Electrophoretic Deposition of Advanced Ceramic Coatings for High Temperature Corrosion Protection of Steel Interconnects for Solid Oxide Cells

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Complement inhibitory proteins expression in placentas of thrombophilic women

Factors controlling complement activation appear to exert a protective effect on pregnancy. This isparticularly important in women with thrombophilia. The aim of this study was to determine the transcript andprotein levels of complement decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) in theplacentas of women with acquired and inherited thrombophilia. Also, we assessed immunohistochemistry stainingof inhibitors of the complement cascade, DAF and MCP proteins, in the placentas of thrombophilic women.Placentas were collected from eight women with inherited thrombophilia and ten with acquired thrombophilia.The levels of DAF and MCP transcripts were evaluated by qPCR, the protein level was evaluated by Westernblot. We observed a higher transcript (p < 0.05) and protein (p < 0.001) levels of DAF and MCP in the placentasof thrombophilic women than in the control group. DAF and MCP were localized on villous syncytiotrophoblastmembranes, but the assessment of staining in all groups did not differ. The observed higher expression level ofproteins that control activation of complement control proteins is only seemingly contradictory to the changesobserved for example in the antiphospholipid syndrome. However, given the hitherto known biochemical changesassociated with thrombophilia, a mechanism in which increased expression of DAF and MCP in the placentas isan effect of proinflammatory cytokines, which accompanies thrombophilia, is probable.Factors controlling complement activation appear to exert a protective effect on pregnancy. This isparticularly important in women with thrombophilia. The aim of this study was to determine the transcript andprotein levels of complement decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and membrane cofactor protein (MCP) in theplacentas of women with acquired and inherited thrombophilia. Also, we assessed immunohistochemistry stainingof inhibitors of the complement cascade, DAF and MCP proteins, in the placentas of thrombophilic women.Placentas were collected from eight women with inherited thrombophilia and ten with acquired thrombophilia.The levels of DAF and MCP transcripts were evaluated by qPCR, the protein level was evaluated by Westernblot. We observed a higher transcript (p < 0.05) and protein (p < 0.001) levels of DAF and MCP in the placentasof thrombophilic women than in the control group. DAF and MCP were localized on villous syncytiotrophoblastmembranes, but the assessment of staining in all groups did not differ. The observed higher expression level ofproteins that control activation of complement control proteins is only seemingly contradictory to the changesobserved for example in the antiphospholipid syndrome. However, given the hitherto known biochemical changesassociated with thrombophilia, a mechanism in which increased expression of DAF and MCP in the placentas isan effect of proinflammatory cytokines, which accompanies thrombophilia, is probable

Efficacy and Acceptability of the Indapamide SR 1,5 mg (Tertensif ® SR) in Patients above 55 Years of Age with Isolated Systolic Hypertension - the STIP Study

Wstęp Izolowane nadciśnienie skurczowe (ISH)stanowi istotny problem zdrowotny społeczeństwa polskiego.W leczeniu ISH spośród wielu leków hipotensyjnych jako leki pierwszego rzutu coraz częściej wybiera się preparaty o przedłużonym działaniu.Celem niniejszej pracy była ocena skuteczności i tolerancji indapamidu o powolnym uwalnianiu w dawce 1,5 mg (Tertensif ® SR)w leczeniu chorych w wieku >55 lat z łagodnym i umiarkowanym ISH. Materiał i metody Badanie przeprowadzono jako wieloośrodkową próbę o zasięgu ogólnopolskim w ośrodkach podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej.Pacjentów kwalifikowano do programu spośród uczestników badania Pol-WISHE,u których rozpoznano ISH,czyli podczas badania ich średnia wartość ciśnienia skurczowego (SBP)mieściła się w przedziale 140 –179 mm Hg, a ciśnienie rozkurczowe (DBP)wynosiło 20 mm Hg przy wartościach DBPBackground Isolated systolic hypertension is a significant health problem for Polish society.Modified release forms of available drugs are becoming the treatments of choice. The aim of the presented work was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of a sustained release form of indapamide at a dose of 1,5 mg (Tertensif ® SR)in the treatment of patients above 55 years of age,with mild to moderate isolated systolic hypertension. Materials and methods The study was a multi-centre study in Polish health centres.Patients were recruited into the study from those taking part in the WISHE-Poland programme,where isolated systolic hypertension was diagnosed i.e:the average SBP pressure was in the range of 140 –179 mm Hg and DBP 20 mm Hg and DB

Wartość diagnostyczna HE4 i CA125 w wykrywaniu i różnicowaniu typu I i II raka jajnika

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of HE4 in detecting and differentiating between types I and II epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in comparison with CA125. Material and methods: We measured HE4 and CA125 serum concentrations in 206 samples taken from patients operated in Gynecologic Oncology Department due to ovarian tumors. Ovarian cancer was confirmed in 89 cases divided into type I and type II. 52 healthy patients without any gynecological disease formed the control group. The sensitivity and specificity for type I and type II EOC detection and differentiating between both types was evaluated for HE4 and CA125. Results: The HE4 and CA125 serum concentrations were significantly higher in type II than in type I EOC (p=0.008696, p=0.000243 respectively).The HE4 and CA125 sensitivity for type I and benign tumors differentiation was 63.16% for both of them and specificity was 87.29% vs 67.89% respectively. For CA125 these differences did not reach statistical significance. The HE4 sensitivity and specificity for type II and benign tumors differentiation were 87.14% and 96.61%, respectively, and for CA125 these values were 82.86% and 94.07%, respectively. Conclusions: Pretreatment analysis of HE4 serum concentration is superior to CA125 in differential diagnosis of ovarian cancer subtypes (I and II). HE4 is superior to CA125 in detecting ovarian cancer type II. Neither HE4 nor CA125 is an effective diagnostic tool for type I ovarian cancer detection. A new highly specific and highly sensitive tumor marker for type I EOC is needed.Cel pracy: Celem pracy było określenie czułości i swoistości białka HE4 w wykrywaniu i różnicowaniu typu I i II raka jajnika (EOC) w porównaniu z CA125. Materiał i metody: Stężenia HE4 oraz CA125 zostały zmierzone w próbkach surowicy krwi pobranej od 206 pacjentek operowanych w Klinice Onkologii Ginekologicznej z powodu guzów jajnika. Rak jajnika został potwierdzony w 89 przypadkach podzielonych na typ I i II EOC. Grupę kontrolną utworzyły 52 zdrowe pacjentki bez schorzeń ginekologicznych. Została określona czułość i swoistość HE4 oraz CA125 w wykrywaniu oraz różnicowaniu typu I i II EOC. Wyniki: Stężenia HE4 i CA125 były istotnie wyższe w typie II niż w typie I EOC (p=0,008696, p=0,000243). Czułość w różnicowaniu typu I EOC i guzów niezłośliwych wynosiła 63,16% dla obydwu markerów, HE4 wykazało swoistość 87,29% a CA125 67,89%. Dla CA125 nie stwierdzono jednak istotności statystycznej. Czułość i swoistość HE4 w różnicowaniu typu II EOC i zmian niezłośliwych wynosiła 87,14% i 96,61%, natomiast dla CA125 wynosiła 82,86% i 94,07%. Wnioski: Przedoperacyjne określenie stężenia HE4 ma większą wartość w różnicowaniu typu I i II raka jajnika niż CA125. HE4 jest lepszym markerem w diagnostyce typu II raka jajnika. Żaden z badanych markerów nie ma zadowalającej czułości i swoistości w wykrywaniu typu I EOC. Do diagnozowania tego typu nowotworu jest potrzebny nowy wysoce czuły i swoisty marker

Histologic changes in placenta and chorion of women with antiphospholipid syndrome and inherited thrombophilia

Summary Background: The aim of the study was a histologic evaluation of placentas and chorions from pregnancies complicated by antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and inherited thrombophilia in women treated with anticoagulants and in a group of women without the anticoagulant treatment. Material: 24 placentas from 18 patients with acquired and inherited thrombophilia and 23 chorions from 19 miscarriages in women with the same diagnosis were included in the study. There were 33 chorions from miscarriages from healthy women and 25 placentas from uneventful pregnancies in the control group. Biopsies from placentas and chorions were stained with eosin and hematoxylin and evaluated for the presence of villous thrombosis, fibrin deposits, intraplacental hematomas, thrombosis in fetal circulation and other histological findings. Results: In the placentas from pregnancies complicated with APS and inherited thrombophilia, the presence of fibrin deposits in the basal and villous plate, stasis in the fetal circulation and thrombosis in the villous plate and villous vessels, were statistically more frequent (

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with relatively recent previous stent implantation: Three years follow-up results

Background: An increasing number of patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) have a history of coronary stent implantation. This study aims to assess perioperative and medium-term follow-up outcomes in patients in whom CABG was preceded by coronary stent implantation within two years before operation. Methods: One hundred and sixty two patients undergoing CABG after previous stent placement (PCI + CABG group) were compared to 149 who had CABG without PCI in the past (CABG group). Clinical, angiographic and perioperative outcome data were compared. The three year follow-up comprised data on number of deaths and the presence of anginal symptoms. Results: In both groups the extent of coronary artery disease was comparable, but more patients in the PCI + CABG group had a history of myocardial infarction. Perioperative outcome data did not differ between the groups except for a higher number of vessels considered infarct-related grafted in the CABG group. Patients operated on up to three months after PCI had more extensive coronary heart disease than those operated on later. They also had a significantly shorter operation time. This group also showed a trend towards less postoperative bleeding, less rethoracotomy and less low cardiac output syndrome. In a three year follow-up, 48 (30%) patients in the PCI + CABG group reported presence of angina compared to 28 (19%) in the CABG group (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Previous PCI does not significantly influence the CABG outcome. In mediumterm follow-up, freedom from anginal symptoms is less likely in patients in whom CABG was preceded by stent implantation

Laparoscopic gonadectomy for androgen insensitivity syndrome – case report

Summary Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS, Morris syndrome) is an X-linked recessive disorder of sexual development caused by the mutation of the androgen receptor coding gene (locus Xq11-q12). We present a case of a 17-year-old girl diagnosed because of primary amenorrhea. Her cytogenetic analysis revealed the kariotype of 46, XY. Clinical examinations, based on the Quigley’s scale, showed features of complete AIS. Hormonal tests brought the following results: FSH – 2.81mIU/ml, LH – 13.88mIU/ml. Testosterone value met the norm for a male individual in reproductive age (7.97ng/ml). Family anamnesis revealed no episodes of genetic diseases. Due to the risk of neoplasia, the diagnosis was an indication for surgical gonads removal, which was performed laparoscopically. Histopathologic examination showed tubular adenoma with immature seminiferous tubules without spermatogenesis, and serous cysts. Patient was discharged on the next day after the operation in good general condition, and estrogen therapy was prescribed. Conclusion: Laparoscopy is an effective method in AIS treatment

Fe-modified Mn2CuO4 spinel oxides: coatings based on abundant elements for solid oxide cell interconnects

The current state of the art steel interconnect coating materials are based on critical raw material - Co-oxide spinels. Replacing Co-oxide spinels with alternative, abundant materials can reduce the dependence on the critical raw materials. Cobalt-free coatings with the general formula Mn2-xCuFexO4, where x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, were electrophoretically deposited on a ferritic stainless-steel support and evaluated. Prior to deposition, the powders were prepared by a soft chemistry process and studied in terms of crystallographic phase analysis, electrical conductivity, thermal expansion, and sinterability behaviour. Coated steel samples were oxidised in an air atmosphere at 750 \ub0C for 3000 h. In parallel, a state-of-the-art MnCo2O4 spinel oxide was tested as a reference. The coatings and oxide scale microstructures of the surfaces and cross-sections were examined by XRD, and SEM-EDX. TEM-EDX, XRF, and micro-XRD were also performed on the cross-section lamellae. The electrical properties of the steel-coating system were evaluated by Area Specific Resistance measurement. The results confirm that Mn–Cu–Fe oxides exhibit higher conductivity and lower TEC than Mn–Co oxide. Based on the obtained results, it might be concluded that the proposed coatings are a promising alternative to coatings that contain cobalt