Analysis of postural stability and body composition of women after unilateral mastectomy

Summary Introduction: The electrical bioimpedance method allows a non-invasive and precise assessment of the content of fat tissue, muscle mass or the amount of fluid in the body depending on the state of health or lifestyle. Changes in anthropometric features may affect postural stability, general physical fitness of women after mastectomy. In addition, changes in the distribution and amount of fat and lean body components may affect the ability to maintain balance. Aim of the study: Analysis of the relationship between postural stability and body composition of women after mastectomy based on posturographic examination. Material and methods: The study involved 40 women after mastectomy aged from 52 to 87 years. Postural Stability Test in static and dynamic mode on the Biodex Balance System platform was used to assess postural stability. The body bioimpedance method (BIA) was used to analyze the body composition. The research tool was the body composition analyzer Tanita MC 780 MA. The research was carried out in the Posturology Laboratory of the Institute of Physiotherapy at the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. Results and conclusions: Based on the research, a significant correlation was observed with a negative correlation in the Postural Stability Test, in static mode between fat mass and postural stability indexes. Also significant statistical results with a positive correlation were demonstrated in the same test between the total body water content and the postural stability indexes. Postural Stability Test in dynamic mode showed significant influence of lean and muscle mass in maintaining a stable posture. The standing posture of women after mastectomy was characterized by larger sublimations in the sagittal plane than the frontal plane (A / P> M // L)

FRACTIONAL COMPOSITION OF HUMUS IN SELECTED FOREST SOILS IN THE KARKONOSZE MOUNTAINS

This paper describes the fractions of humus compounds present in the organic and mineral horizons of the forest soils in the area of the Karkonosze Mountains. Soil profiles that represented the mountain Podzols and Dystric Cambisol were located on the northern slope along an altitude gradient from 890 to 1255 m a.s.l. Two soils were located under the spruce forest, and one in the subalpine meadow. Soil samples were taken both from the surface organic layers (the ectohumus layer) and from the mineral horizons. Fractionation of humus compounds was made using the modified Turin method. The soils had the texture of loamy sand and sandy loam, an acidic or strongly acidic reaction, low base saturation, and the predomination of aluminum among exchangeable cations. A significant increase in the fulvic fraction (Ia) with depth in the soil profiles was observed that confirmed the high mobility of this fraction in the acid mountain soils, higher in the forest soils, and lower in the meadow soils. The content of fraction I decreased generally with depth in the soil profile; however, a secondary increase was observed in an illuvial Bh horizon of the Podzols. Fulvic acids predominated over the humic acids and this predominance increased with depth in the soil profile. The ratio of the humic to the fulvic acids in fraction I in the ectohumus horizons was influenced by the composition of a biomass inflow. TheCHA:CFA ratio had the highest values under a spruce forest compared to a mixed stand and a subalpine meadow. In the surface horizons of the forest soils, a predominance of humic over fulvic acids was always observed, while in the subalpine meadow soils, the fulvic acids predominated over the humic acids in all soil horizons. Based on this study, it can be stated that thevegetation type and the dominant soil-forming process rather than simply climate factors influence the fractional composition of humus in the mountain soils of the Karkonosze Mountains

Spatial distribution of lead in the surface layers of mountain forest soils, an example from the Karkonosze National Park, Poland

), and correlated strongly with the stocks of organic matter, both being significantly higher in the lowest altitudinal zone (500-750 m a.s.l.) compared to the highest zone (1250-1380 m a.s.l.). Nevertheless, there was no simple correlation of Pb pools vs. altitude. The largest pools of Pb are stored in the layer 0-10 cm. The pools of accumulated Pb determined in this study are much higher than those assessed on the basis of available data on former and present Pb deposition rates. These findings may be assigned to a seeder-feeder effect and horizontal transport of pollutants. The highest amounts of Pb were identified in three distinct areas (hot spots), in particular in the vicinities of mountain passes, which may be explained by meteorological factors as well as by the influence of local pollution

Social support and quality of life among the elderly people

SummaryOld age is a very important and difficult part of our life. Standard of living in that period is highly influenced by having access to social support.The following paper is aimed to compare the standard of living of the elderly people according to the amount and quality of social support they receive.Diagnostic poll has been used here as the main method of research. Questionnaire has been chosen as the main technique. Research tools are comprised of standardized questionnaires: WHOQOL- Bref Instrument and Social Support List SSL12-I in the population of elderly people in Poland.Fifty patients of nursing homes and thirty members of the senior’s club were involved in the research.The outcome proves that patients living with their families assess the quality of their lives highly in the context of psychological health, social relationships, the availability of social support, everyday support they get and esteem support. No connections have been found between the overall perception of the quality of life and the place of living or between age and the quality of life and social support.It has been also confirmed that along with the availability of social support the quality of life increases.StreszczenieStarość jest okresem niezwykle ważnym i trudnym w życiu każdego człowieka. Na jakość życia w tym okresie poza innymi czynnikami duży wpływ ma dostępność wsparcia społecznego.Celem pracy było porównanie jakości życia ludzi w wieku podeszłym w związku z ilością i rodzajem otrzymywanego wsparcia społecznego.Narzędzia badawcze stanowiły Skala WHOQOL- Bref, oraz Skala Wsparcia Społecznego SSL12-I ( Social Support List 12 – Interactions) w populacji osób starszych wiekiem w Polsce. Badania przeprowadzono wśród 50 pacjentów zakładów opiekuńczo-leczniczych oraz 30 uczestników spotkań klubu seniora. Przedstawione wyniki badań wykazują, że pacjenci zamieszkujący środowisko rodzinne wyżej oceniają swoją jakość życia w dziedzinie psychologicznej i relacji społecznych, dostępność wsparcia społecznego otrzymywanego, oraz wsparcia w życiu codziennym i wsparcia w ocenie własnej wartości jako dawcy wsparcia. Nie stwierdzono zależności pomiędzy ogólna percepcja jakości życia a miejscem zamieszkania, ani pomiędzy wiekiem a poziomem jakości życia czy wsparcia społecznego. Potwierdziła się również hipoteza, że wraz z dostępnością wsparcia społecznego rośnie poziom jakości życia

Nieciągłości litologiczne w profilach bielic wytworzonych ze zwietrzelin górnokredowych piaskowców w Górach Stołowych

Litological discontinuities in Podzols developed from upper Cretaceous sandstones in the Stołowe MountainsThe data presented in this paper confirms the existence of lithological discontinuities in Podzols, usually at the boundaries between E and B horizons. This phenomenon is supported by the results of particle size analysis: changes in the content of medium sand, coarse and fine sand, fine silt and clay. The presence of lithological discontinuities zone is also indicatedd by sedimentological indexes, first of all the average diameter of grains, as well as the asymmetry of particle size distribution. Based on the above arguments it can be concluded that Podzols formed from Upper Cretaceous sandstones in the Stołowe Mountains are heterogeneous

Regulation of V-ATPase by Jasmonic Acid: Possible Role of Persulfidation

Vacuolar H+-translocating ATPase (V-ATPase) is a proton pump crucial for plant growth and survival. For this reason, its activity is tightly regulated, and various factors, such as signaling molecules and phytohormones, may be involved in this process. The aim of this study was to explain the role of jasmonic acid (JA) in the signaling pathways responsible for the regulation of V-ATPase in cucumber roots and its relationship with other regulators of this pump, i.e., H2S and H2O2. We analyzed several aspects of the JA action on the enzyme, including transcriptional regulation, modulation of protein levels, and persulfidation of selected V-ATPase subunits as an oxidative posttranslational modification induced by H2S. Our results indicated that JA functions as a repressor of V-ATPase, and its action is related to a decrease in the protein amount of the A and B subunits, the induction of oxidative stress, and the downregulation of the E subunit persulfidation. We suggest that both H2S and H2O2 may be downstream components of JA-dependent negative proton pump regulation. The comparison of signaling pathways induced by two negative regulators of the pump, JA and cadmium, revealed that multiple pathways are involved in the V-ATPase downregulation in cucumber roots

Role of Plasma Membrane NADPH Oxidase in Response to Salt Stress in Cucumber Seedlings

Plasma membrane NADPH oxidases (RBOHs, EC 1.6.3.1) are known as the main ROS generators involved in plant adaptation to stress conditions. In the present work, regulation of NADPH oxidase was analyzed in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. Krak) seedlings exposed to salinity. RBOH activity and gene expression, as well as H2O2 content, were determined in the roots of plants treated with 50 or 100 mM NaCl for 1 h, and 50 mM NaCl for 1 or 6 days. It was found that enzyme activity increased in parallel with an enhancement in the H2O2 level in roots exposed to 100 mM NaCl for 1 h, and to 50 mM NaCl for 1 day. The expression of some CsRboh genes was induced by salt. Moreover, an increase in the activity of G6PDH, providing the substrate for the NADPH oxidase, was observed. In seedlings subjected to salinity for a longer time, antioxidant enzymes—including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase—were activated, participating in maintaining a steady-state H2O2 content in the root cells. In conclusion, NADPH oxidase and endogenous H2O2 up-regulation seem to be early events in cucumber response to salinity

Jasmonic Acid Effect on <i>Cucumis sativus</i> L. Growth Is Related to Inhibition of Plasma Membrane Proton Pump and the Uptake and Assimilation of Nitrates

When plants are exposed to environmental stress, their growth is inhibited. Under such conditions, controlled inhibition of growth is beneficial for plant survival. Jasmonic acid (JA) is a well-known phytohormone that limits plant growth, which has been confirmed in several species. However, its role in cucumber seedlings has not yet been comprehensively investigated. For this reason, we aimed to determine the involvement of JA in the regulation of proteins crucial for growth including plasma membrane proton pump (PM H+-ATPase), PM nitrate transporters, and nitrate reductase (NR). Treatment of cucumber seedlings with JA not only limited their growth but also increased the H2O2 content in their roots. The main sources of ROS generated for signalling purposes are PM NADPH oxidase (RBOH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Exposure of seedlings to JA induced the expression of some CsRBOH and SOD encoding genes, suggesting that ROS signalling can be activated by JA. As a consequence of JA exposure, the activity of all analysed proteins was inhibited and the expression of their genes was modified. The results indicate that reduction of PM H+-ATPase activity and the related decrease in nitrate uptake and assimilation are responsible for the root growth retardation of JA-treated plants

The pools of soil organic carbon accumulated in the surface layers of forest soils in the Karkonosze Mountains, SW Poland

Differentiation of soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations and pools in topsoil horizons of forest soils in the Karkonosze Mountains was examined in relation to environmental and human-induced factors, with special focus on altitudinal gradient, related climatic conditions, and a zonality of vegetation. The samples were collected from the forest litter and soil layers 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, in 621 plots arranged in a regular network of monitoring established in the Karkonosze National Park. The concentrations of SOC were determined in laboratory and used for calculation of SOC pools. Four elevation zones were distinguished for analysis: 500–750 m, 750–1000 m, 1000–1250 m, and >1250 m. The concentrations of SOC in forest litter (38.3–44.1%) showed an insignificant increasing trend with altitude. The concentrations of SOC in the layers 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, were in a very broad range 0.27–47.6%, thus indicating a high differentiation, and also tended to insignificantly increase along with altitude. The largest share of accumulated SOC pools was proved to be present in the layer 0–10 cm, except for the highest zone >1250 m in which forest litter contains slightly larger amounts of SOC. The pools of SOC accumulated in the 20 cm thick topsoil and forest litter turned out to vary considerably (3.6–58.2 kg·m−2), but the mean values and medians in particular elevation zones fall in a narrow range 10.5–11.9 kg·m−2, close to the values reported from the Alps. The lack of statistical significance of reported tendencies was explained by a monitoring sites-oriented random soil sampling, i.e. in forest stands of various age, species-composition and degradation degree