Mean daily plasma concentrations of β-endorphin, leu-enkephalin, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEAS in epileptic patients with complex partial seizures evolving to generalized tonic-clonic seizures

Introduction: A multitude of mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Objective: To assess mean daily plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, DHEAS, leu-enkephalin, and beta-endorphin in epileptic patients with complex partial seizures evolving to tonic-clonic in relation to frequency of seizure occurrence (groups with seizure occurrences - several per week and several per year) and duration of the disease (groups less than and more than 10 years). We decided to analyse mean daily values of beta-endorphin and leu-enkephalin because of significant differences in concentrations of these substances in blood during the day. Material and methods: The study was performed on 17 patients (14 males + 3 females; mean age 31.8 yrs) treated with carbamazepine (300-1800 mg/day). The control group consisted of six age-matched healthy volunteers. Blood was collected at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m., and 2 a.m. Intergroup analysis was performed with the use of ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Mean daily concentrations of ACTH and cortisol in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in comparison with those of the healthy volunteers, independently of the frequency of seizures and duration of the disease. Mean daily concentrations of beta-endorphin in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in the groups of patients with more severe clinical course of disease (with more frequently occurring epilepsy seizures and longer duration of the disease) in comparison with healthy subjects. Mean daily concentrations of leu-enkephalin in the blood of the patients with epilepsy were higher in the group of patients with short duration of the disease in comparison with the group with long duration of the disease. Conclusions: 1. Pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity is observed in patients with clinically active epilepsy, independently of the frequency of seizures and duration of the disease. 2. Changes in endogenous opioid system activity are related to the clinical activity of epilepsy - beta-endorphin concentrations are connected with frequency of seizures and duration of the disease and leu-enkephalin concentrations with duration of the disease. 3. Endogenous opioid peptides might take part in the neurochemical mechanism of human epilepsy. (Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 103-110)Wstęp: W patofizjologii padaczki uczestniczy nieokreślona ilość mechanizmów. Celem pracy była ocena średniodobowych osoczowych stężeń ACTH, kortyzolu, DHEAS, leu-enkefaliny and β-endorfiny u chorych na padaczkę z napadami częściowymi, złożonymi i wtórnie uogólnionymi, toniczno-klonicznymi w zależności od częstości napadów (grupy z częstością napadów - kilka na tydzień i kilka na rok) i od czasu trwania choroby (grupy 10 lat). Autorzy zdecydowali się na analizę średniodobowych wartości β-endorfiny i leu-enkefaliny z powodu wyraźnych różnic w ich stężeniu we krwi w ciągu doby. Materiał i metody: Badanie przeprowadzono u 17 chorych (14 mężczyzn i 3 kobiety; średni wiek 31,8 lat) leczonych karbamazepiną (300-1800 mg/dzień). Grupa kontrolna składała się z 6 zdrowych ochotników w porównywalnym wieku. Krew pobierano o godzinie 8, 14, 20, 2. W analizie międzygrupowej wykorzystano test ANOVA Kruskala-Wallisa. Wyniki: Średniodobowe stężenia ACTH i kortyzolu we krwi chorych na padaczkę były wyższe w porównaniu ze zdrowymi niezależnie od częstości napadów i czasu trwania choroby. Średniodobowe stężenia β-endorfiny we krwi chorych na padaczkę były wyższe w grupach pacjentów z ciężkim przebiegiem klinicznym choroby (z wysoką częstością napadów i długim czasem trwania choroby) w porównaniu ze zdrowymi. Średniodobowe stężenia leu-enkefaliny we krwi chorych na padaczkę były wyższe w grupie pacjentów z krótkim czasem trwania choroby w porównaniu z grupą z długim czasem trwania choroby. Wnioski: 1. U chorych na padaczkę, niezależnie od częstości napadów i czasu trwania choroby, dochodzi do wzmożonej aktywności osi przysadkowo- nadnerczowej. 2. Zmiany w aktywności endogennego układu opioidowego są związane z kliniczną aktywnością padaczki - stężenia β-endorfiny pozostają w związku z częstością napadów i czasem trwania choroby, a stężenia leu-enkefaliny z czasem trwania choroby. 3. Endogenne peptydy opioidowe mogą uczestniczyć w neurochemicznym mechanizmie padaczki u ludzi. (Endokrynol Pol 2010; 61 (1): 103-110

Simulator for analysis cyber threats to RFID based system

The paper addresses the issues of attacks in cyberspace from the local perspective of computer network and IoT devices of RFID based office system. The rapid development in IT technology has constantly brought out revolutionary changes in the area of office services. The very promising technology for automatic identification is RFID that has changed the manual scenario of office tasks to computerized automated services. However, RFID based systems are vulnerable to various cyberattacks, from simple passive eavesdropping to well-known denial of service (DoS). One of the methods for the analysis of threats is computer modelling and simulation. M&S gives the possibility of quantitative and qualitative analysis as well as forecasting. As a part of the work, the original Java-based discrete simulation package has been developed. The simulation model and relevant software was implemented to simulate DoS attack on a protected server in restricted access administrative office. In contrast to most of existing simulation tools in the field of cyberspace, the simulation package has been designed to model and simulate heterogeneous devices which behaviours might be modified by programming Groovy/Python scripts

Simulator for testing hardware and software of the office system with RFID tags

This paper presents the method for examining the properties of the RFID-tagged document management system. The system is composed of computers, where the software for supporting processes of the RFID-tagged documents was installed. Furthermore, the system cooperates with many other elements of the office (cabinets, sluices, copiers, try rider, end so one). The examination of the properties of the RFID-tagged document management system is, in this case, complex due to the number of a possible examination scenarios. The simulator method for examining the system properties was design and implemented. It allows to conduct the examination of the properties in a short period of time for numerous testing scenarios

Simulator for testing hardware and software of the office system with RFID tags

This paper presents the method for examining the properties of the RFID-tagged document management system. The system is composed of computers, where the software for supporting processes of the RFID-tagged documents was installed. Furthermore, the system cooperates with many other elements of the office (cabinets, sluices, copiers, try rider, end so one). The examination of the properties of the RFID-tagged document management system is, in this case, complex due to the number of a possible examination scenarios. The simulator method for examining the system properties was design and implemented. It allows to conduct the examination of the properties in a short period of time for numerous testing scenarios

Computer support services of contamination threats analysis and alarming in WAZkA system for Polish KSWSiA

The article outlines a concept for the system supporting analyses of threats related to contamination and alarming (WAZkA), for the purpose of the National System for Detection of Contamination and Alarming (Krajowy System Wykrywania Skażeń i Alarmowania, KSWSiA) in Poland. The selected modules included in the WAZkA system: Event Tree Analyzer, visualization module and emulators of the threats monitoring systems, were described as well as the idea of using the system for the purpose of training, including the designed emulators of the risk monitoring systems together with the scenario editor. Keywords: CBRN threats, contamination hazard analysis and alerting support system, CBRN threats monitoring systems integration, alerting and warning systems integration, event tree

Computer support services of contamination threats analysis and alarming in WAZkA system for Polish KSWSiA

The article outlines a concept for the system supporting analyses of threats related to contamination and alarming (WAZkA), for the purpose of the National System for Detection of Contamination and Alarming (Krajowy System Wykrywania Skażeń i Alarmowania, KSWSiA) in Poland. The selected modules included in the WAZkA system: Event Tree Analyzer, visualization module and emulators of the threats monitoring systems, were described as well as the idea of using the system for the purpose of training, including the designed emulators of the risk monitoring systems together with the scenario editor. Keywords: CBRN threats, contamination hazard analysis and alerting support system, CBRN threats monitoring systems integration, alerting and warning systems integration, event tree