Background: Pathologic changes in the superior cerebellar peduncles (SCP) are common in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), but atrophy of the SCP has never been systematically studied. Objective: To investigate the SCP width in PSP cases and controls with morphometric methods. Methods: The mean width of the SCP in transverse sections of the pons at the level of trigeminal nerve was determined in 48 PSP cases (29 men, 19 women; mean age 72.5 ± 8.2 years) and 29 age-matched control subjects, many with neurodegenerative disorders that can be clinically mistaken for PSP. As the origin of the SCP is the cerebellar dentate nucleus, correlations were sought between SCP atrophy and severity of grumose degeneration in the dentate nucleus. Results: The average width of the SCP was less in PSP (range 0.09 to 0.24 cm) than in controls (range 0.21 to 0.43 cm; Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.001), including control cases that had been clinically misdiagnosed as PSP (range 0.26 to 0.41 cm). Severity of SCP atrophy normalized by brain weight correlated with disease duration (Spearman rank order correlation, r = 0.367, p = 0.028), suggesting that SCP atrophy is a relatively early feature of PSP. No correlation was found between grumose degeneration and SCP width. Conclusions: SCP atrophy is common in PSP and correlates with disease duration. Given that measurements of the SCP are within the resolution of MRI, it remains to be determined if SCP atrophy can be used as a diagnostic marker of PSP.

Object: The object of this study was to assess the results of unilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) for management of advanced Parkinson disease (PD). Methods: A clinical series of 24 patients (mean age 71 years, range 56–80 years) with medically intractable PD, who were undergoing unilateral magnetic resonance imaging–targeted, electrophysiologically guided STN DBS, completed a battery of qualitative and quantitative outcome measures preoperatively (baseline) and postoperatively, using a modified Core Assessment Program for Intracerebral Transplantations protocol. The mean follow-up period was 9 months. Statistically significant improvement was observed in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part II score (18%), the total UPDRS PART III score (31%), the contralateral UPDRS Part III score (63%), and scores for axial motor features (19%), contralateral tremor (88%), rigidity (60%), bradykinesia (54%), and dyskinesia (69%), as well as the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life questionnaire score (15%) in the on-stimulation state compared with baseline. Ipsilateral symptoms improved by approximately 15% or less. Performance on the Purdue pegboard test improved in the contralateral hand in the on-stimulation state compared with the off-stimulation state (38%, p < 0.05). The daily levodopa-equivalent dose was reduced by 21% (p = 0.018). Neuropsychological tests revealed an improvement in mental flexibility and a trend toward reduced letter fluency. There were no permanent surgical complications. Of the 16 participants with symmetrical disease, five required implantation of the DBS unit on the second side. Conclusions: Unilateral STN DBS is an effective and safe treatment for selected patients with advanced PD. Unilateral STN DBS provides improvement of contralateral motor symptoms of PD as well as quality of life, reduces requirements for medication, and possibly enhances mental flexibility. This method of surgical treatment may be associated with a reduced risk and may provide an alternative to bilateral STN DBS for PD, especially in older patients or patients with asymmetry of parkinsonism.

In recent years, the widespread of microplastics in the food chain and environment became a topic of much research. This article focused on the knowledge and awareness of people with higher education levels—mostly young ones. The aim of this study is to analyze to what extent consumers know about and are aware of the source of microplastics, the level of exposure, and potential health hazards connected to the contamination of food and water with microplastics. The test group, consisting of 410 people, is mostly able to correctly characterize what microplastics mean and knows its sources. A majority of the group is aware of potential presence of microplastics in water; however, the knowledge about contamination of other elements of the environment seems to be gradually lowering. The majority of the people taking part in the research know that microplastic might be present in foods, and they are aware that after entering the human body, it might accumulate in internal organs. Moreover, when asked about potential health hazards, the group chose mostly tumors and gastrointestinal disorders, while disorders of the reproductive system were chosen less frequently. Consumers’ knowledge regarding the sources and health hazards of microplastics seems to be more common among women, in groups living in cities and among people who studied physics-related subjects and medicine.