Composite structures

Conceptual diagram illustrating a large, complex protein with several roles (p-p interaction, ligand binding cavity), along with fragments characterized by linear distribution of hydrophobicity. In such a protein the active site may be constructed from multiple structural units, each of which – when considered on its own – follows the micellar pattern

Socio-cultural context of eating disorders in Poland

Background: The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between sociocultural factors and clinical eating disorders during the intensive process of Westernisation in Poland that occurred after 1989. The study population included girls diagnosed with an eating disorder according to DSM-IV criteria (n = 47 anorexia nervosa restrictive type [ANR], n = 16 anorexia binge/purge type [ANBP], n = 34 bulimia nervosa [BN], n = 19 eating disorder not otherwise specified [EDNOS]) who received consultation for the first time between 2002 and 2004 in the Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital, Kraków, Poland. The study included an age-matched normal control group [NOR] of 85 schoolgirls from Kraków. Methods: Relationships between two given qualitative features were investigated using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Correspondence analysis was applied to graphically explore the relationship. The Kruskal-Wallis test with the Bonferroni was performed to compare quantitative results across groups. Results: Objective sociodemographic variables and responses to the 62-item Questionnaire of Socio-cultural Context were measured. The mothers of ANBP and BN patients were less professionally active than mothers of ANR patients and NOR subjects. Subjective socio-cultural factors were more relevant for the BN group than the ANR group. Questionnaire responses in the ANBP group were more similar to those in the BN group than to those in the ANR group. The most unambiguous and specific characteristic of the ANR group was a sense of belonging to the middle class. Variables that differentiated the BN group from the NOR group included the importance attached to thinness treated as an expression of power and control over one’s self, as well as a multifaceted negative evaluation of one’s own family, including a negative assessment of the position of women and parental lack of concern for appearance and principles of nutrition. All patients, regardless of diagnosis, identified with other people with similar problems and considered anorexia and bulimia to be a major issue of their generation and social environment. Conclusions: The results of this first in Poland exploratory study of socio-cultural context of eating disorders indicate the importance of both objective and subjective socio-cultural factors in eating disorders in the group studied

Minority stress among homosexual and bisexual individuals : from theoretical concepts to research tools : the Sexual Minority Stress Scale

Minority stress is a relatively new concept that has emerged from the concept of stress. Its popularity among researchers who are interested in minority groups is increasing. Minority stress refers to the experiences of stigma, rejection and violence by the majority of society as experienced by the minority. The concept can be operationalised in a number of ways, for instance via a questionnaire such as the Sexual Minority Stress Scale (SMSS) presented in this paper. It concerns a clearly defined concept of minority stress and uses some stress indicators. It was translated and adapted into Polish. This paper presents the results of statistical analysis based on answers of 206 individuals describing themselves as homosexual and 62 describing themselves as bisexual. High psychometric results of the questionnaire indicate that SMSS can be used in research on minority stress in bisexual and homosexual individuals. However, further research is required to verify its usefulness in the clinical setting as a screening tool to diagnose those who may be at risk from high levels of minority stress

The use of e-learning in medical education for mountain rescuers concerning hypothermia

Objective: Victims of mountain accidents are often exposed to wet and cold environments which may increase the risk of hypothermia. Mountain rescuers should be able to recognize and manage hypothermia. We aimed to assess relevant knowledge in professional and volunteer mountain rescuers, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of an e-learning platform for continuing medical education. Methods: An e-learning platform was developed to provide access to updated information about hypothermia. Volunteer and professional mountain rescuers participated in an e-learning course. Pretest, post-test, and specific lesson test scores were compared. After 1 year, a follow-up course was performed. Results: In total, 187 rescuers, comprising 136 (72.7%) volunteers and 51 (27.3%) professionals, were enrolled. Ahead of the course, no difference in knowledge was found between professionals and volunteers. After the course, one's knowledge of hypothermia increased significantly (p < 0.001). The scores achieved in the field management of hypothermia were better among professional rescuers than among volunteer rescuers (p = 0.003), whereas in post-traumatic hypothermia half of the results were insufficient in both groups. Moreover, 57 rescuers repeated the course after 12 months. While professionals partially retained the achieved level of knowledge, the volunteers had dropped back to their initial level. Conclusions: The e-learning course increased the knowledge of hypothermia among mountain rescuers. The poor retention after 1 year indicates that the interval between lectures should be reduced. An e-learning platform is an effective tool for the medical education of mountain rescuers

Proteins structured as spherical micelles

The image depicts a highly regular, spherically symmetrical structure. Shades of gray correspond to increasing concentrations of hydrophobicity, which is low on the surface but high at the center. The only difference between the presented image and the theoretical Gaussian lies in the fact that the Gaussian distribution is continuous rather than discrete.9766

Insulin-like growth factor system in remission and flare of inflammatory bowel diseases

Insulin‑like growth factor 1 (IGF‑1) is involved in the modulation of immunity and inflammation. It also plays a role in regulating the migration of endothelial cells and production of vasoactive agents. This study assessed the concentrations of IGF‑1 and insulin‑like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP‑3) and their relationships to disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A total of 129 adult patients with IBD (69 with Crohn disease [CD] and 60 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) were involved in the study. The control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers. Biochemical serum analyses were performed and the associations of IGF‑1 and IGFBP‑3 with inflammatory markers and disease activity were assessed. IGF‑1 levels were decreased in patients with active UC compared with those with nonactive UC (mean [SD], 78.3 [22.7] ng/ml and 96.2 [24.5] ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.02) and controls (94.5 [26.5] ng/ml; P = 0.03). The IGF‑1 level was lower in patients with active CD compared with those with nonactive CD (mean [SD], 79.2 [24.9] ng/ml and 110.1 [43.4] ng/ml, respectively; P <0.001). The IGFBP‑3 level was lower in patients with active UC compared with those with nonactive UC (P = 0.04) and controls (P = 0.04). IGF‑1 correlated negatively with C‑reactive protein (CRP) levels (P <0.01), disease activity (P <0.05), and disease duration (P <0.05). IGFBP‑3 levels correlated negatively with CRP levels (P <0.05). The IGF system is disrupted in patients with IBD. Systemic levels of the IGF axis components are related to disease activity and duration

Eating disorders : dilemmas of subtyping

The aim of this study was to present the dilemmas in the diagnosis of eating disorders on an example of division of a group of girls with diagnosed eating disorders on the basis of the self-assessment questionnaire results which provides an alternative to the clinical criteria. The study covered 116 girls diagnosed with any of the eating disorders according to DSM-IV consulted for the first time between 2002 and 2004 in the outpatient clinic of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, University Hospital in Cracow, Poland. Due to statistical limitations of the model only dependent variables such as self-assessment of the presence of depressive symptoms (measured by Beck Depression Questionnaire, BDI), eating attitudes (measured using Eating Attitudes Test, EAT26), self-image (Social Self from Offer’s Self-Image Questionnaire, JaSpoł QSIA) and family relations (Intimacy scale from the Family of Origin Scale, INT FOS) were subjected to k-means cluster analysis. The conducted analyses led to the emergence of five clusters which did not correspond to the division into particular clinical diagnoses. All the clusters turned out to differ from one other in the context of the results of their constituent questionnaire scales. Cluster One proved to characterise individuals with self-assessed low severity of eating problems and depression and a favourable image of their social functioning and family relations. The interaction observed in Cluster Five was the opposite. The majority of the patients in Cluster One were diagnosed with restrictive anorexia, while in Cluster Five with bulimia. Cluster Three turned out to be most different from the others. Positive self-image and family relations were accompanied by high self-assessed severity of eating problems and low depression. The obtained results indicate that the clinical division of eating disorders proposed in ICD and DSM is not the only possible. Other ways of grouping patients may be of interest not only cognitively but may also have some clinical value.Celem badania było przedstawienie dylematów dotyczących diagnozy zaburzeń odżywiania się na przykładzie alternatywnego do kryteriów klinicznych podziału grupy dziewcząt z rozpoznaniem tych zaburzeń, uwzględniającego wyniki kwestionariuszy samooceny. Badaniem objęto 116 dziewcząt z rozpoznaniem któregoś z zaburzeń odżywiania się według DSM-IV, konsultowanych po raz pierwszy w latach 2002–2004 w ambulatorium Oddziału Klinicznego Psychiatrii Dzieci i Młodzieży Szpitala Uniwersyteckiego w Krakowie. Z uwagi na ograniczenia statystyczne modelu jedynie zmienne zależne, takie jak: samoocena obecności objawów depresyjnych (Kwestionariusz Depresji Becka, BDI), samoocena obecności problemów z odżywianiem się (Kwestionariusz Postaw wobec Odżywiania, EAT26), obraz siebie (Ja Społeczne Kwestionariusza Obrazu Siebie Offera, JaSpoł QSIA) i relacje rodzinne (skala Intymności Skali Rodziny Pochodzenia, INT FOS), zostały poddane analizie skupień metodą k-średnich. Przeprowadzone analizy doprowadziły do wyłonienia pięciu skupień niepokrywających się z podziałem na poszczególne diagnozy kliniczne. Wszystkie skupienia różnią się wynikami tworzących je skal kwestionariuszowych. Pierwsze skupienie okazało się charakteryzować osoby o niskim w swojej ocenie nasileniu występowania problemów z odżywianiem się i depresyjności oraz korzystnym obrazie swojego funkcjonowania społecznego i relacji rodzinnych. Zależność obserwowana w skupieniu 5. była odwrotna. Przeważająca liczba pacjentek w skupieniu 1. miała rozpoznaną anoreksję restrykcyjną, a w skupieniu 5. bulimię. Najbardziej odmienne od pozostałych okazało się skupienie 3. Pozytywnemu obrazowi siebie, relacji rodzinnych w badanych obszarach towarzyszyło duże nasilenie występowania problemów z odżywianiem się i niskie depresyjności w samoocenie. Otrzymane wyniki wskazują, iż podział kliniczny zaburzeń odżywania się proponowany w ICD i DSM nie jest jedynym możliwym. Inne sposoby porządkowania pacjentów nie tylko mogą być interesujące poznawczo, ale też mają pewną wartość kliniczną

Correlations between the perception of family functioning by patients with eating disorders and their parents and the perception of relations in the parents' families of origin

Aim of the study: To assess the correlations between the perception of relations in parents’ families of origin and the assessment of the current family by the parents and their daughters suffering from eating disorders. Studied group: Statistical analyses were applied to the results obtained from 54 patients diagnosed with restrictive anorexia nervosa, from 22 with binge-purge anorexia, from 36 with bulimia and from two control groups: 36 patients diagnosed with depressive disorders and 85 Krakow schoolgirls. The study also covered the parents of the investigated girls. Method: Family of Origin Scale and Family Assessment Questionnaire (FAM Polish version) were used in the study. Results: The procreative family assessment made by the mothers was correlated with the assessment of their own generational family and the assessment of own generational family made by their husbands. Procreative family assessment made by the fathers was correlated only with their assessment of their family of origin. Family of origin assessment made by patients with diagnosed eating disorders, particularly bulimia, was correlated only with the family of origin assessment made by their fathers. The last correlation did not occur in the control groups. Conclusions: The research shows a correlation between the experience of the families of origin and the current functioning of the family. They show the impact of the fathers’ trangenerational experience on the perception of family relations of daughters with diagnosed anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Severe hypothermia management in mountain rescue : a survey study

Introduction: Severe hypothermia is a rare but demanding medical emergency. Although mortality is high, if well managed, the neurological outcome of survivors can be excellent. The aim of the study was to assess whether mountain rescue teams (MRTs) are able to meet the guidelines in the management of severe hypothermia, regarding their equipment and procedures. Methods: Between August and December 2016, an online questionnaire, with 24 questions to be completed using Google Forms, was sent to 123 MRTs in 27 countries. Results: Twenty-eight MRTs from 10 countries returned the completed questionnaire. Seventy-five percent of MRTs reportedly provide advanced life support (ALS) on-site and 89% are regularly trained in hypothermia management. Thirty-two percent of MRTs transport hypothermic patients in cardiac arrest to the nearest hospital instead of an Extracorporeal Life Support facility; 39% are equipped with mechanical chest compression devices; 36% measure core body temperature on-site and no MRT is equipped with a device to measure serum potassium concentration on-site in avalanche victims. Conclusions: Most MRTs are regularly trained in the treatment of severe hypothermia and provide ALS. The majority are not equipped to follow standard procedural guidelines for the treatment of severely hypothermic patients, especially with cardiac arrest. However, the low response rate—23% (28/123)—could have induced a bias