Integrative phylogenetic, phylogeographic and morphological characterisation of the Unio crassus species complex reveals cryptic diversity with important conservation implications.

The global decline of freshwater mussels and their crucial ecological services highlight the need to understand their phylogeny, phylogeography and patterns of genetic diversity to guide conservation efforts. Such knowledge is urgently needed for Unio crassus, a highly imperilled species originally widespread throughout Europe and southwest Asia. Recent studies have resurrected several species from synonymy based on mitochondrial data, revealing U. crassus to be a complex of cryptic species. To address long-standing taxonomic uncertainties hindering effective conservation, we integrate morphometric, phylogenetic, and phylogeographic analyses to examine species diversity within the U. crassus complex across its entire range. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (815 specimens from 182 populations) and, for selected specimens, whole mitogenome sequences and Anchored Hybrid Enrichment (AHE) data on âˆ¼ 600 nuclear loci. Mito-nuclear discordance was detected, consistent with mitochondrial DNA gene flow between some species during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Fossil-calibrated phylogenies based on AHE data support a Mediterranean origin for the U. crassus complex in the Early Miocene. The results of our integrative approach support 12 species in the group: the previously recognised Unio bruguierianus, Unio carneus, Unio crassus, Unio damascensis, Unio ionicus, Unio sesirmensis, and Unio tumidiformis, and the reinstatement of five nominal taxa: Unio desectusstat. rev., Unio gontieriistat. rev., Unio mardinensisstat. rev., Unio nanusstat. rev., and Unio vicariusstat. rev. Morphometric analyses of shell contours reveal important morphospace overlaps among these species, highlighting cryptic, but geographically structured, diversity. The distribution, taxonomy, phylogeography, and conservation of each species are succinctly described.

Modelling analysis and prediction of women javelin throw results in the years 1946 - 2013.

The main goals of our study of the women's javelin throw were twofold:. first, to analyse the dynamics of female javelin throw results variability as a function of time (time period 1946-2014), second, to create a predictive model of the results during the upcoming 4 years. The study material consisted of databases covering the female track and field events obtained from the International Association of Athletics Federations. Prior to predicting the magnitude of results change dynamics in the time to follow, the adjustment of trend function to empirical data was tested using the coefficients of convergence. Phase II of the investigation consisted of the construction of predictive models. The greatest decreases in result indexes were noted in 2000 (9.4%), 2005-2006 (8.7%) and 2009 (7.4%). The trend increase was only noted in the years 2006-2008. In general, until 1998 the mean result improved by 54.6% (100% - results of 1946) whereas from 1999 through 2011 the result only increased by 1.3%. Based on data and results variability analysis it might be presumed that, in the nearest future (2015-2018), results variability will increase by approximately 9.7%. Percent improvement of javelin throw distance calculated on the basis of the 1999 raw input data is 1.4% (end of 2014).

[Effect of ventricular and sequential stimulation on the left- ventricular systolic function]. / Stymulacja komorowa i sekwencyjna a funkcja skurczowa lewej komory.

Left ventricular systolic function at rest was determined by echocardiography and Doppler in 20 patients after dual chamber pacemaker implantation due to second and third degree A-V block. Measurements were performed in each patient during VVI and DDD mode pacing at three different atrio-ventricular (A-V) intervals: 100, 150 and 200 ms. The essential hemodynamic superiority of DDD stimulation over VVI mode in the form of significant increase of forward stroke volume index (SVI) and cardiac index (CI) during dual chamber stimulation at identical rate stimulation was observed. Closer individual analysis of the values of CI during DDD stimulation at three different A-V intervals (100, 150 and 200 ms) gave the possibility of programming optimal A-V intervals (the highest value of CI) for each patient. The sequential atrio-ventricular stimulation as compared to right ventricular stimulation essentially improves the left ventricular systolic function at rest in patients without symptoms of heart failure. Maximum hemodynamic advantage during DDD stimulation depends on individual selection of A-V delay in each patient.

[The importance of the autonomic nervous system for sinus and atrioventricular node function in patients with sick sinus syndrome]. / Znaczenie ukladu wegetatywnego dla czynnosci wezlów zatokowego i przedsionkowo-komorowego, u chorych z zespolem chorego wezla zatokowego.

Autonomous nervous system (ANS) influence on sinus (SN) and atrioventricular (A-V N) nodes is still under investigation, especially in pathological states. We analysed role of ANS for SN and A-VN function in patients with different forms of sick sinus syndrome (SSS). From 310 patients (pts) after electrophysiological examinations before and after pharmacological denervation of the heart we selected 206 pts with SSS (group S) for further investigation. In group S were 124 men and 82 women from 17 years old (mean 46 +/- 16). Coronary heart disease was present in 102 pts (myocardial infarction in 7), mitral valve prolapse in 10, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2. SSS was the only pathological finding in 75 pts. In 92 cases pacemaker was implanted (45%) of whole group S. Only sinus bradycardia was observed in 118 cases, tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome in 34 and sinus arrest or/and sinoatrial block in 53 cases. Electrophysiological examinations were performed using transesophageal stimulation of the left atrium before and after denervation of the heart. Pharmacological denervation of the heart was obtained by propranolol (i.v. 0.2 mg/kg body weight) and than atropine (i.v. 0.04 mg/kg body weight). We analysed sinus cycle length in basic state, after propranolol injection and after full denervation, maximal sinus nodes recovery time, maximal corrected sinus node recovery time, secondary pause, sino-atrial conduction time, Wenckebach point before and after full denervation. The whole group with SSS (group S) was divided: pts with normal (S1) and abnormal (S2) intrinsic properties of SN (104 and 102 pts respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Atrio-ventricular conduction in patients with permanent right-ventricular stimulation. I. Possibilities of evaluation by the method of trans-esophageal electrocardiogram]. / Przewodzenie komorowo-przedsionkowe u chorych z przewlekla stymulacja prawokomorowa. Czesc I. Mozliwosc oceny metoda elektrokardiogramu przelykowego.

UNLABELLED: We analyzed 214 patients with permanent, VVI mode stimulation divided in 5 groups. Group I 89 patients (pts) with sick sinus syndrome (sss) (mean age 60 +/- 14 yrs), group II 21 pts with sss and atrioventricular (a-v) conduction disturbances (mean age 54 +/- 19 yrs), group III 72 pts with a-v block, but without intraventricular conduction disturbances (mean age 68 +/- 11 yrs), group IV 20 pts with a-v block and registered bundle branch block (mean age 67 +/- 7) and group V 12 pts after His bundle ablation (mean age 51 +/- 20 yrs). In all pts we recorded leads I, II, III, V1, V6 and oesophageal (oe) on Mingophon 7 (Siemens-Elema) with paper speed 50 mm/s. All recordings were performed during basic and magnetic rate of the pulse generator. We could analyzed ventriculo-atrial (v-a) conduction in group I-IV respectively in 89.9%, 95.3%, 84.7%, 100%, 83.3% and in all population in 89.2% cases. In 23 pts (10.8%) we could not analyzed v-a conduction due to atrial flutter or fibrillation. V-a conduction was present in groups I-IV in 61.2%, 35%, 21.4%, 45% and 10% cases respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In group patients with sick sinus syndrome and VVI stimulation ventriculo-atrial conduction was recorded in most cases. 2. Ventriculo-atrial conduction was recorded in part of the population with atrio-ventricular block. 3. Frequency of ventriculo-atrial conduction phenomenon is dependent on degree of a-v block. 4. Transesophageal recording of ventriculo-atrial conduction phenomenon in patients with implantable VVI pacemaker is simple, noninvasive and useful method for clinical practice.

[Atrio-ventricular conduction in patients with permanent right- ventricular stimulation. II. Atrio-ventricular conduction time in patients with normal and impaired atrio-ventricular conduction]. / Przewodzenie komorowo-przedsionkowe u chorych z przewlekla stymulacja prawokomorowa. Czesc II. Czas przewodzenia komorowo-przedsionkowego u chorych z prawidllowym oraz uposledzonym przewodzeniem przedsionkowo-komorowym.

UNLABELLED: We analyzed transesophageal ECG recordings of 79 patients (42 men and women aged 17-85 mean 61 +/- 16 yrs) with present ventriculo-atrial conduction phenomenon during permanent VVI stimulation. All measurements we performed on basic and magnetic rate of the pulse generator. V-a conduction time was defined as mean (from 5 measurements) time from spike of the pulse generator to the first deflection of P wave recorded from esophagus and expressed in miliseconds. We compared v-a conduction time (v-act) on basic and magnetic rates of a stimulator and between groups with normal (group A, 49 pts) and prolonged a-v conduction time (group B, 30 pts). Group B was divided on group B-1 (19 pts without bundle branch blocks) and B-2 (11 pts with bundle branch blocks during observations). V-act during magnetic rate (cycle 596 +/- 70 ms) was significantly longer than during basic rate (cycle 834 +/- 66 ms) (191 +/- 48 ms vs 185 +/- 44 ms, p 0.05). V-act in patients with a-v block (group B) was significantly longer than in patients with normal a-v conduction (group B) (219 +/- 45 ms vs 190 +/- 47 ms, p 0.02). The longest v-act was observed in group B-2 (236 +/- 32 ms). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Ventriculo-atrial conduction time could be measured in patients with permanent VVI stimulation using esophageal ECG recording. 2. Shortening of the stimulation cycle prolonges ventriculo-atrial conduction time. 3. Ventriculo-atrial conduction time is longest in group with atrio-ventricular conduction disturbances, especially in group with registered bundle branch block.

[Main coronary disease risk factors in metallurgy workers]. / Glówne czynniki zagrozenia choroba wiencowa w populacji pracowników walcowni metali.

The authors investigated the extension of major coronary risk factors among metal-flatten workers. In the whole population the percentage of these factors was as follows: hypertension 14,4%, hypercholesterolemia, 17.7%, hyperglycemia 6,5%, overweight 35% and cigarette smoking 61,3%. The extension of the risk factors is dependent on age and increases with age. No significant correlation was found between these factors and working conditions. In comparison to other investigations carried out in Poland the examined population exhibited considerable tobacco smoking, overweight, hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia.