Współczesny opad pyłku lipy i klonu jako przyczynek do palinologicznej interpretacji gleb kopalnych

This paper aims to explore the modern deposition of lime and maple pollen in various plant communities as compared to the results obtained in palynological analyses of the Holocene paleosols in Kaczórki (the Middle Roztocze) and the Błędów Desert which are characterized by very high amounts of the pollen of these trees. The research shows that a high annual deposition of both lime and maple pollen on the soil surface is possible. This deposition far surpasses the average pollen values recorded in the Holocene but is not as high as those recorded in fossil soils. In relation to paleosols in Kaczórki such results show that lime and maple were important components of forests surrounding dune and simultaneously point to the fact that the deposition of pollen in these soils was a complex process.Artykuł nie zawiera abstraktu w języku polski

Lichen sclerosus — hyperkeratotic form

Liszaj twardzinowy jest przewlekłą chorobą skory o nieznanej etiologii. Typowe zmiany chorobowe w postaci atroficznych, porcelanowobiałych blaszek w większości przypadków dotyczą skory okolicy anogenitalnej. Występowanie postaci pozagenitalnej liszaja twardzinowego opisuje się jedynie u 15–20% wszystkich chorych. Autorzy prezentują przypadek nietypowej klinicznie manifestacji liszaja twardzinowego u 65-letniej kobiety, która została przyjęta do kliniki w celu diagnostyki rozsianych, dobrze odgraniczonych od otoczenia, hiperkeratotycznych zmian skórnych z cechami zaniku na obwodzie. Badanie histologiczne pozwoliło rozpoznać liszaj twardzinowy. U prezentowanej chorej podjęto próbę leczenia acytretyną.Lichen sclerosus is a chronic skin disease of unknown etiology. Typically, atrophic, white porcelain plaques are present within anogenital area. The extragenital manifestation is only observed in about 15–20% of patients. In this case an unusual clinical presentation of lichen sclerosus in a 65-old-year woman, who was admitted to our department because of disseminated, well demarcated, hyperkeratotic plaques with slight peripheral atrophy. Lichen sclerosus was diagnosed based on histological examination. Treatment with acitretin has been tried

Liszaj śluzowaty z towarzyszącym zespołem Sjögrena

Lichen myxedematosus belongs to the group of disorders with the deposition of mucins in the skin. The disease may coexist with monoclonal gammapathy, e.g. myeloma multiplex or Waldenström macroglobulinemia. A case of a 77-year-old man with lichen myxedematosus and monoclonal gammapathy is presented. Treatment with cyclophosphamide followed by intravenous immunoglobulins was initiated, however, no significant improvement of the skin condition was observed. Currently, the patient is receiving talidomide. This case report indicates, that lichen myxedematosus still remains a challenge for physicians and causes both diagnostics and therapeutic dilemma.Liszaj śluzowaty należy do grupy schorzeń związanych z odkładaniem się złogów mucyn w skórze. Choroba ta może dodatkowo współistnieć z gammapatią monoklonalną, na przykład szpiczakiem mnogim lub makroglobulinemią Waldenströma. W artykule został omówiony przypadek 77-letniego mężczyzny z liszajem śluzowatym i monoklonalną gammapatią. W leczeniu zmian skórnych zastosowano u niego w pierwszej kolejności cyklofosfamid, a następnie ludzkie immunoglobuliny G. Próby te nie przyniosły jednak zadowalającej poprawy, stąd pacjent został obecnie poddany terapii talidomidem. Opisywany przypadek wskazuje, że liszaj śluzowaty wciąż pozostaje wyzwaniem dla lekarzy i stwarza problemy zarówno diagnostyczne (brak jasnych kryteriów klasyfikacyjnych), jak i terapeutyczne

Intestinal dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability as a potential risk factor for the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. Factors affecting the development of the disease result from a coincidence of environmental factors, including so-called trigger factors and genetic predisposition which lead to impaired immune tolerance and autoimmune phenomena. The detailed etiopathogenesis of the disease is unclear. Evidence indicates the potential role of the gut microbiome, increased intestinal permeability and disturbed immune response faciliate the development of autoimmune diseases including RA.The paper is reviewing scientific data on the role of the gut microbiota and increased intestinal permeability in the development and progression of RA. Attention is also focused on factors disrupting the physiological microbial colonization and other factors related to the modern lifestyle in industrialized countries affecting the gut microbiota.All reported data suggested the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of RA and further work is necessary to determine whether modulation of the microbiota can serve as a clinical tool to regulate intestinal permeability and influence the development and clinical course of RA

Everything you always wanted to know about systemic sclerosis but were afraid to ask: Part 1. Clinical pictures

The authors present the clinical picture of systemic sclerosis including organ and system involvement

The origin of pine pollen grains captured from air at Calypsobyen, Svalbard

Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago (Norway) that has been permanently populated. The harsh Arctic climate prevents development of large vascular plants such as trees. A two-year aerobiological survey was conducted within the framework of two consecutive polar expeditions (2014 and 2015) in Spitsbergen (Calypsobyen, Bellsund). The air quality was measured continuously from June/July to August using a 7-day volumetric air sampler, Tauber trap and moss specimens. Collected air samples and gravimetric pollen deposits were processed following transfer to sterile laboratory conditions and analyzed with the aid of light microscopy. Days when pine pollen grains were detected in the air were selected for further analysis. Clusters of back-trajectories, computed using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model in combination with ArcGIS software as well as the Flextra trajectory model, showed the movement of air masses to the sampling location at Hornsund, and thus indicated the likely origin of pollen grains. The GlobCover 2009 and CORINE Land Cover 2012 datasets were employed to establish the distribution of coniferous forests in the areas of interest. Conclusions were drawn based on the analyses of the circulation of air masses, using visualization of global weather conditions forecast to supercomputers. For the first time we have demonstrated that pine pollen grains occurring in pine-free Spitsbergen, could originate from numerous locations, including Scandinavia, Iceland, Siberia and northern Canada. Pollen grains were transported via air masses for distances exceeding ~2000 km. Both air samples and gravimetric pollen deposits revealed the same pattern of Pinus pollen distribution

Effects of Narrow Band UVB (311 nm) Irradiation on Epidermal Cells

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is known to be one of the most important environmental hazards acting on the skin. It was revealed that chronic exposure to UVR accelerates skin aging, induces immunosuppression and may lead to the development of skin cancers. On the other hand, UVR has been shown to be effective in the treatment of numerous skin diseases and thus, various phototherapy modalities have been developed to date. Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) emitting a light with a peak around 311 nm has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of various skin disorders; currently it is one of the most commonly used phototherapy devices. Despite NB-UVB has been developed more than 30 years ago, the exact mechanism of its therapeutic action remains poorly understood. To date, most of NB-UVB effects were attributed to its influence on immune cells; however, nearly 90% of NB-UVB irradiation is absorbed by epidermis and keratinocytes seem to be important players in mediating NB-UVB biological activity. Here, we have reviewed the current data about the influence of NB-UVB on epidermal cells, with a special emphasis on cell proliferation and death

Kiła układu nerwowego jako trudny problem w codziennej praktyce klinicznej – opis przypadku

Introduction. Syphilis still represents an important clinical problem.Involvement of the nervous system is one of the major features of latesyphilis, but may also occur in early syphilis.Objective. To present a case of neurosyphilis in relation to the currentproblems of diagnostics and therapy of Treponema pallidum infection.Case report. We present a 31-year-old woman with neurosyphilis. Atthe beginning the patient was treated with erythromycin, and twelvemonths later, because of insufficient decrease of titre of syphilis tests inthe serum, with doxycycline. Despite the second therapy the titres ofsyphilis tests remained high and therefore after another nine monthsthe patient was referred to our department for further diagnostics andtreatment. Because of the long course of the disease, high titres ofsyphilis tests in the serum and abnormalities in neurological examination(hypoaesthesia below the Th8 level, foot clonus and hyporeflexiain lower extremities) T. pallidum neuroinfection was suspected andcerebrospinal fluid was collected. The serological examination of cerebrospinalfluid revealed positive treponemal tests (FTA 1 : 10, TPHA++), while VDRL was negative. Based on the whole clinical presentationand laboratory abnormalities, neurosyphilis was diagnosed andtherapy with crystalline penicillin followed by procaine penicillin wasperformed.Conclusions. Neurosyphilis is characterized by rich symptomatologyand its diagnosis based only on clinical manifestation can be very difficult;particularly subtle symptoms may be easily overlooked. Therefore,evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid is necessary in all questionablepatients in order to establish a correct diagnosis

Współczesny opad pyłku lipy i klonu jako przyczynek do palinologicznej interpretacji gleb kopalnych

This paper aims to explore the modern deposition of lime and maple pollen in various plant communities as compared to the results obtained in palynological analyses of the Holocene paleosols in Kaczórki (the Middle Roztocze) and the Błędów Desert which are characterized by very high amounts of the pollen of these trees. The research shows that a high annual deposition of both lime and maple pollen on the soil surface is possible. This deposition far surpasses the average pollen values recorded in the Holocene but is not as high as those recorded in fossil soils. In relation to paleosols in Kaczórki such results show that lime and maple were important components of forests surrounding dune and simultaneously point to the fact that the deposition of pollen in these soils was a complex process.Artykuł nie zawiera abstraktu w języku polski