Determinants of Bullying at School Depending on the Type of Community: Ecological Analysis of Secondary Schools in Poland

Ecological studies, when the school is the unit of analysis, may help to design and evaluate school intervention programs. The paper discusses selected contextual determinants of bullying, using data collected in Poland in 2015 and aggregated to school level (4085 students; 70 junior high schools). The main hypothesis is related to the neighborhood social capital as protective factor and the type of community as a modifier. The main dependent variable was the combined index of bullying which included three perspectives (victim, perpetrator, bystander). Student delinquent behavior was taken into account as potential determinant, along with selected characteristics of the school and neighborhood. The analyses were adjusted for the percentage of the surveyed boys. The overall bullying index ranged, depending on the school, from 0.88 to 4.07 points (out of 12 possible); intraclass coefficient ICC = 2.8%. In the entire sample, the main predictors of bullying were student delinquent behaviors as a risk factor and the school social climate as a protective factor (R ² = 56.3%). The stratification of schools due to their location influences the inference regarding those main determinants. The dominating influence of delinquent behavior is visible only in big cities where bullying index showed the highest dispersion. In smaller towns and rural areas, the neighborhood social capital becomes an important protective factor; highly correlated with the school climate. We can conclude that strong social bonds in the community are supportive for school climate and can reduce the level of bullying at schools.     

Hypnic headache as a primary short-lasting night headache: a report of two cases

Hypnic headache is a rare type of primary short-lasting headache related to sleep. The pathogenesis of hypnic headache still remains unknown, but it may be a chronobiological disturbance or a response to a pineal circadian irregularity in which melatonin may play a role in resynchronizing biological rhythms to lifestyle. It is a moderate headache that appears during sleep with almost an alarm clock regularity and lasts up to 60 minutes. The headache is boring, unilateral or with diffuse location. Lithium carbonate and flunarizine show the best efficacy, caffeine and melatonin may also be useful. The author describes two cases of hypnic headache, which were effectively treated. A 45-year-old woman was treated with flunarizine and melatonin and a 65-year-old man was treated with flunarizine. The efficacy of flunarizine may be associated with the activation of D2 receptor and the added treatment with melatonin may hasten the good effect similar to that seen in our patient.     

Gender differences in bipolar disorder: age of onset, course, comorbidity, and symptom presentation

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether men and women with bipolar disorder differ in age of onset, course of illness, number of suicide attempts, comorbidity rates and symptom presentation. METHOD: Data were collected from 211 (121 women; 90 men) adults using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies, medical records, and additional information gathered from relatives. RESULTS: Most gender comparisons showed no evidence of differences. Nonetheless, more men than women reported mania at the onset of bipolar I disorder. Men also had higher rates of comorbid alcohol abuse/dependence, cannabis abuse/dependence, pathological gambling and conduct disorder. Men were more likely to report 'behavioural problems' and 'being unable to hold a conversation' during mania. Women reported higher rates of comorbid eating disorders, and weight change, appetite change and middle insomnia during depression. CONCLUSIONS: Men and women were generally similar in their symptom presentation, age of onset of bipolar disorder, and in the total number of mood episodes. However, they differed in the type of episode at onset and comorbidity patterns.     

Evaluation of eye total aberration in patients with keratoconus

PURPOSE: Evaluation of total eye aberration in patients with I, II, III degree of keratoconus according to Amsler scale, and results compared with normal group patients, having only refractive error. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The analyzed group of patients consisted of 43 patients (55 eyes), who underwent examinations: visual acuity, subjective and objective refractive error, cornea keratometric power, pupil diameter and total eye aberration performed by System WASCA (Asclepion-Meditec). Our patients were divided in to two groups: group I--16 patients with keratoconus (25 eyes), group II--27 control patients (30 eyes). RESULTS: Comparison of all analyzed parameters in both groups were statistical significant. In eyes with keratoconus coma aberrations excel spherical aberrations.     

Assessment of the probability of encountering staphylococcal enterotoxins in lactic acid cheese packaged in laminates

Immunoassay methods were used to identify the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins in lactic acid cheese vacuum and non-vacuum packed. There was assessed the probability of encountering staphylococcal enterotoxin in cheese dependent on different systems of packaging, count of staphylococcal cells, intensiveness of coagulase synthesis and tightness of packaging. The presence of enterotoxin was identified in 5% of researched samples of products stored for 14 days. The influence of packaging system and tightness on presence of enterotoxin was observed. The probability of presence of staphylococcal and enterotoxin in relation to researched factors was presented by the mathematical models.     

Kinetics of hydrolysis of 4-methoxy-2-[2-hydroxy-3(4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)]propyl-2,3-dihydro-6-methyl-1,3-dioxo-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridine in aqueous solutions

The kinetics of hydrolysis of 4-methoxy-2-[2-hydroxy-3(4-phenyl-1-piperazinyl)]propyl-2,3-dihydro-6-methyl-1,3-dioxo-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridine (I) in aqueous solutions at 333, 343, 353 and 363 K over the pH range 0.4-4.8 was investigated. The decomposition was observed with the HPLC method (LiChrosorb) 100 RP-18 column 250 x 4.0 mm ID, dp = 5 microm; mobile phase: acetonitrile--0.01 M phosphate buffer (H3PO4 + KH2PO4; pH 3) (50:50, v/v-phase A) or (30:70, v/v-phase B). The pH-rate profile indicated specific acid- and base-catalyzed reactions as well as spontaneous water-catalyzed decomposition of both dissociated and undissociated molecules of I. Various buffer substances exhibited general acid and base catalysis of the degradation. The ionic strength effect, the pKa value (4.2), the pHmin value (2.0) and thermodynamic parameters of the reaction (energy and enthalpy of activation and the frequency coefficient for the specific rate constants) were determined.     

A novel mutation (I143NT) in guanylate cyclase-activating protein 1 (GCAP1) associated with autosomal dominant cone degeneration

PURPOSE: To identify pathogenic mutations in the guanylate cyclase-activating protein 1 (GCAP1) and GCAP2 genes and to characterize the biochemical effect of mutation on guanylate cyclase (GC) stimulation. METHODS: The GCAP1 and GCAP2 genes were screened by direct sequencing for mutations in 216 patients and 421 patients, respectively, with various hereditary retinal diseases. A mutation in GCAP1 segregating with autosomal dominant cone degeneration was further evaluated biochemically by employing recombinant proteins, immunoblotting, Ca2+-dependent stimulation of GC, fluorescence emission spectra, and limited proteolysis in the absence and presence of Ca2+. RESULTS: A novel GCAP1 mutation, I143NT (substitution of Ile at codon 143 by Asn and Thr), affecting the EF4 Ca2+-binding loop, was identified in a heterozygote father and son with autosomal dominant cone degeneration. Both patients had much greater loss of cone function versus rod function; previous histopathologic evaluation of the father's eyes at autopsy (age 75 years) showed no foveal cones but a few, scattered cones remaining in the peripheral retina. Biochemical analysis showed that the GCAP1-I143NT mutant adopted a conformation susceptible to proteolysis, and the mutant inhibited GC only partially at high Ca2+ concentrations. Individual patients with atypical or recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) had additional heterozygous GCAP1-T114I and GCAP2 gene changes (V85M and F150C) of unknown pathogenicity. CONCLUSIONS: A novel GCAP1 mutation, I143NT, caused a form of autosomal dominant cone degeneration that destroys foveal cones by mid-life but spares some cones in the peripheral retina up to 75 years. Properties of the GCAP1-I143NT mutant protein suggested that it is incompletely inactivated by high Ca2+ concentrations as should occur with dark adaptation. The continued activity of the mutant GCAP1 likely results in higher-than-normal scotopic cGMP levels which may, in turn, account for the progressive loss of cones.     

ILKAP regulates ILK signaling and inhibits anchorage-independent growth

ILKAP is a protein phosphatase 2C that selectively associates with integrin linked kinase, ILK, to modulate cell adhesion and growth factor signaling. We investigated the role of endogenous cellular ILKAP in antagonizing ILK signaling of two key targets, PKB and GSK3beta. Silencing of endogenous ILKAP by short interfering RNA (siRNA) stimulated GSK3beta phosphorylation at S9, with no effect on PKB S473 phosphorylation. In LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells, transient or stable expression of ILKAP suppressed ILK immune complex kinase activity, demonstrating an interaction between ILKAP and ILK. Consistent with the silencing data, ILKAP inhibition of ILK selectively inhibited S9 phosphorylation of GSK3beta without affecting S473 phosphorylation of PKB. The ILKAP-mediated inhibition of S9 phosphorylation was rescued by overexpression of ILK, but not by a dominant-negative ILK mutant. The expression level of cyclin D1, a target of ILK-GSK3beta signaling, was inversely correlated with ILKAP protein levels, suggesting that antagonism of ILK modulates cell cycle progression. ILKAP expression increased the proportion of LNCaP cells in G1, relative to vector control cells, and siRNA suppression of ILKAP increased entry of cells into the S phase, consistent with ILK antagonism. Anchorage-independent growth of LNCaP cells was inhibited by ILKAP, suggesting a critical role in the suppression of cellular transformation. Taken together, our results indicate that endogenous ILKAP activity inhibits the ILK-GSK3beta signaling axis, and suggest that ILKAP activity plays an important role in inhibiting oncogenic transformation.Oncogene (2004) 23, 3454-3461. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207473 Published online 1 March 2004     

Selected seafoods as the components of a highly nutritional diet

Shellfish products available on the Polish market were analyzed for the content of protein, fat, carbohydrates, water, ash, energy value and vitamins B. Nutrition value of the analyzed products was determined by analytical methods applying in food chemistry. Concentrations of niacin and vitamin B6 were determined by microbiological methods. The concentration of the selected shellfish in 100 g of the analyzed products and percentage of realization on recommended level of nutritive components by analyzed products for adults were determined.