Funkcje komunikacyjne u praworęcznej chorej przed i po operacji oponiaka przystrzałkowego okolicy czołowej prawej — opis przypadku

Uszkodzenie prawej półkuli mózgu u osób praworęcznych z lewą półkulą dominującą dla czynności mowy może powodować specyficzne zaburzenia zdolności językowych i komunikacyjnych. Deficyty te, wykazujące tendencję do utrzymywania się i mogące negatywnie wpływać na jakość życia pacjentów, są wciąż stosunkowo rzadko diagnozowane. Celem pracy była ocena stanu funkcji językowych i komunikacyjnych u praworęcznej pacjentki przed i po zabiegu usunięcia oponiaka zlokalizowanego w 1/3 przedniej zatoki strzałkowej górnej w okolicy czołowej prawej. W badaniu neurologicznym u chorej nie stwierdzono istotnych deficytów. Trzy dni przed i 30 dni po operacji zbadano pacjentkę z użyciem Baterii Testów do Badania Funkcji Językowych i Komunikacyjnych Prawej Półkuli Mózgu (RHLB-PL, the Polish version of the Right Hemisphere Language Battery). W pierwszym badaniu odnotowano u niej znaczne zaburzenia w zakresie rozumienia prozodii emocjonalnej oraz porozumiewania się w naturalnych warunkach przy stosunkowo dobrze zachowanych możliwościach w zakresie innych aspektów komunikacji (tj.: rozumienia znaczenia słów, narracji, humoru, metafor). Wyniki RHLB-PL poprawiły się u pacjentki miesiąc po operacji, jednak zdolności wymagane w bezpośrednim komunikowaniu się z drugą osobą pozostały znacznie zaburzone w stosunku do osób zdrowych. Wyniki badania wskazują na konieczność diagnozowania i rehabilitacji chorych bez afazji, u których wskutek uszkodzenia prawej półkuli mózgu dochodzi do specyficznych zaburzeń zdolności językowych i komunikacyjnych

TOF-PET detector concept based on organic scintillators

In this contribution we present a new concept of the large acceptance detector systems based on organic scintillators which may allow for simultaneous diagnostic of large fraction of the human body. Novelty of the concept lies in employing large blocks of polymer scintillators instead of crystals as detectors of annihilation quanta, and in using predominantly the timing of signals instead of their amplitudes

Strip- PET : a novel detector concept for the TOF-PET scanner

We briefly present a design of a new PET scanner based on strips of polymer scintillators arranged in a barrel constituting a large acceptance detector. The solution proposed is based on the superior timing properties of the polymer scintillators. The position and time of the reaction of the gamma quanta in the detector material will be determined based on the time of arrival of light signals to the edges of the scintillator strips

Metaphor Processing in Schizophrenia Patients: A Study of Comprehension and Explanation of Metaphors

The study assessed the quantity and quality of errors made by schizophrenia patients in understanding and interpretation of the same metaphors, to evaluate metaphor understanding and explanation depending on the type of presentation material, and to analyze the correlation of illness symptoms with metaphor comprehension and explanation. Two groups of participants were examined: a schizophrenia sample (40 participants) and a control group (39 participants). Metaphor processing was assessed by the subtests of the Polish version of the Right Hemisphere Language Battery (RHLB-PL). The patients were also evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Schizophrenia patients scored significantly lower in explanation of metaphors, making more incorrect literal and abstract mistakes or providing no answer more frequently. No differences were observed in understanding metaphors; no correlation between symptoms and metaphor processing was obtained. In both groups, picture metaphors were easier to comprehend and written metaphors were easier to comprehend than to explain

Report on the activities of the PKiM and PFN in period 2021–2022

The Polish Fireball Network (PFN), has been undergoing continuous development. Since then, several large grants have been obtained, which were at least partly used for modernization purposes. In recent years, two more grants have been obtained, which allowed for the expansion and modification of the existing PFN infrastructure. In 2021, the PFN76 Kozienice was modernized, but also the PFN14 Zielona Góra station was reactivated and the new PFN77 Suhora station was launched in 2022. Thanks to these improvements, the tracking of meteoroids entering the Earth Atmosphere above Poland became more accurate, which facilitates the search for meteorites and increases the chances of finding new fresh meteorites in Poland. On the night of May 10, 2021, PFN stations registered an exceptionally slow bolide. The phenomenon named PF100521 Wykrot appeared over central Poland in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship at 21:32 UT and calculations showed that some meteorites may have fallen. This phenomenon was used to conduct a series of analyzes to show how observational uncertainties affect the final results. Two variants of the results are presented in this work

Generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms in various age groups during the COVID-19 lockdown. Specific predictors and differences in symptoms severity

Background. Previous studies carried out in different countries indicated that young adults experience higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms than older age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about which epidemic-related difficulties and factors may contribute to these forms of emotional distress in various age groups. Purpose. The aim of the current study was to investigate: (i) differences in levels of depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms, as well as perceived difficulties related to pandemic across four age groups in the Polish population; (ii) which factors and difficulties related to pandemic are predictors of generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms in various age groups during the COVID-19 lockdown. Method. A total of 1115 participants (aged 18-85) took part in the study. The group was a representative sample of the Polish population in terms of sex, age, and place of residence. Participants completed online: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9, The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Scale of Perceived Health and Life Risk of COVID-19, Social Support Sale, Scale of Epidemic-Related Difficulties. Results. Younger age groups (18-29 and 30-44) experienced higher levels of depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms than older adults (45-59 and 60-85 years). Difficulties in relationships and at home were amongst the strongest predictors of depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms in all age groups. Fear and uncertainty related to the spread of the virus were one of the most important predictors of emotional distress in all the groups apart from the adults between 18-29 years, whereas difficulties related to external restrictions were one of the most significant predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms only in the youngest group. Conclusions. Our results indicate that the youngest adults and those experiencing difficulties in relationships among household members were the most vulnerable to depressive and generalized anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown. Thus, it is important to plan preventive and therapeutic interventions to support these at-risk individuals in dealing with the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic