Roughness evolution in strongly interacting donor:acceptor mixtures of molecular semiconductors. An in situ, real-time growth study using x-ray reflectivity.

The evolution of surface roughness in binary mixtures of the two molecular organic semiconductors (OSCs) diindenoperylene (DIP) as electron-donor and 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8-hexafluoro-tetracyano naphthoquinodimethane (F6TCNNQ) as electron-acceptor is studied. We co-deposit DIP and F6TCNNQ in vacuum with varying relative molar content while keeping a molar excess of DIP in order to produce phase-heterogeneous mixtures. The excess DIP phase segregates in pristine crystallites, whereas the remaining mixed phase is constituted by DIP:F6TCNNQ co-crystallites. We calculate the surface roughness as function of film thickness by modelling x-ray reflectivity data acquired in situ and in real-time during film growth. To model the experimental data, two distinct approaches, namely the kinematic approximation and the Parratt formalism, are applied. A comparative study of surface roughness evolution as function of DIP:F6TCNNQ mixing ratio is carried out implementing the Trofimov growth model within the kinematic approximation. Depending on the thickness regime, mixing ratio-specific trends are identified and discussed. To explain them, a growth mechanism for binary heterogeneous mixtures of strongly interacting OSCs is proposed.

Snake (Vipera berus) bite: The cause of severe anaphylactic shock and hepatocellular injury.

Vipera berus bites lead to a variety of clinical manifestations. Local swelling, coagulopathy, nephrotoxicity, cardiac effects and myotoxicity are known to be associated with envenoming by a viper bite. Although a variety of clinical manifestations have been reported in viper bite cases, anaphylactic reactions and liver injury events have not been described. We report a unique case of an anaphylaxis and transitional liver cell injury due to a Vipera berus bite in the case of a 58-year-old man with no past history suggestive of allergy and liver disease. These observations need to be further explored with laboratory studies to identify the venom components which could have pre-disposed the patient to the development of these complications.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new 2-benzoxazolinone derivatives as potential cholinesterase inhibitors for therapy of alzheimer's disease.

Currently acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) therapy is one of the most frequently used methods in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; tacrine, donepezil, rivastygmine and galantamine are applied in different stages of AD. In the present study, we propose a new series of 2-benzoxazolinone derivatives as potential cholinesterase inhibitors. These compounds were synthesized by condensation of 6-chloro acetyl-2-benzoxa zolinone with the corresponding amine and evaluated as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors using the colorimetric Ellman's method. Selectivity and the IC50 values were determined for the received derivatives. All tested compounds exhibited the inhibitory activity towards acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Compound 3e showed stronger activity than the standard tacrine, and compound 3a showed activity similar to that of tacrine for AChE. Compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3e showed stronger activity than the standard donepezil towards the inhibition of BChE, and the compound 3e showed stronger activity than donepezil towards AChE.

[Nutritional problems of persons qualified for the methadone treatment. Part I. Nutritional status of opiate addicts]. / Problemy zywieniowe osób zakwalifikowanych do leczenia substytucyjnego metadonem. Czesc I. Stan odzywienia osób uzaleznionych od opiatów.

The aim of the study was assessment of the nutritional status of opiate addicted persons. The study was carried out on 44 opiate abusers (14 women aged from 21-33 years and 30 men aged from 21-46 years), who were classified to methadone maintenance treatment. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometry methods and body composition was examined using bioelectric impedance. BMI (body mass index) of examined women ranged from 16.4 to 30.8, and BMI of examined men ranged from 17.1 to 44.9. 21% of women and 44% of men had BMI < 15th centile (this indicates undernutrition), 7% of women and 3% of men had BMI > 85th centile (this indicates overnutrition). The medium body fat content for women was 8.7 +/- 6.3 kg (14.7% of body weight), for men 9.5 +/- 8.5 kg (11.9% of body weight). 50% of women and 53% of men had body fat deficiency upper 5% of range adjusted for age and sex, body fat excess upper 5% of range revealed 14% of women and 17% of men. The water content for examined women was 35.5 +/- 6.9 L (62.8 of body weight), for men 47.4 +/- 8.4 L (58.8% of body weight). Water deficiency upper 5% of range revealed 7% of men, 86% of women and 53% of men had water excess upper 5% of range. The lean body mass for women was 48.2% +/- 7.2 kg (85.4% of body weight), for men 62.7 +/- 10 kg (88.4% of body weight). Anthropometry as well as examination of body composition indicate prevalence of energy protein malnutrition among opiate addicted.

Glycosylation defects corrected by the changes in GDPmannose level.

GDPMan is a key substrate in glycoprotein formation. This is especially true for lower eukaryotes where, in addition to the involvement in N-glycan biosynthesis and GPI-anchor formation, GDPMan takes part in the process which is unique for yeast and fungi i.e. O-mannosylation. Several lines of evidence have been presented that the level of GDPMan affects the process occurring in the Golgi compartment i.e. the elongation of outer mannose chain of glycoproteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results from our laboratory indicate that the availability of GDPMan affects also the early steps of glycoprotein formation ascribed to the endoplasmic reticulum, i.e. assembly of the dolichol-linked oligosaccharide as well as mannosyl-phosphodolichol (MPD) formation. The biochemical basis of carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome, a severe neurological disorder related to the GDPMan deficiency, is also discussed.

Assessment of nutritional state of alcohol abusers and drug poisoned patients.

Beside the primary illness and environmental factors also alcohol addiction, similarly to another kind of dependency, is being considered as the causative factor of nutritional disorders. Alcohol and drug dependent people due to distorted eating behaviour are predisposed not only to eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia) but also to eating abuse (obesity, overweight, habitual eating). The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional state of alcohol abusers and drug poisoned patients. 113 patients treated at the Department of Clinical Toxicology in Kraków including 65 chronic alcoholics (85% men) and 48 drug poisoned patients (75% young women) were examined anthropometricaly. The measures were performed twice: on admission and on discharge from the Clinic. Nutritional state was unsatisfactory in 76.1% of examined patients and malnutrition or risk of malnutrition was more prevalent than overnutrition. Proportions of subjects qualified to specific groups of nutriture were different in alcohol abusers compared to drug poisoned patients. Also etiology of malnutrition was different. Irregular lifestyle and improper nutrition mode in the group of alcohol abusers (mainly men) and a phenomenon of "slimness terror" in the group of young woman with incidence of suicide attempt should be understood as significant factors of malnutrition. There was no detectable change in nutriture within the nine days long hospitalisation. Only slight, not significant, increase in values of anthropometric parameters was observed in the group of alcohol dependent patients.

[The influence of aging on autonomic nervous system activity and gastric myoelectric activity in humans]. / Wplyw procesu starzenia na aktywnosc ukladu autonomicznego i mioelektryczna zoladka u ludzi.

The study was performed on 84 healthy volunteers (33 women, 52 men) of age 20-71 years with no history of the circulatory or gastrointestinal system disease. The gastric myoelectrical activity (EGG) was recorded with the cutaneous electrodes--electrogastrography Synectics (Sweden). The activity of the cardiac autonomic nervous system was measured by HRV (heart rate variability) recorded with EGG and computer assisted programme Proster (Poland). Subject were divided into 5 groups according to the decade of age (20-70). Percentage of basal electrical rhythm (BER) dysrhythmias increased (1.9 +/- 0.5% vs 21.1 +/- 3.2% in fasting and 2.4 +/- 1.2% vs 24.6 +/- 5% postprandially but decrease of the EGG amplitude after the meal was observed (270 +/- 20% vs 90 +/- 7%) in youngest and oldest group respectively. With the ageing the cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activity (LF and HF) decreased in first and last group respectively. In the forth decade in man and women the sympathetic activity system prevalence expressed by the LF/HF rate increased (1.09 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.14 +/- 0.5) (p < 0.05). The results of our study suggest the deleterious influence of the ageing on the of autonomic system activity as shown by changes in HRV and dysrhythmia of the gastric slow waves in EGG.

Influence of cadmium intoxication on thromboresistance of vascular endothelium in rabbits.

Here, using our original technique for measuring of thrombogenesis on the surface of rabbit aorta endothelium superfused with whole blood, we demonstrate that the thrombogenic property of endothelium is potentiated in the course of 3 months cadmium intoxication. The loss of endothelial thromboresistance is accompanied by suppressed generation of endogenous prostacyclin, leukopenia, increased platelet aggregability and by the presence of quasi-atherosclerotic, focal proliferative, glassy-protein lesions formed in aortic endothelium. We hypothesize that the final loss of vessel thromboresistance with all sequence of events that accompany cadmium intoxication, may result from the cadmium-induced inhibition of the generation of endothelial prostacyclin. However, the exact mechanism by which cadmium intoxication may affect the generation of prostacyclin and, then, functioning of blood platelets and vascular endothelium requires further investigations.

[The effect of antioxidants on lipid metabolism in myocardium in experimental hyperthyroxinemic conditions]. / Wplyw antyutleniaczy na metabolizm lipidowy miesnia sercowego w warunkach doswiadczalnej hipertyroksynemii.

This experiment was conducted on 38 white Wistar-strain rats subdivided into five experimental groups. Group I were control animals which receiving intraperitoneal 0.5 ml injections of the sodium chloride physiological solution everyday during the whole experimental period of 26 days. Rats from Group II were injected intraperitoneally L-thyroxine (600 micrograms per kg of body weight) five times a week. The animals from Groups III, IV, and V, in addition to thyroxine injected in the same way as in Group II, were additionally administered one of such antioxidants as allopurinol, desferal, or vitamin C. The purpose of this research was to find an answer to the question whether the application of the above-mentioned antioxidants modifies the non-beneficial hyperthyroxinemic impact on the lipid metabolism of the cardiac muscle. It was found that the thyroxine influenced the change of the triglyceride and phospholipid contents in the cardiac muscle. All the applied antioxidants partly modified the thyroxine influence on the lipid balance in the cardiac muscle, especially in the area of triglycerides.

[The effect of some antioxidants on the response of selected lipid compounds in myocardium of rats]. / Wplyw niektórych antyutleniaczy na zachowanie sie wybranych zwiazków lipidowych w miesniu sercowym szczurów.

Tests performed on 48 white rats were designed to evaluate the effect of such antioxidants as Allopurinol, Vitamin C, and Desferal on the lipid quantity in the rat heart muscle. The test animals were divided into control, Allopurinol, Vitamin C, and Desferal test groups in which free fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and total cholesterol were determined. It was observed that under the influence of Allopurinol and Vitamin C the heart muscle was bereaved of the essential energy compound, free fatty acids, to a large extent. This may be caused by the participation of these antioxidants in the redox reactions in organisms. The antioxidant applied in the experiments did not cause any changes in the contents of the other lipids under determination, i.e. triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol. The maintenance of a constant level of these compounds is probably beneficial both for the heart and thus for the whole organism.

[Testing lipid metabolism in aortic walls of rats subjected to year-long cadmium intoxication]. / Badanie metabolizmu lipidowego w scianie aorty szczurów poddanych rocznej intoksykacji kadmem.

The present work is continuation of experiments previously conducted on the impact of cadmium on the aortic lipid metabolism of rats. In the present experimental model, the duration of exposure to cadmium was increased four-fold: that is, to twelve months. The extension of the time of exposure was intended to make possible a more detailed analysis of aortic lipid metabolism. This metabolism was traced by marking the level of free fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and total cholesterol. The cadmium content of aortic segments was marked at the same time. Out of all the lipid components marked, there was observed a statistically extremely significant increase in the concentration of free fatty acids, while the remaining lipid compounds were unchanged. The year-long toxication caused a perceptible and statistically significant concentration of cadmium in the aortic wall. The changes in lipid metabolism found in the present experimental model, in comparison to the results attained in animals subjected to three months of toxication, are relatively slight. This test result may be the consequence of the exceptionally high capacity of rats to adapt to pathogenic factors, and the development of a certain level of tolerance to cadmium in these animals.

Identification of new apolipoprotein B epitopes and haplotypes and their distribution in swine populations.

Results from comparative immunogenetic studies on inheritance and identification of four new apolipoprotein B (apoB) allotypes and three additional apoB haplotypes and their distribution in miniature and domestic swine are presented. Immunological surveys on the four new and 16 previously described Lpb allotypes and genetic analysis of their segregation in progenies, of miniature and domestic swine and their crosses, indicate that three new allotypes designated Lpb9, Lpb10 and Lpb101 are individual (mutant) apoB epitopes, each representing a discriminating marker for one of the new apoB haplotypes specified by three new apoB alleles designated Lpb9, Lpb10 and Lpb101. The fourth allotype, Lpb20, is one of the common epitopes forming the alternative epitope pair with Lpb10, and is a constituent of each of the eight previously described and two new apoB haplotypes. The new apoB alleles have so far been found only in miniature swine, with Lpb10 being the most frequent in the Göttingen, Vietnamese Pot-belly and Japanese Miniature, Lpb9 was detected only in Minnesota Miniature and Lpb101 only in Vietnamese Potbelly. The common allotype, Lpb20, shares immunological similarities with human apoB indicating its ancestral origin, whereas none of the alloreagents detecting the three individual apoB variants, Lpb9, Lpb10 or Lpb101, showed cross-reactivity with human apoB, suggesting their exclusive swine origin and evolvement during speciation through mutations.

[Evaluation of the toxic effects of cadmium on the body in light of research on the behavior of lipid compounds in aortic walls of animals]. / Ocena toksycznego dzialania kadmu na ustrój w swietle badán nad zachowaniem sie zwiazków lipidowych w scianie aorty zwierzat.

The goal of this project was to observe certain paths of lipid metabolism in the aorta under the influence of chronic cadmium poisoning. A statistically very significant concentration of cadmium was found in the aortic walls of poisoned rats. However, the concentration of cadmium was not changed in the blood serum, where only a slight tendency towards increase was observed. Among the lipid compounds traced in the blood serum, a considerable increase in triglycerides was observed. The increase in the concentration of total cholesterol in the aortic wall was slight but statistically significant. The concentration of other analyzed lipids--i.e. free fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids--did not change. The above observations suggest the hypothesis of the possible development of atherosclerotic changes resulting from chronic cadmium poisoning.

A new lipoprotein allotype Lpr3 and allele Lpr1,3 in the pig.

Specific alloprecipitins were found in blood plasma of pigs, immunized by sera of Lpr1 positive donors. These precipitins detected a new allotype of the lipoprotein Lpr system which was designated Lpr3. Genetic studies confirmed its codominant inheritance and subgroup character. This linear subgroup of allotype Lpr1 is controlled by the allele Lpr1,3. Investigations in populations of 14 pig breeds showed significant interbreed differences in the frequencies of alleles Lpr1, Lpr2 and Lpr1,3.

[Influence of chronic intoxication with cadmium chloride on the content of some lipids in lens and vitreous body of rabbits]. / Wplyw przewleklego zatrucia chlorkiem kadmu na zawartosc niektórych lipidów w soczewce i ciele szklistym królika.

The experiments were carried out on 21 rabbits, divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 10 control animals, the second one consisted of 11 animals given per os 3 times per week for 3 months 1 ml of water solution of cadmium chloride in the dose of 0.35 mg for 1 kilogram of body weight. After the animals have been killed, the content of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids in their vitreous was identified with enzymatic methods, applying appropriate tests. The content of free fatty acids was estimated with the Duncombe method. The obtained results were analyzed statistically, with t-Student test. It was determined statistically that the content of all tested lipids components in the vitreous of rabbits poisoned with cadmium chloride was significantly decreased in comparison with their content in control animals. The greatest decrease was found in the level of free fatty acids and triglycerides, smaller decrease in phospholipids and cholesterol. Significant decrease of the total cholesterol level was found in the rabbits' lens. However no changes were observed in any other lipid components of the lens. The article discusses the significance of the obtained results in relation to ecological problems.

[Influence of chronic poisoning with cadmium on some lipid compounds in heart muscle and aorta of rabbits]. / Wplyw przewleklego zatrucia kadmem na niektóre zwiazki lipidowe w miesniu sercowym i aorcie królików.

The detection of the influence of chronic poisoning with cadmium on some lipid metabolism in heart muscle and aorta of rabbits was the main object of the paper. A distinct cumulation of cadmium in the heart muscle was observed. However, its excessive accumulation in the wall of the aorta was not noted. A trend toward an increase of all lipid parameters, that is triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids and cholesterol, was observed in the heart muscle. On the other hand, the level of phospholipids increased very distinctly in the aorta and the level of free fatty acids decreased insignificantly, which can be a favourable factor for the development of atherosclerosis processes.

[Behavior of selected indicators of lipid metabolism in kidney and liver of rats continuously exposed to effects of cadmium]. / Zachowanie sie wybranych wskazników przemiany lipidowej w nerce i watrobie szczurów przewlekle narazonych na dzialanie kadmu.

In this research, we attempted to demonstrate whether and to what extent chronic cadmium poisoning influences lipid metabolism in the kidney and liver of rats. The presence of small quantities of cadmium was discovered in the kidneys and livers of normal animals. In the tested organs of cadmium-poisoned rats, a significant increase of the concentration of this element was observed, depending on the dose of the compound administered. Regarding lipid components, a reduced concentration of phospholipids and an increased level of free fatty acids were found in both kidney and liver. Such changes are probably the result of enzymatic disorders, especially as regards calmodulin-dependent enzymes. The content of the remaining assayed lipid compounds, i.e. triglycerides and total cholesterol, did not change in either organ under the effects of cadmium.

[Effect of cadmium on certain factors of lipid metabolism in the aorta and myocardium of rats]. / Wplyw kadmu na niektóre wskazniki przemiany lipidowej w aorcie i miesniu sercowym szczurów.

The goal of the research was to examine the effects of cadmium chloride on the levels of selected components of the lipid metabolism in the homogenates of the aorta and the cardiac muscle. Our experiments were carried out on white rats of the Wistar breed subdivided into three experimental groups. Group I were the control animals. The rats of Group II and Group III received the doses of per os, water solution of the cadmium chloride, of 0.88 mg CdCl2 x 2.5H2O per kg of the body weight and 8.8 mg CdCl2 x 2.5H2O per kg of the body weight, respectively, 3 times a week for 3 months. The concentration of total cholesterol was determined in the aorta homogenates and the concentrations of free fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids and total cholesterol were determined in the cardiac muscle homogenates. On the basis of our results we found the increase of the total cholesterol concentrations in the aorta homogenates. We also observed the tendency to increase the total cholesterol level in the cardiac muscle homogenates. Such results indicate that atherosclerotic changes of vessels are possible in conclusion of a chronic cadmium poisoning. No changes in the concentrations of the lipid components which are energetically important for the heart were found. Besides, the decrease of the phospholipid concentration resulting from the cadmium chloride poisoning was observed in the cardiac muscle homogenates. That may indicate a change of the activities of the respective enzymatic systems in the cardiac muscle under the influence of cadmium which also causes damages of biological membranes.

[Ethical aspects in the diagnosis of hysteria]. / Etické aspekty diagnózy hysterie.

The diagnosis of hysteria underwent historical development. The definition of the diagnosis by our classics and the contemporary definition lack continuity. The classics defined it accurately and were able to describe actual symptoms, their categories, links, and were able to differentiate subtly between different forms. In the contemporary medical documentation the description is vague. The entries in health records have sometimes so many gaps that it is sometimes impossible to find out on which symptoms or manifestations the diagnosis was based. This makes us think of intuitive, empathic or short-cut approaches. It is obvious that the diagnosis of hysteria has for different reasons new contents with the possible implications: formerly diagnosis, nowadays insult. One of the ways how to resolve this controversy is to use more general formulations such as they are in DSM III or in the ICD 10 which is being prepared, which abondon the contamined terminology and introduce more general precisely defined terms.