[Cerebral microangiopathy in men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

Objective: To determine factors associated with the development of small vessel disease (SVD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA).

Material And Methods: One hundred and fifty-two patients with risk factors for the development of cerebrovascular diseases were examined. Based on the results of polysomnography, patients were divided into groups with- (=84) and without (=68) OSA.

Blood Serum Zonulin in Colorectal Cancer, Autoimmune Bowel Diseases, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Zonulin content in blood serum of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC; n=152; 30-84 years) and patients with large bowel adenomas (n=32; 39-82 years) was measured by standardized kit IDK Zonulin ELISA (Immundiagnostik AG). The healthy control group (n=50) comprised volunteers (27 women, 23 men; 25-68 years); pathological control group (n=84) - patients (55 women, 29 men;18-84 years) with irritable bowel syndrome (n=29), Crohn's disease (n=5), and ulcero-necrotic colitis (n=50). In comparison to healthy control group, the level of zonulin was significantly increased in CRC patients (p<0.

[The effect of long-term beta-blockers on melatonin secretion, sleep quality, and vascular brain damage].

Unlabelled: Circadian rhythm of pineal melatonin production is paced by the thalamus suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) depending on the lighting conditions via signal transduction to pinealocytes beta-receptors. Melatonin is a natural regulator of many physiological processes, and the decrease of its synthesis leads to various diseases, in particular, insomnia and metabolic disorders. It is known that administration of beta-blockers reduces melatonin production, but the data showing clinical significance of melatonin reduction associated with beta-blockers administration are still contradictory.

[The clinical/laboratory support for using melatonin in chronic cerebrovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome].

Aim: To evaluate a role of melatonin deficiency in the metabolic syndrome and chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI).

Material And Methods: One hundred and seventy-nine men, aged 45-75 years, with CCI and components of metabolic syndrome (MS) were examined. Intima-media thickness (IMT) in the carotid arteries and cerebrovascular reactivity was assessed by the results of duplex scanning and hypercapnic test.

[A role of insomnia in the development of silent cerebral infarctions].

Aim: To investigate the relationship between insomnia, hemostatic abnormalities and silent cerebral infarctions.

Material And Methods: A complex study of 76 male patients, aged 40-85, with vascular risk factors was carried out. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data was used to verify presence of silent cerebral infarctions; the presence and severity of insomnia were determined using questionnaires and polysomnography.