Tętniak prawdziwy po bezobjawowym zawale dolnej ściany lewej komory jako podłoże ciężkiej wtórnej niedomykalności mitralnej

Przedstawiony opis przypadku ukazuje nietypowy, bezobjawowy przebieg choroby wieńcowej z wytworzeniem tętniaka prawdziwego lewej komory, powodującego ciężką, przez długi czas skąpoobjawową, niedomykalność zastawki mitralnej

Laterally-resolved mechanical and tribological properties of laser-structured polymer nanocomposites

[EN]In this work, we report on a detailed quantitative nanomechanical mapping of free-standing films of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and the composite PET/expanded graphite (EG) with 0.4% in weight of the nanoadditive, and of these materials nanostructured by laser irradiation. By using atomic force microscopy, we obtained simultaneously the topography, surface elastic modulus and adhesion force maps of the materials. Young's modulus images exhibited higher values for the composite in comparison to those of the neat polymer and for the nanostructured films in contrast to the non-nanostructured ones. Additionally, we explored the tribological properties of these systems at the nanoscale. Using lateral force microscopy, we observed a decrease in the friction coefficient for the nanocomposite as compared to the neat polymer, while quantifying an increase for both laser-structured samples. Our results are discussed taking into consideration the possible changes that the samples might undergo during processing, as well as the changes imposed by the complex geometry of the nanometric features in these laterally-resolved mechanical measurements

Quality control of B-lines analysis in stress Echo 2020

Background The effectiveness trial “Stress echo (SE) 2020” evaluates novel applications of SE in and beyond coronary artery disease. The core protocol also includes 4-site simplified scan of B-lines by lung ultrasound, useful to assess pulmonary congestion. Purpose To provide web-based upstream quality control and harmonization of B-lines reading criteria. Methods 60 readers (all previously accredited for regional wall motion, 53 B-lines naive) from 52 centers of 16 countries of SE 2020 network read a set of 20 lung ultrasound video-clips selected by the Pisa lab serving as reference standard, after taking an obligatory web-based learning 2-h module ( http://se2020.altervista.org ). Each test clip was scored for B-lines from 0 (black lung, A-lines, no B-lines) to 10 (white lung, coalescing B-lines). The diagnostic gold standard was the concordant assessment of two experienced readers of the Pisa lab. The answer of the reader was considered correct if concordant with reference standard reading ±1 (for instance, reference standard reading of 5 B-lines; correct answer 4, 5, or 6). The a priori determined pass threshold was 18/20 (≥ 90%) with R value (intra-class correlation coefficient) between reference standard and recruiting center) > 0.90. Inter-observer agreement was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficient statistics. Results All 60 readers were successfully accredited: 26 (43%) on first, 24 (40%) on second, and 10 (17%) on third attempt. The average diagnostic accuracy of the 60 accredited readers was 95%, with R value of 0.95 compared to reference standard reading. The 53 B-lines naive scored similarly to the 7 B-lines expert on first attempt (90 versus 95%, p = NS). Compared to the step-1 of quality control for regional wall motion abnormalities, the mean reading time per attempt was shorter (17 ± 3 vs 29 ± 12 min, p < .01), the first attempt success rate was higher (43 vs 28%, p < 0.01), and the drop-out of readers smaller (0 vs 28%, p < .01). Conclusions Web-based learning is highly effective for teaching and harmonizing B-lines reading. Echocardiographers without previous experience with B-lines learn quickly.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Molecular mechanisms of cell death: recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death 2018.

Over the past decade, the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) has formulated guidelines for the definition and interpretation of cell death from morphological, biochemical, and functional perspectives. Since the field continues to expand and novel mechanisms that orchestrate multiple cell death pathways are unveiled, we propose an updated classification of cell death subroutines focusing on mechanistic and essential (as opposed to correlative and dispensable) aspects of the process. As we provide molecularly oriented definitions of terms including intrinsic apoptosis, extrinsic apoptosis, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, parthanatos, entotic cell death, NETotic cell death, lysosome-dependent cell death, autophagy-dependent cell death, immunogenic cell death, cellular senescence, and mitotic catastrophe, we discuss the utility of neologisms that refer to highly specialized instances of these processes. The mission of the NCCD is to provide a widely accepted nomenclature on cell death in support of the continued development of the field

Factors affecting the maintenance of occupational activity over a 2–3-year period after total hip replacement

Background The purpose of this paper was to assess the occupational activity in patients after hip replacement over a 2–3-year post operational period and to analyze the effect of selected factors (age, gender, body mass index (BMI), functional state and self-assessed health status) on this activity. Material and Methods In the research 107 people (56 women and 51 men) participated. The average age of the subject’s was 55.1 years. A standardized author’s survey questionnaire, including questions about personal and clinical data, occupational activity and self-assessment of health status, was applied. The body mass and height were measured and the BMI index was calculated. The 100 points Harris Hip Score (HHS) was used to assess the functional state in the respondents. Results After the operation about 60% of the patients were not occupationally active; 44 (41.1%) respondents received the state health benefit, 18 (16.8%) respondents were eligible for pension benefit, and 2 (1.9%) respondents were unemployed with benefit. No one unemployed before the operation undertook work afterwards. Neither gender nor the character of the job or BMI exerted statistically significant effect on the occupational activity after the operation. Significant differences were noted in undertaking the occupational activity after the operation in patients with different level of functional efficiency assessed with the use of HHS (p = 0.0350) and different level of self-assessed health statuse (p = 0.0057). Conclusions More than half of the respondents have not returned to work after total hip replacement, while people doing intellectual work most frequently returned to occupation after surgery. Age, functional efficiency, and self-assessed health status of the patient had a significant influence on their return to work. Med Pr 2018;69(2):191–19

Preparation and characterization of nanocomposites based on COOH functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and on poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) nanocomposites containing COOH functionalized multi-walled nanotubes were synthesized with in situ polymerization method. The microstructure of the nanocomposites was studied by SEM, in terms of the dispersion state of the nanotubes and the polymer-nanotube interface. The thermal behaviour, mechanical properties and conductivity of these resultant PTT/MWCNTs nanocomposites were studied. The effect of the presence of MWCNTs on cold crystallization of PTT was monitored by dielectric spectroscopy. From thermal analysis study, it is found that the melting temperature and glass transition temperature are not significantly affected by the addition of MWCNTs. The crystallization temperature of PTT matrix is affected by the presence of CNTs. Nanocomposites have slightly higher degree of crystallinity than neat PTT and their thermo-oxidative stability is not significantly affected by the addition of MWCNTs. The study of the isothermal cold crystallization of amorphous PTT and its nanocomposites monitored by dielectric spectroscopy reveals that the presence of MWCNTs have influence on crystallization rate, especially at higher concentration (0.3 wt%). In comparison with neat PTT, the MWCNTs reinforced nanocomposites posses higher tensile strength and Young's modulus at low MWCNTs loading (0.05-0.3 wt%). In addition, all nanocomposites show reduction of brittleness as compared to the neat PTT. The electrical percolation threshold was found between 0.3 and 0.4 wt% loading of MWCNTs. © BME-PT.The authors thank for the financial support from the Polish Ministry of Science and High Education in the framework of a grant no DFG/83/2006 and from the MCYT (grant MAT2009- 07789), Spain.Peer Reviewe

INFLUENCE OF THE CHANGE OF USING SOIL TO THE WATER QUALITY ON THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN OBJECT LIDZBARK WARMIŃSKI

The study included groundwater outflow drainage systems and collected in the pond located at the agricultural use area in the portion of the drainage facility Lidzbark Warminski located on the Sępopolska Plain. The study was performed in two periods: the first one was in 1998–2000 (just after was made drainage), in which the discussed area was used as pasture, and the second in 2008–2010, in which after plowed of the soil was cultivated winter wheat. The aim of the study was to determine changes in water quality after the change of the way of land use. Examinations showed that as a result of the change of the way of using the area and ceasing of mineral fertilizing in waters of the pond was a reduction in the concentrations of the most mineral components, but an increase of pH reaction and concentrations of potassium, magnesium of sulfates and bicarbonates. In groundwaters observed increased the content of concentrations of mineral forms of nitrogen, phosphatic phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, general iron and bicarbonates, and a reduction in the concentrations of calcium, sodium, sulfates and chlorides. However in the water which outflow from drainage pipelines system from the research area was an increase of concentrations most of the determined substances, apart from ammonia nitrogen and chlorides

Neuromotor Development of Children Aged 6 and 7 Years Born before the 30th Week Gestation

Introduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the level of neuromotor function and somatic development in 6- and 7-year-old children born before the 30th week gestation with that in full-term children at the same age, as well as the correlation between prematurity and motor development. Material and Methods. The study group consisted of prematurely born 40 children. Their mean gestational age at birth was 27.8±1.6 weeks (range 24–30 weeks). The control group consisted of 40 healthy children born with normal birth weight (>2500 g). The neuromotor function was assessed using Touwen neurological examination criteria. During the examination, the attention was focused on the hand preference, laterality, synkinesis, and asymmetry. In addition, children’s weight, height, and BMI index were measured. Results. Premature children showed much worse results than full-term ones in hand function (p<0,001). They obtained the best results in paper tearing while crossing the body midline turned out to be the most difficult. Considering the quality of walking, the biggest difficulty for the premature children was to walk backwards along the straight line while during normal walking they showed the best results. The results for the muscle tone subcategory in the study group were also significantly worse than those in control group (p<0,001), as well as the total outcome for the movement coordination and diadochokinesis subcategories (p<0,001). Conclusion. The nondisabled, prematurely born children have significantly lower average outcomes regarding hand function, quality of walking, muscle tone, coordination, and diadochokinesis at age of six to seven, compared to the full-term peers