Platelet Carbonic Anhydrase II, a Forgotten Enzyme, May Be Responsible for Aspirin Resistance

Background. Thromboembolic events constitute a major health problem, despite the steadily expanding arsenal of antiplatelet drugs. Hence, there is still a need to optimize the antiplatelet therapy. Objectives. The aim of our study was to verify a hypothesis that there are no differences in platelet proteome between two groups of healthy people representing different acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) responses as assessed by the liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique. Patients/Methods. A total of 61 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. Physical examination and blood collection were followed by platelet-rich plasma aggregation assays and platelet separation for proteomic LC/MS analysis. Arachidonic acid- (AA-) induced aggregation (in the presence of aspirin) allowed to divide study participants into two groups aspirin-resistant (AR) and aspirin-sensitive (AS) ones. Subsequently, platelet proteome was compared in groups using the LC/MS analysis. Results. The LC/MS analysis of platelet proteome between groups revealed that out of all identified proteins, the only discriminatory protein, affecting aspirin responsiveness, is platelet carbonic anhydrase II (CA II). Conclusions. CA II is a platelet function modulator and should be taken into consideration as a cardiovascular event risk factor or therapeutic target

Independent Component Analysis-motivated Approach to Classificatory Decomposition of Cortical Evoked Potentials

BACKGROUND: Independent Component Analysis (ICA) proves to be useful in the analysis of neural activity, as it allows for identification of distinct sources of activity. Applied to measurements registered in a controlled setting and under exposure to an external stimulus, it can facilitate analysis of the impact of the stimulus on those sources. The link between the stimulus and a given source can be verified by a classifier that is able to "predict" the condition a given signal was registered under, solely based on the components. However, the ICA's assumption about statistical independence of sources is often unrealistic and turns out to be insufficient to build an accurate classifier. Therefore, we propose to utilize a novel method, based on hybridization of ICA, multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEA), and rough sets (RS), that attempts to improve the effectiveness of signal decomposition techniques by providing them with "classification-awareness." RESULTS: The preliminary results described here are very promising and further investigation of other MOEAs and/or RS-based classification accuracy measures should be pursued. Even a quick visual analysis of those results can provide an interesting insight into the problem of neural activity analysis. CONCLUSION: We present a methodology of classificatory decomposition of signals. One of the main advantages of our approach is the fact that rather than solely relying on often unrealistic assumptions about statistical independence of sources, components are generated in the light of a underlying classification problem itself

Electrocardiographic implantable loop recorders

Badanie elektrokardiograficzne jest niezbędne w diagnostyce zaburzeń rytmu i choroby niedokrwiennej serca. Procedura ta mimo swoich zalet, jak łatwość wykonania i powszechna dostępność, ma też wady, z których najważniejszą jest krótkotrwałość zapisu krzywej EKG znacznie zmniejszająca czułość tej procedury. W celu wyeliminowania tych ograniczeń powstały modyfikacje tej techniki polegające przede wszystkim na przedłużeniu zapisu elektrokardiograficznego, jak ma to miejsce w metodzie Holtera, lub na zapisie EKG dokładnie w momencie wystąpienia objawów klinicznych z wykorzystaniem zewnętrznych lub wszczepialnych rejestratorów zdarzeń. Wszczepialne rejestratory pętlowe EKG pozwalają nie tylko na stały nadzór nad pacjentem, ale także skracają czas postawienia prawidłowej diagnozy oraz wiążące się z tym koszty procedur diagnostycznych oraz leczenia. Źródłem nowych możliwości jest rozwój telekomunikacji w medycynie pozwalający na wymianę specjalistycznych informacji o pacjencie na odległość oraz na wdrożenie odpowiednio szybko prawidłowego postępowania.The ECG is essential in the diagnosis of arrhythmias and coronary heart disease. This procedure, despite of its advantages, such as widespread availability and simplicity, also has significant disadvantages. The most important of them is the brevity of the ECG record, which greatly reduce the sensibility of this examination. Because of these limitations modifications of ECG assessment was developed which are prolongation of the ECG recording, as in Holter monitoring, and ECG recording during the occurrence of clinical symptoms using external or implantable event recorders. Implantable loop recorders allow for not only the constant monitoring of the patient but they also shorten the necessary time for correct diagnosis of the disease and decrease costs of diagnostic procedures and treatment. The development of telemedicine creates new possibilities and enables the exchange of essential informations about the patient for long distances and quick implementation of the proper therapy

Role of the deadwood in regeneration of the ash-alder forest stand (Fraxino-Alnetum) colonized by beavers

The paper concerns the structure of natural regeneration in ash−alder riparian forests (Fraxino−Alnetum) colonized by beavers (Castor fiber) taking into account the substrate, on which it appears (soil and deadwood). Study was conducted in 2016 on twelve sampling plots located in the Orłówka valley in the Białowieża National Park (eastern Poland), where beavers settled around 2005. We counted natural regeneration occurring on the ground and on deadwood on each plot. Also we identified volume of deadwood, decay status and water cover. A decade after the occurrence of beaver ponds, the density of natural regeneration is 5575 saplings per hectare and the regeneration on deadwood is 28% of the total. Black alder is the dominant species. The regeneration occurring on the soil is richer in species and has a larger share of shrub species. In the case of regeneration on the deadwood, seedlings appear first on trees fallen before the flood. Over the time, the role of deadwood as a substrate for the development of regeneration increases and the role of fallen trees is the greater, the greater is the fraction (coverage) of the flooded areas. Studies show that the continuous occurrence of the deadwood accelerates habitat regeneration after a disturbance such as the occurrence of a beaver pond

Analysis of hydraulic design of downhole penetrometer and his modernization in order to increase the measuring range

W artykule przedstawiono przegląd konstrukcji penetrometrów otworowych stosowanych w polskim górnictwie węglowym wraz z formułami pozwalającymi na wyznaczanie parametrów mechanicznych skał. Zwrócono uwagę na mankament dotychczasowych rozwiązań polegający na tym, że można badać skały o wytrzymałości do około 100 MPa. W związku z tym opracowano i wykonano badania za pomocą nowego naciskacza o średnicy 3,5 mm. Uzyskane wyniki pozwalają stwierdzić, że wprowadzona modyfikacja konstrukcji naciskacza pozwala na badanie skał o wytrzymałości powyżej 100 MPa.This paper gives an overview of the downhole penetrometers design used in the Polish coal mining industry, along with formulas for determination of mechanical parameters of rock. Attention was paid to the shortcoming of the existing solutions which allow to explore the rocks of strength up to about 100 MPa. Consequently, a study was developed and performed using a new press-spire with a diameter of 3,5 mm. The obtained results indicate that the modification introduced to the press-spire design allows to test the strength of the rocks above 100 MPa

Environment conditions influence on protection status of lady's slipper orchid Cypripedium calceolus L. in managed forests

The paper concerns forest populations of lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus L.). The study sites were located in localities with the most numerous populations of Cypripedium calceolus L. in managed forests in Poland. The field studies were conducted in 2012 according to Natura 2000 sites protocols. The aim of studies was the determination of population structure of lady's slipper orchid, especially in indexes reflected number of flowering and fruit plants. The relations between above factors and environmental conditions expressed by ecological indicator values, cover of vegetation layers, species richness, stand age, and intensity of thinning were studies. The obtained results confirmed negative influence of understorey layer and positive influence of density of tree layer on the development of studied orchid populations. The increase in thinning intensity has not significant influence on protection status of Cypripedium calceolus