Somatic comorbidity in Polish patients with epilepsy

A wide spectrum of somatic and psychiatric disorders occurs frequently in patients with epilepsy, which adds to the burden of this disease. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of somatic comorbidities and analyze somatic comedication in adult patients with epilepsy. This study involved patients with epilepsy treated in university epilepsy clinic. Data on epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), somatic comorbidities, and their treatment were collected from a structured interview and from medical records. The sample population consisted of 636 patients (mean age, 35.3 years); 380 (59.7%) were female and 241 (37.9%) had well‑controlled epilepsy. At least 1 comorbid somatic condition was found in 216 patients (34%). The most prevalent somatic comorbidities were cardiovascular diseases, allergies, migraine, hyperlipidemia, thyroid disorders, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Furthermore, 200 patients (31.4%) were prescribed at least 1 medication for somatic disorders. Logistic regression analysis revealed several independent risk factors for the occurrence of somatic comorbidities: older age, shorter duration of epilepsy, lower seizure frequency, and lower number of AEDs. Somatic comorbidities and comedication with non‑AEDs were found in one‑third of the relatively young cohort of adult patients with epilepsy. Patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy may be at risk of underdiagnosis and undertreatment of somatic comorbidities. The presence of comorbidities may have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of seizure disorder and coexisting condition

Organic-to-aqueous phase transfer of alloyed AgInS2-ZnS nanocrystals using simple hydrophilic ligands : comparison of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, dihydrolipoic acid and cysteine

The exchange of primary hydrophobic ligands for hydrophilic ones was studied for two types of alloyed AgInS2-ZnS nanocrystals differing in composition and by consequence exhibiting two different emission colors: red (R) and green (G). Three simple hydrophilic ligands were tested, namely, 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, dihydrolipoic acid and cysteine. In all cases, stable aqueous colloidal dispersions were obtained. Detailed characterization of the nanocrystal surface before and after the ligand exchange by NMR spectroscopy unequivocally showed that the exchange process was the most efficient in the case of dihydrolipoic acid, leading to the complete removal of the primary ligands with a relatively small photoluminescence quantum yield drop from 68% to 40% for nanocrystals of the R type and from 48% to 28% for the G ones

Application of peripheral nerve conduits in clinical practice: A literature review

Understanding the pathomechanisms behind peripheral nerve damage and learning the course of regeneration seem to be crucial for selecting the appropriate methods of treatment. Autografts are currently the gold standard procedure in nerve reconstruction. However, due to the frequency of complications resulting from autografting and a desire to create a better environment for the regeneration of the damaged nerve, artificial conduits have become an approved alternative treatment method. The aim of this mini-review is to present the nerve scaffolds that have been applied in clinical practice to date, and the potential directions of developments in nerve conduit bioengineering. Articles regarding construction and characterization of nerve conduits were used as the theoretical background. All papers, available in PubMed database since 2000, presenting results of application of artificial nerve conduits in clinical trials were included into this mini-review. Fourteen studies including ≤10 patients and 10 trials conducted on >10 patients were analyzed as well as 24 papers focused on artificial nerve conduits per se. Taking into consideration the experiences of the authors investigating nerve conduits in clinical trials, it is essential to point out the emergence of bioresorbable scaffolds, which in the future may significantly change the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. Also worth mentioning among the advanced conduits are hybrid conduits, which combine several modifications of a synthetic material to provide the optimal regeneration of a damaged nerve

From red to green luminescence via surface functionalization. Effect of 2-(5-mercaptothien-2-yl)-8-(thien-2-yl)-5-hexylthieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione ligands on the photoluminescence of alloyed Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystals

A semiconducting molecule containing a thiol anchor group, namely 2-(5-mercaptothien-2-yl)-8-(thien-2-yl)-5-hexylthieno- [3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (abbreviated as D-A-D-SH), was designed, synthesized, and used as a ligand in nonstoichiometric quaternary nanocrystals of composition Ag1.0In3.1Zn1.0S4.0(S6.1) to give an inorganic/organic hybrid. Detailed NMR studies indicate that D-AD- SH ligands are present in two coordination spheres in the organic part of the hybrid: (i) inner in which the ligand molecules form direct bonds with the nanocrystal surface and (ii) outer in which the ligand molecules do not form direct bonds with the inorganic core. Exchange of the initial ligands (stearic acid and 1-aminooctadecane) for D-A-DSH induces a distinct change of the photoluminescence. Efficient red luminescence of nanocrystals capped with initial ligands (λmax = 720 nm, quantum yield = 67%) is totally quenched and green luminescence characteristic of the ligand appears (λmax = 508 nm, quantum yield = 10%). This change of the photoluminescence mechanism can be clarified by a combination of electrochemical and spectroscopic investigations. It can be demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry that new states appear in the hybrid as a consequence of D-A-D-SH binding to the nanocrystals surface. These states are located below the nanocrystal LUMO and above its HOMO, respectively. They are concurrent to deeper donor and acceptor states governing the red luminescence. As a result, energy transfer from the nanocrystal HOMO and LUMO levels to the ligand states takes place, leading to effective quenching of the red luminescence and appearance of the green one

Indium(II) chloride as a precursor in the synthesis of ternary (Ag–In–S) and quaternary (Ag–In–Zn–S) nanocrystals

A new indium precursor, namely, indium(II) chloride, was tested as a precursor in the synthesis of ternary Ag−In−S and quaternary Ag−In−Zn−S nanocrystals. This new precursor, being in fact a dimer of Cl2In−InCl2 chemical structure, is significantly more reactive than InCl3, typically used in the preparation of these types of nanocrystals. This was evidenced by carrying out comparative syntheses under the same reaction conditions using these two indium precursors in combination with the same silver (AgNO3) and zinc (zinc stearate) precursors. In particular, the use of indium(II) chloride in combination with low concentrations of the zinc precursor yielded spherical-shaped (D = 3.7−6.2 nm) Ag−In−Zn−S nanocrystals, whereas for higher concentrations of this precursor, rodlike nanoparticles (L = 9−10 nm) were obtained. In all cases, the resulting nanocrystals were enriched in indium (In/Ag = 1.5−10.3). Enhanced indium precursor conversion and formation of anisotropic, longitudinal nanoparticles were closely related to the presence of thiocarboxylic acid type of ligands in the reaction mixture. These ligands were generated in situ and subsequently bound to surfacial In(III) cations in the growing nanocrystals. The use of the new precursor of enhanced reactivity facilitated precise tuning of the photoluminescence color of the resulting nanocrystals in the spectral range from ca. 730 to 530 nm with photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) varying from 20 to 40%. The fabricated Ag−In−S and Ag−In−Zn−S nanocrystals exhibited the longest, reported to date, photoluminescence lifetimes of ∼9.4 and ∼1.4 μs, respectively. It was also demonstrated for the first time that ternary (Ag−In− S) and quaternary (Ag−In−Zn−S) nanocrystals could be applied as efficient photocatalysts, active under visible light (green) illumination, in the reaction of aldehydes reduction to alcohols

SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WATER QUALITY ON LENGTH OF USZWICA RIVER

The Uszwica river catchment is located in the central part of Lesser Poland province, within Brzeski and Bocheński districts. The river is 61.2 km long, and its catchment area is 322.5 km2. It is characterized by forest-agricultural land use and high share of residential areas of both compact (the city of Brzesko) and dispersed nature. In the abiotic terms, the Uszwica in its upper course may be classified as a flysch stream (type 12). From the moment of joining the Niedźwiedź, stream until its discharge into the Vistula at km 151+700 it is a sand and clay lowland river (type 19). Hydrochemical research were conducted in the years 2011 and 2012 at two measurement-control points – one located near the mouth of the river (point 1) and one located about 7.5 km downstream from the city of Brzesko (point 2). Each month 18 water quality parameters were determined and they underwent comparative and statistical analyses. Basic descriptive statistics were calculated for both measurement-control points. Then, they were used to determine the ecological potential of the river and to evaluate water quality parameters with respect to its suitability as fish habitat and eutrophication risk. Significance of differences between the values of individual parameters recorded at different measurement-control points was estimated using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test for α = 0.05. The same test was used to determine the significance of differences between individual parameters for the winter and summer season at each point. Analysis of the results revealed that water flowing via developed areas (point 2) was significantly less saturated with oxygen and contained higher amounts of suspended solids, organic matter and nutrients, as compared to the section of the river flowing mainly through extensively used agricultural areas. Therefore, the ecological potential of the river was considered good in its lower course and poor upstream from point 2. Disturbances in seasonal concentrations of some biogenic factors indicated high degree of water pollution in the middle course of the Uszwica. However, due to intense self-purification, water quality in the lower course was similar to that in natural conditions. On the entire investigated section of the Uszwica does not meet water quality requirements for salmonids and cyprinids, but the habitats are more favorable near the mouth of the river. Water­ assessed at point 2 may be classified as eutrophic due to high concentration of total phosphorus

Synthesis, photophysical properties and surface chemistry of chalcopyrite-type semiconductor nanocrystals

This review gives an overview of the synthesis, photophysical properties, surface characterization/functionalization and some applications of chalcopyrite-type nanocrystals

Purification of Industrial Copper Electrolyte from Bismuth Impurity

This work focused on purifying copper electrolytes from a bismuth impurity on a laboratory scale. The electrolyte came from Polish copper electrorefineries with the content of main components, g/dm3: 49.6 Cu, 160 H2SO4. The electrolyte was enriched in bismuth by Bi2O3 addition. Purification of bismuth contamination was carried out using selected agents with adsorbing effects, such as barium hydroxide octahydrate, strontium carbonate, barium carbonate, barium and lead sulfates. The trials were performed until achieving the Bi level—below 0.1 g/dm3. During the experiments, it was noticed that electrolyte purification degree depends on initial Bi concentration in electrolyte, time and temperature, as well as on the type and amount of the bismuth-lowering agent. The most satisfactory results of Bi impurity removal were with additions of barium hydroxide octahydrate, strontium carbonate and barium carbonate to electrolyte at 60 °C for 1 h. These parameters revealed the highest electrolyte purification degree. Bismuth is not removed effectively from electrolytes by barium sulfate or lead sulfate addition. The efficiency of the purification process is much higher when the agents are added to the solution in the form of carbonates or hydroxides. Extending the electrolyte purification process time may cause dissolution of bismuth from the resulting precipitate and increase of bismuth concentration in electrolytes