Arteria lusoria in patients with a normal and a right-sided aortic arch diagnosed with multi-slice computed tomography: a report of two cases

A retro-oesophageal course of the right subclavian artery is referred to as "arteria lusoria". It may be related to severe compression of the trachea and oesophagus, typically resulting in impaired swallowing. The paper presents two patients with arteria lusoria, which in one patient was an aberrant right subclavian artery and in the other an aberrant left subclavian artery, originating from the right-sided aortic arch. In both cases the diagnosis was made with multi-slice computed tomography. The embryology of the anomalies and clinical status of the patients is discussed. Arteria lusoria should be considered in differential diagnosis in patients with dyspnoea and dysphagia. Multi-slice computed tomography allows this anatomical variant to be reliably visualised

Fibrin structure in organized thrombotic material removed during pulmonary artery endarterectormy : the effect of vessel calibre

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is a curative therapeutic approach in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The location-dependent structural differences of thrombotic material found in pulmonary arteries in CTEPH are poorly investigated. We present the case of a 47-year-old woman with antiphospholipid syndrome, diabetes mellitus and abnormal fibrin phenotype, who underwent PEA for CTEPH. Intravascular material removed bilaterally during PEA (from lobar, segmental and sub-segmental arteries) has been studied using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Light microscopy showed tighter fibrous network in the portions of intraluminal thrombotic material facing the vessel wall, which contained collagen and fibrin fibers, and abundant cells. Cells, evaluated by immunostaining, were present in the whole removed material. Tissue factor expression was also observed with the highest values in the portions of intravascular material facing the vessel wall. In the main pulmonary arteries, SEM images revealed thick fibers of fibrous proteins loosly meshed and few erythrocytes and platelets between them (both dysmorphic “wedged” and fresh cells were present). In the fibrotic layers, containing mainly collagen and fibrin, removed from the lobar/segmental pulmonary arteries we found a stepwise increase in fiber density with decreasing vessel calibre, followed by denser fibrous networks composed of thinner fibers. Elastic fibers in the lobar and segmental arteries were aligned along the blood flow vector. These findings demonstrate differences in the structure of endarterectomized PEA material dependent on the vessel calibre and might contribute to understanding of CTEPH pathophysiology

A short educational intervention diminishes causal illusions and specific paranormal beliefs in undergraduates

Cognitive biases such as causal illusions have been related to paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs and, thus, pose a real threat to the development of adequate critical thinking abilities. We aimed to reduce causal illusions in undergraduates by means of an educational intervention combining training-in-bias and training-in-rules techniques. First, participants directly experienced situations that tend to induce the Barnum effect and the confirmation bias. Thereafter, these effects were explained and examples of their influence over everyday life were provided. Compared to a control group, participants who received the intervention showed diminished causal illusions in a contingency learning task and a decrease in the precognition dimension of a paranormal belief scale. Overall, results suggest that evidence-based educational interventions like the one presented here could be used to significantly improve critical thinking skills in our students

Characterisation of surface water chemistry in the Potok Dupnianski catchment in Beskid Slaski

This paper is a review of the studies attempting, among others, to provide answer to the question if the variation in surface water chemistry in a small afforested mountain catchment depends on site characteristics from which soil samples are collected. The characteristics considered in the paper included: setting such as elevation a.s.l., slope, soil, and surrounding stand – age, species composition, etc. The assumed variation was ascertained and described in the framework of distinguished five areas termed micro−catchments (or partial catchments). This paper also contains a brief description of the research method, results and conclusions which could be formulated as a result of the discussion and indepth analysis of obtained results

Chemical characteristics of the Potok Dupnianski springs in the Beskid Slaski Mountains

This paper presents research results concerning chemistry of springs in the Potok Dupniański catchment area subject to the inventory carried out by the Forest Engineering Department and Forest Ecology Department at the Agricultural University in Cracow. Chemical analyses ad detailed characterisation of environmental conditions of spring position that were taken into consideration during the spring inventory in the catchment area allowed to distinguish four groups of springs. Research methods, results and conclusions resulting from the analysis of the distinguished groups and individual springs are presented in the paper

Historia lasów zlewni Potoku Dupniańskiego w Beskidzie Śląskim

Since 1997, the experimental Potok Dupniański catchment in the Beskid Śląski Mountains (Wisła Forest District) has been an area subjected to intensive hydrological and hydrogeochemical research aimed at improving knowledge about the ecological growth conditions of one of the most valuable Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) ecotype – the Istebna spruce. Environmental conditions and comparison with the stands growing in similar environments in the 18th and 19th century in the Beskid Żywiecki region, as well as historical sources have shown that Istebna spruce is not a native provenance. Thus, the analysis of the state of forest management in the past times appears an important contribution to the above−mentioned earlier research. An increase in forest resources mainly resulting from the higher share of stands in older age classes and a decline in species diversity is a characteristic feature of the studied area. It is believed that the growing share of fir and beech in forest plantations as a consequence of underplanting would improve this situation

Application of ITGL in the assessment of post-agricultural soils with natural regeneration of silver birch

The aim of the study was to apply the forest soil trophic index (ITGL) in the assessment of post−agricultural soil under naturally regenerated silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stands. The study was conducted in Mazowieckie region (central Poland) in 10 locations (tab. 1). In each location we established 4 study plots with naturally regenerated silver birch of different age. The age of the investigated stands ranged from 2 to 17 years. On each study plot samples from three upper soil horizons (0−5 cm, 5−15 cm and 15−50 cm) were collected for laboratory analysis. The following characteristics were determined in the soil samples: pH, organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) content, particle size and the content of exchangeable base cations (Ca, Mg, Na and K). These soil characteristics were on used for ITGL calculation. Chemical properties of soils under silver birch regeneration varied with regard to trees age, whereas physical attributes turned to be rather stabile over the time (tab. 2). According to ITGL value investigated soils were classified as eutrophic. It is probably the effect of high base cations content, which is a result of systematic fertilization during the long term agricultural use. The insignificantly different ITGL values for the studied soils (tab. 3) indicated their similarity in terms of site productivity potential and soil−geological characteristics. The soil properties, especially the quality of soil organic matter described with C/N ratio, improved several years after the cessation of agricultural activity and spontaneous afforestation. The obtained results indicate that silver birch can be used in the stand composition on post−agricultural areas