Prognostic factors in patients operated on eardrum perforation with intact ossicular chain

Background: Ear drum perforation is a typical feature in chronic otitis media. It can have posttraumatic etiology or it is observed in acute otitis media too. Aim: This paper is intended to evaluate effectiveness of tympanic membrane reconstruction and indicate factors which have an influence on hearing im-provement after myringoplasty. Material and methods: Analysis involves ca. 500 individuals operated on ear in Department of Otolaryngology at the Jagiellonian University between 2004 and 2009. Results: 120 individuals were operated on for the first time due to chronic otitis media with intact ossicular chain. Statistically significant heating im-provement was observed in patients with discharge, without discharge and in group with scars. Conclusions: The presence of granulation changes is an unfavorable prognostic condition in the patients with ear drum perforation. In clinical practice, the criterion which often determines the application of either of the materials in myringoplasty are operator's preferences, as well as the availability of given material for transplanting

Purchase Motives and Factors Shaping Consumer Behaviour on the Ecological Product Market (Poland Case Study)

The growing demand for ecological products is in line with the trend towards the ecologisation of consumption, which has become key in times of striving to achieve sustainable development that aims to satisfy consumer needs while respecting the natural environment and future generations. The shaping of pro-ecological attitudes and behaviours in consumers requires continuous monitoring of such behaviours on the market of ecological products and investigation of the factors that influence consumers’ decisions and market choices. The aim of the article is to present the motives behind the purchase of ecological products, and the factors that shape the purchasing decisions of these products by Polish consumers. The article is based on an in-depth study of the literature and the results of proprietary empirical quantitative research conducted on a national sample of 1032 respondents, of whom 509 had purchased an ecological product within the last 3 months, and 523 had not made such a purchase in this period. Analysis of the results revealed the motives for purchasing ecological products, divided into egotistical motives and altruistic motives. The variation in these motives was also indicated depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of the consumers studied. It was shown that there is a dependency between consumers’ self-assessment of their level of knowledge on the functioning of the natural environment and the effect of humankind on it, and the purchase of ecological products. Analysis was also conducted of the factors perceived by consumers as restricting the purchase of ecological products, as well as the likelihood of a growth in the demand for and consumption of such products. There was shown to be a dependency between the reasons perceived by respondents for restricting the purchase of ecological products or the decision not to make such purchases, and consumer attitudes towards ecology

When science goes viral: The research response during three months of the COVID-19 outbreak

Here we present the results of a bibliometric survey of peer-reviewed and pre-print papers published in the English language on issues related to COVID-19 within the first three months since a cluster of a severe acute respiratory disease of unknown etiology was officially confirmed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on 31 December 2019. A systematic search using PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases and preprint servers was performed. The articles were classified according to their type, subject and country of origin. Up to 31 March 2020, a total of 2062 papers published in 578 peer-reviewed journals and 1425 preprints posted mostly on medRxiv (55.4 %), were identified. The mean number of published journal papers and preprints per day in the considered period was 27 and 12, respectively, and reached a maximum of 51 and 46 per day in March, respectively. The identified articles, journal papers and preprints, mostly covered the epidemiology of COVID-19 (35.7 %), clinical aspects of infection (21.0 %), preventative measures (12.8 %), treatment options (12.5 %), diagnostics (12.2 %), mathematical modeling of disease transmission and mitigation (9.6 %), and molecular biology and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 (8.7 %). The majority of the journal papers were commentaries (38.5 %), reviews (33.6 %) and original research (21.3 %), while preprints predominantly presented original results (89.8 %). Chinese scientists contributed the highest share of original research and were responsible for 32.9 % journal papers and 43.9 % preprints published in the considered period. A high number of contributions was also seen from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The benefits and potential risks of such a massive publication output are discussed. The scientific response seen during the first 3 months of the COVID-19 outbreak is a demonstration of the capabilities of modern science to react rapidly to emerging global health threats by providing and discussing the essential information for understanding the etiological factor, its spread, preventative measures, and mitigation strategies

Purchase Motives and Factors Shaping Consumer Behaviour on the Ecological Product Market (Poland Case Study)

The growing demand for ecological products is in line with the trend towards the ecologisation of consumption, which has become key in times of striving to achieve sustainable development that aims to satisfy consumer needs while respecting the natural environment and future generations. The shaping of pro-ecological attitudes and behaviours in consumers requires continuous monitoring of such behaviours on the market of ecological products and investigation of the factors that influence consumers’ decisions and market choices. The aim of the article is to present the motives behind the purchase of ecological products, and the factors that shape the purchasing decisions of these products by Polish consumers. The article is based on an in-depth study of the literature and the results of proprietary empirical quantitative research conducted on a national sample of 1032 respondents, of whom 509 had purchased an ecological product within the last 3 months, and 523 had not made such a purchase in this period. Analysis of the results revealed the motives for purchasing ecological products, divided into egotistical motives and altruistic motives. The variation in these motives was also indicated depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of the consumers studied. It was shown that there is a dependency between consumers’ self-assessment of their level of knowledge on the functioning of the natural environment and the effect of humankind on it, and the purchase of ecological products. Analysis was also conducted of the factors perceived by consumers as restricting the purchase of ecological products, as well as the likelihood of a growth in the demand for and consumption of such products. There was shown to be a dependency between the reasons perceived by respondents for restricting the purchase of ecological products or the decision not to make such purchases, and consumer attitudes towards ecology

KRAB-ZFP Transcriptional Regulators Acting as Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors: An Overview

Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) constitute the largest family of transcriptional factors exerting co-repressor functions in mammalian cells. In general, KRAB-ZFPs have a dual structure. They may bind to specific DNA sequences via zinc finger motifs and recruit a repressive complex through the KRAB domain. Such a complex mediates histone deacetylation, trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me3), and subsequent heterochromatization. Nevertheless, apart from their repressive role, KRAB-ZFPs may also co-activate gene transcription, likely through interaction with other factors implicated in transcriptional control. KRAB-ZFPs play essential roles in various biological processes, including development, imprinting, retroelement silencing, and carcinogenesis. Cancer cells possess multiple genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic aberrations. A growing number of data indicates that the expression of many KRAB-ZFPs is altered in several tumor types, in which they may act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Hereby, we review the available literature describing the oncogenic and suppressive roles of various KRAB-ZFPs in cancer. We focused on their association with the clinicopathological features and treatment response, as well as their influence on the cancer cell phenotype. Moreover, we summarized the identified upstream and downstream molecular mechanisms that may govern the functioning of KRAB-ZFPs in a cancer setting

KRAB-ZFP Transcriptional Regulators Acting as Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors: An Overview

Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) constitute the largest family of transcriptional factors exerting co-repressor functions in mammalian cells. In general, KRAB-ZFPs have a dual structure. They may bind to specific DNA sequences via zinc finger motifs and recruit a repressive complex through the KRAB domain. Such a complex mediates histone deacetylation, trimethylation of histone 3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me3), and subsequent heterochromatization. Nevertheless, apart from their repressive role, KRAB-ZFPs may also co-activate gene transcription, likely through interaction with other factors implicated in transcriptional control. KRAB-ZFPs play essential roles in various biological processes, including development, imprinting, retroelement silencing, and carcinogenesis. Cancer cells possess multiple genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic aberrations. A growing number of data indicates that the expression of many KRAB-ZFPs is altered in several tumor types, in which they may act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Hereby, we review the available literature describing the oncogenic and suppressive roles of various KRAB-ZFPs in cancer. We focused on their association with the clinicopathological features and treatment response, as well as their influence on the cancer cell phenotype. Moreover, we summarized the identified upstream and downstream molecular mechanisms that may govern the functioning of KRAB-ZFPs in a cancer setting

Decision-Making Processes of Renewable Energy Consumers Compared to Other Categories of Ecological Products

In the scientific discourse on consumption, increasingly more attention is being paid to sustainable development. Regarding the fact that not only various types of enterprises, but also consumers contribute to the excessive consumption of natural resources, it is of crucial importance to reduce the knowledge gap in the field of sustainable consumer behavior and decision-making processes related to the choice of organic products. The paper aims to present the decision-making processes of Polish consumers of renewable energy against the background of other categories of ecological products. Special attention is paid to the extent in which the offer is adjusted to the needs of consumers of renewable energy in Poland, compared to other categories of ecological products. The paper also shows the perception of the consumer of ecological products by buyers of renewable energy and by people who do not buy ecological products. The paper is based on a literature review and the results of a quantitative empirical study. The quantitative research was performed on a nationwide sample of 1032 people, among whom 509 people bought an organic product in the last 3 months, and 523 people did not purchase such a product during this period. The analysis of the results allows us to conclude that in the case of renewable energy, factors such as price, quality and the producer’s certification play a crucial role in the decision-making processes of Polish consumers. The hierarchy of criteria considered in the decision-making process related to the purchase of renewable energy and equipment enabling the use of renewable energy sources is quite similar to the one observed when purchasing electric cars. At the same time, it should be noted that almost every second person purchasing renewable energy compares many offers and spends a relatively long time contemplating their choice

Zmiany na rynku polskich produktów ekologicznych pochodzenia rolniczego

This paper attempts to identify changes in the factors influencing the functioning and evolution of the Polish market for organic agricultural products. It brings together the results of surveys of farmers (carried out in 2011, 2019, and 2021), distributors (carried out in 2019 and 2021), and consumers (carried out in 2009 and 2021). Initially, farmers believed that the greatest opportunities for market development lay in demand factors, including in particular consumer environmental awareness. In 2021, their opinions worsened in this regard, which means they had difficulties reaching consumers. Another opportunity that was less popular than before was the EU subsidies. This is due to administrative and bureaucratic burdens, which, along with high production costs and weak links between farmers and distributors, were considered to be the biggest barriers to market development. For distributors, the survey produced similar conclusions. According to consumers, the greatest opportunities for market development result from increasing environmental awareness, increased diversity of products and better promotion. The barriers they highlighted include high prices, limited environmental education, lack of adequate state support, and insufficient information about the offer.Celem artykułu jest określenie zmian czynników wpływających na funkcjonowanie polskiego rynku ekologicznych produktów pochodzenia rolniczego oraz czynników wpływających na przyszły rozwój tego rynku. Zawiera on syntezę wyników badań ankietowych przeprowadzonych wśród rolników (z lat 2011, 2019, 2021), dystrybutorów (z lat 2019 i 2021) i konsumentów (z lat 2009 i 2021). Wyniki badań z 2011 i 2019 wykazały, że według rolników największe szanse rozwoju rynku wiążą się z czynnikami popytowymi, w tym zwłaszcza świadomością ekologiczną konsumentów. W 2021 r. opinie te pogorszyły się, co wskazuje, że rolnicy napotykają trudności w dotarciu ze swoją ofertą do konsumentów. Dotacje unijne również straciły na znaczeniu, co wiąże się z utrudnieniami administracyjnymi i biurokratycznymi. Obok wysokich kosztów produkcji i słabości powiązań rolników z dystrybutorami stanowią one największe bariery rozwoju rynku. Podobne wnioski wynikają z wyników badań dystrybutorów. Według konsumentów największymi szansami rozwoju rynku są rosnąca świadomość ekologiczna, zwiększenie różnorodności oferty i lepsza promocja. Ograniczeniami są wysoka cena, znikoma edukacja ekologiczna, brak odpowiedniego wsparcia ze strony państwa oraz zbyt mało informacji o ofercie

The genetic structure of populations of Isthmiophora melis (Schrank, 1788) (Digenea: Echinostomatidae). Does the host’s diet matter?

Abstract Background Here we provide a comparative analysis of the genetic structure of populations (based on nad1 mtDNA) of Isthmiophora melis isolated from the American mink (Neogale vison), an introduced invasive species, commonly occurring in the territory of Poland, and from the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). Methods A total of 133 specimens of I. melis were obtained from naturally infected N. vison collected from six localities in Poland (108 samples) and 25 individuals of I. melis from A. agrarius. All sequences of the nad1 gene obtained during the present study were assembled and aligned. The standard statistics for haplotype composition, i.e., the number of haplotypes, haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity, and average number of nucleotide differences, were calculated. Haplotype analysis and visualization of haplotype frequency among populations were performed using a median-joining network. Results Based on the samples collected from different localities in Poland, our study revealed that the overall genetic diversity of I. melis isolated from the American mink and of the striped field mouse do not differ significantly. The median-joining network showed that the three main haplotypes are in the centre of a star-like structure, with the remaining haplotypes as the satellites, reflecting the recent expansion of the populations. Conclusions The overall genetic diversity of I. melis isolated from the American mink and striped field mouse reveals a high level of homogeneity. Moreover, regional differences in the food composition of the definitive hosts play an important role in shaping the genetic structure of the trematode populations. Graphical Abstrac

Students attitudes towards solarium and sunburn using

Wstęp. Opalanie się jest jednym z najbardziej zakorzenionych nawyków ludzkości, a słońce jest uważane za największe naturalne źródło energii i podstawę życia na Ziemi. Materiał i metody. Badania przeprowadzono wśród 229 studentów w oparciu o autorski kwestionariusz ankiety, który składał się z 36 pytań. Wyniki. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że 48,03% ankietowanych korzystało z solarium i to najczęściej (20%) raz w miesiącu. Pierwsza wizyta w solarium była samodzielną decyzją dla 88,2% osób, a 11,8% udało się tam za namową koleżanki/kolegi. W solarium respondenci korzystali głównie (79,1%) z łóżek samoopalających. W opinii 84,5% badanych pracownicy solarium są sumienni i informują respondentów o zasadach korzystania z niego. Większość respondentów (60%) nie znało pojęcia „fototyp skóry”. W opinii 26,4% badanych czas pierwszej wizyty w solarium nie ma znaczenia. Mimo to 73,6% respondentów wiedziało, że w solarium nie można opalać się codziennie, a zasady dotyczące przedłużania kolejnych wizyt w solarium nie znało 50% z nich. Ponadto 39,1% badanych twierdziło, iż opalanie w solarium jest nie mniej groźne niż opalanie na słońcu. W większości ankietowani jako skutki uboczne nadmiernej ekspozycji na słońce lub korzystania z solarium wymieniali: nowotwory skóry i szybszy proces starzenia się. Aż 60% badanych nie miało nic przeciw temu, aby dzieci i młodzież korzystały z solarium. O tym, iż proces opalania w solarium jest związany z naświetleniem skóry promieniowaniem zarówno UVA, jak i UVB, wiedziało 34,5% respondentów. Mimo to 30% ankietowanych nie używało preparatów z filtrem UV. Tanoreksję, jako „uzależnienie od opalania się w solarium”, zdefiniowało 11,8% respondentów. Wnioski. Wiedza studentów na temat zasad korzystania z solarium, zdrowego opalania i negatywnych skutków powyższego jest niezadowalająca. W opinii większości badanych pracownicy solarium są sumienni i informują respondentów o zasadach obsługi tuby lub łóżka. Większość respondentów nie była przeciwna, aby z solarium korzystały dzieci i osoby młode. Respondenci nie znali terminu „tanoreksja”. Problemy Pielęgniarstwa 2011; 19 (3): 322–328Introduction. Sunburning is common habit of people, and sun it is thought the biggest source of energy and basis of life on the Earth. Material and methods. The study was conducted among 229 students in according to own questionnaire consisted of 36 questions. Results. Almost 48.03% surveyed attended a solarium more often once a month. The first visit in the solarium was the self decision of 88.2% responders, and 11.8% on her or his suggestion. Visiting solarium people, mostly (79.1%) used sunbed. In the opinion of 84.5% surveyed attended, solarium workers were conscientious, and they gave information about safe using the solarium. Most of responders (60%) did not know term „skin photype”. In the opinion of 26.4% respondents, duration of the first visit has no importance. Almost 73.6% of respondents knew that in the solarium daily sunburning is not allowed, but the rules of the following visits in the solarium knew 50% of them. Nearly 39.1% of students said sunburning in the solarium is dangerous as that obtained in the sun. Side effects of sun exposition or using solarium responders counted: skin cancer and faster process of ageing. Of the surveyed, 60% were against children and youths could use the solarium. UVA and UVB rays are causing sunburning in the solarium knew 34.5% responders, and 30% of surveyed did not use any UVprotective cosmetics. Tanorexia, as „an addiction to tanning in the solarium” defined 11.8% of responders. Conclusions. Students knowledge on the rules of the solarium using, sunburning side effects of taning was insufficient. Most students declared that solarium workers were conscientious and gave information about safe using the solarium. Most respondents were not against children and youths could use the solarium. „Tanorexia” term has not been known by respondents. Nursing Topics 2011; 19 (3): 32