Genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6 oxidation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, multifactor autoimmune disease. The studies on aetiopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases focus on the impact the genetically conditioned impairment of xenobiotic metabolism may exert. The knowledge of oxidation polymorphism in the course of SLE may be helpful in choosing more efficient and safer therapy. W

Biochemiczne podstawy chemioterapii nowotworów

Obecny stan wiedzy pozwala na zwalczanie chorób nowotworowych w oparciu o trzy główne metody lecznicze — operacyjną, radioterapię i chemioterapię. Dwie pierwsze metody mają w pewien sposób ograniczony zasięg stosowania i nie mogą być stosowane w zwalczaniu niektórych nowotworów, jak na przykład białaczek. Chemioterapia może być stosowana w leczeniu większości nowotworów jako metoda samodzielna lub w połączeniu z innymi, szczególnie w połączeniu z metodami chirurgicznymi (Hill 1978) (Fragment tekstu)

ANALIZA WPŁYWU DOBORU ODPROWADZEŃ REFERENCYJNYCH ZAPISU EEG NA UZYSKANE WIDMO

The article presents the analysis of various kinds of montage applied in the analysis of electroencephalographic data. The present study covers analysis of data obtained as a result of EEG examination of several persons with the age of 23–24 years. Every person has undergone an examination with appliance of 21 electrodes in accordance with classic EEG record method applying the 10–20 system. The examined persons were asked to perform the following activities: sitting steadily with opened eyes, sitting steadily with closed eyes as well as typical cognitive activity i.e. silent reading of given text. Every fragment has been subjected to initial data analysis (filtering, artifact correction) and used for spectral analysis afterwards. The whole analysis has been realized on the basis of four EEG montage examples (two bipolar and two monopolar). For each of them comparative analysis concerning the following points has been carried out: EEG spectra as well as other measures, such as activity maps, diffraction histograms for separate waves and spectrum charts for the selected electrodes.Artykuł przedstawia analizę zastosowania różnego rodzaju montaży w analizie danych elektroencefalograficznych (EEG).Zaprezentowane studium przypadku obejmuje analizę danych z badania EEG kilku osób w wieku 23–24 lat. Każda osoba poddana została badaniu z wykorzystaniem 21 elektrod w klasycznym zapisie EEG z wykorzystaniem systemu 10–20. Osoby badane poproszone zostały o następujące aktywności: spokojne siedzenie z oczami otwartymi, zamkniętymi a także typową aktywność poznawczą – czytanie zadanego tekstu w myślach. Każdy fragment został poddany wstępnej analizie danych (filtracja, korekcja artefaktów) a następnie wykorzystany do analizy widmowej. Cała analiza została zrealizowana w oparciu o cztery przykładowe montaże EEG (dwa bipolarne i dwa monopolarne). Dla każdego z nich zrealizowano analizę porównawczą w odniesieniu do widm EEG a także innych miar, takich jak mapy aktywności, histogramy rozkładu poszczególnych fal oraz wykresy widmowe dla wybranych elektrod

Reduction of sitting time has a positive effect on the decrease of insulin resistance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects a large part of the human population. One of the major environmental factors associated with the risk of NAFLD is the lack of physical activity. Aim: To compare the level of physical activity and the insulin resistance in NAFLD patients. Material and methods: Thirty patients with NAFLD underwent a six-month dietary intervention based on the principles of classical dietetics. Data about diet and physical activity was based on 72-hour nutrition diaries and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Standard blood biochemical analyses were carried out before and after diet at the University Hospital Laboratory. Results: The study showed that total physical activity and physical activity in leisure time are negatively correlated with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p < 0.05). Insulin (p < 0.05), body weight (p < 0.05), and waist-hip ratio (WHR) (p < 0.05) were also negatively correlated with physical activity in free time. In addition, we noticed a positive correlation between sitting time and the risk of insulin resistance, in the case of HOMA-IR and insulin concentration (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dietary intervention and a physical activity plan are important factors in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Taking regular exercise increases insulin sensitivity and prevents further development of the disease. It seems that diet and physical activity are not the only one risk factors of NAFLD. Our study reveals that the reduction of sitting time has a positive effect on the level of insulin and it reduces insulin resistance in patients with NAFLD

EEG phase synchronization during absence seizures

Absence seizures—generalized rhythmic spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) are the defining property of childhood (CAE) and juvenile (JAE) absence epilepsies. Such seizures are the most compelling examples of pathological neuronal hypersynchrony. All the absence detection algorithms proposed so far have been derived from the properties of individual SWDs. In this work, we investigate EEG phase synchronization in patients with CAE/JAE and healthy subjects to explore the possibility of using the wavelet phase synchronization index to detect seizures and quantify their disorganization (fragmentation). The overlap of the ictal and interictal probability density functions was high enough to preclude effective seizure detection based solely on changes in EEG synchronization. We used a machine learning classifier with the phase synchronization index (calculated for 1 s data segments with 0.5 s overlap) and the normalized amplitude as features to detect generalized SWDs. Using 19 channels (10-20 setup), we identified 99.2% of absences. However, the overlap of the segments classified as ictal with seizures was only 83%. The analysis showed that seizures were disorganized in approximately half of the 65 subjects. On average, generalized SWDs lasted about 80% of the duration of abnormal EEG activity. The disruption of the ictal rhythm can manifest itself as the disappearance of epileptic spikes (with high-amplitude delta waves persisting), transient cessation of epileptic discharges, or loss of global synchronization. The detector can analyze a real-time data stream. Its performance is good for a six-channel setup (Fp1, Fp2, F7, F8, O1, O2), which can be implemented as an unobtrusive EEG headband. False detections are rare for controls and young adults (0.03% and 0.02%, respectively). In patients, they are more frequent (0.5%), but in approximately 82% cases, classification errors are caused by short epileptiform discharges. Most importantly, the proposed detector can be applied to parts of EEG with abnormal EEG activity to quantitatively determine seizure fragmentation. This property is important because a previous study reported that the probability of disorganized discharges is eight times higher in JAE than in CAE. Future research must establish whether seizure properties (frequency, length, fragmentation, etc.) and clinical characteristics can help distinguish CAE and JAE

Kolekcje i dane przyrodnicze Instytutu Biologii, Biotechnologii i Ochrony Środowiska Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Katowicach

The development of collections and databases in the field of animate nature at the University of Silesia is closely related to the over 50-years history of the development of biology at this university. Along with the development of the organizational structure, initially the Institute of Biology, and then the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection (from 2020, the Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection - IBBiOŚ), botanical and zoological research teams were formed, which as part of the conducted research, as well as individual interests of researchers, have been collecting specimens and data that constitute research and documentation material. These collections come mainly from research conducted in the Upper Silesia region, but over time they were enriched with collections gathered in other regions of the country, Europe and the world. These collections are of great scientific and didactic value. According to the idea of modern scientific collections, the purpose of their activity is not only to collect and store collections, but to make this information available and disseminate to a wide group of interested recipients in Poland and around the world. As part of the IMBIO project, a total of 90,500 records will be made available from botanical and zoological collections, making it possible to use the resources of the IBBiOŚ UŚ collection at a distance

Impact of the intra-party democracy on political parties' reactions to the electoral defeats - a case study of the selected political groupings in Poland

An electoral defeat usually marks a significant turning point in the life of political parties. It is often the beginning of the changes taking place within them (Harmel, Janda 1994; Gauja 2016: p. 50–51). Existing research suggest that the desire to improve the electoral outcome is the main argument for reform within political parties (Janda 1990; Harmel et al. 1995). This article looks at a relationship between the reactions of political parties to electoral defeat and one factor found to be important in this respect – i.e. the level of intra-party democracy (IPD) analysed at the organisational level. The study uses the IPD measurement model developed by Benjamin von dem Berge and his team (see: von dem Berge et al. 2013). The article provides the analysis of the level of intra-party democracy of the selected four Polish political parties (on the basis of their statutes) continuously present on the Polish political scene after 2001 and its impact on changes within political groupings after electoral defeats. The author examined the statutes of the Law and Justice (PiS), the Civic Platform (PO), the Polish People’s Party (PSL) and the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). These parties suffered defeats either in the 2011 or 2015 elections. The main research problem is to determine how the level of IPD of the examined parties influences their reactions after electoral defeats. The research hypothesis is: political parties with a higher level of IPD should change under the influence of electoral defeats more than parties with a lower level of this indicator. The study used also the methodology of data analysis (party’s statutes and other documents) and 21 structured in-depth interviews with representatives of party elites. Based on the results, the index of change after defeat in political parties is created

The investigative journalism model of Wojciech Sumliński

Autorka pracy podejmuje temat modelu dziennikarstwa śledczego Wojciecha Sumlińskiego. Jednocześnie dokonuje próby scharakteryzowania i sklasyfikowania jego twórczości. Praca podzielona jest na cztery rozdziały. Pierwsza część pracy to rozważania teoretyczne z zakresu dziennikarstwa śledczego. W drugiej części została przedstawiona biografia Wojciecha Sumlińskiego. Kolejne rozdziały zawierają szczegółową analizę materiału badawczego i jej wyniki. Hipotezy dotyczą cech dziennikarstwa śledczego Wojciecha Sumlińskiego. Badania przeprowadzono na podstawie wybranych reportaży dziennikarza.The author of the work discusses the topic of investigative journalism model of Wojciech Sumliński. At the same time she makes an attempt to characterize and classify his work. The work is divided into four chapters. The first part of the work is a theoretical reflection on investigative journalism. The second part presents the biography of Wojciech Sumliński. The following chapters contain a detailed analysis of the research material and its results. The hypotheses concern the investigative journalism of Wojciech Sumliński. The research was conducted on the basis of selected reportages of the journalist

Femininity in the reportages of Svetlana Aleksijewicz

Autorka pracy podejmuje temat kobiecości w reportażach Swietłany Aleksijewicz oraz reportażach wojennych. Dokonuje charakterystyki kobiecości, zarówno tej tradycyjnej, jak i nowoczesnej oraz porównuje ją z tą reprezentowaną przez bohaterki opisane w dziełach Aleksijewicz. Praca podzielona jest na cztery rozdziały. Pierwszy z nich obejmuje rozważania teoretyczne dotyczące kobiecość oraz jej typów. Drugi rozdział przedstawia trudy pracy korespondentów wojennych oraz jej konsekwencje. Kolejne dwa rozdziały zawierają analizę materiału badawczego oraz szczegółowy opis wyodrębnionych typów kobiecości prezentowanych w analizowanych reportażach. Ostatnia część pracy to podsumowanie wyników.The author of the work discusses the topic of femininity in reportages by Svetlana Aleksijewicz and war coverage. She characterizes feminity, both traditional and modern and compares it with that represented by the characters described in the works of Aleksijewicz. The work is divided into four chapters. The first one includes theoretical considerations about femininity and its types. The second chapter presents the hardships of the work of war correspondents and its consequences. The next two chapters contain an analysis of the reaserch material and a detailed description of the types of femininity presented in the analyzed reportages. The last part of the work is a summary of the results

The Use of Polymer Inclusion Membranes for the Removal of Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions—The Latest Achievements and Potential Industrial Applications: A Review

The growing demand for environmentally friendly and economical methods of removing toxic metal ions from polluted waters and for the recovery of valuable noble metal ions from various types of waste, which are often treated as their secondary source, has resulted in increased interest in techniques based on the utilization of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs). PIMs are characterized by many advantages (e.g., the possibility of simultaneous extraction and back extraction, excellent stability and high reusability), and can be adapted to the properties of the removed target analyte by appropriate selection of carriers, polymers and plasticizers used for their formulation. However, the selectivity and efficiency of the membrane process depends on many factors (e.g., membrane composition, nature of removed metal ions, composition of aqueous feed solution, etc.), and new membranes are systematically designed to improve these parameters. Numerous studies aimed at improving PIM technology may contribute to the wider use of these methods in the future on an industrial scale, e.g., in wastewater treatment. This review describes the latest achievements related to the removal of various metal ions by PIMs over the past 3 years, with particular emphasis on solutions with potential industrial application