Reduced bioaccessibility of TiO2 (E 171) during puree soup digestion in a gastrointestinal tract simulated in vitro.

E171 (TiO2- Ttitanium dioxide), a food colourant containing nano fractions, is one of the additives used e.g. in the food industry, whose consumption may have a negative impact on human health. In order to determine the ability of food products and intestinal lactic acid bacteria to interact with TiO2, we conducted in vitro "digestions" of a food matrix (meat/vegetable puree soup) using an advanced in vitro model of the "gastrointestinal tract". The "bioaccessibility" of TiO2 was simulated using microfiltration (0.2 µm) of the post-digestive fluid. We observed changes in the content of TiO2 in the microfiltrates obtained at various stages of the in vitro digestions, dependent on the stage of the process. This result suggests that TiO2 interacts with food components and bacterial cells. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed visible morphological changes to bacterial cells in the presence of TiO2.

Neurological and psychological symptoms after the severe acute neuroborreliosis.

The purpose of this study was to delineate distant neurological and neuropsychological effects of severe neuroborreliosis. A group of 33 patients (12 men and 21 women) were selected for the study. Every patient had suffered from severe meningitis, meningoencephalitis or meningopolyradiculoneuritis due to neuroborreliosis in the chronic form of the illness. Standardised medical interview, physical examination and a series of neuropsychological tests (WAIS-R, BDI, BENTON-BENDER, DUM) were performed. In the clinical history, 36.4% of the patients complained of headache, 27.3% of subjective memory distortions; 33.3% of the patients suffered from sleeplessness. The neurological examination showed that 36.4% of the patients experienced such cerebellum integrity disturbances as abnormalities in gait and coordination or even mild ataxia. 21.2% of the patients experienced dysfunction in the proprioceptive pathways, 9% asymmetry in deep tendon reflexes (DTR's), 27.3% disturbances in the sensory responses. The examination showed, however, no muscular strength abnormalities. Half of the patients had slight depression. Psychological tests indicated that 21.2% of the patients had problems in thinking process and experienced memory impairment. 36.4% of the patients had significant organic damage in the central nervous system. The results of this study suggest the existence of long-lasting consequences of acute neuroborreliosis, which can significantly influence the quality of life of patients.

Dysarthria as the isolated clinical symptom of borreliosis--a case report.

This report presents a case of dysarthria due to hypoglossal nerve mono-neuropathy as the only consequence of neuroborreliosis. The 65-year-old man with a seven-months history of articulation disturbances was examined. The speech of the patient was slow and laboured. A slight weakness of the muscles of the tongue (left-side) was observed. The patient suffered from meningitis due to Borrelia burgdorferi infection in 1999 and initially underwent a successful antibiotic treatment. Detailed radiological investigation and psychological tests were performed and co-existing neurological diseases were excluded. To describe profile of speech abnormalities the dysarthria scale was designed based on S. J. Robertson Dysarthria Profile. There were a few disturbances found in self-assessment of speech, intelligibility, articulation, and prosody but especially in the morphology of the articulation muscles, diadochokinesis, the reflexes (in the mouth, larynx and pharynx). Needle EMG examination confirmed the diagnosis of mono-neuropathy of left hypoglossal nerve. The study confirms the fact that neuroborreliosis may evoke chronic consequences.

The role of opioid receptors in hypoxic preconditioning against seizures in brain.

Preconditioning is defined as an adaptive mechanism produced by short periods of hypoxia/ischemia, resulting in protection against subsequent ischemic insult, and development of seizures. Results of the present study demonstrate that an episode of normobar hypoxia reduces the susceptibility to convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) 30 min, 24 h, as well as 4 and 7 days later. Administration of morphine showed similar effects after 24 h. Naloxone, given before ischemic preconditioning, as well as morphine, blocked the development of the protection. Administration of D-Ala-Met-enkephalin-Gly-ol (DAMGO - a selective mu-opioid receptor agonist), as well as trans-3, 4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[7-(1-pyrrolidinyl) cycloexilbenzeneacetamide ethane sulfonate] (U-69,593 - a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist), mimicked the effects of hypoxic preconditioning (HPC). (-)-N-(Cyclopropylmethyl)-4,14-dimethoxymorphinan-6-one (cyprodime - a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist, as well as nor-binaltorphimine dihydrochloride (nor-BNI - selective kappa-opioid receptors antagonist), given before HPC as well as before respective opioid receptor agonists, blocked the development of the protection. This study provides evidence that mu- and kappa-opioid receptors are involved in HPC against seizures in the brain.

Myofascial pain syndrome in farmers--a comprehensive approach to treatment.

There is evidence that chronic pain disorders such as Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS), resulting from repeated biomechanical stress caused by ergonomic hazards. e.g. trauma and overuse of the muscles, often occur in agricultural workers. Hypothetically, the neuropathic character of MPS makes the disease unresponsive to the typical analgesics. Accordingly, in this study three trials of treatment in patients with MPS were performed and compared. The first trial (I) was based on rehabilitation, while the second (II) was based on treatment with sertraline, an antidepressive, serotoninergic drug. For third trial (III), rehabilitation plus the above-mentioned administration of sertraline, were applied. Altogether, 49 patients were recruited to the trials. Control group consisted of 23 persons. Response to the treatment was assessed according to the criteria of neuropsychological tests MADRS and BDI. The MPS syndrome was found to be relatively common in Polish farmers and formed 12.7% of all chronic pain syndromes diagnosed in the Institute of Agricultural Medicine during 18 months. All the patients with MPS showed mood disorders in the baseline assessment by the neuropsychological tests. Patients from groups I, II, and III declared improvement after two months of the treatment (77%, 80% and 93% respectively). In the neuropsychological tests, only patients treated with rehabilitation and sertraline (group III) showed statistically significant improvement in comparison with baseline assessment both after one month and after two months of the observation. Thus, rehabilitation and serotoninergic system modification might be a good solution in the management of MPS.

[Knowledge and competence of primary care physicians in diagnosis and treatment of nervous system diseases]. / Wiedza i umiejetnosci lekarzy podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej w zakresie diagnozowania i leczenia chorób ukladu nerwowego.

The diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases in primary health care requires not only the specialistic knowledge but also easy access to the diagnostic and rehabilitation procedures and co-operation with neurologist. The aim of this study was to specify the quality of diagnosis and treatment of the neurological diseases in primary health care. The knowledge and practical skills of physicians working in the primary health care were analysed paralell to their possibilities of the diagnostics and rehabilitation of the patients suffering from neurological disturbances. Furthermore the quality of the co-operation with specialised neurologist was assessed. The research was carried on in 1999 using anonymous inquiry in the group of 151 primary health care (p.h.c.) physicians participating in the teaching courses in the Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin. The research proved that patients with disturbances of the nervous system were frequently admitted to the primary health care outpatient departments. Among the diseases the low back pain, headaches and dizziness dominated. Most of the p.h.c. physicians used to examine patients by themselves but were sceptical about their skills. They tried to diagnose the neurological problems according to their abilities. The final effect was satisfactory, however neurological diseases treated by p.h.c. physicians were limited to the low back pain, headache, zoster and the febrile seizures. Only small percentage of patients was treated properly and in accordance with new trends in neurological art. Also the co-operation between primary health care physician and neurologist was not satisfactory.

Modification of antinociceptive action of Ukrain by endogenous nitric oxide in the writhing syndrome test in mice.

The effects of L-arginine, the physiological precursor of nitric oxide (NO), and inhibitors of NO-synthase on the antinociceptive action of Ukrain (4.75, 9.5, and 19.0 mg/kg i.p.) were investigated using the writhing syndrome test in mice. It was found that L-arginine (0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg i.p.) significantly decreased or enhanced the antinociceptive effect of Ukrain, depending on the combination administered. In addition, the inhibitors of NO-synthase NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (1.0 and 10 mg/kg i.p.), 7-nitroindazole (1.0 mg/kg i.p.) and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA) (1.0 mg/kg i.p.) significantly enhanced Ukrain-induced antinociception. These results suggest that endogenous NO can modify the antinociceptive effect of Ukrain.

Interaction between Ukrain and Naltrexone in the writhing syndrome test in mice.

The interaction between Ukrain and Naltrexone, a nonselective opioid receptor antagonist, was studied in the 'writhing syndrome' test in mice. Naltrexone (1 mg/kg s.c.) was administered i.p. 30 min before Ukrain (2.375, 4.75, 9.5 and 19 mg/kg). In addition, the antinociceptive properties of Ukrain and Naltrexone in 10-day treatment in mice were studied. The results show that the antinociceptive effect of both single dose and prolonged administration of Ukrain is completely antagonized by Naltrexone.

[The effect of lithium chloride on the rat behavior after short-term oligemic hypoxia]. / Wplyw chlorku litu na zachowanie szczurów poddanych krótkotrwalej oligemicznej hipoksji.

The experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats. The influence of brain oligemic hypoxia and lithium chloride (LiCl) on some behavioural parameters was investigated. Reduction of brain blood supply was performed by surgical clamping of both carotid arteries for 60 min in general anaesthesia induced by brietal (Methoxitone sodium, 10 mg/kg i.p.). Control animals had their vessels separated, but not clamped (sham operated). 6 days after surgery animals received LiCl (2.5 mEq/kg i.p.). Behavioral experiments were performed 24 h and 7 days after lithium administration. Experimental groups consisted of 12 animals. It was found that oligemic hypoxia reduced inconsiderably spontaneous locomotor and exploratory activity in rats. Similar influence of LiCl was observed. But LiCl administered to animals after oligemic hypoxia prevented them against locomotor and exploratory impairment. In addition, LiCl strongly enhanced amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and diminished haloperidol-induced catalepsy in hypoxic animals. These effects were not observed in sham operated animals. The above results could be connected with antidepressive action of LiCl and the model of moderate oligemic hypoxia used in present work could be a useful model for investigation of new antidepressive compounds.