[Transplantation of fetal dopaminergic cells in Parkinson disease]. / Przeszczepianie plodowych komórek dopaminergicznych w chorobie Parkinsona.

Four patients with severe form of Parkinson's disease received transplantation of fetal dopaminergic cells into the caput of the caudate nucleus. The operation was done by an original method using a device designed specially for this purpose. In all cases the duration of the disease was 10 to 15 years, and the predominating signs were tremor, bradykinesia, and markedly pronounced side effects of the treatment (on-off syndrome and involuntary movements). One patients died 5 weeks after the operation. Autopsy demonstrated good survival of the transplanted cells with good integration with the brain of the recipient and traces of positive immunocytochemical reaction for tyrosine hydroxylase. In the other patients a significant clinical improvement was noted after the operation, with reduced intensity of parkinsonian symptomatology, shortening of the duration of the off phase, improved motor ability and reduced intensity of the involuntary movements. The longest follow-up was 24 months.

[Compression of the optic nerves by arteriosclerotic internal carotid arteries. Case report]. / Ucisk nerwów wzrokowych przez tetnice szyjne wewnetrzne miazdzycowo zmienione. Opis przypadku.

The authors describe a case of a 53-year-old woman with recurrent episodes of high-grade amblyopia leading to blindness of the left eye and considerable impairment of the visual acuity of the right eye. Laboratory investigations ruled out presence of a tumour in this area. In view of possible adhesive arachnitis in the region of the chiasma exploratory craniotomy was done finding an evident compression of the visual nerves closely at the optic foramina by the dilated and atherosclerotic internal carotid arteries. The authors review the literature on the problem stressing the rarity of the syndrome.