Our goal was to determine the influence of sex, age and the head/brain size on the compartmental brain volumes in the radiologically verified healthy population (96 subjects; 54 women and 42 men) from the Upper Silesia region in Poland. The MRI examinations were done using 3T Philips Achieva with the same T1-weighted and T2-weighted protocols. The image segmentation procedures were performed with SPM (Statistical Parameter Mapping) and FSL-FIRST software. The volumes of 14 subcortical structures for the left and right hemispheres and 4 overall volumes were calculated. The General Linear Models (GLM) analysis was used with and without the Total Brain Volume (TBV) and Intracranial Volume (ICV) parameters as the covariates to study the regional vs. global brain atrophy. After the ICV/TBV adjustments, the majority of sex differences in the specific volumes of interest (VOIs) revealed to be linked to the difference in the head/brain size parameters. The analysis also confirmed the significant effect of the aging process on the brain loss. After the TBV adjustment, the age- and sex-related volumetric trends for the gray and white matter volumes were observed: the negative age dependence of the gray matter volume is more pronounced in the males, while in case of the white matter the positive age-related trend in the female group is weaker. The local losses of the left caudate nucleus and the right thalamus are more advanced than the global brain atrophy. Different head-size correction strategies are not interchangeable and may yield various volumetric results, but when used together, facilitate studies on the regional dependencies inherent to a healthy, but aging, brain.

Epilepsy in children is the most frequent, heterogeneous and difficult to classify chronic neurologic condition with the etiology found in 35–40% of patients. Our aim is to detect the metabolic differences between the epileptic children and the children with no neurological abnormalities in order to define the metabolic background for therapy monitoring. The studied group included 28 epilepsy patients (median age 12 months) examined with a diagnostic protocol including EEG, videoEEG, 24-hour-EEG, tests for inborn errors of metabolism, chromosomal analysis and molecular study. The reference group consisted of 20 patients (median age 20 months) with no neurological symptoms, no development delay nor chronic diseases. ¹H-NMR serum spectra were acquired on 400 MHz spectrometer and analyzed using multivariate and univariate approach with the application of correction for age variation. The epilepsy group was characterized by increased levels of serum N-acetyl-glycoproteins, lactate, creatine, glycine and lipids, whereas the levels of citrate were decreased as compared to the reference group. Choline, lactate, formate and dimethylsulfone were significantly correlated with age. NMR-based metabolomics could provide information on the dynamic metabolic processes in drug-resistant epilepsy yielding not only disease-specific biomarkers but also profound insights into the disease course, treatment effects or drug toxicity.

Melatonin may serve as a potential therapeutic free radical scavenger and broad-spectrum antioxidant. It shows neuroprotective properties against hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in animal models. The authors review the studies focusing on the neuroprotective potential of melatonin and its possibility of treatment after perinatal asphyxia. Melatonin efficacy, low toxicity, and ability to readily cross through the blood-brain barrier make it a promising molecule. A very interesting thing is the difference between the half-life of melatonin in preterm neonates (15 hours) and adults (45-60 minutes). Probably, the use of synergic strategies—hypothermia coupled with melatonin treatment—may be promising in improving antioxidant action. The authors discuss and try to summarize the evidence surrounding the use of melatonin in hypoxic-ischemic events in term and preterm babies.

The main aim of the study was to compare the melatonin rhythms in subjects with Angelman syndrome (n=9) and in children with (n=80) and without (n=40) epilepsy (nonepileptic patients diagnosed with peripheral nerve palsies, myopathy, and back pain) using our mathematical model of melatonin circadian secretion. The characteristics describing the diurnal hormone secretion such as minimum melatonin concentration, release amplitude, phase shift of melatonin release, and sleep duration as well as the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) of melatonin secretion and theγshape parameter allow analyzing the fit and deducing about how much the measured melatonin profile differs from a physiological bell-shaped secretion. The estimated sleep duration and phase shift of melatonin release as well as the DMLO offsets at 25% and 50% relative thresholds are the key characteristic of Angelman syndrome children. As revealed from theγshape parameter, the melatonin secretion profiles are disturbed in majority of the AG subjects revealing rather a triangular course instead of the bell-like one.

Purpose. The main objective of the study was to create a mathematical model that describes the melatonin circadian secretion and, then the functionality of the model was tested by a comparison of the melatonin secretions in children with and without epilepsy.Material and Methods. The patients were divided into the epilepsy group (EG,n=52) and the comparison group (CG,n=30). The melatonin level was assessed by a radioimmunoassay method. The diurnal melatonin secretion was described using a nonlinear least squares method. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was chosen to estimate the dependence of the acquired data. The model reproduces blood concentration profiles and its parameters were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test and logistic regression.Results. The correlation analysis performed for the EG and CG groups showed moderate correlations between age and the melatonin secretion model parameters. Patients with epilepsy are characterized by an increased phase shift of melatonin release.

Melatonin (MLT) was isolated as a hormone by Lerner in 1958, and since then, intense studies have been under way with respect to its action and possibilities of application in various fields of medicine. Despite the existence of multiple antiepileptic medications and progress that has taken place in neurosurgical treatment of epilepsy, drug-resistant epilepsy continues to be a phenomenon that occurs in 30–35% children treated for epileptic seizures. Reports presented in the study have shown that children with epilepsy suffer from sleep disorders. Sleep deprivation may cause seizures, and on the other hand, an increased frequency of seizures may lead to sleep disturbances.