“Neurologopedics in theory and practice. Selected aspects of child’s diagnostics and therapy” Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Akademii Techniczno-Humanistycznej, Bielsko-Biała 2012 Scientific edition by: Joanna Skibska, Dawid Larysz

“Neurologopedics in theory and practice. Selected aspects of child’s diagnostics and therapy” Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Akademii Techniczno-Humanistycznej, Bielsko-Biała 2012 Scientific edition by: Joanna Skibska, Dawid Larys

Changes in the Activity of Phosphatase and the Content of Phosphorus in Salt-Affected Soils Grassland Habitat Natura 2000

The subject of this study was the humus horizons in the salt-affected soils of Natura 2000 (Ciechocinek, Poland). In the adequately prepared soil, there were determined: pH in CaCl2, total organic carbon (TOC), exchangeable cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), salinity (EC1:5), the content of total (TP) and available phosphorus (AP), the activity of alkaline (AlP) and acid (AcP) phosphatases. TOC affected the degree of saturation of the sorption complex with basic cations, as confirmed by correlation analysis. In the analysed soil samples a series of quantitative cations of basic character is as follows: Ca2+>Na+>K+>Mg2+. Increased salinity has modified the qualitative and quantitative composition of the soil solution. Correlation analysis confirmed the significant relationship between the conduction of the electrolytic soil and the content of sodium and potassium cations. The highest value of EC1:5 was found in the soil sampled near the ditch (sites 12, 13, 16). According to PN-R-04023 (1996), this soil classifies as class V with a very low content of P available but the availability factor for phosphorus value ranged from 2.773 to 5.252% indicating that soil P was sufficient for plant growth in this habitat. Significant positive correlations were found between salinity, alkaline phosphatase and exchangeable K+, Na+. Significant negative correlations were found between EC1:5 with P available and the availability factor for this nutrient (AF). The positive significant correlations among soil alkaline phosphatase and some physicochemical properties suggested that salinization had effects on these variables. Alkaline phosphatase may be used as indicators of soil quality in salinized grassland habitat Natura 2000

Determinants of university graduates’ educational activity

At present work is perceived as a highly desirable value in which competence is of particular importance. Apart from economic security, a career is to be a source of satisfaction and personal fulfi lment for an individual. This situation also results in the fact that a man needs to perceive his career fl exibly, as a peculiar package of alternative professions and a lifelong retraining process. The main focus of this article is to show and emphasize the importance of a multidimensional and continuous educational activity among university graduates in the context of their careers development. The starting point for the discussion on the growing need for adult lifelong learning are the issues of labour market requirements and thus creation of new jobs – the learning organizations. An important aspect presented in this article is the description and analysis of the results of the research on the scope, determinants and prospects of educational activity taken by university graduates in the context of the respondents’ careers. The article ends with the conclusions drawn from the research and the description of the determinants of adults’ educational activity

Czy istnieje związek między rozwojem zespołu metabolicznego u kobiet z zespołem policystycznych jajników, a polimorfizmem C677T genu reduktazy metylenotetrahydrofolianowej?

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. PCOS is characterized by anovulation, polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism leading to infertility, dermatological and psychological problems, as well as the risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The exact cause of PCOS remains unclear. Various biochemical and genetic markers have been implicated in predisposition to PCOS, but no single variant has been associated with the syndrome. Some authors connect hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) with MetS and its components. The MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism is a common genetic abnormality leading to hyperhomocysteinemia. Objectives: The aim of the study was to confirm the existence of a possible correlation between metabolic disturbances in PCOS and the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. Material and methods: A total of 98 patients diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria and 101 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Genotyping of MTHFR C677T was performed by the real time PCR method. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between those two groups with regard to body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), fasting insulin, total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG). No significant differences in the prevalence of the genotypes of the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism were found between the PCOS group and controls. Despite the lack of significant differences, we observed a tendency for a higher prevalence of the TT genotype in the PCOS group (p = 0.06). No statistically significant differences were observed between the PCOS group and the control group in terms of the presence of the MetS components and the predisposition to develop MetS. Conclusions: Our study did not confirm an association between the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism and the development of MetS in PCOS. Further studies with larger sample size might be useful to determine this association.Wstęp: Zespól policystycznych jajników ( PCOS) jest najczęstszym zaburzeniem endokrynologicznym u kobiet w wieku rozrodczym, charakteryzującym się brakiem owulacji, jajnikami policystycznymi oraz hiperandrogenizmem, które prowadzą do niepłodności, problemów dermatologicznych i psychologicznych oraz zwiększają ryzyko rozwoju zespołu metabolicznego i choroby sercowo-naczyniowej. Przebadano wiele biochemicznych i genetycznych markerów, które mogłyby mieć wpływ na rozwój PCOS, jednak jak do tej pory nie udało się wskazać jednego pewnego czynnika. Istnieją badania łączące hiperhomocysteinemię z zespołem metabolicznym i jego składowymi. Częstym zaburzeniem genetycznym prowadzącym do hiperhomocysteinemi jest polimorfizm C677T genu reduktazy metylenotetrahydrofolianowej (MTHFR). Cel: Celem badania było zweryfikowanie związku zaburzeń metabolicznych w zespole policystycznych jajników z polimorfizmem genu C677T MTHFR. Materiał i metody: 98 pacjentek ze zdiagnozowanym PCOS na podstawie kryteriów Rotterdamskich zostało porównane ze 101 pacjentkami z grupy kontrolnej dobranej zgodnie wiekowo. Metoda real-time PCR została użyta do wykonania oznaczeń genetycznych. Wyniki: Istotne statystycznie różnice między grupami zauważono w Body Mass Index (BMI), obwodzie talii, obwodzie bioder, poziomie insuliny na czczo, cholesterolu całkowitego, trójglicerydów. Nie zauważono istotnych statystycznie różnic w występowaniu genotypów polimorfizmu C677T genu MTHFR między grupą badaną, a kontrolną. Zaobserwowano jedynie tendencję do częstszego występowania genotypu TT w grupie kobiet z PCOS (p = 0,06). Nie zauważono różnic statystycznych między częstością występowania składowych zespołu metabolicznego oraz w rozwoju pełnoobjawowego zespołu metabolicznego między tymi grupami. Wnioski: Nasze badanie nie potwierdziło związku polimorfizmu genu C677T MTHFR z rozwojem zespołu metabolicznego w PCOS. Dalsze badania na większej grupie pacjentek mogłyby być pomocne w ocenie tego związku

Retrograde Retrieval of a Novel Large Mitral Clip After Embolization Into the Left Ventricle.

We describe the successful retrieval of a novel large mitral clip, which embolized in a patient with severe secondary mitral regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction, dilated left ventricle, and severely tethered mitral valve leaflets in the setting of a challenging anatomy for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. The description highlights planning, technical issues, and possible adverse events of this bailout procedure. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis with endocrinopathy – case report

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is characterized by Candida infection of the mucous membrane, scalp, skin and nails. We present a case of a 42-year-old man who was treated twice in the Dermatological Department. He was admitted the first time as a 7-year-old boy because of skin and mucosal lesions and then the diagnosis of granuloma candidamyceticum was established. Thirty-one years later he was admitted again with a history of facial skin lesions and blepharitis. For a couple of years he had suffered from diabetes and hypothyroidism. The diagnosis of CMC with endocrinopathy was established in our patient

Implikacje leczenia farmakologicznego u kobiet w wieku rozrodczym i po menopauzie

Women have three very important physiological functions that are not observed in men – menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation. Each of these mechanisms influences pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many drugs. Individualization of pharmacotherapy is a major challenge of modern medicine. The differences in response to drug are responsible for the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment and the occurrence and severity of toxic effects and side effects. Therapeutic decision should be based not only on account of the dose-effect, but the consideration of gender, genetic and environmental differences affecting the final therapeutic effect. Many important differences between men and women like sex-based differences in normal physiology, or in the predisposition to a specific disease, can be due to genetic differences, the actions of the sex steroid hormones or an interaction between these factors. Women generally have a lower body mass, a reduced hepatic clearance, differences in activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (increase in CYP3A4, decrease in CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP1A2) and different from men’s rate of drug metabolism. Other important factors contributing to gender differences in the pharmacokinetics of drugs are conjugation, absorption, protein binding and urinary excretion. It still remains unexplained how gender differences affect the increased risk of side effects. This review is an attempt to assess the biological, physiological and hormonal basis of women differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many drugs.Kobiety charakteryzują trzy niezwykle istotne z punktu widzenia farmakologii procesy fizjologiczne, które nie występują u mężczyzn - menstruacja, ciąża i laktacja. Każdy z tych procesów w znaczący sposób wpływa na farmakokinetykę i farmakodynamikę wielu leków. Indywidualizacja farmakoterapii, również z uwzględnieniem płci, stanowi poważne wyzwanie współczesnej medycyny. Różnice w odpowiedzi farmakologicznej odpowiadają za skuteczność leczenia oraz występowanie i nasilenie efektów toksycznych i niepożądanych. Decyzja terapeutyczna powinna opierać się nie tylko na uwzględnieniu zależności dawka-efekt, ale na rozważeniu różnic płciowych, genetycznych i środowiskowych, wpływających na końcowy efekt terapeutyczny. Szczególnie istotne wydają się różnice płciowe w farmakokinetyce leków wynikające z odmiennej fizjologii, predyspozycji do występowania chorób, uwarunkowań genetycznych czy gospodarki hormonalnej oraz wzajemnych oddziaływań pomiędzy tymi czynnikami. Kobiety charakteryzują się mniejszą masą ciała, obniżonym klirensem wątrobowym i różnicami w aktywności cytochromu P450 (CYP) (wzrost aktywności CYP3A4, obniżenie aktywności CYP2D6, CYP2C19 i CYP1A2) oraz odmienną od mężczyzn szybkością metabolizmu leków. Innymi ważnymi czynnikami wpływającymi na różnice płciowe w farmakokinetyce leków są koniugacja, wchłanianie, wiązanie z białkami i wydalanie z moczem. Nadal pozostaje niewyjaśnione w jaki sposób różnice płciowe wpływają na zwiększone ryzyko wystąpienia działań niepożądanych. Niniejsza praca stanowi przegląd biologicznych, fizjologicznych i hormonalnych podstaw występowania różnic płciowych w organizmie kobiety, które wpływają na farmakokinetykę i farmakodynamikę leków

Demographic factors determining folic acid supplementation in pregnant and childbearing age women

Objectives: Adequate folate intake constitutes a significant problem in the periconceptional period and early pregnancy but can be achieved by folic acid (FA) supplementation. Low intake of folate may cause numerous negative effects on the pregnancy outcome, including recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetal hypotrophy, premature delivery, premature placental abruption, and intrauterine fetal death. The aim of the study was to evaluate factors determining FA supplementation in the population of Polish women before and during pregnancy. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 257 women hospitalized postpartum at the Division of Perinatology and Women’s Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland. We evaluated folic acid intake considering selected demographic data. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate folic acid intake before and during pregnancy of the investigated women. Results: The vast majority of the investigated women (89.1%) took FA during pregnancy. During the pre-pregnancy period, a statistically significantly higher supplementation of folic acid was observed among women with the monthly income level of > 5000 PLN (p = 0.03), and among women who planned their pregnancy as compared to women who did not plan their pregnancy (p < 0.001). During pregnancy, these differences disappeared. A statistically significantly higher number of secundi- and multiparas did not take FA during pregnancy as compared to primiparas (p = 0.008). No correlation between cigarette smoking and FA intake was observed. Conclusions: Our analysis showed that FA intake increased (by 36.2%) during pregnancy as compared to the pre-pregnancy period, and depended on income, parity, and pregnancy planning