Zróżnicowanie podstawowych zmiennych makroekonomicznych w województwach

The aim of the present study is descriptive analysis of the spatial variation of basic macroeconomic variables in the provinces. Variables whose variation is considered here are: GDP per capita gross value of fixed assets per capita, investment per capita, wages and the unemployment rate. Work carried out in the discussion, because of the availability of relevant statistics for the CSO ww.stat.gov.pl in August 2012, concern the years 2002–2009 (GDP per capita and gross fixed assets per capita), 2002–2010 (investment per capita), or 2002–2011 (wages and unemployment rate). Summarizes the development of taxonomic analysis of complex economic indicators of macroeconomic variables previously considered

A Comparison of Performance of Endotracheal Intubation Using the Levitan FPS Optical Stylet or Lary-Flex Videolaryngoscope in Morbidly Obese Patients

Introduction. The use of videolaryngoscopes is recommended for morbidly obese patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the Levitan FPS optical stylet (Levitan) vs Lafy-Flex videolaryngoscope (Lary-Flex) in a group of MO patients. Methods. Seventy-nine MO (BMI>40 kg m−2) patients scheduled for bariatric surgery were included in the study and randomly allocated to the Levitan FPS or Lary-Flex group. The primary endpoint was time to intubation and evaluation laryngoscopic of glottic view. Anesthesiologists were asked to evaluate the glottic view first under direct laryngoscopy using the videolaryngoscope as a standard laryngoscope (monitor display was excluded from use) and then using devices. The secondary endpoint was the cardiovascular response to intubation and the participant’s evaluation of such devices. Results. The time to intubation was 8.572.66 sec. versus 5.790.2 sec. for Levitan and Lary-Flex, respectively (P<0.05). In all cases of CL grade >1 under direct laryngoscopy, the study devices improved CL grade to 1. The Levitan FPS produced a greater cardiovascular response than the Lary-Flex videolaryngoscope. Conclusion. The Lary-Flex videolaryngoscope and the Levitan FPS optical stylet improve the laryngeal visualization in morbidly obese patients, allowing for fast endotracheal intubation, but Lary-Flex produces less cardiovascular response to intubation attempt

Cognitive functions in patients with liver cirrhosis : a tendency to commit more memory errors

Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the mildest form of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). For diagnostic purposes, 2 alternative batteries of psychometric screening tests are recommended. They differ from each other in terms of the cognitive domains assessed. The research was designed to provide a profile of cognitive functioning in patients with liver cirrhosis, using an assessment that covers a wider range of cognitive functions than the usual screening battery. Material and Methods: We examined 138 persons, including 88 with liver cirrhosis and 50 healthy volunteers. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used for screening and excluding advanced cognitive impairment. Then, to assess cognitive functions in more detail, the following tests were used: Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Letter and Semantic Fluency Tests (LF and SF), Trail Making Test (TMT A&amp;B), Digit Symbol Test (DST), Block Design Test (BDT), and Mental Rotation Test (MRT). The MRT task has not been used in MHE diagnosis so far. Finally, 57 patients and 48 controls took part in the entire study. Results: Patients with liver cirrhosis commit significantly more errors of intrusions in the AVLT during the delayed free recall trial. Results significantly deviating from the norm in at least 2 tests were found only in 7 cirrhosis patients. Conclusions: The results do not provide any specific profile of cognitive disturbances in MHE, but suggest that cirrhosis patients have a tendency to commit more memory errors, probably due to subtle impairments of executive function

Czy spektroskopia rezonansu magnetycznego identyfikuje pacjentów z minimalną encefalopatią wątrobową?

Wstęp i cel pracy: Wyniki pojedynczych badań sugerują, że spektroskopia rezonansu magnetycznego mózgu może być pomocna w wykrywaniu minimalnej encefalopatii wątrobowej. Celem tego badania była ocena przydatności spektroskopii rezonansu magnetycznego w odróżnianiu pacjentów z marskością wątroby z minimalną encefalopatią wątrobową od pacjentów bez tej encefalopatii. Materiał i metody: Badanie spektroskopii rezonansu magnetycznego mózgu przeprowadzono u 46 pacjentów z marskością wątroby bez jawnej encefalopatii i u 45 osób z grupy kontrolnej. Rejestracji widm dokonano z trzech obszarów mózgu: zwojów podstawy, istoty szarej płata potylicznego i istoty białej płata czołowego. U wszystkich badanych osób przeprowadzono badanie neurologiczne i neuropsychologiczne. Wyniki: U pacjentów z marskością wątroby stwierdzono obniżenie stosunku mioinozytolu do kreatyny w zakresie płata potylicznego i czołowego (średnie odpowiednio 0,17 ± 0,05 vs 0,20 ± 0,04, p = 0,01 oraz 0,15 ± 0,05 vs 0,19 ± 0,04, p < 0,01) oraz zmniejszenie stosunku choliny do kreatyny w płacie potylicznym (średnia: 0,32 ± 0,07 vs 0,36 ± 0,08, p = 0,03) w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną. Minimalną encefalopatię wątrobową rozpoznano u 7 pacjentów. Stosunek metabolitów nie różnił się istotnie u pacjentów z minimalną encefalopatią wątrobową i bez niej. Nie stwierdzono także różnicy w stężeniu metabolitów u pacjentów z niewydolnością wątroby zakwalifikowanych do kategorii A w skali Child-Pugh w porównaniu z pacjentami zakwalifikowanymi do kategorii B. Wnioski: Spektroskopia rezonansu magnetycznego nie pozwala na dokładne rozpoznanie minimalnej encefalopatii wątrobowej. Podobny profil metabolitów w mózgu obserwuje się u pacjentów z marskością wątroby bez zaburzeń poznawczych.Background and purpose: The results of a few studies suggest that magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain could allow detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. The goal of this study was to assess the ability of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to differentiate between cirrhotic patients with and without minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Material and methods: Localized magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed in the basal ganglia, occipital gray matter and frontal white matter in 46 patients with liver cirrhosis without overt encephalopathy and in 45 controls. Neurological and neuropsychological examination was performed in each participant. Results: The patients with liver cirrhosis had a decreased ratio of myoinositol to creatine in occipital gray matter and frontal white matter (mean: 0.17 ± 0.05 vs. 0.20 ± 0.04, p = 0.01 and 0.15 ± 0.05 vs. 0.19 ± 0.04, p < 0.01, respectively) and a decreased ratio of choline to creatine in occipital gray matter (mean: 0.32 ± 0.07 vs. 0.36 ± 0.08, p = 0.03). Minimal hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed in 7 patients. Metabolite ratios did not differ significantly between patients with and without minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Metabolite ratios did not differ significantly between patients with Child-Pugh A and those with Child-Pugh B. Conclusions: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy does not allow accurate diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. A similar profile of metabolites in the brain is observed in cirrhotic patients without cognitive impairment

Constitutive activation of MET signaling impairs myogenic differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma and promotes its development and progression

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a soft tissue sarcoma, which may originate from impaired differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Expression of MET receptor is elevated in alveolar RMS subtype (ARMS) which is associated with worse prognosis, compared to embryonal RMS (ERMS). Forced differentiation of ARMS cells diminishes MET level and, as shown previously, MET silencing induces differentiation of ARMS. In ERMS cells introduction of TPR-MET oncogene leads to an uncontrolled overstimulation of the MET receptor downstream signaling pathways. In vivo, tumors formed by those cells in NOD-SCID mice display inhibited differentiation, enhanced proliferation, diminished apoptosis and increased infiltration of neutrophils. Consequently, tumors grow significantly faster and they display enhanced ability to metastasize to lungs and to vascularize due to elevated VEGF, MMP9 and miR-378 expression. In vitro, TPR-MET ERMS cells display enhanced migration, chemotaxis and invasion toward HGF and SDF-1. Introduction of TPR-MET into MSC increases survival and may induce expression of early myogenic factors depending on the genetic background, and it blocks terminal differentiation of skeletal myoblasts. To conclude, our results suggest that activation of MET signaling may cause defects in myogenic differentiation leading to rhabdomyosarcoma development and progression

Czy spektroskopia rezonansu magnetycznego identyfikuje pacjentów z minimalną encefalopatią wątrobową?

Background and purpose The results of a few studies suggest that magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain could allow detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. The goal of this study was to assess the ability of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to differentiate between cirrhotic patients with and without minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Material and methods Localized magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed in the basal ganglia, occipital gray matter and frontal white matter in 46 patients with liver cirrhosis without overt encephalopathy and in 45 controls. Neurological and neuropsychological examination was performed in each participant. Results The patients with liver cirrhosis had a decreased ratio of myoinositol to creatine in occipital gray matter and frontal white matter (mean: 0.17 ± 0.05 vs. 0.20 ± 0.04, p = 0.01 and 0.15 ± 0.05 vs. 0.19 ± 0.04, p &lt; 0.01, respectively) and a decreased ratio of choline to creatine in occipital gray matter (mean: 0.32 ± 0.07 vs. 0.36 ± 0.08, p = 0.03). Minimal hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed in 7 patients. Metabolite ratios did not differ significantly between patients with and without minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Metabolite ratios did not differ significantly between patients with Child-Pugh A and those with Child-Pugh B. Conclusions Magnetic resonance spectroscopy does not allow accurate diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. A similar profile of metabolites in the brain is observed in cirrhotic patients without cognitive impairment.Wstęp i cel pracy Wyniki pojedynczych badań sugerują, że spektroskopia rezonansu magnetycznego mózgu może być pomocna w wykrywaniu minimalnej encefalopatii wątrobowej. Celem tego badania była ocena przydatności spektroskopii rezonansu magnetycznego w odróżnianiu pacjentów z marskością wątroby z minimalną encefalopatią wątrobową od pacjentów bez tej encefalopatii. Materiał i metody Badanie spektroskopii rezonansu magnetycznego mózgu przeprowadzono u 46 pacjentów z marskością wątroby bez jawnej encefalopatii i u 45 osób z grupy kontrolnej. Rejestracji widm dokonano z trzech obszarów mózgu: zwojów podstawy, istoty szarej płata potylicznego i istoty białej płata czołowego. U wszystkich badanych osób przeprowadzono badanie neurologiczne i neuropsychologiczne. Wyniki U pacjentów z marskością wątroby stwierdzono obniżenie stosunku mioinozytolu do kreatyny w zakresie płata potylicznego i czołowego (średnie odpowiednio 0,17 ± 0,05 vs 0,20 ± 0,04, p = 0,01 oraz 0,15 ± 0,05 vs 0,19 ± 0,04, p &lt; 0,01) oraz zmniejszenie stosunku choliny do kreatyny w płacie potylicznym (średnia: 0,32 ± 0,07 vs 0,36 ± 0,08, p = 0,03) w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną. Minimalną encefalopatię wątrobową rozpoznano u 7 pacjentów. Stosunek metabolitów nie różnił się istotnie u pacjentów z minimalną encefalopatią wątrobową i bez niej. Nie stwierdzono także różnicy w stężeniu metabolitów u pacjentów z niewydolnością wątroby zakwalifikowanych do kategorii A w skali Child-Pugh w porównaniu z pacjentami zakwalifikowanymi do kategorii B. Wnioski Spektroskopia rezonansu magnetycznego nie pozwala na dokładne rozpoznanie minimalnej encefalopatii wątrobowej. Podobny profil metabolitów w mózgu obserwuje się u pacjentów z marskością wątroby bez zaburzeń poznawczych

Rapid e-learning tools on the moodle platform

One of the most frequently highlighted problems regarding online teaching reported by teachers is the time and effort required to prepare and regularly update attractive e-content. This is particularly true for multimedia content. On the other hand, the problem often reported by students is the low aesthetic value and teachers’ failure to produce materials that students deem to be aesthetically attractive. This article presents some suggestions on possible ways to control and manage the visual side of e-content

SNAIL is a key regulator of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma tumor growth and differentiation through repression of MYF5 and MYOD function

AbstractRhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a mesenchymal tumor of soft tissue in children that originates from a myogenic differentiation defect. Expression of SNAIL transcription factor is elevated in the alveolar subtype of RMS (ARMS), characterized by a low myogenic differentiation status and high aggressiveness. In RMS patients SNAIL level increases with higher stage. Moreover, SNAIL level negatively correlates with MYF5 expression. The differentiation of human ARMS cells diminishes SNAIL level. SNAIL silencing in ARMS cells inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation in vitro, and thereby completely abolishes the growth of human ARMS xenotransplants in vivo. SNAIL silencing induces myogenic differentiation by upregulation of myogenic factors and muscle-specific microRNAs, such as miR-206. SNAIL binds to the MYF5 promoter suppressing its expression. SNAIL displaces MYOD from E-box sequences (CANNTG) that are associated with genes expressed during differentiation and G/C rich in their central dinucleotides. SNAIL silencing allows the re-expression of MYF5 and canonical MYOD binding, promoting ARMS cell myogenic differentiation. In differentiating ARMS cells SNAIL forms repressive complex with histone deacetylates 1 and 2 (HDAC1/2) and regulates their expression. Accordingly, in human myoblasts SNAIL silencing induces differentiation by upregulation of myogenic factors. Our data clearly point to SNAIL as a key regulator of myogenic differentiation and a new promising target for future ARMS therapies.</jats:p