The Influence of Kinesio Taping on the Effects of Physiotherapy in Patients after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Physiotherapy in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CHL) is impeded by postoperative pain which causes a decline in patients' activity, reduces respiratory muscles' function, and affects patients' ability to look after themselves. The objective of this work was to assess the influence of Kinesio Taping (KT) on pain level and the increase in effort tolerance in patients after CHL. The research included 63 patients after CHL. Test group and control group included randomly selected volunteers. Control group consisted of 32 patients (26 females, 6 males), test group consisted of 31 patients (22 females, 9 males). Both groups were subjected to complex physiotherapy, and control group had additional KT applications. Before surgery, during and after physiotherapy, patients were given the following tests: 100-meter walk tests, subjective pain perception assessment, and pain relief medicines intake level assessment. The level of statistical significance for all tests was established at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in the time required to cover a 100-meter distance and a decrease in pain perception presented by significantly lower painkillers' intake in the test group in comparison with the control group. The improvement in clinical condition observed in the research indicates the efficiency of KT as a method complementing physiotherapy in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Directions of changes in the management of Polish NGOs in processes of governmentalisation and marketisation

The recent years brought worldwide development of managerial thinking and practices in the third sector, but these processes are barely identified within the Polish non-governmental sector. Polish organisations are considerably more influenced by the public sector, which often results in too close relationships, dependence from public financial resources, and advancing institutionalisation. Perhaps the state’s retreat from a broad partnership with NGOs, widely regarded as disadvantageous and dangerous to the Polish democracy, that could be observed for the past two years at the central level, will turn out to be the saving grace and will stop the processes of governmentalisation. In search of the sources of funding other than public, increasing the quality of services and learning new rules, relations and principles; perhaps we will witness the emergence of a new formula of the third sector in Poland. Keeping in mind, of course, the leading principle of heterogenicity and diversity of NGOs' objectives, stemming from unlimited human need

Assessment of the effects of dysphagia therapy in patients in the early post-stroke period: a randomised controlled trial

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dysphagia therapy in patients in the early post-stroke period.Clinical rationale: Dysphagia can be one of the consequences of stroke. This problem often leads to complications in the early stages of stroke, including aspiration pneumonia. Although individual reports on dysphagia exist in the literature, no comprehensive guidelines for dysphagia therapy are available.Material and methods: This randomised controlled trial included 60 patients with swallowing difficulties after ischaemic stroke (30 each in the study and control groups; age range: 55–65 years) who were admitted to a hospital stroke subunit. Patient rehabilitation period covered 15 days (seven days a week), with therapy for the first 10 days provided during patient hospitalisation and then outpatient physiotherapy during the subsequent five days. The procedure, including providing education about safe food and liquid consumption to patients and their caregivers, was performed in both patient groups. An original dysphagia treatment method was employed in the study group. Statistical average, standard deviation, and statistical error before and after therapy were determined in the study and control groups. The significance of differences in results between the study and control groups was assessed using the Mann–Whitney U test.Results: The applied therapy for dysphagia improved the swallowing function and selected motor functions of patients after stroke. In the study group, ineffective (delayed) and absent swallowing reflex was observed in 13 patients (44%) before therapy and in one patient (3%) after therapy. The rate of effective swallowing reflex increased from 57% to 97%. Statistically significant differences in swallowing reflex were observed between the study and control groups after therapy (p = 0.00001).Conclusions: A comprehensive therapy for dysphagia is effective and can reduce serious complications of swallowing disorders in clinical practice.Clinical implications: The results of this study could improve the clinical treatment of dysphagia

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

Application of Shumann and Joosten classification in fen peatland degradation stage assessment – A case study from southern Poland

The aim of this paper was to assess the degradation stage of fen peatland located in the north-western part of the Opolskie voivodeship in accordance with “peatland degradation stages” classification. Understanding of the current state of peatland will be helpful in the future management and possible restoration. Field survey including vegetation and soil research were carried out in May 2013, soil material for laboratory analysis were collected by using “Instorf” peat sampler from four sampling points. Obtained results allowed to classify the study area (located within a larger peatland complex along the Prosna river valley) to minor stage of degrada- tion, with spontaneous changes in vegetation community and soil cover. Only few species of plants typical for fen peatlands were recorded. Moreover, soil cover research did not confirm mursh forming process, typical for strongly degraded peatland areas. Obtained results may indicate that possible future restoration will bring the expected effect. It is very likely, that fen peatland vegetation will regenerate spontaneously, provided that diaspores of the key peat-forming plant species are available in the soil

Influence of carbon on spin reorientation processes in Er_{2-x}R_{x}Fe_{14}C (R = Gd, Pr) - Mössbauer and magnetometric studies

The $Er_{2-x}R_{x}Fe_{14}C$ (R=Gd, Pr) polycrystalline compounds have been synthesized and investigated with $\text{}^{57}Fe$ Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The spin reorientation phenomena were studied extensively by narrow step temperature scanning in the neighborhood of the spin reorientation temperature. Obtained Mössbauer spectra were analyzed using a procedure of simultaneous fitting and the transmission integral approach. Consistent description of Mössbauer spectra were obtained, temperature and composition dependencies of hyperfine interaction parameters and subspectra contributions were derived from fits and the transition temperatures were determined for all the compounds studied. Initial magnetization versus temperature measurements (in zero and non-zero external field) for $Er_{2-x}Gd_{x}Fe_{14}C$ compounds allowed to establish the temperature regions of reorientation, change of magnetization value during the transition process. The results obtained with different methods were analyzed and the spin arrangement diagrams were constructed. Data obtained for $Er_{2-x}Gd_{x}Fe_{14}C$ were compared with those for $Er_{2-x}Gd_{x}Fe_{14}B$ series

Unsustainable power distribution? : women leaders in Polish academia

The results of the research on gender diversity in academia present a mixed image of women’s participation in power structures. There is a large number of studies showing that women at universities encounter the ‘glass ceiling’ in their careers much more frequently than men. The thesis is that in Poland, the number of men and women working in academic institutions is similar, but there is a large disproportion in their numbers at the highest power positions (women being severely underrepresented). The goal of this paper is to analyse the power structures in Polish universities from the viewpoint of gender diversity. The research method is statistical analysis based on the official public data as well as official documents made available by universities. The result of the research is the illustration of the model of an unsustainable power distribution in top management structures of Polish higher education institutions (HEI)