S u m m a r y B a c k g r o u n d .Postural stability is widely recognized as one of the main determinants of the functional efficiency of a person's capability. It changes during ontogenesis and undergoes deterioration with age. Posturographic techniques enable the analysis of body sway and are used to obtain objective and quantitative data about postural equilibrium. Posturographic test results carried out in healthy subjects allow the analysis of the postural stability results obtained in institutions that do not have the possibility of testing healthy people as controls. M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s . This study was conducted among 126 subjects aged between 50 and 97, each of which devoid of neurological, motor and metabolic diseases.Postural balance was evaluated using a static force platform (PROMED -Legionowo) which measures degree of sway, total path length, path length in the antero-posterior plane, path length in medio-lateral plane and the "coordination" parameter. Each subject was tested in three different test conditions: eyes open, eyes closed and biofeedback. The Kruskall -Wallis tests were used to investigate the effect of age on values from force platform balance tests.R e s u l t s . An age related increase in sway area, total path length, path length in antero-posterior plane, path length in medio-lateral plane was observed in the eyes open test, eyes closed test and in the biofeedback test. The "Coordination" parameter from the biofeedback test decreased with age, achieving the lowest value at ages 60 and above. Kruskall -Wallis test indicated a significant effect of age on posturographic parameters.C o n c l u s i o n s . The results of the study provide normative values for the force platform balance tests at ages 50 and above. Significantly higher values in sway area, total path length, path length in the antero-posterior plane, path length in medio-lateral plane and the worsening of visualmotor coordination in subjects of ages 60 years and above were observed. It suggests that there is a deterioration of the postural control mechanisms during the aging process. Therefore, force platform balance tests are relevant to assess the systematic weakening of the postural control mechanism from age 60 onwards.S t r e s z c z e n i e Stabilność posturalna oceniana była przy użyciu zestawu posturograficznego (PROMED -Legionowo), który wyznacza wielkość pola statokinezjogramu, długość statokinezjogramów, amplitudy jednokierunkowych wychyleń w płasz-czyźnie strzałkowej i płaszczyźnie czołowej oraz parametru "koordynacja". U każdej osoby przeprowadzono standardowy zestaw testów składający się z badania przy oczach otwartych, przy oczach zamkniętych oraz badania kordynacji wzrokowo-ruchowej w teście sprzężenia zwrotnego. Przeprowadzony został test ANOVA Kruskala-Wallisa mający na celu określenie wpływu wieku na wartości parametrów posturograficznych. W y n i k i . W badaniu przy oczach otwartych, zamkniętych i w sprzężeniu zwrotnym zaobserwowano wzrost wartości pola statokinezjogramu, długości ...

Botulinum toxin (BoTx) is a product of gram-positive anaerobic bacteria of the Clostridium genus. At present, seven serotypes (A to G) of BoTx have been identified. Each of them functions as a zinc-dependent endopeptidase that hydrolyzes peptide bonds within soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attaching protein receptors. BoTx affects proteins required for neurotransmitter release through presynaptic membranes. As a result, muscle weakness develops, or complete paralysis of the muscles occurs. These effects are not only limited to striated muscles but also may have impact on smooth muscles and secretory glands. The observation that BoTx can diffuse from the site of administration may indicate the possibility of direct or indirect influence of the toxin on the CNS. Consequently, the question arises: What is the mechanism of the central action of BoTx? Several mechanisms of such action have been proposed. However, recent findings showed that the most probable mechanism responsible for the central effects of BoTx action is its anterograde transport. In this review, we describe and discuss the most important aspects related to BoTx action on the CNS.

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a complex anxiety disorder induced by a stress factor. It is believed that this fear conditioning impairment may be crucial to PTSD development. Stress induced electrophysiological and neurohormonal changes within the hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex or locus coeruleus may impair other regional functions of the central nervous system like suprachiasmatic nuclei functions. Furthermore, the activation of llocus coeruleus or its impact on the activity of superchiasmatic nuclei may influence the circadian rhythm. The influence of stress factor on the hypothalamus – pituitary – adrenal gland axis (HPA) activity is well documented. Also PTSD accompanied changes of the HPA axis are well known. Unfortunately, due to methodological problems, the evaluation of stress induced HPA axis circadian rhythm changes is limited. Another physiological parameter, characterised by circadian rhythm is body temperature. Stress factor exposure induced a strong decrease in the daily rhythm amplitude during day/night cycles in the animal model of PTSD. Described disturbances to the rhythm was suprachiasmatic nuclei activity independent.