Standard intraoral radiography vs. cone beam computed tomography for root canal systems detection in historical dental material

The study of root canal systems of historical teeth is relatively new in anthropological research. This issue has not been extensively documented in the anthropological literature. The authors of the present study have detected the visibility of root canal systems in 231 human teeth belonging to 11 individuals of both sexes from the 18th and 19th centuries in an archaeological site at Radom (Poland). Teeth were divided precisely into one-, two-, and three-rooted specimens. Each root was analyzed separately. Three methods were used: Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), Standard Intraoral Radiography in Paralleling Technique (PT), and Same Lingual Opposite Buccal (SLOB) technique with constant exposure conditions. It was found that CBCT can be used successfully, even treated as a “gold standard”, providing the highest visibility rate of all teeth types. In maxilla one-root teeth, the root canal is more visible in PT (77%) than in SLOB (54%) technique. In upper premolars, both buccal and palatal canals are more visible in SLOB (75% and 85%, respectively), and the differences are statistically significant (p = 0.0003 and p < 0.0001, respectively). In three-rooted teeth, the most visible canals are distobuccal, in both SLOB (80%) and PT (70%) methods. Less frequently diagnosed are canals in mesiobuccal roots in both radiographic methods (PT 20% and SLOB 32%). The canals in palatal root were poorly detectable. In mandibular one-root teeth, a higher visibility rate was achieved with PT (93%) than SLOB (80%) technique. In distal roots of mandibular molars, the canals are more visible in PT (59%) method. Morphology of mesial root was better detected in SLOB (74%) technique. The study demonstrates the potential of using single-root teeth when the rest of the tooth root is fragmented

The influence of nasturtium officinale R. Br. Agar and agitated microshoot culture media on glucosinolate and henolic acid production, and antioxidant activity

This paper presents an optimization of conditions for microshoot cultures of Nasturtium officinale R. Br. (watercress). Variants of the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different plant growth regulators (PGRs): cytokinins&mdash;BA (6-benzyladenine), 2iP (6-&gamma;,&gamma;-dimethylallylaminopurine), KIN (kinetin), Zea (zeatin), and auxins&mdash;IAA (3-indoleacetic acid), IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), 2,4-d (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), IPA (indole-3-pyruvic acid), NAA (naphthalene-1-acetic acid), total 27 MS variants, were tested in agar and agitated cultures. Growth cycles were tested for 10, 20, or 30 days in the agar cultures, and 10 or 20 days in the agitated cultures. Glucosinolate and phenolic acid production, total phenolic content and antioxidant potential were evaluated. The total amounts of glucosinolates ranged from 100.23 to 194.77 mg/100 g dry weight of biomass (DW) in agar cultures, and from 78.09 to 182.80 mg/100 g DW in agitated cultures. The total phenolic acid content varied from 15.89 to 237.52 mg/100 g DW for the agar cultures, and from 70.80 to 236.74 mg/100 g DW for the agitated cultures. Extracts of the cultured biomass contained higher total amounts of phenolic acids, lower total amounts of glucosinolates, a higher total phenolic content and similar antioxidant potentials compared to plant material. The analyses performed confirmed for the first time the explicit influence on secondary metabolite production and on the antioxidant potential. The significance was statistically estimated in a complex manner

Breast cancer prevention behaviour of nurses and midwives - introduction to the discussion

Introduction Nurses and midwives are a large and therefore very important - for the population effect of many public health activities - group of health care professionals. Breast cancer prevention is one of them. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to initiate a discussion on the decision-making processes related to the reporting of breast cancer screening by nurses and midwives. The discussion was prompted by the diagnosis of analogous behaviours in a selected group of nurses and midwives working in a selected hospital. Material and methods A total of 118 nurses and midwives working in one of the Podkarpackie hospitals were studied. A diagnostic survey was used with an author's questionnaire prepared for this study with elements of a knowledge test. The study was conducted in January 2023. Results In the group of nurses and midwives aged 50 years and older, 10% of nurses and 33.3% of midwives had never performed mammography. Breast ultrasound had never been performed by 25% of nurses and 23.8% of midwives. The reasons for this are varied and stem from both the family experience of the respondents and personal health concerns and beliefs. In the light of the review, it was shown that the participation of nurses and midwives in breast cancer prevention programmes requires a special approach in the design of such programmes and the attitude of nurses and midwives towards participation in oncology screenings demonstrates the need for special support for this group in their decisions. Conclusions There is an urgent need to use different approaches and models in the preparation of modern decision aids for women recipients of oncology prevention programmes that take into account the trade-offs and preferences of women from both groups - medical women and their clients. &nbsp

Influence of vegetarian diet on human body

All over the world there are more vegetarians than in previous years due to many reasons. One of them is positive influence on health what is shown in the latest research. The aim of the article is to review the influence of vegetarian diet on frequent diseases such as: hypertension, obesity,osteoporosis.An analysis of scientific papers from Pubmed and Google Scholar was performed, which most accurately described the issue of impact vegetarian diet on human health. The following keywords have been used in the search:Vegetarian, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis:vegetarian, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis.The researchers shown than vegetarians have lover systolic blood pressure  and diastolic blood pressure by 10 and 5 mmHg, they also lower overall mortality by 10-15%, risk of heart failure and by ~40%,  stroke by~35% and coronary events by 20%. Vegetarians also have statistically  lower body mass index. What’s more in this diet is more energy efficient thanks too low food energy density and helps keeping leptin on adequate level. Research has shown than vegetarians have lower mineral bone density than non-vegetarian, although some studies has shown that  risk of fractures in vegetarians and non-vegetarians was not affected by diet alternation. Based on the results of the studies above vegetarian diet contributes to lower blood pressure and preventing from cardiovascular diseases. It helps to avoid obesity and  to get rid of weights also doesn’t have negative impact on osteoporosis

Effect of low-frequency magnetic field (magnetic stimulation) and kinesitherapy on the level of selected blood parameters in haemodialysis patients

Introduction: Abnormalities in the secretory and endocrine functions of the kidneys are often diagnosed in patients with chronic kidney disease and undergoing haemodialysis, leading to disturbances in body homeostasis. Frequent multimorbidity is an additional factor that negatively affects homeostasis. These factors contribute to a decrease in cardiopulmonary fitness, deterioration of the patient’s psychophysical status, and, consequently, a decrease in quality of life. Due to several limitations of rehabilitation in this group of patients, solutions are constantly being sought to safely avoid or reduce the problems resulting from the above health burdens. Among the least invasive methods are magnetic stimulation and properly prepared and administered kinesitherapy. Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of magnetic stimulation and kinesitherapy on selected blood parameters in haemodialysis patients. Material and methods: The study covered 26 people. Six patients received magnetic stimulation and kinesitherapy, 10 received only kinesitherapy, and the others were in the control group. At baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks, blood tests were performed in all three groups to evaluate changes in the parameters studied (RBC, Hb, HCT, WBC, PLT, Na ions, K ions, Cl ions, urea, Pi, tCa, ALP and parathormone). Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the blood parameters studied, except for urea. The urea level in the group where patients underwent magnetic stimulation and exercise increased in the second collection but decreased in the third, whereas in the exercise-only group, it showed an increasing trend in all 3 collections. Conclusions: The levels of the assessed blood parameters do not show statistically significant changes (except for urea). However, one can observe certain non-statistically significant changes in the assessed blood parameters that are more noticeable in the study groups than in the control group. Therefore, it can be suspected that both treatments involving magnetic stimulation in combination with exercise and exercise alone have an impact on the human body. However, further research in this area is necessary

Breast cancer prevention behaviour of nurses and midwives - introduction to the discussion

Introduction Nurses and midwives are a large and therefore very important - for the population effect of many public health activities - group of health care professionals. Breast cancer prevention is one of them. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to initiate a discussion on the decision-making processes related to the reporting of breast cancer screening by nurses and midwives. The discussion was prompted by the diagnosis of analogous behaviours in a selected group of nurses and midwives working in a selected hospital. Material and methods A total of 118 nurses and midwives working in one of the Podkarpackie hospitals were studied. A diagnostic survey was used with an author's questionnaire prepared for this study with elements of a knowledge test. The study was conducted in January 2023. Results In the group of nurses and midwives aged 50 years and older, 10% of nurses and 33.3% of midwives had never performed mammography. Breast ultrasound had never been performed by 25% of nurses and 23.8% of midwives. The reasons for this are varied and stem from both the family experience of the respondents and personal health concerns and beliefs. In the light of the review, it was shown that the participation of nurses and midwives in breast cancer prevention programmes requires a special approach in the design of such programmes and the attitude of nurses and midwives towards participation in oncology screenings demonstrates the need for special support for this group in their decisions. Conclusions There is an urgent need to use different approaches and models in the preparation of modern decision aids for women recipients of oncology prevention programmes that take into account the trade-offs and preferences of women from both groups - medical women and their clients.

Assessment of dental caries among children and adults inhabiting Starorypin (11th–12th c.) compared to other Early Medieval populations from Poland

Dental caries testing provides information about diet, hygiene and eating habits. This information can be useful in reconstructing the living conditions of historical populations. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of dental caries in adults and children in the Early Middle Ages population from Starorypin (Poland) and compare the results with other early medieval populations from Poland.A total of 346 adult permanent teeth and 131 deciduous teeth were included in the study. Both the macroscopic method and imaging methods (X-ray and a light-induced fluorescence technique) were applied in the study.Dental caries were recorded in 33% (115/346) of the permanent teeth and in 10% (13/131) of the deciduous teeth. In permanent teeth, dental caries were diagnosed on the approximal surface, while dental caries in deciduous teeth are most often diagnosed on the occlusal surface. Early childhood caries (ECC) were mainly diagnosed on the teeth of individuals within the 3.0–5.5 years age group.The frequency of dental caries seemed to be high compared to other early medieval populations. The obtained results may have been influenced by ‘broadband’ odontological research methods, not limited to the macroscopic method alone. However, it can be also argued that the frequency of dental caries observed in this study might have been influenced by a highly varied diet, as indicated by archaeozoological and archaeobotanical studies. The surfaces affected by dental caries correspond to findings of other studies showing that in adults, these were the approximal surfaces, while they were the labial/occlusion surfaces on the deciduous teeth

Plasma biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease: a field-test in a memory clinic

BACKGROUND: The key Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers are traditionally measured with techniques/exams that are either expensive (amyloid-positron emission tomography (PET) and tau-PET), invasive (cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42 and p-tau181), or poorly specific (atrophy on MRI and hypometabolism on fluorodeoxyglucose-PET). Recently developed plasma biomarkers could significantly enhance the efficiency of the diagnostic pathway in memory clinics and improve patient care. This study aimed to: (1) confirm the correlations between plasma and traditional AD biomarkers, (2) assess the diagnostic accuracy of plasma biomarkers as compared with traditional biomarkers, and (3) estimate the proportion of traditional exams potentially saved thanks to the use of plasma biomarkers. METHODS: Participants were 200 patients with plasma biomarkers and at least one traditional biomarker collected within 12 months. RESULTS: Overall, plasma biomarkers significantly correlated with biomarkers assessed through traditional techniques: up to r=0.50 (p<0.001) among amyloid, r=0.43 (p=0.002) among tau, and r=-0.23 (p=0.001) among neurodegeneration biomarkers. Moreover, plasma biomarkers showed high accuracy in discriminating the biomarker status (normal or abnormal) determined by using traditional biomarkers: up to area under the curve (AUC)=0.87 for amyloid, AUC=0.82 for tau, and AUC=0.63 for neurodegeneration status. The use of plasma as a gateway to traditional biomarkers using cohort-specific thresholds (with 95% sensitivity and 95% specificity) could save up to 49% of amyloid, 38% of tau, and 16% of neurodegeneration biomarkers. CONCLUSION: The implementation of plasma biomarkers could save a remarkable proportion of more expensive traditional exams, making the diagnostic workup more cost-effective and improving patient care

PSYCHOLOGICAL PORTRAITS? The image of three female characters in the works of S. I. Witkiewicz

Praca pt. „Portrety psychologiczne? Wyobrażenia trzech postaci kobiecych w twórczości S. I. Witkiewicza” jest twórczą analizą kobiecych wariantów: Marii Witkiewicz, Ireny Solskiej i Jadwigi Witkiewiczowej. Wybrane przykłady fotograficzne, malarskie i słowne służą do interpretacji zagadnienia i ujawnienia sposobu kreacyjnego artysty – reżysera. Dodatkowo wykorzystano podstawową wersję „Teorii konstytucjonalnej Kretschmera”, która dopełniła analizę psychologiczną. Niniejsza praca pokazuje, że artystyczne świadectwa egzystencji Witkiewicza zazębiają się w całość, której poszczególne elementy można rozpatrywać osobno, ale tylko w zderzeniu z resztą, ujawniają integralność myślenia artysty.Work entitled "Psychological portraits? The image of three female characters in the works of S.I.Witkiewicz" is a creative analysis of female types: Maria Witkiewicz, Irena Solska and Jadwiga Witkiewicz. Selected photographs, paintings and texts are used to interpret the issues and reveal the creation of the artist-director. In addition this bachelor's thesis uses the basic version of the Kretschmer's constitutional theory, which fulfill psychological analysis. This work shows that artistic manifestations of Witkiewicz existence are overlapping in whole, where individual elements can be seen separately, but only in clashing with the rest they reveal the integrity of thought