Aging and Hypertension – Independent or Intertwined White Matter Impairing Factors? Insights From the Quantitative Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Aging disrupts white matter integrity, and so does continuous elevated blood pressure that accompanies hypertension (HTN). Yet, our understanding of the interrelationship between these factors is still limited. The study aimed at evaluating patterns of changes in diffusion parameters (as assessed by quantitative diffusion fiber tracking – qDTI) following both aging, and hypertension, as well as the nature of their linkage. 146 participants took part in the study: the control group (N = 61) and the patients with hypertension (N = 85), and were divided into three age subgroups (25–47, 48–56, 57–71 years). qDTI was used to calculate the values of fractional anisotropy, mean, radial and axial diffusivity in 20 main tracts of the brain. The effects of factors (aging and hypertension) on diffusion parameters of tracts were tested with a two-way ANOVA. In the right hemisphere there was no clear effect of the HTN, nor an interaction between the factors, though some age-related effects were observed. Contrary, in the left hemisphere both aging and hypertension contributed to the white matter decline, following a functional pattern. In the projection pathways and the fornix, HTN and aging played part independent of each other, whereas in association fibers and the corpus callosum if the hypertension effect was significant, an interaction was observed. HTN patients manifested faster decline of diffusion parameters but also reached a plateau earlier, with highest between-group differences noted in the middle-aged subgroup. Healthy and hypertensive participants have different brain aging patterns. The HTN is associated with acceleration of white matter integrity decline, observed mainly in association fibers of the left hemisphere

Bone marrow-specific loss of ABI1 induces myeloproliferative neoplasm with features resembling, human myelofibrosis

Although the pathogenesis of primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and other myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is linked to constitutive activation of the JAK-STAT pathway, JAK inhibitors have neither curative nor MPN-stem cell-eradicating potential, indicating that other targetable mechanisms are contributing to the pathophysiology of MPNs. We previously demonstrated that Abelson interactor 1 (Abi-1), a negative regulator of Abelson kinase 1, functions as a tumor suppressor. Here we present data showing that bone marrow-specific deletion of Abi1 in a novel mouse model leads to development of an MPNlike phenotype resembling human PMF. Abi1 loss resulted in a significant increase in the activity of the Src family kinases (SFKs), STAT3, and NF-κB signaling. We also observed impairment of hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and fitness, as evidenced in noncompetitive and competitive bone marrow transplant experiments. CD34 + hematopoietic progenitors and granulocytes from patients with PMF showed decreased levels of ABI1 transcript as well as increased activity of SFKs, STAT3, and NF-κB. In aggregate, our data link the loss of Abi-1 function to hyperactive SFKs/STAT3/NF-κB signaling and suggest that this signaling axis may represent a regulatory module involved in the molecular pathophysiology of PMF

Detention of foreigners in Poland : limits of conflict of interest

Artykuł dotyczy dyskrecjonalnych kompetencji organów administracji publicznej w zakresie detencji stosowanej wobec cudzoziemców przebywających na terytorium Polski. Stanowi on polemiczny głos w dyskusji prowadzonej nad przesłankami i zakresem stosowania środków detencyjnych, zwłaszcza w kontekście współczesnych zagrożeń związanych z masową imigracją. Syntetyczną charakterystykę uznania administracyjnego i towarzyszących jej instytucji autorka przedstawia na tle procesu stosowania prawa, w którym nie ma miejsca na całkowicie swobodną interpretację jego norm. W tym kontekście ocenia również zasadność stosowanej wobec cudzoziemców detencji udowadniając, że nie należy ona do instrumentów prowadzonej przez państwo polityki azylowej.The article concerns the discretionary powers of public administration in the field of detention applied to foreigners residing on Polish territory. It is a polemical voice in the discussions held on the premises and the scope of detention, especially in the context of contemporary threats related to massive immigration. Synthetic characteristics of administrative discretion and its associated institutions author presents on the process of applying the law, in which there is no place for a completely free interpretation of its norms. In this context, the author also assesses the validity applied to the detention of foreigners proving that it does not belong to the instruments carried by the state asylum policy

Recognition of sponsoring brand Red Bull Sp. z o.o.

Przedmiotem niniejszej pracy jest charakterystyka sponsoringu sportowego oraz marki Red Bull Sp. z o.o. jako sponsora. Celem pracy jest zbadanie rozpoznawalności działań sponsoringowych marki Red Bull na terenie Polski. Autorka będzie chciała przedstawić rozpoznawalność działań sponsoringowych Red Bull`a na terenie Polski pośród młodych odbiorców (konsumentów) .Praca została podzielona na cztery części. W pierwszej z nich przedstawiono sponsoring jako element marketingowy. Druga część zawiera charakterystykę, wraz ze strategią marketingową marki Red Bull. W części trzeciej opisane zostały najistotniejsze elementy strategii sponsoringowej Red Bull`a. Ostatnia część obejmuje badanie empiryczne ukazujące efektywność działań sponsoringowych marki Red Bull na terenie Polski.The subject of this thesis is to characterize sports sponsorship and brand od Red Bull sp. z o. o. Like as a sponsor. Aim of this study is to investigate the visibility of sponsoring brand Red Bull on Polish territory. The author will want to provide recognition of sponsoring Red Bull`a on Polish territory among young audiences (consumers).The work is divided into four parts. The first one shows the sponsorship as a marketing element. The second part deals with the characteristics, together with the strategy of marketing the brand Red Bull. The third part describes the most important elements of the strategy of sponsoring Red Bulls. The last part covers the empirical study showing the effectiveness of sponsoring brand Red Bull on Polish territory

Privacy in postmodernity seen through eyes of users social networking site.

Moja praca licencjacka porusza problem prywatności w ponowoczesnym świecie. Uwzględniono w niej wpływ nowych technologii informatycznych oraz mediów społecznościowych, na rozwój zagrożeń związanych z naruszeniem prywatność. Szczególną uwagę poświęcono zagadnieniu zacierania się granic między sferą prywatną oraz publiczną. Celem niniejszej pracy było z jednej strony, zbadanie sposobu postrzegania przez internautów konta na portalu społecznościowym, używając kategorii sfery publicznej oraz prywatnej. Z drugiej strony przeprowadzone badania, miały określić sposoby wyznaczania granic prywatności tworzonych przez internautów, w czasie użytkowania Facebooka. Ostatnia kwestia opisana w tej pracy, dotyczyła naruszeń prywatności w sieci dostrzeganych przez respondentów.My bachelor thesis discusses the issue of privacy in post-modernity. The study takes into account the impact of new technologies and social media on the development of the risks associated with the violation of privacy. Special attention in this work was given the blurring of boundaries between private and public sphere. The aim of this study was to examine the perception of social networking site by Internet users, using the categories of public and private domain. At the same time the study was conducted to identify ways of determining the boundaries of privacy created by Internet users, while using Facebook. The last issue described in this work, concern the violation of privacy on the Web

Occurrence of pesticide residues in fruit from Podlasie (Poland) in 2012

Extensive use of pesticides in agriculture can lead to contamination of fruit harvests and an increased risk of toxic effects on humans. A total of 123 fruit samples harvested in 2012 in the north-eastern region of Poland were analysed for pesticide residues as part of the national monitoring programme, and as part of research commissioned by private customers. Pesticide residues were found in 64.2% of the samples. There were pesticide residues below the maximum residue level (MRL) in 63 (51.2%) of the samples, while 16 (13%) exceeded MRLs set by Regulation (EC) 396/2005. The gooseberry, currant, and strawberry samples showed the most contamination. The most frequently detected pesticides were dithiocarbamates (54) followed by difenoconazole (22), boscalid (17), and alpha-cypermethrin (15). More than half of analysed samples had multiple residues (up to 8 residues), with multiple residues most common in gooseberry and currant samples. This study shows cases of non-authorised pesticide use by farmers who are trying to protect certain fruit

No Difference in Lactoferrin Levels between Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Obese Women

Background: The aim of the study was to compare serum lactoferrin concentrations in metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUHO) women. Methods: Three hundred (101 MHO and 199 MUHO) women were recruited to the study. Basic anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Fat mass and visceral adipose tissue mass were assessed using dual X-ray absorptiometry scan. Fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and lactoferrin levels were determined. Results: Lactoferrin levels did not differ between MHO and MUHO subjects (median (interquartile range): 1639 (1055–2396) vs. 1622 (1009–23345) ng/mL). However, in the total population insulin (r = 0.131, p = 0.0234) and hs-CRP (r = 0.165, p = 0.0045) levels were correlated with lactoferrin concentrations. In addition, a weak positive association between serum lactoferrin concentrations and anthropometric parameters was also detected, and predominantly referred to MHO group (body weight: r = 0.231, p = 0.0201; BMI: r = 0.286, p = 0.0037; waist circumference: r = 0.258, p = 0.0092). In addition, serum lactoferrin concentrations were negatively correlated with fasting glucose (r = −0.250, p = 0.0115) and HDL-C levels (r = −0.203, p = 0.0411) in MHO subjects. Conclusions: Lactoferrin levels did not differ between MHO and MUHO women. However, some mild correlations between lactoferrin concentrations and anthropometric and metabolic parameters were observed mostly in MHO subjects

Deficiency of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in phenylketonuria: a cross-sectional study

The etiology of altered blood fatty acid (FA) profile in phenylketonuria (PKU) is understood only partially. We aimed to determine whether FAs deficiency is dependent on the diet or metabolic disturbances. The study comprised 40 PKU patients (20 female, 20 male; aged 11 to 35 years; 12 children and 28 adults) and 40 healthy subjects (HS; 20 female, 20 male, aged 18 to 33 years). We assessed the profile of FAs (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and analyzed the 72-hour dietary recalls. The amount of C14:0, C16:0 and C16:1n-7, C18:1n-9 did not differ between the analyzed groups. The percentage of C18:0 was higher, while C20:3n-9, C18:2n-6, C20:2n-6, C20:4n-6, C22:4n-6, C22:5n-6 and C22:6n-3 was lower in PKU than in HS. However, C18:3n-6, C18:3n-3 and n-6/n-3 ratio were higher in PKU patients. The C20:4n-6/C20:3n-6 ratio (reaction catalyzed by Δ5-desaturase), the C22:5n-6/C22:4n-6 and the C22:6n-3/C22:5n-3 ratio (both reactions catalyzed by Δ6 desaturase) were significantly lower in PKU patients. Therefore, the deficiency of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in PKU patients may result not only from inadequate supply but also from metabolic disturbances

Vitamin K Status in Adherent and Non-Adherent Patients with Phenylketonuria: A Cross-Sectional Study

This is the first study to evaluate vitamin K status in relation to dietary intake and phenylalanine dietary compliance in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). The dietary and PKU formula intake of vitamin K was calculated in 34 PKU patients, with vitamin K status determined by the measurement of prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA-II). Blood phenylalanine concentrations in the preceding 12 months were considered. There were significantly more phenylalanine results exceeding 6 mg/dL in patients with normal PIVKA-II concentrations than in those with abnormal PIVKA-II levels (p = 0.035). Similarly, a higher total intake of vitamin K and dietary vitamin intake expressed as μg/day (p = 0.033 for both) and %RDA (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.003, respectively) was observed in patients with normal PIVKA-II levels. Abnormal PIVKA-II concentrations were associated with a lower OR (0.1607; 95%CI: 0.0273–0.9445, p = 0.043) of having a median phenylalanine concentration higher than 6 mg/dL. In conclusion, vitamin K deficiency is not uncommon in phenylketonuria and may also occur in patients with adequate vitamin K intake. PKU patients with better dietary compliance have a higher risk of vitamin K deficiency. The present findings highlight the need for further studies to re-evaluate dietary recommendations regarding vitamin K intake, both concerning formula-based and dietary consumption of natural products