Folic acid - influence on male fertility, spermatogenesis, sperm DNA fragmentation and subsequent growth of the embryo and fetus

Introduction: Men's infertility is a multifactorial disorder. According to scientific literature, among men with reduced fertility, growing interest in folic acid is observed. This review describes the effect of folic acid on spermatogenesis, sperm concentration, sperm DNA fragmentation and the growth of the embryo and fetus. Material and methods: The work was based on the articles published in PubMed, medical books and websites. Results: Folic acid affects the trajectory of embryo growth in pregnancy conceived spontaneously, there is a negative correlation between the concentration of folic acid in the semen and the indicator of sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm concentration are statistically higher in folic acid supplements. Conclusions: The results suggest that the father's exposure to folic acid before conception may affect the health of his offspring, and therefore care before conception should be changed from an approach focused on a woman to a couple-based approach

Pleotropic effect of vitamin D

Liczne badania naukowe z ostatnich lat, podkreślające wielopłaszczyznowe działanie witaminy D, ugruntowały silną pozycję zaleceń jej suplementacji w populacji ogólnej oraz grupach ryzyka niedoborów od pierwszych dni życia do późnej starości. Podstawowymi źródłami cholekalcyferolu są synteza skórna oraz wchłanianie jelitowe. Za najlepszy wykładnik zaopatrzenia organizmu w witaminę D uznaje się stężenie w osoczu metabolitu 25(OH)D o długim okresie półtrwania w surowicy krwi. Standardem diagnostycznym powinno być równoczesne oznaczanie 25(OH)D2 oraz 25(OH)D3, czyli 25(OH)D całkowitej. W aktualnych zaleceniach nie rekomenduje się rutynowego oznaczania stężenia witaminy D w populacji ogólnej, a jedynie w grupach ryzyka niedoborów. Terapia witaminą D związana z prewencją krzywicy zakłada dążenie do wartości 25(OH)D 20 ng/ml w osoczu, natomiast leczenie uwzględniające jej plejotropowe działanie na inne układy organizmu wskazuje na docelowe stężenie 30–50 ng/ml. Dawki profilaktyczne powinny zależeć od wieku, masy ciała, stopnia nasłonecznienia związanego z porą roku i ekspozycji na słońce oraz uwarunkowań indywidualnych, takich jak dieta i styl życia. Dawka profilaktyczna dla osoby dorosłej (19.–65. r.ż.) o prawidłowej masie ciała wynosi 800–2000 j.m./dobę. Mimo wzrostu spożycia suplementów zawierających cholekalcyferol, szacowany niedobór witaminy D w populacji europejskiej według badań epidemiologicznych utrzymuje się na poziomie 50–70%, a w Polsce — około 90%. W przypadkach potwierdzonego laboratoryjnie  niedoboru witaminy D (stężenia 25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml) leczenie powinno trwać do uzyskania poziomu 30–50 ng/ /ml. Wybór odpowiedniej strategii terapeutycznej należy opierać na analizie indywidualnego statusu zdrowotnego pacjenta, wieku, masy ciała oraz nawyków żywieniowych. Numerous scientific reports highlighting multiplanar activity of vitamin D, strengthened position of its supplementation guidelines for general population and groups at risk of deficiency from the first day of life until the late senility. Skin synthesis and intestinal absorption are the basic sources of cholecalciferol. The best vitamin D status indicator is the concentration of long half-life 25(OH)D metabolite in the serum. The diagnostic standard should be simultaneous as- say of 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3, that is total 25(OH)D. Current guidelines do not recommend the routine 25(OH)D concentration screening in the general population, but in groups at risk of deficiency only. Therapy based on calcium and phosphorus metabolism, related to rackets prevention, assumes the target 25(OH)D concentration of 20 ng/ml. The treatment focusing on pleiotropic effect of vitamin D recommends the target concentration of 30–50 ng/ml. Prophylactic doses should depend on age, body weight, seasonal insolation level, sun exposure and individual determinants such as diet and lifestyle. The prophylactic dose for an adult (19–65 years) with normal body weight is 800–2000 IU/day. Notwithstanding, the in- crease of intake of dietary supplements containing cholecalciferol, epidemiological studies estimate the vitamin D deficiency between 50 and 70% in the European population, and 90% in Poland. Treatment of clinically confirmed deficiency (25(OH)D &lt; 20 ng/ml) should be continued until the concentration of 30–50 ng/ /ml. The proper therapeutic strategy choice should be based on one’s individual health outcome concerns, age, body weight and dietary habits.

TOT and TVT as surgical methods of treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women - meta-analysis

Introduction: Urinary incontinence can affect up to 50% of women in the world. The most common is stress incontinence, which consists in involuntary, uncontrolled urination when the pressure in the abdominal cavity increases. Among the most commonly used methods of treating stress urinary incontinence there are treatments using a synthetic tape - TOT and TVT. In this work, both methods were compared in terms of e.g. their effectiveness, the presence of complications, the safety of both procedures and the method of performing both procedures. Material and methods: The work was based on the articles published in PubMed, medical books and websites. Results: Both TOT and TVT in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence are highly effective. Both short-term and long-term treatment results of both methods are very good and very similar. In the case of TOT, the subjective cure &lt;1 year is 62-98%, where with TVT - 71-97%. Subjective long-term cure (&gt;5 years) was 43-92% with TOT and 51-88% with TVT. The incidence of complications after TOT is significantly lower, but there is a higher probability of having to perform a repeat procedure to treat stress urinary incontinence. TVT has a lower risk of reoperation in &gt;5 years (1.1%) but has a higher risk of chronic perineal pain. Conclusions: The placement of a tension-free TVT or TOT tape should be the surgery of choice for women with simple stress urinary incontinence. However, there is a higher risk of chronic perineal pain 12 months after having a tape placed behind the symphysis. The technique of passing the tapes through the obturator holes is associated with a lower risk of bladder injury and less discomfort during bladder emptying compared to the TVT technique. After TOT surgery both pain in the inner thighs and inguinal area and vaginal damage are more common than after TVT

Morphological and ultrastructural studies on Ulva flexuosa subsp. pilifera (Chlorophyta) from Poland

Ulva flexuosa subsp. pilifera (Kütz.) M. J. Wynne 2005 (= Enteromorpha pilifera Kützing 1845) was previously found in Argentina, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden, recently also in Poland. The genus Ulva was first time described as Enteromorpha. Interestingly, Enteromorpha is used nowadays as a synonym for Ulva, a development which is based on molecular data. The morphologies of both young and mature specimens were studied, and most life cycle stages could be observed. Further, the formation of calcium carbonate crystals on the surface of Ulva thalli seems to influence the arrangement of the cells. A detailed ultrastructural (TEM) analysis of cell walls is presented. The TEM reveals in great details highly complex, irregular structures with stratification lines.The project was supported by funding from the Polish Ministry of Science, grant No. NN 304 013 437 and partially funded by the project GDWB-07/ 2011.822157163Acta Societatis Botanicorum Polonia

Ulva flexuosa subsp. pilifera (Chlorophyta, Ulvophyceae) from the Wielkopolska region (West Poland): a new observation of the ultrastructure of vegetative cells

Ulva flexuosa subsp. pilifera previously known from northern Poland, from the channel near Szczecin and ponds near Łódź, has recently been found in the Malta Reservoir in the Wielkopolska (West Poland) region. Specimens collected in the Wielkopolska region were examined in detail, also under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The morphometric analysis of Ulva thalli (both young and mature specimens) was performed in order to study the differences in the ultrastructure of vegetative cells. Rectangular cells in young thalli measured from 32.21 - 55.81 μm to 20.24 – 35.12 μm, and they formed clear longitudinal rows, while cells in the mature specimens ranged from 25.09 – 47.66 μm to 18.90 – 31.56 μm. This study indicates that vegetative cells of the mature thalli show tendency towards distortions of both the longitudinal and transverse cells arrangement. This distortion is determined by the development of possible carbonate calcium crystals on the thalli surface. The ultrastructural analysis (TEM) confirmed that the structure and placement of thylakoids is genus/species specific.This work was supported by the grant NN 304 013 437.422209215Oceanological and Hydrobilogical Studie

Epidemiology of diabetes in Poland in 2014–2017

Background. The number of people with diabetes increases every year, both in Poland and worldwide. In Poland, the exact number is not known, and the latest data comes from 2014. The aim of the study was to assess basic epidemiological indicators regarding diabetes in Poland in 2014–2017. Methods. Division into types of diabetes and other analyzes was carried out on the basis of data prepared by a team of experts and employees of the Department of Analysis and Strategy of the Ministry of Health. The NHF databases were used, concerning realized medical interventions and refunded prescriptions. Results. The number of people with diabetes in Poland in 2014 was 2.113 million (1.167 million women and 0.946 million men). This number increased in subsequent years and in 2017 amounted to 2.533 million (1.408 million women and 1.124 million men), which constituted 6.58% of the population. Using the adopted methodology, the number of patients in whom the type of diabetes could not be determined was large and ranged from 39.57% to 32.75% in individual years. Conclusions. Diabetes prevalence in Poland is increasing. The adopted methodological assumptions regarding the division criteria for type 2 and type 1 diabetes do not allow an accurate determination of the epidemiology of diabetes by type (incidence rate and morbidity), but they allow to determine “specific” subpopulations of patients with a given type of disease.Background. The number of people with diabetes increases every year, both in Poland and worldwide. In Poland, the exact number is not known, and the latest data comes from 2014. The aim of the study was to assess basic epidemiological indicators regarding diabetes in Poland in 2014–2017. Methods. Division into types of diabetes and other analyzes was carried out on the basis of data prepared by a team of experts and employees of the Department of Analysis and Strategy of the Ministry of Health. The NHF databases were used, concerning realized medical interventions and refunded prescriptions. Results. The number of people with diabetes in Poland in 2014 was 2.113 million (1.167 million women and 0.946 million men). This number increased in subsequent years and in 2017 amounted to 2.533 million (1.408 million women and 1.124 million men), which constituted 6.58% of the population. Using the adopted methodology, the number of patients in whom the type of diabetes could not be determined was large and ranged from 39.57% to 32.75% in individual years. Conclusions. Diabetes prevalence in Poland is increasing. The adopted methodological assumptions regarding the division criteria for type 2 and type 1 diabetes do not allow an accurate determination of the epidemiology of diabetes by type (incidence rate and morbidity), but they allow to determine “specific” subpopulations of patients with a given type of disease

Aging and Hypertension – Independent or Intertwined White Matter Impairing Factors? Insights From the Quantitative Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Aging disrupts white matter integrity, and so does continuous elevated blood pressure that accompanies hypertension (HTN). Yet, our understanding of the interrelationship between these factors is still limited. The study aimed at evaluating patterns of changes in diffusion parameters (as assessed by quantitative diffusion fiber tracking – qDTI) following both aging, and hypertension, as well as the nature of their linkage. 146 participants took part in the study: the control group (N = 61) and the patients with hypertension (N = 85), and were divided into three age subgroups (25–47, 48–56, 57–71 years). qDTI was used to calculate the values of fractional anisotropy, mean, radial and axial diffusivity in 20 main tracts of the brain. The effects of factors (aging and hypertension) on diffusion parameters of tracts were tested with a two-way ANOVA. In the right hemisphere there was no clear effect of the HTN, nor an interaction between the factors, though some age-related effects were observed. Contrary, in the left hemisphere both aging and hypertension contributed to the white matter decline, following a functional pattern. In the projection pathways and the fornix, HTN and aging played part independent of each other, whereas in association fibers and the corpus callosum if the hypertension effect was significant, an interaction was observed. HTN patients manifested faster decline of diffusion parameters but also reached a plateau earlier, with highest between-group differences noted in the middle-aged subgroup. Healthy and hypertensive participants have different brain aging patterns. The HTN is associated with acceleration of white matter integrity decline, observed mainly in association fibers of the left hemisphere

Relational mobility predicts social behaviors in 39 countries and is tied to historical farming and threat

International audienc

The effect of Cladophora glomerata exudates on the amino acid composition of Cladophora fracta and Rhizoclonium sp.

Filamentous green algae (FGA) frequently forms dense mats which can be either mono- or polyspecies. While various defense mechanisms of competition in algae are known, little is known about the interactions between different species of FGA. An experiment in controlled laboratory conditions was conducted to gather data on the changes in amino acids (AA) concentrations in FGA species in the presence of exudates from different other species. The aim of the present study was to identify the AA whose concentrations showed significant changes and to assess if the changes could be adaptation to stress conditions. The major constituents of the AA pool in Cladophora glomerata, C. fracta and Rhizoclonium sp. were Glutamic acid (Glu), Aspartic acid (Asp) and Leucine (Leu). In response to chemical stress, that is the increasing presence of exudates, a significant increase in the concentrations Proline (Pro) and Tryptophan (Trp) was noted. The increase in Proline levels was observed in C. fracta and Rhizoclonium in response to chemical stress induced by C. glomerata exudates. As the concentration of exudates increased in the medium, there was a progressive shift in the pattern of AA group in FGA