Using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery in the analysis of forest cover changes following the storm of 2017 – case study of the Przymuszowo Forest Inspectorate in Poland

Climate change is causing increasingly frequent  extreme events (including strong winds), which  are becoming an integral part of the natural environment. In 2017, from the 11th to 12th of August, a storm passed causing catastrophic damage in general and to forest resources in particular. The study aims to determine the feasibility of using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and other GIS tools and techniques for estimating forest damage caused by the storm in the Przymuszowo Forest Inspectorate. The analysis of forest cover changes was performed using the NDVI and BI2 index as well as unsupervised classification predicated on satellite imagery obtained before and after the storm. It was calculated that a total of 2,048.1 hectares of forest was damaged based on the NDVI index and  1,661.7 hectares based on the unattended classification, whereas the area of agricultural  and and non-forest land based on the BI2 index was 1,739.1 hectares. These figures are comparable to the records of post-storm losses from the Przymuszewo Forest Inspectorate. This indicates a considerable feasibility of Sentinel-2 satellite imagery in assessing damage caused by extreme phenomena (strong winds) in forest areas, which is true both on a regional and global scale owing to the wide range of imaging (up to 290 km). The only limitation for Sentinel-2 satellites is heavy cloud cover, as the emitted radiation does not penetrate clouds.Climate change is causing increasingly frequent  extreme events (including strong winds), which  are becoming an integral part of the natural environment. In 2017, from the 11th to 12th of August, a storm passed causing catastrophic damage in general and to forest resources in particular. The study aims to determine the feasibility of using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and other GIS tools and techniques for estimating forest damage caused by the storm in the Przymuszowo Forest Inspectorate. The analysis of forest cover changes was performed using the NDVI and BI2 index as well as unsupervised classification predicated on satellite imagery obtained before and after the storm. It was calculated that a total of 2,048.1 hectares of forest was damaged based on the NDVI index and  1,661.7 hectares based on the unattended classification, whereas the area of agricultural  and and non-forest land based on the BI2 index was 1,739.1 hectares. These figures are comparable to the records of post-storm losses from the Przymuszewo Forest Inspectorate. This indicates a considerable feasibility of Sentinel-2 satellite imagery in assessing damage caused by extreme phenomena (strong winds) in forest areas, which is true both on a regional and global scale owing to the wide range of imaging (up to 290 km). The only limitation for Sentinel-2 satellites is heavy cloud cover, as the emitted radiation does not penetrate clouds

Risk factors analysis of endometrial cysts recurrence after their surgical removal

One of the problems associated with endometriosis is its high recurrence rate. The aim of the study was to assess the risk factors which might contribute to the recurrence of endometrial cysts after their surgical removal. Material and Method: The study included 49 patients admitted to Division of Reproduction, between January 2000 and June 2004, due to endometrial cysts. Patients with more than a two-year follow-up after the initial surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The surgery constituted either an enucleation or an excision of the cyst after prior mobilization of the ovary from surrounding adhesions via laparoscopy or laparotomy. Ten independent factors which might have an impact on the endometriosis recurrence have been the subject of our investigation and analysis. Results: The overall rate of recurrence was 18% (9/49). The age of the patient (28.8+/-5,4 years for recurrent endometriosis vs 33.1+/-5,2 years without endometriosis recurrence OR 0.789 95% CI = 0.609-1.020 ,

Nie taki diabeł straszny, czyli jak monitorować podstawę programową. Podstawa programowa wychowania przedszkolnego i I etapu edukacyjnego

Publikacja elektroniczna powstała w ramach projektu "Wdrożenie podstawy programowej w przedszkolach i szkołach

HOXA11 gene expression in women with and without impaired infertility

Summary Introduction: HOXA genes are receptivity markers and their altered expression can help identify women with implantation defect. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the expression pattern of HOXA11 and expression and localization of its protein product in the endometrium of women with endometriosis, idiopathic infertility and normal fertile patients during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Material and methods: We evaluated HOXA11 mRNA level in the endometrium from endometriosis (n=36), idiopathic infertility (n=48) and fertile patients (n=30) during a menstrual cycle. The amounts of mRNA were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. Using the immunohistochemical techniques we compared the localization of HOXA11 protein in the proliferative, early secretory and midsecretory endometrium in all of the studied groups. Endometrial biopsy was performed by pipelle or during hysteroscopy. Results: We observed statistically significantly elevated HOXA11 transcripts levels in the midsecretory phase in both, the idiopathic infertility and the fertile control groups (

The management of ovarian tumors in pregnancy and perinatal outcome

Summary Aim: The pregnancy course in women with gestational ovarian mass and conservative or operative management. Material and methods: In retrospective analysis we analyzed 83 pregnant women with ovarian mass diagnosed between 2002-2009. We considered the following factors: gestational age when diagnosed, ultrasound picture, clinical symptoms, level of CA 125, treatment used, pathologic results and pregnancy outcome. Results: In this group of patients 29 (35%) underwent surgery and 54 (65%) were managed conservatively. In 83% of operated women ovarian mass was diagnosed before 11 gestational week. Only 27,5% of patients had pain. CA 125 level was elevated in 48,3% women. In all operated patients laparotomy was performed. The most common pathologic finding was mature teratoma (37,9%) and serous cyst (34,5%). In only one patient we diagnosed borderline serous carcinoma in both ovaries. Among operated patients, 86% delivered at term healthy newborns. In conservatively managed group level of CA 125 remain within a normal range. Patients were symptoms free and pregnancy course was uneventful. In 85% non operated women within 6 postpartum weeks ovarian masses disappeared. Conclusion: According to our analysis adequate ultrasound image interpretation of ovarian’ tumors in pregnancy is of the highest importance in further medical management. Conservative treatment with systematic obstetric care may help to reduce the number of surgical intervention. Surgical treatment of ovarian tumors in pregnancy increases the risk of premature deliveries

HSD3B2, HSD17B1, HSD17B2, ESR1, ESR2 and AR expression in infertile women with endometriosis

Objectives: The development of endometriosis is associated with changes in the expression of genes encoding the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (HSD3B2) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II (HSD17B2), estrogen receptors 1 (ESR1) and 2 (ESR2) and the androgen receptor (AR). However, little is known about the expression of HSD3B2, HSD17B1, HSD17B2, ESR1 ESR2 and AR during the endometrial phases in eutopic endometrium from infertile women with endometriosis. Material and methods: Using RT-qPCR analysis, we assessed the expression of the studied genes in the follicular and luteal phases in eutopic endometrium from fertile women (n = 17) and infertile women (n = 35) with endometriosis. Results: In the mid-follicular eutopic endometrium, we observed a significant increase in HSD3B2 transcript levels in all infertile women with endometriosis (p = 0.003), in infertile women with stage I/II endometriosis (p = 0.008) and in infertile women with stage III/IV endometriosis (p = 0.009) compared to all fertile women. There was a significant increase in ESR1 tran­scripts in all infertile women with endometriosis (p = 0.008) and in infertile women with stage I/II endometriosis (p = 0.019) and in infertile women with stage III/IV endometriosis (p = 0.023) compared to all fertile women. In the mid-luteal eutopic endometrium, we did not observe significant differences in HSD3B2, HSD17B1, HSD17B2, ESR1, ESR2 and AR transcripts between infertile women with endometriosis and fertile women. Conclusions: Observed significant increase in HSD3B2 and ESR1 transcripts in follicular eutopic endometrium from infer­tile women with endometriosis may be related to abnormal biological effect of E2 in endometrium, further affecting the development of human embryos

The assessment of GWAS — identified polymorphisms associated with infertility risk in Polish women with endometriosis

Objectives: Genome-wide association studies in patients with endometriosis revealed ten significant single nucleo­tide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Caucasian population, which include rs12700667 near NFE2L3, rs12037376 in WNT4, rs7521902 near WNT4, rs13394619 in GREB1, rs10859871 near VEZT, rs1537377 near CDKN2B-AS1, rs4141819 near ETAA1, rs7739264 near ID4, rs1519761 near RND3 and rs6542095 near IL1A. Material and methods: We replicated ten polymorphisms among infertile women with endometriosis (n = 315) and healthy fertile women (n = 406) in the Polish Caucasian population. Genotyping was conducted either by high-resolution melting curve analysis or by a pre-designed TaqMan probe. Results: For all infertile women with endometriosis, the p values of the Cochran-Armitage trend test for the rs12700667 SNP was ptrend = 0.038 and the odds ratio (OR) for the risk allele frequency (RAF) of rs12700667 was 1.304 (95% CI = 1.009–1.685; p = 0.042). In patients with endometriosis with severity stages III/IV, ptrend for rs12700667 SNP was 0.036 and OR for the RAF was 1.394 (95% CI = 1.010–1.923; p = 0.043). In infertile women with endometriosis with severity stages III/IV for rs4141819 SNP, we observed ptrend = 0.026 and for RAF the OR = 1.350 (95% CI = 1.032–1.766; p = 0.029). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate association of RAF of rs12700667 and rs4141819 SNPs with infertility in Polish women with advanced endometriosis

Ocena stężenia adipokin u dzieci z mukowiscydozą

Introduction: Patients with CF present numerous pathological conditions such as malnutrition, depletion of fat-free mass, metabolic disturbances (abnormal glucose metabolism, increased insulin resistance, chronic energy deficit, local and chronic inflammation), which could affect or be associated with altered adipokines concentration Material and Methods: We aimed in this study to investigate the levels of selected adipokines such as resistin, apelin, adiponectin to demonstrate their application as possible markers of inflammation. Results: Serum level of resistin was higher (p < 0.001) and adiponectin - lower (p=0.02) in CF children than in healthy children. There was no difference in serum apelin level between two examined groups. However, values of adiponectin/BMI and apelin/BMI ratios in CF did not differ significantly from controls. Higher values of resistin/BMI ratio in CF in comparison to controls were observed Serum resistin/adiponectin ratio was significantly higher in CF patients than in controls (p < 0.0001). Resistin/BMI ratio correlated negatively with FEV1 (R:-48,p < 0.043). Serum resistin/adiponectin ratio correlated negatively with FEV1/FVC (R:-49, p=0.04), Adipokines showed no correlation with BMI and BMI-SDS, glucose, total cholesterol, and LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride serum levels. Spirometric parameters FEV1, FVC, VC correlated negatively with serum glucose levels (R: -0.55, p < 0.018; R: -0.65 p < 0.0025; R:-0.76, p < 0.0008 respectively). FEV1 and FVC correlated positively with BMI-SDS (R:0.58, p < 0.01; R:0.5, p < 0.036, respectively). Conclusions: A significant increase in resistin concentration expressed also as resistin/BMI, and resistin/adiponectin ratios, observed in children with CF may suggests that this adipokine is involved in the inflammatory process underlying the disease and is related to worse spirometric parameters describing airways obstruction.Wstęp: Pacjenci z mukowiscydozą (CF) ujawniają liczne stany patologiczne, takie jak niedożywienie, zmniejszenie beztłuszczowej masy ciała, zaburzenia metaboliczne m.in. nieprawidłowy metabolizm glukozy, zwiększoną insulinooporność, przewlekły deficyt energetyczny, miejscowe i przewlekłe stany zapalne, które mogą wpływać lub być związane ze zmianami stężenia adipokin. Materiał i metody: Celem aktualnego badania było oznaczenie stężenia wybranych adipokin, takich jak rezystyna, apelina, adiponektyna w celu wykazania możliwości ich zastosowania jako markerów stanu zapalnego. Wyniki: Stężenie rezystyny w surowicy było wyższe (p &lt; 0.001) a adiponektyny — niższe (p = 0,02) u dzieci z CF niż u zdrowych dzieci. Nie stwierdzono różnicy w stężeniu apeliny w surowicy krwi pomiędzy tymi dwoma badanymi grupami. Wartości wskaźników adiponektyna/BMI i apelina/BMI u dzieci z CF nie różniły się jednakże znacząco od stwierdzanych w grupie kontrolnej. Obserwowano wyższe wartości wskaźnika rezystyna/BMI w CF w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną Wskaźnik rezystyna/adiponektyna w surowicy był znacząco wyższy u pacjentów z CF niż u osób z grupy kontrolnej (p &lt; 0.0001). Stosunek rezystyna/BMI korelował negatywnie z FEV1 (R: –48, p &lt; 0.043). Stosunek rezystyna/adiponektyna w surowicy korelował negatywnie z FEV1 / FVC (R: –49, p = 0,04). Stężenie adipokin w surowicy nie wykazało korelacji z BMI i BMI-SDS, stężeniem glukozy, cholesterolu całkowitego, stężeniem cholesterolu LDL i HDL, stężeniem triglicerydów. Parametry spirometryczne FEV1, FVC, VC korelowały negatywnie ze stężeniem glukozy w surowicy (R: –0,55, p &lt; 0.018, R: –0,65 p &lt; 0.0025, R: –0,76, p &lt; 0.0008). FEV1 i FVC wykazywały dodatnią korelację z BMI-SDS (R: 0,58, p &lt; 0,01, R: 0,5, p &lt; 0.036). Wnioski: Znaczne zwiększenie stężenia rezystyny wyrażone również jako wskaźnik rezystyna /BMI oraz stosunek rezystyna/adi­ponektyna, obserwowane u dzieci z CF może sugerować, że ta adipokina jest zaangażowana w proces zapalny leżący u podstaw choroby i jest związana z pogorszeniem parametrów spirometrycznych opisujących niedrożność dróg oddechowych

The consumption of sweets and sweetened beverages in terms of obesity occurrence on the example of children living in rural and urban environment

WSTĘP. Mamy dziś do czynienia z nieograniczonym dostępem do słodyczy oraz napojów wysokosłodzonych. Firmy zajmujące się ich produkcją nastawiają się coraz częściej na klientów szczególnie wrażliwych na reklamę, czyli na dzieci. Jednocześnie obserwuje się stały wzrost występowania nadwagi i otyłości wśród tej grupy wiekowej. Celem badań była ocena częstości spożycia słodyczy i napojów wysokosłodzonych oraz odpowiedź na pytanie, czy istnieją różnice między ich konsumpcją przez dzieci mieszkające na wsi i w mieście oraz mające prawidłową i nadmierną masę ciała. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Badaniami objęto 350 uczniów w wieku 10-12 lat z dwóch wsi oraz dwóch miast z terenu Górnego Śląska. Badanie składało się z dwóch etapów: przeprowadzenia ankiety oraz wykonania pomiarów wysokości i masy ciała, które posłużyły do wyznaczenia wskaźnika masy ciała. Do ostatecznej analizy zakwalifikowano 300 ankiet, które zostały wypełnione w całości i oddane. WYNIKI. Nadwagę rozpoznano u 22%, natomiast otyłość u 10% badanych dzieci. Przynajmniej raz dziennie słodycze spożywało około 60% dzieci, wśród nich 57% mieszkających w mieście i 61% na wsi oraz 61% z prawidłową i 54% z nadmierną masą ciała. Napoje wysokosłodzone przynajmniej raz dziennie piło 37% dzieci, w tym 29% mieszkających w mieście i 45% na wsi oraz 38% z prawidłową i 34% z nadmierną masą ciała. WNIOSKI. Wśród ankietowanych zaobserwowano nadmierną konsumpcję słodyczy i napojów wysokosłodzonych. Wyniki badań nie wykazały różnic pomiędzy częstością spożycia słodyczy przez dzieci mieszkające na wsi i w mieście, natomiast napoje wysokosłodzone częściej były spożywane przez dzieci mieszkające na wsi. Nie zaobserwowano różnic w częstości spożycia słodyczy i napojów wysokosłodzonych pomiędzy dziećmi z prawidłową i nadmierną masą ciała. Endokrynologia, Otyłość i Zaburzenia Przemiany Materii 2010, tom 6, nr 2, 78-84INTRODUCTION. Current conditions generate easier and easier, unrestricted access to sweets and highly sweetened beverages. The companies producing them are oriented on vulnerable to advertising client, that are the children. Among this age group, it&#8217;s being observed that overweight and obesity is increasing simultaneously. The intention of this research was the assessment of sweets and highly sweetened beverages frequency consumption and to find out if there are any differences between its consumption by the children living in the country and in the cities and having normal and excessive body weight. MATERIAL AND METHODS. In the research 350 students aged 10-12 from two villages and two cities at the area of Upper Silesia were involved. The research consisted on 2 phases: the survey conduction and the execution of height and body mass measurements, which were used to designate the BMI. Qualified for the final analysis 300 questionnaires that were filled in and cast. RESULTS. Overweight was diagnosed in 22%, while obesity in 10% of the children tested. At least once a day sweets consumed about 60% of children, among them 57% residing in the city and 61% in rural areas and 61% of normal and 54% of excess body weight. Highly sweetened beverages least once a day, drank 37% of children, including 29% living in urban and 45% in rural areas and 38% of normal and 34% of excess body weight. CONCLUSIONS. Extensive consumption of sweets and highly sweetened beverages was observed among the questioned children. The research didn&#8217;t reveal any differences between the frequency of sweets by the children living in rural ad urban environment, however highly sweetened beverages were drunk more often by the children living in the village. There were observed no differences between the frequency of sweets and highly sweetened beverages consumption between the children with normal and excess body weight. Endocrinology, Obesity and Metabolic Disorders 2010, vol. 6, No 2, 78-8