Zaburzenia czynności kanałów jonowych w patogenezie padaczek idiopatycznych

Pomimo postępów diagnostyki nadal u ok. 60–65% chorych nie można jednoznacznie ustalić przyczyny padaczki. W tej grupie chorych główną rolę odgrywają przypuszczalnie czynniki genetyczne. Uważa się, że u ok. 40% pacjentów predyspozycja genetyczna odpowiada za występowanie padaczek, określanych mianem „idiopatycznych”. Podłoże genetyczne padaczki potwierdzają liczne przykłady rodzinnie występujących zespołów padaczkowych. Należą do nich dziedziczona autosomalnie dominująco padaczka czołowa z napadami nocnymi oraz młodzieńcza padaczka miokloniczna. Obydwie formy padaczek uwarunkowane są mutacjami genów dla podjednostek neuronalnego receptora nikotynowego dla acetylocholiny. Postęp genetyki stworzył szansę dokładniejszego zrozumienia epileptogenezy na poziomie molekularnym, co ułatwia rozpoznanie oraz stwarza bardziej racjonalne podstawy leczenia i zapobiegania tej postaci padaczki

Współwystępowanie wariantów polimorficznych genów ACE (I/D) i PAI-1 (4G/5G) w poronieniach nawracających w populacji polskiej

Objectives: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is one of the most common obstetric complications. Numerous studies have suggested that genetic variants leading to an impaired balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis may contribute to elevated risk of pregnancy loss. The aim of the study was to investigate a possible association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, rs1799752) I/D and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1, rs1799768) 4G/5G polymorphisms with RM among Polish women. Material and methods: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of 152 women with a history of ≥ 2 consecutive pregnancy losses before 22 weeks of gestation, and 180 healthy controls with at least 1 live birth at term and no history of pregnancy loss. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to identify the polymorphisms. Results: No statistically significant differences were found in genotype and allele frequencies of the studied polymorphisms. The most relevant difference between the study group and controls was found for the ID genotype distribution of the ACE gene (52.6 vs. 46.7%, OR = 1.27, p = 0.28). The analysis of genotype coexistence revealed a higher incidence of the combination of the ACE II and the PAI-1 4G/4G genotypes in the control group (10.0 vs. 5.9% in control group; p = 0.17). Conclusions: The obtained results suggest no apparent association between the ACE I/D, PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphisms and increased RM susceptibility in the analyzed Polish population.Cel pracy: Poronienia nawracające są jednym z najczęściej występujących powikłań położniczych. Wiele badań wskazuje, że warianty genetyczne prowadzące do zaburzenia równowagi pomiędzy układami krzepnięcia i fibrynolizy mogą powodować wzrost ryzyka utraty ciąży. Celem pracy było zbadanie związku pomiędzy występowaniem poronień nawracających a polimorfizmami I/D genu konwertazy angiotensyny I (ACE, rs1799752) i inhibitora aktywatora plazminogenu typu 1 (PAI-1, rs1799768) 4G/5G wśród kobiet w Polsce. Materiał i metody: DNA izolowano z krwi obwodowej 152 kobiet z dwoma lub więcej następującymi po sobie poronieniami przed 22. tygodniem ciąży i 180 zdrowych kobiet bez poronień, z co najmniej jedną ciążą zakończoną urodzeniem zdrowego noworodka o czasie w wywiadzie. Do identyfikacji polimorfizmów zastosowano łańcuchową reakcję polimerazy (PCR) oraz polimorfizm długości fragmentów restrykcyjnych (RFLP). Wyniki: Nie zaobserwowano statystycznie istotnych różnic w częstości występowania genotypów i alleli badanych polimorfizmów. Największa różnica pomiędzy grupą badaną i kontrolną dotyczyła częstości występowania genotypu ID genu ACE (52,6 vs. 46,7%, WR = 1,27, p = 0,28). Analiza współwystępowania badanych w pracy genotypów wykazała częstsze występowanie w grupie kontrolnej kombinacji genotypów ACE II oraz PAI-1 4G/4G (10,0 vs. 5,9% w grupie kontrolnej; p = 0,17). Wnioski: Wyniki wskazują na brak bezpośredniego związku polimorfizmów ACE I/D, PAI-1 4G/5G ze zwiększoną częstością występowania poronień nawracających w badanej populacji polskiej

Polymorphic variants of genes involved in choline pathway and the risk of intrauterine fetal death

Objectives: Choline and folate metabolism disturbances may be involved in the occurrence of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD). The proper activity of this metabolism could be determined by genetic variants involved in choline pathway e.g. CHKA (gene encoding choline kinase α), PCYT1A (gene encoding CCTα) and CHDH (gene encoding choline dehydrogenase). Our study aimed at determining the genotype and allele frequencies of CHKA rs7928739, PCYT1A rs712012, PCYT1A rs7639752, CHDH rs893363 and CHDH rs2289205 polymorphisms in mothers with IUFD occurrence. Material and methods: The study involved 76 mothers with IUFD occurrence and 215 mothers of healthy children. Genetic analysis was performed with the use of PCR/RFLP method. Results: The frequency of genotypes and alleles of studied polymorphisms was similar in both groups. The study revealed no association of PCYT1A, CHKA and CHDH polymorphisms in analysed groups of women. While evaluating the co-existence of analysed polymorphisms statistically significant correlation was revealed. Co-existence of CHKA rs7928739 AC/CHDH rs2289205 AA genotypes was observed statistically more frequently in the study group than in the control group (p = 0,031). Conclusions: There is no correlation between single CHKA rs7928739, PCYT1A rs712012, PCYT1A rs7639752, CHDH rs893363 and CHDH rs2289205 polymorphisms and the incidence of intrauterine fetal death. However, revealed statistically significant difference between co-existence of CHKA rs7928739 AC/CHDH rs2289205 AA genotypes between study groups suggest the need of further analysis

The use of one-component plasma in the icp-rie etching process of periodic structures for applications in photodetector arrays

The paper presents the effect of ICP-RIE etching time using one-component plasma on various parameters of an InAs/GaSb type II superlattice matrix. In the studies, two samples used at different BCl3 gas flow rates were compared and it was found that using a lower flow rate of 7 sccm results in obtaining a smoother sidewall morphology. Next, five periodic mesa-shaped structures were etched under identical conditions, but using a different time. The results indicated that the ICP-RIE method using a BCl3 flow rate of 7 sccm, ICP:RIE power ratio of 300W:270W allowed the ICP:RIE formation of a periodic mesa-shaped structure with smooth and perpendicular sidewalls

Does the Floral Nectary in <i>Dracocephalum moldavica</i> L. Produce Nectar and Essential Oil? Structure and Histochemistry of the Nectary

Dracocephalum moldavica is an aromatic plant with a lemon scent and versatile use. Its flowers produce large amounts of nectar, which is collected by bees and bumblebees. The aim of the study was to investigate the structure of the floral nectary in this melliferous plant, which has not been analysed to date. The analyses were carried out with the use of light, fluorescence, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy, as well as histochemical techniques. The four-lobed nectary with a diameter of 0.9–1.2 mm and a maximum height of 1.2 mm is located at the ovary base; one of its lobes is larger than the others and bears 20–30 nectarostomata and 8–9 glandular trichomes. The histochemical assays revealed the presence of essential oil and phenolic compounds in the nectary tissues and in glandular trichomes. The nectary tissues are supplied by xylem- and phloem-containing vascular bundles. The nectariferous parenchyma cells have numerous mitochondria, plastids, ribosomes, dictyosomes, ER profiles, vesicles, thin cell walls, and plasmodesmata. Starch grains are present only in the tissues of nectaries in floral buds. The study showed high metabolic activity of D. moldavica nectary glands, i.e., production of not only nectar but also essential oil, which may increase the attractiveness of the flowers to pollinators, inhibit the growth of fungal and bacterial pathogens, and limit pest foraging

Wielki przemysł, wielka cisza. Zakłady przemysłowe w Łodzi 1945-2000

W niniejszej publikacji przybliżamy historie największych zakładów przemysłowych okresu PRL i łódzkiego świata pracy – codziennego doświadczenia pracownic i pracowników. Mamy nadzieję, że książka pozwoli lepiej zrozumieć Łódź i jej przemysłowe dziedzictwo. Jest to także podsumowanie kilkuletniej pracy interdyscyplinarnego zespołu osób związanych z Łódzkim Stowarzyszeniem Inicjatyw Miejskich Topografie, które od dekady tworzy Cyfrowe Archiwum Łodzian Miastograf.pl i stara się zachować pamięć o ostatnich etapach trwania wielkiej przemysłowej Łodzi. Żyjąc i pracując w postindustrialnych realiach, każdego dnia zdajemy sobie sprawę, jak silnie tamten czas oddziałuje na losy miasta i jego mieszkańców.Projekt został dofinansowany z Programu Patriotyzm Jutra – Muzeum Historii Polski oraz przez Urząd Miasta Łodzi

Herb and Flowers of <i>Achillea millefolium</i> subsp. <i>millefolium</i> L.: Structure and Histochemistry of Secretory Tissues and Phytochemistry of Essential Oils

Achillea millefolium L. herb and flowers have high biological activity; hence, they are used in medicine and cosmetics. The aim of this study was to perform morpho-anatomical analyses of the raw material, including secretory tissues, histochemical assays of the location of lipophilic compounds, and quantitative and qualitative analysis of essential oil (EO). Light and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to analyse plant structures. The qualitative analyses of EO were carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results of this study showed the presence of exogenous secretory structures in the raw material, i.e., conical cells (papillae) on the adaxial surface of petal teeth and biseriate glandular trichomes on the surface flowers, bracts, stems, and leaves. Canal-shaped endogenous secretory tissue was observed in the stems and leaves. The histochemical assays revealed the presence of total, acidic, and neutral lipids as well as EO in the glandular trichome cells. Additionally, papillae located at the petal teeth contained neutral lipids. Sesquiterpenes were detected in the glandular trichomes and petal epidermis cells. The secretory canals in the stems were found to contain total and neutral lipids. The phytochemical assays demonstrated that the A. millefolium subsp. millefolium flowers contained over 2.5-fold higher amounts of EO (6.1 mL/kg) than the herb (2.4 mL/kg). The EO extracted from the flowers and herb had a similar dominant compounds: β-pinene, bornyl acetate, (E)-nerolidol, 1,8-cineole, borneol, sabinene, camphor, and α-pinene. Both EO samples had greater amounts of monoterpenes than sesquiterpenes. Higher amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenoids were detected in the EO from the herb than from the flowers

Relationship of Postoperative Pain and PONV after Minimally Invasive Surgery with the Serotonin Concentrations and Receptors’ Gene Polymorphisms

(1) Background: there is a steady increase in the number of procedures performed via minimally invasive surgery, which have many benefits, but post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and significant pain are still a common problem (2) Methods: 300 infertile women (18–40 years old) undergoing minimal invasive surgery. Interventions: laparoscopy and hysteroscopy performing, evaluation of postoperative symptoms, serotonin concentrations assessment, identify genetic polymorphisms. (3) Results: serotonin concentrations were significantly lower among women who required opioids (p = 0.006). The presence of the GG genotype in the rs6318 polymorphism of the 5HTR2C gene had a protective effect on PONV (OR = 0.503; C.I. = [0.300–0.841]; p = 0.008), when the GG variant of the rs11214763 polymorphism of the 5HTR3B gene, when the risk of PONV was 1.65-fold higher (OR = 1.652; C.I. = [1.003–2.723]; p = 0.048). Pain intensity was significantly higher among women with GG genotype of the rs6296 polymorphism of the 5HTR1B gene (OR = 1.660; C.I. = [1.052–2.622]; p = 0.029).; (4) Conclusions: the evaluation of serotonin concentration predicts requirement for opioid pain relief medication. The polymorphisms of the serotonin receptors affect the intensity of postoperative complaints

Universality of the triangular theory of love: Adaptation and psychometric properties of the triangular love scale in 25 countries

The Triangular Theory of Love (measured with Sternberg\u27s Triangular Love Scale - STLS) is a prominent theoretical concept in empirical research on love. To expand the culturally homogeneous body of previous psychometric research regarding the STLS, we conducted a large-scale cross-cultural study with the use of this scale. In total, we examined more than 11,000 respondents, but as a result of applied exclusion criteria, the final analyses were based on a sample of 7332 participants from 25 countries (from all inhabited continents). We tested configural invariance, metric invariance, and scalar invariance, all of which confirmed the cultural universality of the theoretical construct of love analyzed in our study. We also observed that levels of love components differ depending on relationship duration, following the dynamics suggested in the Triangular Theory of Love. Supplementary files with all our data, including results on love intensity across different countries along with STLS versions adapted in a few dozen languages, will further enable more extensive research on the Triangular Theory of Love