Medicina
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Background and Objectives: This paper aims to show whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity increases the level of systemic inflammation markers regardless of body mass index (BMI) and body composition. Materials and Methods: In total, 128 patients with OSA were included in the study. Examinees were divided into two groups: one with mild OSA (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 15) and one with moderate and severe OSA (AHI ≥ 15). ⋯ Significant correlation was found between the plasma IL-6 concentration and body fat percentage (FM%) (r = 0.579, p = 0.003) and lean body mass (r = -0.501, p = 0.013). Multivariate regression analysis did not show any independent predictor (parameters of OSA, nutritional status, body composition) of the systemic inflammation markers. Conclusions: Neither one tested parameter (nutritional status and body composition) of the severity of OSA was identified as an independent prognostic factor for the severity of systemic inflammation in patients with OSA.
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Review Meta Analysis
Serum BDNF Levels in Acute Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Background and objectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most studied neurotrophins. Low BDNF concentrations have been noted in patients with traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors and have been associated with the increased risk of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA). We aimed to study the correlation of BDNF serum levels with acute stroke severity and its potential role as a biomarker in predicting functional outcome. ⋯ Conclusions: We conclude that in the acute stroke phase, stroke severity is negatively correlated with BDNF levels. Concurrently, patients with acute stroke have significantly lower BDNF levels in serum compared to healthy controls. No correlations between BDNF and stroke infarct volume or functional outcome at follow-up were noted.
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Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by chronic, unprovoked and recurrent seizures, which are the result of rapid and excessive bioelectric discharges in nerve cells. Neuroimaging is used to detect underlying structural abnormalities which may be associated with epilepsy. This paper reviews the most common abnormalities, such as hippocampal sclerosis, malformations of cortical development and vascular malformation, detected by neuroimaging in patients with epilepsy to help understand the correlation between these changes and the course, treatment and prognosis of epilepsy. ⋯ Some techniques, such as quantitative image analysis, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fibre tract reconstruction, can detect small malformations-which means that some of the epilepsies can be treated surgically. Quantitative susceptibility mapping may become the method of choice in vascular malformations. Neuroimaging determines appropriate diagnosis and treatment and helps to predict prognosis.
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Review Case Reports
The Pulmonary Venous Return from Normal to Pathological-Clinical Correlations and Review of Literature.
Pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from lungs to the left atrium of the heart. The anatomy of the pulmonary veins is variable with some anatomic variants. In clinical practice the difference between the normal anatomy of pulmonary veins with its variants and abnormal anatomy is very important for clinicians. ⋯ Upon detailed exploration it was established that it was an anomaly of the pulmonary venous return which led in time to the installation of its complications. Diagnosis can be difficult, sometimes missed, or only made late in adulthood when complications were installed. Knowledge of variant anatomy and anomalous pulmonary venous return play a crucial role in the diagnostically challenging patient.
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Background and objectives: National medical records indicate that approximately 350,000-700,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest. The guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) indicate that in addition to resuscitation, it is important-in the case of so-called defibrillation rhythms-to perform defibrillation as quickly as possible. The aim of this study was to assess the use of public automated external defibrillators in out of hospital cardiac arrest in Poland between 2008 and 2018. ⋯ Results: The analysis yielded data on 120 cases of AED use in a public place. Conclusions: Since 2016, there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency of use of AEDs located in public spaces. This is most likely related to the spread of public access to defibrillation and increased public awareness.