Prenatal development of coronary arteries in the rat: morphometric patterns

The aim of this work was to address morphometric patterns of coronary artery (c.a.) development in the rat based on serial section analysis of hearts at different stages of prenatal development. Studies were performed on foetal hearts 15-21 days (ED) post-conception. Paraffin sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin (H & E) and frozen sections were labelled with Griffonia simplicifolia I (GSI) lectin (endothelial cell marker). Coronary arteries™ luminal diameters were measured at different distances from the aortic roots and the main c.a. branch lengths were calculated from serial sections. All measured values were compared to heart length and to foetal stages. On ED15 precursors of c.a. were distinguished as tubes running on both sides of the outflow tract. Below the aortic valves the tubes had the largest diameter. Formation and development of c.a. proceeded by elongation of vascular tubes distally, ramification and formation of the media and the adventitia. During the prenatal period the c.a. length increased approximately 14-fold, while heart length increased about 4-fold, and crown-rump length about 2.5-fold. The lumen of the proximal part of c.a. increased 4-fold during ED18±21. An increase in c.a. length is the fastest compared to the heart growth, and crown-rump growth during the foetal life

Tkanka tłuszczowa. Patofizjologia, rozmieszczenie, różnice płciowe oraz znaczenie w procesach zapalnych i nowotworowych

The role of adipose tissue is energy storage, but there is increasing evidence that adipocytes and adipokines are involved in metabolic and inflammatory processess. This paper reviews the pathophysiology of different adipose tissue depots. Interrelationships between sex hormones, adipose tissue and risk factors are also disscussed. Present study focuses on the effects of adipokines on immune system and on the mechanisms relating adiposity to cancer risk. (Pol J Endocrinol 2007; 58 (4): 330-342)Tkanka tłuszczowa jest magazynem energii, ale w ostatnim czasie coraz więcej uwagi poświęca się adipocytom oraz adipokinom, które odgrywają istotną rolę w procesach metabolicznych i zapalnych. W pracy przedstawiono patofizjologię poszczególnych zapasów tkanki tłuszczowej. Omówiono również powiązania pomiędzy tkanką tłuszczową, hormonami płciowymi i czynnikami ryzyka. Szczególną uwagę poświęcono wpływowi adipokin na układ immunologiczny oraz mechanizmom wiążącym nadmiar tkanki tłuszczowej ze zwiększonym ryzykiem rozwoju raka

Kiedy zaczyna się uzależnienie od nikotyny?

Tobacco use leads in short time to nicotine dependence. Mechanisms of this process remain still not quite understood, of importance is also a question: When does nicotine dependence begin? The present review reports commonly used definition of nicotine dependence (according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems Tenth Revision), as well as its limited value in detecting first symptoms of this process. The review presents also the concept, which links the beginning of dependence with diminished autonomy (i.e., autonomy theory), results of studies supporting this concept, and neurophysiologic model of sensitization-homeostasis for nicotine dependence development. Further, despite phenomenon of sensitization has not been demonstrated in humans, results of animal studies arguing for sensitization-homeostasis theory are presented in the article. Usefulness of the Hooked on Nicotine Checklist in diagnosing first nicotine dependence symptoms in adolescents is also pointed out. Pneumonol. Alergol. Pol. 2011; 79, 5: 357–364Używanie tytoniu w krótkim czasie prowadzi do uzależnienia od nikotyny. Mechanizmy tego procesu pozostają nie do końca poznane, ważnym pytaniem jest także, w którym momencie uzależnienie się zaczyna. W artykule przedstawiono powszechnie przyjętą definicję uzależnienia od nikotyny (wg Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition i International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems Tenth Revision) oraz jej ograniczoną przydatność w wykrywaniu pierwszych objawów tego procesu. Omówiono także koncepcję wiążącą początek uzależnienia z utratą niezależności od palenia (tzw. teoria autonomii), wyniki badań w znacznym stopniu tę koncepcję potwierdzające oraz neurofizjologiczny model sensytyzacji-homeostazy rozwoju uzależnienia od nikotyny. Przedstawiono także wyniki badań na zwierzętach, potwierdzających wiele aspektów teorii sensytyzacji-homeostazy, mimo że samo zjawisko sensytyzacji nie zostało udowodnione u ludzi. Zwrócono także uwagę na przydatność testu Hooked on Nicotine Checklist w rozpoznawaniu pierwszych objawów uzależnienia od nikotyny w grupie młodzieży. Pneumonol. Alergol. Pol. 2011; 79, 5: 357–36

Koreańska Fala jako główne narzędzie soft power Korei Południowej

The Korean Wave is a very important element of South Korea’s soft power and has been bringing a lot of benefits to the country for many years. Over the past decade, it has evolved into a global sensation and gradually the whole world is becoming interested in it. This is a phenomenon worth investigating due to the wide range of aspects in which it applies. Politicians around the world recognize it as a powerful phenomenon and it appears in the speeches of not only the presidents of South Korea, but also foreign presidents in relation to the Korean state. In addition to politics, the Korean Wave also helps to increase the level of the economy and influences social views. The main purpose of this work was to show the impact of the Korean Wave and how the government uses it to build the image of the country. The methodology used to study this topic is mainly qualitative and quantitative data. The author also uses a comparative method, discussing, for example, the views of different countries on the Korean Wave and its impact on mutual relations. The work answers the questions: how the Korean Wave has changed over the past twenty years; how the head of state connects official meetings with Korean culture; how it affects relations with specific countries. The thesis was adopted: The Korean Wave has a positive impact on building the image of the state, and the Korean government has noticed its potential and skilfully uses it. As a result of the analysis of available literature and Internet data, this thesis has been confirmed

Anxiety disorders — clinical features and therapeutic guidelines

Lęk jest objawem w przebiegu wielu różnych chorób. Pojawia się w schorzeniach somatycznych i jest podstawowym objawem zaburzeń nerwicowych. W związku z tym niezwykle istotne jest prawidłowe diagnozowanie i leczenie lęku. Podstawową grupą leków są stosowane doraźnie benzodiazepiny oraz — w leczeniu długookresowym — leki przeciwdepresyjne, na przykład selektywne inhibitory wychwytu zwrotnego serotoniny.Anxiety may be a symptom of various diseases. It is present in somatic disorders and it constitutes a crucial finding in neurasthenic syndromes. A proper diagnosis and efficient treatment are essential for successful management of anxiety disorders. The most important substances used in treatment of anxiety are benzodiazepines used “on demand” and — for long term therapy — antidepressants, eg. selective serotonine re-uptake inhibitors

Case report of Churg-Strauss syndrome - signs and symptoms suggesting disseminated neoplasmatic disease

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is characterized by asthma, sinusitis, hypereosinophilia and eosinophilic infiltrates, with particular pulmonary, gastrointestinal, neural and cardiovascular involvement. We presented a case of CSS complicated by weight loss, pulmonary embolism and non-traumatic rib fractures. The case confirms that the clinical course of the disease is highly heterogeneous.Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is characterized by asthma, sinusitis, hypereosinophilia and eosinophilic infiltrates, with particular pulmonary, gastrointestinal, neural and cardiovascular involvement. We presented a case of CSS complicated by weight loss, pulmonary embolism and non-traumatic rib fractures. The case confirms that the clinical course of the disease is highly heterogeneous

Atypical manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis: the diagnostic challenge for pulmonologists

This is a review considering atypical manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Virtually any organ can be affected, and in some patients, GPA can manifest unusually. Since thoracic involvement of GPA often predominates, the first who might be expected to establish a diagnosis are pulmonary specialists. We would like to familiarize pulmonary specialists with several extra-ELK (E: ear-nose-throat; L: lung; K: kidney) involvements of the disease. We describe sites rarely affected by GPA like the breast, skeletal system, orbit and eye, heart and vessels, central nervous system, urogenital system as well as endocrine and gastrointestinal tract involvement

Difficulties in the treatment of recurring diffuse alveolar hemorrhage accompanying primary antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report and literature review

Pulmonary embolism is the most common pulmonary manifestation of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). However, PAPS may manifest in the respiratory system also due to non-thrombotic processes. In the following paper we present a case of PAPS-related diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Because of sparse literature and a lack of randomized controlled trials, there are currently no recommendations regarding the optimal choice of steroid-sparing agent in treating PAPS-related DAH. In our patient, treatment with cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil along with low dose prednisone was ineffective, partially because of infectious complications, whereas addition of monthly intravenous immunoglobulin to mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone, appears to control the disease

Perioperacijske promjene subpopulacija limfocita u bolesnika operiranih zbog kolorektalnog karcinoma

Surgical procedure has immense impact on the immune balance. However, little is known about perioperative changes in T regulatory and Th17 lymphocyte subpopulations in patients undergoing colorectal resection. Patients with resectable colon cancer were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were obtained on two occasions, i.e. before the procedure and two days after the surgery. We also recruited a control group of young, healthy individuals. Lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed with the use of flow cytometry. Investigated subpopulations consisted of total lymphocyte count, CD4+, CD8+, T regulatory Foxp3+ (Tregs), Th17 lymphocytes and white blood cell (WBC) count. There were significant differences in immune cell levels before and after the surgery. Reduction was recorded in the CD4+, CD8+, Tregs and total lymphocyte counts (p=0.002, p=0.01, p=0.008 and p=0.001, respectively). Increase was observed in total WBC and Th17 cells, however, Th17 lymphocytes did not reach statistical significance (p=0.01 and p=0.5, respectively). In conclusion, surgical intervention caused changes in all lymphocyte subpopulations investigated in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. However, it seemed to be an effect of perioperative trauma. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of surgical intervention on lymphocyte subpopulations.Kirurški zahvat ima golem učinak na ravnotežu imunog sustava. Međutim, malo se zna o perioperacijskim promjenama u subpopulacijama T regulatornih i Th17 limfocita u bolesnika podvrgnutih resekciji kolorektuma. U istraživanje su bili uključeni bolesnici s resektabilnim karcinomom kolona. Uzorci krvi prikupljeni su dva puta: prije zahvata i dva dana nakon operacije. Uključena je bila i kontrolna skupina sastavljena od mladih i zdravih osoba. Subpopulacije limfocita analizirane su protočnom citometrijom. Istraživane su sljedeće subpopulacije: ukupan broj limfocita, CD4+, CD8+, T regulatorni Foxp3+ (Tregs), Th17 i bijela krvna slika. Utvrđene su značajne razlike u razinama imuno stanica prije i nakon operacije. Snižene razine zabilježene su za CD4+, CD8+, Tregs i ukupni broj limfocita (p=0,002, p=0,01, p=0,008 odnosno p=0,001). Povišenje je zapaženo za bijelu krvnu sliku i Th17 stanice, međutim, Th17 limfociti nisu postigli statističku značajnost (p=0,01 odnosno p=0,5). Zaključujemo da je kirurški zahvat uzrokovao promjene u svim istraživanim subpopulacijama limfocita kod bolesnika podvrgnutih operaciji kolorektalnog karcinoma. Međutim, čini se da je to bio učinak perioperacijske traume. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja kako bi se ispitao utjecaj kirurškog zahvata na subpopulacije limfocita