Adropin in pregnancy complicated by hyperglycemia and obesity — a preliminary study

Objectives: According to the data, approximately 33–37% of women of reproductive age are obese. These numbers are reflected in the increasing number of complications in pregnancy, including gestational diabetes. The study aims to assess the concentrations of adropin in the course of gestational diabetes and their possible relationship with the occurrence of obstetric complications characteristic for it. Material and methods: The study included 65 obese and overweight pregnant patients (BMI > 27 kg/m2) with glycemic disorders diagnosed during pregnancy. Blood samples we collected during visits: V0 — the first half of pregnancy V1 — 28–32 weeks of gestation, and V2 — 37–39 weeks of gestation. The concentrations of adropin were measured during V1 and V2 by ELISA tests. We analyzed the studied patients' anthropometric, metabolic parameters and obstetrical results. Results: In the study group, at the visit V1, the mean level of adropin was 525.5 mmol/mL and 588.1 mmol/mL for the V2 visit. The comparison of adropin concentration between visits showed a statistically significant increase (p = 0.02). The concentration of adropin did not differ between obese and morbidly obese patients at V1, but at V2, there was a significant lover adropin level in morbidly obese patients. Conclusions: In overweight and obese pregnant patients with gestational diabetes, the levels of adropin in serum increased significantly in the last trimester of pregnancy. The increase in concentration was significantly lower in the morbidly obese patients than in the obese group. The study provides the basis for further analyses of the role of adropin in pregnancies complicated by obesity and gestational diabetes

Fetal growth trajectory in type 1 pregestational diabetes (PGDM) — an ultrasound study

Objectives: Growth disorders are frequent in diabetic pregnancies. However, they are difficult to predict and capture earlyduring pregnancy. These newborns are at risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. While developing, fetalgrowth abnormalities are typically progressive. Therefore, capturing the earliest moment when they emerge is essentialto guide subsequent obstetric management.Material and methods: We aimed to analyze fetal ultrasound growth trajectories in type 1 diabetics. Moreover, we aimedto establish time points when first ultrasound manifestations of fetal growth abnormalities appear and to identify factorsthat affect fetal growth in women with diabetes.We collected clinical and ultrasound data from 200 patients with PGDM managed in the third-referential centre for diabetesin pregnancy. During every visit, patients underwent an ultrasound examination according to a standard protocol giving1072 ultrasound scan’s records. Every ultrasound consisted of fetal weight estimation, according to the Hadlock 3 formula.Retrospectively patients were divided into three groups depending on neonatal weight. In the group of 200 patients,60 (30%) delivered LGA and 9 (4.5%) SGA newborns.Results: Fetal growth trajectories show different patterns among fetuses with growth abnormalities in women withtype 1 diabetes. The moment, when fetal growth curves diverge, seems to take place in the second trimester, just afterthe 23rd week of gestation.Conclusions: It suggests that fetal growth abnormalities in type 1 diabetes may have its roots much earlier than expected.In the first trimester, there were differences in LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and in insulin requirementsbetween AGA, SGA and LGA subgroups

Knowledge Absorption Capacity as a Factor for Increasing Logistics 4.0 Maturity

This research strives to show the importance of knowledge absorptive capacity as one of the most important determinants of successful implementation of contemporary solutions and, consequently, development of a company. In the approach presented, the development leads to excellence and is expressed with subsequent maturity levels. The research is focused on identification of the level of absorption of knowledge of contemporary solutions in logistics, grouped in a concept of Logistics 4.0, and how that upgrades the organizational maturity of a company. The research was conducted with CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview), including three questions and a basic query on experts’ qualifications. The general conclusion from the research was that to reach a higher level of maturity, a higher level of knowledge absorption is required. However, searching for differences in absorption of solutions within physical flows, information flows and managerial methods seem to be an interesting issue and promising field for further research

Physical activity, gestational weight gain in obese patients with early gestational diabetes and the perinatal outcome – a randomised–controlled trial

Abstract Background Excessive gestational weight gain, especially among women with gestational diabetes, is associated with several adverse perinatal outcomes. Our study aimed to analyse the impact of the use of pedometers to supervise physical activity on maternal health and the obstetric outcomes of pregnant women with obesity and early gestational diabetes. Methods 124 pregnant patients were enrolled in the presented research. Inclusion criteria: singleton pregnancy, age > 18 years, gestational diabetes diagnosed in the first half of pregnancy (< 20th week of pregnancy), obesity according to the American Endocrine Society criteria. Each patient was advised to take at least 5000 steps daily. Patients were randomly assigned to pedometers (N = 62), and were recommended to monitor daily the number of steps. The group without pedometers (N = 62) was not observed. Visit (V1) was scheduled between the 28th and 32nd gestational week (GW), and visit (V2) occurred between the 37th and 39th GW. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected from all patients at each appointment. Foetal and maternal outcomes were analysed at the end of the study. Results In the group supervised by pedometers, there were significantly fewer newborns with macrosomia (p = 0,03). Only 45% of patients satisfied the recommended physical activity guidelines. Patients who walked more than 5000 steps per day had significantly higher body weight at baseline (p = 0,005), but weight gain was significantly lower than in the group that did not exceed 5000 steps per day (p < 0,001). The perinatal outcome in the group of patients performing more than 5000 steps did not demonstrate significant differences with when compared to less active group. ROC curve for weight gain above the guidelines indicated a statistically substantial cut–off point for this group at the level of 4210 steps/day (p = 0.00001). Conclusions Monitoring the activity of pregnant patients with gestational diabetes and obesity by pedometers did not have a significantly impact on their metabolic control and weight gain. However, it contributed to less macrosomia. Furthermore, physical activity over 5,000 steps per day positively affects weight loss, as well as contributes to improved obstetric and neonatal outcomes

Additional file 1 of Physical activity, gestational weight gain in obese patients with early gestational diabetes and the perinatal outcome – a randomised–controlled trial

Supplementary Material

Back to the Eneolithic: Exploring the Rudki-type ornaments from Poland

© 2019, The Author(s). For a long time, the Eneolithic attribution of the Rudki-type double spiral ornaments was contested by a wide academic audience, and therefore, this new and extraordinary category of the copper metalwork seemed to have fallen into scientific oblivion. In this paper, we contribute to the debate about cultural attribution of the Rudki-type double spiral ornaments considering their chemical and isotope characteristics (using ED XRF and MC-ICP-MS) and the manufacturing technology (OM, X-ray, CT). Noticeably, this study represents the first documented implementation of the lead isotope analysis (LIA) for the Eneolithic metalwork from Poland. The new scientific analyses give ground to the hypothesis that the Rudki-type double spiral ornaments were produced by the Baden culture metalworker(s) who practiced somewhere in the Carpathian Basin and who have used copper ore mined in the Slovak Ore Mountains (Špania Dolina–Banská Bystrica–Kremnica mine complex). These ornaments were redistributed towards the northern ecumene of the Baden culture complex. The new owners, the Funnel Beaker (TRB) culture communities from the region of modern Poland, deposited the ornaments in hoards (Kałdus, Przeuszyn and Rudki) during the mid-4th millennium BC. The results, furthermore, indicate that the so-called Baden spiral metalwork package must be now complemented by the Rudki-type double spiral ornaments. Remarkably, this package also found an echo in pottery decoration, as documented by a narrative scene incised on an amphora from Kałdus, which could be also interpreted as one of the earliest known proofs for the wagon transport in Europe, alongside the famous ones reported from Bronocice or Flintbek.status: publishe