Methods of evaluation of autonomic nervous system function

Disturbances of the autonomic nervous system play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and clinical course of many diseases. Recently, rapid development has occurred in the clinical assessment of autonomic function. Various procedures have been described as diagnostic tools to monitor autonomic dysfunction. Some of them are mostly used for research purposes. Many, however, have found their place in routine clinical evaluation. Our paper presents selected methods of assessment of the autonomic nervous system with particular emphasis on those that are useful in diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system. We discuss multiple tests based on cardiovascular reflexes, methods of studying heart rate variability as well as direct catecholamine measurements. Moreover, we outline tests of sudomotor function and microneurography

Cranioplasty as neurosurgical procedure with potential risk of legal claims

We present the current state of affairs regarding the legal claims of patients after cranioplasty operations who are dissatisfied with the treatment effect and have claims that the perioperative course is unfavorable. In the period of 11 years (2010-2020), 2 legal claims were submitted in our neurosurgical center after cranioplasty. Both are civil claims. One of them about purulent infection of the bone prosthesis was found by the judgment to be unfounded. The second one concerning the alleged general condition deterioration as a consequence of cranioplasty has been declared obsolete. A cranioplasty is a surgical procedure used to correct a defect in a bone of the skull. It is not urgent sugery and is performed in patients who had been previously in serious condition. The same medical staff who previously saved the live of patients by performing brain decompression may be subject of legal claims in the case of cranioplasty. Thus, according to authors, claims of patients regarding the alleged negative effects of cranioplasty is an interesting psychological phenomenon.  Authors epmhasized that cranioplasty should be considered as a procedure of increased risk of potential legal claims for medical staff

Quality of life and satisfaction of sexual life original results

Wstęp. Przedmiotem prezentowanego badania jest poczucie jakości życia młodych dorosłych rozpatrywane w kontekście ich satysfakcji z życia seksualnego. Materiał i metody. Przebadano 51 mężczyzn i 49 kobiet w wieku 23–35 lat, pracujących i pozostających w bezdzietnych nieformalnych związkach co najmniej od roku. W pomiarze wykorzystano Kwestionariusz Poczucia Jakości Życia Straś-Romanowskiej i Kwestionariusz Poczucia Satysfakcji z Życia Seksualnego Nomejko. Wyniki. Poczucie satysfakcji z życia seksualnego w sposób istotny wiąże się i jest predyktorem globalnego poczucia jakości życia. Im wyższa satysfakcja badanych w tym obszarze, tym wyższe globalne poczucie jakości ich życia w szczególności sfery psychofizycznej. Poczucie satysfakcji z życia seksualnego wiąże się również ze sferą podmiotową. Wnioski. Satysfakcja z życia seksualnego jest istotna dla globalnej oceny jakości życia dokonywanej przez młodych dorosłych. Na podstawie poziomu zadowolenia z jednego wymiaru można wnioskować o zadowoleniu z drugiego. Nie ma w tym zakresie różnic międzypłciowych — satysfakcja z życia seksualnego jest równie istotna dla kobiet, jak i dla mężczyzn. Zadowolenie z życia erotycznego jest też ważne dla oceny poszczególnych sfer jakości życia.Introduction. Theme of the presented research is the young adults subjective quality of life considered in the context of their sexual life satisfaction. Material and methods. 51 men and 49 women in the age of 2335, working and staying in informal relationships for over a year have been examined. The Quality of Life Questionary by Stra-Romanowska and Sexual Life Satisfaction Questionary by Nomejko have been used in the measurement. Results. Sexual life satisfaction is essentially connected with the global quality of life and is its predictor. The higher is satisfaction of the questioners in this area, the higher is the global sense of life quality, especially in the psychophysical sphere. The quality of life is also connected with the subjective sphere.  Conclusions. Sexual life satisfaction is important for the global appraisal of quality of life made by young adults. Basing on the level of satisfaction in the one area we can conclude about the other ones satisfaction. Theres no differences between sexes in this area sexual life satisfaction is equally important for both men and women. The sexual life satisfaction is also important for the appraisal of other life quality areas

Usporedba proteina sirutke i liposolubilnih vitamina između četiri pasmine krava držane u intenzivnim sustavima proizvodnje

The aim of the study was to determine the content of whey proteins and fat-soluble vitamins in milk samples of four cow breeds maintained in Poland, i.e. Holstein-Friesian, Montbéliarde, Jersey and Simmental. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of certain whey protein fractions, i.e. α-lactalbumin (α-La), β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg), bovine albumin serum (BSA), lactoferrin and lysozyme, and lipophilic vitamins (A, D3 and E) were performed using a RP-HPLC method. According to the obtained results, the breed of cow significantly affected the level of whey proteins and lipophilic vitamins in milk. The lowest amounts of these nutrients were found in milk produced by the Holstein-Friesian cows. Milk of Simmental cows contained the statistically significant and highest levels of antioxidant substances, i.e. vitamins A - 0.465 mg L-1, E - 1.302 mg L-1 and D3 - 0.653 µg L-1 at P≤0.05, as well as β-lactoglobulin (3.28 g L-1 at P≤0.01). In addition, Simmental cow milk was also characterized by higher content of antimicrobial proteins - lactoferrin and lysozyme (respectively: 121.23 mg x L-1 at P≤0.01 and 9.66 µg x L-1 at P≤0.05) if compared with other cow breeds.Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je odrediti sadržaj proteina sirutke i vitamina topljivih u mastima u uzorcima mlijeka za četiri pasmine krava koje se uzgajaju u Poljskoj, t.j. holstein-frizijske, Montbéliarde, Jersey i simentalske. Kvalitativna i kvantitativna analiza određenih frakcija proteina sirutke, odnosno α-laktalbumina (α-La), β-laktoglobulina (β-Lg), albumina goveđeg seruma (BSA), laktoferina i lizozima te liposolubilnih vitamina (A, D3 i E) provedena je pomoću metode RP-HPLC. Prema dobivenim rezultatima, pasmina krava značajno je utjecala na razinu proteina sirutke i liposolubilnih vitamina u mlijeku. Najniže količine tih hranjivih tvari utvrđene su u mlijeku kojeg su proizvele krave pasmine holstein-friesian. Mlijeko simentalskih krava sadržavalo statistički najznačajnije i najviše razine antioksidativnih tvari, odnosno vitamina A - 0,465 mg L-1, E - 1,302 mg L-1 i D3 - 0,653 µg L-1 (P≤0,05), kao i β-laktoglobulin (3,28 g L-1, P≤0,01). Osim toga, kravlje mlijeko simentalca također odlikuje visokim sadržajem antimikrobnih proteina - laktoferina i lizozima (odnosno: 121,23 mg L-1, P≤0,01 i 9,66 µg L-1, P≤0,05) u usporedbi s drugim pasminama krava

Salivary proteins in health and disease

Besides their structural catalytic and diverse regulatory functions, proteins are also precursors of many important biological compounds essential for normal functioning of humans. Many of these compounds may be used as markers for identification of specific pathological states. A comprehensive knowledge about the metabolism of salivary proteins and the mechanisms of action of their metabolites allowed the development of effective treatment for many disorders. However, it should not be forgotten that in some pathological conditions, these compounds not only could be involved in the pathogenesis but also could be used as tool in the prediction of many diseases. This paper is a review of the published literature on selected salivary proteins in the context of the physiological processes of the human body and chosen chronic disorders, such as diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, mucositis, oral mycoses and caries

Miasto w cieniu muzeum. Problemy rozwoju turystyki w Oświęcimiu

W artykule opisano problemy rozwoju turystyki w Oświęcimiu, miasta, którego wizerunek zdominowany jest przez miejsce ludobójstwa KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. W opracowaniu skoncentrowano się na prezentacji wyników badań nad wizerunkiem miasta. Dodatkowym celem jest przedstawienie działań prowadzących do zmiany niekorzystnego wizerunku Oświęcimia – „miasta w cieniu muzeum”. Są one zawarte w Strategii rozwoju turystyki w Oświęcimiu na lata 2018–2030 (2018), opracowanej z udziałem autorów niniejszego artykułu. W tekście dokonano również analizy walorów turystycznych oraz zagospodarowania turystycznego pod kątem wykorzystania ich w tworzeniu uzupełniającej oferty dla odwiedzających Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau

A town overshadoved by a museum: Problems of tourism development in Oświęcim

The article presents issues of tourism development in Oświęcim – a town that remains in the shadow of the former genocide site of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The authors’ aim is to present the results of research on the image of the town, as well as activities leading to a change of the unfavourable image of Oświęcim: “a town overshadowed by a museum”. They are included in “The Strategy for Tourism Development in Oświęcim, 2018-2030”, developed with the support of the authors of this article. The paper also presents an analysis of tourism development and tourist assets with respect to using them to create a supplementary offer for tourists visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum