Testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs) as a male infertility factor. Case report

Since testes and adrenal cortex derive from the same urogenital ridge, adrenal tissue with descending gonads may migrate in early embryonic period. Although most often ectopic tissue undergoes atrophy, in some cases, when adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH) overstimulation occurs, the adrenal remnants in the testes may become hypertrophic and form testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs). The growth of TARTs in the testes leads to obstruction of the seminiferous tubules which can mechanically impair the function of the gonads and cause irreversible azoospermia. We describe a patient suffering since neonatal period from congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), disorder with defected pathway of cortisol production, which leads to increased ACTH production and to overstimulation of adrenal cortex. He had very poor disease control and therefore in late puberty he was diagnosed with TARTs. At the age of 19.5 he was diagnosed with azoospermia, most likely caused by TARTs. It is the first evidence of TARTs in Polish literature. Although not many cases have been published so far, the incidence of TARTs seems to be highly underdiagnosed, so it seems reasonable to consider the disease in differential diagnosis of male infertility

Limitation of Stresses in Concrete According to Eurocode 2

When stresses in concrete in reinforced concrete beams with the reinforcement ratio being high due to the ultimate limit state are calculated – according to the linear elasticity theory – from strains of a characteristic combination or even a quasi-permanent one, in some cases compressive stresses in extreme concrete fibres can be even higher than the characteristic compressive strength of concrete. In the following report, it is postulated to calculate these stresses with the help of the non-linear stress-strain relationship for concrete. It has also been demonstrated that the requirements specified in points 7.2(1)P and 7.2(2) of the standard PN-EN 1992-1-1:2008/NA:2010 Eurocode 2:Design of concrete structures. Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings, are useless and do not suit the limit state analysis, on which Eurocodes are based

Limitation of Stresses in Concrete According to Eurocode 2

When stresses in concrete in reinforced concrete beams with the reinforcement ratio being high due to the ultimate limit state are calculated – according to the linear elasticity theory – from strains of a characteristic combination or even a quasi-permanent one, in some cases compressive stresses in extreme concrete fibres can be even higher than the characteristic compressive strength of concrete. In the following report, it is postulated to calculate these stresses with the help of the non-linear stress-strain relationship for concrete. It has also been demonstrated that the requirements specified in points 7.2(1)P and 7.2(2) of the standard PN-EN 1992-1-1:2008/NA:2010 Eurocode 2:Design of concrete structures. Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings, are useless and do not suit the limit state analysis, on which Eurocodes are based

Creep of Concrete According to Creep Prediction Models and Own Research

The paper presents the currently used procedures for calculating the deformation of concrete and creep coefficients. Laboratory research was conducted on the creep of concrete. Creep coefficients were calculated on the basis of experimentally obtained data and later compared to the ones acquired by using previously demonstrated procedures. In the case of the sample subjected to the influence of compressive stress and not exceeding the limit of linear creep, the models in Eurocode 2 and fib Model Code 2010 did not correspond to the experimentally obtained data

Creep of Concrete According to Creep Prediction Models and Own Research

The paper presents the currently used procedures for calculating the deformation of concrete and creep coefficients. Laboratory research was conducted on the creep of concrete. Creep coefficients were calculated on the basis of experimentally obtained data and later compared to the ones acquired by using previously demonstrated procedures. In the case of the sample subjected to the influence of compressive stress and not exceeding the limit of linear creep, the models in Eurocode 2 and fib Model Code 2010 did not correspond to the experimentally obtained data

Application of Liquid Chromatography/Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry Technique to Determine Ergot Alkaloids in Grain Products

A liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry-based method to determine six ergot alkaloids and their isomers is presented. The samples were cleaned on neutral alumina-based solid-phase extraction cartridges. The following method parameters were obtained (depending on the analyte and spiking level): method recovery from 63.0 to 104.6 %, relative standard deviation below 18 %, linear range from 1 to 325 μg/kg, linear correlation coefficient not less than 0.98. The developed analytical procedure was applied to determine the levels of ergot alkaloids in 65 samples of selected rye-based food products (flour– 34 samples, bran – 12 samples, rye – 18 samples, flakes – 1 sample). Measurable levels of alkaloids were found in majority of the analysed samples, particularly in rye flour. Additionally, alkaloids were determined in ergot sclerotia isolated from rye grains. Total content was nearly 0.01 % (97.9 mg/kg). However, the alkaloid profi le was dominated by ergocristine at 45.6 % (44.7 mg/kg), an alkaloid not commonly found in the tested food products. Ergocorninine at 0.2 % (0.2 mg/kg) was the least abundant alkaloid

Crystal structure of (3R)-3-benzyl-4-[(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]butanoic acid

The characteristic feature of the title molecule, C16H23NO4, is the syn configuration of the partially double amide C—N bond [C—N—C—O torsion angle = −14.8 (2)°]. The crystal packing is determined by intermolecular O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, which link the molecules into a double-chain structure extending along [010]

Average concentrations (medians, 25/75 percentiles) for 13 sampling locations.

<p>A (left): six indicator CBs (EC6, dark bars) and twelve dioxin-like CBs (EC12, light bars). B (right): PBDEs. Significantly different groups are marked with letters a, b, or ab (α = 0.05).</p