Maria Łukasik

Neurological complications of underwater diving

The divers nervous system is extremely sensitive to high ambient pressure, which is the sum of atmospheric and hydrostatic pressure. Neurological complications associated with diving are a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. They occur in both commercial and recreational diving and are connected with increasing interest in the sport of diving. Hence it is very important to know the possible complications associated with this kind of sport. Complications of the nervous system may result from decompression sickness, pulmonary barotrauma associated with cerebral arterial air embolism (AGE), otic and sinus barotrauma, high pressure neurological syndrome (HPNS) and undesirable effect of gases used for breathing. The purpose of this review is to discuss the range of neurological symptoms that can occur during diving accidents and also the role of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection in pathogenesis of stroke in divers.

The Impact of Vascular Disease Treatment on Platelet-Derived Microvesicles

Platelet-derived microvesicles (pMVs) are small, heterogeneous vesicles released from platelet membranes as a result of activation. These microvesicles possess a wide range of properties, including prothrombotic, proatherogenic, proinflammatory, immunomodulatory, and even anticoagulant activity. The elevated release of these microvesicles has been observed in various metabolic, inflammatory, thrombotic, and vascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and connective tissue disease. Modulation of both pMV generation and the expression of their surface molecules may have beneficial clinical implications and could become a novel therapeutic target. However, mechanisms by which pharmacological agents can modify pMV formation are elusive. The purpose of this review is to discuss the effects of drugs routinely used in primary and secondary prevention of vascular disease on the release of pMV and expression of their surface procoagulant and proinflammatory molecules.

Intracranial bleedings in patients on long-term anticoagulant treatment: Benefits from oral thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors in clinical practice.

Dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor and activated factor X inhibitors, rivaroxaban and apixaban, used in the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), have several advantages over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been shown to reduce the risk of intracranial bleedings by 50%. The current review summarizes the available data on the epidemiology, mechanisms and treatment of intracranial bleedings observed on oral anticoagulation with the focus on the specificity of NOACs in this context.

Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity in Polish patients with Parkinson’s disease

BACKGROUND Hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) measured by transcranial sonography (TCS) is a characteristic feature observed in patients with Parkinsons disease (PD). To our knowledge, no SN hyperechogenicity data are available for Polish population. Moreover most of studies come from few centres, which used the one type of ultrasound device. The main aim of the study was to investigate the association between PD and SN hyperechogenicity measured by sonographic machine, not assessed so far. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study cross-sectional study SN hyperechogenicity was evaluated in 102 PD patients and 95 control subjects. Midbrain was visualised by Aloka Prosound 7 ultrasound device. SN area measurement, the relation to the clinical features of PD, inter- and intra-observer reliability were evaluated. RESULTS We confirmed that SN echogenicity is significantly increased in PD patients compared to control subjects (p < 0.001). The area under curve for PD patients vs. controls was 0.93. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated a cut-offs for SN echogenicity at 0.19 cm² with accuracy equal to 90%, specificity - 86% and sensitivity - 93.7%. The SN hyperechogenicity was not related to PD clinical findings. Reliability was good if an experienced sonographer performed the SN measurements. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the SN abnormality observed by TCS isa specific feature, which can be helpful in the process of PD diagnosing.

ARTYKUŁ POGLĄDOWY/REVIEW PAPERUdar kryptogenny – drożny otwór owalny – migrena z aurą: przypadkowa triada czy związek przyczynowo-skutkowy? Część ICryptogenic stroke – patent foramen ovale – migraine with aura: incidental triad or significant relationship? Part I

In the first part of the paper we discuss the association between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and cryptogenic stroke. Patent foramen ovale is a remnant of the fetal circulation, found in about quarter of the general population. According to many authors, this common anatomical anomaly is of no or limited clinical significance. However, the results of some clinical studies suggest higher prevalence of PFO among subjects with either cryptogenic stroke or migraine with aura. To date, the answer to the question whether PFO is an independent risk factor for stroke remains equivocal. The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of PFO in pathophysiology of both symptomatic and asymptomatic ischaemic lesions and to analyze the coexisting factors that increase the risk of stroke. We also discuss the effectiveness of either pharmacological treatment or PFO closure in secondary stroke prevention.