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Aim of the studyPurpose: The objective of this research was to determine the level of motivation for stutter treatment and its dependence on age, gender, and the conception of stuttering.Subject or material and methodsMethods: In our study, the Conception of Stuttering Scale (CSS) and the Motivation for Stutter Therapy Scale (MSTS) were used. Participants: The research involved 297 participants, 81 women and 216 men, all aged from 18 to 54 years. All participants had started to stutter before the age of 7, they all had stutter symptoms (confirmed by an experienced speech therapist), thought themselves to be stutterers, and had undergone at least one therapy.ResultsOverall, the respondents were likely to consider stuttering a speech impediment, logoneurosis, communication disorder, or an illness. They mostly supported the idea of comprehensively diagnosing stuttering and they did not have a uniform conception of stutter therapy. They were most likely to opt for therapies based on speech practice or psychotherapy. Their motivation for speech therapy was mostly moderate. Motivation for stutter therapy was markedly higher in women than in men.. A significant positive correlation was revealed between speech practice and non-acceptance of stuttering.DiscussionStuttering persons have differing conceptions of the etiology, basis, diagnosis, and treatment of stuttering. Motivation for stutter therapy in adults is moderate and is not associated with their concept of stuttering.ConclusionsStuttering persons have differing conceptions of the etiology, basis, diagnosis, and treatment of stuttering. Motivation for stutter therapy in adults is moderate and is not associated with their concept of stuttering.

There is growing evidence to support the view that a variety of neurological, neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric sequelae occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection and NeuroCovid 19. Furthermore, scholars report that various syndromes, including Parkinson's disease (PD), can develop within a short period of time following on from COVID-19. Although the mechanism of this phenomenon is not fully understood and it is not known whether this is in fact an acceleration of the development of PD already 'smouldering' in the body or related to a viral infection, these patients need rehabilitation assistance. Recently, as adjuvant therapy, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to improve the motor and non-motor function of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), including neurocognitive impairment and therefore potentially change their quality of life. The aim of this article is to show the effectiveness of tDCS in the treatment of the patient with newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the contracting of NeuroCovid 19, and equally developing long COVID. The motivation would be to help other patients with a similar situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. A 62-year-old man, an academic Art Teacher, was infected with SARS-CoV-2 and contracted NeuroCOVID-19 on November 11, 2021. Initially, he lost his sense of smell (anosmia), of taste (ageusia), developed headaches, and dizziness. After 10 days of illness, the patient developed severe, level two infextion (according to Wise 2020), and he was hospitalized, sedated and mechanically ventilated for 30 days. After discharge from hospital, the patient was still weak with different symptoms. Four months later he was diagnosed with long COVID and also the neurodegenerative disease PD (according to the DSM-5 criteria). He received levodopa therapy, and was referred to the Reintegration and Training Center of the Polish Neuropsychological Society for further treatment. The functional neuromarker, that is hypoactivation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), obtained with the use of QEEG/ERPs was helpful in choosing the appropriate tDCS protocol. Neurostimulation with the use of anodal tDCS over these area of the brain was administered systematically for 20 days. He also received individual sessions of art therapy for 20 day. After the treatment the patient improved and returned to his previous work as a university art teacher. The proposed anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), in combination with goal-oriented individual art therapy, offered to the patient, was effective in the reduction of all his syndromes. ERPs can be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of patients following infection by SARS-CoV-2 who contracted COVID-19, developed long COVID and additionally PD. It allows for the detection of the functional neuromarker of PD (e.g., hypoactivation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, DLPFC) and enabled the choosing of a proper tDCS protocol with the anode over these region of the brain, and also the selection of effective neurostimulation. The proposed protocol of tDCS tailored by the neuromarker offered to our patient, was effective in the reduction of longCOVID symptoms as well as early PD symptoms.

Recent advances in neuroscience have allowed researchers to introduce functional neuromarkers of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) into clinical practice. Most promising are studies of brain work in milliseconds, such as quantitative EEGs, event-related potentials (ERPs), low resolution electromagnetic tomography(sLORETA), especially when it is possible to use Human Brain Index (HBI) methodology to compare test results obtained by a child with ASD with the normative database. The use of HBI methodology make possible to determine functional neuromarkers of ASD and comorbidities, such as epilepsy, impaired cognitive and emotional control or executive function (FF) disorders. Such procedure can contribute to more effective diagnosis, as well as provide personalized care for patients with ASD. In this case study we use the HBI methodology for more effective diagnosis of the child with ASD (level 2) with focal epilepsy and EF dysfunction in hope that we can provide more effective therapies which might improve her quality of life. We present the case of a 11-years-old girl with an initial diagnosis of ASD with focal epilepsy and EF dysfunction. The patient was sent to the Teaching-Reintegration Centre in Kraków with remarks that she simply could not function in everyday life. A neuropsychological examination using standardized batteries to assess the girl's cognitive, emotional and social functioning confirmed the presence of ASD (level 2), and co-occurring executive function disorders (EF). She was also analyzed from the clinical EEG perspective as well as from the QEEG/ERPs perspective and current coexistence of 3 Hz Spike-Wave Discharges on EEG and focal epilepsy was found. In the examination several episodes of 3 Hz paroxysms were found in the ventro-lateral prefrontal cortex (BA 11) in 40 min EEG recoding in Eyes open, Eyes closed as well as in task conditions. The patient’s ERPs showed that to the first stimulus (continue cue) temporal P2 wave with larger duration and longer latency was elicited in comparison to the average of the norm for her age from the Human Brain Index (HBI) normative database at Chur, Switzerland. The P30 cue was smaller in the patient than in the healthy controls from HBI and statistically significant deviations from the average were found. Also in response to NOGO stimulus no positive parietal-central P3 was observed, which appears in the ERPs of ealthy controls from HBI. The ERPs differences in the VCPT show statistically significant deviations in the patient’s brain function when compared to the ealthy controls from HBI. It should be stressed that the number of trials for the first stimulus presentation and NOGO condition were large enough for computing reliable ERPs, as it was indicated by Kropotov (2009; 2016). HBI methodology was helpful in finding functional neuromarkers of co-existence of 3 Hz Spike-Wave Discharges on EEG with focal epilepsy and EF disorder in girl with ASD (level 2). Therefore, it was possible to offer more effective rehabilitation of the disorders, which will contribute to the integration of the self system and better quality of her life.

New neurotechnologies which help to study not only the structure but also brain work, especially in milliseconds, allow for a more accurate diagnosis of a given disease entity. The aim of our study was to characterize the functional neuromarkers, including a new neuromarker, that is high rolandic beta, in Parkinson’s disease (PD). A 76-year-old male patient, a university professor, a widower, in an intimate relationship with a beloved partner, was tested in the Reintegration and Training Center of the Polish Society of Neuropsychology. Five years earlier (when he was 71 years old), following long-term stress, he had had a transient ischemic attack (TIA). In the following years he experienced two neurological episodes, and was diagnosed, on the basis of MRI findings and clinical symptoms, with vascular (multi-infarct) Parkinsonism. A sudden deterioration in his functioning, including hand tremors at rest, bradykinesia (motor slowdown), asymmetrical gait difficulties, postural instability, and falls typical for PD, as well as MRI finding (the appearance of ‘a swallow tail ’ on the left side, and the lack on the right of the substantia nigra within the midbrain) was the cause of further differential diagnosis. He was assessed using the HBI methodology (Kropotov 2016; Pąchalska, Kaczmarek, Kropotov 2014). EEG was recorded from 19 scalp sites, in resting state conditions, with eyes open and eyes closed, and during the cued GO/NOGO tasks with animal/plants as GO/NOGO stimuli. The electrodes were applied according to the International 10-20 system. The EEG was recorded referentially to linked ears, allowing for a computational re-referencing of the data (remontaging). Event related potentials (ERPs) were used to assess the functional changes manifested by the patient. To compare our patient with healthy controls we used the normative Human Brain Index (HBI), a database obtained through joint research by Swiss, Norwegian, Polish and Russian neuroscientists (Kropotov 2018). This database included behavioral parameters and ERP measures in 6 different neuropsychological tasks for 1000 healthy subjects. What is striking, no signs of cognitive dysfunction was found; however observed were an asymmetrical frontal lobe alpha (a neuromarker of depression) and excessive Rolandic beta (a neuromarker of Parkinson’s disease). We will discuss the results on the basis of recent subject literature findings, including the personal factors that might influenced the process of the diagnosis and treatment of this patient, ones which should be also taken into account in any differential diagnosis. The obtained results show the importance of using HBI methodology in clinical practice. Physicians involved in the diagnosis and treatment of those with progressive ambulatory impairment and an abnormal white matter (WM) signal on neuroimaging, should when formulating any differential diagnosis consider the use of this approach.

The aim of the study was to answer the question as to whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is more effective in reducing burnout syndrome in nurses than the commonly used individual psychotherapy. The study included 40 nurses from various health care facilities located in the Lesser Poland and Podkarpackie Voivodeship suffering from burnout syndrome. They were assigned to the experimental group while 20 to the control group. Two different therapy models were used: the experimental group (A) included 20 of the nurses treated with the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), four times a week for 8 weeks, in sessions that lasted initially 10, then 15, 20, 25 and finally 30 minutes and the control group (B) included 20 of the nurses treated with individual psychotherapy employed for 8 weeks, once a week for 30 minutes. To evaluate the results we used: screening with a clinical interview, the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Beck Depression Inventory and a Polish adaptation of the Italian questionnaire created by Massimo Sentinello (LBQ). Treatment was provided. The transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) used in Group A is more effective in reducing many symptoms than is the case with individual psychotherapy. Comparing the intragroup effects, it was found that the tDCS employed in Group A significantly reduced the intensity of depressive symptoms among the surveyed nurses [F (1.38) = 57.62; p

Metaphor simply is defined as a verbal construct with two referents: one literal, based on the ordinary, concrete meanings of the word or words involved, and the other metaphorical, that is one derived from an implicit analogy between the literal referent and some other phenomenon, usually an abstraction that is implied, but not named. The aim of this paper is a description of the neuropsychology of metaphors in patients awakened from post-traumatic coma. A group of 34 patients awakened from post-traumatic coma and treated at the Reintegrative and Teaching Centre of the Polish Neuropsychological Society, Poland during the period 2017- 2019 participated in this study. This group included 15 women and 17 men, with an average age of 31.2 ± 8.72 years; as a group, the women were somewhat older (32.6 ± 9.79 vs. 31.1 ± 9.18). We recorded the patients’ utterances with the use of video record- ings of open-ended conversations, and made occasional efforts to introduce proverbs, idioms, and other metaphors into their conversation, but this was done on an impromptu basis. The analysis of recordings of 100 randomly selected statements obtained from each patient revealed the presence of 4 types of errors: (1) non-comprehension, i.e. the listener’s inability to comprehend the meaning of the metaphor used by the speaker, as indicated by the lack of an adequate response, an expression of puzzlement, or a question as to the meaning of the metaphor used by the speaker; (2) concretization, which occurs when the listener reacts to the literal meaning of the word, phrase, or sentence, rather than its metaphorical referent; (3) misapplication, when the speaker uses a familiar metaphor in an inappropriate context; (4) the use of incomprehensible or bizarre metaphors by the speaker, so that the intended meaning is difficult or impossible for the listener to ascertain. On many occasions, however, the gist of the metaphor emerged at some later point in the discourse, despite the surface problems. It was found that the TBI patients we studied showed a marked tendency in spontaneous conversation to concretize or misunderstand the metaphors used by others, and to use inappropriate or bizarre metaphors in their own speech. On many occasions, however, the gist of the metaphor emerged at some later point in the discourse, despite the surface problems.

Recently, the relationship between visual art and brain function and disease has raised considerable interest among neurologists, neuroscientists, and artists themselves. Visual art production involves multiple processes including basic motor skills, such as the coordination of movements, visual-spatial processing, emotional output, a socio-cultural context, as well as obviously creativity. Thus, the relationship between artistic output and brain diseases is particularly complex, and brain disorders may lead to an impairment of artistic production in multiple domains. Understanding the nature of aphasia, which leads to significant changes in human life in the physical, psychological, social and professional sphere, makes us aware of the importance of the individual (objective and subjective) and the social (collective and cultural) self system in the process of creation, especially in artists. Observing the works of artists with aphasia, we notice that each of them perceives the surrounding world differently. One wonders what makes them present reality in one way and not in another. It is true that all works of art show reality in thousands of different ways, and only an unoriginal artist will employ someone else's vision - one already used in a work. It should not be forgotten, however, that the work of artists with aphasia often takes on features resulting from the nature of the problems they face and is initially unoriginal, as they have to overcome fundamental technical difficulties and problems of technique. In this article, we present the possibilities for rehabilitation, of strengthening artists with aphasia, in order for them to find the self lost as a result of illness.

Introduction In spite of the rapid development in various communication-support technologies for those waking up from a coma, studies describing the sole process of reconstructing communication in this group of patients are scarce. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze communication reactions in a minimal state of consciousness and describe the nonverbal behaviours characteristic for each stages significant for the therapy of communication. Material and methods 18 severely brain-injured patients in a minimal state of consciousness participated in the half-year observation study, which included people experiencing at least 4 weeks of consciousness disorder/coma. Age of patients 25±5 years. Psychological assessment included: observation of various attempts of communications undertaken by patients, caregivers and family interview, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Individual Communication Sheet. Results Data analysis showed a significant increase in preverbal communication, both in primal and sensory areas when compared between Stage II (GCS=6-8 points) and Stage III (GCS=9-12 points). After a time, primary communication reached a high level. Patients produced communication attempts from the behaviour organization level, and an increase in the nonverbal communication level was noted. Based on observations, nonverbal communication profiles for each stage of waking up from a coma were introduced. Conclusions It was found that in the process of waking up from a coma the patients communicate with the use of the preverbal level of primal communication, the sensory and behaviour organization activities. The characteristics of the communication reactions show that in Stage III there is a significant increase in two preverbal communication areas: primal and sensory acts, when compared with Stage II.

The aim of our research was to evaluate the effectiveness of neurofeedback in reducing the symptoms of chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a patient who had developed the syndrome following a recurrence of sphenoid wing meningioma (SOM). EEG spectra and event-related potentials (ERPs) were used to construct an individual neurofeedback protocol and to provide objective monitoring of treatment efficacy. The patient, a 34-year-old female, was diagnosed with a sphenoid wing meningioma (SOM), which had been successfully operated. Three years later, however, the SOM had overgrown at the optic foramen and extended into the optic canal, and the patient had developed blurred vision. She was repeatedly operated, and recovered well. However, due to the recurrence she developed flashbacks, anxiety and sleep difficulties, such that she was unable to continue working in her profession. The symptoms had been occurring for 4 months. ERPs in a cued NOGO task, along with EEG spectra in the resting state and during task performance were used to assess brain functioning, providing the basis for a neurofeedback protocol. Twenty sessions of individually tailored neurofeedback were performed. The patient experienced a reduction of symptoms, accompanied by normalization of ERPs parameters. The results obtained in this case point to the possible benefits of individually tailored neurofeedback protocols in the treatment of PTSD.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a major right-hemisphere ischemic brain stroke survivor half a year after CEA revascularization, with the use of Event Related Potentials (ERPs). He was in a serious condition and had limited consciousness. Therefore, the doctor informed the patient's wife about the possibility of sudden death. The patient heard this information and remembered it, which was one of the main causes of the development of PTSD. On the basis of previous research amplitudes of P3 ERP, components elicited in the cued GO/NOGO tasks have been chosen as the candidate for PTSD neuromarkers . A 44-year-old patient had a major ischemic brain stroke while sizeable atherosclerotic plaque causing critical stenosis of the internal carotid artery in Angio-CT was dioscovered. The patient was urgently operated on using CEA. After the operation he had the opportunity to see the removed plaque which had been the cause of his stroke. Despite the positive postoperative recovery, half a year later, the patient began to complain of flashbacks, anxiety, trouble in falling and staying asleep, difficulty in concentration, a loss of interest. For the diagnosis of PTSD we used Checklist Specific for a stressor (PCL-S). Additionally we used Checklist according to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) classification, and the patient met the PTSD criteria. The cognitive profile of the patient was measured with the use of the Wechsler Memory Test – III (WMS-III). Subsequently, the patient participated in the cued GO/NOGO task (Kropotov, 2009) with a recording 19-channel EEG. The P3 GO and NOGO waves in this task were found to be significantly smaller at p

Perception is one of the psychological operations that can be analyzed from the point of view of microgenetic theory. Our study tests the basic premise of microgenesis theory – the existence of recurrent stages of visual information processing. The event related potentials in two variants of a cued GO/NOGO task (contrasting images of Animals and Plants in the first variant, and contrasting images of Angry and Happy faces in the second variant) were studied during the first 300 ms following stimulus presentation. The independent component analysis was applied to a large collection of ERPs. The functional independent components associated with visual category discrimination, comparison to working memory, action initiation and conflict detection were separated. Information processing in the ventral visual stream (the temporal independent components) occurs at two sequential stages with positive/negative fluctuations of the cortical potential as indexes of the stages. The first stage represents the comparison of the pure physical features of the visual input with the memory trace. The second stage represents the comparison of more sophisticated semantic/emotional features with the working memory. The two stages are the results of interplay between bottom-up and top-down projections in the visual ventral stream.

Objective. The study aimed to evaluate the application of ERPs neuromarkers for the assessment and treatment of a patient with chronic crossed aphasia after severe TBI and a long-term coma. Case report An ambidextrous female patient, aged 29, suffered from posttraumatic chronic crossed aphasia, severe TBI and a prolonged coma after a car accident. The patient took part in two differentiated rehabilitation programmes of neurotherapy included 20 sessions of relative beta training and 20 sessions of rTMS; both programmes were combined with behavioural training. The patient was tested 3 times: before the experiment, after completion of programme A, and after completion of programme B. Results In the 1st recording, the neuromarker of aphasia was found - an excess of the P2 wave over the left temporal area. There was a cognitive control deficit - an excess of omission errors and an increase of RT variability - all indexes of sporadic ADHD. In the 2nd recording, slight improvements in cognitive control, and language functions were found. In the 3rd recording, after the rTMS sessions most of her cognitive dysfunctions had been resolved, including language functions. It should be stressed that the activation (especially the increase in the ERP potential of the right side over the frontal lobe) was found. The neuromarker of aphasia did not change, only the location had slightly moved frontally. Conclusions The application of ERP neuromarkers assists in the diagnosis, treatment, and academic success of an ambidextrous patient with chronic posttraumatic aphasia and sporadic ADHD. ERPs can be used to assess the functional brain changes induced by neurotherapeutical programmes.

Introduction and objective Heat stress induces the expression of genes encoding heat-shock proteins and immune response mediators. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the expression of genes encoding heat-shock proteins 70 kDa and27 kDa, interleukin 6, interleukin 10and C-reactive protein, between athletes and non-athletes after sauna bathing. Materials and method Athletes (n=9) and non-athletes (n=9) were exposed to a Finnish sauna twice during one session at a temperature of 98.2 °C and humidity of 10% ± 2%, with a 5 min break for cooling down under a shower. The groups did not differ in terms of age, height or body mass. Blood samples were taken before and after sauna exposure in order to assess gene expression, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results Differences were observed in leukocyte mRNA levels of tested genes between athletes and non-athletes. In the non-athlete group, all the tested genes were expressed at higher levels as a response to the same heat challenge. Conclusion It appears that expression of stress-related genes induced by heat stress is dependent on the level of physical activity.

Objective The study aimed to evaluate the hyperactivity of the frontal lobes in a patient with obsessive-compulsive disorders. Case description A 21-year-old female met the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 since her behaviour was characterized by a preoccupations with negative thoughts and by repetitive attempts to decrease or stop those behaviours. Two working hypotheses were tested to find neuromarkers of OCD and anxiety in the patient described. In agreement with the 'OCD hypothesis' an increase of the frontal beta activity and an increase of the parietalalpha activity pattern was found. The 'anxiety' hypothesis found confirmation in an increased left temporal P1 wave in response to the visual stimuli observed in ERPs. In all three conditions (EO, EC, GO/NOGO task), two characteristics were deviant from the normative average data in EEG spectra. First, an increase of frontal beta activity and the increase of parietal alpha activity was noted. The independent component analysis applied for 700 ms EEG fragments in GO and NOGO conditions revealed a strong activation over the central areas. Conclusions Specific patterns of QEEG and ERPs, the increase of beta activity frontally, and the increase of parietal alpha activity pattern which produce hyper-frontality, might be useful in the diagnosis of an OCD patient. ERPs in a GO/NOGO task can be used in the assessment of functional brain changes in OCD patients.

We evaluated the effectiveness of three different rehabilitation programs for chronic behavioral disorders in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with orbito-frontal damage (OFC), incurred from 13 to 15 years prior to enrollment. From among 547 adult patients with severe TBIs treated neurosurgically from 1999 to 2003, 60 were selected for the study, divided into three groups of 20, matched for age and sex. Each group received one of three different rehabilitation protocols. Group A received a comprehensive program with two components: (1) a 6-month early neuropsychological rehabilitation program targeting cognitive deficits, beginning immediately post-injury, and (2) the “Academy of Life” program, with weekly meetings aimed at reducing behavioral disorders in social transactions. Group B received only cognitive rehabilitation, while Group C received only the “Academy of Life” progam. The Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBInv) was used to assess behavioral disorders at baseline and again after completion of the study. At baseline, all 60 patients still displayed all or most of the common behavioral symptoms characteristic of frontal syndrome. The improvement achieved by group A (the comprehensive program) was significantly better upon completion of the study than that shown by the patients in groups B (cognitive only) and C (social skills only). A comprehensive program of rehabilitation, which combines early neuropsychological rehabilitation of cognitive deficits with the “Academy of Life” program, aimed at improving social skills, proved to be more effective than either of these two components administered without the other

Introduction Some studies have shown the influence of Qigong on gene expression in different cells, but there is little data associated with the influence of this kind of therapy on genes expression in pheripheral monocellucar blood cells. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the expression of genes associated with cellular stress response in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PMBC) in healthy women. Material and methods The experiment took place at the Japanese Martial Arts Centre "DOJO" in Stara Wieś, Poland, conducted over the course of a 4-day qigong training session. To evaluate the genes effect of this training, blood samples were taken before and after the training period. This experiment involved 20 healthy women (aged 56.2±9.01, body height 164.8±6.5 and mass 65.5±8.2). To determine the expression of HSF-1, HSPA1A, NF-kB, IL10 and CCL2 mRNA, 3 ml of venous blood was collected. The blood samples were placed in tubes allowing for separation (BD Vacutainer CPT TM) before and after the 4 days of qigong training. Isolated PMBC were used to determine gene expression using real-time qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction). Results Significant decreases in NF-kB and CCL2 mRNA and increases in IL10, HSF1 and HSPA1A m-RNA were detected after 4 days of qigong training. The obtained findings suggest that qigong caused a reduction in the inflammatory and intensified anti-inflammatory gene expression, as well as a higher expression of HSF-1 and HSPA1A. Conclusions The adaptive response to qigong training was similar to the adaptive response to physical activity and was detected through gene expression in PMBC. Furthermore, this kind of training is especially indicated for women because of their higher susceptibility to psychosocial stress when compared to men.

Our study aims to assess the long-time effects of group therapy intervention on marriage communication between fluent and non-fluent aphasic patients and their spouses. From the initial cohort of 150 couples four experimental groups have been selected, each comprising 20 subjects: (1) patients with fluent aphasia (FAP) (2) patients with fluent aphasia spouses (FAPS) (3) patients with non-fluent aphasia (NFAP) (4) patients with non-fluent aphasia spouses (NFAPS). All aphasic patients had mild or moderate fluent or nonfluent aphasia, as confirmed by the Cracow Neuropsychological Battery for Aphasia Examination – CNBA (Pąchalska, 1999). To assess the 3 aspects of interactions between spouses: support, engagement and depreciation we use the Communication in Marriage Questionnaire – KKM scores (Kaźmierczak, Plopa, 2008). These patients attended the groups sessions administered according to Pąchalska’s Model of Aphasia Group Therapy (1991a; 1991b) . It was found that after the long-time group intervention the experimental and the control groups of aphasic patients as well as their spouses differ one from another. NFAP as well as FAP therapy patients had higher KKM scores in the support received from their spouses and their spouses engagement in communication and lower scores in depreciation in their spouses’ behavior than did the controls. Also NFAPS evaluated support and engagement expressed by their aphasic partner higher than the control group. However FAPS and the control group KKM scores were quite similar, except for the support expressed by their aphasic partner. Long-time group therapy for patients with aphasia with the presence of caregivers not only improves the communication with significant others but also it is associated with better marital interactions and communication after therapy as reflected in the KKM scores than in the case of the controls, and improves the patient’s and caregivers’ perception of quality of life.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) plays a role as a patient-centered meaningful endpoint, assessing the direct clinical benefit for a patient. The inclusion of HRQoL measurements in a glioma patient may provide important data to inform clinicians on treatment decision-making. The aim of the study was to evaluate cognitive decline and HRQoL in the clinical care of a patient following neurosurgery on of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). A 69-year-old female developed malignant brain glioma in the right temporal-occipital area; this being confirmed by CT and MR study and neuropathological findings. She had complained of headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting as well as attention and memory loss, and anxiety, sadness and a slowing down in the performance of daily activities. The symptoms rapidly became worse and she was referred to a neurosurgery department for consultation. She was successfully neurosurgically operated on. She was examined with the use of ne uro psycho logical tests three times: the first examination was conducted before the neurosurgical operation, the second two weeks after, and the third half year after the neurosurgical operation. In the first examination by the standard Polish version of the Mindstreams™ Interactive Computer Tests disturbances for all the tested cognitive functions occurred. The greatest changes were to occur however in the areas of visual-spatial functions. attention, executive functions and memory. In the second test, a return to the norm was achieved for the disturbed cognitive and executive functions. In the third examination (half a year after the neurosurgical operation), the cognitive and executive functions were still not bad, but had slightly decreased. Similar trend was observed in HRQoL. A significant difference in the health profile between the 1 st and 2 nd as well as between 1 st and 3 rd examination was detected for the eight SF-36 domains - HRQoL was improved. While only slight but no significant changes occurred between 2 nd and 3 rd examination. HRQoL was still not bad, but had slightly decreased. The patient after the neurosurgical operation of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is capable of carrying out daily activities, but shows some level of reduced complains for functional capacity, pain, general health and vitality, emotional and social functioning for mental health which has led to the impaired HRQoL.

bObjective./bThe aim of the study was determination of the level in expression genes associated with cell stress response in a patient with PTSD.bCase study./bA 57-year-old PTSD patient, A.P., was the subject of the study. Blood samples were taken from the ulnar vein to assess the relative expression of the tested genes in leukocytes via a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).bResults./bA considerably decreased level in the expression HSF-1, NF-kB, Hif-1 and IL6 m-RNA was observed in the patient when compared to the control group. A low expression in HSPA1A, HSPB1, IL10 and CRP m-RNA compared with the control group was also noted.bConclusion./bIt is possible that the lower level of transcriptional factors: HSF-1, NF-kB and Hif-1 as well as IL6 m-RNA may be associated with the effect of the PTSD patient's treatment.

The article presents a multifaceted communication disorder, cluttering, as it is understood in Poland. According to the authors, cluttering is the result of disorganization in thinking processes and in planning of verbal utterances at the level of the internal speech. Semantic, phonological, and pragmatic disturbances can be found in people with cluttering (PWC). Two cluttering subtypes are presented as well.

Introduction The paper presents an example of the successful administration of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system. Such an approach is of particular significance in cases of patients with speech and language deterioration, which is observed in a nonfluent/agrammatic variant of primary progressive aphasia (PPA-G). Regaining the ability to communicate with others proves to be very important for the patients’ self-esteem and enables them to restore previously broken social bonds. Case history The patient A.G., aged 73, a right-handed woman, had been a teacher of Polish before suffering from speech disorders of the PPA-G type. As the disease progressed, her communication deteriorated and finally she developed mutism. The patient was given a clinical and imaging-supported diagnosis of an isolated nonfluent/ agrammatic variant of primary progressive aphasia (PPA-G). The Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system specially designed for her needs was introduced to help the patient to regain the possibility to communicate. After 20 sessions of training with the use of simple equipment she was again able to communicate non-verbally with her son and with the staff of the nursing home. At the same time, a considerable improvements in her social functioning, including daily activities, was observed. Conclusions Loss of the ability to communicate with others has a serious impact upon a patient’s quality of life, and often results in withdrawal and an inability to lead an independent life. The introduction of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system proves to be a great help, not only for regaining the ability to communicate, but also for the restoration of social bonds. In consequence, the previously mute patient begins to show signs of social cooperation.

Background. The goal of the study was threefold: 1) to evaluate QEEG/ERPs in­dexes of functional brain impairment after a stroke associated with chronic crossed transcortical sensory aphasia, 2) to construct a neu­rotherapy protocol to compensate for this functional damage, and 3) to assess the changes in the functional neuromarkers induced by the neurotherapy sessions. Case study. A 72-year-old, strongly right-handed woman with atrial fibrillation sud­denly developed cerebral embolism of the right middle cerebral artery. She was treated conservatively, and the left hemiparesis, and aphasia – in a moderate degree, consequently existed. A CT-scan showed a large infarct lesion partially parallel to Wernicke’s area. After one year of ineffective aphasia therapy we constructed an experimental neuro­therapy protocol (TMS combined with comprehensive aphasia therapy) on the basis of an assessment of the spontaneous QEEG and event-related potentials (ERPs) in the cued GO/NOGO. The patient was assessed before and after the neurotherapy sessions by the same methodology. Conclusions.It was found that before the TMS treatment the temporal area (T6) generates a strong P2 wave in response to visual stimulus indicating a hyper-sensitivity of the neurons located at temporal areas of the right hemisphere. This was connected with crossed transcortical sensory aphasia found within the aphasia profile in the Polish version of the Western Aphasia Battery (K-WAB). The TMS sessions reduced this hyper-sensitivity substantially. The patient speech returned to the norm, she was to return to social life.

Background The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of vascular factors on the degree of intensity and rate of progression of cognitive disorders in the course of Alzheimer Disease (AD). Material/Methods The research group consisted of 39 persons, all of whom were diagnosed with AD according to the NINCDS/ADRDA criteria. We divided these patients into 2 subgroups, based on the vascular factors measured by the modified Hachinski Ischemic Scale (Ha-mod): group A, without the vascular component (HA-mod score of 0–1 point), and group B, with the vascular component (a score over 1 point). Cognitive functions were evaluated at baseline and again 2 years later, using the Cognitive Part of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog). Results We found that the patients from subgroup B, with the stronger vascular component, demonstrated the highest intensity of cognitive disorders at baseline, both in terms of the overall ADAS-cog score, and in the subscores for ideational praxis, orientation, spoken language ability, comprehension of spoken language, and word-finding difficulty in spontaneous speech. Another variable which was connected with the intensity of dementia was age. After 2 years, however, the rate of progression of cognitive disorders was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions The severity of vascular factors correlates directly with the intensity of cognitive disturbances. At the 2-year follow-up examination, however, no correlation was observed in the research group between greater vascular involvement and more rapid progression of cognitive disorders, as measured by the ADAS-cog scale.