Psychophysiological features of somatosensory disorders in victims of the Chernobyl accident

Author: Loganovsky K.N.

Reference: Fiziol Cheloveka. — 2003. — Vol. 29, № 1. — P. 122–130.

Keywords: Chernobyl, Afghanistan, PTSD, Somatosensory evoked potentials

Abstract: Participants of the Chernobyl clean-up (n = 145) teams exposed to radiation doses from 0.05 to 3.5 Gy who had for the first time complained of pathologic somatosensory sensations (ostealgic syndrome), 20 healthy subjects, and 50 veterans of the war in Afghanistan with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined by a neuropsychiatrist and presented with the MMPI test. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were recorded. Paresthesia and cenesthopathy were characteristic of the participants of the Chernobyl clean-up. Sensation disorders of the cerebral type, kinesthetic illusions, cenesthopathic hypochondriac disorders, and paroxysmal psychosensory states predominated in this group of subjects. They differed significantly from the veterans with PTSD in markedly increased scores on MMPI scales (hypochondriasis, schizophrenia, pure hypochondriasis, pure schizophrenia, emotional exclusion, and perception oddity), which closely correlated with clinical somatosensory symptoms. In clean-up workers, somatosensory disorders were significantly associated with hypochondriac and schizophrenic-like symptoms. The latencies (LPs) of main SSEP components—N20, P25, N140, P300, and N400—were increased and their amplitudes decreased in subjects exposed to radiation. Their SSEPs had significant topographical deviations in the left temporoparietal area: the contralateral LPs were increased, whereas the contralateral amplitudes of the thalamocortical N20 component and the cortical P25 component were decreased as compared to normal values. Somatosensory disorders and hypochondriac and schizophrenic symptoms were significantly correlated with changes in the SSEPs. The decrease in the N20 amplitude and increase in the P25 latency in the left temporoparietal area were dose-dependent. The results suggest cerebral rather than peripheral origin of ostealgic syndrome and other somatosensory disorders in the participants of the Chernobyl clean-up. These disorders are associated with radiation-induced dysfunction of the corticolimbic structures of the left—dominant—hemisphere. It is suggested that somatosensory disorders in patients exposed to low doses of radiation can be considered as manifestations of chronic fatigue syndrome /fibromyalgia, whereas schizoform organic brain lesions manifest themselves after exposure to a radiation dose of 0.3–0.5 Gy.

URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1022069022557#

Intelligence and brain damage in children acutely irradiated in utero as a result of the Chernobyl accident

Author: A.I. Nyagu, K.N. Loganovsky, T.K. Loganovskaja et al.

Reference: KURRI-KR-79. — Recent Research Activities about the Chernobyl NPP Accident in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia / T. Imanaka (Ed.). — Kyoto: Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, 2002. — P. 202–230

Keywords: neurophysiology, neuropsychiatry, prenatal exposure, behavioral and emotional disorders

Abstract: The objective of the study was psychometric, neurophysiological and neuropsychiatric characterisation of acutely prenatally irradiated children. 100 randomly selected children who were in utero (born between April 26th, 1986 and February 26th, 1987) at the time of the Chernobyl accident and their mothers evacuated to Kiev as well as 100 classmates of the children were examined by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), electroencephalography (EEG) and clinical methods at the age of 10–12 years old. Foetal doses in the acutely exposed group were 11–92 mSv, in the comparison group — 0–3 mSv; foetal thyroid doses — 0.2–2 Gy and 0–0.04 Gy, respectively. The acutely exposed group showed a lower mean verbal IQ than in the comparison group (105.3±13.1 vs.118.1±13; p < .001) and a lower mean full scale IQ (112.1±15.4 vs. 120.9±11.5; p < .001). In addition the followings were observed in the acutely exposed group; WISC performance/verbal discrepancies with verbal decrements; a higher frequency of low-voltage and epileptiformal EEG-patterns and left hemisphere lateralised dysfunction; an increase (p < .001) of δ- and β-power and a decrease (p < .001) of θ- and α-power; an increased frequency of paroxysmal and organic mental disorders, somatoform autonomic dysfunction, disorders of psychological development, and behavioural and emotional disorders. Cerebral dysfunction was etiologically heterogeneous. This study suggests that prenatal irradiation at a thyroid foetal dose range of 0.2–2 Gy and a foetal dose of 11–92 mSv can result in detectable brain damage.

URL: http://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/NSRG/reports/kr79/KURRI-KR-79.htm

Late complications in childhood central nervous system tumour survivors (English)

Author: Anderson N.E.

Reference: Curr. Opin. Neurol. — 2003. — Vol. 16, № 6. — P. 677–683.

Keywords: childhood brain tumour, Cognitive complication, endocrine dysfunction

Abstract:

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: As the treatment of childhood brain tumours has improved, long-term survival has become more common. Cognitive, physical and psychological complications of the tumour and its treatment have been recognized more frequently in long-term survivors. This review highlights new studies on the cognitive and endocrine complications in survivors. Less-common late effects of treatment are also discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS: Cognitive abnormalities and endocrine dysfunction are the most common complications in long-term survivors. Radiotherapy is the main cause of cognitive dysfunction, but intrathecal methotrexate and surgery are contributory factors. New studies have provided information on the frequency of endocrine complications and risk factors for the development of endocrine disorders. Endocrine complications are uncommon when the tumour has been treated with surgery alone. The risk of developing endocrine dysfunction is increased by radiotherapy, and some studies suggest that chemotherapy has an additional deleterious effect. Primary hypothyroidism may be caused by scattered irradiation from spinal and cranial radiotherapy. Direct involvement of the hypothalamus by the tumour, and hypothalamic damage secondary to surgery or radiotherapy, may cause obesity. Hypothalamic tumours also may be associated with hypersomnolence and other features consistent with narcolepsy. The pathogenesis of hypersomnolence in these patients has not been resolved. Long-term childhood brain-tumour survivors are 40 times more likely to develop a stroke than sibling controls. Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system can develop many years after curative treatment of a cerebellar tumour, but effective treatment for this disorder is not yet available.

SUMMARY: An attempt to understand the factors that contribute to the long-term morbidity of childhood brain tumours can lead to changes in treatment that improve the quality of life in survivors. Prevention, early recognition and treatment of these complications are attainable goals.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14624076

Structural and dynamical characteristics of organic brain damage in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (clinical follow-up study).

Author: O.A. Rebenok

Reference: Diss.doc.med.sci. 1999

URL: http://disser-lib.com.ua/dissertations/show/73095/

Structural cerebral basis of disorder of the functional state of the brain in Chernobyl liquidators

Author: Loganovsky K.M., Bomko M.O.

Reference: Медичні наслідки аварії на ЧАЕС (Health effects of the Chernobyl accident), 2007

Abstract: No information on web. ・For detailed information on the article contact the National Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine of Ukraine. The center’s home page is: http://www.national.rcrm.net.ua/index.php/en/

Whether low doses of ionizing radiation affect the human brain?

Author: K.N. Loganovsky

Reference: Український медичний часопис (Ukrainian Medical Magazine), 2009

Keywords: ionizing radiation, low doses, Chernobyl accident, brain, radiosensitivity, radiocerebral effects, exposure in utero.

Abstract: The aim is to analyze the current evidences on radiocerebral effects following exposure to 20 mSv on fetus and >300 mSv on thyroid in utero; 16–25 weeks — >10 mSv and >200 mSv, respectively. A life span study should be done for the cohort of prenatally irradiated persons as a result of the Chernobyl accident,as well as those exposed at the age of 0–1 years. These survivors are under increased risk of different neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Radiation exposure in childhood is obviously associated with dose-related cognitive decline in adulthood and neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, later in life. The possible dose thresholds of delayed radiation brain damage are the doses as low as 0.1–1.3 Gy on the brain in childhood. In adults, the radiation-associated cerebrovascular effects were obtained at >0.15–0.25 Sv. Dose-related neuropsychiatric, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging abnormalities following exposure to >0.3 Sv, neurophysiological and neuroimaging radiation markers at doses >1 Sv were revealed. Postradiation brain damage is predominantly localized in the frontal-temporal areas of the left hemisphere and involves both white and gray matter of the brain. The cerebral structural and functional abnormalities after irradiation are characteristic as frontal and temporal cortex atrophy, changes of subcortical structures and neuronal pathways, mainly in the dominant hemisphere. Adulthood radiation exposure is the risk factor for the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as the predisposition for neurodegeneration, cognitive deficit and other neuropsychiatric disorders development, accelerating CNS ageing, as well as the new model of schizophrenia. Studies on radiation neuropsychiatric effects should be realized.

URL: http://www.umj.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/archive/71/pdf/1440_rus.pdf?upload

VERIFICATION OF ORGANIC BRAIN DAMAGE IN REMOTE PERIOD OF ACUTE RADIATION SICKNESS

Author: Loganovsky K N, Kovalenko A N, Yuryev K L, Bomko Maria A, Antipchuk Ekaterina Yu, Denisyuk N V, Zdorenko Leonid L, Rossokha A P, Chorny A I, Dubrovina G V

Reference: Український медичний часопис (Ukrainian Medical Magazine), 2003

Keywords: organic brain damage, clinical neuropsychiatric, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging surveys

Abstract: The problem of verification of organic brain damage in remote period of acute radiation sickness (ARS) is of a great significance due to the radiovulnerability of the brain is still at issue. The goal of the study was to verify the organic brain damage in remote period of ARS by clinical neuropsychiatric, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging surveys of cerebral structural and functional abnormalities. The endophormous (apathetic) postradiation brain organic syndrome (encephalopathy) is compressed by microfocal neurological signs, personality disorders, negative psychopathological symptoms, depression and cognitive deficit. The structural and functional brain damage involving the frontal lobes and the left temporal lobe together with their cortico-subcortical connections and deep brain structures were revealed by neuropsychological investigation. There were dominating EEG-patterns as follows: the disorganized with predominance of a- and big spectral power of slow activity EEG-pattern and low-voltage polymorphous EEG-pattern with predominance of d- and b-power. Atherosclerotic changes, hypertensive vessel tonus, interhemispheric asymmetry of blood supply (decreased in the left hemisphere), as well as high frequency of stenos were the causes of cerebral haemodynamics disorders. Brain structural pathology revealed by magnetic-resonance imaging, predominantly, brain atrophy, enlargement of ventricula, and lacunar brain abnormalities, supported the cerebro-organic nature of the disorders. Thus, the organic brain damage in remote period of ARS has been verified by clinical neuropsychiatric.

URL: http://www.umj.com.ua/article/1029/verifikaciya-organichnogo-urazhennya-golovnogo-mozku-u-viddalenij-period-gostroi-promenevoi-xvorobi

Structural-functional characteristics of organic brain disorder of the Liquidators of the Chernobyl accident, in the remote period after exposure

Author: M.O. Bomko

Reference: dissert.cand.med.sci., Kiev, 2005

Keywords: remote period, organic brain damage, MR, ARS

Abstract: The current work is in the frame of the government’s complex project for the liquidation of the aftermaths of Chernobyl and social protection of people, in the field of neurology. Purpose of the study: To identify structural and functional cerebral bases in remote period of exposure in the dose range 0,05-4,7 Sv and to verify organic brain damage in the Chernobyl liquidators.

For the first time a quantitative analysis of MR images in the Chernobyl liquidators, including persons who have been diagnosed with ARS, with organic brain damage in remote period exposure in the dose range 0,05-4,7 Sv, is conducted.

URL: http://librar.org.ua/sections_load.php?s=medicine&id=6920