Preparation and Properties of Rare Earth 4-Nitrophthalates

Rare earth (Y, La−Lu) 4-nitrophthalates were prepared and studied using IR spectroscopy, TG, DTG and DTA. Their compositions were determined as well as their solubilities in water at 295 K. The rare earth complexes were obtained as solids with a 2:3 ratio of metal to organic ligand. 4-Nitrophthalates of Y, La−Eu, Dy−Tm were crystalline solids, whereas those of Gd, Tb, Yb and Lu were amorphous. The COO- group in the prepared complexes acts as bidentate chelating. The complexes are stable at room temperature. During heating they are dehydrated in one (Y, La, Pr−Yb), two (Ce, Lu) or three (La) steps, and then the anhydrous complexes decompose explosively

Extrinsic allergic pneumonitis - classification, pathogenesis, diagnosis

Introduction and objective: Extrinsic allergic pneumonitis (AZPP) is an inflammatory disease of the lung parenchyma and bronchioles, caused by inhalation of organic and inorganic antigens. The pathhomechanism of the disease is based on the binding of the antigen with precipitins to form immune complexes that are responsible for the formation of acute inflammation in the lung tissue. The resulting inflammation is a type III and type IV hypersensitivity reaction. In the clinical course, azpp is divided into acute, subacute and chronic phases. The course of the disease varies depending on the type and duration of exposure to the antigen. It is most often manifested by shortness of breath, coughing and the progression of the disease leads to respiratory failure. Review methods: While writing the thesis, a database was used, ie Pubmed and Google Scholar. Brief description of the stage of knowledge: Extrinsic allergic pneumonitis requires a thorough differential diagnosis, which includes laboratory tests, functional tests, imaging tests, inhalation provocation tests and lung biopsy. The mainstay of treatment is to avoid exposure to the antigen. In severe disease, systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated. Summary: Correct diagnosis is a big problem because of the differences in symptoms and the severity of the disease among patients. Expanding the knowledge about the clinical course of the disease or its pathogenesis will affect the effectiveness of diagnostics and help to develop new methods of treatment. &nbsp

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in the Centricnemus leucogrammus weevil

Centricnemus leucogrammus is a weevil characteristic of European xerothermic habitats and steppes. The species was probably more widespread during the Pleistocene glaciations, while its current distribution is limited to “warm-stage refugia.” It may be regarded as a typical representative of flightless xerothermophilous beetles. Previous studies concentrated on its genetic variation using mitochondrial genes. Here, we identified, tested and characterized 24 polymorphic microsatellite loci with the use of 454 sequencing of microsatellite enriched genomic libraries. The new set of loci will be used in studies on the population structure of this weevil and may provide valuable information for its conservation

Different types of maltreatment and health-related quality of life in older age

Diff erent types of maltreatment against older people, perpetrated by those within their close social network, stand in contrast to well-known theories of intergenerational solidarity. Th e aim of this study was to examine the relationships between diff erent types of maltreatment reported by Polish older people and their health-related quality of life. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a simple random sample of 631 older (i.e., aged 65 years and over) citizens of Cracow (36.6% males and 63.4% females). Th e study was based on face to face interviews. Structured questionnaire consisting of questions meant to recognize diff erent types of maltreatment and the perpetrators of such maltreatment. Health-related quality of life was evaluated with scales included in the SF-36. Th e infl uence of a particular dimension of quality of life on the risk of being a victim of violence was explored in multivariate logistic regression models which showed that risk of poor perception of the health status was higher in both, older women (ExpB = 2.04; 95% CI = (1.21; 3.44)) and older men (ExpB = 2.01; 95% CI = (1.00; 4.06)), who presented belief that older people in Poland are poorly treated by younger parts of the society. Risk of high limitation in functional status was higher in men confi rmed that older people in Poland are poorly treated by rest of the society (ExpB = 2.40; 95% CI = (1.23; 4.71)). Risk of low psychological well-being was higher in women confi rmed self-defi ning themselves as a victim of psychological abuse (ExpB = 2.60; 95% CI = (1.27; 5.34)) and those who defi ned themselves as a victim of neglect by family members (ExpB = 2.73; 95% CI = (1.22; 6.08)). Men who believed that older people are poorly treated in Poland also had higher risk of low psychological well-being (ExpB = 2.30; 95% CI = (1.18; 4.46)). Presented data show that in self-defi nition older people perceived themselves as a victim of maltreatment. Coping with these negative beliefs and opinion should be taken into account as a challenge to develop the social capital based on mutual trust and intergenerational solidarity

Manifestations of the pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally related with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS) in the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory systems.

Introduction and objective: The course of the pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS) is not fully understood. In most cases, complications are so severe that the patients require hospitalization. The aim of this study is to discuss the most common symptoms in the course of PIMS in the individual systems. Review methods: The Medline database (Pubmed) was searched in March 2022 using the keywords: PIMS symptoms, MIS-C manifestations, hyperinflammation, post-COVID. English and Polish language papers published between 2020 and 2022 were selected. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Studies show that the most frequently occuring symptoms are fever, followed by gastrointestinal manifestations. However, the most serious complications have been reported in thecardiovascular system. It is estimated that up to half of the patients develop left ventricular failure or shock, and a quarter may develop coronary artery aneurysms. A large percentage of patients diagnosed with PIMS also manifest nervous system symptoms. In addition to symptoms, organic brain lesions have been described in imaging studies. In contrast to COVID-19 disease, respiratory complications are rare in PIMS. Respiratory failure, if present, usually develops secondary to cardiovascular failure. Summary: The current reports allow to state that PIMS is a rare, but serious disease affecting children most often in school age. Symptoms are not specific and may be different for each patient. Since the disease is difficult to diagnose, criteria have been developed that include the most common symptoms as well as a link to SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Key words: PIMS symptoms; MIS-C manifestations; hyperinflammation; post-COVIDWprowadzenie i cel pracy: Przebieg wieloukładowego zespołu zapalnego związanego z SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS) nie jest do końca poznany. W większości przypadków powikłania są na tyle poważne, że pacjenci wymagają hospitalizacji. Celem pracy jest omówienie najczęściej występujących objawów w przebiegu PIMS w poszczególnych układach. Materiał i metoda: W marcu 2022 roku została przeszukana baza danych Medline (Pubmed) przy użyciu słów kluczowych: PIMS symptoms, MIS-C manifestations, hyperinflammation, post-COVID. Wybrane zostały prace w języku angielskim i polskim, opublikowane w latach 2020-2022. Opis stanu wiedzy: Badania pokazują, że najczęściej, zaraz po gorące, występują dolegliwości ze strony układu pokarmowego. Najpoważniejsze powikłania odnotowano jednak w układzie sercowo-naczyniowym. Szacuje się, że nawet u połowy pacjentów dochodzi do niewydolności lewokomorowej lub wstrząsu, a u jednej czwartej mogą rozwinąć się tętniaki tętnic wieńcowych. Duży odsetek chorych z rozpoznanym PIMS manifestuje również objawy ze strony układu nerwowego. Poza objawami podmiotowymi opisywano również zmiany organiczne mózgu. W przeciwieństwie do choroby COVID-19 powikłania w układzie oddechowym występują rzadko. Niewydolność oddechowa, jeżeli występuje, najczęściej rozwija się wtórnie do niewydolności układu krążenia. Podsumowanie: Dotychczasowe doniesienia pozwalają stwierdzić, że PIMS jest rzadką, aczkolwiek poważną chorobą dotykającą dzieci najczęściej w wieku szkolnym. Objawy występujące w jej przebiegu nie są swoiste i mogą być różne u każdego pacjenta. Rozpoznanie choroby jest trudne, dlatego opracowano kryteria obejmujące najczęściej występujące objawy, a także powiązanie z ekspozycja na wirusa SARS-CoV-2. Słowa klucz: PIMS symptoms; MIS-C manifestations; hyperinflammation; post-COVID &nbsp

Sleep duration and mortality among older adults in a 22-year follow-up study : an analysis of possible effect modifiers

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of sleep duration and all-cause mortality among 2,449 Polish community-dwelling older citizens of Krakow observed during 22 years of follow-up. In particular, the role of some demographic, psychosocial and health-related conditions were investigated in terms of modification effect. In the prospective study, background information was gathered by face-to-face interview. Vital data were obtained from the population registry. Cox regression models were used to assess the role of sleep duration in mortality, in the analyses of potential effect modifiers and the shape of the relationship. Sleep duration was observed to be a significant predictor of all-cause mortality. Life-weariness, functional activity, total number of chronic diseases and age (65–79, 80+) were found to be effect modifiers for the relationship between sleep duration and mortality. Further investigation showed a U-shaped mortality risk associated with the duration of sleep among individuals with a high level of life-weariness, high functional activity and in individuals aged 80 and over. On the other hand, a linear relationship between longer sleep duration and mortality was observed among older people with no experience of life-weariness, without chronic diseases, with medium functional activity and aged 65–79, but also among those who reported three and more chronic conditions. Results of our study support available evidence showing the relationship between sleep duration and mortality among older adults and suggest that any public health intervention in this area should consider also other coexisting modifiable psychosocial and functional determinants

Job stress and mortality in older age

Objectives: This paper aims to assess the relationship between the determinants of the psychosocial work environment, as expressed in terms of JDC or ERI models, and all-cause mortality in older individuals. Materials and Methods: The baseline study was conducted on a cohort comprising a random sample of 65-year-old community-dwelling citizens of Kraków, Poland. All of the 727 participants (410 women, 317 men) were interviewed in their households in the period between 2001 and 2003; a structured questionnaire was used regarding their occupational activity history, which included indexes measuring particular dimensions of their psychosocial work environment based on Karasek's Job Demand-Control model and Siegrist's Effort-Reward Imbalance model, as well as health-related quality of life and demographic data. Mortality was ascertained by monitoring City Vital Records for 7 years. Analyses were conducted separately for men and women, with the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Results: During a 7-year follow-up period, 59 participants (8.1%) died, including 21 women (5.1% of total women) and 38 men (12%) (p < 0.05). Significant differences in the number of deaths occurred regarding disproportion between physical demands and control in men: those with low physical demands and low control died three times more often than those with high control, regardless of the level of demands. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that significantly higher risk of death was observed only in men with low physical demands and low control, compared to those with low physical demands and high control (Exp(B) = 4.65, 95% CI: 1.64-13.2). Conclusions: Observed differences in mortality patterns are similar to the patterns of relationships observed in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) level at the beginning of old age; however, the relationship between efforts and rewards or demands and control and mortality was not fully confirmed