Angiopoietin-like proteins - their role in lipoprotein metabolism and association with atherogenic dyslipidemia

Scientists have been trying to find the best parameter for laboratory assessment of the risk of cardiovasculardiseases (CVD) for decades. Initially, the results of many studies indicated that the analysisof the lipid profile was sufficient to evaluate the risk of CVD. Further studies revealed that more preciselaboratory prediction of cardiovascular risk requires quantification of atherogenic lipoproteins. Recently,angiopoietin-like proteins 3, 4 and 8 (ANGPTLs) have been described as important regulators of plasmalipoprotein metabolism and triglyceride homeostasis. Mutations in ANGPTL3 leading to loss of its functionhave been linked to decreased risk of CVD in humans. Among potential new targets for the managementof dyslipidemia, ANGPTL3 may become a considerably promising one

Internal migration in Germany in 1990 and 2005

DOI: 10.2478/v10089-009-0007-0The article seeks to answer the questions concerning the possibility of identifying regular patterns within internal migration in the towns and rural areas of the Federal Republic of Germany as well as factors contributing to regional variations in the process. The research involves 439 German counties (Kreise) and compares data on internal migration in the country in the years 1991 and 2005, i.e. from its reunifi cation until the year 2005. The 15-year period of functioning of one reunited state has been assumed suffi cient for capturing some regularities and trends

Causes of hoarseness - systematic review

Introduction and purpose of the work: Hoarseness is a symptom of a disease characterized by a hoarse, tense or hoarse voice resulting from disturbance of the vibration of the vocal folds. It is a common symptom of the disease in patients during medical consultations in primary health care, and the causes of its occurrence can be varied. State of knowledge (brief description): Treating hoarseness depends on what causes it. For this reason, during the diagnosis, various causes that may be the cause of hoarseness should be taken into account, such as infections, structural changes caused by the use of the voice organ, psychogenic causes, autoimmune diseases, systemic diseases or neoplastic diseases. Summary: In-depth diagnosis and an interdisciplinary approach are necessary to identify the cause of chronic hoarseness and initiate effective treatment

The cut-off values for non-fasting routine lipid parameters in presumably healthy 9–11-year-old children

Disorders of lipid metabolism cause accelerated atherosclerosis and increase cardiovascular risk, which is why lipid profile screening, especially at a young age, should be widely applied.Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the cut-off points for non-fasting lipid parameters in presumably healthy children aged 9-11 years.Material and methods. The study was performed with the use of blood samples taken in non-fasting state from 289 school children of both sexes (152 girls and 137 boys). Routine lipid profile was assessed: TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides. Laboratory measurements were performed in serum samples using abiochemical autoanalyser.Results. In this study we determined the 97.5 percentile values for TC, LDL-C, and triglycerides and the 2.5 percentile values for HDL-C. The upper cut-offs for TC, LDL-C, and triglycerides were found to be 239 mg/dL, 163 mg/dL, and 284 mg/dL, respectively, and the lower cut-off for HDL-C was 37 mg/dL.Conclusions. The upper range of non-fasting total cholesterol was higher by about 30 mg/dL compared to fasting state for a similar age range; the cut-off points in non-fasting children for LDL-C and TG were also higher. The lower cut-off for HDL-C was similar compared to fasting state for the respective age range. The determination of the non-fasting cut-off values for routine lipid profile in the paediatric population is essential for the proper evaluation of the cardiovascular risk because using the reference values for adults may cause an incorrect interpretation of the laboratory results

Drugs increase the risk of suicide in the elderly

The purpose of this paper is a systematic review of articles and research in the context of drugs used and suicide in elderly patients. Suicide in the elderly may be much more frequent than in the younger population. In addition to factors such as mental illness, dementia, deteriorating health, or problems with adapting to old age, the impact of chronic and reliever medications in this age group should also be considered. The greatest challenge of pharmacotherapy in the elderly is polypharmacy, drug interactions, different metabolism, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drugs used, as well as the side effects appearing in chronic therapy. In elderly patients, strong groups of drugs such as benzodiazepines and opioids are used extensively and sometimes too often. These drugs can cause addiction and overdose. Prescribing benzodiazepines alone carries a high risk of suicide. On the other hand, opioids often lead to addiction and abuse of these drugs, which may be associated with the development of respiratory depression. According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide accounts for approximately 7% of all opioid overdose deaths. Therapy should be carefully selected with regard to the use of other medications, drug interactions, and possible dependence and drug abuse by patients.The use of some classes of drugs in the elderly requires increased vigilance and control in the context of depression and episodes of suicide attempts. Drugs such as B blockers, digitalis glycosides, NSAIDs, opioids, ACEIs, calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids, diuretics, levodopa, and benzodiazepines can cause symptoms of depression. Older people are more susceptible to side effects of drugs, for example because of polypharmacy and the chronicity of treatment

New treatment strategies for bipolar disorder in the elderly

Introduction and objective: The purpose of this paper is to systematically review articles and new research in the context of bipolar geriatric patients. Materials and methods: PubMed searches were completed using the key terms bipolar disorder, bipolar elderly, bipolar depression, bipolar elderly treatment and review articles. In addition, references in these resources were searched. Search dates: 2010 to 2022. Description of the state of knowledge: Mental disorders in the context of the elderly concern all depressive disorders. A problem with other disorders such as bipolar disorder is also increasingly recognized. In the elderly, it is quite rare in the general cross-section of society, but it may have a higher percentage, e.g. in nursing homes and care institutions. This review article shows both the difference and the similarities in the course of this disease in older and younger patients. The most important and common aspect for both age groups is psychotherapy with parallel pharmacological treatment. The greatest difficulty in pharmacotherapy in the elderly is polypharmacy and numerous drug interactions, as well as different pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the drugs used compared to younger patients. Attention should also be paid to the differentiation of bipolar disorder from different types of dementia and other cognitive disorders. Therefore, one should strive to carefully assess the patient's need for a given treatment, establish appropriate periodic monitoring of treatment, and assess the risk of taking or not intervening. This article also aims to review new research and drugs that seem promising, while the individualized and interdisciplinary approach to a geriatric patient with BD is the most important finding of this review. Summary: Bipolar disorder in older people, compared to the younger population, should be treated pharmacologically in combination with psychotherapy. The elderly patient population requires a multidisciplinary approach due to the number of drugs used in a large number of diseases

Application in the industrial sector of biocarbonate obtained by biomass processing methods

Biokarbonizat, inaczej biowęgiel, jest to przetworzona biomasa otrymywana w procesach pirolizy, gazyfikacji lub pirolizy hydrotermalnej. Produkt ten jest zdecydowanie bardziej kaloryczny, łatwiejszy do transportu i magazynowania w porównaniu z wyjściową, surową biomasą. Biokarbonizat ma zastosowanie w przemyśle energetycznym, metalurgicznym, a także w bioremediacji gleby zanieczyszczonej. Aktywny biowęgiel może wykorzystywany być do usuwania niektórych związków z produktów wymagających wysokiej czystości (np. w sektorze farmaceutycznym). Ciekawym pomysłem na jego zastosowanie jest wytwarzanie, z jego udziałem, mikrobiologicznych ogniw paliwowych. Niniejszy artykuł przedstawia przegląd zastosowań przemysłowych biokarbonizatu, do którego produkcji wykorzystuje się szeroko pojętą biomasę.Biocarbonizate, or biochar, is a processed biomass obtained in the processes of pyrolysis, gasification or hydrothermal pyrolysis. This product is definitely more caloric, easier to transport and store compared to the original raw biomass. Biocarbonate is used in the energy and metallurgical industries and in the bioremediation of contaminated soil. Active biochar can be used to remove some compounds from products that require high purity (e.g. in the pharmaceutical sector). An interesting idea for its use is the production of microbiological fuel cells with its participation. This article presents an overview of the industrial applications of a biocarbonate, which is a product of different types of biomass

Groundwater capacity of a flysch-type aquifer feeding springs in the Outer Eastern Carpathians (Poland)

The aim of the study is to assess the capacity of the flysch aquifer feeding springs in the Outer Eastern Carpathians using spring recession curves. The four selected springs are located in an area generally believed to be poor in groundwater. However, the selected springs were characterized by remarkably high average discharge of 3.2-9.6 L s^{-1}. Recession coefficients were estimated which enabled an aquifer capacity and groundwater residence time assessment. Despite similarities in elevation, precipitation, and lithology in the study area, a substantial variation in the recession coefficients and aquifer parameters was found. The average aquifer capacity of groundwater subsystems strongly varied in the small study area (4.9-49 m^{3} × 10^{3}). The mean groundwater residence time varied from 11 days to 50 days depending on the volume of groundwater drained by the springs. Differences in discharge, recession coefficients, groundwater capacity, and residence time were related to recharge areas of different size. Simple relationships between the topographic catchment areas of springs and their hydrologic parameters can become altered by local structural features: faults and fissures. The study demonstrates that tectonically produced structures may facilitate a larger supply of groundwater and the occurrence of high-discharge springs in a given area

PUF-Immobilized Bjerkandera adusta DSM 3375 as a Tool for Bioremediation of Creosote Oil Contaminated Soil

Creosote oil, a byproduct of coal distillation, is primarily composed of aromatic compounds that are difficult to degrade, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenolic compounds, and N-, S-, and O-heterocyclic compounds. Despite its toxicity and carcinogenicity, it is still often used to impregnate wood, which has a particularly negative impact on the condition of the soil in plants that impregnate wooden materials. Therefore, a rapid, effective, and eco-friendly technique for eliminating the creosote in this soil must be developed. The research focused on obtaining a preparation of Bjerkandera adusta DSM 3375 mycelium immobilized in polyurethane foam (PUF). It contained mold cells in the amount of 1.10 ± 0.09 g (DW)/g of the carrier. The obtained enzyme preparation was used in the bioremediation of soil contaminated with creosote (2% w/w). The results showed that applying the PUF-immobilized mycelium of B. adusta DSM 3375 over 5, 10, and 15 weeks of bioremediation, respectively, removed 19, 30, and 35% of creosote from the soil. After 15 weeks, a 73, 79, and 72% level of degradation of fluoranthene, pyrene, and fluorene, respectively, had occurred. The immobilized cells have the potential for large-scale study, since they can degrade creosote oil in soil

High discharge springs in the Outer Flysch Carpathians on the example of The High Bieszczady Mountains (Poland)

Hydrogeological properties and hydrometeorological conditions determine spring discharge, which is usually very low (<0.5 L/s) in the Outer Carpathians. The study presents eight high discharge springs in the Polonina Wetlinska Massif in the Bieszczady Mountains (SE Poland) located on the northern slopes at high elevations near the ridgeline. The average discharge of the studied springs ranged from 1.2 to 8.5 L/s but under favorable hydrometeorological conditions they may reach 20 L/s. The detection of discharge during extreme drought confirmed the presence of seven (out of eight) permanent springs which is an evidence for relatively capacious groundwater reservoirs in Otryt sandstones following the NE dip. Enlargement of spring recharge areas in relation to small topographic catchments is caused by the direction of faults and fissures and flow paths following the strike direction of rock layers (the ridgeline of Polonina Wetlinska)