Brood hiding test: a new bioassay for behavioral and neuroethological ant research

We describe a new bioassay for behavioral and neuroethological ant research, the brood hiding test. A group of adult ants is taken out of the nest, confined together with brood and exposed to strong light. Ants may interact with brood, and, in particular, transport it to the provided shadowed area. The brood hiding test may be accompanied by administration of neuroactive compounds and/or by measurements of their levels in the brain and/or in specific brain structures. During pilot tests with workers of Formica polyctena the values of the score quantifying ant behavior were positively correlated with the group size

The effect of antioxidants on photoreactivity and phototoxic potential of RPE melanolipofuscin granules from human donors of different age

One of the most prominent age-related changes of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the accumulation of melanolipofuscin granules, which could contribute to oxidative stress in the retina. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of melanolipofuscin granules from younger and older donors to photogenerate reactive oxygen species, and to examine if natural antioxidants could modify the phototoxic potential of this age pigment. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry, EPR-spin trapping, and time-resolved detection of near-infrared phosphorescence were employed for measuring photogeneration of superoxide anion and singlet oxygen by melanolipofuscin isolated from younger and older human donors. Phototoxicity mediated by internalized melanolipofuscin granules with and without supplementation with zeaxanthin and α-tocopherol was analyzed in ARPE-19 cells by determining cell survival, oxidation of cellular proteins, organization of the cell cytoskeleton, and the cell specific phagocytic activity. Supplementation with antioxidants reduced aerobic photoreactivity and phototoxicity of melanolipofuscin granules. The effect was particularly noticeable for melanolipofuscin mediated inhibition of the cell phagocytic activity. Antioxidants decreased the extent of melanolipofuscin-dependent oxidation of cellular proteins and disruption of the cell cytoskeleton. Although melanolipofuscin might be involved in chronic phototoxicity of the aging RPE, natural antioxidants could partially ameliorate these harmful effects

Endovascular treatment of middle cerebral artery aneurysms : single-centre results

Purpose: The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is the second most common location of intracerebral aneurysms. Traditionally, they are treated by microsurgical clipping, but with the development of new techniques and devices endovascular embolisation is gaining more importance. The aim of this study was to summarise six years of experience of our department in endovascular treatment of MCA aneurysms. Material and methods: Forty patients with 41 MCA aneurysms treated in a single centre were included in this study. Data on patients' comorbidities, aneurysm morphology, and treatment course were collected, with special emphasis on complications. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in terms of aneurysm morphology between males and females and between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. None of the diseases analysed in the current study were linked with significantly increased risk of SAH. Unruptured aneurysms were significantly more frequently treated by stent-assisted coiling (30.4% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.0388) than were ruptured aneurysms, while ruptured aneurysms were treated more frequently by coiling alone (77.8% vs. 34.8%, p = 0.0062). After an initial course of treatment 63.4% (n = 26) of patients had class I in Raymond-Roy occlusion classification, 22% (n = 9) had class II, and 14.6% (n = 6) had class III. Complications of the procedure were observed in 17.5% (n = 7) of patients: 22.2% (n = 4) with ruptured and 13.6% (n = 3) with unruptured aneurysms. Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of MCA aneurysms is feasible, and our results are convergent with other studies. Ruptured MCA aneurysms may be treated endovascularly with similar effects as unruptured MCA aneurysms. The complication rate of such treatment is low

Towards a unified approach to detection of faults and cyber-attacks in industrial installations

© 2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting /republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other worksThis paper investigates enhancing the ability to detect cyber-attacks by using information and methods related to fault detection. An experimental stand, and an associated simulator have been constructed to enable tests of combined cyber attacks and faults in industrial processes, and, possibly, to distinguish between them. Some scenarios of cyber attacks have been presented, analysed theoretically and then tested on the simulator, demonstrating that detection of cyber attacks by this method is possible.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Postępowanie fizjoterapeutyczne a jakość życia pacjentów objętych opieką długoterminową

Wstęp: Znaczenie fizjoterapii w poprawie jakości życia pacjentów objętych stacjonarną opieką długoterminową nie jest jeszcze do końca poznane. Celem badania była ocena jakości życia i stanu funkcjonalnego pacjentów objętych opieką długoterminową w odniesieniu do prowadzonej rehabilitacji. Projekt badawczy: badanie przekrojowe Materiał i metody: Badanie przeprowadzono w grupie 58 osób. Do zebrania danych wykorzystano kwestionariusz dotyczący rehabilitacji, skalę Barthel, skalę VAS oraz kwestionariusz WHOQOL-Bref. Wyniki: Stan funkcjonalny oceniono jako średnio ciężki i lekki u 83,9% osób. Ponad 70% pacjentów jakość życia oceniło jako dobrą i bardzo dobrą. Nie wykazano istotnej zależności między uczestnictwem w rehabilitacji a jakością życia badanych (p = 0,35). Istnieje monotoniczna zależność pomiędzy zadowoleniem z rehabilitacji a domeną socjalną jakości życia (r=0,34, p = 0,01). Wykazano istotną zależność między jakością życia a BMI, wykształceniem, bólem i poziomem sprawności ocenionym w skali Barthel. Wnioski: Większość ankietowanych mieszkańców Domów Pomocy Społecznej uczestniczyła w rehabilitacji i była z niej zadowolona, co pozytywnie wpłynęło na ocenę jakości życia w zakresie relacji społecznych.Background: The importance of physiotherapy in improving quality of life of patients in long-term care is not yet fully understood. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life and functional status of patients in long-term care with respect to their rehabilitation. Study design: Cross-sectional. Materials and methods: The study was conducted among a group of 58 individuals. A questionnaire to collect the data concerning rehabilitation, the Barthel scale, VAS and WHOQOL-Bref were used. Results: The functional condition was assessed as moderately heavy and light in 83.9% of participants. More than 70% of patients rated the quality of life as good and very good. There was no significant relationship between participation in rehabilitation and quality of life of the subjects (p = 0.35). There was a monotonic relationship between the social domain of quality of life and satisfaction with rehabilitation (r =0.34, p = 0.01). There was a significant correlation between the quality of life and BMI, education, pain and level of functional efficiency assessed using the Barthel scale. Conclusions: The majority of the studied nursing-home residents participated in rehabilitation and were satisfied with it, which positively affected the quality of life in terms of social relations

Psychotic disorder in the course of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with subcortical calcifications : case report

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is autoimmunological disease of connective tissue which is characterized with clinical symptoms of many systems and organs injury. There are often neuropsychiatric symptoms. Psychotic disorder is the least frequent syndrome. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are important because they deteriorate the quality of life and are poor prognostic factor. Aim. The aim of the study is to present the patient with chronic, lasting for many years, skin lesions and laboratory tests results characteristic for SLE, who had psychotic disorder diagnosed as schizophrenia and in the next few years there were observed other neuropsychiatric symptoms including cognitive impairment and mood disorder. Conclusions. Psychotic disorder is rare syndrome of neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE). It may primarily originate from SLE or be secondary either to the therapy or the complications of the disease. It is not possible to define if the psychosis is the primary schizophrenic process or secondary to the autoimmune disease in presented patient. However the clinical picture pays attention to the significance of careful diagnostic process, including neuroimaging. In head CT of presented patient there were revealed massive, bilateral, calcifications of subcortical structures which probably substantially enhanced neuropsychiatric symptoms

Everything you always wanted to know about systemic sclerosis but were afraid to ask: Part 4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of kinesitherapy conducted in a group of patients with systemic sclerosis based on a literature review.

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. Physical training as a planned activity can delay the process of disease changes. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of kinesitherapy conducted in a group of patients with systemic sclerosis based on a literature review. Material and methods The PubMed and Pedro databases were analyzed using the following keywords: "systemic sclerosis and physiotherapy or physical training" The university multi-search engine was also used, including the database of periodicals of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. Results Nine works out of 23 articles presenting the impact of various forms of training and physiotherapy methods in the treatment of people with systemic sclerosis were qualified for the analysis. Conclusion The conducted analysis of the literature on physical training in people with systemic sclerosis confirms the advisability of its use with the use of interval training and resistance training. These forms of training have a positive effect on the functions of the respiratory, circulatory and muscular systems. Physical training can be a valuable supplement to pharmacotherapy to support the treatment of this group of patients.Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. Physical training as a planned activity can delay the process of disease changes. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of kinesitherapy conducted in a group of patients with systemic sclerosis based on a literature review. Material and methods The PubMed and Pedro databases were analyzed using the following keywords: "systemic sclerosis and physiotherapy or physical training" The university multi-search engine was also used, including the database of periodicals of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. Results Nine works out of 23 articles presenting the impact of various forms of training and physiotherapy methods in the treatment of people with systemic sclerosis were qualified for the analysis. Conclusion The conducted analysis of the literature on physical training in people with systemic sclerosis confirms the advisability of its use with the use of interval training and resistance training. These forms of training have a positive effect on the functions of the respiratory, circulatory and muscular systems. Physical training can be a valuable supplement to pharmacotherapy to support the treatment of this group of patients

Radiotherapy treatment planning for breast cancer patients after a subcutaneous mastectomy with the use of a prosthesis or expander

Introduction. Medical physicists planning radiation treatment are increasingly confronted with situations that require special attention. Undoubtedly, one such situation is the postoperative irradiation of a patient with breast cancer in which there is a prosthesis or an expander. In recent years, expanders have appeared in this location, which, due to the density of the device’s valve makes it difficult to prepare an acceptable treatment plan. The study aims to present treatment planning in these situation in various Polish cancer centres and to compare overall patient preparation for the treatment. Material and methods. A questionnaire was prepared and sent to more than 20 radiotherapy departments, which included basic questions regarding the preparation of an irradiation plan for patients treated for breast cancer after a subcutaneous mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with a prosthesis or expander. The survey encompassed eight radiotherapy departments. Results. Not all radiotherapy departments require a manufacturer’s certificate, which shows that the manufacturer does not prohibit the use of a prosthesis/expander during treatment with ionizing radiation. The X 6MV photons and the supine position, total and fraction doses: from 40 to 60 Gy and from 2 to 2.67 Gy, respectively, are the most commonly used. The way of defining them also depends on the oncological centre. The most commonly used irradiation technique is VMAT. Conclusion. The conclusion from the questionnaire – no standardisation of treatment planning – should encourage the community, at least medical physicists, to develop rules of conduct in this case. Irradiation techniques are mainly dynamic ones. The expander or prosthesis does not significantly affect the dose distributions

Renalase is associated with adverse left atrial remodelling and disease burden in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing pulmonary vein isolation

Background: Renalase is a catecholamine-metabolising enzyme, but its possible association with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unknown. Aim: We sought to evaluate plasma renalase concentration in patients with AF undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with respect to AF clinical characteristics, left atrial (LA) remodelling, and PVI efficacy. Methods: This case-control study included 69 patients (median age 58 years) with either paroxysmal (89%) or persistent (11%) AF, referred for PVI, and a control group consisting of 15 patients without AF, matched for age, sex, and comorbidi­ties. An evaluation of transthoracic echocardiography with LA speckle tracking and plasma renalase concentration using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed. AF recurrence was defined as any AF episode on seven-day electro­cardiographic monitoring at six-month follow-up. Results: Renalase level was higher in the study group than in the control group (mean 27.99 vs. 21.48 μg/mL, p = 0.004), but it was lower in patients with persistent AF (19.05 vs. 28.77 μg/mL; p = 0.023) and among patients with AF episodes di­rectly preceding PVI (24.50 vs. 29.66 μg/mL; p = 0.04). Renalase concentration within the first quartile was associated with higher mean heart rate (70 vs. 61 bpm, p = 0.029), greater AF burden (36.9% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.027), greater LA diameter (41.1 vs. 37.9 mm, p = 0.011), and a trend towards less negative global LA strain (–9.4 vs. –13.5, p = 0.082). Logistic regres­sion revealed that global four-chamber LA strain was the only independent predictor of renalase variability (p = 0.0045). Renalase concentration did not predict AF recurrence at six-month follow-up (area under curve [AUC] = 0.614, p = 0.216). Conclusions: Low renalase level may be associated with impaired rate control, higher AF burden, and advanced LA remodel­ling in AF patients undergoing PVI, but it does not predict sinus rhythm maintenance