Lack of relationship between 174G_C promoter polymorphism of the IL-6 gene and indices of metabolic syndrome in non-obese healthy subjects

Wstęp: W ostatnim czasie pojawiły się doniesienia na temat związku polimorfizmu 174G_C genu interleukiny 6 (IL-6) z wskaźnikami zespołu metabolicznego. Jednak problem ten nie był badany u osób z należną masą ciała. Celem opisanych badań było znalezienie związku między zawartością tkanki tłuszczowej brzusznej a wybranymi zapalnymi czynnikami ryzyka rozwoju miażdżycy i polimorfizmem 174G_C genu IL-6 u zdrowych osób z należną masą ciała. Materiał i metody: Badano związek między cechami antropometrycznymi, takimi jak: masa ciała, wzrost, wskaźnik masy ciała (BMI, body mass index), obwód talii, stosunek obwodu talii do obwodu bioder (WHR, waist-to-hip index), dystrybucja tkanki tłuszczowej (DXA), stężeniem białka C-reaktywnego (CRP, C-reactive protein) i IL-6 oraz wskaźnikami insulinowrażliwości/oporności a polimorfizmem 174G_C IL-6. Grupę badaną stanowiło 232 zdrowe nieotyłe kobiety (wiek 31,4 &#177; 5,5 lat) oraz 199 mężczyzn (wiek 30,3 &#177; 6,0 lat). Wyniki: Autorzy stwierdzili, że genotyp CC występował u 15,56%, CG u 52,74%, a GG u 31,7% badanych. Stężenia IL-6 i CRP nie różniły się pomiędzy genotypami. Nie było także różnic odnośnie BMI i WHR. Jedyne różnice pomiędzy genotypami, widoczne tylko w grupie mężczyzn dotyczyły całkowitej zawartości tkanki tłuszczowej (genotyp CC wykazywał większą zawartość tłuszczu niż CG i GG), różnica ta była istotna statystycznie między CC a GG (p < 0,05), oraz depozytu gynoidalnego (wyższe wartości u genotypu CC niż u CG i GG), różnica ta była istotna statystycznie między CC a GG (p < 0,025) oraz między CC i CG (p < 0,05). Parametry biochemiczne i wrażliwość na insulinę nie różniły się pomiędzy genotypami. Wnioski: Uzyskane wyniki wskazują na brak związku między polimorfizmem 174G_C IL-6 a zaburzeniami metabolicznymi u osób zdrowych z należną masą ciała.Introduction: Homozygosity for interleukin-6 (IL-6) 174G_C promoter polymorphism has recently been associated with indices of metabolic syndrome; however, this problem has not been investigated in non-obese subjects. The aim of this study was to explore the relation between abdominal fat distribution and some inflammatory risk factors of atheromatosis and IL-6 174G_C gene polymorphism in non-obese healthy subjects. Material and methods: Relationships were investigated between anthropometric variables, i.e. weight, height, BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat distribution (DXA), serum CRP and IL-6, insulin sensitivity/resistance indices, and IL-6 174G_C gene polymorphism, in healthy non-obese Polish subjects: 232 women (age 31.4 &#177; 5.5 years) and 199 men (age 30.3 &#177; 6.0 years). Results: The genetic study revealed that the CC genotype was observed in 15.56% of subjects, the CG genotype in 52.74%, and the GG genotype in 31.7%. IL-6 and CRP concentration did not differ among the genotypes. There were also no differences regarding BMI and WHR. The only differences among genotypes, observed only in men, were those concerning total fat (CC had higher fat content than CG and GG); the difference being statistically significant between CC and GG (p < 0.05), and gynoidal fat deposit (CC had higher gynoidal fat deposit than CG and GG); the difference being statistically significant between CC and GG (p < 0.025) and between CC and CG (p < 0.05). Biochemical parameters and insulin sensitivity did not differ among the genotypes. Conclusions: These data show that IL-6 174G_C polymorphism is not associated with features describing metabolic syndrome in nonobese healthy subjects

Historical water-powered ferrous metallurgy reconstructed from tree-rings and lacustrine deposits (Mała Panew basin, southern Poland)

According to historical sources in the basin of Mała Panew River there were at least 56 water- powered iron smelters from 14th–19th century. Now only two metallurgy plants work in the area. Many of the former smelting settlements ceased to exist. Historical data on the smelting industry in the area are often scarce. The aim of the study was to reconstruct the history of ferrous metallurgy from (1) the remains of wooden historical buildings, (2) remains of charcoal kilns and (3) deposits from former smelter pond. Results show that Regolowiec smelting settlement existed already in the 17th century (at least several decades earlier than historical written sources suggest) and was later repaired after destruction caused probably by floods. Charcoal used for iron smelting in the ironworks in Brusiek on the Mała Panew River was burnt at the turn of the 18th century. This is in accordance with historical sources indicating particular prosperity of the metallurgy in that period. Upstream of the ironworks in Brusiek in the first half of the 17th century a large pond existed flooding the floor of the Mała Panew valley. Study has shown that the pond was at least 100 years older than historical sources have indicated

The perceived and measured difficulty of texts and tasks in L1 and L2

The study investigates the effect of the perception of text and task difficulty on adults’ performance in reading tests in L1 and L2. The relationship between the following variables is studied: (a) readers’ perception of text and task difficulty in L1 and L2 measured in a self-reported post-task questionnaire, (b) the number of correct answers to the reading tasks, (c) time spent on the task in each language, (d) the number and mean duration of fixations on areas of interest assigned to texts and each of four different task instructions as measured by an eye tracker. The study shows that for readers at an intermediate level of L2, the perceived and measured text and task difficulty is higher for L2, which results in longer mean fixation durations and a higher number of fixation counts. Tasks placed lower on the difficulty scale based on the 7-point scale of reading ability by Khalifa and Weir (2009) are prone to be treated by readers as typical of a specific task format and receive less attention, which often leads to incorrect answers

PRZEGLĄD PIŚMIENNICTWA

Jan Róg, Przemiany w stosunkach polsko-czeskich na pograniczu (na przykładzie Śląska Opolskiego), Opole 1998, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Opolskiego, ss. 11

PRZEGLĄD PIŚMIENNICTWA

Jan Róg, Przemiany w stosunkach polsko-czeskich na pograniczu (na przykładzie Śląska Opolskiego), Opole 1998, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Opolskiego, ss. 11

Variations in antioxidant defense during the development of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis

International audienceAn efficient antioxidant system is of particular importance for insects whose high metabolic rates promote increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The amount of ROS can be additionally increased by environmental factors. This study investigates the ability of red mason bees (Osmia bicornis L.) to inactivate free radicals during insect development. Both male and female bees were studied, from the larval to the active imago stage. The activity of four antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase, was measured; and glutathione content and total antioxidant status were determined. The highest values of the examined parameters were found in feeding stages-in larvae and in active imagines of both genders. Significant differences between genders were noted mainly in catalase activity, which was lower in overwintering imagines and active females than in males. Most differences were observed between females and males after emergence

Association between Parity and Preterm Birth—Retrospective Analysis from a Single Center in Poland

Preterm births and parity are two medical areas that seem to be entirely different from each other. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between parity and maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with preterm birth. This study involved a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from St. Sophia Hospital in Warsaw (Poland). This study was conducted among women who gave birth to preterm infants between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021. A total of 2043 cases of preterm births were included in the final analysis. A higher odds ratio of preterm birth in primiparas was found in women living in a city/town (OR = 1.56) and having secondary (OR = 1.46) and higher education (OR = 1.82). Multiparas who gave birth to preterm infants were more frequently diagnosed with gestational diabetes (19.69%) than primiparas. Multiparas were more likely to give birth to preterm infants who received an Apgar score of ≤7 both at 1 and 5 min after birth (25.80% and 15.34%). The results of our study emphasize the differences between primiparas and multiparas who give birth to preterm infants. Knowledge of these differences is essential to improve the perinatal care provided to mothers and their infants

Creating theory out of yourself

A conversation by Szymon Adamczak, Joanna Bednarek, Monika Kwaśniewska, Anna Majewska, Katarzyna Słoboda and Ida Ślęzak: in the field of philosophy in Poland, women cannot reveal their emotions. Anyway, they are allowed less. Of course, no one is saying it outright, but admitting that your interests are not purely cognitive is risky. I have heard many times when an academic was called “crazy” behind her back, if she had a “too” personal approach to the theories she was dealing with. I suspect I was called that too, but you don’t have to be a feminist to deserve that name