies involving molecular imaging in ASD. Lack of consistent findings causes difficulties in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition.

Current research addressing starch acetylation.

Though modification of starch through acetylation is known for about 150years, it is still an object of extensive studies at various research centers worldwide. This manuscript presents an overview of literature from the last 5years concerning starch acetylation. It also describes the applied raw materials, production procedures of acetylated starch and correlations between the degree of substitution with acetyl groups and properties of the modified preparations.

Natural leukocyte interferon alpha (Alfaferone) combined with ribavirin in the treatment of patients with HCV-related cirrhosis: our experience.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined treatment with natural leukocyte interferon alpha (Alfaferone) plus ribavirin in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients (15 women, 8 men) aged 17-68 years hospitalized in 2005-2008 were included in the study. Seventeen patients who qualified for treatment were Child-Pugh class A patients and 6 others were class B. Seventeen patients had genotype 1b and 6 genotype 3a infection. Thirteen patients were naïve, retherapy concerned 8 patients, and in two cases the continuation of treatment had been stopped because of adverse events following the use of pegylated interferons. The treatment was continued for 48 weeks regardless of HCV genotype. Normalized AlAT activity (<40 U/l) was the measure of biochemical efficacy of the treatment, while virological efficacy was reflected by an undetectable viral load in plasma. Both measurements were conducted immediately after the end of treatment (EOT) and after a 6-month follow-up period (SVR). Therapeutic safety was evaluated by the monitoring of the adverse events of the treatment. RESULTS: Abnormal AlAT levels prior to treatment were detected in 20/23 patients. During therapy normalized levels were achieved in 50% of them, and after 6 months they were sustained in 9/20. EOT was achieved in 6/19 patients and SVR in 3 patients. Mild psychiatric disorders were the most frequently detected adverse events (12 patients). Thrombocytopenia and leucopenia existing prior to treatment did not intensify during the treatment. Severe adverse events caused by the drug resulted in the discontinuation of treatment in three patients (urinary tract infections, depression, myasthenia gravis), of whom two patients were Child-Pugh class A and one was class B. In one patient treatment was discontinued because of HCC. CONCLUSION: Natural leukocyte interferon alpha is well tolerated by patients with HCV-related cirrhosis and coexisting thrombocytopenia and leucopenia.

Chronic paranoid psychosis and dementia following interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis C: a case report.

Low-dose interferon-alpha is a standard therapy for hepatitis C. Psychotic disorders have been described as a rare complication of such treatments that resolve with its termination. Here, we present a patient without significant risk factors for interferon-alpha-induced serious mental disorders who developed a psychotic disorder with a cognitive impairment achieving the level of dementia after seven months of interferon-alpha therapy. The disturbances have persisted for three years despite cessation of interferon and introduction of antipsychotic treatment. The possibility of severe neuropsychiatric adverse effects of interferon-alpha therapy in a susceptible individual may necessitate regular psychiatric consultations during the treatment.

Composition of free fatty acid and triglyceride fractions in human necrotic pancreatic tissue.

BACKGROUND: Lipolytic enzymes, such as lipase, phospholipase A(2), lipoprotein lipase, and hormone-sensitive adipocyte lipase are probably implicated in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. The increased activity of these enzymes can cause specific changes in fatty acid composition, both to free fatty acid (FFA) and triglyceride (TG) fractions in necrotically changed pancreatic tissue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Specimens of necrotically changed pancreatic tissue taken intraoperatively from 13 patients operated for serious necrotic acute pancreatitis were analysed. The Fölsch extraction method and separation of lipids by thin-layer chromatography was used, and the final fatty acid composition was determined after methylation by gas liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The changes in the FFA fraction are more definite than those for the triglyceride fraction and refer mostly to the increased percentage distribution of unsaturated fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS: These studies lead to the hypothesis that fatty acids released in the process of lipolysis play a key role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis.

Red cell deformability in patients with chronic atheromatous ischemia of the legs.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that atherosclerosis can cause not only lowering of the perfusion pressure gradient at the macro/micro circulation level, but can bring about untoward rheological changes such as e.g. loss of the red blood cells (RBC) elasticity. This can participitate in mechanism of impairment of the blood flow through the microcirculation as well. The aim of this study was to measure RBC elasticity in the claudicants, and to evaluate the effect of the applied treatment either conservative or surgical revascularisation on this rheological parameter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: RBC deformability was examined in claudicants 83 of them (mean claudication distance 400 m) were treated conservatively (walking exercise on a treadmill and Pentoxyphilline 600 mg b.i.d.) 44 claudicants with the critical leg ischemia (mean claudication distance below 50 m or rest pain) underwent surgical revascularisation. The measurements of RBC elongation (under selected values of the shear stress) were made on entry to the study, after 6 weeks, and 12 weeks of observation. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of conservative treatment, RBC elasticity both at rest and after walking exercise significantly increased. In the patients undergoing surgery mean RBC elasticity both at rest and after walking exercise 12 weeks following surgery was not significantly different compare with the respective levels at the beginning of the study. CONCLUSIONS: In the group of claudicants with less advanced atherosclerosis (conservative group), the treatment brought about significant increase of RBC elasticity. On the contrary in case of the patients with advanced atherosclerosis and critical leg ischemia revascularisation alone appeared to be ineffective in correction of untoward rheologic alteration such as rigidity of the erythrocytes.

[Splenomegaly and plasma lipids]. / Splenomegalia a lipidy osocza.

UNLABELLED: Lipid metabolism is influenced by several factors, among them the spleen is supposed to play some spleen. It has been noticed that in the asplenia the level of the triglycerides is raised. On the other hand the patients with myeloproliferative process and splenomegaly have lower level of serum lipids compared with the general population. The aim of this clinical study was to estimate the level of: total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), in group I which consisted of 17 patients with splenomegaly, which had developed during portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis, and group II 7 patients with splenomegaly caused by myeloproliferative disease. These patients were compared with the control group III of 25 patients without evidences of metabolism disturbances or splenomegaly. There were no statistically significant differences of the mean values of: TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG between groups I and II. The levels of all serum lipids were lower in the patients with splenomegaly (groups I, II) irrespective of causal factor, compared with the control group III. CONCLUSION: The changes in the serum lipids in the patients with splenomegaly indicate the potential role which the spleen can play the spleen in the lipid metabolism.

[Mammography screening for breast cancer]. / Mammograficzne badania przesiewowe w raku sutka.

Principles of the population-based mammography screening for breast cancer have been presented. Methodology, results and limitations of this method have been discussed.

[Quantitative and topographical analysis of EEG: its application in some psychiatric disorders]. / Ilosciowa i topograficzna analiza EEG: próby zastosowania w niektórych zaburzeniach psychicznych.

In this paper the issues of computer-assisted analysis of EEG, as a method of brain function imaging, are shortly discussed and the literature concerning research in some psychiatric disorders is reviewed.

Surgical treatment of pulmonary and pleuro-pulmonary Aspergillus disease.

Between 6/87 and 3/92 22 out of 24 patients were treated (22 by surgery) for pulmonary and pleural Aspergillus disease. The most frequent lung disorder was tuberculosis (9 x), followed by bronchiectasis (5 x), congenital lung cysts (2 x), pneumonia with abscess formation (2 x), sarcoidosis (2 x), and bronchial cancer (4 x). More than half the patients had further severe secondary diseases. 4 patients with "simple aspergilloma" and 5 patients with "complex aspergilloma" underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy without complications or recurrence. Special surgical problems occurred in 13 patients with inflammation involving pleura and chest wall (pleuro-pulmonary aspergillosis, pleural aspergillosis) and invasive lung changes (invasive pulmonary aspergillosis). 7 patients developed an empyema after lung resection, on 4 occasions with bronchopleural fistula. In 4 cases myoplasty, in 2 cases thoracomyoplasty, on 2 occasions completion pneumonectomy with omentoplasty, in one case omentoplasty alone, and on 2 occasions decortication with pleurectomy and lung resection lead to a complete cure. 2 open window thoracostomies were constructed. In 15 cases a single operation was adequate. In 7 patients up to 3 further operations were necessary. 17 patients had haemoptysis, in 10 of these cases it was recurrent. On 7 occasions life-threatening haemorrhage took place, causing death in 2 cases. These were the only deaths resulting from the lung disease. Our results show that aggressive surgical action can be successful. Myoplasty, thoracomyoplasty, and omentoplasty are, in our view, the most suitable measures for healing pleura empyemas and bronchopleural fistulae coincident with pleuro-pulmonary aspergillosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)