Hydrostatic and osmotic pressure study of the RNA hydration

The tertiary structure of nucleic acids results from an equilibrium between electrostatic interactions of phosphates, stacking interactions of bases, hydrogen bonds between polar atoms and water molecules. Water interactions with ribonucleic acid play a key role in its structure formation, stabilization and dynamics. We used high hydrostatic pressure and osmotic pressure to analyze changes in RNA hydration. We analyzed the lead catalyzed hydrolysis of tRNAPhe from S. cerevisiae as well as hydrolytic activity of leadzyme. Pb(II) induced hydrolysis of the single phosphodiester bond in tRNAPhe is accompanied by release of 98 water molecules, while other molecule, leadzyme releases 86

The large area detector onboard the eXTP mission

The Large Area Detector (LAD) is the high-throughput, spectral-timing instrument onboard the eXTP mission, a flagship mission of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China National Space Administration, with a large European participation coordinated by Italy and Spain. The eXTP mission is currently performing its phase B study, with a target launch at the end-2027. The eXTP scientific payload includes four instruments (SFA, PFA, LAD and WFM) offering unprecedented simultaneous wide-band X-ray timing and polarimetry sensitivity. The LAD instrument is based on the design originally proposed for the LOFT mission. It envisages a deployed 3.2 m2 effective area in the 2-30 keV energy range, achieved through the technology of the large-area Silicon Drift Detectors - offering a spectral resolution of up to 200 eV FWHM at 6 keV - and of capillary plate collimators - limiting the field of view to about 1 degree. In this paper we will provide an overview of the LAD instrument design, its current status of development and anticipated performance

Common, low-frequency, rare, and ultra-rare coding variants contribute to COVID-19 severity

The combined impact of common and rare exonic variants in COVID-19 host genetics is currently insufficiently understood. Here, common and rare variants from whole-exome sequencing data of about 4000 SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals were used to define an interpretable machine-learning model for predicting COVID-19 severity. First, variants were converted into separate sets of Boolean features, depending on the absence or the presence of variants in each gene. An ensemble of LASSO logistic regression models was used to identify the most informative Boolean features with respect to the genetic bases of severity. The Boolean features selected by these logistic models were combined into an Integrated PolyGenic Score that offers a synthetic and interpretable index for describing the contribution of host genetics in COVID-19 severity, as demonstrated through testing in several independent cohorts. Selected features belong to ultra-rare, rare, low-frequency, and common variants, including those in linkage disequilibrium with known GWAS loci. Noteworthily, around one quarter of the selected genes are sex-specific. Pathway analysis of the selected genes associated with COVID-19 severity reflected the multi-organ nature of the disease. The proposed model might provide useful information for developing diagnostics and therapeutics, while also being able to guide bedside disease management. © 2021, The Author(s)

Responsibility for accounting and financial statement audit

Artykuł porusza zagadnienie odpowiedzialności za rachunkowość prowadzoną w spółce akcyjnej i udowadnia, że w aktualnym stanie prawnym występujesprzeczność pomiędzy regulacjami ustawy o rachunkowości a przepisami kodeksu spółek handlowych. Autorka przeprowadza analizę regulacji prawnych w zakresie badanych zagadnień ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem odpowiedzialności członków zarządu wieloosobowego. W dalszych częściach artykułu porusza problematykę odpowiedzialności członków rad nadzorczych i innych osób realizujących zadania w zakresie rachunkowości. Odpowiedzialność za prowadzenie rachunkowości została skonfrontowana z uprawnieniami poszczególnych organów spółki akcyjnej do wyboru biegłego rewidenta przeprowadzającego badanie sprawozdania finansowego. Badaniem empirycznym objęto praktykę wyboru biegłego rewidenta w jednoosobowych spółkach Skarbu Państwa.This article presents the subject of 'responsibility for accounting'. The author discusses the responsibility of Executive Managers, in particular those who are members of the Management Board, Chief Accountants, Auditors and the Supervisory Board. The article is based upon current Polish financial and commercial law

Factors Influencing Teamwork in Health Care

The purpose of this paper is to analyse different views on interpersonal relations and team composition among managers and medical professionals with respect to the transition of professional roles in healthcare in Poland. To achieve that goal, a description based on a quantitative and qualitative questionnaire was conducted. Since the questionnaire covered various areas of health care, only its small fraction was used for the analysis. The main result is that most of the medical professionals and medical managers consider technology to be the single most important external factor influencing the team work efficiency and team composition in health care, and the managers consider skillset as the crucial factor determining whether a person would be a good team member. Based on the literature on professional roles in health care and their evolution in recent years, one can assume that constant development and lifelong learning would play a significant role in the healthcare systems reform. The findings are an important contribution to the discussion of the healthcare reform and its possible directions in future years as well a reference point for policy makers

Nurses in Poland — Immediate Action Needed

The aim of the study is to analyse changes in the size of the population of nurses in Poland in the years 2004-2014, considering changes in their employment and the phenomenon of ageing. The analysis is based on the data published by the Central Register of Nurses and Midwives of the Central Statistical Office (GUS) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Nurses are the largest professional group in the healthcare sector. In 2014, only above 70% of licensed nurses were professionally active. The percentage of employed nurses compared to the number of licensed nurses varied between the lowest ratio of 65.1% in 2005 and the highest ratio of 71.7% in 2012. The latest ratio of 2014 was 70.9%, which was slightly lower compared to the highest ratio in 2012. The average age of a Polish nurse in 2008 was 44.19 years, increasing by about six years to 50.1 within the analysed period. The population of nurses aged above 65 years is almost 4.5 times bigger compared to the youngest age group, which is 21-25 years. Thus, 2/3 of the population of nurses are 41-60 years of age and nearly 85% are over 40. For two years (2000 and 2014), the number of practising nurses per 1000 inhabitants places Poland in the fifth bottom position among the European countries, which shows a significant reduction in patient access to nursing services. In Poland, the profession of nurses has no replacement generation. The article presents the shortage of professionally active nurses in Poland. The existing register of nurses does not contain complete information necessary to evaluate the current situation in Poland. There is a strong need to improve the tracking system of the register of nurses to accurately monitor the number of nurses in Poland The shortage of professionally active nurses and their ageing necessitates immediate action to reduce the shortage by increasing the appeal of the profession among young people and by encouraging nurses to return to the profession. It is also necessary to take action to delay the retirement of those nurses who want to work longer and to use their potential. This is also particularly important because of the gap in experience, which is going to become apparent the nearest future

Artykuł oryginalnyMonitorowanie funkcji lewej komory u chorych poddanych planowej chirurgicznej rewaskularyzacji serca w krążeniu pozaustrojowym. Znaczenie echokardiografii śródoperacyjnej

Background: Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography (IOTEE) is an integral part of many cardiac surgical procedures and is employed during major non-cardiac operations to monitor cardiac performance, particularly in high-risk patients. In the case of elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures this examination is performed according to experience and availability in a given centre. Aim: To evaluate the value of IOTEE in monitoring left ventricular (LV) function in patients undergoing elective CABG with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods: In fifty five patients (mean 66 &#177; 9 years), mean EuroSCORE: 4.5 &#177; 2.9 scheduled for elective CABG in CPB, IOTEE was performed after induction of anaesthesia, 5 and 30 min after weaning from CPB. Intraoperative parameters of LV function and volume (EDV/BSA) were compared with the data obtained by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) performed before and 30 days after surgery. Results: Significant depression of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was found after induction of aesthesia (decline from 52.2 &#177; 11.2% to 49.8 &#177; 11.5%, p = 0.003). Subsequent improvement of LVEF was noticed at 1-month follow-up (p = 0.01). The highest wall motion score index (WMSI) (1.5 &#177; 0.43) was found after weaning from CPB, the lowest at follow-up (1.36 &#177; 0.4). Change of EF and WMSI at each stage of examination was significant (p < 0.001). Significant decrease of EDV/BSA was found 30 min after weaning from CPB (decline from 53.5 &#177; 23.2 to 49.1 &#177; 21.9 ml/m2, p = 0.05). Significant depression of EF 5 min after weaning from CPB was detected only in patients with CPB time longer than 120 min (decline of 4.2%, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Intraoperative transoesophageal echocordiography during elective CABG allows one to control difficult stages of the surgical procedure and to select patients at risk of perioperative haemodynamic deterioration. Our study supports the routine application of IOTEE in elective CABG.Wstęp: Śródoperacyjne echo przezprzełykowe (IOTEE) jest jedną z istotnych części wielu operacji kardiochirurgicznych i stosowane jest podczas zabiegów niedotyczących serca w celu monitorowania czynności hemodynamicznej, szczególnie u chorych wysokiego ryzyka. W przypadku chorych poddawanych planowej operacji pomostowania naczyń wieńcowych (CABG) metoda ta jest stosowana w zależności od doświadczenia zespołu leczącego i dostępności w danym ośrodku. Cel: Zbadanie przydatności IOTEE w monitorowaniu funkcji lewej komory (LV) podczas planowych operacji CABG w krążeniu pozaustrojowym (CPB). Ocenie poddano zmiany globalnej i regionalnej funkcji LV podczas kolejnych etapów operacji w porównaniu z badaniem przedoperacyjnym oraz miesiąc po operacji. Przeanalizowano wpływ CPB na zachowanie się parametrów funkcji LV. Metody: Grupę badaną stanowiło 55 chorych (66,1 &#177; 9 lat), EuroSCORE: 4,5 &#177; 2,9, kwalifikowanych do planowego CABG. Wykonywano dwa badania przezklatkowe (TTE) &#8211; wstępne i 30 dni po operacji, oraz trzykrotnie badanie IOTEE &#8211; przed podłączeniem do CPB oraz 5 i 30 min po odłączeniu od CPB. Oceniano następujące parametry funkcji LV: frakcję wyrzutową (EF%) mierzoną metodą Simpsona dla dwupłaszczyznowej elipsy, wskaźnik kurczliwości WMSI oraz wskaźnik objętości rozkurczowej (EDV/BSA). Wyniki: Wykazano istotny spadek EF po indukcji znieczulenia (z 52,2 &#177; 11,2 do 49,8 &#177; 11,5, p = 0,003), a następnie systematyczny jej wzrost o 2,9% (p = 0,01) miesiąc po operacji. Najwyższą wartość WMSI (1,5 &#177; 0,43) stwierdzono bezpośrednio po wyjściu z CPB, a najniższą w badaniu kontrolnym (1,36 &#177; 0,4). W jednoczynnikowej analizie wariancji zmiany EF% oraz WMSI na każdym etapie badania były znamienne statystycznie (p < 0,001). Istotna zmiana EDV/BSA miała miejsce jedynie 30 min po wyjściu z CPB (spadek z 53,5 &#177; 23,2 do 49,1 &#177; 21,9 ml/m2, p = 0,05). Negatywny wpływ krążenia pozaustrojowego na funkcję LV zaobserwowano tylko u chorych, u których czas CPB był równy lub dłuższy niż 120 min (spadek wartości EF% bezpośrednio po odłączeniu od CPB o 4,2%, p = 0,001). Wnioski: Śródoperacyjna echokardiografia przezprzełykowa jest wysoce przydatna w ocenie funkcji serca i jej zmian podczas operacji rewaskularyzacji serca w krążeniu pozaustrojowym. Umożliwia wyodrębnienie etapów operacji, które wiążą się z największym ryzykiem pogorszenia funkcji serca. Zdobyte doświadczenia wskazują, że echokardiografia śródoperacyjna powinna być stosowana szerzej niż dotąd przy planowych operacjach rewaskularyzacji serca

Hospital medical care and the COVID-19 mortality in METEOR partner countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Poland)

Objectives Healthcare systems in European countries, including METEOR partner countries, are faced with the aging population, an increase in costs for innovative technologies and medication, a shortage of health professionals, and inequality in access to healthcare. Presented paper aimed to recognize and compare the functioning of healthcare systems between METEOR partner countries and simultaneously check if the current epidemiological situation of COVID-19 has some relationship with the number of medical staff, yearly gross domestic product, or documented percentage of fully vaccinated people. Material and Methods In the model of descriptive epidemiological study, available demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare organizational data in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Poland were compared to the epidemiological situation of the COVID-19 pandemic (percentage of fully vaccinated people, incidence, and mortality) in all mentioned countries. Results Obtained data confirmed that the lowest number of physicians, as well as the life expectancy and gross domestic product per capita, is in Poland. Simultaneously, the lower number of medical staff and lower gross domestic product (GDP) correspond to higher mortality due to COVID-19. The percentage of fully vaccinated with the last dose of the primary series was also the lowest in Poland. Conclusions Obtained results confirmed that higher mortality due to COVID-19 in METEOR participants’ countries is related to a lower number of medical staff and weaker GDP. The worse situation was noted in Poland, a country with problems in the functioning healthcare system, including hospital care and a serious shortage of practicing medical staff