Speech disfluencies in Parkinson's disease Zaburzenia płynności mówienia w chorobie Parkinsona

Abstract Introduction: Even though speech disfluency is listed in the clinical description of Parkinson's disease (PD), its nature, intensity, symptomatology, and the effect on verbal communication have not hitherto been defined. Aim of the research: The research paper presents the results of studies aimed at the description of speech disfluencies in PD and the influence on verbal communication. Material and methods: The tests involved 10 patients from 54 to 72 years of age with documented PD, responsive to L-dopa preparations. The principal method of the study was based on the linguistic analysis of the utterances produced by the people with PD. Results: The intensity of the speech disfluency observed in the utterances of persons with PD ranged from 6.6% to 23.0%, so it was significantly higher than that which is assumed as acceptable (3-5%); the speaking rate of the examined persons ranged from 0.7 syllabes (syl.)/s to 4.0 syl./s, and only 2 examined persons spoke with a rate considered to be correct (4-6 syl./s). This demonstrates that speech disfluency is a communication barrier in PD. Conclusions: The absence of differentiation in the speech disfluency (SD) severity between different types of verbal utterances (difference not statistically significant) and a specified hierarchy of SD symptoms indicate that the speech disfluency in PD has an essentially organic background and is generated by cognitive, linguistic, and motor deficits resulting from the damage to the central nervous system. This is also confirmed by the established hierarchy of utterances with respect to the SD intensity, not excluding the simultaneous participation of the emotional factor

Speech disfluencies in Parkinson’s disease

Introduction : Even though speech disfluency is listed in the clinical description of Parkinson’s disease (PD), its nature, intensity, symptomatology, and the effect on verbal communication have not hitherto been defined. Aim of the research: The research paper presents the results of studies aimed at the description of speech disfluencies in PD and the influence on verbal communication. Material and methods : The tests involved 10 patients from 54 to 72 years of age with documented PD, responsive to L-dopa preparations. The principal method of the study was based on the linguistic analysis of the utterances produced by the people with PD. Results: The intensity of the speech disfluency observed in the utterances of persons with PD ranged from 6.6% to 23.0%, so it was significantly higher than that which is assumed as acceptable (3–5%); the speaking rate of the examined persons ranged from 0.7 syllabes (syl.)/s to 4.0 syl./s, and only 2 examined persons spoke with a rate considered to be correct (4–6 syl./s). This demonstrates that speech disfluency is a communication barrier in PD. Conclusions : The absence of differentiation in the speech disfluency (SD) severity between different types of verbal utterances (difference not statistically significant) and a specified hierarchy of SD symptoms indicate that the speech disfluency in PD has an essentially organic background and is generated by cognitive, linguistic, and motor deficits resulting from the damage to the central nervous system. This is also confirmed by the established hierarchy of utterances with respect to the SD intensity, not excluding the simultaneous participation of the emotional factor

Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness

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. Materials and method. 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

Anti-inflammatory effect on genes expression after four days of Qigong training in peripheral mononuclear blood cells in healthy women

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. Materials and method. 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 CPTTM) 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. Conclusion. 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