Temperature Effects Explain Continental Scale Distribution of Cyanobacterial Toxins

Insight into how environmental change determines the production and distribution of cyanobacterial toxins is necessary for risk assessment. Management guidelines currently focus on hepatotoxins (microcystins). Increasing attention is given to other classes, such as neurotoxins (e.g., anatoxin-a) and cytotoxins (e.g., cylindrospermopsin) due to their potency. Most studies examine the relationship between individual toxin variants and environmental factors, such as nutrients, temperature and light. In summer 2015, we collected samples across Europe to investigate the effect of nutrient and temperature gradients on the variability of toxin production at a continental scale. Direct and indirect effects of temperature were the main drivers of the spatial distribution in the toxins produced by the cyanobacterial community, the toxin concentrations and toxin quota. Generalized linear models showed that a Toxin Diversity Index (TDI) increased with latitude, while it decreased with water stability. Increases in TDI were explained through a significant increase in toxin variants such as MC-YR, anatoxin and cylindrospermopsin, accompanied by a decreasing presence of MC-LR. While global warming continues, the direct and indirect effects of increased lake temperatures will drive changes in the distribution of cyanobacterial toxins in Europe, potentially promoting selection of a few highly toxic species or strains.Peer reviewe

Post-Mutational Voice Instability – a Case Report

Pomutacyjna niestabilność głosu (PNG) – puberfonia, jest schorzeniem występującym rzadko. W pracy przedstawiono przypadek rehabilitacji logopedycznej pacjenta ze zdiagnozowaną pomutacyjną niestabilnością głosu. Pacjent został objęty opieką przez lekarza foniatrę, logopedę oraz psychologa. Wdrożono indywidualnie dostosowaną terapię logopedyczną. Przed rozpoczęciem rehabilitacji oraz po jej zakończeniu pacjent dokonywał samooceny głosu przy użyciu kwestionariusza Voice Handicap Index (VHI), skali dyskomfortu traktu głosowego Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) oraz kwestionariusza Oceny Jakości Życia zależnej od głosu Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL). Rehabilitację głosu prowadzono przez 6 miesięcy. W jej wyniku uzyskano niski, stabilny głos. Pozytywny efekt terapeutyczny u pacjenta był wynikiem ścisłej współpracy interdyscyplinarnego zespołu.Post-mutational voice instability (PNG) – puberphonia is a rare disease. The paper presents a case of logopedic rehabilitation of a patient with diagnosed PNG. The patient was cared for by a phoniatric specialist, speech therapist, and psychologist. Customized logopedic therapy has been implemented. Before and after rehabilitation, the patient performed voice self-assessment using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaire, the Vocal Track Discomfort (VTD) scale and evaluating questionnaire on the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL). Rehabilitation was conducted for 6 months. It resulted in a low, stable voice. The positive therapeutic effect was the result of the cooperation of an interdisciplinary team

Teachers’ voice rehabilitation in sanatorium conditions

Schorzenia narządu głosu zajmują 3 miejsce wśród rozpoznawanych chorób zawodowych w Polsce. Nadal istnieje potrzeba wdrażania skutecznych i ekonomicznych metod prewencji pierwotnej i wtórnej zaburzeń głosu u nauczycieli. Celem pracy była ocena skuteczności kompleksowej rehabilitacji głosu u nauczycieli prowadzonej w warunkach szpitala uzdrowiskowego.Materiał i metody Przedstawiono wyniki kompleksowej rehabilitacji głosu przeprowadzonej podczas 24-dniowego turnusu sanatoryjnego u 100 nauczycielek ze stażem pracy 10–30 lat (M = 17 lat). W pierwszym i ostatnim dniu turnusu wykonano badania laryngologiczne i foniatryczne [czas fonacji (maximum phonation time – MPT), ocenę percepcyjną głosu w skali GRBAS, badanie laryngowideostroboskopowe, analizę akustyczną głosu], wypełnienie Kwestionariusza samooceny głosu (Voice Handicap Index – VHI), ocenę logopedyczną i audiometrię tonalną. W zakres programu terapeutycznego wchodziły: zajęcia edukacyjne dotyczące higieny głosu, terapia głosu, fizjoterapia i psychoterapia. Efekty rehabilitacji sanatoryjnej pacjenci oceniali również w badaniu ankietowym.WynikiStwierdzono poprawę obiektywnych parametrów akustycznych, oceny percepcyjnej głosu, samoceny głosu VHI i MPT. Zmiany w sposobie fonacji potwierdzono w badaniu laryngowideostroboskopowym, w którym obserwowane zwarcie fonacyjne poprawiło się znamiennie u 30% badanych. W ankiecie oceniającej korzyści z sanatoryjnej rehabilitacji głosu 97% uczestników potwierdziło skuteczność i celowość okresowego powtarzania takiej rehabilitacji.WnioskiWyniki przedstawionych badań i pozytywne oceny uczestników rehabilitacji sanatoryjnej potwierdzają skuteczność sanatoryjnej terapii zawodowych zaburzeń głosu. Leczenie i rehabilitacja w formie stacjonarnej powinny zmierzać do poprawy głosu oraz kontynuacji pracy zawodowej. Tak ukierunkowane postępowanie może przyczynić się do zmniejszenia nakładów finansowych związanych z leczeniem, urlopami dla poratowania zdrowia i rentami zawodowymi. Med. Pr. 2021;72(4):399–405Voice diseases occupy the third place among all of the diagnosed occupational disorders in Poland. There still exists the necessity to implement effective and economical methods of the primary and secondary prevention of voice disorders in teachers. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of comprehensive voice rehabilitation in teachers, conducted within a health resort hospital.Material and MethodsThe results of comprehensive voice rehabilitation in 100 teachers with job seniority of 10–30 years (M = 17 years), conducted during 24-day-long staying in a sanatorium, are presented in this research. Phoniatrical and laryngological examinations (maximum phonation time [MPT], perceptual assessment of voice in GRBAS scale, laryngovideostroboscopy, and acoustic analysis of voice), self-assessment of voice (the Voice Handicap Index – VHI), logopedical estimation and audiometry were conducted during the first and the last day of the sanatorium stay. The therapeutic program included educational workshops on vocal hygiene, voice therapy, physiotherapy and psychotherapy. The inpatient therapy effects were also described by the teachers using a questionnaire.ResultsImprovements of objective acoustic parameters, a perceptual assessment of voice, and a self-assessment of VHI and MPT were observed. Phonation style changes were confirmed in the laryngovideostroboscopic examination. Phonation closure improved significantly in 30% of the examined teachers. Moreover, 97% of the participants confirmed in the questionnaire the effectiveness and purposefulness of periodic recurrence of such rehabilitation courses.ConclusionsThe results of this research as well as the positive feedback from the participants of inpatient rehabilitation confirmed the effectiveness of occupational voice disorder rehabilitation in sanatorium (inpatient) conditions. Treatment and rehabilitation in a stationary form should aim to achieve voice improvement and job continuation. Such a procedure may contribute to reducing the financial outlays related to treatment, health leaves and occupational pensions. Med Pr. 2021;72(4):399–40

Level of Potassium Is Associated with Saturated Fatty Acids in Cell Membranes and Influences the Activation of the 9 and 13 HODE and 5 HETE Synthesis Pathways in PCOS

Potassium helps to maintain the water–electrolyte and acid–base balance. There is little research on the relationship between plasma fatty acids (FAs), inflammatory mediators and red blood cell potassium levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study included 38 Caucasian women with PCOS. Potassium in the erythrocytes was determined by inductively coupled atomic plasma emission spectrometry. The FAs were analysed with gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography was used to separate the eicosanoids. The relationships between the potassium content and the amounts of fatty acids, as well as potassium and arachidonic acid (AAs) derivatives, were analysed. Significant negative correlations were found with, among others, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and arachidic acid, whereas a positive correlation was found with neuronic acid. Positive correlations were observed with 9, 13 HODE (derivatives synthetized from linolenic acid) and 5 oxo ETE and 5 HETE (from 5 LOX pathway). Saturated fatty acids reduce the influx of potassium into the cell by destabilizing the pH of the cytosol, and thus exacerbating the inflammatory response through the activation of the AA cascade. Therefore, improving the flow of potassium inside the cell is important in the treatment of patients

Stratification strength and light climate explain variation in chlorophyll a at the continental scale in a European multilake survey in a heatwave summer

To determine the drivers of phytoplankton biomass, we collected standardized morphometric, physical, and biological data in 230 lakes across the Mediterranean, Continental, and Boreal climatic zones of the European continent. Multilinear regression models tested on this snapshot of mostly eutrophic lakes (median total phosphorus [TP] = 0.06 and total nitrogen [TN] = 0.7 mg L-1), and its subsets (2 depth types and 3 climatic zones), show that light climate and stratification strength were the most significant explanatory variables for chlorophyll a (Chl a) variance. TN was a significant predictor for phytoplankton biomass for shallow and continental lakes, while TP never appeared as an explanatory variable, suggesting that under high TP, light, which partially controls stratification strength, becomes limiting for phytoplankton development. Mediterranean lakes were the warmest yet most weakly stratified and had significantly less Chl a than Boreal lakes, where the temperature anomaly from the long-term average, during a summer heatwave was the highest (+4 degrees C) and showed a significant, exponential relationship with stratification strength. This European survey represents a summer snapshot of phytoplankton biomass and its drivers, and lends support that light and stratification metrics, which are both affected by climate change, are better predictors for phytoplankton biomass in nutrient-rich lakes than nutrient concentrations and surface temperature.Peer reviewe

Stratification strength and light climate explain variation in chlorophyll a at the continental scale in a European multilake survey in a heatwave summer

To determine the drivers of phytoplankton biomass, we collected standardized morphometric, physical, and biological data in 230 lakes across the Mediterranean, Continental, and Boreal climatic zones of the European continent. Multilinear regression models tested on this snapshot of mostly eutrophic lakes (median total phosphorus [TP] = 0.06 and total nitrogen [TN] = 0.7 mg L−1), and its subsets (2 depth types and 3 climatic zones), show that light climate and stratification strength were the most significant explanatory variables for chlorophyll a (Chl a) variance. TN was a significant predictor for phytoplankton biomass for shallow and continental lakes, while TP never appeared as an explanatory variable, suggesting that under high TP, light, which partially controls stratification strength, becomes limiting for phytoplankton development. Mediterranean lakes were the warmest yet most weakly stratified and had significantly less Chl a than Boreal lakes, where the temperature anomaly from the long-term average, during a summer heatwave was the highest (+4°C) and showed a significant, exponential relationship with stratification strength. This European survey represents a summer snapshot of phytoplankton biomass and its drivers, and lends support that light and stratification metrics, which are both affected by climate change, are better predictors for phytoplankton biomass in nutrient-rich lakes than nutrient concentrations and surface temperature

Temperature Effects Explain Continental Scale Distribution of Cyanobacterial Toxins

Insight into how environmental change determines the production and distribution of cyanobacterial toxins is necessary for risk assessment. Management guidelines currently focus on hepatotoxins (microcystins). Increasing attention is given to other classes, such as neurotoxins (e.g., anatoxin-a) and cytotoxins (e.g., cylindrospermopsin) due to their potency. Most studies examine the relationship between individual toxin variants and environmental factors, such as nutrients, temperature and light. In summer 2015, we collected samples across Europe to investigate the effect of nutrient and temperature gradients on the variability of toxin production at a continental scale. Direct and indirect effects of temperature were the main drivers of the spatial distribution in the toxins produced by the cyanobacterial community, the toxin concentrations and toxin quota. Generalized linear models showed that a Toxin Diversity Index (TDI) increased with latitude, while it decreased with water stability. Increases in TDI were explained through a significant increase in toxin variants such as MC-YR, anatoxin and cylindrospermopsin, accompanied by a decreasing presence of MC-LR. While global warming continues, the direct and indirect effects of increased lake temperatures will drive changes in the distribution of cyanobacterial toxins in Europe, potentially promoting selection of a few highly toxic species or strains