Engagement and partnership with consumers and communities in the co-design and conduct of Research: Lessons from the INtravenous iron polymaltose for First Nations Australian patients with high FERRitin levels on haemodialysis (INFERR) clinical trial.

Background: Engagement and partnership with consumers and communities throughout research processes produces high quality research meeting community needs and promoting translation of research into improved policy and practice. Partnership is critical in research involving Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people (First Nations Peoples) to ensure cultural safety. We present lessons from the design, implementation and progress of the National Health and Medical Research Council funded INtravenous iron polymaltose for First Nations Australian patients with high FERRitin levels on hemodialysis (INFERR) clinical trial.

Modeling the resilience of critical infrastructure: the role of network dependencies.

Water and wastewater network, electric power network, transportation network, communication network, and information technology network are among the critical infrastructure in our communities; their disruption during and after hazard events greatly affects communities' well-being, economic security, social welfare, and public health. In addition, a disruption in one network may cause disruption to other networks and lead to their reduced functionality. This paper presents a unified theoretical methodology for the modeling of dependent/interdependent infrastructure networks and incorporates it in a six-step probabilistic procedure to assess their resilience.

The influence of statin therapy on platelet activity markers in hyperlipidemic patients after ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been reported to increase platelet activation. Reducing the level of LDL-C with statins induces important pleiotropic effects such as platelet inhibition. This association between platelet activity and statin therapy may be clinically important in reducing the risk of ischemic stroke.

[Patients' knowledge regarding modifiable risk factors of stroke].

Unlabelled: Regular physical activity constitutes effective measure of both primary and secondary protection against modern-age diseases. The aim of the paper was to assess the level of patients' knowledge regarding the influence of low physical activity and other modifiable risk factors affecting the increase in stroke occurrence in early stages of rehabilitation (day 9 after the cerebrovascular accident).

Aim: The aim of the paper was to assess the level of patients' knowledge regarding the influence of low physical activity and other modifiable risk factors affecting the increase in stroke occurrence in early stages of rehabilitation (day 9 after the cerebrovascular accident).

Platelet Reactivity in Patients With Stroke and Hyperlipidemia, GPIbα Assessment.

The aim of this study was to assess platelet reactivity in patients after ischemic stroke and to investigate the influence of hyperlipidemia (HL) on platelet activity markers. A total of 41 patients after ischemic stroke were divided into the following 2 groups: patients with HL and patients with normolipidemia. Expression of CD42b on resting, thrombin-activated blood platelets, and fibrinogen level was assessed.

The influence of hyperlipidemia on platelet activity markers in patients after ischemic stroke.

Background: To investigate the relationship between hyperlipidemia and platelet activation markers--platelet and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), and platelet-derived microparticles (PDMPs)--in patients after ischemic stroke.

Methods: 41 patients after ischemic stroke (>3 months) confirmed by CT were divided into 2 groups: with hyperlipidemia (HL, n = 21) and normolipidemia (NL, n = 20). Twenty healthy subjects served as controls.

[The usefulness of P300 potential in hepatic encephalopathy diagnostics of alcoholic etiology].

Unlabelled: The consequence of consuming excessive amount of alcohol is the damage of internal organs, particularly liver. In the liver there comes in turn to its fatty degeneration, hepatitis, fibrosis and finally to its cirrhosis. The aim of the study was the analysis of P300 potential in subjects chronically abusing alcohol with alcohol-related toxic liver damage and the assessment of the usefulness of this potential in the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy.

[The case of multiple brain abscesses conservatively treated].

We report the case of patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated by sulfasalazin. He was hospitalized because of general erythrodermia and diarrhoea with dysproteinemia. The consciousness disturbances and the meningitis syndrome occured in the course of disease.

[Masked (atypical) depression in patients with back pain syndrome in outpatient neurological care].

Unlabelled: Affective disorders, mainly depression is fast growing problem in highly civilised communities. The literature reports that 30-40% of patients seeking medical advice from specialists (not psychiatrists) in outpatient departments, suffer from these disorders. Many authors mention also diagnostic difficulties in dealing with atypical depression, and draw attention to the fact that this process is often "masked" by chronic pain.

[The dynamics of changes glucose concentration of patients with ischemic stoke in chosen times of day].

Unlabelled: Cerebral ischemic stroke which basic exponent is an sudden occurrence of neurological deficits is also characterized by deep disturbances of human organism homeostasis. It is known that many functions of a healthy human organism is subjected to the rhythmical changes during the twenty-four hours, and the state of illness can disturb them in a crucial way. The aim of the study was to examine the dynamics of changes of glucose concentration in blood of patients with acute phase of cerebral ischemic stroke in chosen times of day.

[Central pontine myelinolysis--case report].

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a neurologic disorder, consists of demyelinisation without inflammation in the base of pons, with a relative sparing of the axons and the nerve cells. Clinical symptoms have various manifestations. They include pseudobalbular paralysis, tetraparesis, locked-in syndrome, coma.

[Statins and stroke].

The occurrence of stroke increases with age, particularly affecting the older elderly, a population also at higher risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Epidemiological and observational studies have not shown a clear association between cholesterol levels and all causes of stroke. Nevertheless, large, long-term statin trials in patients with established CHD or et high risk for CHD (diabetes, hypertension) have shown that statins decrease stroke incidence in these populations even with a normal baseline cholesterol concentration.

[Potential P300 in diagnostics of cognitive functions].

On the base of accessible literature and own experience general information concerning potential P300, the methodology of its research as well as the influence of different factors on each its components were reviewed. The possibilities of the clinical use of potential P300 in the diagnostics of cognitive disturbances were presented. It emerges that P300 potential can have practical use in the diagnostics of dementias, but because of its physiological and individual changeability it cannot be treated as a fully objective diagnostic method.

[Increased percentage of "double phenotype" form T lymphocytes in blood of patients with multiple sclerosis].

We studied the percentage of double positive (CD4+CD8+) form of T-cells in a group (total 77) multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, measured by means of monoclonal antibodies anti-CD3, CD4/FITC, CD8/RPE and flow cytometry FACScan (Becton Dickinson). In our study we have shown that the percentage of the double positive T cells is higher (p < 0.05) in the peripheral blood of patients with acute exacerbation of MS (n = 21), and in the course of chronic progressive MS (n = 27) comparing to MS remission (n = 29) and other neurological diseases (n = 25) groups.

[Use of transcranial doppler ultrasonography in patients with vascular dementia].

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the clinical usefulness of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography /TDU/ in patients with vascular dementia. The study was carried out in a group of 69 patients divided into two groups: group i of 32 patients aged 45-78 years, mean age 58.4 years with two or more ischaemic foci on TDU and dementia symptoms.

[Back pain syndromes].

In the preface the causes are discussed of back-originated pains at different levels. Remark is made of three periods of lesions developing in intervertebral discs. The possibilities are discussed of the induction of back pain syndromes by overloading, and two mechanisms of this effect are described.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha binding by peripheral blood lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is responsible for peripheral blood leukocyte priming. The aim of this study was to evaluate fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled TNF binding ability by peripheral blood lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) of MS patients, measured using flow cytometry (FACScan). Three groups of MS patients (total 34) were examined.

Expression of aminopeptidase N (APN) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells' surface as a marker of these cells' transendothelial migration properties in the course of multiple sclerosis.

CD13 Ag and CD11a, CD11b, CD18 molecule expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied as these cells' adherent or transendothelial migration properties in three different multiple sclerosis (MS) patients groups (total 38): with clinically active MS (acute exacerbation of MS and primary chronic progressive MS (CP-MS)) and with MS remission. The control group consisted of patients, suffering from other non-inflammatory neurological diseases (OND). The results of our study suggest that CD11a/CD18 molecules expression on PB lymphocytes, although higher on these cells' surface in the course of MS as compared to OND, does not differentiate clinical forms of MS.

Increased expression of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and aminopeptidase N (APN) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.

We studied CD10 Ag of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and CD13 Ag of aminopeptidase N (APN) expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as cells activation markers and for their transendothelial migration properties in three groups of MS patients (total 58); with acute exacerbation of MS (n = 18), primary progressive MS (n = 17) and with MS remission (n = 23). The control group (OND) consisted of 24 patients, suffering from other noninflammatory neurological diseases. CD10 Ag and CD13 Ag expression on PBMC was higher in clinically active MS (acute exacerbation and progressive MS) compared to MS remission and OND groups.

[Increased expression of aminopeptidase N on lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis].

Aminopeptidase N is an ectoenzyme. Its expression on lymphocytes is the effect of cell activation. We studied APN expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and in the control group of patients with other neurological diseases (OND).

[TNF-alpha binding ability as a sign of peripheral blood neutrophils preactivation in the course of multiple sclerosis].

Usually neglected is the role of neutrophils in causing of immunological disturbances in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nevertheless, it has been indicated over the recent years that these cells possess a sufficient potential to affect both immune response and inflammation. This potential may result in MS through the process of priming of these cells by proinflammatory cytokines like TNF.

[Correlation between electronystagmographic findings and results of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography of vertebrobasilar arterial system in patients with vertigo].

The purpose of the study was the determination of correlations between the results of electronystagmographic (ENG) investigations and the blood flow velocity in the vertebrobasilar arterial system measured by Doppler ultrasonography in patients with vertigo. The studied material comprised 68 patients (39 women and 29 men) aged 34-68 years (mean 52.4 years).

The immunoregulatory abilities of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the course of multiple sclerosis.

The polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) possess sufficient potential to affect both immune response and inflammation, however it has not been yet described in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). We have studied binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)- stained TNF-alpha by PMN, the expression of CD11a, CD11b, and CD18 molecules of beta2-integrines and the expression of CD10 (neutral endopeptidase-NEP) and of CD13 (aminopeptidase N; APN) antigens on PMN in three different groups of MS patients. The control group included neurological patients (OND) with noninflammatory diseases.