Enhanced Production of Biogas Using Biochar–Sulfur Composite in the Methane Fermentation Process

The methane fermentation of organic waste is one way to minimize organic waste, which accounts for 77% of the global municipal waste stream. The use of biochar as an additive for methane fermentation has been shown to increase the production potential of biogas. Sulfur waste has a potential application to synergistic recycling in a form of composites with other materials including biochar. A composite product in the form of a mixture of biochar and molten sulfur has been proposed. In this experiment, additions of the sulfur–biochar composite (SBC) were tested to improve the fermentation process. The biochar was produced from apple chips under the temperature of 500 °C. The ground biochar and sulfur (<1 mm particle size) were mixed in the proportion of 40% biochar and 60% sulfur and heated to 140 °C for sulfur melting. After cooling, the solidified composite was ground. The SBC was added in the dose rate of 10% by dry mass of prepared artificial kitchen waste. Wet anaerobic digestion was carried out in the batch reactors under a temperature of 37 °C for 21 days. As an inoculum, the digestate from Bio-Wat Sp. z. o. o., Świdnica, Poland, was used. The results showed that released biogas reached 672 mL × g_vs⁻¹, and the yield was 4% higher than in the variant without the SBC. Kinetics study indicated that the biogas production constant rate reached 0.214 d⁻¹ and was 4.4% higher than in the variant without the SBC.     

Assessment of the Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Production of Selected Cytokines in Women with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

The impact of selenium on the course of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) was mainly assessed by monitoring the titer of antithyroid autoantibodies in most of the studies conducted hitherto. On the other hand, the imbalance in activity of T cells such as Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg may be relevant in the pathogenesis of this disease. Hence, the assessment of changes in the secretion of cytokines by these cells during selenium supplementation in patients with HT seems to be an important issue and was the main goal of this study. A further aim was to search for correlations among these cytokines, as well as markers of thyroid function, selenium/iodine status in the body, and other biochemical parameters. The group of 29 women with newly diagnosed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was supplemented with selenium in a dose of 100 µg/day for 6 months. Immunological parameters: interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α, chemokine CXCL10, interleukin 4, interleukin 1β, interleukin 17, transforming growth factor β, and C-reactive protein, as well as selenium status parameters were determined in serum twice, i.e., before and after supplementation. Selenium supplementation was associated with a change in the production of two cytokines: interferon γ and interleukin 1β, for which a decrease and an increase in concentration were observed, respectively. The partial least squares (PLS) model revealed the presence of many relevant correlations among analyzed parameters. The stage of HT development, degree of thyroid dysfunction, and selenium supplementation of diet are interdependent factors which shape the profile of some cytokines secreted by cells participating in the autoimmunity process.     

Costs and effects of secondary prevention with perindopril in stable coronary heart disease in Poland: an analysis of the EUROPA study including 1251 Polish patients

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the long-term impact of treatment with perindopril on costs and health effects in patients with stable coronary artery disease in Poland. METHODS: The cost-effectiveness analysis was based on data from a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A decision-tree analysis was employed, including Monte Carlo and bootstrapping techniques. This study was a sub-study of the EUROPA (European Trial on Reduction of Cardiac Events with Perindopril in Stable Coronary Artery Disease) trial (n = 12 218; mean follow-up 4.2 years). Resource use was based on data from Polish EUROPA study patients (n = 1251), while effectiveness was based on the whole EUROPA study. The health gain of perindopril in life-years was based on overall EUROPA study results, and the adapted Polish life expectancy of patients not dying during the trial. Costs were calculated in new Polish zloty (PLN), year 2003 values; euro1 = PLN4.053. Only direct healthcare costs related to cardiovascular events and medication use were studied. RESULTS: When observed mortality was combined with life expectancy beyond the end of the study, perindopril use showed a gain in life expectancy of 0.182 life-years (SD +/- 0.129) at a cost of PLN1983 (SD +/- 103) with discounting of 5% per annum on costs and no discounting on effects. This resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of PLN10 896 per life-year gained. The probability that the ICER for perindopril was below the threshold of PLN60 000 was 88%. The overall results were insensitive to discount rates for costs and life-years. CONCLUSIONS: Perindopril leads to a reduction in the risk of coronary events among patients with stable heart disease. When the expected improvement in life expectancy is combined with associated medical costs, there is a high probability that perindopril is cost effective, given the threshold of PLN60 000 per life-year gained.     

Levels of biological markers of nitric oxide in serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

The aim of the study was a determination of the levels of nitric oxide（NO）and its biological markers such as malonyldialdehyde（MDA）and nitrotyrosine in the serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma（SCC）of the oral cavity and identification of the relationships between NO and those markers.These studies were performed on patients with SCC of the oral cavity before and after treatment.Griess reaction was used for the estimation of the total concentration of NO in serum.The nitrotyrosine level in serum was assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）kit,and MDA level using a spectrophotometric assay.Higher concentrations of NO in blood serum were determined in patients with stage IV of the disease before treatment in comparison to the control group and patients with stages II and III of the disease.Moreover,higher concentrations of MDA and nitrotyrosine were determined in the serum of patients in all stages of the disease in comparison to healthy people.After treatment,lower concentrations of NO in the serum of patients with stage IV of the disease were observed in comparison to the amounts obtained prior to treatment.In addition,lower levels of nitrotyrosine in the serum of patients with all stages of the disease were recorded,whereas higher concentrations of MDA were determined in these patients in comparison to results obtained before treatment.The compounds formed with the contribution of NO,such as MDA and nitrotyrosine,may lead to cancer progression in patients with SCC of the oral cavity,and contribute to formation of resistance to therapy in these patients as well.Moreover,the lack of a relationship between concentrations of NO and MDA,and between NO and nitrotyrosine in serum suggests that the process of lipid peroxidation and nitration in patients with SCC does not just depend on NO.     

Malnutrition in Older Adults—Effect on Falls and Fractures: A Narrative Review

Malnutrition in older adults impacts health status, increased mortality, and morbidity. Malnutrition may increase the development of geriatric syndromes and contribute to a higher prevalence of falls and osteoporotic fractures that lead to loss of independence and an increased rate of institutionalization. The role of malnutrition in the pathogenesis of other geriatric syndromes seems to be well established. However, the data concerning nutritional interventions are confounding. Moreover, long-term undernutrition seems to be one of the factors that strongly influences the efficacy of interventions. This review outlines the current literature on this topic, and aims to guide physicians to make proper decisions to prevent the vicious cycle of falls, fractures, and their negative outcomes in patients with malnutrition.     

The Lesniowski-Crohn disease and pregnancy--case report

Le?niowski-Crohn disease is an inflammatory process, involving all layers of the intestine, mesentery and regional lymph nodes. During the development of the disease, a thickening of the intestine wall, stricture of its lumen and adhesions have been observed. The aim of the study was to present the case of a 27-year-old pregnant woman with Crohn's disease, a very rare complication of gestation.     

Assessment of expression of luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptor (LH/hCGR) and hCG protein in ovarian cancer tissues

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian cancers still remain a significant worldwide epidemiological problem. The vast majority of newly diagnosed cases are in advanced clinical stages, and the five-year survival rate in all clinical stages amounts up to less than fifty percent. A better understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer can bring us closer to successful treatment and recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptor (LH/hCGR) and the expression of hCG protein in the ovarian cancer tissue. MATERIALS: Histologically proven primary ovarian cancer samples (n=20) were obtained from women undergoing gynecologic surgery. Frozen sections of ovarian cancer tissues were evaluated by means of indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The expression of hCG protein was ubiquitous throughout all samples, while LH/hCGR was detected in only sixty percent of samples. Co-expression of LH/hCGR and hCG protein was detected in some individual cells in tumor tissue. Some cancer cells expressed only hCG protein, but not LH/hCGR. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of LH/hCG receptor is a characteristic feature of various histological types of ovarian cancer. Co-expression of LH/hCGR and hCG protein in individual cancer cells may point to an autocrine or paracrine mechanism of _hCG activity in the tumor microenvironment. Further studies are needed to evaluate LH/hCGR and hCG protein function in the course of neoplastic development.     

Leptin, leptin gene, leptin gene receptor polymorphisms and pregnancy

The article presents information about leptin as the major metabolic hormone. The structure, localization of the hormone and its receptor have been described focusing on maturation and fertility processes. Several polymorphisms of leptin gene and its receptor have been described as potential developmental factors of pregnancy complications such as diabetes mellitus or pregnancy induced hypertension.     

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix during pregnancy

Pregnancy offers a unique opportunity for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, due to the fact that pregnant patients have many possibilities of gynecological and cytological examinations. There is much evidence that pregnant women have two to three-fold higher chance of having preneoplastic lesions and early, operable stages of disease diagnosed. The preneoplastic lesions do not require any intervention during pregnancy. However, precise, serial colposcopic examinations, completed by biopsy if necessary, must be seriously considered in order to exclude invasive cancer. The only indication for conization during pregnancy is to rule out or confirm microinvasive or invasive cancer, provided such diagnose can change the time and the way of delivery. Invasive cervical cancer diagnose is frequently associated with difficult medical and ethical decisions. The most proper approach should be considered, taking into account the benefit of the mother and the child. The decision is easier in the early stage of cancer, because it has been proven that six- to twelve-week delay of the beginning of the therapy does not deteriorate the cancer outcome but it enables the fetus to acquire sufficient lung maturity. Advanced carcinoma of the cervix forces us to take prompt therapeutic decisions. Both, the continuation of the pregnancy and the administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy are still possible.     

The safety and tolerance of isoflavones (Soyfem) administration in postmenopausal women

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to isoflavones and their proprieties to alleviate the climacteric symptoms. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of standardized isoflavones extract (Soyfem) in moderate and medium-severe climacteric syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 555 postmenopausal women were recruited for the study. Out of this group, 169 women completed the study (12-month observation period). The patients were classified according to the intensity of climacteric symptoms (< or =34 points in Kupperman index). 1 or 2 tablets of Soyfem were administered twice a day,. RESULTS: A regular decrease of Kupperman index value and improvement of life quality were observed in the group of 169 postmenopausal women. We have noted a decrease in the intensity and number of hot flushes, diaphoresis (p < 0.05), diminished sleep disturbances (p < 0.05), decreased headache, dizziness, and arthrosis pain. The diminished intensity of tiredness, palpitation and breathlessness have been also observed (p < 0.05). 80% of all investigated women noted the regression of paresthesis, 20% indicated the decreased number of paresthesis (p < 0.05). Influence of Soyfem on the variability and moderation of depressive mood (p < 0.05) have been also positive evaluated by patients. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of Soyfem in the dosage 52 to 104 mg/24 hours (2 times daily 1 or 2 tablets) is a safe and effective therapy in the postmenopausal women with moderate and medium-severe climacteric syndrome evaluated according to the Kupperman index. Administration of Soyfem is connected with a good compliance and correlated with well-being in the investigated women allowing a long-term administration.