Dialog z Hijikatą Tatsumim i jego Ankoku butō – polsko-japoński projekt Kantor_Tropy: Collage i poszukiwanie rizomatycznej strategii choreograficznej

In this article I want to outline and analyse chosen elements of the artistic project entitled Kantor_Traces: Collage. In my discussion I focus mainly on the rehearsal process, in which we made use of Hijikata’s “notational butō” method for developing movement material and juxtaposed his main concepts with our own choreographic approaches. Using hijikatian tools in a critical manner and with a proper discursive approach enabled us to recognise the cultural specificity and originating impulses of Ankoku butō and Hijikata’s concept of body-in-crisis and “notational butō”. It also led us towards developing a kind of “rhizome-choreographic-strategy”, which I define and analyse in my article taking as a theoretical point of reference Deleuze and Guattari’s writings on the rhizome and Petra Kuppers’ essay entitled – Butō Rhizome. I argue that “rhizome-choreographic-strategy” – being a corporeal practice combined with intellectual research – enables bringing Hijikata’s legacy into the 21st century transcultural performative practice.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00

Analysis of experiences in patients with cardioverter defibrillator after an episode of electrical storm

Artykuł przedstawia wyniki badań, których celem była analiza doświadczenia burzy elektrycznej u osób z ICD (kardiowerter- -defibrylator) przy uwzględnieniu nasilenia lęku dotyczącego tej sytuacji. Badania oraz interwencje psychologiczne przeprowadzono na Oddziale Intensywnej Opieki Kardiologicznej. Ciekawe wyniki badań nasuwają wiele refleksji do spożytkowania w okolicznościach udzielania pomocy psychologicznej tego typu pacjentom.Objectives: Cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death and ensures a feeling of safety in the patient. In some patients, an electrical storm can be a source of difficulties in adaptation process, requiring psychological interventions. The electrical storm is a rare, but psychologically burdensome situation in patients with ICD. The aim of the study was the analysis of the experiences of electrical storm in patients with cardioverter defibrillator taking into account the severity of state anxiety. Methods: The study and the psychological intervention were conducted in the first three days after the ICD electric storm in the Intensive Cardiology Care Ward. Data was analyzed on the basis of narrative interview and thematic analysis. The severity of state and trait anxiety was also assessed with the use of STAI questionnaire. Results: All the patients were characterized by a medium to high level of anxiety as personality trait. In response to electrical storm two groups were found: a high - and medium-level of anxiety group. In the high-level of anxiety group, the statements had anxious and/or depressive characteristics, while in the medium-level of anxiety group the statements indicated an acceptance of the ICD treatment. Conclusions: The main result of the analysis is the distinction of two theme groups identified on the basis of the statements concerning the electric storm experience. In the high-level of anxiety group, lack of acceptance of this method of treatment and anxious statements were found more often, whereas the statements of the medium-level of anxiety group presented better adaptation

Central nervous system-related safety and tolerability of add-on ketamine to standard of care treatment in treatment-resistant psychotic depression in patients with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder

BackgroundPsychotic treatment-resistant depression represents a complex and challenging form of mood disorder in clinical practice. Despite its severity, psychotic depression is frequently underdiagnosed and inadequately treated. Ketamine has demonstrated rapid and potent antidepressant effects in clinical studies, while exhibiting a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Although there is limited literature available on the use of ketamine in psychotic TRD, reports on its efficacy, safety, and tolerability profile are of great interest to clinicians. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between dissociative symptomatology and psychomimetic effects in inpatients with treatment-resistant major psychotic depression and treatment-resistant bipolar psychotic depression, who receive intravenous ketamine treatment alongside psychotropic medication, both during and after treatment.Materials and methodsA total of 36 patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant unipolar (17 patients) or bipolar (18 patients) depression with psychotic features were treated with eight intravenous infusions of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine twice a week over 4 weeks. Ketamine was given in addition to their standard of care treatment. The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using the MADRS, while dissociative and psychomimetic symptoms were assessed using the CADSS and BPRS, respectively.ResultsThere were no statistically significant changes observed in MADRS, CADSS, and BPRS scores within the study group during ketamine infusions. However, significant improvements in MADRS, CADSS, and BPRS scores were observed during ketamine infusions in both the unipolar and bipolar depression groups.ConclusionThis study provides support for the lack of exacerbation of psychotic symptoms in both unipolar and bipolar depression

Hijikata Tatsumi’s rebellious words from the perspective of a practitioner and theorist of the butoh dance

This article attempts to situate the language of Hijikata Tatsumi’s butō in a broader critical context, allowing the legacy of Hijikata to be introduced into the contemporary choreographic and performative practice. The author returns to her first encounter with the words of Hijikata, i.e. the essay Kaze Daruma (Wind Daruma), which constitutes a starting point for an in-depth reflection on Hijikata’s ankoku butō. Her discussion of this concept extends beyond a biography study, determinism, and essentialism. The author analyses the complex choreographic method of ‘notational butō’, which uses words as the key element and a trigger of choreographic processes and structures. The article also takes the reader closer to the somatic experience of Hijikata’s butō, thus being a methodological suggestion and an invitation to combine the somatic practice of butō with critical theoretical research

Influence of the Antimicrobial LL-37 Peptide on <i>Legionella dumoffii</i> Phospholipids Adsorbed at the Air–Liquid Interface

Legionella dumoffii is an intracellular pathogen of freshwater protozoans capable of infecting and multiplying in mammalian cells, causing a severe respiratory disease called Legionnaires’ disease. The pathomechanism of infection development is very complex and depends on many factors, including the structure and properties of macromolecules that build the components of the L. dumoffii cell envelope. Phospholipids (PLs) forming biological membranes have a significant impact on the integrity of the membrane as well as on the interactions with the host cells. L. dumoffii changes its lipid profile under the influence of external factors, which allows it to adapt to the living environment. One of the factors altering the PL composition is the presence of exogenous choline. The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical properties of the model bacterial membranes adsorbed at the air–liquid interface (Langmuir monolayers). They were composed of phospholipids isolated from L. dumoffii cultured with (PL+choline) and without (PL−choline) choline. Moreover, the effect of the human cathelicidin (LL-37 peptide) added to the subphase on these monolayers was analyzed in terms of phospholipid–peptide interactions. The results indicated that the monolayers of PL+choline were slightly more condensed than PL−choline. In the presence of LL-37, the elasticity of both monolayers increased; thus, their molecular packing and ordering decreased. The disturbing effect was related to the peptide’s antibacterial activity

Susceptibility of <i>Legionella gormanii</i> Membrane-Derived Phospholipids to the Peptide Action of Antimicrobial LL-37—Langmuir Monolayer Studies

LL-37 is the only member of the cathelicidin-type host defense peptide family in humans. It exhibits broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, which represents a distinctive advantage for future therapeutic targets. The presence of choline in the growth medium for bacteria changes the composition and physicochemical properties of their membranes, which affects LL-37’s activity as an antimicrobial agent. In this study, the effect of the LL-37 peptide on the phospholipid monolayers at the liquid–air interface imitating the membranes of Legionella gormanii bacteria was determined. The Langmuir monolayer technique was employed to prepare model membranes composed of individual classes of phospholipids—phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), cardiolipin (CL)—isolated from L. gormanii bacteria supplemented or non-supplemented with exogenous choline. Compression isotherms were obtained for the monolayers with or without the addition of the peptide to the subphase. Then, penetration tests were carried out for the phospholipid monolayers compressed to a surface pressure of 30 mN/m, followed by the insertion of the peptide into the subphase. Changes in the mean molecular area were observed over time. Our findings demonstrate the diversified effect of LL-37 on the phospholipid monolayers, depending on the bacteria growth conditions. The substantial changes in membrane properties due to its interactions with LL-37 enable us to propose a feasible mechanism of peptide action at a molecular level. This can be associated with the stable incorporation of the peptide inside the monolayer or with the disruption of the membrane leading to the removal (desorption) of molecules into the subphase. Understanding the role of antimicrobial peptides is crucial for the design and development of new strategies and routes for combating resistance to conventional antibiotics