Tracing potential soil contamination in the historical Solvay soda ash plant area, Jaworzno, Southern Poland

This study of soil conditions was carried out on 30 meadow soil (podzol) samples from the vicinity of the soda ash heap in Jaworzno, supplemented by analyses of 18 samples of waste deposited on the heap. In all samples, the total content of macroelements (Ca and Na) and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) as well as pH were analysed. The element concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The materials examined were neutral to ultra-alkaline. Total accumulations (mg kg(−1)) of chemical elements in the soil vary from 130.24 to 14076.67 for Ca, 41.40–926.23 for Na, 0.03–3.34 for Cd, 0.94–103.62 for Cr, 0.94–35.89 for Ni, 3.51–76.47 for Pb and 12.05–279.13 for Zn, whereas quantities of the same elements in the waste samples vary from 171705.13 to 360487.94 for Ca, 517.64–3152.82 for Na, 0.2–9.89 for Cd, 1.16–20.40 for Cr, 1.08–9.79 for Ni, 0.1–146.05 for Pb and 10.26–552.35 for Zn. The vertical distribution of the metals was determined in each soil profile. Despite enrichment of heavy metals in the uppermost horizon on the top of the heap, the results lead to the conclusion that the relation of historical production of soda ash in Jaworzno to current contamination of the local soil environment is insignificant

Ideal selection of color : effectiveness of visionary technique in the dental practice

Introduction: Aesthetic restorations also hale a significant impact on the success of prosthetic treatment which recreates the proper functioning of the teeth. Suitable aesthetic effect is determined by the appropriate restoration of tooth shape and colour. Selecting the proper colour of artificial teeth is difficult and may suffer from many problems in everyday dentistry. In addition, visual assessment for the help of the unique is subjective and may give erroneous results. On the market there are auxiliary device for the instrumental assessment of the colour of teeth: spectrophotometers, calorimeters, colour analyzers computer. They are not commonly used in everyday medical practice. Goal: The aim of the study is to assess the applicability of Sopro 717 intraoral camera in the correct assessment of the colour of teeth. Methods: The study was conducted based on the evaluation of the natural tooth colour visually using the unique “Lumin - Vacuum” by the patient’s dental and medical students in natural light and using the intraoral camera having their own source of light. The experiment involved 40 people aged 22-46 years. The study was conducted to assess the colour of the surface of the cheek teeth 11 or 21 and 32 Takes into account a number of factors affecting the proper assessment of the colour of teeth such as colour space, light intensity, eye fatigue investigator. Results: The evaluation of the occurrence of differences in colour of the teeth within the two mentioned methods. Conclusions: Intraoral camera helps us to choosing the right colour of the tooth. Although this is still a subjective method allows us to reduce the number of errors made in the selection of the proper shade of hard tissues of the tooth

Ergonomics of work and movement disorders among dentists

Stomatolodzy w trakcie pracy narażeni są na wiele czynników wpływających negatywnie na stan układu ruchu. Głównym z nich jest statyczny charakter pracy spowodowany przyjmowaniem wymuszonej pozycji ciała. Celem artykułu było wykazanie zależności pomiędzy stosowaniem zasad ergonomii w pracy zawodowej lekarzy stomatologów, a występowaniem schorzeń narządu ruchu. Ponadto ocenie poddano znajomość zasad ergonomii stomatologicznej w tej grupie. Na podstawie badań ankietowych przeprowadzonych wśród 79 stomatologów dokonano oceny znajomości i stosowania zasad ergonomii pracy oraz występowania dolegliwości w obrębie narządu ruchu. Jedynie 4% stomatologów robiło przerwę w pracy po każdym pacjencie, natomiast aż 18% pracowało bez przerw. Zdecydowana większość (84%) stomatologów podczas wykonywania zabiegu stomatologicznego przyjmowała pozycje siedzącą. Z asystą pracowała ponad połowa (54%) lekarzy stomatologów. Wśród osób, które odczuwają ból kręgosłupa w odcinku szyjnym ponad połowa, bo 54% osób pracowało w pozycji z szyją pochyloną w prawo. Większość zasad ergonomii stosowana jest nieprawidłowo, dlatego powinny być one dopasowywane indywidualnie do konkretnego stomatologa, z uwzględnieniem jego możliwości fizycznych, geometrii środowiska pracy, zakresu wykonywanych czynności, a także osobistych upodobań.Dentists in the workplace are exposed to a number of factors that affect the condition of the movement system. The main problem seams to be the static nature of work due to the adoption of forced body position. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the relationship between the use of ergonomics principles in the professional work of dentists and the occurrence of motor disorders. In addition, knowledge of the principles of dental ergonomics in this group was assessed. The study was conducted among 79 dentists. The knowledge and application of the principles of ergonomics and the occurrence of ailments within the motor system were evaluated. Only 4% of dentists were taking a break from work after each patient, while 18% were working without interruption. The vast majority (84%) of dentists, while performing dental surgery took a sitting position. More than half (54%) of dentists who participated in the study worked with assistants. Among people who experience pain in the cervical spine 54% of people work in the position with neck inclined to the right. Most principles of ergonomics are not correct, so they should be adjusted individually to a particular dentist taking in to account its physical capabilities, the geometry of the work environment, the range of activities performed, and personal preferences as well

The stimulating effect of rosmarinic acid and extracts from rosemary and lemon balm on collagen type i biosynthesis in osteogenesis imperfecta type i skin fibroblasts

Rosemary extract (RE) and lemon balm extract (LBE) attract particular attention of phar-macists due to their high therapeutic potential. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type I is a heritable disease caused by mutations in type I collagen and characterized by its reduced amount. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the extracts and rosmarinic acid (RA) on collagen type I level in OI skin fibroblasts. Phytochemical analysis of RE and LBE was carried out by liquid chromatography–photodiode array detection–mass spectrometry. The expression of collagen type I at transcript and protein levels was analyzed by qPCR, ELISA, SDS-urea PAGE, and Western blot. In OI patient’s fibroblasts the exposure to the extracts (0.1–100 µg/mL) and RA (0.1–100 µM) significantly increased collagen type I and the best results were obtained with 0.1–10 µM RA and 0.1–10 µg/mL of the extracts. LBE showed a greater stimulating effect than RE, likely due to a higher RA content. Moreover, collagen type III expression and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1,-2,-9) activity remained unchanged or decreased. The obtained data support the clinical potential of RA-rich extracts and RA itself in modulating the quantitative defect of type I collagen in type I OI