Differentiation signatures in the Flora region

Most asteroid families are very homogeneous in physical properties. Some show greater diversity, however. The Flora family is the most intriguing of them. The Flora family is spread widely in the inner main belt, has a rich collisional history, and is one of the most taxonomically diverse regions in the main belt. As a result of its proximity to the asteroid (4) Vesta (the only currently known intact differentiated asteroid) and its family, migration between the two regions is possible. This dynamical path is one of the counter arguments to the hypothesis that there may be traces of a differentiated parent body other than Vesta in the inner main belt region. We here investigate the possibility that some of the V- and A- types (commonly interpreted as basaltoids and dunites - parts of the mantle and crust of differentiated parent bodies) in the Flora dynamical region are not dynamically connected to Vesta.Comment: accepted to AA (28 09 2015

Thermodynamically controlled crystallization of glucose pentaacetates from amorphous phase

The α and β glucose pentaacetates are known sugar derivatives, which can be potentially used as stabilizers of amorphous phase of active ingredients of drugs (API). In the present work, crystallization behavior of equimolar mixture of α and β form in comparison to both pure anomers is revealed. It was shown that despite the same molecular interactions and similar molecular dynamics, crystallization from amorphous phase is significantly suppressed in equimolar mixture. Time dependent X-ray diffraction studies confirmed higher stability of the quenched amorphous equimolar mixture. Its tendency to crystallization is about 10 times lower than for pure anomers. Calorimetric studies revealed that the α and β anomers don't form solid solutions and have eutectic point for xα = 0.625. Suppressed crystallization tendency in the mixture is probably caused by the altered thermodynamics of the system. The factors such as difference of free energy between crystalline and amorphous state or altered configurational entropy are probably responsible for the inhibitory effect

Intraorbital wooden foreign body — a case report

Background: Wood as an intraorbital foreign body (IOFB) is infrequent, and as it is organic matter patients represent an increased risk of infection. The aim of this study is to report the complexity of treatment of patient with a wooden IOFB. We describe a case of a 67-year-old male with a wooden IOFB. Case report: On referral, the patient presented with exophthalmos, pain, blurry vision and discharge from his left eye was admitted to the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Gdańsk. The previous evening, he fell with his face down. Computed tomography revealed a low-density IOFB of approximately -980 Hounsfield Units, sized 62 × 8 mm, in the area of left orbit, ethmoid and sphenoid sinus. Subsequently, the IOFB was removed under general anaesthesia. After three days of empirical antibiotic therapy, the patient was discharged with a switch to oral antibiotics. Shortly after the conversion to oral therapy, he developed an orbital inflammatory syndrome and was readmitted to the hospital. His condition improved after readministration of parenteral antibiotics. Conclusion: This case demonstrates that wooden IOFBs should be treated with caution. Parenteral antibiotic delivery leads to higher serum levels than with oral intake, and in this case, was essential in preventing infection after IOFB removal

Selenium and zinc biofortification of Pleurotus eryngii mycelium and fruiting bodies as a tool for controlling their biological activity

Pleurotus eryngii (DC:Fr.) Quel. is a cultivated mushroom of high culinary value and medicinal properties. Mycelium of P. eryngii is characterized by the ability of effective bio-elements absorption from growth media so it could be biofortified with trace elements with a functional activity in the human body. In this study, the ability of P. eryngii mycelia from in vitro cultures as well as fruiting bodies were investigated in terms of their effectiveness in zinc and selenium accumulation. The effect of Se and Zn biofortification on productivity, chemical compounds, and bio-elements content of P. eryngii was determined as well. To enhance Se and Zn content in P. eryngii fruiting bodies and mycelia, substrates were supplemented with sodium selenite, at a concentration of 50 mg $L^{-1}$, zinc sulfate, and zinc hydro-aspartate at a concentration of 87.2 and 100.0 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. Mentioned Zn concentrations contained the same amount of zinc(II) ions, namely 20mg $L^{-1}$. The content of organic compounds include phenolic compounds and lovastatin, which were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method with UV detection. The ability of P. eryngii to accumulate zinc and selenium from the culture medium was demonstrated. The degree of accumulation of zinc turned out to be di erent depending on the type of salt used. The present study also showed that conducting mycelium of P. eryngii in in vitro culture, with a higher content of zinc ions, can result in obtaining the materials with better antioxidant ability. The results of this study can be used to develop the composition of growing media, which ensures the production of biomass with the desired composition of elements

Rozedrgane serca fanek, czyli jak pisać z pasją o fandomie Recenzja książki Fandom. Fanowskie modele odbioru Aldony Kobus

Recenzja monografii Aldony Kobus pt. Fandom. Fanowskie modele odbioru. Recenzja składa się z: omówienia dyskursu badań nad fanami, analizy metodologii zastosowanej w pracy, streszczenia poszczególnych rozdziałów oraz komentarza końcowego

Cell death in the epithelia of the intestine and hepatopancreas in Neocaridina heteropoda (Crustacea, Malacostraca)

The endodermal region of the digestive system in the freshwater shrimp Neocaridina heteropoda (Crustacea, Malacostraca) consists of a tube-shaped intestine and large hepatopancreas, which is formed by numerous blind-ended tubules. The precise structure and ultrastructure of these regions were presented in our previous studies, while here we focused on the cell death processes and their effect on the functioning of the midgut. We used transmission electron microscopy, light and confocal microscopes to describe and detect cell death, while a quantitative assessment of cells with depolarized mitochondria helped us to establish whether there is the relationship between cell death and the inactivation of mitochondria. Three types of the cell death were observed in the intestine and hepatopancreas- apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. No differences were observed in the course of these processes in males and females and or in the intestine and hepatopancreas of the shrimp that were examined. Our studies revealed that apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy only involves the fully developed cells of the midgut epithelium that have contact with the midgut lumen-D-cells in the intestine and B- and F-cells in hepatopancreas, while E-cells (midgut stem cells) did not die. A distinct correlation between the accumulation of Ecells and the activation of apoptosis was detected in the anterior region of the intestine, while necrosis was an accidental process. Degenerating organelles, mainly mitochondria were neutralized and eventually, the activation of cell death was prevented in the entire epithelium due to autophagy. Therefore, we state that autophagy plays a role of the survival factor

Computed tomography evaluation of patent paraumbilical vein and its aneurysm in relation to other portosystemic collateral channels in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the diameter and aneurysmal dilatation of the paraumbilical vein (PUV) and the presence of portosystemic collateral shunts and their relationship with age and portal vein diameter. Material and methods: The retrospective analysis, performed in the II Department of Radiology, Medical University Hospital in Warsaw, included 126 patients (77 males and 49 females) with patent umbilical vein and signs of portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis. All patients underwent contrast enhanced abdominal CT. The average age was 54.7 ±12.98. We analysed the number and type of portosystemic collateral channels in respect of age, sex, presence of oesophageal varices, and the diameter of the paraumbilical vein and the portal vein. Results: Our results disclosed statistically significant negative correlation between patient age and diameter of paraumbilical vein, number of portosystemic collateral channels and diameter of portal vein and positive correlation between diameter of paraumbilical vein and diameter of portal vein. A statistically significant difference in diameter of portal vein and number of collateral channels was found in groups with and without oesophageal varices. No significant difference in age and portal vein diameter was found in these groups. Conclusions: Our study showed that younger patients with liver cirrhosis are characterised by wider paraumbilical veins and higher number of portosystemic collateral channels. The presence of oesophageal varices does not correlate with age, sex, diameter of paraumbilical vein, and number of collateral portosystemic channels

Does conformal therapy improve dose distribution in comparison to old techniques in teleradiotherapy of cervical cancer patients?

SummaryBackgroundThe use of a combined modality approach – chemotherapy and radiation therapy – in the treatment of patients with cervical cancer is associated with significant toxicity, mainly haematological and gastrointestinal. Conformal radiotherapy has the potential to deliver an adequate dose to the target structures while sparing the normal tissue. Both the radiation dose to the small bowel and the volume are factors known to influence the risk of complications.AimThe aim of this study was to determine whether the implementation of conformal modality can reduce the volume of normal tissue included in the RT field.Methods and Materials14 cervical cancer patients (FIGO IIB and IIIB) treated with conformal radiotherapy concurrently with cisplatin (40 mg/m2) administration once a week were analyzed. According to ICRU 50 recommendations target volumes and the organs at risk were contoured on CT slices. For the gross tumour volume (GTV) the tumour of the uterus and cervix was traced. The clinical target volume (CTV) was defined as the vessels and lymph nodes from the obturator level to the aortic bifurcation, presacral region, and upper 1/3 of the vagina. The margin for planning target volume (PTV) was added. The normal tissue region included the small bowel, large bowel and bladder. Using a 3D system and multi-leaf collimator a four-field treatment plan was performed for each patient. All 14 patients were treated with radiotherapy using these conformal 3D plans. Additionally (just for study purposes) for each patient we prepared two simpler plans with (1) two-field: anterior-posterior (A-P) and posterior-anterior (P-A); and (2) four-field box techniques. Dose-volume histograms of target volumes and organs at risk were calculated for each three plans for every patient and compared. Analysis of variance was performed to compute the statistical significance.ResultsThere is no statistical difference between doses received by target volumes – in each plan PTV is covered by the 95% isodose. Significantly different volumes of critical organs were included in the treatment field, depending on radiotherapy technique (conformal 3D method vs AP–PA two-field method): rectum 96.82% vs 38.23%, bowels 61.37% vs 30.79%.ConclusionThese data suggest that implementation of conformal radiotherapy can reduce the irradiated volume in all the contoured critical organs, especially the bowels, compared to old techniques

Reversing dabigatran effect with idarucizumab to enable intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischaemic stroke — a single centre experience

Introduction. Our study analysed the safety and effectiveness of idarucizumab in enabling intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in dabigatran-treated patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). Clinical rationale for the study. New oral anticoagulants (NOAC), including dabigatran, are the first-choice treatment option for preventing ischaemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, a significant percentage of AF patients develops AIS despite NOAC treatment. According to current guidelines, treatment with IVT is contraindicated in patients who have received NOAC within the last 48 hours. Idarucizumab is a fragment of a monoclonal antibody that reverses the anticoagulation effect of dabigatran. The latest research shows that it can enable safe and successful IVT in patients with recent dabigatran intake, but more data is needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of such treatment. Material and methods. Our study included dabigatran-treated patients who received idarucizumab to allow AIS treatment with IVT in the University Hospital in Kraków (Poland) from December 2018 to June 2023. We gathered data on their past medical history, stroke severity, course of treatment and outcomes as defined by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at discharge. A good functional outcome was defined as mRS 0–2 points at discharge. Results. This observational study included 19 patients (13 male and six female) with a median age of 74 (IQR = 13) years. In all patients (100%), the reason for dabigatran treatment was AF. A good functional outcome after treatment (mRS 0–2) was achieved in 68.4% of patients, but mRS was already ≥ 3 points before stroke onset in three (15.8%) patients. Haemorrhagic transformation of stroke occurred in three (15.8%) patients, including symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage in two (10.5%). The mortality rate was 5.3%. Conclusions and clinical implications. Our study results are in line with previous research on this topic, showing that IVT after idarucizumab can be successfully administered and is reasonably safe in dabigatran-treated patients with AIS

Computed tomography evaluation of patent paraumbilical vein and its aneurysm in relation to other portosystemic collateral channels in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the diameter and aneurysmal dilatation of the paraumbilical vein (PUV) and the presence of portosystemic collateral shunts and their relationship with age and portal vein diameter. Material and methods: The retrospective analysis, performed in the II Department of Radiology, Medical University Hospital in Warsaw, included 126 patients (77 males and 49 females) with patent umbilical vein and signs of portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis. All patients underwent contrast enhanced abdominal CT. The average age was 54.7 ±12.98. We analysed the number and type of portosystemic collateral channels in respect of age, sex, presence of oesophageal varices, and the diameter of the paraumbilical vein and the portal vein. Results: Our results disclosed statistically significant negative correlation between patient age and diameter of paraumbilical vein, number of portosystemic collateral channels and diameter of portal vein and positive correlation between diameter of paraumbilical vein and diameter of portal vein. A statistically significant difference in diameter of portal vein and number of collateral channels was found in groups with and without oesophageal varices. No significant difference in age and portal vein diameter was found in these groups. Conclusions: Our study showed that younger patients with liver cirrhosis are characterised by wider paraumbilical veins and higher number of portosystemic collateral channels. The presence of oesophageal varices does not correlate with age, sex, diameter of paraumbilical vein, and number of collateral portosystemic channels