Succinic dehydrogenase activity of the myocardium in experimental atherosclerosis

The activity of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) in the myocardium of rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis was investigated in the electron microscope from the second to the 16th week of the experiment. An increase in the number of mitochondria in the heart muscle was noted in the second month. From the fourth week SDH activity did not change in the mitochondria, whereas a decrease of SDH was observed beginning in the eighth week of the experiment.     

Classification of patients with myelodysplasia according to the level of neurosegmental lesion as a basis of motor function assessment

The purpose of this article is to present the current principles of comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients with myelomeningocele. We present the connection between the level of neurosegmental lesion according to modified Sharrard's classification and functional abilities of the patient. We describe lower limbs deformity typically associated with neurosegmental lesions of spina bifida at different levels (I to VI). The classification of neurosegmental lesion levels is based on an evaluation of muscle strength of individual muscle groups according to the Lovett scale.     

Evaluation of the operative treatment of the developmental hip dislocation performed second year of life

Background. Both conservative and surgical treatment are applied in the treatment of developmental hip dislocation in the second year of life. Our study to evaluated the results of surgical treatment at this age using open reduction combined with transiliac osteotomy and translation of the distal insertion of the iliopsoas muscle. Material and methods. The analyzed group consisted of 21 hip joints. The mean follow-up was 6 years (2-11 years). The age of the patients at surgery was 13 -24 months, average 18 months. Results. According to Severin's classification scheme 71% of the patients had excellent results and 29% good. However, when the analyzed joints were evaluated according to our classification scheme, the results were significantly worse: 29% excellent, 48% good, 23% satisfactory. The difference between the results was caused by parameters not included in Severin's classification: neck-shaft angle and neck centering angl. The true antetorsion angle was decreased in the final examination in comparison to preoperative results. The mean head-metaphyseal index of Kruczyński averaged 120.61% of normal in the whole group, and values higher than 120% were found in 13 cases (62%). Conclusions. The described method of treatment provided stable reduction with good coverage of the femoral head by the acetabular roof in more than 90% of cases. The problem of increased neck-shaft angle and neck centering angle occurring in 25% of cases remains unsolved. The antetorsion angle is still high in some cases at follow-up.     

Dropout revisited: Patient- and therapist-initiated discontinuation of psychotherapy as a function of organizational instability

Abstract

Objective: To explore the association between the stability or instability of services' organizational structure and patient- and therapist-initiated discontinuation of therapy in routine mental health. Method: Three groups, comprising altogether 750 cases in routine mental health care in eight different clinics, were included: cases with patient-initiated discontinuation, therapist-initiated discontinuation, and patients remaining in treatment. Multilevel multinomial regression was used to estimate three models: An initial, unconditional intercept-only model, another one including patient variables, and a final model with significant patient and therapist variables including the organizational stability of the therapists' clinic. Results: High between-therapist variability was noted. Odds ratios and significance tests indicated a strong association of organizational instability with patient-initiated premature termination in particular. Conclusions: The question of how organizational factors influence the treatment results needs further research. Future studies have to be designed in ways that permit clinically meaningful subdivision of the patients' and the therapists' decisions for premature termination.     

Comparison of two minimally invasive biopsy techniques – Breast Lesion Excision System and vacuum-assisted biopsy – for diagnosing and treating breast lesions

IntroductionThe vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) and the Breast Lesion Excision System (BLES) are minimally invasive biopsy techniques, both used as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The aim of the study is to compare these two methods and assess them in the context of discomfort, early and late complications and their diagnostic and therapeutic potential.Material and methodsThe study involved 173 patients who underwent a VAB or a BLES breast biopsy in the period between 2009 and 2016. Approximately 3 months after the biopsy, the patients completed a questionnaire in which they assessed the procedure for discomfort associated with the procedure and the final cosmetic outcome. The cosmetic effect of the biopsy was also assessed by a surgeon.ResultsThe BLES and the VAB breast biopsies did not differ in terms of pain, duration, and discomfort of the procedure, breast bruising, breast tenderness about 24 h after the procedure or pain lasting over 3 months after the biopsy. Subsequently, the biopsies were evaluated in terms of the cosmetic effect assessed by the patient and by a surgeon and no differences were observed. There were no significant differences between the VAB and the BLES breast biopsies in the course of the procedure, early and late complications and cosmetic effect.ConclusionsSince the BLES breast biopsy makes it possible to evaluate the margins, it is a good alternative to the open breast biopsy.     

Variously Prepared Zeolite Y as a Modifier of ANFO

In the presented research, we investigated Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO), with the addition of variously modified zeolite Y as an attractive explosive. Analysis of both blasting tests and thermodynamic models of blasting properties led to the conclusion that the addition of zeolite Y enhanced the detonation properties of such prepared ANFO via the growth of the detonation pressure, temperature, compression energy, and heat of the explosion. Generally, the modification of ANFO with variously prepared zeolite Y also reduced the volume of (CO_x + NO_x) post-blast fumes. Furthermore, it was found that the ANFO’s velocity of detonation (VOD) could be controlled by the choice of the way of zeolite Y modification. Namely, for zeolite Y without Mg, as well as Mg-Y prepared via the impregnation method, the VOD rose. The opposite effect was observed when ANFO was modified with Mg-Y, obtained from the deposition of Mg over zeolite Y via the ultrasonic-assisted procedure.     

Assessment of the Life Cycle of a Wind and Photovoltaic Power Plant in the Context of Sustainable Development of Energy Systems

The conversion of kinetic energy from wind and solar radiation into electricity during the operation of wind and photovoltaic power plants causes practically no emissions of chemical compounds that are harmful to the environment. However, the production of their materials and components, as well as their post-use management after the end of their operation, is highly consumptive of energy and materials. For this reason, this article aims to assess the life cycle of a wind and photovoltaic power plant in the context of the sustainable development of energy systems. The objects of the research were two actual technical facilities—a 2 MW wind power plant and a 2 MW photovoltaic power plant, both located in Poland. The analysis of their life cycle was carried out on the basis of the LCA (life-cycle assessment) method, using the ReCiPe 2016 calculation procedure. The impact of the examined renewable energy systems was assessed under 22 impact categories and 3 areas of influence (i.e., human health, ecosystems, and resources), and an analysis was conducted for the results obtained as part of three compartments (i.e., air, water, and soil). The life cycle of the wind power plant was distinguished by a higher total potential negative environmental impact compared to the life cycle of the photovoltaic power plant. The highest levels of potential harmful impacts on the environment in both life cycles were recorded for areas of influence associated with negative impacts on human health. Emissions to the atmosphere accounted for over 90% of all emissions in the lifetimes of both the wind and the photovoltaic power plants. On the basis of the obtained results, guidelines were proposed for pro-ecological changes in the life cycle of materials and elements of the considered technical facilities for renewable energy sources, aimed at better implementation of the main assumptions of contemporary sustainable development (especially in the field of environmental protection).     

Synthesis and Structure–Activity Relationship of 2,6-Disubstituted Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives of Pyridine as Potential Antituberculosis Agents

In this study, six new 2,6-disubstituted thiosemicarbazone derivatives of pyridine were synthesized (4–9), and their tuberculostatic activity was evaluated. All of them showed two- to eightfold higher activity (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.5–4 µg/mL) against the resistant strain compared with the reference drug. Compounds 5 and 7, which contained the most basic substituents—pyrrolidine and piperidine—in their structure, strongly inhibited the growth of the standard strain (MIC 2 µg/mL). Furthermore, the same derivatives exhibited activity comparable to that of the reference drugs against some types of Gram-positive bacteria (MIC 0.49 µg/mL) and showed no cytotoxicity (IC50 > 50 µg/mL) in HaCaT cells. The zwitterionic structure of each compound was determined using X-ray crystallography. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion analyses showed that all compounds are good drug candidates. Thus, compounds 5 and 7 were identified as leading structures for further research on antituberculosis drugs with extended effects.     

Das mikroskopische Bild der klinisch unveränderten Haut bei Pemphigus und dessen Zusammenhang mit dem Nikolsky-Phänomen

Zusammenfassung Die anatomische Grundlage desNikolsky-Phänomens bildet die Akantholyse. Dieser Prozeß jedoch hat nicht den Charakter einer primären und ausschließlichen Veränderung, welche die Vernichtung bzw. die Lockerung der Zellverbindungen des Epithels verursachen würde.Der Akantholyse geht ein intra- und intercelluläres Ödem der Epidermis voraus, und erst in der Folge findet eine Vernichtung der Epithelfasern und Intercellularbrücken statt.Die Vitalität der Epidermis bleibt trotz so weitgehender Schädigungen eine verhältnismäßig bedeutende, da es schnell zu ihrer Erneuerung kommt.Die klinisch unveränderte Haut weist bei Pemphigusfällen ohneNikolsky-Phänomen keinerlei mikroskopische Veränderungen weder in der Epidermis noch in der Lederhaut auf.     

Effects of 8-Week Online,Supervised High-Intensity Interval Training on the Parameters Related to the Anaerobic Threshold,Body Weight,and Body Composition during Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

We aimed to assess the effects of an 8-week, online high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on the parameters related to the anaerobic threshold (AT), body weight, and body composition in pregnant women. A total of 69 Caucasian women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy (age: 31 ± 4 years; gestational age: 22 ± 5 weeks; mean ± standard deviation) were randomly allocated to either an 8-week HIIT program (HIIT group) or to a comparative 8-week educational program (EDU group). Our most important finding was that even with the 8-week progression of pregnancy and physiological weight gain, the HIIT group maintained the same level of parameters related to AT: volume of oxygen at the AT (VO₂/AT), percentage of maximal oxygen uptake at the AT (%VO_2max/AT), and heart rate at the AT (HR/AT). In contrast, in the EDU group we observed a substantial deterioration of parameters related to the AT. The HIIT intervention substantially reduced the fat mass percentage (median: 30 to 28%; p < 0.01) and improved the total fat-free mass percentage (median: 70% to 72%; p < 0.01). In the EDU group, the body composition did not change significantly. An online, supervised HIIT program may be used to prevent the pregnancy-related risk of excessive weight gain and reduction in exercise capacity without yielding adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes.