Selected aspects of the radioactive isotopes analytics with particular emphasis on criminal poisonings

Radioactive isotopes and their compounds were used for criminal purposes owing to their convenient chemical and physical properties. They are usually odorless and tasteless and could remain unnoticed. Symptoms are delayed and unspecific, they prevent accurate diagnosis and immediate treatment. Furthermore, radionuclides are hard to detect and analyze due to their radioactive decay that results in conversion into different elements. Radioactive isotope analytics is improved enough to test poisoning nowadays, but also resolve historic mysteries and determine cause of death in homicide cases. In this article we discuss examples of radionuclide intoxication in crime including source, symptoms and diagnostic method. The most known cases of Polonium-210 poisoning in public circulation were discussed. These are poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and Yasser Arafat in the scientific literature. Despite the similarities in symptoms and death-leading disorders, it was not possible to finally prove the cause of Arafat’s death inherent in the radioactive isotope. This was undoubtedly due to the rather long period that passed from the moment of death to undertaking toxicologically oriented tests. The case of Litvinenko was different and evidence of Polon-210 poisoning can be considered confirmed. Poisoning with iodine-131 isotope, well known for radioactive contamination of the environment after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant failure, is also discussed. The work is supplemented by a review of press reports, in which the motif of criminal poisoning with radioisotopes appears, along with the circumstances that allowed the determination of the direct causes of the crime. It was concluded that despite the rare documented cases of criminal poisoning radioactive isotopes, now the problem is still present. In this aspect, the contribution of the development of toxicological analysis to reducing criminal activities cannot be overestimated. Allowing analysis even years after the crime thanks to the use of modern technology is a factor effectively deterring potential criminals

How to treat acne in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? Review of the available literature

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common chronic skin diseases among people between 15 and 40 years of age.[i] It would seem that it is a typical disease of adolescence. However, it also very often affects adults. One of the most common causes of acne vulgaris in adult women is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The hyperandrogenism and metabolic disorders present in this syndrome may contribute to the formation of blackheads, pimples, and cysts on the face, chest and back. This article focuses on a review of current acne treatments associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.   [i] Stern RS. Medication and medical service utilization for acne 1995-1998. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000; 43: 1042-1048 &nbsp

Risk factors of developing inflammatory bowel diseases

Introduction: The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still unknown. It is known to be multi-factorial. The world is seeing an ever increasing number of new cases of these diseases. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the main representatives of inflammatory bowel diseases. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze risk factors for inflammatory bowel diseases. Materials and methods: The results were obtained on the basis of a questionnaire survey. Results: 95 people took part in the survey aged 16 to 72 years old. 35.8% were men and 64.2% were women. 78% lives in cites, only 22% are rural residents.  56.4% of them suffer from ulcerative colitis and 43.6% from Crohn's disease. 40.4% of respondents smoked cigarettes in the past, but currently only 12.6% are still struggling with the addiction. Only 4 people declare brushing their teeth after each meal. 18 people confirm the presence of NCDH in their families, 19 suffer from other autoimmune diseases at the same time. 2 people from among the respondents - also celiac disease. One person had Salmonella and Shigella infection.  Conclusions: Due to the mutual cause-effect relationships between genetic predisposition and the influence of environmental factors, it is currently difficult to state which of the above factors plays a decisive role. Environmental factors that play a role in the etiopathogenesis of IBD include, first and foremost, the intestinal bacterial flora, diet, human environment and smoking. There is a clear tendency for the coexistence of autoimmune diseases in the group of patients with NCJ and a predisposition to the disease in the family. There is also a need to educate patients about the benefits of taking probiotics and taking care of proper eating habits. Key words: inflammatory bowel diseases, risk of developing the disease, irresponsible patien

Psychiatric manifestations of rheumatic diseases

Introduction and purpose of the work: Rheumatic diseases are chronic diseases that cause symptoms in many systems of the human body. Their most common symptoms include pain and symptoms of arthritis, their deformities, fatigue, and malaise. The aim of the article is to present the symptoms and mental disorders occurring in the course of selected rheumatic diseases. State of knowledge: The psychological symptoms are characteristic of systemic lupus erythematosus. Specified is a form of lupus called NSPLE (neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus), which includes neuropsychiatric symptoms in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus. Psychiatric symptoms are also present in the course of other rheumatic diseases. Neuropsychiatric symptoms may affect up to 80% of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome, with 50% to 80% ahead of diagnosis. It has been proven that systemic slcerosis causes microvascular damage, which may cause neuropsychiatric symptoms in the form of mood disorders, anxiety and cognitive disorders. In one study, 59% of patients with fibromyalgia experienced mania, which was more than twice as high as in the control group. Summary: In the course of all rheumatic diseases presented by us, there are symptoms and mental disorders. They are often mood, cognitive and sleep disturbances. It should be emphasized that the etiology of psychiatric symptoms is multifactorial

Modulators of CFTR protein function in the treatment of cystic fibrosis - a literature review

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multi-system genetic disease with an autosomal recessive inheritance mechanism. The breakthroughs in the therapy of patients with CF turned out to be modulators of CFTR protein function. These small-molecule substances, influencing the basic pathogenetic defect, became a model example of precise targeted therapy, thus showing a significant advantage over symptomatic treatment. For modulators of CFTR protein function, numerous therapeutic benefits have been demonstrated with an acceptable safety profile - improved lung function and reduced frequency of pulmonary exacerbations, reduced hospitalization rate, and disease-related improvement in quality of life. The use of these drugs changes the perception of CF from a fatal pediatric disease significantly shortening the life expectancy of patients into a chronic disease in young adults. The subject of further research interest is the development of alternative therapeutic strategies based on new modulators and gene therapy. The publication is a review of the literature and summarizes the current scientific reports on the effectiveness of the use of modulators of CFTR protein function in the treatment of cystic fibrosis

The impact of indoor air pollution on the lung cancer – literature review

Introduction: Lung cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer and the leading cause of death around the world. The most important risk factor for lung cancer is tobacco smoking. However, there are a lot of other lung cancer risk factors, which include: second-hand smoke exposure, environmental exposures (indoor and outdoor air pollution), occupational exposures, genetic predisposition, and previous lung disease. In this study, we would like to present the actual state of knowledge about the influence of radon as well as other indoor air pollutants on the prevalence of lung cancer. State of knowledge: We analyzed nineteen studies in terms of the impact of indoor air pollution on morbidity and mortality caused by lung cancer. The authors of the included studies agree that both radon and other household air pollution (HAP) increase risk of the lung cancer. HAPs are formed during the combustion of solid fuels (i.e. charcoal, wood). Indoor air pollution can cause in the lungs chronic inflammation, cells damage and their proliferation, depletion of antioxidants, impairment of defense mechanisms, production of reactive oxygen species as well as genetic mutations. Radon, on the other hand, emits alpha radiation, which can affect the respiratory epithelium and produce various cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, which promote carcinogenesis. The risk of lung cancer rises by approximately 6-16% per 100 Bq/m3 increase in long-time average residential radon concentration.  Conclusions: Radon and other indoor air pollutants are crucial lung cancer risk factors. It is essential to reduce HAPs production, especially in rural areas, where many people still use coal, wood, or straw for household heating and cooking. Moreover, there are regions where is a need to improve ventilation as well as to switch to clean fuel sources, such as gas and electricity. These activities will contribute to reducing the concentration of HAPs in buildings and decreasing the risk of lung cancer

Migraine headaches as a complication of the atrial fibrillation ablation procedure: case report

The balloon cryoablation (CA) procedure is an established method for the permanent treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Like other surgical interventions, it is associated with the potential development of early and late complications, including neurological ones such as migraine. We report a case of migraine headaches after the CA procedure. 25-year-old man with paroxysmal AF, without comorbidities, underwent balloon CA. On the second day after the procedure, the patient developed visual symptoms typical of migraine aura. After 30 minutes, these symptoms disappeared and appeared classic migraine headache attack. Similar episodes occurred over the following days. A focal central nervous system lesion was ruled out and a diagnosis of migraine with aura was made. The patient received a typical migraine attack treatment. The attacks ceased within two weeks. 3 months later during the follow-up visit at the neurology clinic no abnormalities were detected. We decided to check if the migraine is a rare complication of AF ablation surgery. Many studies do not include migraine headaches at all in the neurological complications of ablation. However, based on some studies, it may seem that the incidence of migraine as a complication of ablation is underestimated

An insight into the stages of ion leakage during red blood cell storage

Packed red blood cells (pRBCs), the most commonly transfused blood product, are exposed to environmental disruptions during storage in blood banks. In this study, temporal sequence of changes in the ion exchange in pRBCs was analyzed. Standard techniques commonly used in electrolyte measurements were implemented. The relationship between ion exchange and red blood cells (RBCs) morphology was assessed with use of atomic force microscopy with reference to morphological parameters. Variations observed in the Na+, K+, Cl−, H+, HCO3−, and lactate ions concentration show a complete picture of singly-charged ion changes in pRBCs during storage. Correlation between the rate of ion changes and blood group type, regarding the limitations of our research, suggested, that group 0 is the most sensitive to the time-dependent ionic changes. Additionally, the impact of irreversible changes in ion exchange on the RBCs membrane was observed in nanoscale. Results demonstrate that the level of ion leakage that leads to destructive alterations in biochemical and morphological properties of pRBCs depend on the storage timepoint

Land use change in three Carpathian communities (Niedźwiedź, Szczawnica and Trzciana) in the second part of the 20th century

Celem niniejszej pracy jest określenie kierunków zmian użytkowania ziemi w ostatnim trzydziestoleciu XX wieku, w Karpatach, na przykładzie trzech gmin (Niedźwiedź, Szczawnica i Trzciana). Materiałem źródłowym dla przeprowadzanych badań były czarno-białe zdjęcia lotnicze (lata 70.) i ortofotomapy (rok 2003). Przeprowadzone analizy wykazały wzrost powierzchni leśnej, nieużytków z obszarami porzuconymi oraz obszarów zabudowanych i infrastruktury technicznej a także spadek powierzchni obszarów użytkowanych rolniczo. Największą dynamiką zmian charakteryzowały się obszary poniżej 600-700 m n.p.m. na stokach o nachyleniach poniżej 10C.The aim of this paper is to analyse the main trends in land use change in the last thirty years of the 20th century in the Carpathians, based on the assessment of change in three communities: Niedźwiedź, Szczawnica and Trzciana. The research focused on two points in time; the 1970s and the year 2003. The sources of information about land use in the periods analysed period were aerial photographs (1970s) and orthophotomaps (2003). The results show an increase in forest cover, the abandonment of land and built-up areas, and a decrease in agricultural land. The most dynamic changes occurred in the areas below 600-700 m a.s.l. and on slopes below 10C

Trends in biomedical analysis of red blood cells – Raman spectroscopy against other spectroscopic, microscopic and classical techniques

Application of modern and innovative spectroscopic and microscopic approaches to biomedical analysis opens new horizons and sheds new light on many unexplored scientific territories. In this review, we critically summarize up-to-date Raman-based methodologies for red blood cells (RBCs) analysis used in biology and medicine, and compare them with both classical, as well as other spectroscopic and microscopic approaches. The main emphasis is placed on the advantages, disadvantages and capabilities of each technique for detection of RBC deteriorations and RBC-related diseases. Although currently used classical techniques of medical analysts serve as a gold standard for clinicians in diagnosis of erythropathies, they provide insufficient insight into RBC alterations at the molecular level. In addition, there is a demand for non-destructive and label-free analytical techniques for rapid detection and diagnosis of erythropathies. Their recognition often requires multimodal methodology comprising application of methods including sophisticated spectroscopy-based techniques, where Raman-based approaches play an important role