Westphalian xiphosurans (Chelicerata) from the Upper Silesia Coal Basin of Sosnowiec, Poland

The xiphosurans Bellinurus lunatus (Martin, 1809) and Euproops rotundatus (Prestwich, 1840) are described from sideritic concretions hosted by the Orzesze Beds (Westphalian B) in. the Polish region of the Upper Silesia Coal Basin. Associated flora and fauna include terrestrial plant remains and a single palaeodictyopteran insect nymph. As no marine influences are known in this area since the Narnurian A, these xiphosurans were probably fresh-water organisms

Palinologia dolnodewońskich i środkowodewońskich osadów klastycznych z otworu wiertniczego Trojanowice 2

The palynological investigation were carried out on 37 samples from the Trojanowice 2 borehole from a depth interval of 502.0–558.8 m. Based on the presence of index and important microflora species two standard miospore zones were recognized: Emphanisporites annulatus-Camarozonotriletes sextantii, from the Emsian and Grandispora douglastownense-Ancyrospora eurypterota from the Emsian/ Eifelian transition interval. Palynofacies from the lower part of the section indicate marginal marine palaeoenvironmental conditions. Palynofacies from the upper part prove deeper marine conditions further from the shoreline. Additionally, spore colour analyses revealed a high degree of thermal transformation. Two new miospore taxa have been formally erected: Camptozonotriletes reticulum sp.n. and Perotrilites asymmetricus sp.n

Palynology and microfacies of Lower Devonian mixed carbonate-siliciclastic deposits in Podolia, Ukraine

Investigation of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic Lower Devonian deposits have been carried out in the Ivanye Zolote and Ustechko sections in Podolia, Ukraine. Based on palynomorph evidence, the age of the samples studied is late Lochkovian, not older than the NM Oppel Miospore Zone, specifically the Si Lineage Zone. The presence of acritarchs and chitinozoans points to dominantly marine depositional conditions. However, a regressive environmental change to-ward more brackish conditions is indicated by a decrease in the taxonomic diversity of acritarchs in the topmost samples, the simultaneous disappearance of chitinozoans, and an increase in leiosphaerid frequency. Furthermore, evolution of limestone microfacies demonstrates a progressive transition from a shrinking marine basin toward a brackish, storm-af-fected muddy lagoon, manifested by recurrent profusion of impoverished, mostly opportunistic and euryhaline shelly benthos (nuculanid bivalves, leperditicopids and other ostracods, terebratulid brachiopods), chaetetid demosponges and diverse ichthyofauna. The association of plant (mainly nematophytes and some tracheids) and animal (eurypterid, ?scor-pion, and possibly other arthropod) remains points to the presence of nearby Early Devonian wetland vegetation, provid-ing food and shelter for various semi-aquatic and other terrestrial arthropods. Copyright © 2012

Clinical characteristics of hypertensive patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement

Introduction. Orthopaedic surgeries are major procedures, often associated with perioperative risk. They are especially challenging for elderly patients afflicted with several comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors. Currently, one of the most frequent types of orthopaedic surgeries is joint alloplasties of hip or knee. The aim of this study was to establish the clinical characteristics of hypertensive patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement and to describe the frequency of the early complication of the surgery, which is a need for blood transfusion. Material and methods. The study enrolled 199 consecutive patients who underwent hip or knee alloplasty. From this group patients with previous diagnosis of hypertension were selected for further assessment. All patients were screened for presence of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease, according to the current guidelines. All patients were also followed for the necessity of blood transfusion during the hospitalisation. Results. From the screened population 135 patients had previous diagnosis of hypertension and met inclusion criteria (mean age 69.0 } 9.3 years, 30.4% male). From those patients, 70 (48.1%) underwent knee replacement, and 65 (51.9%) had hip replacement. As for the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, 16 (11.9%) had coronary artery disease, 5 (3.7%) had a history of previous myocardial infarction and 2 (1.5%) had diagnosed heart failure. Cardiovascular risk factors were also highly prevalent in the study population, 26 (19.3%) patients had diagnosed dyslipidemia, 27 (20.0%) had diabetes and 58 (43.0%) were obese. There were no statistical differences in the prevalence of those factors between patients with hip and knee replacement. 33 (24.4%) had blood loss during the operation, which led to a need for blood transfusion (19 (29.2%) patients in hip replacement group, and 14 (20%) in knee replacement group, p = 0.05). We found no differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors between patients who required and did not require blood transfusion (p > 0.05). Conclusions. Hypertensive patients who undergo hip or knee replacement have high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and other cardiovascular disease, therefore are at high perioperative risk. No differences are seen between patients with hip and knee replacement. There is also a high frequency of blood transfusions in this group

Migotanie przedsionków - nowe leki, nowe nadzieje. Stan badań nad dronedaronem

Migotanie przedsionków jest najczęstszym rodzajem arytmii. Zwiększa ryzyko wystąpienia udaru niedokrwiennego mózgu i niewydolności serca oraz znacząco obniża jakość życia. Jak wykazano, spośród stosowanych w połączeniu z terapią przeciwkrzepliwą leków antyarytmicznych amiodaron jest najbardziej efektywny w prewencji napadów migotania przedsionków i podtrzymywaniu rytmu zatokowego. Jego stosowanie jest jednak znacznie ograniczone ze względu na działania niepożądane. Dronedaron to nowy lek pod względem strukturalnym zbliżony do amiodaronu, ale pozbawiony toksycznego wpływu, przede wszystkim na tarczycę i tkankę płucną. W dotychczas przeprowadzonych badaniach dowiódł swojej skuteczności w prewencji nawrotów migotania przedsionków. Jest również pierwszym lekiem antyarytmicznym, dla którego wykazano zmniejszenie częstości hospitalizacji z przyczyn sercowo-naczyniowych oraz zgonów i zmniejszenie częstości występowania udaru mózgu, a efekt ten wykraczał poza ochronne działanie stosowanej równocześnie terapii przeciwkrzepliwej. Niniejszy artykuł zawiera analizę dotychczas przeprowadzonych badań nad dronedaronem i rozważania, czy u części pacjentów można go stosować jako lek pierwszego rzutu. Choroby Serca i Naczyń 2010, 7 (2), 93-10

Droughts in the area of Poland in recent centuries in the light of multi-proxy data

The history of drought occurrence in Poland criteria used were those proposed by McKee et al. (1993) and in the last millennium is poorly known. To improve this modified for the climate conditions of Poland by Lab˛edzki knowledge we have conducted a comprehensive analysis us (2007). ing both proxy data (documentary and dendrochronological) More than 100 droughts were found in documen and instrumental measurements of precipitation. The paper tary sources in the period 1451–1800, including 17 presents the main features of droughts in Poland in recent megadroughts. A greater than average number of droughts centuries, including their frequency of occurrence, cover were observed in the second halves of the 17th century and age, duration, and intensity. The reconstructions of droughts the 18th century in particular. Dendrochronological data con based on all the mentioned sources of data covered the pe firmed this general tendency in the mentioned period. riod 996–2015. Examples of megadroughts were also cho Analysis of SPI (including its lowest values, i.e. droughts) sen using documentary evidence, and some of them were de showed that the long-term frequency of droughts in Poland scribed. has been stable in the last two or three centuries. Extreme Various documentary sources have been used to identify and severe droughts were most frequent in the coastal part droughts in the area of Poland in the period 1451–1800 and of Poland and in Silesia. Most droughts had a duration of 2 to estimate their intensity, spatial coverage, and duration. months (about 60 %–70 %) or 3–4 months (10 %–20 %). Fre Twenty-two local chronologies of trees (pine, oak, and fir quencies of droughts with a duration of 5-or-more months from Poland were taken into account for detecting nega were lower than 10 %. The frequency of droughts of all cat tive pointer years (exceptionally narrow rings). The delimita egories in Poland in the instrumental period 1722–2015 was tion of droughts based on instrumental data (eight long-term greatest in winter, while in the documentary evidence (1451– precipitation series) was conducted using two independent 1800) droughts in this season are rarely mentioned. approaches (Standard Precipitation Index, SPI, calculated for The occurrence of negative pointer years (a good proxy for 1-, 3-, and 24-month timescales, and a new method proposed droughts) was compared with droughts delimited based on by authors). For delimitation of droughts (dry months), the documentary and instrumental data. A good correspondence was found between the timing of occurrence of droughts identified using all three kinds of data (sources)

OCULUS study: Virtual reality-based education in daily clinical practice

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high risk of stroke and other thromboembolic complications. The OCULUS study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the three-dimensional (3D) movie in teaching patients about the consequences of AF and pharmacological stroke prevention.  Methods: The study was based on a questionnaire and included 100 consecutive patients (38% women, 62% with AF history). Using the oculus glasses and a smartphone, a 3D movie describing the risk of stroke in AF was shown. Similar questions were asked immediately after, 1 week and 1 year after the projection.  Results: Before the projection 22/100 (22.0%) declared stroke a consequence of AF, while immediately after 83/100 (83.0%) (p < 0.0001) patients declared this consequence. Seven days after, stroke as AF consequence was chosen by 74/94 (78.7%) vs. 22/94 (23.4%) when compared to the baseline knowledge; p < 0.0001, a similar trend was also observed in 1-year follow-up (64/90 [71.1%] vs. 21/90 [23.3%]; p < 0.0001). Before the projection 88.3% (83/94) patients responded, that drugs may reduce the risk of stroke, and after 1 week the number of patients increased to (94/94 [100%]; p = 0.001). After 1 year 87/90 (96.7%) answered that drugs may diminish the risk of stroke (p = 0.02 in comparison to the baseline survey 78/90 [86.7%]). Use of oral anticoagulation to reduce the risk of stroke was initially chosen by 66/94 (70.2%), by 90/94 (95.7%; p < 0.0001) 7 days after and by 83/90 (92.2%; p < 0.0001) 1 year after.  Conclusions: 3D movie is an effective tool in transferring knowledge about the consequences of AF and the pivotal role of oral anticoagulation in stroke prevention. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03104231. Registered on 28 March 2017

The Disappearance of Coal Seams Recorded in Associated Gangue Rocks in the SW Part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland

Coal seams in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin vanish within the Carboniferous Upper Silesian Sandstone Series and below an unconformity marking the Carboniferous top surface. Changes in the geochemical, mineralogical, petrological and palynological characteristics of gangue rocks associated with the vanished seams record what happened. The observed changes could have been caused by (1) coal-seam paleofire, (2) peat combustion, (3) igneous intrusion, (4) metasomatism and/or (5) weathering. Multifaceted research on samples collected at the Jas-Mos mining area, a part of the operating Jastrz˛ebie-Bzie Coal Mine that are representative of different geological settings in the northern and southern parts of the mining area, point to intra-deposit paleofire as the most plausible reason for the disappearance. Biomarkers enabled recognition of differences in heating duration and oxygen access. Coal seams in the south burned quickly with abundant oxygen supply. Seams in the north pyrolyzed for an extended time under conditions of limited oxygen. Though other methods used proved less sensitive, all confirmed low (100–150 C) paleotemperature heating. Overall, the reason for the local disappearance of the coal seams, making their exploitation difficult and unprofitable, can be assigned to a variety of different processes in a complex overlapping history of variable weathering, heating due to local endogenic fires and, probably, earlier peat combustion

Assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients undergoing total joint alloplasty: the CRASH-JOINT study

Wstęp: Ocena ryzyka ma szczególne znaczenie u pacjentów poddawanych interwencjom chirurgicznym. Zabiegi ortopedyczne, w szczególności całkowita alloplastyka stawów, są operacjami związanymi z wysokim ryzykiem okołooperacyjnym, jak również jednym z najwyższych odsetków powikłań. Cel: Celem niniejszej pracy było określenie częstości występowania klasycznych i nieklasycznych czynników ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego u pacjentów poddawanych całkowitej alloplastyce stawu biodrowego lub kolanowego. Metody: CRASH-JOINT (Cardiovascular Risk Assessment ScHeme in JOINT alloplasty) było prospektywnym badaniem epidemio­logicznym przeprowadzonym u pacjentów poddawanych operacji całkowitej alloplastyki stawu biodrowego lub kolanowego. Chorzy włączeni do projektu byli badani pod kątem klasycznych i nieklasycznych czynników ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego i przeprowadzono u nich całodobowe pomiary wartości ciśnienia tętniczego. Wyniki: Do badania włączono 98 osób. Podczas wstępnej ewaluacji 8 pacjentów zostało wykluczonych z badania i wyłączonych z zabiegu, w większości z powodu przyczyn sercowych. U 65 chorych przeprowadzono wymianę stawu biodrowego i 25 stawu kolanowego (średni wiek 63,7 ± 12,2 roku, 62,2% kobiet). Wśród klasycznych czynników ryzyka zwracało uwagę 50 (55,6%) osób z rozpoznaniem nadciśnienia tętniczego w przeszłości, 10 (11,1%) pacjentów miało cukrzycę, 2 (2,2%) wystąpił zawał serca w przeszłości, a u 24 (26,7%) w wywiadzie rodzinnym zanotowano choroby sercowo-naczyniowe. Średni wskaźnik masy ciała (BMI) wynosił 28,0 ± 5,1 kg/m2, nadwagę zaobserwowano u 39 (43,3%) pacjentów, a u 28 (31,1%) — otyłość. Pacjenci poddawani wymianie stawu biodrowego byli istotnie młodsi (61,8 ± 12,6 vs. 68,5 ± 10,0 lat; p = 0,02), byli częś­ciej palaczami tytoniu (24,6% vs. 4,0%; p = 0,03), mieli istotnie niższe BMI (26,8 ± 4,5 vs. 31,2 ± 5,3 kg/m2, p < 0,0001) i rzadziej byli otyli (18,5% vs. 64,0%, p < 0,0001). Nie stwierdzono istotnych różnic między pacjentami zakwalifikowanymi do operacji pierwotnej i ponownej reoperacji. Wnioski: Badanie wykazało, że czynniki ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego u osób poddawanych całkowitej alloplastyce stawu biodrowego lub kolanowego są obecne częściej niż w populacji ogólnej, co może potencjalnie przyczynić się do podwyższonego ryzyka rozwoju powikłań okołooperacyjnych.Background: Risk assessment is of particular importance for patients undergoing surgical interventions. Orthopaedic procedures, especially total joint alloplasty, are major procedures associated with high perioperative risk, as well as one of the highest rates of complications. Aim: The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of classical and non-classical cardiovascular risk factors in patients undergoing total hip or knee alloplasty. Methods: The CRASH-JOINT (Cardiovascular Risk Assessment ScHeme in JOINT alloplasty) was a prospective, epidemiological study performed in consecutive patients scheduled for total joint (hip or knee) replacement surgery. Patients enrolled into the study were screened for cardiovascular risk factors and had ambulatory blood pressure performed for the diagnosis of hypertension. Results: The present study enrolled 98 patients. During initial screening eight patients were disqualified from the study and the surgery, in the majority due to the cardiac causes. Sixty-five patients had a hip joint replacement and 25 had knee joint replacement (mean age 63.7 ± 12.2 years, 62.2% female). Fifty (55.6%) patients were diagnosed with arterial hypertension in the past, ten (11.1%) patients had diabetes mellitus, two (2.2%) had a history of myocardial infarction, and family history of cardiovascular disease was present in 24 (26.7%) cases. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.0 ± 5.1 kg/m2 and 39 (43.3%) patients were overweight, while 28 (31.1%) were obese. Patients undergoing hip replacement were significantly younger (61.8 ± 12.6 vs. 68.5 ± 10.0 years; p = 0.02), were more often current smokers (24.6% vs. 4.0%; p = 0.03), had significantly lower BMI (26.8 ± 4.5 vs. 31.2 ± 5.3 kg/m2; p < 0.0001), and were less often obese (18.5% vs. 64.0%; p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between patients scheduled for primary surgery and reoperation. Conclusions: The study showed that classical cardiovascular risk factors in patients undergoing total hip or knee alloplasty have a higher prevalent than in the general population, which can potentially contribute to the higher risk of development of perioperative complications