Analysis of the impact of sex and age on the variation in the prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in Polish population: a nationwide observational, cross-sectional study

The detection of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) is dependent on many factors and varies between the populations. The aim of the study was first to assess the prevalence of ANA in the Polish adult population depending on age, sex and the cutoff threshold used for the results obtained. Second, we estimated the occurrence of individual types of ANA-staining patterns. We tested 1731 patient samples using commercially available IIFA using two cutoff thresholds of 1:100 and 1:160. We found ANA in 260 participants (15.0%), but the percentage of positive results strongly depended on the cutoff level. For a cutoff threshold 1:100, the positive population was 19.5% and for the 1:160 cutoff threshold, it was 11.7%. The most prevalent ANA-staining pattern was AC-2 Dense Fine speckled (50%), followed by AC-21 Reticular/AMA (14.38%) ANA more common in women (72%); 64% of ANA-positive patients were over 50 years of age. ANA prevalence in the Polish population is at a level observed in other highly developed countries and is more prevalent in women and elderly individuals. To reduce the number of positive results released, we suggest that Polish laboratories should set 1:160 as the cutoff threshold

Analysis of the acoustic emission registered during compression of sandstone and coal samples

Przeprowadzono badania eksperymentalne nad własnościami mechanicznymi i akustycznymi typowych skał karbońskich podczas jednoosiowego i trójosiowego ściskania. Próbki skalne ściskane były w sztywnej maszynie wytrzymałościowej MTS-810 New. W przypadku trójosiowego ściskania próbkę umieszczano w komorze ciśnieniowej 70 MPa. Parametrami eksperymentu były prędkość odkształcenia podłużnego próbki skalnej o wartości rzędu 10/-4 i 10/-2 s/-1 oraz ciśnienie okólne o wartości p = 0, 10, 20, 30 i 50 MPa. Wyniki pomiarowe przedstawiają wykresy całego procesu ściskania próbki i rejestracji emisji akustycznej. W niniejszej pracy przedstawiono wyniki uzyskane z badań piaskowca drobnoziarnistego i węgla. Załączono wykresy uzyskane w jednoosiowym ściskaniu próbek skalnych, przy zastosowaniu dwóch różnych prędkości odkształcenia (10/-4 i 10/-2 s/-1) dla piaskowca i węgla, oraz wykresy trójosiowego ściskania przy dwóch różnych prędkościach odkształcenia dla piaskowca i węgla. Wykazano, że parametry charakteryzujące emisję akustyczną (liczba i amplituda impulsów) oraz ich rozkład względem charakterystyki naprężeniowo-odkształceniowej dla każdego typu litologicznego skały zależą od parametrów eksperymentu. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że zjawiska akustyczne występujące podczas ściskania próbek skalnych mają inny przebieg w piaskowcu (w skałach płonnych) i w węglu. Analiza otrzymanych wyników wykazała, że na aktywność akustyczną mają wpływ zarówno ciśnienie okólne, jak i prędkość odkształcenia próbki. Wzrost tych parametrów wpływa na wzrost skumulowanej liczby impulsów w piaskowcu i na zmniejszanie się skumulowanej liczby impulsów w węglu.Experimental investigation on rock mechanical and acoustic properties during the uniaxial and conventional triaxial compression has been conducted. The typical Carboniferous rock samples collected from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin were tested. The rock samples of diameter 30 mm and height 60 mm were compressed in a stiff testing machine. In triaxial compression a 70 MPa pressure chamber was used. The parameters of experiments were the rate of longitudinal strain rate of samples (10/-4 and 10/-2 s/-1) and the confining pressure (0, 10, 20, 30, 50 MPa). The acoustic emission was registered by a Bruel and Kjaer device. The piezoelectric transducers were used for converting vibrations caused by fracture process during the uniaxial compression and triaxial compression. The output voltage of these transducers was proportional to the acceleration of vibrations. The results of measurements are shown in diagram of rock compression in a stiff testing machine and on a diagram of acoustic emission registration during the complete process of compression and failure. The results obtained from the investigation of fine-grained sandstone and coal are presented in this work. For each experiment the cumulated value of impulses and the energy expressed by a sum of squared amplitudes were determined. Those values were related to the strain of a sample at the assumption that 100% of strain corresponds to the value of critical load (pressure). It was shown that the parameters of acoustic emission (the number and amplitude of registered impulses) and their distribution in relation to the stress-strain characteristic depend on the parameters of experiment (strain rate and confining pressure) as well as on the type of the rock. The frequency analysis was conducted for the chosen impulses of the cumulated activity diagram, referred to the stress-strain characteristic. The values of the obtained magnitudes: amplitude of spectrum, dominant frequency and time of impulse duration are presented for sandstone and coal samples correspondingly in tables. The analysis of the obtained results has shown that the increase in strain rate and in confining pressure influence the increase of acoustic parameter in sandstone and on the contrary, the decrease of this parameter in coal. It was observed that the influence of strain rate on the investigated acoustic magnitudes is greater then that of the confining pressure

Determining the rock susceptibility to bumps on the basis of investigation of rock samples from Peru mines in a stiff testing machine

Przeprowadzono badania próbek dwóch rodzajów skał: wapienia i złoża mineralnego, pochodzących z różnych kopalń Peru. Badania przeprowadzono w sztywnej maszynie wytrzymałościowej w warunkach jednoosiowego ściskania, przy sterowaniu kinematycznym prędkością odkształcenia podłużnego próbki równą 1.10-5 s-1. Sumarycznie przebadano 63 próbki (26 próbek wapienia i 37 próbek złoża mineralnego) o smukłości 2. Wynikiem badań każdej próbki była całkowita charakterystyka naprężeniowo-odkształceniowa. Skłonność skał do tąpań określono na podstawie różnych wskaźników, obliczonych według znanych wzorów [11], uwzględniających przedkrytyczne i pokrytyczne własności skał oraz energie właściwe w poszczególnych zakresach odkształcenia podłużnego próbki. Wszystkie stosowane wskaźniki skłonności do tąpań świadczą o dużej lub bardzo dużej skłonności badanych skał do tąpań.Samples of two kinds rocks: limestone and mineral deposit from different mines of Peru were investigated in a stiff testing machine in conditions of a uniaxial compression at kinematic steering by the rate of sample longitudinal strain equal to 1.10-5 s-1. In general 63 samples (26 limestone samples and 37 mineral deposit samples) of slenderness equal to 2 were investigated. The complete stress-strain characteristic was the result of each sample test. The rock susceptibility to bumps was determined on the basis of different indexes, calculated according to the known formulae [11] in which the pre- and post-critical properties of rocks as well as the specific energies in the particular ranges of sample longitudinal strain were taken into consideration. The analysis of all applied indexes of susceptibility to bumps has proved that the investigated rocks are highly and very highly susceptible to bumps

Metabolic syndrome is associated with similar long-term prognosis in non-obese and obese patients. An analysis of 45 615 patients from the nationwide LIPIDOGRAM 2004-2015 cohort studies

Aims We aimed to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and long-term all-cause mortality. Methods The LIPIDOGRAM studies were carried out in the primary care in Poland in 2004, 2006 and 2015. MetS was diagnosed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. The cohort was divided into four groups: non-obese patients without MetS, obese patients without MetS, non-obese patients with MetS and obese patients with MetS. Differences in all-cause mortality was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results 45,615 participants were enrolled (mean age 56.3, standard deviation: 11.8 years; 61.7% female). MetS was diagnosed in 14,202 (31%) by NCEP/ATP III criteria, and 17,216 (37.7%) by JIS criteria. Follow-up was available for 44,620 (97.8%, median duration 15.3 years) patients. MetS was associated with increased mortality risk among the obese (hazard ratio, HR: 1.88 [95% CI, 1.79-1.99] and HR: 1.93 [95% CI 1.82-2.04], according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria, respectively) and non-obese individuals (HR: 2.11 [95% CI 1.85-2.40] and 1.7 [95% CI, 1.56-1.85] according to NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria respectively). Obese patients without MetS had a higher mortality risk than non-obese patients without MetS (HR: 1.16 [95% CI 1.10-1.23] and HR: 1.22 [95%CI 1.15-1.30], respectively in subgroups with NCEP/ATP III and JIS criteria applied). Conclusions MetS is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk in non-obese and obese patients. In patients without MetS obesity remains significantly associated with mortality. The concept of metabolically healthy obesity should be revised

Relationship Between Anti-DFS70 Autoantibodies and Oxidative Stress

Background: The anti-DFS70 autoantibodies are one of the most commonly and widely described agent of unknown clinical significance, frequently detected in healthy individuals. It is not known whether the DFS70 autoantibodies are protective or pathogenic. One of the factors suspected of inducing the formation of anti-DFS70 antibodies is increased oxidative stress. We evaluated the coexistence of anti-DFS70 antibodies with selected markers of oxidative stress and investigated whether these antibodies could be considered as indirect markers of oxidative stress. Methods: The intensity of oxidative stress was measured in all samples via indices of free-radical damage to lipids and proteins such as total oxidant status (TOS), concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides (LPH), lipofuscin (LPS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The parameters of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system, such as total antioxidant status (TAS) and uric acid concentration (UA), were also measured, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Based on TOS and TAS values, the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. All samples were also tested with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and 357 samples were selected for direct monospecific anti DFS70 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing. Results:: The anti-DFS70 antibodies were confirmed by ELISA test in 21.29% of samples. Compared with anti-DFS70 negative samples we observed 23% lower concentration of LPH (P = .038) and 11% lower concentration of UA (P = .005). TOS was 20% lower (P = .014). The activity of SOD was up to 5% higher (P = .037). The Pearson correlation showed weak negative correlation for LPH, UA, and TOS and a weak positive correlation for SOD activity. Conclusion: In samples positive for the anti-DFS70 antibody a decreased level of oxidative stress was observed, especially in the case of samples with a high antibody titer. Anti-DFS70 antibodies can be considered as an indirect marker of reduced oxidative stress or a marker indicating the recent intensification of antioxidant processes