Acute-phase reactants after paediatric cardiac arrest. Procalcitonin as marker of immediate outcome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Procalcitonin (PCT) and C reactive protein (CRP) have been used as infection parameters. PCT increase correlates with the infection's severity, course, and mortality. Post-cardiocirculatory arrest syndrome may be related to an early systemic inflammatory response, and may possibly be associated with an endotoxin tolerance. Our objective was to report the time profile of PCT and CRP levels after paediatric cardiac arrest and to assess if they could be use as markers of immediate survival.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>A retrospective observational study set in an eight-bed PICU of a university hospital was performed during a period of two years. Eleven children younger than 14 years were admitted in the PICU after a cardiac arrest. PCT and CRP plasma concentrations were measured within the first 12 and 24 hours of admission.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In survivors, PCT values increased 12 hours after cardiac arrest without further increase between 12 and 24 hours. In non survivors, PCT values increased 12 hours after cardiac arrest with further increase between 12 and 24 hours. Median PCT values (range) at 24 hours after cardiac arrest were 22.7 ng/mL (0.2 – 41.0) in survivors vs. 205.5 ng/mL (116.6 – 600.0) in non survivors (p < 0.05). CRP levels were elevated in all patients, survivors and non-survivors, at 12 and 24 hours without differences between both groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Measurement of PCT during the first 24 hours after paediatric cardiac arrest could serve as marker of mortality.</p

Rodzina w zdrowiu i w chorobie. Wybrane aspekty opieki nad przewlekle chorym

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed pape

Rodzina w zdrowiu i w chorobie. Uwarunkowania środowiskowe zdrowia

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed pape

Changing perspectives on Gdansk Shipyard redevelopment: Story of the complex and dynamic interrelation of interests in the area of fallen industry

The thesis tackles the topic of the redevelopment of Gdańsk Shipyard. It is a historically, architecturally, and emotionally important space, both for the city but also for Poland and Europe. Throughout the years there were many visions on how to tackle this difficult space. The thesis constructs a timeline that assigns actions undertaken by various stakeholders throughout the last 25 years (1996-2021). Additionally much more information and diverse material are being added based on information present in public debate. More attention is brought to the citizens being equal stakeholder as well as additional material is documented on recent years' planning.The starting point for analysis is the bankruptcy of the shipyard in 1996 and the end are most recent events and projects done in the area. The timeline together with an analysis of the current situation aims to see how the urban views shifted during that time and what has changed. Additionally, the aim is to try to answer questions currently present in the public debate like: Are the current plans better than before, or is it simply a disguise of profit-oriented development? Will the historical, physical and emotional heritage be preserved? What are the key aspects of focus for the improvement of the process of redeveloping the area?Architecture, Urbanism and Building Science

Tentacular interfaces - Uncovering latent qualities of East London industrial waterfronts

The research aims to uncover the specific qualities of East London waterfronts and its post-industrial structures. The neglected, but still partially untreated by commercialized approach waterfronts were found to be a unique chain of polluted yet biodiverse areas. The research is followed up by a design project in which the agency for resilient nature and industrial waterfront heritage became the conceptual premise. Bordering between disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning, the research proposed a strategy and intervention for the fragment of post-industrial biodiverse waterfront in Purfleet. The project aimed to ‘reactivate’ the waterfront and reunite people with water while embracing the specific qualities of the area.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Architectural Design Crossover

Coordinating movements and beliefs : different facets of doing things together

This study investigates the relations between two forms of joint action (JA)-movement coordination (MC) and goal attainment-and theory of mind (ToM), contrasting the interactionist and traditional cognitivist views. A custom task was carried out to measure the properties of the JAs between children and their parents, while classical tasks were performed to measure first- and second-order ToM. Thereafter, cross-recurrence quantification analysis was applied to quantify participants' movements. The children were from Poland and were aged 42, 66, and 78 months (N = 297, 133 girls, White, from a large city). The results suggested that the characteristics of dyad MC influence goal attainment and are related to children's first-order ToM (R2 = .447) but not to their second-order ToM

The Effect of Posaconazole, Itraconazole and Voriconazole in the Culture Medium on Aspergillus fumigatus Triazole Resistance

Triazoles are the only compounds used as antibiotics in both medicine and agriculture. The presence of triazoles in the environment can contribute to the acquisition of azole resistance among isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of A. fumigatus exposure to triazoles on susceptibility to these compounds. Seventeen triazole-resistant and 21 triazole-sensitive A. fumigatus isolates were examined. The isolates were transferred 20 times on the Sabouraud medium supplemented with posaconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole, followed by five times on the medium not supplemented. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of antimycotics were examined according to the EUCAST broth microdilution method after the 20th transfer and also the 25th transfer. In addition, the expression levels of genes mdr1, mdr2, mdr3, atrF, cyp51A and cyp51B were determined. Cultivation of A. fumigatus on media supplemented with posaconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole resulted in the acquisition of resistance to the tested triazoles of all examined isolates. After recultivation on Sabouraud without azoles, most of the isolates lost their acquired resistance. The long-term use of triazole compounds in agriculture may result in the occurrence of triazole resistant A. fumigatus isolates in the environment, not only by induction or selection of mutations in the cyp51A gene, but also by contribution to changes in the gene expression

Kidney Dysfunction and Its Progression in Patients Hospitalized Duo to COVID-19: Contribution to the Clinical Course and Outcomes

The disease caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) can affect almost all organs of the human body, including kidneys. We conducted a one-center study to comprehensively analyze the effects of kidney involvement on the course and outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, depending on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at admission. Out of the 1958 patients, 1342 (68.54%) had eGFR &ge; 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (group A) and 616 (31.46%) had eGFR &lt; 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (group B). Group B was additionally divided into subgroups B1, B2, and B3 based on eGFR. We found that mortality rates during hospitalization, as well as after 90 and 180 days, were much higher in group B than group A. The highest mortality was observed in the B2 subgroup with eGFR of 15&ndash;29. The mortality of B patients was associated with comorbidities, respiratory dysfunction, immunological impairment, and more frequent development of AKI. AKI had a negative impact on patients&rsquo; survival, regardless of the initial renal function. At discharge, 7.4% of patients had serum creatinine levels 30% higher, or more, as compared to admission. The disease course and outcomes in COVID-19 patients are associated with baseline eGFR; however, AKI during hospitalization is a more significant predictor of poor prognosis regardless of the initial renal function