Vaginal and cervical bacterial colonization in patients with threatening preterm labor

Objectives: The aim of the following work was to evaluate vaginal and cervical colonization in patients with threatening preterm labor and comparing the frequency of colonization of the term and preterm labor groups. Material and methods: 532 pregnant women with threatening preterm labor were included into the clinical trial. The frequency of colonization was established and the frequency of colonization depending on the duration of pregnancy was checked. Results: Positive vaginal cultures were found in 29.5% of patients. The most frequent were: Escherichia coli and Streptoccocus agalactiae. There was no relationship between the duration of pregnancy, the frequency of colonization or the type of bacterial culture. Conclusions: 30% of positive vaginal and cervical cultures may indicate about the deficiency of the used method. The most frequent microorganisms remain to be Candida, Escherichia coli and GBS. However, the frequency of colonization with rare bacteria increases. Not only bacterial colonization but a group of different factors may be the reason of preterm labor

Metabolic syndrome — a new definition and management guidelines

The joint position paper by Polish Society of Hypertension, Polish Society for the Treatment of Obesity, Polish Lipid Association, Polish Association for Study of Liver, Polish Society of Family Medicine, Polish Society of Lifestyle Medicine, Division of Prevention and Epidemiology Polish Cardiac Society, “Club 30” Polish Cardiac Society, and Division of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society of Polish Surgeons Reviewers: Agnieszka Olszanecka, Krzysztof J. Filipia

Komunikacja jako element kapitału społecznego w organizacji sieciowej

Due to the fact that the social capital is based on trust, norms, values and interrelations, it becomes a factor which builds and consolidates connections inside an organisation or society. It influences also overall efficiency of existing network. Implementation of the new technologies demands accuracy and efficacious cooperation between managers and employees. To improve this cooperation, managers should invest in building of the social capital in their enterprise. Nevertheless, one of the main problems is existence of communication barriers which hinder the development of trust which is a pillar of the social capital. The paper presents the results of research on communication and trust in a network enterprise

Is salvage logging a proper tool for restoration of forest ecosystems affected by bark beetle outbreak?

Is salvage logging on deciduous forest habitats essential in restoration of forest ecosystems affected by bark beetle outbreak? Biotic and abiotic disturbances are part of the life cycle of natural forests. They increase the structural and biotic diversity of forests ecosystems. Norway-spruce dominated stands of Central Europe are often affected by outbreaks of Ips typographus, which initiate "stand replacement" pathways of forest regeneration (sensu Veblen 1992). Such processes are difficult to accept from the point of view of forestry. Thus, in forest stands disturbed by the insect outbreaks, salvage logging and tree replanting are usually implemented, while natural processes leading to forest regeneration play the minor role. We studied two different aspects of forest ecosystem recovery in salvage logged and in unmanaged (not logged) spruce-dominated forests affected by spruce bark beetle: (1) tree regeneration dynamics in the lower mountain zone of the Beskidy Mts. (Silesian Beskids, S Poland), and (2) changes in herb layer composition in the lowlands, in the Białowieża Forest (N-E Poland). Both, in mountains and lowlands, the ratio of spruce in the studied stands was artificially high (50-90% and 20-80%, respectively) due to former rejuvenation planting on sites of broadleaved forests. Otherwise, deciduous trees would naturally dominate in these forest habitats: beech in the mountains and oak, lime and hornbeam in the lowlands. In the mountainous zone we investigated the sites where all dead trees were removed with no successive tree replanting (the reference stands where no trees were logged were not available). Natural tree regeneration process was very dynamic and led to re-establishment of beech-dominated stands. In the lowlands the total species richness of the herb layer was significantly higher in sites with removed dead trees and trees replanted. However, an increase was mainly due to appearance of species characteristic of non-forest, open habitats. Such trends were not observed in sites with untreated sites with standing dead spruce. In contrast, compared to salvage-logged sites, ancient woodland species, typical to mixed deciduous forest maintained higher abundance in unmanaged stands, where salvage logging did not take place. Both forest types studied revealed great potential for natural reestablishment of species composition typical to deciduous forests. Thus, from the conservation point of view post-disturbance salvage logging is needed neither for recovery of beech in the mountain deciduous forests nor for recovery of herb layer of mixed-deciduous forests in the lowlands. Furthermore, in the case of lowland forests investigated such treatements inhibit the spontaneous recovery of herb layer species composition typical to broadleaved forests. Veblen T.T. 1992. Regeneration dynamics,in: Plant succession: theory and prediction (eds. D.C. Glenn-Lewin, R.K. Peet, T.T. Veblen). Chapman and Hall, London, 152-187.peerReviewe

Clinical Usefulness of the Inhibitory Control Test (ICT) in the Diagnosis of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) refers to a number of neuropsychiatric and neurophysiological disorders in patients with cirrhosis who do not show abnormalities on physical examination or in clinical tests. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and predictive value of minimal hepatic encephalopathy and the usefulness of the inhibitory control test (ICT) in the diagnosis. Methods: Seventy patients (mean age 53 years, range 24−77) with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in the study. MHE was diagnosed based on PHES (psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score) and ICT. PHES and ICT were validated in a group of 56 control subjects. Results: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed using PHES in 21 patients (30%). ICT diagnosed MHE in 30 patients (42%), and the test had a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 57% compared to PHES. The ICT score (lures/target accuracy rate) correlated with the age of subjects (R = 0.35, p = 0.002) and only slightly with education (education in years R = −0.22, p = 0.06). MHE diagnosed with PHES or ICT was associated with a significantly higher model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in the follow-up. MHE diagnosed with ICT was correlated with a significantly higher incidence of symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis (p = 0.02) in the follow-up. Conclusions: ICT had moderate sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing MHE compared to PHES. Importantly, MHE detected with PHES or ICT was associated with poorer survival and a more severe progression of the disease

Serum Cytokeratin 18 M30 Levels in Chronic Hepatitis B Reflect Both Phase and Histological Activities of Disease

Chronic hepatitis B has highly a dynamic course with significant fluctuations of HBV-DNA and ALT impeding assessment of disease activity. New biomarkers of inflammatory versus noninflammatory stages of HBV infection are urgently needed. Cytokeratin 18 epitope M30 (M30 CK-18) is a sensitive marker of cell death. We aimed to investigate an association between serum M30 CK-18 and histological activity and phase of HBV infection. 150 Caucasian patients with HBV-infection were included in the study. Serum M30 CK-18 levels reflected phase of disease, being significantly higher in both HBeAg(+) and HBeAg(−) hepatitis B in comparison to HBsAg(+) carrier groups. The highest serum M30 CK-18 levels were observed in subjects with the most advanced stages of HBV. Moreover, its serum concentrations correlated with both inflammatory activity and fibrosis advancement (ANOVA P<0.001). Importantly, serum M30 CK-18 levels were able to discriminate patients with mild versus moderate-advanced fibrosis (AUC: 0.86) and mild versus active liver inflammation (AUC: 0.79). M30 CK-18 serum concentration has good sensitivity and specificity in discriminating mild versus moderate/severe fibrosis and inflammation even in patients with normal ALT activity. This study suggests M30 CK-18 as a potential noninvasive marker of disease activity and also a marker of phase of persistent HBV infection

Naturally Formed Chitinous Skeleton Isolated from the Marine Demosponge Aplysina fistularis as a 3D Scaffold for Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering (TE) is a field of regenerative medicine that has been experiencing a special boom in recent years. Among various materials used as components of 3D scaffolds, naturally formed chitinous materials seem to be especially attractive because of their abundance, non-toxic and eco-friendly character. In this study, chitinous skeleton isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina fistularis (phylum: Porifera) was used for the first time as a support for the cultivation of murine fibroblasts (Balb/3T3), human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), human keratinocyte (HaCaT), and human neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cells. Characterization techniques such as ATR FTIR, TGA, and μCT, clearly indicate that an interconnected macro-porous, thermostable, pure α-chitin scaffold was obtained after alkali–acid treatment of air-dried marine sponge. The biocompatibility of the naturally formed chitin scaffolds was confirmed by cell attachment and proliferation determined by various microscopic methods (e.g., SEM, TEM, digital microscopy) and specific staining. Our observations show that fibroblasts and keratinocytes form clusters on scaffolds that resemble a skin structure, including the occurrence of desmosomes in keratinocyte cells. The results obtained here suggest that the chitinous scaffold from the marine sponge A. fistularis is a promising biomaterial for future research about tissues regeneration