Literackość kazań księdza Janusza Stanisława Pasierba

Sermons of Reverend Janusz Stanisław Pasierb have a distinct literary character. This may be due to the fact that the preacher was both a poet and essayist. The first part of the paper contains a methodological reflection on literariness, with particular emphasis on the location of the sermon as a specific genre of expression in relation to other forms of literary expression. In the further part of the text, the style and composition of sermons of Reverend Pasierb and their relationship with the poetry of this author are examined. Also, homilies from the funerals of art people are presented – in these works Pasierb contained a particularly large literary component. Reverend Pasierb is fully aware of what the art of word is, including the preacher’s word. He works towards a greater linguistic reflection, drawing artistic attention to the style of preaching. His preaching, with a metaphysical depth and clearly eschatological perspective, and at the same time adding value to worldliness, often tends to an essay and meditation. We are dealing with the individualization of a preacher’s message and a partial remodelling of a typical preacher’s formula

The morphology of the Luciąża River valley floor in the vicinity of the Rozprza medieval ring-fort in light of geophysical survey

Multidisciplinary research (including magnetic survey, earth resistance survey, geological mapping, detailed archaeological surface survey and geochemical prospection) was undertaken on an area of about 0.7–9.0 hectares (depending on the method) in the close surroundings of the medieval ring-fort relicts in central Poland. The geophysical studies of the vicinity of the Rozprza ring-fort were part of a multi-method complementary non-destructive archaeological survey. The ring-fort is situated in the Luciąża River (Vistula River basin) valley floor and the flood plain morphology is very important for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental conditions of settlement location. Results of aerial photographs and geophysical prospection allowed the discovery of traces of sub-fossil palaeomeanders of different sizes as well as relicts of archaeological features (system of ramparts and moats). It was possible due to the application of high resolution archaeo-geophysical surveys. Both natural structures and also anthropogenic features registered with geophysics have been verified by geological sounding. The surface geology structure of the close vicinity of the ring-fort has been recognised in detail and selected organic deposits of palaeochannel fills and overbank covers have been 14C dated. The Rozprza ring-fort was situated in a defensive location on the surface of a sandy terrace remnant in the central part of a (partly) swampy valley floor. The accumulation of recorded fills of palaeochannels and moats covers the whole Holocene, as documented by 14C data. It gives the possibility for future detailed palaeoenvironmental studies. The results of geophysical studies, due to their known precise location, allow the effective planning of further research activities, both archaeological and palaeoenvironmenta

Live birth of monochorionic triamniotic triplets after in vitro fertilization and blastocyst transfer: case report and review of the literature

Monozygotic triplet pregnancies are very rare, even after in vitro fertilization (IVF). We present a case of a live birth of triplets from a monochorionic triamniotic pregnancy after blastocyst transfer. A 29-year-old woman underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI). Her medical history included a 4-year infertility treatment with ovarian stimulation, three cycles of intrauterine insemination, hysteroscopy and an unsuccessful attempt at IVF. During the second IVF attempt, the patient underwent ovulation simulation according to the long GnRH agonist protocol. Eleven metaphase II (MII) oocytes were injected with spermatozoa, resulting in four expanded blastocysts. In the end, two blastocysts (4AA) were transferred into the uterine cavity. Ultrasound examination performed at 7 weeks of gestation showed an ongoing triamniotic triplet pregnancy. Regular uterine contractions began at 33 weeks of gestation and a cesarean section was performed, resulting in a birth of three healthy girls, weighing 2060g (Apgar 7), 1860g (Apgar 6), 2000g (Apgar 6). After 13 days of hospitalization the infants and the mother were discharged home. Conclusion: The causes of monozygotic multiple gestations in spontaneous and ART pregnancies are poorly understood. They seem to occur more often after IVF. Any definitive relationship between particular stages of the IVF procedure and monozygotic multiple pregnancies remains controversial

Immunolocalization of ABC drug transporters in human placenta from normal and gestational diabetic pregnancies

Objectives: ABC transporters, P-gp, MDR3, BCRP and MRP1, can bind both endo- and exogenous ligands. The latter include immunosuppressive, anticancer, sedative, anticonvulsant, antiparasitic and cardiovascular drugs, as well as HIV protease inhibitors and antibiotics. Protein transporters are also involved in tissue distribution of orally administered medicines in combination therapy for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and could be used during GDM treatment. The distribution depends on transporter specificity, its expression and subcellular localization. The aim: The aim of the study was to compare P-gp, MDR3, BCRP and MRP1 localization in placental tissues from normal and GDM diabetic pregnancies. Material and methods: Tissue samples were taken from 10 normal and 10 GDM placentas. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed with the use of adequate monoclonal antibodies. Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method was used for the visualization of antigen-antibody complexes. Results: P-gp, MDR3 and BCRP were found in all parts of normal human placenta i.e. the amniotic epithelium, cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast and decidual cells. P-gp and BCRP, but not MDR3 and MRP1, were also localized on the endothelial cells of fetal blood vessels in the chorionic plate, as well as stem and tertiary villi. MRP1 expression was observed in the cytotrophoblast and the syncytiotrophoblast. Its expression was very low or undetectable in the amniotic epithelium and the majority of decidual cells. Immunohistochemical reactions within the syncytiotrophoblast showed apical (P-gp, BCRP), apical and basal (MRP1) or diffuse (MDR3) distribution. The main changes observed in GDM placentas included weaker MRP1 and MDR3 positive reactions in the syncytiotrophoblast, slightly lower expression of P-gp in the decidual and amniotic epithelial cells, and MDR3 in the amniotic epithelium. Conclusions: Our results indicate that GDM-related changes in the environment of placental cells do not substantially influence tissue and subcellular location of ABC transporters. Nevertheless, the expression of P-gp, MDR3 and MRP1 may be lower in comparison to normal placentas. Basal syncytiotrophoblast transporters, MRP1 and MDR3, seem to be more sensitive to the influence of GDM than apical proteins, what may result in altered biodisposition of endogenous substrates and drugs

Zastosowanie rozmytych reguł wnioskowania do automatycznej klasyfikacji zapisów częstości uderzeń serca płodu w odniesieniu do stanu urodzeniowego

Objectives: Fetal monitoring based on the analysis of the fetal heart rate (FHR) signal is the most common method of biophysical assessment of fetal condition during pregnancy and labor. Visual analysis of FHR signals presents a challenge due to a complex shape of the waveforms. Therefore, computer-aided fetal monitoring systems provide a number of parameters that are the result of the quantitative analysis of the registered signals. These parameters are the basis for a qualitative assessment of the fetal condition. The guidelines for the interpretation of FHR provided by FIGO are commonly used in clinical practice. On their basis a weighted fuzzy scoring system was constructed to assess the FHR tracings using the same criteria as those applied by expert clinicians. The effectiveness of the automated classification was evaluated in relation to the fetal outcome assessed by Apgar score. Material and methods: The proposed automated system for fuzzy classification is an extension of the scoring systems used for qualitative evaluation of the FHR tracings. A single fuzzy rule of the system corresponds to a single evaluation principle of a signal parameter derived from the FIGO guidelines. The inputs of the fuzzy system are the values of quantitative parameters of the FHR signal, whereas the system output, which is calculated in the process of fuzzy inference, defines the interpretation of the FHR tracing. The fuzzy evaluation process is a kind of diagnostic test, giving a negative or a positive result that can be compared with the fetal outcome assessment. The present retrospective study included a set of 2124 one-hour antenatal FHR tracings derived from 333 patients, recorded between 24 and 44 weeks of gestation (mean gestational age: 36 weeks). Various approaches for the research data analysis, depending on the method of interpretation of the individual patient-tracing relation, were used in the investigation. The quality of the fuzzy analysis was defined by the number of correct classifications (CC) and the additional index QI – the geometric mean of the sensitivity and specificity values. Results: The effectiveness of the fetal assessment varied, depending on the assumed relation between a patient and a set of her tracings. The approach, based on a common assessment of the whole set of tracings recorded for a single patient, provided the highest quality of automated classification. The best results (CC = 70.9% and QI = 84.0%) confirmed the possibility of predicting the neonatal outcome using the proposed fuzzy system based on the FIGO guidelines. Conclusions: It is possible to enhance the process of the fetal condition assessment with classification of the FHR records through the implementation of the heuristic rules of inference in the fuzzy signal processing algorithms.Cel pracy: Monitorowanie płodu na podstawie analizy sygnału czynności serca płodu (FHR) jest najczęściej stosowaną metodą biofizycznej oceny stanu płodu w czasie ciąży i porodu. Wzrokowa analiza krzywej FHR jest trudna z uwagi na jej złożony kształt. Z tego względu, komputerowo-wspomagane systemy monitorowania stanu płodu dostarczają szeregu parametrów będących rezultatem ilościowej analizy rejestrowanego sygnału. Parametry te są podstawą dla jakościowej oceny stanu płodu. Do najczęściej stosowanych wytycznych, określających sposób interpretacji sygnału FHR należą kryteria określone przez FIGO. Na ich podstawie skonstruowano ważony rozmyty system punktowy, którego zadaniem jest określenie stanu płodu na podstawie kryteriów oceny, jakimi posługuje się ekspert kliniczny. W pracy przedstawiono badania nad zgodnością rozmytej klasyfikacji z oceną stanu płodu wyznaczaną na podstawie punktacji Apgar. Materiał i metody: Proponowany system do automatycznej, rozmytej klasyfikacji stanowi rozwinięcie idei skal punktowych wykorzystywanych do jakościowej oceny zapisów czynności serca płodu. Za pomocą jednej reguły rozmytej modelowana jest zasada oceny pojedynczego parametru opisu ilościowego sygnału FHR zgodnie z wytycznymi FIGO. Wejściami systemu rozmytego są wartości parametrów ilościowych sygnału FHR, a stan wyjścia, wyznaczany w procesie wnioskowania rozmytego, definiuje interpretację zapisu. Proces rozmytej oceny sygnału jest rodzajem testu diagnostycznego, którego wynik, negatywny lub pozytywny, można porównać z oceną stanu urodzeniowego noworodka. Badaniem retrospektywnym objęto zbiór 2124 godzinnych zapisów ciążowych pochodzących od 333 pacjentek, zarejestrowanych pomiędzy 24 a 44 tygodniem ciąży (średni wiek ciążowy to 36 tygodni). W eksperymentach zastosowano różne konstrukcje zbiorów danych, w zależności od przyjętego sposobu interpretacji zbioru sygnałów zarejestrowanych dla pojedynczej pacjentki. Jakość rozmytej analizy automatycznej oceniano na podstawie liczby poprawnych klasyfikacji CC oraz wskaźnika QI będącego średnią geometryczną czułości oraz swoistości. Wyniki: W zależności od przyjętej metody analizy zbioru danych otrzymano różną skuteczność oceny stanu płodu. Podejście, w którym określano jedną wspólną ocenę dla całego zbioru zapisów zarejestrowanych dla pojedynczej pacjentki, pozwoliło na uzyskanie najwyższej jakości automatycznej klasyfikacji. Najlepsze z uzyskanych wyników (CC = 70.9% i QI = 84.0%) potwierdzają możliwość predykcji stanu urodzeniowego płodu na podstawie rozmytego wnioskowania opartego na wytycznych FIGO. Wnioski: Istnieje możliwość wspomagania procesu diagnostyki stanu płodu przez zastosowanie systemu rozmytej klasyfikacji sygnałów FHR, opartego o heurystyczne reguły wnioskowania właściwe doświadczonemu klinicyście

Anti-Müllerian hormone dynamics during ovulation induction treatment with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Wstęp: Hormon anty-Müllerowski (AMH) jest uznawany za marker odpowiedzi jajników na stymulację owulacji. Materiał i metody: Do badania włączono 26 kobiet pragnących zajść w ciążę i wykazujących oporność na leczenie cytrynianem klomifenu. Wszystkie pacjentki były stymulowane rekombinowaną folitropiną. Wyniki: W grupie dobrze odpowiadającej na stymulację stężenia lutropiny i estradiolu były niższe niż w grupie nieodpowiadającej. Stężenie wolnego testosteronu, indeks wolnych androgenów i insulinooporność były większe w grupie nieodpowiadającej na stymulację. W grupie odpowiadającej stężenie AMH obniżyło się w kolejnych dniach stymulacji i spadek ten był wyraźniejszy u pacejntek z większą liczbą wzrastających pęcherzyków. Pacjentki z PCOS wykazują niskie stężenia FSH i wysokie AMH. Uważa się, że obniżenie stężenia AMH poprzedza wzrost pęcherzyków w trakcie stymulacji rekombinowanym FSH. U bezowulacyjnych pacjentek z PCOS łagodny wzrost w surowicy FSH hamuje AMH, odblokowując ekspresję aromatazy przez wybrane pęcherzyki, co pozwala na wyłonienie rosnących pęcherzyków. Kobiety z nasilonym hiperandrogenizmem, insulinoopornością i wysokim poziomem LH nie odpowiadają na stymulację. Wnioski: Obniżenie stężenia AMH u pacjentek z PCOS po tygodniu stymulacji rekombinowanym FSH jest praktycznym, cennym markerem pozwalającym wyłonić pacjentki z wysokim ryzykiem zespołu hiperstymulacji. Bezowulacyjne pacjentki z PCOS z ciężkim hiperandrogenizmem, insulinoopornością i hiperinsulinemią nie powinny być kwalifikowane do stymulacji owulacji rekombinowanym FSH. (Endokrynol Pol 2013; 64 (3): 203–207)Introduction: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been suggested as a predictor of ovarian response to ovulation induction and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Material and methods: Twenty-six women, wishing to become pregnant and who showed resistance to clomiphene citrate, were included in the study. All women received recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (recFSH). Results: In the group of good responders, luteinising hormone (LH) and oestradiol levels were lower than in the group of non-responders. Free testosterone levels, free androgen index, and insulin resistance were higher in the group of non-responders. In the group of good responders, AMH levels decreased on successive days of ovarian stimulation and a greater slope of AMH levels was observed in patients with a higher number of increasing follicles. PCOS patients have low FSH and high AMH levels. It could be suggested that the serum AMH decrease preceded growth of many follicles, which is a consequence of the FSH stimulation. In anovulatory PCOS women, gently increasing the serum FSH level reduces the AMH excess, thus relieving the inhibition from the latter on aromatase expression by selectable follicles and allowing the emergence of growing follicles. Patients with severe hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and high level of LH do not respond to stimulation. Conclusions: The decrease of AMH levels in PCOS women after one week of ovarian stimulation is a practical, valuable indicator which could predict the patients with a high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation. Anovulating PCOS patients with severe hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia should not be qualified for recFSH ovarian stimulation. (Endokrynol Pol 2013; 64 (3): 203–207

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells undergo differentiation after co-culture with porcine Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are objects of interest in regenerative medicine. They are used for various therapies such as for the regeneration of bone, chondrocytes and other tissues. Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) inter alia are particularly easy to access, they are relatively abundant in fat tissue. ADSCs could be differentiated into many types of cells. To date, it has been proven that ADSCs only differentiate into mesodermal cell lineages. In this study, we present the differentiation of ADSCs into the corneal epithelium. Human ADSCs were placed in a co-culture with porcine limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs). After 14 days of cultivation, total RNA was extracted for the analysis of the molecular markers (expression of genes of interest). The gene expression was assessed by real-time RT-qPCR. The expression of the surface molecular markers of ADSCs is modulated after co-culturing. We have observed the decrease in CD73, CD90 and CD105 mRNA expression, while the expression of mRNA coding for CK3 and CK12 mRNA was increased in ADSCs co-cultured with porcine limbal epithelial stem cells as compared to the control. We conclude that the coculture of LESCs and ADSCs changed ADSCs’ molecular markers gene expression indicating initiation of differentiation towards limbal cells

LOST AND FOUND: THE VALLUM IN LACU AT OSTROWITE (NORTHERN POLAND). A MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH CASE STUDY

The vallum in lacu (rampart by the lake) mentioned in 15th-century written sources as part of the Medieval landscape of Ostrowite (East Pomerania) has been researched by archaeologists and antiquaries since the 19th century. A wide range of non-invasive archaeological prospection methods were applied at Ostrowite in 2010-2015, including magnetic gradiometry, earth resistance, aerial photography, intensive field-walking, geochemical (phosphate) prospection, and the analysis of Airborne Laser Scanning. They were supplemented and verified by small-scale excavation work. This vast set of prospection methods was integrated into a Geographical Information System (GIS), and combined with an analysis of written sources, and allowed for the identification of a previously unknown ring-fort, which for the last 15 years has gone unnoticed by researchers conducting annual excavations in its vicinity. Its discovery and identification were only possible due to the integration of results from various methods, particularly non-invasive ones.Key words: magnetometry, surface survey, phosphate prospection, electrical resistivity, aerial photography, Middle Ages.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ab.v24i0.156

Anti-Müllerian hormone and fertility disturbances in obese women and women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Summary Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) belongs to a family of growth and differentiation factors beta (TGF-beta). In male fetuses AMH induces regression of Müller’s ducts whereas in female ones this hormone plays an important role during adolescence and reproductive period. AMH participates in regulation of folliculogenesis by inhibiting the recruitment of prenatal and antral follicles. The aim of the present study was to summarize the current knowledge of the role of AMH in menstrual and fertility disturbances in obese women and those with polycystic ovary syndrome

Mechanistic aspects of alloxan diabetogenic activity: a key role of keto-enol inversion of dialuric acid on ionization

The inversion of the keto-enol stability order of dialuric acid on ionization was calculated and verified experimentally. The radical cations in both forms were characterized. The spectrum of the keto form was observed upon direct ionization of dialuric acid under matrix conditions, whereas the enol form was formed upon a sequential electron-proton-proton attachment to alloxan under acidic aqueous condition. Facilitation of the one-electron oxidation of dialuric acid upon its enolization can result in a more effective formation of superoxide radical anion in the process of its auto-oxidation. This process is discussed in reference to the alloxan diabetogenic action. Both neutral keto and enol forms are energetically close, and under favorable conditions, the auto-oxidation of dialuric acid could involve participation of the enol form