Therapeutic Effects of Silibinin Against Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Induced by Letrozole in Rats via Its Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Activities.

Background: Current therapies for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are accompanied by unwanted effects. Silibinin; a flavonolignan has pleiotropic activities and favorable safety profile. Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of silibinin on estrous cyclicity, inflammation, oxidative stress and ovarian morphology in letrozole-induced PCOS in rats. Methods: Forty-eight female Wistar albino rats were divided into 2 sets. Rats of the first set (n = 12), assigned as a negative control (NC) received only the vehicle, rats of the second set (n = 36), assigned as PCOS rats, were given letrozole 1mg/Kg orally for 21 days. On day 21, six rats from the first set and six rats from the second set were euthanized for confirmation of PCOS-induction. The remaining animals from the first set assigned as group 1, those in the second set (n = 30) were equally divided into 5 groups and treated daily for 19 days as follows: group 2 (positive control) received only the vehicle, group 3 treated with metformin 300mg/Kg orally, groups 4 and 5 treated respectively with 100 and 200 mg/Kg silibinin intraperitoneally (IP), and group 6 treated with a combination of metformin 300mg/Kg orally and silibinin 100mg/Kg IP. On day 40, blood samples were examined for luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (TS) and estradiol (EST) levels, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant parameters, ovarian and uterine morphology. Results: Silibinin alone or in combination with metformin was found to be effective in restoring the regularity of estrous cycle by ameliorating the abnormal alterations of LH, TS, EST, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and oxidative status and by resuming the appearance of corpora lutea and decreasing or even total absence of cystic follicles in the ovaries. Conclusion: Silibinin was effective in restoring estrous regularities and alleviating hormonal and histomorphological abnormalities of the ovarian and uterine tissues, this could be due to its anti-androgenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in a Multiple Sclerosis Patient Diagnosed after Switching from Natalizumab to Fingolimod.

Background. Natalizumab- (NTZ-) associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe and often disabling infectious central nervous system disease that can become evident in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients after NTZ discontinuation. Recently, novel diagnostic biomarkers for the assessment of PML risk in NTZ treated MS patients such as the anti-JC virus antibody index have been reported, and the clinical relevance of milky-way lesions detectable by MRI has been discussed. Case Presentation and Conclusion. We report a MS patient in whom PML was highly suspected solely based on MRI findings after switching from NTZ to fingolimod despite repeatedly negative (ultrasensitive) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for JC virus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid. The PML diagnosis was histopathologically confirmed by brain biopsy. The occurrence of an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) during fingolimod therapy, elevated measures of JCV antibody indices, and the relevance of milky-way-like lesions detectable by (7 T) MRI are discussed.

7T MRI in natalizumab-associated PML and ongoing MS disease activity: A case study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of ultra-high-field MRI to distinguish early progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) from multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions in a rare case of simultaneous presentation of natalizumab-associated PML and ongoing MS activity. METHODS: Advanced neuroimaging including 1.5T, 3T, and 7T MRI with a spatial resolution of up to 0.08 mm(3) was performed. RESULTS: 7T MRI differentiated between PML-related and MS-related brain damage in vivo. Ring-enhancing MS plaques displayed a central vein, whereas confluent PML lesions were preceded by punctate or milky way-like T2 lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Given the importance of early diagnosis of treatment-associated PML, future systematic studies are warranted to assess the value of highly resolving MRI in differentiating between early PML- and MS-induced brain parenchymal lesions.

[The usage of modern physioterapeutic methods of rehabilitation in treatment of chosen kinds of dysphonia]. / Zastosowanie nowoczesnych fizjoterapeutycznych metod rehabilitacji w leczeniu wybranych postaci dysfonii.

UNLABELLED: Voice quality disorders--dysphonias are the significant problem from therapeutic, social and economic point of view. The routine therapy does not always bring spectacular effects. The important role play the innovative methods supporting therapy of voice quality disorders. PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to assess the effects of vibratory therapy of the larynx (Medical VR) in patients with hyperfunctional dysphonia and stimulating currents in phonatory exercises (VocaStim-Master) in paralytic dysphonia based on the analysis of parameters of objective assessment of voice quality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients with hyperfunctional dysphonia treated routinely were included in the study. 20 patients apart from the routine therapy were additionally treated using the vibratory therapy of regions of the larynx (Medical VR, CyberBioMed LLC). In group of 40 patients with paralytic dysphonia, in 20 patients the adjuvant therapy by stimulating currents in phonatory exercises (VocaStim-Master, Physiomed) was used. The results of treatment and adjuvant therapy in hyperfunctional and paralytic dysphonia were analyzed based on: MPT, parameters of stroboscopic and acoustic evaluation (F(0), Jitter, Shimmer, NHR) and narrow-band spectrography. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: : The analysis of the results indicated the usefulness of used parameters of objective assessment of voice quality taking into consideration the diagnostic and therapeutic aspect in hyperfunctional and paralytic dysphonia. Adjuvant vibratory therapy of the larynx in hyperfunctional dysphonia and stimulating currents in phonatory exercises in paralytic dysphonia improved the effectiveness of the therapy, what was confirmed by the analysis of parameters of objective assessment of voice quality.

[Second primary tumors development in head and neck region. Case report]. / Pierwotne mnogie nowotwory glowy i szyi. Opis przypadku.

Tumours of head and neck present 12.2% of the pernicious tumours' morbidity rate in Poland. Annually, the number of new cases is around 6500. The authors of this work present a case of a 65-year-old farmer who has been smoking for 40 years and occasionally abusing alcohol. The medical history of the patient includes: arterial hypertension, ureterolithiasis, obesity. The patient's brother suffered from knee cancer. In 1998 the patient underwent ablation of carcinoma (2x2 cm) from the left auricle. The result of histopathological examination was Carcinoma planoepitheliale keratodes. In 2003, due to Carcinoma planoepitheliale laryngis, horizontal surgery of the larynx was performed. In the same year the patient had superficial lobe of the left parotid gland removed (due to Carcinoma planoepitheliale glandulae parotis sinisti). After the surgery, supplementary treatment was introduced (irradiation Co60; dose--60Gy on the treated area). Currently the patient is under systematic supervision. He is in a good clinical condition. There have been no features of local growth in the treated organs nor any remote metastasis reported.

[Salivary gland neoplasms in the years 1991-2006 in the material of the Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University in Bialystok]. / Nowotwory zlosliwe gruczolów slinowych w latach 1991-2006 w materiale Kliniki Otolaryngologii AM w Bialymstoku.

Complex structure of salivary glands, histological diversity of malignant salivary gland neoplasms and heterogeneous clinical image make therapeutic strategy difficult and controversial. The aim of this work was an epidemiologic analysis of 86 salivary gland tumour cases (in years 1991-2000) and 82 cases treated at the Otolaryngological Clinic of the Medical University of Bialystok (in years 2001-2006). Epidemiologic researches were conducted retrospectively. Age, sex, histological structure, location and local progression of tumour were analysed. The relationship between histological type, local progression and the presence of metastases to the cervical lymph nodes as well as remote metastases was also examined. The study was based on TNM Tumor Classification: large salivary glands (1977). It was found that malignant epithelial salivary gland tumours affect most commonly the parotid gland in men aged over 50 years. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most frequently represented histological type. Remote metastases were observed most commonly in patients with polymorphic adenoma.

[Otoneurological aspects of the early forms of sclerosis multiplex (SM)]. / Aspekty otoneurologiczne wczesnych postaci stwardnienia rozsianego (SM).

Sclerosis multiplex (SM) is characterized by multifocality of neurological changes and polyphasic course. The disease is caused by indefinite factors in the circumstances of genetically determined immune disorders. The aim of study. An attempt was made to identify otoneurological symptoms accompanying the early stage of sclerosis multiplex (SM). Material and research methods. 103 patients (diagnosed with uncharacteristic otoneurological symptoms, in further clinical observation defined as SM prodromes) were retrospectively examined. The following factors were taken into consideration: character and intensity of dizziness, results of static and dynamic tests, electronystagmography (ENG), caloric test, eye tracking and optokinetic nystagmus. Conclusion. Disorders of: vestibulospinal reflexes, eye tracking, optokinesis, time and regularity of caloric nystagmus occur in the very early stages of SM.

Diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic status epilepticus in the emergency setting.

Episodes of psychogenic nonepileptic status epilepticus (PNESE) characterized by pronounced generalized motor features were compared with those of refractory generalized convulsive status epilepticus. Patients with PNESE were younger, had port systems implanted more frequently, received higher doses of benzodiazepines until seizure termination or respiratory failure, and had lower serum creatine kinase levels.

A "malignant" variant of status epilepticus.

BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus (SE) frequently does not respond to common first-line anticonvulsants. In a substantial portion of patients, administration of anticonvulsant anesthetics is inevitable. Even this aggressive approach fails to terminate SE in an undefined number of cases. We have coined the term malignant SE for this most severe variant of SE. OBJECTIVE: To assess frequency, risk factors, and in-hospital outcome of malignant SE. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Neurologic intensive care unit of a large university hospital. Patients Sample of 35 episodes of SE not responding to first-line anticonvulsants in 34 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Predictive and prognostic features of episodes of malignant SE with persistent epileptic activity after high-dose anesthetics compared with features of the remainder of cases with refractory SE and persistent epileptic activity after failure of first-line anticonvulsants. RESULTS: Status epilepticus that could not be controlled by first-line anticonvulsants resulted in malignant SE in 20% of cases. Patients with malignant SE were significantly younger than patients with refractory SE (P = .03). Encephalitis was identified as an independent risk factor for malignant SE (P = .008). Outcome in malignant SE was poor, with significantly longer duration of seizure activity (P<.001), longer stay in the neurologic intensive care unit (P<.001) and in the hospital (P = .007), and more patients with functional dependency at discharge from the hospital (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Malignant SE is not rare after failure of first-line anticonvulsants. The patient at risk is typically young and suffers from encephalitis. Such patients should be treated aggressively early in the course of SE to prevent malignant SE.