Role of Glucocorticoids in Hearing Preservation in Partial Deafness Treatment

During the last 15 years, cochlear implantation became available as a method of treatment for different types of hearing impairment. Leading, specialized centers have now introduced the analysis of the nonsurgical factors that could contribute to improve rates of hearing preservation in preoperative period, during surgery, or in postoperative period in patients who suffer from partial deafness. One of the approaches is using pharmacotherapy (glucocorticoids) as a factor that may improve hearing functions. Preservation of hearing in patients who suffered from partial deafness and underwent cochlear implantation by using two different regimes of corticosteroid therapy was the aim of the study carried out by the World Hearing Center (WHC). Forty-six patients were enrolled in the trial and divided into three subgroups. Hearing preservation (HP) was evaluated using pure tone audiometry (PTA) (11 frequencies ranging from 125 to 8000 Hz). The impact of administrated substances was evaluated by pure tone audiometry during six different periods: before cochlear implant surgery, during activation of audio processor, and 1, 6, 9, and 12 months after activation of audio processor in comparison with control group. According to hearing preservation (HP) classification, patients from the second group, to whom combined glucocorticoid therapy was administrated, achieved the best HP results. The complete hearing preservation index was observed in the highest percentage of patients from the second subgroup. The dispersion of measured values was lesser than in other subgroups. According to the results, administration of glucocorticoids (dexamethasone and prednisone or dexamethasone only) to the patients, who suffered from partial deafness and underwent cochlear implantation surgery, may be important in stabilization of hearing thresholds and in protection of hearing

Audio-Vestibular Side Effects of Drugs and Vaccines in Treatment of COVID-19

Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, a few new drugs and vaccines were officially approved by the EMA (European Medical Agency) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study is to analyze and highlight their potential audio-vestibular side effects as an ototoxic adverse reaction. The chapter was written by the review of the available literature in the scientific databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, and in summaries of product characteristics as an official source of information. There were 39 publications and 15 summaries of product characteristics (as other sources of data), which were also used in this analysis. Adverse events could be permanent or disappear over time. Following treatment for COVID-19, the most frequent adverse audio-vestibular reactions reported in clinical trials and publications in the area of audiology and otorhinolaryngology were dizziness, blurry vision with dizziness, nasopharyngitis, dysgeusia, and tinnitus. As far as vaccines are concerned, dizziness as an ototoxic effect was uncommon and occurs only in hypersensitive people who experience anaphylactic shock. However, there is still a need to monitor ototoxic side effects because of potential interactions with other ototoxic drugs

Nadwyżka bezpośrednia z wybranych produktów rolniczych w 2013 roku oraz projekcja dochodów na 2020 rok

Seria: Program Wieloletni 2011-2014. Konkurencyjność Polskiej Gospodarki Żywnościowej w Warunkach Globalizacji i Integracji Europejskiej, nr 105Uwarunkowania produkcyjno-rynkowa w rolnictwie w 2013 roku. Materiał i metodyka badań. Produkcja, koszty i nadwyżka bezpośrednia uzyskana z produkcji wybranych produktów rolniczych w gospodarstwach konwencjonalnych w 2013 r.: pszenica i żyto ozime, jęczmień jary, rzepak ozimy, żywiec wieprzowy. Produkcja, koszty i nadwyżka bezpośrednia uzyskana z produkcji mleka w gospodarstwach ekologicznych w 2013 r. Pojęcie modelu i wybrane zagadnienia prognozowania. Metoda projekcji dochodów z produktów rolniczych. Projekcja do 2020 roku kosztów produkcji oraz wyników ekonomicznych wybranych produktów rolniczych: pszenica i żyto ozime, jęczmień jary, rzepak ozimy, buraki cukrowe. Analiza empiryczna zmian cen skupu pszenicy, żyta, jęczmienia, żywca wieprzowego w latach 2001-2014.Kamila Sobieck

Congenital toxoplasmosis and auditory disorders: a literature review

BackgroundCongenital toxoplasmosis (CT) occurs mainly by primary maternal infection during pregnancy. It is estimated that the incidence of vertical transmission to the fetus is 20% and that infected women are more likely to have a premature birth or low birth weight neonate since there is an association between CT and the rate of premature birth and low birth weight. In addition to severe neurological and ophthalmic consequences, hearing disorders such as hearing loss are also among the clinical manifestations seen in children with CT. Given the above, the objective of this study is to verify what are the auditory disorders seen in children with CT.MethodsThis literature review was structured according to the PRISMA statement and based on the terms of Study Target Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study Types (PICOS). To obtain the studies, the following electronic databases were consulted: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Lilacs. The combined terms used for the search were: (“auditory evoked potentials” OR “hearing” OR “hearing loss”) AND (“congenital toxoplasmosis”). The selection of articles was carried out independently, blindly, by two of the authors, to minimize risk of bias.ResultsThe search in the databases identified 172 articles, after excluding duplicate articles, 105 studies were identified. From the selection made by reading the titles and abstracts, 11 studies were selected for full-text reading. A total of 94 studies were excluded. An article was selected from the list of references. Therefore, 12 studies were included in the final analysis. It was observed that a significant percentage of studies sought to study the peripheral auditory pathway, verifying the occurrence or association between hearing loss and the presence of congenital infection. Only two studies evaluated the central auditory pathway, using the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) and the Frequency Following Response (FFR).ConclusionToxoplasmosis affects not only the peripheral areas but central areas as well. Most studies suggest this pathology as a risk factor for both peripheral and central impairment. Research has found a greater association between CT and mild to moderate hearing loss, in addition to alterations in exams such as BAEP and FFR. These data recommend that CT be reported as a global public health problem and can help assess complications and impacts of hearing disorders as a result of CT. There is a gap about studies that retract the co-occurrence between CT and other Risk Indicators for Hearing Loss (RIHL), such as prematurity, permanence in the intensive care unit, and use of ototoxic medications, lack of longitudinal studies, that accompany the development of hearing and language of children with CT, since the consequences of this infection may be late

Don't forget ototoxicity during the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic!

Aim of this communication is to remind clinical professionals to be aware of ototoxic side effects of several specific drugs proposed for the treatment of the new virus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). In particular, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, as well as antiviral drugs such as remdesivir, favipiravir and lopinavir can all present potential ototoxic side effects. The data in the literature do not offer specific information on their potential synergetic effects nor on their interactions

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and audio-vestibular disorders

To describe the audio-vestibular disorders related to the newly SARS-CoV-2 infection, including the possible ototoxicity side-effects related to the use of drugs included in the SARS-CoV-2 treatment protocols. A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA protocol. The Medline and Embase databases were searched from March 1, 2020 to April 9, 2021. Initially the search yielded 400 manuscripts, which were reduced to 15, upon the application of inclusion criteria. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most frequent audio-vestibular symptom described, occurring alone or in association with tinnitus and vertigo. The etiopathogenesis of the inner ear disorders related to COVID-19 infection is still poorly understood. The number of reports of COVID-19 infections associated to audio-vestibular disorders is increasing; even if the quality of the studies available is often insufficient, audio-vestibular disorders should be considered as possible manifestations to be included among the symptoms of this infection

Building an International One Health Strain Level Database to Characterise the Epidemiology of AMR Threats: ESBL—AmpC Producing E. coli as An Example—Challenges and Perspectives

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of ESBL-Producing Enterobacteriaceae)Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top public health threats nowadays. Among the most important AMR pathogens, Escherichia coli resistant to extended spectrum cephalosporins (ESC-EC) is a perfect example of the One Health problem due to its global distribution in animal, human, and environmental sources and its resistant phenotype, derived from the carriage of plasmid-borne extended-spectrum and AmpC β-lactamases, which limits the choice of effective antimicrobial therapies. The epidemiology of ESC-EC infection is complex as a result of the multiple possible sources involved in its transmission, and its study would require databases ideally comprising information from animal (livestock, companion, wildlife), human, and environmental sources. Here, we present the steps taken to assemble a database with phenotypic and genetic information on 10,763 ESC-EC isolates retrieved from multiple sources provided by 13 partners located in eight European countries, in the frame of the DiSCoVeR Joint Research project funded by the One Health European Joint Programme (OH-EJP), along with its strengths and limitations. This database represents a first step to help in the assessment of different geographical and temporal trends and transmission dynamics in animals and humans. The work performed highlights aspects that should be considered in future international efforts, such as the one presented here.This research was funded by Promoting One Health in Europe through joint actions on foodborne zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging microbiological hazards–One Health EJP, grant number 773830 (DiSCoVeR). Research at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Germany, was partially supported by the internal project BfR-BIOS-08-43-001. Research at the National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV) was partially supported by the project PTDC/CVT-CVT/28469/2017 financed by the “Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia” (FCT), Portugal. Research at the National Veterinary Research Institute (PIWet), Poland, was also partially supported by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science from the funds for science in the years 2018–2022 allocated for the implementation of a co-financed international project. The environmental isolates from Ireland were collected as part of the AREST project, which is jointly funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, under the EPA Research Programme 2014–2020, and the Health Service Executive (2017-HW-LS-1). The isolates collected from pig farms in Ireland were collected as part of a Walsh Scholarship project funded by Teagasc (ref 2018027). Research at the VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre (Spain) was partially supported by the project Antimicrobial resistance transmission dynamics in the human-animal interface: Shaping the risk posed by epidemic plasmids (PID2021-125136OB-I00, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, MICINN).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Skarżyński palace in Studzieniec near Płock construction transformations and value

The article is an attempt at bringing the reader closer to the construction transformations of the palace in Studzieniec and assessing its value as a historical monument. A detailed historical-art analysis preceded by, i.a. initial architectural research, has proved that the palace, at first glance similar to numerous Classical residences, possesses in many respects an individual architectural form. The characterstic features of the main solid of the palace, which originate from the first phase of its construction, include a well-conceived and cohesive composition. The palace in Studzieniec has not been the topic of a separate study and remains mentioned only in brief notes. Moreover, some of the existing writings regard its courtyard galleries to be eighteenth-century. A formal analysis of the palace and initial architectural research has shown that the palace was erected in the eighteenth century as a freestanding building. Despite the absence of archive sources that would unambiguously attribute the authorship of the design to the Warsaw-based architect Hilary Szpilowski, a comparative analysis involving other project made it possible to once again confirm his authorship. The titular palace was built in about 1790 and commissioned by Piotr Skarżyński, who at that time, after having held the office of the deputy starosta of Gostynin, became the royal chamberlain. During the first phase, the residence was granted the form of a single-storey, well devised and completed freestanding building, maintained in the spirit of Classicism. Since the elevations were granted architectural details typical for the eighteenth century, the façade featured not only a portico but also pseudo-projections typical for Szpilowski’s designs, and on the back elevation – equally characteristic dominating deep projections. An analysis of the composition, however, made it possible to notice multiple traits distinguishing this realisation from Polish Classical palaces, including residences ascribed to Szpilowski. The emphasis placed on the front corners by means of the pseudo-projections of the façade and the side elevations, the form of the portico and the back projections as well as the lavish architectural detail and the manner of its application became the reason why the palace in Studzieniec originally displayed sui generis lightness and balance. In accordance with the designs envisaged by Szpilowski, the residence was also given an individual distribution of interiors, with typically lavish ground plans, based on new trends in architecture but also – as it has been attempted to prove - on the expectations and habits of the clients. For the first time in the case of Studzieniec, the article also discusses the non-extant outfitting of the interiors, including the polychromes and the stucco. Pre-war photographs of the interiors and post-war conservation documentation made it possible to recreate the form of the palace as well as to formulate well-motivated assumptions concerning its authorship and the identity of the executors. In about 1790 the construction of the palace was accompanied by the completion of an entrance gate, whose architectural form has no equal in Polish Classical residential architecture, also in the distant eastern territories of the Commonwealth. The palace in Studzieniec underwent modernisation. Due to nineteenth-century redesigning the main corps of the residence was partially altered (i.a. an added back elevation, the addition of side wings, the introduction of a garden terrace and column galleries with outbuildings). Particular attention is due to the column galleries, which, although dating from the period of Polish neo- Classicism, were granted rich forms and individual ground plans. The exceptional value of the palace calls for particular concern for the preservation of its characterstic features and an in-depth conservation analysis of the colour of the elevations, which once again may cast some new light on this forgotten monument

Medieval carpentry structures of the southern wing of the Warmia Chapter Castle in Olsztyn. Contribution to the history of the castle

The article presents the results of an analysis carried out during the renovation of a roof of the southern wing of the Warmia Chapter in Olsztyn in the years 2013-2014. The renovation of the castle wing roof provided us with the possibility to freely access normally inaccessible places and an opportunity to analyse the form and rules of carpentry structures found in this part of the castle, that is, a roof truss and frame walls from around 1429, including the stock-taking of carpentry joints that are not visible after the structure assembly. Since it was impossible to carry out a conservation analysis of carpentry structures in isolation from the context they are situated in, the research conclusions often have a broader scope and concern the history of the entire southern wing. The example of the Olsztyn castle presented in the article shows a significant role of analyses of historical carpentry structures in chronological order and studies of architecture and construction monuments. Historical and architectural studies of historic carpentry structures, covering a typological analysis of the structure, along with an analysis of carpentry joints, assembly signs, traces of processing and other traces and distinguishing marks, e.g inscriptions, as well as comprehensive archival studies allow chronological breakdown of the sole carpentry structure and determination of relative chronology and stratification of the entire historic building, usually subject to conversions and reconstructions over centuries. As we can see on an example of the discussed monument, studies of historical carpentry structures can often contribute to targeting architectural studies of the entire object, representing a point of departure for stratification of the entire building in many cases. Researchers have not paid much attention to wooden structures of the Olsztyn Castle. As we can speculate, a frame structure of the southern wing yard wall with a secondary masonry work could have been beyond the awareness of castle users and researchers. The level of complexity of frame structures of walls erected along with mezzanine floors and a structure of roof truss attests to the fact that the wooden structure of the granary was erected one of the highly qualified carpentry workshops, established and functioning in the Teutonic Knights state in Prussia in the 14th and 15th centuries under the influence of settlers coming from the West. Broader studies of the typology of medieval frame structures on the territory of former Prussia, especially those applied in secular construction, are seriously hindered due to the low number of preserved fachwerk walls to our times. Therefore, we should all the more indicate the need for preparing detailed documentations and analysing all relics of ancient frame structures, even those – or perhaps especially those – hidden behind subsequent masonry work, which was attempted at demonstrating on the basis of an analysis of medieval carpentry structures of a former granary in the southern wing of the Olsztyn fortress. It is not for the first time that it turns out how important the performance of scientific research during the construction investments carried out in an architecture monument is for its preservation. Not only does it allow us to become familiar with its structural transformations and supplement previous knowledge, but also to verify previous findings. Such simultaneous continuation of scientific research can often influence the construction process itself, allowing potential corrections of initial investment assumptions for the benefit of the monument’s value. As regards the roof of the southern wing of the Olsztyn Castle, the research influenced, among others, the scope and method of conducting carpentry works and the type of reconstructed roof covering. No pre-investment architectural studies carried out at an object that is continuously used cannot contribute to the collection of such a large amount of information about a given monument, as regular, careful supervision exercised by persons with appropriate qualifications, carried out during renovation works