Effectiveness of restoration of a degraded shallow mountain fen after five years

As a contribution to improving understanding of the mechanisms and relationships that exist within shallow peatland ecosystems, we report the results of monitoring five-years’ recovery after restoration of a forestry-drained sloping rich fen site in the Central Sudetes in south-west Poland. Over the last 100 years, drainage ditches installed for forestry management purposes have affected the hydrology, soil and vegetation of this site. Spruce stands were present until 2010, when restoration started with blocking of ditches and clearcutting/removal of trees. The main objective of our study was to determine the effects of these restoration activities on aspects of hydrology and soil condition. We hypothesised that the five years following restoration could provide sufficient time to improve: 1) water table level and water quality, and 2) the physical and chemical properties of the organic soil. Restoration had a positive effect on water table level as early as two years after implementation of drain blocking and reduction of tree cover. However, five years was not sufficient time to reverse the decline in water quality. The concentrations of labile carbon forms in water, as well as water colour (Abs400), were similar in 2010 and 2015. Due to peatland rewetting and peat swelling a decrease in peat bulk density was observed. However, this outcome was identified only in the bottom organic soil horizons. This, in turn, affected the thickness of the peat layer and the altitude of the soil surface. Five years of recovery is insufficient to stop the mineralisation of organic matter, as indicated by lower TOC/TN values, slightly higher concentrations of labile forms of carbon, and the W1 index of secondary transformation

Problematic Facebook use and problematic video gaming as mediators of relationship between impulsivity and life satisfaction among female and male gamers

Over the past few decades, many new technologies have emerged, such as portable computers, the internet and smartphones, which have contributed to improving the lives of individuals. While the benefits of these new technologies are overwhelmingly positive, negative consequences are experienced by a minority of individuals. One possible negative aspect of new technologies is their problematic use due to impulsive use which may lead to lower life satisfaction. The present study investigated the mediating role of problematic video gaming (PVG) and problematic Facebook use (PFU) in the relationship between impulsivity dimensions and life satisfaction as well as the relationship between impulsivity dimensions and problematic behaviors. Additionally, the potential impact of gender differences was also examined. The study comprised 673 gamers (391 females) aged 17–38 years (M = 21.25 years, SD = 2.67) selected from 1365 individuals who completed an offline survey. PFU was assessed using the Facebook Intrusion Scale, and PVG was assessed using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS9-SF). Impulsivity dimensions such as attention, cognitive instability, motor, perseverance, self-control, and cognitive complexity were assessed using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Depending on the specific impulsivity dimension, findings showed both positive and negative relationships between impulsivity and life satisfaction. Attention and perseverance subtypes of impulsivity were primarily associated with problematic behaviors. Additionally, cognitive complexity was associated with PFU among female gamers, whereas cognitive instability was associated with PVG among male gamers. Additionally, PVG was primarily associated with lower life satisfaction. However, there was no mediation effects between impulsivity dimensions and life satisfaction via PFU or PVG. These findings provide a better understanding of the relationship between problematic behaviors, life satisfaction, and impulsivity among gamers and the differences between male and female gamers

Network impact score is an independent predictor of post-stroke cognitive impairment: A multicenter cohort study in 2341 patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common consequence of stroke. Accurate prediction of PSCI risk is challenging. The recently developed network impact score, which integrates information on infarct location and size with brain network topology, may improve PSCI risk prediction. AIMS: To determine if the network impact score is an independent predictor of PSCI, and of cognitive recovery or decline. METHODS: We pooled data from patients with acute ischemic stroke from 12 cohorts through the Meta VCI Map consortium. PSCI was defined as impairment in ≥ 1 cognitive domain on neuropsychological examination, or abnormal Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Cognitive recovery was defined as conversion from PSCI 24 months) and cognitive recovery or decline using logistic regression. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, prior stroke, infarct volume, and study site. RESULTS: We included 2341 patients with 4657 cognitive assessments. PSCI was present in 398/844 patients (47%) 24 months. Cognitive recovery occurred in 64/181 (35%) patients and cognitive decline in 26/287 (9%). The network impact score predicted PSCI in the univariable (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.34-1.68) and multivariable (OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.10-1.46) GEE model, with similar ORs in the logistic regression models for specified post-stroke intervals. The network impact score was not associated with cognitive recovery or decline. CONCLUSIONS: The network impact score is an independent predictor of PSCI. As such, the network impact score may contribute to a more precise and individualized cognitive prognostication in patients with ischemic stroke. Future studies should address if multimodal prediction models, combining the network impact score with demographics, clinical characteristics and other advanced brain imaging biomarkers, will provide accurate individualized prediction of PSCI. A tool for calculating the network impact score is freely available at https://metavcimap.org/features/software-tools/lsm-viewer/

Impact of Cerebral Microbleeds in Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral microbleeds are associated with the risks of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage, causing clinical dilemmas for antithrombotic treatment decisions. We aimed to evaluate the risks of intracranial hemorrhage and ischemic stroke associated with microbleeds in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with Vitamin K antagonists, direct oral anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and combination therapy (i.e. concurrent oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet) METHODS: We included patients with documented atrial fibrillation from the pooled individual patient data analysis by the Microbleeds International Collaborative Network. Risks of subsequent intracranial hemorrhage and ischemic stroke were compared between patients with and without microbleeds, stratified by antithrombotic use. RESULTS: A total of 7,839 patients were included. The presence of microbleeds was associated with an increased relative risk of intracranial hemorrhage (aHR 2.74, 95% confidence interval 1.76 - 4.26) and ischemic stroke (aHR 1.29, 95% confidence interval 1.04 - 1.59). For the entire cohort, the absolute incidence of ischemic stroke was higher than intracranial hemorrhage regardless of microbleeds burden. However, for the subgroup of patients taking combination of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy, the absolute risk of intracranial hemorrhage exceeded that of ischemic stroke in those with 2-4 microbleeds (25 vs 12 per 1,000 patient-years) and ≥11 microbleeds (94 vs 48 per 1,000 patient-years). INTERPRETATION: Patients with atrial fibrillation and high burden of microbleeds receiving combination therapy have a tendency of higher rate of intracranial hemorrhage than ischemic stroke, with potential for net harm. Further studies are needed to help optimize stroke preventive strategies in this high-risk group. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Cerebral microbleeds and stroke risk after ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack: a pooled analysis of individual patient data from cohort studies

BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds are a neuroimaging biomarker of stroke risk. A crucial clinical question is whether cerebral microbleeds indicate patients with recent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack in whom the rate of future intracranial haemorrhage is likely to exceed that of recurrent ischaemic stroke when treated with antithrombotic drugs. We therefore aimed to establish whether a large burden of cerebral microbleeds or particular anatomical patterns of cerebral microbleeds can identify ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack patients at higher absolute risk of intracranial haemorrhage than ischaemic stroke. METHODS: We did a pooled analysis of individual patient data from cohort studies in adults with recent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Cohorts were eligible for inclusion if they prospectively recruited adult participants with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack; included at least 50 participants; collected data on stroke events over at least 3 months follow-up; used an appropriate MRI sequence that is sensitive to magnetic susceptibility; and documented the number and anatomical distribution of cerebral microbleeds reliably using consensus criteria and validated scales. Our prespecified primary outcomes were a composite of any symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage or ischaemic stroke, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and symptomatic ischaemic stroke. We registered this study with the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews, number CRD42016036602. FINDINGS: Between Jan 1, 1996, and Dec 1, 2018, we identified 344 studies. After exclusions for ineligibility or declined requests for inclusion, 20 322 patients from 38 cohorts (over 35 225 patient-years of follow-up; median 1·34 years [IQR 0·19-2·44]) were included in our analyses. The adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] comparing patients with cerebral microbleeds to those without was 1·35 (95% CI 1·20-1·50) for the composite outcome of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke; 2·45 (1·82-3·29) for intracranial haemorrhage and 1·23 (1·08-1·40) for ischaemic stroke. The aHR increased with increasing cerebral microbleed burden for intracranial haemorrhage but this effect was less marked for ischaemic stroke (for five or more cerebral microbleeds, aHR 4·55 [95% CI 3·08-6·72] for intracranial haemorrhage vs 1·47 [1·19-1·80] for ischaemic stroke; for ten or more cerebral microbleeds, aHR 5·52 [3·36-9·05] vs 1·43 [1·07-1·91]; and for ≥20 cerebral microbleeds, aHR 8·61 [4·69-15·81] vs 1·86 [1·23-1·82]). However, irrespective of cerebral microbleed anatomical distribution or burden, the rate of ischaemic stroke exceeded that of intracranial haemorrhage (for ten or more cerebral microbleeds, 64 ischaemic strokes [95% CI 48-84] per 1000 patient-years vs 27 intracranial haemorrhages [17-41] per 1000 patient-years; and for ≥20 cerebral microbleeds, 73 ischaemic strokes [46-108] per 1000 patient-years vs 39 intracranial haemorrhages [21-67] per 1000 patient-years). INTERPRETATION: In patients with recent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, cerebral microbleeds are associated with a greater relative hazard (aHR) for subsequent intracranial haemorrhage than for ischaemic stroke, but the absolute risk of ischaemic stroke is higher than that of intracranial haemorrhage, regardless of cerebral microbleed presence, antomical distribution, or burden

The influence of High Intensity Laser Therapy on bone regeneration

Laseroterapia wysokoenergetyczna HILT (High Intensity Laser Therapy) jest nowoczesną metodą fizykalną stosowaną w leczeniu schorzeń mięśniowo-szkieletowych. Energia świetlna znacznie przyspiesza metabolizm komórkowy i stymuluje procesy regeneracji naczyń, włókien nerwowych, tkanki łącznej, co jest szczególnie pożądane w procesie gojenia się złamań. Cel pracy. Celem pracy była ocena wpływu laseroterapii wysokoenergetycznej HILT na procesy regeneracji kości po złamaniu oraz ocena jej skuteczności w leczeniu dolegliwości bólowych spowodowanych urazem. Materiał i metody. Badaniu poddano 22-osobową grupę pacjentów ze złamaniami w okolicy nadgarstka. Okolicę złamania naświetlano laserem o parametrach: długość fali ? = 880 nm, moc P=1500 mW, gęstość energii ED=4 J/cm2. Przed i po serii 10 zabiegów HILT pacjentom pobrano krew w celu oznaczenia markerów obrotu kostnego: osteokalcyny (OC, marker kościotworzenia) i markera resorpcji kości, C-końcowego telopeptydu kolagenu typu I (CTx). Dodatkowo oceniono wpływ terapii HILT na dolegliwości bólowe, za pomocą skali VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) oraz zmodyfikowanego kwestionariusza Leitinena. Wyniki i wnioski. Wyniki badań wskazują na silne działanie analgetyczne terapii HILT. Badania stężenia wskaźników metabolizmu kostnego nie potwierdziły wpływu terapii na procesy obrotu kostnego, wykazując jednocześnie, że we wczesnym okresie po złamaniu nie odnotowuje się odstępstw od normy.High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) is a quite new method in physical therapy. There is not enough information on the influence of a therapeutic high intensity light on human body. It is well known that electromagnetic radiation influences the metabolism and stimulates vascularisation, as well as proliferation of many cells, among them osteoblasts. Aim. The aim of this work was to evaluate the changes in bone metabolism after bone fracture in patients subjected to this kind of laser irradiation (HILT). Material and method. The group of 22 patients with a radial bone fracture was subjected to the therapy HILT (? = 880 nm, P=1500 mW, ED=4 J/cm2). Before and after the treatment the biochemical markers of bone turnover were evaluated, as well as pain level was estimated. Results and conclusions. The obtained results confirmed good analgesic effect of HILT, already just after first administration. The examination of biochemical markers of bone turnover did not confirm the influence of HILT on the process of bone healing