The risk assessment for carotid atherosclerotic lesions involves not only determining the degree of stenosis but also plaque morphology and its composition. Recently, carotid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has gained importance for evaluating vulnerable plaques. This review explores CEUS’s utility in detecting carotid plaque surface irregularities and ulcerations as well as intraplaque neovascularization and its alignment with histology. Initial indications suggest that CEUS might have the potential to anticipate cerebrovascular incidents. Nevertheless, there is a need for extensive, multicenter prospective studies that explore the relationships between CEUS observations and patient clinical outcomes in cases of carotid atherosclerotic disease.

The availability of imaging methods has enabled increased detection of kidney lesions, which are a common clinical problem. It is estimated that more than half of patients over the age of 50 have at least one undetermined mass in the kidney. The appropriate characterization and diagnosis of lesions imaged in the kidney allows for proper therapeutic management. Previously, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used in their extended diagnosis. However, the limitations of these techniques, such as radiation exposure, renal toxicity, and allergies to contrast agents, must be considered. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is increasingly being used as an examination to resolve interpretive doubts that arise with other diagnostic methods. Indeed, it can be considered both as a problem-solving technique for diagnosing and distinguishing lesions and as a technique used for observation in preservative treatment. Evaluation of the enhancement curve over time on CEUS examination can help to differentiate malignant renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes that should be resected from benign lesions, such as oncocytoma or angiomyolipoma (AML), in which surgery can be avoided. It allows for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors, renal and pseudotumors, and solid and cystic tumors. Therefore, with recent advances in ultrasound technology, CEUS has emerged as a fast, reliable, and cost-effective imaging tool in the preoperative evaluation and diagnosis of solid renal masses.

BACKGROUND Oral diseases, though largely preventable, continue to affect billions of people worldwide and impose a significant economic burden. Global estimates from 2015 are over $350 billion in direct costs and nearly $190 billion in indirect costs to dental diseases, which disproportionately impact low-income and marginalized populations. Despite effective preventive measures such as fluoride application and minimally invasive dentistry, untreated dental caries remains the most common oral pathology. Left unmanaged, these conditions can lead to severe complications, including infective endocarditis and deep neck infections (DNIs), with systemic implications ranging from sepsis to cardiovascular events. CASE REPORT A 65-year-old man was admitted with malaise and neck stiffness. Laboratory analyses revealed leukocytosis, elevated procalcitonin, and D-dimer levels, although pulmonary embolism was excluded. The differential diagnosis included meningitis, severe osteoarthritis, and acute cervical spine inflammation. Empiric treatment with vancomycin and levofloxacin was initiated, while further evaluation with CT and contrast-enhanced MRI revealed extensive inflammation: a retropharyngeal abscess extending into the epidural space and compressing the spinal cord at the craniospinal junction. Initially, urosepsis was suspected due to catheterization challenges; however, urinary cultures were negative. A preoperative airway assessment led to a dental consultation, revealing extensive caries and poor oral hygiene. Multiple extractions confirmed an odontogenic source, but the patient ultimately developed sepsis from the abscess, leading to heart failure and death. CONCLUSIONS This case underscores the critical impact of neglected oral health and the necessity for timely dental intervention. It reinforces that early recognition and integrated oral-systemic healthcare are essential in preventing the progression of odontogenic infections into life-threatening complications.

Fatal familial insomia (FFI) is a dominant autosomal genetic prion disease characterised by progressive sleep impairment, autonomic nervous system disorders and motor symptoms associated with significant loss of nerve cells in the medial thalamic nuclei. Making a diagnosis of FFI requires the presence of a certain or probable recognised first-degree relative of the patient, together with neuropsychiatric disorders present. In turn, the detection of the PrP mutation allows the diagnosis to be definitively established. In addition, three other tests - polysomnography, brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid examination - can be helpful. Fatal familial insomnia is not a fully understood disease. Diagnosis is based on the presence of symptoms of the disease. An important step in diagnosis will be the development of non-invasive diagnostic tests that are reliable in the early and presymptomatic stages of the disease. Polysomnography, imaging studies (PET, SPECT) and cerebrospinal fluid examination should be improved and widely accepted.

Introduction. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, associated with selective loss of neurons in the substantia nigra. Parkinson’s disease revealed by motor and non-motor symptoms. Alternative therapies for cure non-motor symptoms are searched. One of them can be white light therapy, which is based on taking samples of light specified illuminance, time of day, period and head-to-light distance. Brief description of the state of knowledge. The purpose of white light therapy is stabilization of the circadian melatonin secretion and improvement of circadian rhythmicity. Morning white light exposure allows to accelerate the circadian rhythm and is effective in cure of depression disorders. In turn evening light exposure is used to delayed the circadian rhythm and treat early awaking insomnia. The effectiveness of treatment by white light therapy other neurological and neuropsychiatric disease as depression or sleep disorder is well-documented. Conclusions. White Light Therapy is a safe, easy to use, and inexpensive non-pharmacological treatment option with rare side effects. Research shows that light has a significant therapeutic effect on a broad spectrum of symptoms, such as tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, insomnia. However more evidence is needed to define specific dose of light for treatment non-motor symptoms Parkinson’s disease and the regime of its intake (length of irradiation, time of day, distance between the head and the light source).

Introduction. Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is one of the transmissible spongiform encephathalopathies characterized by neuronal loss, sleep impairment, subsequent non-specific disturbances of autonomic nervous system (e.g. tachycardia) and endocrine dysfunctions. It is fatal autosomal dominant prion disease, which is extremaly rare- FFI affects only about one person per milion annually. The aim of this study is to review the literature and systematize knowledge about fatal familial insomnia.Brief description of the state of knowledge. The causative agent of this disease is a misfolded version of the physiological prion protein called PrP(Sc) in the brain. Major vulnerable regions in FFI are mediodorsal and anterior ventral nuclei of the thalamus. Average survival time after the onset of symptoms is 18 months. Hence molecular mechanisms involved in pathogenesis are poorly understood, the disease is incureable yet. However, there are a number of therapeutic options currently under investigation, e.g. immunotherapy or doxycycline usage.Conclusions. Subsequent researches are essential to improve understending of fatal familial insomnia. The prime issue is to develop functioning therapeutic or preventive treatment. While some of presented terapeutic approches appers promising, all of them require profoud research.