Effects of oral contraceptives on the treatment for internal derangements in temporomandibular joints in women.

Objective: The prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is the highest among women of reproductive age. Estrogens are the major contributor to the regulation of bone growth and development. They also influence peripheral and central mechanism of pain.

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the N-back test in mild cognitive impairment and elderly depression.

The aim of this study was to assess cognitive functions in 30 non-depressed patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compared with 30 age-, gender- and education-matched patients with acute depressive episode, and with 30 healthy subjects. Neuropsychological assessment included the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), memory tests as well as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the N-back test. Patients with MCI obtained significantly worse results on all domains of the WCST and the N-back test compared to both depressed and healthy subjects.

[Endothelial parameters in blood plasma of patients suffering from ischaemic heart disease and undergoing surgery with extracorporeal circulation].

Introduction: The participation of disturbances of the vascular endothelial function in the pathogenesis of post perfusion syndrome is controversial.

Aim: The aim of the study was the evaluation of the parameters of vascular endothelial injury in the blood plasma of patients undergoing surgery with extracorporeal circulation.

Methods: The study was performed in the group of 32 patients (M/F 23/9) with ischaemic heart disease, undergoing coronary artery bypass with extracorporeal circulation.

Effect on peripheral blood natural killer cytotoxic cell activity in rats after intraperitoneal implantation of double veloured polyester (Dacron) prosthesis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the changes affecting natural killer cytotoxic cell (NKCC) activity following intraperitoneal implantation of a double veloured polyester prosthesis in a rat model.

Material/methods: Blood samples were taken by cardiac puncture 1 h before (base line) and 14, 28, 100 and 180 days post-implantation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated from heparinized blood by density centrifugation.