Drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with a reduction in the quality of life of patients. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life before and after the surgical ...treatment of epilepsy and to assess factors that may affect the well-being of patients after surgery. The study involved 168 patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. All of them were examined twice: once before and again one year after surgery. Two questionnaires were used in the study: the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-Patient-Weighted and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and one that collected data on selected demographic and clinical variables. The results showed that patients scored significantly higher in quality of life and lower in depression and anxiety after surgery; however, this only applied to patients with a good outcome of treatment (Engel Class I and Class II). Patients with an unfavorable outcome of surgical treatment (Engel Class III and Class IV) achieved significantly worse results in all examined variables. Correlational analysis showed a relationship between select aspects of quality of life and the level of depression and anxiety, as well as the frequency of seizures and age at epilepsy onset. There was no significant relationship with age, sex, education, or number of prescribed antiepileptic drugs. The study confirms the significant relationship between the quality of life and the effectiveness of surgical treatment, indicating the relationship between patients' well-being and selected clinical indicators.
This paper presents new data on the occurrence of 16 vascular plant species from five Eurasian countries obtained during field explorations, as well as during taxonomic revisions of herbarium ...materials. Five taxa (Draba fladnizensis, Gentiana orbicularis, Helianthus giganteus, Symphyotrichum cordifolium, Thalictrum alpinum) are recorded for the first time from Poland, five (Achnatherum jacquemontii, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dittrichia graveolens, Geranium pyrenaicum, Stipa × balkanabatica) from Tajikistan, three (Achnatherum sibiricum, Asyneuma thomsonii, Stipa × balkanabatica) from Kyrgyzstan, one (Orobanche bartlingii) from Turkey, one (Calamagrostis obtusata) from China and one (Calamagrostis emodensis) from the Gansu Province in China. In addition, Hieracium piliferum, considered extinct in Poland, was rediscovered. For each species, synonyms, taxonomy with remarks on recognition and differentiation of the species from the most similar taxa occurring in a given area, general distribution, habitat preferences, as well as a list of recorded localities (often far from the previously known areas) are presented. As a result of the morphological comparison of specimens representing Stipa × balkanabatica collected in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with the type specimen collected from Turkmenistan, we decided to describe a new variety named S. × balkanabatica var. alaiensis M. Nobis & Klichowska, var. nov. Additionally, based on the analysis of phytosociological relevés prepared during field studies in the western Pamir Alai Mts (in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), a new association of chasmophytic plants named Asperulo oppositifoliae–Achnatheretum jacquemontii M. Nobis, Klichowska & A. Nowak, is also described.
Dionysia involucrata Zaprjag. (Primulaceae) is known as critically endangered endemic species of Hissar Mountains in Tajikistan. It is reported from few localities mainly in Varzob River valley and ...its tributaries. The species inhabits steep or overhanging faces of granite rocks in narrow river gorges. During the research all known populations of D. involucrata were examined in respect of the habitat conditions and species composition of vegetation plots. We analyzed the population extent of the species in its range in Tajikistan and the main threats in order to assess its conservation status. The detrended correspondence analysis was performed on a matrix of 65 relevés and 49 species (vascular plants and mosses), to classify the phytocoenosis with domination of D. involucrata according to their floristic composition in relation to other petrophytic vegetation units. Using our field data regarding present extent of occurrence and area of occupancy we conclude that the threat category of D. involucrata should be reassessed from critically endangered to endangered. The species shows decline tendency in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy as well as in number of locations. The vegetation plots with domination of D. involucrata have relatively high level of separateness due to different species composition. We define the new association – Dionysietum involucratae – representing chasmophytic vegetation of submontane and montane zone in Middle Asia (ca. 1000–1600 m a.s.l.). The plots of Dionysietum involucratae were found mainly on granite rocks, on very steep or overhanging faces, on southwestern or southern exposition. The association is rather poor in species with inconsiderable contribution of mosses. Despite the diagnostic species, Campanula incanescens, Carex koshewnikowii and Scutellaria hissarica were the most abundant and frequent taxa within the researched patches of vegetation.
Despite the raising preoccupation, the critical question of how the plant community is composed belowground still remains unresolved, particularly for the conservation priority types of vegetation. ...The usefulness of metabarcoding analysis of the belowground parts of the plant community is subjected to a considerable bias, that often impedes detection of all species in a sample due to insufficient DNA quality or quantity. In the presented study we have attempted to find environmental factors that determine the amount and quality of DNA extracted from total plant tissue from above- and belowground samples (1000 and 10,000 cm
). We analyzed the influence of land use intensity, soil properties, species composition, and season on DNA extraction. The most important factors for DNA quality were vegetation type, soil conductometry (EC), and soil pH for the belowground samples. The species that significantly decreased the DNA quality were
,
, and
. For the aboveground part of the vegetation, the season, management intensity, and certain species-with the most prominent being
and
-have the highest influence. Additionally, we found that sample size, soil granulation, MgO, organic C, K
O, and total soil N content are important for DNA extraction effectiveness. Both low EC and pH reduce significantly the yield and quality of DNA. Identifying the potential inhibitors of DNA isolation and predicting difficulties of sampling the vegetation plots for metabarcoding analysis will help to optimize the universal, low-cost multi-stage DNA extraction procedure in molecular ecology studies.
Formalized classification of the class Isoëto-Nanojuncetea has not been performed in Poland. We used 69,562 relevés stored in Polish Vegetation Database. Based on the literature and expert knowledge ...we selected 63 diagnostic species for the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea class. Unequivocal classification was applied in this work according to Cocktail method. A set of formal definitions was established using a combination of logical operators of total cover of species in case of high-rank syntaxa while sociological species groups and cover of particular species were used for logical formulas describing class, alliances and associations. An Expert System was prepared and applied to classify the whole data set of PVD and 1,340 relevés were organized at the class level. We stratifies the data and finally we used data set of 903 relevés to prepare synoptic tables, distribution maps and descriptions of the syntaxa. Twelve associations and two plant communities were identified. Vegetation of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea class occur in Poland’s central and southern part, with scattered stands in northern region. We described two new plant communities within Eleocharition and Radiolion alliance. The first formal classification of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea class revealed a high diversity of ephemeral vegetation wetland found in Poland in the eastern boundary of their geographical distribution in Europe.
To report clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes and risk of recurrence in patients with surgically treated cerebellopontine angle epidermoids.
In 1994–2013, we operated 17 patients, including ...7 with tumor limited to the cerebellopontine angle, 7 with cerebellopontine angle tumor penetrating supratentorially, and 3 with cerebellopontine angle tumor extending along skull base to contralateral cerebellopontine angle. All patients were followed-up for the mean duration of 126 months.
On admission cranial nerve symptoms predominated. Total tumor removal was achieved in 5 patients, and incomplete removal (with small tumor remnants left on vessels, nerves, or brainstem) in 12 patients. Postoperatively, preoperative deficits worsened in 2 and new postoperative deficits occurred in 10 patients. The extent of tumor expansion had no effect on postoperative morbidity and risk of recurrence. During long-term follow-up, improvement or resolution of preoperative deficits was seen in 11 of 17 patients, and new postoperative deficits in 8 of 10 patients. Symptomatic recurrences after an average of more than 9 years were noted in 5 patients, 3 of whom were reoperated. Recurrences occurred in some younger patients and always in area of primary tumor. No effect of extent of tumor removal on risk of recurrence was found.
The extent of tumor removal had no effect on the risk of recurrence, and thus it may be acceptable to leave tumor capsule fragments adhering closely to nerves, vessels, or brainstem. During long-term follow-up, resolution or improvement of present preoperatively and new postoperative neurological deficits may be expected in most patients.
Background: Management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) in elderly patients is controversial, taking into consideration their limited life-expectancy and existing comorbidities. With ...advances in endovascular techniques, we decided to evaluate treatment results in this population and to assess results in surgically and endovascularly treated cases. Methods: Thirty six elderly patients, aged ≥ 70, with the total of 39 aneurysms, were treated. The possibility of endovascular treatment was considered as the first option and surgical treatment as the second method of intervention. Results: No patient died and no patient became bedridden after the procedures. In surgical group (14 UIA), deterioration was observed in five cases at the time of discharge, but persisted in only two cases at follow-up. In endovascular group (25 UIA), deterioration was observed in one case at the time of discharge and persisted at follow-up. Endovascular techniques included coils placement alone in nine (36%) procedures, coiling with stent placement in five (20%) procedures and stent placement alone in eleven (44%) procedures. Follow-up DSA revealed no treatment effect in three patients after stent placement alone (12% of endovascularly treated aneurysms). Of these, two patients were successfully retreated with second flow-diverting stent placement and one patient refused retreatment. Conclusion: Treatment of elderly patients with UIA is relatively safe and effective. Worse short-term and long-term outcomes were observed among the operated compared to embolized patients. In patients treated with stent placement alone, treatment failure and the need for the next stage of embolization in some cases should be taken into account.
The study presents the results of geobotanical investigations conducted in crop fields in the western Tian Shan Mts in Kyrgyzstan (Middle Asia). The main research focused on classification of weed ...communities developing within this poorly investigated area, were conducted in the vicinity of Bishkek and Kara-Balta in 2010. Altogether, 299 phytosociological relevés were sampled using the Braun-Blanquet method. Based on all segetal vegetation patches, the analyses distinguished a new association: Caucalido platycarpi-Vicietum michauxii. The results of these phytosociological studies fill a gap in the knowledge about the syntaxonomical diversity of the Middle Asia region, which is one of the most crucial for segetal weed species. The study shows that anthropogenic agrocoenoses could harbour relatively rich flora. Extensively cultivated fields could especially serve as a suitable habitat for many xerothermophilous and heliophilous plants. More than 75 species in vegetation plots, mainly permament weeds, have been found. There is also a considerable share of species coming over from swards, screes and meadows.
This work presents the Dauco carotae-Crepidetum rhoeadifoliae plant association, which is new to Poland. The association has been observed in industrial reclamation areas in the vicinity of carbonate ...mineral excavation sites in the central part of the Opole region. In the vast majority of cases, plots of this association developed in reclaimed areas. The majority of diagnostic species for the association was found within surveyed plots, including Verbascum thapsus, V. densiflorum and Bryum argenteum. Taxa characteristic of the alliance were also constantly present, i.e. Daucus carota, Melilotus alba, M. officinalis, Echium vulgare and Erysimum hieracifolium. This association belongs to the rarest syntaxa in Poland included in the Dauco-Melilotion alliance of ruderal communities with a predominance of hemicryptophytes, therophytes and perennials. The main diagnostic species — Crepis rhoeadifolia, belongs to very rare elements of Polish flora. It has been observed only in the southern part of the country in approx. 20 sites. Crepis rhoeadifolia had not been observed in Silesia for approx. 40 years, which is why it was considered to be an extinct taxon in this region. Rediscovering of the species allowed for diagnosing the Dauco-Crepidetum rhoeadifoliae association. This association is an example of a pioneer phytocenosis of, most likely, anthropogenic origin in Silesia.
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