Changes in morphological and cytological properties of blood during physical exercise in water at 4o^{o}C and 25o^{o}C

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed paperObjective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a single swimming exercise till exhaustion, in water on the morphological and cytological blood parameters in laboratory rats. Methods: The experiment involved 60 male rats from the Wistar strain, aged 8 weeks and 36 weeks. The animals were separated into 6 groups: 3 groups (I, II, III) of 8-week old animals, and 3 groups (IV, V, VI) of 36-week old animals. The rats in the study groups i.e. II, III, V, and VI were made to swim till exhaustion in water at 4ºC and at 25°C. After the experiment blood samples were collected from each rat and hematological and cytological determinations were completed for each sample. Results: Compared with the control group, in the rats from group II (8-week old, swimming in water at 4ºC) a significant increase was noted in the RBC count, Hb, Ht, and MCHC, and MCH indices, whereas in the rats from group V (36-week old, swimming in water at 4ºC) increases were noted in the MCHC and MCH indices (again when compared with the control group). In the rats from group III (8-week old, swimming in water at 25ºC), compared with the control group, significant increases were noted in the Hb and Ht parameters, as well as in the MCHC, and MCH indices, whereas in the group VI rats (36-week old swimming at 25ºC) – the increase was noted in the MCHC index. No alterations were found in the reticulocyte count, and in poikilocytes during exercise in water at low temperatures in either the 8-week or 36-week old rats. Conclusions: The increases in the majority of blood parameters, testifies to the dehydration of the body during physical exercise which in turn affects the microcirculation function. The lack of alterations in the reticulocyte count in the peripheral blood may, in turn, testify to the ineffectiveness of low temperature during exercise upon the function of the bone marrow

Neurological symptoms in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and their association with in-hospital mortality

Objectives. To evaluate the spectrum of neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19 during the first 14 days of hospitalisation and its association with in-hospital mortality. Material and methods. We included 200 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to University Hospital in Krakow, Poland. In 164 patients, a detailed questionnaire concerning neurological symptoms and signs was performed prospectively within 14 days of hospitalisation. In the remaining 36 patients, such questionnaires were completed retrospectively based on daily observations in the Department of Neurology. Results. During hospitalisation, 169 patients (84.5%) experienced neurological symptoms; the most common were: fatigue (62.5%), decreased mood (45.5%), myalgia (43.5%), and muscle weakness (42.5%). Patients who died during hospitalisation compared to the remainder were older (79 [70.5–88.5] vs. 63.5 [51–77] years, p = 0.001), and more often had decreased level of consciousness (50.0% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001), delirium (33.3% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001), arterial hypotension (50.0% vs. 19.6%, p = 0.005) or stroke during (18.8% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.026) or before hospitalisation (50.0% vs. 7.1, p < 0.001), whereas those who survived more often suffered from headache (42.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.012) or decreased mood (51.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). Conclusions. Most hospitalised patients with COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms. Decreased level of consciousness, delirium, arterial hypotension, and stroke during or before hospitalisation increase the risk of in-hospital mortality

The Conference Power of MOOCs - time for a Polish platform

The conference Moc MOOC-ów - czas na polską platformę (Power of MOOCs - time for a Polish platform) was held on 20th January 2015 at the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology of Warsaw University of Technology. This event was initiated by The Foundation of Young Science. The main aim of this conference was to initiate cooperation between partners interested in building the Polish MOOC platform and promulgate scientific knowledge. The participants of this conference were representatives of science, politics and industry. New opportunities of creation and development of an open Polish Platform MOOC and also popularization of this new form of education in Poland were discussed. The Letter of Intent - written symbol of supporting the creation of the Polish Platform MOOC was signed as a result of the first part of the debate. All of the participants jointly supported the initiative of creating the Polish Platform MOOC

The effects of a single bout of submaximal exercise on rheological properties of the blood in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a single bout of submaximal exercise on rheological properties of the blood children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and healthy controls. Material and methods. The study included 18 children in the age before puberty, with type 1 diabetes, both newly diagnosed (Group 1, n = 11) and with the diagnosis established at least five years earlier (Group 2, n = 7). Group 3 (n = 11) was comprised of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Children from all the groups were subjected to progressive submaximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Prior to the exercise and after the test, rheological parameters of peripheral blood erythrocytes: elongation index (EI), amplitude of aggregation (AMP), half time of total aggregation (T1/2) and aggregation index (AI) were determined. Results. No significant differences were found between the pre- and post-exercise values of erythrocyte aggregability measures (AI, T1/2 and AMP) and EI values at 0.30–59.07 Pa for any of the study groups. Conclusions. These results suggest that a single bout of physical exercise exerts no unfavorable effect on erythrocyte rheology in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Also time elapsed since the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus does not influence rheological properties of the blood

Wpływ jednorazowego submaksymalnego wysiłku fizycznego na właściwości reologiczne krwi u dzieci chorych na cukrzycę typu 1

Background. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a single bout of submaximal exercise on rheological properties of the blood children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and healthy controls. Material and methods. The study included 18 children in the age before puberty, with type 1 diabetes, both newly diagnosed (Group 1, n = 11) and with the diagnosis established at least five years earlier (Group 2, n = 7). Group 3 (n = 11) was comprised of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Children from all the groups were subjected to progressive submaximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Prior to the exercise and after the test, rheological parameters of peripheral blood erythrocytes: elongation index (EI), amplitude of aggregation (AMP), half time of total aggregation (T1/2) and aggregation index (AI) were determined. Results. No significant differences were found between the pre- and post-exercise values of erythrocyte aggregability measures (AI, T1/2 and AMP) and EI values at 0.30–59.07 Pa for any of the study groups. Conclusions. These results suggest that a single bout of physical exercise exerts no unfavorable effect on erythrocyte rheology in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Also time elapsed since the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus does not influence rheological properties of the blood.Wstęp. Celem pracy była ocena wpływu jednora­zowego, submaksymalnego wysiłku fizycznego na właściwości reologiczne krwi u dzieci z cukrzycą typu 1 i w grupie kontrolnej. Materiał i metody. W badaniach wzięło udział 18 dzieci, podzielonych na 3 grupy. W grupie 1 było 11 chorych ze świeżo rozpoznaną cukrzycą, w grupie 2 — 7 chorych z cukrzycą trwającą 5 lat i dłużej. W obu grupach dzieci były w wieku 9–11 lat, przed okresem pokwitania, o podobnej masie ciała, obojga płci. Grupę 3, kontrolną, stanowiło 11 dzieci zdrowych. Wszyscy pacjenci zostali poddani krótkiemu wysiłkowi fizycznemu na ergometrze rowerowym. Zarówno przed wysiłkiem fizycznym, jak i po nim wykonano oznaczenia indeksu elongacji erytrocytów (EI) oraz wskaźników agregacji erytrocytów, tj. AMP — stopień całkowitej agregacji, T1/2 — połowiczny czas całkowitej agregacji, AI — indeks agregacji. Wyniki. W badanych wskaźnikach agregacji erytrocytów, takich jak: indeks agregacji (AI), połowiczny czas całkowitej agregacji (T1/2) oraz stopień całkowi­tej agregacji (AMP), a także w indeksie elongacji (EI) w 3 badanych grupach po wysiłku fizycznym nie od­notowano istotnych statystycznie zmian. Wnioski. Wyniki badań wskazują, że jednorazowy wysiłek nie ma wpływu na badane właściwości reologiczne krwi u dzieci chorych na cukrzycę typu 1. Także czas trwania choroby nie miał istotnego wpływu na otrzymane wyniki

Effects of cold water swimming on blood rheological properties and composition of fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes of untrained older rats

This is the first report on the effects of a single bout of swimming to exhaustion in cold water on rat erythrocyte deformability, aggregation and fatty acid composition in erythrocyte membranes. The results indicate that there was a significant decrease in body temperature of experimental rats swimming in water at 4^{\circ}C and 25^{\circ}C when compared to the control. Erythrocyte aggregation indices did not change after swimming in water at 4^{\circ}C whereas erythrocyte deformability increased at shear stress 1,13 [Pa] and 15,96 [Pa]. Physical effort performed in water at 4^{\circ}C when compared to the control group resulted in an increase in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acid content in erythrocyte membranes that influenced the increase in their fluidity and permeability even though that of polyunsaturated n-6 fatty acids decreased. Physical effort performed in 25^{\circ}C water resulted in an increase in saturated fatty acid content and a decrease in all polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated n-6 fatty acids when compared to the control group. Swimming of untrained old rats in cold water affected rheological properties of erythrocytes in a negligible way while changes in the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes were more pronounced

The Effect of a 12-Week Health Training Program on Selected Anthropometric and Biochemical Variables in Middle-Aged Women

Regular moderate physical activity positively affects health, fitness, and body composition; it regulates the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines levels. Vitamin D plays an important regulatory role; its adequate levels correlate with low values of inflammation markers and an increase in muscle strength and fitness in exercising people. The study’s aim was to evaluate changes in somatic variables, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers, as well as blood calcidiol concentration in middle-aged healthy women after 12 weeks of aerobics classes—endurance exercises, including choreographic sequences, aiming to improve fitness and motor coordination. The training led to a significant reduction of body mass and fat tissue; it induced an increase in lean body mass. After the 12-week training program, plasma antioxidant status increased (0.65 ± 0.21, p<0.01) and the concentration of lipid peroxidation products decreased (0.07 ± 0.02, p<0.001). A significant increase in plasma antioxidant status associated with training could have reduced the level of proinflammatory interleukin as indicated by a positive correlation between these variables (rs = 0.64, p<0.05). The study proved that a 12-week health training program in physically inactive middle-aged women might provide improvements in their anthropometric parameters and selected biochemical indicators

Effect of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Hemorheological Blood Indices in Young, Healthy Women

The aim of the study is to assess the effect of single and 12-week WBVT and training without vibration on changes in hemorheological blood indices and plasma fibrinogen levels in young, healthy women. Three groups are distinguished: the experimental group—participating in WBVT (n = 17); the comparison group—implementing the same physical exercise protocol without the vibration factor (n = 12); and the control group—no intervention (n = 17). In the experimental and comparison group, blood is collected before and after the first and last training, while in the control group, blood is collected twice, 3 months apart. After a series of WBVT, a significant decrease in the mean erythrocyte volume and mean hemoglobin mass in erythrocytes, as well as a slight increase in the mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration, is found, and the effect of the last training is a significant decrease in plasma volume. Under the influence of repeated WBVT, there is an increase in erythrocyte deformability at low shear stress and an increase in the aggregation amplitude. The study shows that WBVT improves blood flow in the vessels and does not affect erythrocyte aggregation and the level of fibrinogen, which confirms the safety of this form of exercise

Weryfikacja uwarunkowań geotermalnych na Niżu Polskim na podstawie danych z nowych wierceń zrealizowanych w latach 2000-2022

The aim of the presented work was an attempt to verify the geothermal conditions in the Polish Lowlands (Lower Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous reservoir) based on new geological information. The paper presents geothermal conditions in the Polish Lowlands according to the state of recognition at the end of 2022 in order to update the hydrogeothermal conditions in selected regions. Based on the scientific and research works published so far as well as numerous geothermal investments, and geological information from twenty-three new exploratory drilling events performed in the years 2000-2022 (nineteen of which were performed/documented after 2006), the authors undertook to update forecasts of the top surface of Lower Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous formations, the total thickness of these formations and the potential discharge of wells. The analysis was performed using the QGIS Desktop 3.24.1 software, a cross-platform and free open-source geoinformation software application (GIS ) that enables the viewing, editing and analyzing of spatial data and the creation of maps. The correction covered the course of the isolines on all six analyzed maps. The presented analysis made it possible to make a spot correction of the forecasted course of the isoline in relation to the maps published earlier in the Atlas of geothermal resources in the Polish Lowlands. Mesozoic formations developed in 2006, edited by Wojciech Górecki. Information obtained from newly drilled geothermal boreholes enabled the local correction of the forecasted values of individual parameters while maintaining the general trend.Celem pracy była próba weryfikacji uwarunkowań geotermalnych na Niżu Polskim (zbiornik dolnej jury i dolnej kredy) na podstawie nowych informacji geologicznych. W pracy przedstawiono uwarunkowania geotermalne na Niżu Polskim według stanu rozpoznania na koniec 2022 r. w celu aktualizacji warunków hydrogeotermalnych w wybranych regionach. Na podstawie dotychczas opublikowanych prac naukowo-badawczych, a także zrealizowanych licznych inwestycji geotermalnych, oraz informacji geologicznej z nowych 23 wierceń poszukiwawczych zrealizowanych w latach 2000-2022 (19 z nich wykonano/udokumentowano po roku 2006), autorzy podjęli się aktualizacji prognoz zalegania stropu utworów jury dolnej i kredy dolnej, miąższości całkowitej tych utworów oraz potencjalnej wydajności ujęć geotermalnych. Analizę wykonano z wykorzystaniem oprogramowania QGIS Desktop 3.24.1, wieloplatformowego, wolnego i otwartego oprogramowania geoinformacyjnego (GIS ) umożliwiającego przeglądanie, edytowanie i analizowanie danych przestrzennych oraz tworzenie map. Korekta objęła przebieg izolinii na wszystkich sześciu analizowanych mapach. Zaprezentowane analizy pozwoliły na dokonanie punktowej korekty prognozowanego przebiegu izolinii w odniesieniu do publikowanych wcześniej map w Atlasie zasobów geotermalnych na Niżu Polskim. Formacje mezozoiku opracowanym w 2006 r., pod redakcją naukową Wojciecha Góreckiego. Informacje uzyskane z nowo wykonanych otworów geotermalnych pozwoliły na lokalną korektę prognozowanych wartości poszczególnych parametrów przy zachowaniu ogólnego trendu