Placental expression of Fatty Acid Desaturases 1, 2 and 3 in selected pregnancy pathologies.

Intrauterine development is a key period in human life. The foetal progress largely depends on the function of the placenta, whose responsibility is transportation and biosynthesis of fatty acids. Desaturation enzymes play a key role in placental fatty acid metabolism. Expression of genes coding for desaturases may be associated with pregnancy abnormalities. The objective of this study was to determine the transcriptional activity of the placental genes Fatty Acid Desaturases 1, 2 and 3 (FADS 1, 2 and 3) in women who gave birth to the infants appropriate for gestational age, large for gestational age, small for gestational age, with intrauterine growth restriction and born preterm. 34 pregnant women aged 21-37 years old participated in the study. The placental samples were taken from a site located 2-3 cm away from the umbilical cord attachment. The collected tissue sections were stored in RNAlater according to the manufacturer's protocol, until required for molecular analysis. The expression profiles of FADS1, FADS2 and FADS3 were determined with RT-qPCR. There was no difference in FADS1 and FADS2 expression between the groups. However, the differences in the expression of the FADS3 were found. Analysis of the FADS1, FADS2 and FADS3 transcription showed significant differences between most of the examined groups. Our findings suggest that the transcriptional activity of FADS genes changes with the severity of intrauterine disorders and is associated with foetal lipid disorders linked to a greater accumulation of fat in the foetal tissues.

SGLT-2 Inhibitors in Cancer Treatment-Mechanisms of Action and Emerging New Perspectives.

A new group of antidiabetic drugs, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2 inhibitors), have recently been shown to have anticancer effects and their expression has been confirmed in many cancer cell lines. Given the metabolic reprogramming of these cells in a glucose-based model, the ability of SGLT-2 inhibitors to block the glucose uptake by cancer cells appears to be an attractive therapeutic approach. In addition to tumour cells, SGLT-2s are only found in the proximal tubules in the kidneys. Furthermore, as numerous clinical trials have shown, the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors is well-tolerated and safe in patients with diabetes and/or heart failure. In vitro cell culture studies and preclinical in vivo studies have confirmed that SGLT-2 inhibitors exhibit antiproliferative effects on certain types of cancer. However, the mechanisms of this action remain unclear. Even in those tumour cell types in which SGLT-2 is present, there is sometimes an SGLT-2-independent mechanism of anticancer action of this group of drugs. This article presents the current state of knowledge of the potential mechanisms of the anticancer action of SGLT-2 inhibitors and their possible future application in clinical oncology.

Analysis of Emergency Medical Response Team Performance during the International Winter Championships in Emergency Medicine.

Background and Objectives: Conducting advanced life support (ALS) according to the guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) requires medical personnel to implement the appropriate emergency actions. In particular, these actions include chest compressions, airway management, artificial ventilation, defibrillation and the administering of medicines. An appropriate training system enables members of medical response teams (MRT) to acquire the essential knowledge and skills necessary to correctly conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). One way to improve the quality of interventions by MRT personnel is participation in emergency medicine championships. Materials and Methods: The research analysed assessment cards for tasks carried out during the International Winter Championships in Emergency Medicine in the years 2013-2020. The assessed tasks were prepared and led by European Resuscitation Council instructors of advanced life support. During ten-minute scenarios of simulated sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in adults, the judges assessed the compliance of procedures with current ERC guidelines. This research analysed the performance of 309 teams from Poland made up of paramedics from medical response units from all over the country. Results: In most cases, the study showed significant differences in the percentage of correctly performed procedures between years. Most often, the highest percentage of correctly performed procedures was recorded in 2019 and 2020. The lowest percentage of correctly performed procedures was most often recorded in 2013. In subsequent years, the percentage of use of tracheal intubation decreased (from 54.76% to 31.25%) in favour of an increase in the use of supraglottic airway device SAD (from 35.71% to 59.38%). Conclusions: The research has shown that in subsequent years of the Championships, the quality of the majority of assessed procedures carried out by members of MRT gradually improved. The research authors also observed that in subsequent years, the percentage of intubations decreased in favour of SAD.

The Influence of Graphene Content on the Antibacterial Properties of Polycaprolactone.

This work contains an analysis of the impact of modifying a bioresorbable polymer-polycaprolactone (PCL)-with various additives on its antibacterial properties. To this end, samples of PCL filament containing various content levels of graphene (GNP), 0.5%, 5%, 10%, were obtained using injection molding. Polymer samples without additives were used for comparison. The next step was to assess the antimicrobial impact of the preparations under study against the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25293, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Effective bactericidal activity of PCL with small amount of GNP, especially against C. albicans and S. aureus was confirmed. A decrease in this property or even multiplication of microorganisms was observed in direct proportion to the graphene content in the samples.

Open craniocerebral trauma in a patient at work: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Craniocerebral injuries belong to the category of bodily injuries which are characterised by high mortality and a high percentage of permanent effects in the form of disability. The likelihood of this injury exists in the workplace too. Performing works at a height or using high-pressure or mechanical machinery exposes employees to a higher risk of a craniocerebral injury. CASE REPORT: This case study deals with the topic of open craniocerebral trauma suffered by a 20-year-old man who was wearing no head protection at his place of work. It details the management of this trauma at the site of the accident, during transfer to the hospital and during hospitalisation. CONCLUSION: Fast transport, effective diagnostics and implementation of surgical treatment contributed to a good final result.

Analysis of the antibacterial properties of polycaprolactone modified with graphene, bioglass and zinc-doped bioglass.

PURPOSE: Innovative biomedical filaments for 3D printing in the form of short and biodegradable composite sticks modified with various additives were used to prepare biomaterials for further nasal implants. As the respiratory tract is considered to be potentially exposed to contamination during the implantation procedure there is a need to modify the implant with an antibacterial additives. The purpose of this work was to analyze the effect of biodegradable polymer - polycaprolactone (PCL) modification with various additives on its antibacterial properties. METHODS: PCL filament modified with graphene (0.5, 5, 10% wt.), bioglass (0.4% wt.) and zinc-doped bioglass (0.4% wt.) were used to print spatial biomaterials using FDM 3D printer. Pure polymer biomaterials without additives were used as reference samples. The key task was to assess the antimicrobial impact of the prepared biomaterials against the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25293, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Candida albicans ATCC 10231. RESULTS: The research results point to a significant antibacterial efficacy of the tested materials against S. aureus and C. albicans, which, however, seems to decrease with increasing graphene content in the filaments. A complete lack of antibacterial efficacy against E. coli was determined. CONCLUSIONS: The tested biomaterials have important antibacterial properties, especially against C. albicans. The obtained results showed that biomaterials made of modified filaments can be successfully used in implantology, where a need to create temporary tissue scaffolds occurs.

Patient knowledge at the Respiratory Ward of the Railway Hospital in Wilkowice-Bystra about preventive treatments to combat house dust mites and alleviate allergy symptoms.

House dust mite allergy is a serious problem that affects about six million people in Poland and if left untreated could be the reason for the development of bronchial asthma. The main purpose of this study was to analyse how aware the patients in the respiratory ward were about the prevention of allergic diseases caused by house dust mites and the prophylactic measures that can be taken. The study took place between September 2018 and November 2018 and involved 109 patients, hospitalised in the Respiratory Ward of the Railway Hospital in Wilkowic-Bystra, who had been diagnosed with asthma and house dust mite allergy. People between 51 and 60 years of age comprised the largest group of respondents. A diagnostic survey method was utilised for the study, whereby the survey data was collected by way of a questionnaire completed by the participants. Most people (45.0%) experience an increase in allergy symptoms when cleaning the house and when sleeping at night (35.0%). Over half of the respondents (59.0%) believe, that the main places in which dust mites are found in the home are rugs, blankets and bedding. According to respondents (40.0%), prophylactic treatments against dust mite allergy at home are effective in alleviating the symptoms. Most respondents use preventive measures to combat house dust mites and relieve allergy symptoms. The main source of information about the prevention of allergic diseases is a doctor.

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors: mechanisms of action in heart failure.

Diabetes is a key independent risk factor in the development of heart failure (HF) and a strong, adverse prognostic factor in HF patients. HF remains the primary cause of hospitalisation for diabetics and, as previous studies have shown, when HF occurs in these patients, intensive glycaemic control does not directly improve the prognosis. Recent clinical studies assessing a new class of antidiabetic drugs, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) showed some unexpected beneficial results. Patients treated with SGLT2is had a significant decrease in both cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality and less hospitalisations due to HF compared to those given a placebo. These significant clinical benefits occurred quickly after the drugs were administered and were not solely due to improved glycaemic control. These groundbreaking clinical trials' results have already changed clinical practice in the management of patients with diabetes at high CV risk. These trials have triggered numerous experimental studies aimed at explaining the mechanisms of action of this unique group of drugs. This article presents the current state of knowledge about the mechanisms of action of SGLT2is developed for the treatment of diabetes and which, thanks to their cardioprotective effects, may, in the future, become a treatment for patients with HF.

Various aspects of inflammation in heart failure.

Despite significant advances in the prevention and treatment of heart failure (HF), the prognosis in patients who have been hospitalised on at least one occasion due to exacerbation of HF is still poor. Therefore, a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of HF is crucial in order to achieve better results in the treatment of this clinical syndrome. One of the areas that, for years, has aroused the interest of researchers is the activation of the immune system and the elevated levels of biomarkers of inflammation in patients with both ischaemic and non-ischaemic HF. Additionally, it is intriguing that the level of circulating pro-inflammatory biomarkers correlates with the severity of the disease and prognosis in this group of patients. Unfortunately, clinical trials aimed at assessing interventions to modulate the inflammatory response in HF have been disappointing, and the modulation of the inflammatory response has had either no effect or even a negative effect on the HF prognosis. The article presents a summary of current knowledge on the role of immune system activation and inflammation in the pathogenesis of HF. Understanding the immunological mechanisms pathogenetically associated with left ventricular remodelling and progression of HF may open up new therapeutic possibilities for HF.

TiN, ZrN and DLC nanocoatings - a comparison of the effects on animals, in-vivo study.

The paper presents a comparative study of the impact that TiN, ZrN and DLC nanocoatings on titanium implants have on animal organisms. The experiment lasted 602 days and used 15 laboratory animals (rabbits from the Lagomorph species). Implants, eight of each type, were implanted subcutaneously in the cervical region. The control group consisted of three animals. Over the course of the experiment, at the beginning and subsequently every 7 days, the animals had their blood drawn and analysed for parameters indicating inflammation. Once the experiment ended, a histopathological evaluation of the animals' internal organs was conducted, and the places where the implants came into contact with the tissue were also assessed. The results of the laboratory tests did not indicate any characteristics of inflammation for any of the coatings. The histopathological examination confirmed biocompatibility in all cases. This is of great importance in the case of the DLC coating, which, due to its tribological properties - a low friction coefficient - has a very high potential for application in various areas of medicine.