Adipose-derived stem cells: a review of osteogenesis differentiation

Second part of manuscript based on osteogenesis differentiation of stem cells. Bones are highly regenerative organs but there are still many problems with therapy of large bone defects. Sometimes there is necessary to make a replacement or expansion new bone tissue. Stem cells might be a good solution for this especially ADSCs which manage differentiate into osteoblast in in vitro and in vivo conditions

And the Cracow is… the city of NGO's and civic movements

Przedmiotem artykułu jest analiza różnic w metodach stosowanych przez organizacje pozarządowe i ruchy obywatelskie w celu wpływania na kierunki rozwoju terytorialnego Krakowa. Omówiono sposoby działania podmiotów kształtujących kierunki rozwoju Krakowa w ostatnich latach, na tle teorii cyklu życia organizacji.The paper object is to analyze the diff erences between the methods used by NGOs and civic movements, in order to infl uence the territorial development trends in Cracow. The text discusses methods of those, which shaped the directions of development of Cracow, on the background of the theory of life cycle of the organization

The role of Copenhagen’s cycling policy in implementing Denmark’s leading public policies

Przedmiotem artykułu jest przebieg procesu tworzenia i wdrażania polityki ruchu rowerowego w Kopenhadze. Opracowanie oparto na analizie dokumentów programowych stosownej polityki oraz studiach dotyczących innych aspektów polityk publicznych Danii, których założenia są zbieżne z podjętym tematem. Zobrazowano rolę zarządzania transportem rowerowym w skutecznym integrowaniu działań różnych polityk publicznych, wskazując możliwe metody wzajemnego wspierania realizacji celów.The paper object is an analysis of the process of creating and implementing the cycling policy in Copenhagen. The study was based on the analysis of policy papers and studies on other aspects of Danish public policy, whose assumptions are in line with the theme. The role of cycling management has been demonstrated in successfully integrating the actions of various public policies, demonstrating possible ways to support each other’s goals

Molecular studies on HSV: replication rate, infection capacity and progeny

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are ubiquitous host-adapted pathogens that cause a variety of different disorders. There are two sub-types: HSV-1, which is traditionally associated with oro-facial infections, and HSV-2 that is mostly associated with genital ulcers. This distinction, however, is becoming less evident since HSV-1 frequency in genital infections is increasing due to social, demographic and migratory tendencies, making genital herpes one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections worldwide. A better understanding on genital HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections is mandatory to the pathogenesis of human herpes disease. The scope of this thesis was to evaluate the life cycle of various HSV-1 and HSV-2 genital clinical isolates with different viral loads in three distinct host cell lines, giving special focus on both capacity and efficiency of viral infection, in terms of replication rate and progeny. Our results showed that: i) both HSV-1 and HSV-2 isolates exhibited similar infection patterns regardless MOI, with DNA starting to be synthesized nearly at 6-12h post-infection; ii) regardless HSV subtype, initial viral concentrations do not apparently affect adherence to any host cell line nor the generated progeny; iii) Vero E6 cells seemed the most appropriated cell line for HSV-2 infection; iv) HeLa229 cells appeared to be the most suitable for HSV-1 infection for smaller inoculums; and v) Vero cell line had the worst viral growth results for both HSV subtypes. In general, HSV-2 displayed always lower both attachment capacities and growth rates than HSV-1, although higher progenies were seen in Vero E6 cell line. Overall, the findings presented in this MSc thesis will certainly constitute a step forward for the understanding of the pathogenesis of the human herpes genital infections

Comparison of the degree of exercise tolerance in children after surgical treatment of complex cardiac defects, assessed using ergospirometry and the level of brain natriuretic peptide

Children who underwent surgery for complex congenital heart defects present worse exercise capacity than their healthy peers. In adults and adolescents, heart failure is assessed on the basis of clinical symptoms using the New York Heart Association (NYHA) score, while in an infant Ross scale; heart failure can also be evaluated by other parameters. The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of exercise tolerance in children after surgery for complex heart defects, assessed by the ratio of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the brain natriuretic peptide (N-terminal fragment of the prohormone brain-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) concentration. The study group consisted of 42 children, ages 9 to 17 years (mean 14.00 ± 2.72). Among them there were 22 children with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) after total correction, 18 children with transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) after the arterial switch operation, and 2 children with single ventricle (SV) after the Fontan operation. All but 1 child were in NYHA class I. The control group consisted of 20 healthy children. Outcomes of interest were the ratio of VO2max, determined during ergospirometry, and the level of NT-proBNP. The statistical analysis was performed and the groups were considered significantly different for P < 0.05. There was no statistically significant correlation between NT-proBNP and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2) kg(−1) min(−1) in the study group compared with the control group. The VO2max in the test group had a mean value less (34.6 ± 8.0) than controls (38.4 ± 7.7), and the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.041). In contrast, the average concentration of NT-proBNP in the study group was higher than controls (117.9 ± 74.3 vs 18.0 ± 24.5), and these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). After operations for complex heart defects (ToF, TGA, and SV), children have worse heart function parameters and exercise capacity than the healthy population. To control this, we recommend postoperative ergospirometry and determination of NT-proBNP concentrations

Impact of antibiotics on the proliferation and differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Adipose tissue is a promising source of mesenchymal stem cells. Their potential to differentiate and regenerate other types of tissues may be affected by several factors. This may be due to in vitro cell-culture conditions, especially the supplementation with antibiotics. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of a penicillin-streptomycin mixture (PS), amphotericin B (AmB), a complex of AmB with copper (II) ions (AmB-Cu2+) and various combinations of these antibiotics on the proliferation and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells in vitro. Normal human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC, Lonza) were routinely maintained in a Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) that was either supplemented with selected antibiotics or without antibiotics. The ADSC that were used for the experiment were at the second passage. The effect of antibiotics on proliferation was analyzed using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and sulforhodamine-B (SRB) tests. Differentiation was evaluated based on Alizarin Red staining, Oil Red O staining and determination of the expression of ADSC, osteoblast and adipocyte markers by real-time RT-qPCR. The obtained results indicate that the influence of antibiotics on adipose-derived stem cells depends on the duration of exposure and on the combination of applied compounds. We show that antibiotics alter the proliferation of cells and also promote natural osteogenesis, and adipogenesis, and that this effect is also noticeable in stimulated osteogenesis

Funkcje wykonawcze a funkcjonowanie społeczne w schizofrenii

The perception of schizophrenia as a cognitive functioning disorder means that we should look at the treatment andrehabilitation of patients in a completely different way. The executive functions are considered to be the most importantfor global operations. Executive functions is a set of skills necessary to control and self-regulate behaviors. The followingstructures are recognized as related to executive functions: the frontal cortex and especially the dorsolateral parts ofthe prefrontal cortex, the prefrontal cortex and the front part of the cingulate cusp. The executive functions enableplanning, creating, maintaining, supervising, deliberate action and implementing the action plan.From this perspective, itcan be concluded that one of the roles of these functions is the initiation of targeted activity. Schizophrenia is associatedwith impaired executive functions, however the degree to which executive functions are lowered in contrast to basiccognitive processes is less pronounced. This brief review of the latest research was intended to explain the influence ofexecutive functions on social functioning in schizophrenia.Postrzeganie schizofrenii jako choroby funkcjonowania poznawczego oznacza, że w zupełnie inny sposób powinniśmy spojrzeć na leczenie i rehabilitację pacjentów. Uznaje się, że największe znaczenie dla globalnego funkcjonowania mają funkcje wykonawcze. Funkcje wykonawcze są ściśle związane z neuropsychologią i często wyjaśniane poprzez opis funkcjonowania człowieka, wynikającymi z uszkodzenia płatów czołowych mózgu. Z takiej perspektywy można stwierdzić, że jedną z ról tych funkcji jest inicjowanie aktywności celowej. Schizofrenia jest związana z zaburzeniami funkcji wykonawczych, jednakże stopień, w jakim funkcje wykonawcze są obniżone w odróżnieniu od podstawowych procesów poznawczymi, jest mniej wyraźny. Ten krótki przegląd najnowszych badań miał wyjaśnić wpływ funkcji wykonawczych na funkcjonowanie społeczne w schizofrenii

Reakcja Unii Europejskiej i NATO na agresję rosyjską w Ukrainie

24 lutego 2022 roku Rosja zaatakowała Ukrainę. Niesprowokowana, nieuzasadniona inwazja jest przejawem zagrożenia bezpieczeństwa, które zburzyło pokój w Europie i na świecie. Społeczność międzynarodowa potępiła ten haniebny akt w tym dwie organizacje międzynarodowe NATO i Unia Europejska. Pierwsza podejmująca działania zapobiegające rozprzestrzenianiu się konfliktu i druga promująca współpracę i jedność. NATO i UE wykazały się jednością i determinacją w swojej postawie względem ataku Rosji na Ukrainę. Celem pracy jest analiza reakcji Unii i NATO na wybuch wojny w Ukrainie. W ramach realizacji celu postawiono następujące pytania badawcze: Jakie decyzje i działania podjęła Unia Europejska w kontekście wybuchu wojny w Ukrainie? Jakie decyzje i działania podjęło NATO w kontekście wybuchu wojny w Ukrainie? Czy kroki podjęte przez obie organizacje były skuteczne? Aby zrealizować cel badawczy wykorzystane zostaną następujące metody badawcze: analiza instytucjonalno-prawna (przy badaniu aktów prawnych wydawanych przez NATO i UE w ramach działań podejmowanych w aspekcie wojny w Ukrainie) metoda decyzyjna (badanie procesu decyzyjnego), metoda komparatystyczna (zestawienie i porównanie rezultatów decyzji i działań tych dwóch organizacji). Artykuł podzielono na podrozdziały. Pierwszy opisuje historię konfliktu między Rosją a Ukrainą od 2013 roku, kiedy Ukraina dostała szansę zacieśnienia współpracy z Unią Europejską. W drugim podrozdziale poruszono kwestię reakcji UE, która skupiała się w nakładaniu sankcji i pomocy humanitarnej. Trzeci podrozdział poświęcono działaniom NATO w kontekście wybuchu wojny w Ukrainie. Poruszono również wątek prognostyczny dalszych działań organizacji. W rozważaniach wykorzystano literaturę naukową, komunikaty prasowe oraz artykuły publicystyczne. UE podejmuje liczniejsze działania, co podyktowane jest specyfiką organizacji. Przez dalszą ekspansję armii rosyjskiej, mimo podjętych przez NATO i UE kroków, pojawia się obawa o spadek zaufania społecznego do tych organizacji

CATECHOLAMINES AND β2-ADRENOCEPTOR GENE EXPRESSION BEFORE AND AFTER MAXIMAL INCREMENTAL CYCLE TEST IN YOUNG ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS: RELATION TO WORK PERFORMED

The aim of this study was to assess the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations as well as whole blood β2-adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) expression in young ice hockey players before and immediately after exercise in relation to performed work. Nineteen Youth National Team ice hockey players were subjected to the maximal incremental cycloergometer exercise. The test was done in the pre-competitive phase of training. Among many parameters the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations and ADRB2 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined before and after exercise. The average performed work was 3261.3 ± 558.3 J · kg-1 and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for all players was 53.85 ± 3.91 mL · kg-1 min-1. The geometric mean of the ADRB2 gene expression was statistically significantly different before and after exercise (P ≤ 0.05), while adrenaline and noradrenaline levels in plasma significantly increased after exercise. In the analysed group of athletes we found that initial level of plasma noradrenaline correlated with the performed work (r = - 0.55, P < 0.014) and normalized ADRB2 expression before the exercise correlated with the work done by them (r = 0.48, P<0.039). However, no statistically significant correlations were found between the plasma adrenaline or noradrenaline concentrations and ADRB2 gene expression in peripheral blood of the players. The performed work in the maximal incremental exercise test of regularly training young ice hockey players depends on the initial levels of noradrenaline in plasma and ADRB2 mRNA in PBMC

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - Prevention, diagnosis and treatment

CRPS different from other chronic pain conditions by the presence of signs indicating autonomic and inflammatory changes in the area of ​​pain.[4]Otherwise called Sudeck syndrome, it is characterized by pain and swelling of the affected limb, and in the final stage - contractures in the joints. The skin becomes dry and trophically changed. If the cause of the symptoms is known, causal treatment is used, if not - the following attempts are made to treat this syndrome.The pathophysiology of CRPS is unknown, so diagnostic tests are used to rule out a pathology other thanComplex Regional PainSyndrome.The average age of onset is 42 years. Statistically, women suffer from the disease three times more often than men. [7