Search

Migraine and depression often coexist and constitute an important clinical problem. Both disorders are associated with the necessity of chronic treatment, and their mutual coexistence contributes to the phenomenon of drug resistance. Influencing the functioning of patients, they also cause numerous social consequences - affecting the quality of life and achievement of personal goals of patients. This review presents factors that may explain the common pathomechanisms of depression and migraine. Structural and functional disturbances of the central nervous system (CNS), disturbances in the neurotransmitter systems, inflammatory theories, hormonal disturbances, as well as a possible genetic basis were taken into account. Due to the fact that both depression and migraine have a multifactorial etiology and at the present stage of scientific research it is difficult to clearly determine which factor is the most important, such a broad overview has been presented. It is also difficult to determine which of the above-mentioned factors, well documented in international studies, only coexist, and which of them may have a cause-and-effect relationship in the described disorders. Further research into the comorbidity and causes of migraine and depression seems to be worth considering.

The diagnosis of frontotemporal degeneration changes the entire family, being an unexpected and emotionally burdening experience for all the individuals in the family. Confrontation with problems that are diametrically different from those that occur in the family system without a person with a major neurocognitive disorder requires the development of new coping strategies. If these coping mechanisms are to be useful, they should undergo successive modifications that consider the progression of the neurodegenerative disease and the dynamics of the family system. Providing the information on different aspects of this group of diseases is the basic form of supporting families with frontotemporal degeneration. Growing up in the family with a parent affected by frontotemporal degeneration is a crucial, though non-normative, developmental experience of a child. It results in an irreversible loss of the existing relationship and the necessity to form another relationship with an affected parent. The paper focuses on providing support for a minor. Graphic medicine can be a support tool, which combines verbal communication with graphics, and, as a result, it provides knowledge on health problems and also creates the possibility of expressing emotions triggered by the presence of the disease in the family.

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common causes of ischaemic stroke, especially among the elderly. Cardiogenic stroke accounts for approximately 15-25& of all ischaemic strokes, depending on different studies. About 1/3 of all ischaemic strokes have an unknown cause and it is estimated that paroxysmal atrial fibrillation contributes to cryptogenic ischaemic strokes. De novo atrial fibrillation accounts for even over 20& of ischaemic strokes. The number of patients with atrial fibrillation has probably increased due to the aging of the population and more precise diagnostic procedures. Detection of atrial fibrillation is of great importance because ischaemic stroke due to atrial fibrillation is characterized by a tendency to recurrence, worse prognosis, longer hospitalization and higher mortality. Atrial fibrillation remains undiagnosed in a large percentage of cases. Holter ECG monitoring is most often used for diagnostic purposes. However, the diagnostic process should also include long-term Holter ECG monitoring because atrial fibrillation is detected only in a small percentage of cases when 24-h ECG monitoring is used. Our paper stresses the fact that the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, particularly de novo, is very important for further therapeutic treatment i.e. the use of anticoagulants i.e. both the antagonists of vitamin K and NOACs.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess cognitive functions in patients with epilepsy using the neurophysiological method and psychological tests, and analysis the relationship between clinical features of the disease and test results., Material and Methods: The study included 31 patients with epilepsy aged 37.3±18.4 years. The control group consisted of 40 healthy volunteers aged 33.5±12.2 years. Cognitive functions were assessed using endogenous evoked potential P300 and psychological tests - Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), three subtests of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R), Trail Making Test (TMT), Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)., Results: Epileptic patients achieved significantly lower scores in all, except STAI-1, psychological tests in relation to the controls. A correlation between age and TMT-A (p<0.050) and BVRT (p<0.050) was observed. The disease duration affected results of MMSE (p<0.050), TMT-B (p<0.050) and BVRT (p<0.050). Type of seizures was related to results of MMSE (p=0.005), type of therapy - to results of STAI-1 (p=0.014) and TMT-B (p=0.008). The average latency of P300 was significantly prolonged (p=0.00003) in epileptic patients (348±38ms) in relation to the controls (324±26ms). The relationship between P300 and the duration of seizures (p=0.017) was observed. There was no correlation between P300 and age, sex, frequency and type of seizures and therapy. A correlation between P300 and TMT-B (p<0.050), BVRT-LPO(p<0.050) and STAI-1 (p<0.050) was noticed., Conclusion: In epileptic patients cognitive impairment is often found. It is advisable to perform regular neuropsychological testing; P300 can be used only as a preliminary assessment.

Introduction: The aim of the study was an analysis of causes, clinical symptoms, complications and predictors of an unfavorable course of status epilepticus (SE)., Material and Methods: Retrospective evaluation of medical files of 28 patients (17 M, 11 F, aged 52 +/- 15 yrs) was made. Patients were treated for status epilepticus in a Neurology Clinic in Zabrze between January 1997 and March 2008., Results: Chronic epilepsy existed in 64% pts, for 10 yrs on an average, in 10% pts SE was a subsequent one. Chronic alcoholism was defined as a most frequent cause of SE, followed by cerebrovascular disorders and brain tumor (32, 14 and 14%, resp.); in 25% pts the cause was not specified. Generalized seizures predominated (82%), in 90% they lasted longer than 60 minutes. In 43% pts biochemical inflammatory indicators on admission were found, more than 20% had fever, in 10% pneumonia was diagnosed. 1/3 of individuals suffered from respirocirculatory insufficiency and in more than 21% new neurological deficits appeared. In treatment, following benzodiazepines, intravenous phenytoin (50%) was used. 35% pts was subjected to pharmacological coma, predominantly by means of thiopental and propofol (25 and 7%, resp.). Mechanical ventilation was necessary in 40% pts. Mortality rate was 32%, with 33% of deaths on the 1st day and 78% before the 7th day., Conclusions: Chronic alcoholism and older age predominate among causes of death in patient with SE.

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is a the most frequent benign tumor of the parotid gland, although in some cases it can turn malignant (3-4%). Usually it grows slow and is removed surgically as a small tumor (average diameter 2-6 cm). Most huge PA tumors that can be found in the literature are of superficial lobe origin. In the present paper we presented a case of 38-year-old male patient with PA of parotid glad achieving 10 x 15 cm tumor and of deep lobe origin. Total parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation was chosen as a treatment. No postoperative neurological deficiencies was found and no further treatment was needed.