Morphology of the extra-ocular muscles (musculi bulbi) of the American Staffordshire Terrier during the perinatal period

The study was carried out on 12 American Staffordshire Terriers (AST) each of 60 days’ gestation. A morphological analysis of the extra-ocular muscles was performed. The location of the rectus and oblique muscles and the retractor bulbi muscle is described. The length and breadth of these muscles as well as of their tendons, the distance between the final insertions of the tendons and the corneal limbus and the line of insertions is also given

Understanding our peritoneal dialysis patients during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Providing the information about the advanced kidney disease diagnosis and the need for starting dialysis to the patient and their family can be a real challenge for healthcare professionals. Nephrologists and nurses are usually not efficiently prepared to understand the emotional and mental status of patients starting dialysis, from the psychological point of view. This understanding would allow patients to take a decision which is more suitable for them, and help to choose home dialysis, especially peritoneal dialysis (PD), more widely. To learn about the significant change in patients’ life due to the necessity for renal replacement therapy (RRT) can be difficult enough to raise anxiety to a level resulting in different personality defence mechanisms. To help patients to better understand healthcare professionals, one has to adjust our perspective and the way we perceive patients, in order to empathize with their situation, their emotions and reactions, in order to communicate more efficiently, to provide the information in a more understandable way, and achieve better compliance of patients and better clinical outcomes, by involving patients into the shared decision making. We describe the potential reactions of people exposed to information about the overlapping danger of the kidney disease and current COVID-19 pandemic, and death coming in form of news, text messages, social media, internet, and interpersonal communication, and the similarities in the communication process experienced by PD patients and their families and nephrology healthcare professionals

Prenatalne podejrzenie - postnatalne rozpoznanie wady układu moczowego u dzieci

Background: Introduction of prenatal ultrasonography (USG) in fetus diagnostic caused early detection of congenital urinary tract abnormalities. Dilatation of renal pelvis, which is detected in ultrasonography from 16 week of gestational age is the most common abnormality in fetal urinary tract. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of congenital abnormalities in urinary tract in children with prenatal suspicion of anomalies. Material/Methods: The retrospective study included 100 children with prenatal suspicion of congenital abnormalities in urinary tract. Changes in urinary tract were detected in ultrasonography between 18-41 (mean 32,6±5,6) week of gestational age. Unilateral dilatation of urinary tract was found in 57% fetuses, bilateral dilatation in 31%, others anomalies in 12% fetuses. Results: Ultrasonography of urinary tract was done in all children in 1-122 (mean 17,5±20,5) day of life, cystourethrography in 93% of children, renal dynamic scintygraphy in 52%, renal static scintygraphy in 16% and urography in 39% of children. Congenital urinary tract abnormalities were detected in 63% of children. Transient dilatation of renal pelvis was observed in 25% of children. We didn't find any abnormalities in 12% patients. The most common changes in urinary tract were: ureteropelvic junction obstruction (22%), vesicoureteral reflux (15%), ureterovesical junction obstruction (7%), posterior urethral valve (7%) and polycystic renal dysplasia (7%). 33% children were qualified for invasive treatment. Conclusions: 1. Prenatal and postnatal ultrasonography of urinary tract allows detecting congenital abnormalities of urinary tract early age of life. 2. High percentage of abnormalities in urinary tract detected in prenatal ultrasonography orders cooperation between neonatologist, urologist and nephrologist

Aging-Related Cellular, Structural and Functional Changes in the Lymph Nodes: A Significant Component of Immunosenescence? An Overview

Aging affects all tissues and organs. Aging of the immune system results in the severe disruption of its functions, leading to an increased susceptibility to infections, an increase in autoimmune disorders and cancer incidence, and a decreased response to vaccines. Lymph nodes are precisely organized structures of the peripheral lymphoid organs and are the key sites coordinating innate and long-term adaptive immune responses to external antigens and vaccines. They are also involved in immune tolerance. The aging of lymph nodes results in decreased cell transport to and within the nodes, a disturbance in the structure and organization of nodal zones, incorrect location of individual immune cell types and impaired intercellular interactions, as well as changes in the production of adequate amounts of chemokines and cytokines necessary for immune cell proliferation, survival and function, impaired naïve T- and B-cell homeostasis, and a diminished long-term humoral response. Understanding the causes of these stromal and lymphoid microenvironment changes in the lymph nodes that cause the aging-related dysfunction of the immune system can help to improve long-term immune responses and the effectiveness of vaccines in the elderly

Electroconvulsive Therapy and Age: Effectiveness, Safety and Tolerability in the Treatment of Major Depression among Patients under and over 65 Years of Age

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains the most effective therapy in treatment-resistant depression. However, the safety of ECT has been consistently questioned, particularly among elderly patients. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ECT in patients before and after 65 years old. The study was conducted between 2015 and 2018 and included 91 patients (61 under and 29 over 65 years old) with major depression undergoing ECT. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used to evaluate efficacy. Cognitive functions were assessed using: MMSE, RAVLT, Trail Making Test, Stroop Test and Autobiographical Memory Interview-Short Form. ECT was more effective in older patients as compared to younger (p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were observed in either group. Increased blood pressure and arrhythmias were more common in the older compared to the younger group (p = 0.044 and p = 0.047, respectively), while disturbances of consciousness did not differ between groups (p = 0.820). Most of the cognitive functions remained unchanged compared to baseline, whereas the outcomes of MMSE, RAVLT and Stroop tests showed greater improvements in the older compared to the younger group (all p < 0.05). The decline in the retrieval consistency of autobiographical memory was more pronounced in the younger group (p = 0.024). ECT is a highly effective, safe and well-tolerated method of treating depression regardless of age

Acetylsalicylic Acid and Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review

The effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on mood disorders (MD) and on inflammatory parameters in preclinical and clinical studies have not yet been comprehensively evaluated. The aim of this study was to systematically summarize the available knowledge on this topic according to PRISMA guidelines. Data from preclinical and clinical studies were analyzed, considering the safety and efficacy of ASA in the treatment of MD and the correlation of inflammatory parameters with the effect of ASA treatment. Twenty-one studies were included. Both preclinical and clinical studies found evidence indicating the safety and efficacy of low-dose ASA in the treatment of all types of affective episodes in MD. Observational studies have indicated a reduced risk of all types of affective episodes in chronic low-dose ASA users (HR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88, 0.95, p < 0.0001). An association between ASA response and inflammatory parameters was found in preclinical studies, but this was not confirmed in clinical trials. Further long-term clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of ASA in recurrent MD, as well as assessing the linkage of ASA treatment with inflammatory phenotype and cytokines, are required. There is also a need for preclinical studies to understand the exact mechanism of action of ASA in MD

Alterations in the Genomic Distribution of 5hmC in In Vivo Aged Human Skin Fibroblasts

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is a functionally active epigenetic modification. We analyzed whether changes in DNA 5-hydroxymethylation are an element of age-related epigenetic drift. We tested primary fibroblast cultures originating from individuals aged 22&ndash;35 years and 74&ndash;94 years. Global quantities of methylation-related DNA modifications were estimated by the dot blot and colorimetric methods. Regions of the genome differentially hydroxymethylated with age (DHMRs) were identified by hMeDIP-seq and the MEDIPS and DiffBind algorithms. Global levels of DNA modifications were not associated with age. We identified numerous DHMRs that were enriched within introns and intergenic regions and most commonly associated with the H3K4me1 histone mark, promoter-flanking regions, and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) binding sites. However, only seven DHMRs were identified by both algorithms and all of their settings. Among them, hypo-hydroxymethylated DHMR in the intron of Rab Escort Protein 1 (CHM) coexisted with increased expression in old cells, while increased 5-hydroxymethylation in the bodies of Arginine and Serine Rich Protein 1 (RSRP1) and Mitochondrial Poly(A) Polymerase (MTPAP) did not change their expression. These age-related differences were not associated with changes in the expression of any of the ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes or their activity. In conclusion, the distribution of 5hmC in DNA of in vivo aged human fibroblasts underwent age-associated modifications. The identified DHMRs are, likely, marker changes

Seminal Plasma Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Different Genitourinary Topographical Regions Involved in Reproductive Tract Disorders Associated with Genital Heat Stress

The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for male subfertility/infertility caused by or complicated by genital heat stress remains unclear in many respects. Because seminal plasma creates the environment for the proper functioning of spermatozoa, in this study, we verified the associations among standard spermiograms, seminal biochemical parameters (neutral alpha-glucosidase, fructose, and citric acid) and oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant capacity, catalase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and malondialdehyde concentration) in distinct entities associated with male infertility with and without long-time exposure to local hyperthermia. We demonstrated that men exposed to prolonged environmental or clinically recognized local heat stress in adulthood may suffer from dysregulation of seminal antioxidant components, which can be directly associated with epididymal and prostate function. The comparative analysis of the studied parameters showed numerous correlations among all biochemical parameters (particularly neutral alpha-glucosidase) with low standard semen quality in almost all the investigated infertile groups. In light of the data obtained in this originally designed study, we conclude that more attention should be paid to the epididymis and accessory gland function in subfertile and infertile men exposed to genital heat stress, especially in the context of novel treatment algorithms (targeted therapies)

Państwo i Społeczeństwo 2021, nr 2 Edukacja i wychowanie w dobie pandemii – refleksje i inicjatywy

Z wprowadzenia: "Pierwszy przypadek Covid-19 został zdiagnozowany w chińskim Wuhan w grudniu 2019 r. Dwa lata później na świecie odnotowano ponad 263 mln przypadków zachorowań oraz ponad 5 mln zgonów. Pandemia tej groźnej choroby nie tylko objęła cały świat, ale w znaczącym stopniu zmieniła obraz otaczającej nas rzeczywistości. Chcąc powstrzymać rozprzestrzenianie się wirusa, rządy państw wprowadziły szereg ograniczeń związanych z działalnością gospodarczą i aktywnością społeczną. „Oswajanie” nowej sytuacji polegało na wdrażaniu rozwiązań zapewniających bezpieczeństwo obywatelom. W ciągu kilku pierwszych miesięcy 2020 r. odczuliśmy co oznacza lockdown, dystans społeczny, praca zdalna. Od dwóch lat doświadczamy rekonstrukcji wielu aspektów życia codziennego i gospodarczego. Humanitarne i gospodarcze skutki pandemii mobilizowały naukowców na całym świecie do badań nad szczepionką przeciw Covid-19. Pierwsze prototypy szczepionek były gotowe do rozpoczęcia badań klinicznych na ludziach już w połowie marca 2020 r. W grudniu tego samego roku szczepionki wprowadzono do powszechnego użycia. Stały się one dla ludzi na całym świecie światełkiem nadziei, jednak pomimo szczepień wirus nadal się rozwija. W ostatnim czasie pojawiło się kilka jego mutacji, różniących się od wariantu podstawowego szybkością rozprzestrzeniania oraz większą zaraźliwością. Sytuacja ta budzi wśród nas niepokój, niepewność, pouczcie bezradności, frustrację. Obawiamy się o życie i zdrowie własne oraz bliskich, a także o realia ekonomiczne. Mamy też wiadomość, że wraz z rozwojem pandemii warunki życia mogą jeszcze ulec pogorszeniu. Jednocześnie próbujemy funkcjonować w tych trudnych okolicznościach, szukając sposobów przystosowania się do zaistniałej sytuacji. Nauczyliśmy się nowych rutyn, skumulowanych w popularnej obecnie zasadzie „dystans, dezynfekcja, maseczka”. Do języka publicznego weszły takie określenia jak: izolacja, samoizolacja, lockdown, kwarantanna, wirus, zamrożenie gospodarki, luzowanie obostrzeń, edukacja zdalna, system hybrydowy, edukacja bezpośrednia."(...