The Significance of Keratinized Mucosa in Implant Therapy: Narrative Literature Review and Case Report Presentation.

Background/Objectives: Implant treatment in patients who require teeth extraction due to periodontitis presents a significant challenge. The consideration of peri-implantitis is crucial when planning the placement of dental implants. The predictability of implant treatment relies on the suitability of both hard and soft tissue quality. The aim of this article is to present a case report demonstrating a secure treatment protocol for implant procedures in patients with periodontitis requiring the extraction of all teeth, soft tissue management targeted at increasing the keratinized mucosa zone, and the provision of a reliable prosthetic solution. The secondary objective is to review the relevant literature regarding the significance of keratinized mucosa surrounding dental implants and its association with the occurrence of peri-implantitis. Case presentation: A 65-year-old female with generalized periodontitis, stage IV grade C and very poor oral hygiene came for treatment and rehabilitation of the lower jaw. CBCT revealed periodontal lesions and labio-lingual ridge dimensions in the region of teeth 34-44 from 8.0 to 10.2 mm. The first surgery included teeth extraction and periodontal lesions enucleation with simultaneous placement of four implants in the positions of teeth 32, 34, 42, 44. The second-stage surgery involved increasing the keratinized mucosa using two free gingival grafts. Conclusions: The present case report described the treatment process of the patient with periodontitis, including immediate implantation in the infected region, soft tissue augmentation using free gingival grafts and the ultimate placement of a bar-retained overdenture for final restoration. After two years of observation, despite questionable hygiene, no symptoms of gingival inflammation were detected. Furthermore, there is limited information in the literature regarding the correlation between inadequate keratinized gingiva and the occurrence of peri-implantitis.

The Effect of High-Pressure Processing of Caprine Milk on the Production and Properties of Yoghurt.

The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of HP-treated caprine milk for yoghurt production and to evaluate the effect of HP treatment on yoghurt properties. Reconstituted caprine milk was subjected to HP treatment (350 MPa/10 min/20 °C); a lactic acid starter culture (YC-X16, Chr. Hansen) was added. Milk was fermented at a temperature of 43 °C until pH 4.60. Bacterial counts, pH, color, rheological characteristics, texture, microstructure, and the sensory attributes of the yoghurt were determined after production and after seven days of storage at a temperature of 4 °C. HP treatment increased color saturation and whiteness index and induced a minor increase in milk pH. Minor differences in the acidification curve were noted. During storage, Streptococcus thermophilus counts were significantly higher in yoghurt from HP-treated than from untreated milk, whereas Lactobacillus delbruecki ssp. bulgaricus counts remained stable. A color analysis did not reveal differences between the experimental and control yoghurts. After storage, yoghurt made from HP-treated milk was characterized by thicker consistency and lower rheological stability than the control yoghurt. The micrographs of the yoghurts confirmed the differences in rheological parameters. Yoghurt produced from HP-treated caprine milk and stored for seven days received the highest scores in the sensory evaluation.

Distribution of sleep components while working remotely.

OBJECTIVES: The circadian system is the main regulator of almost all human physiological processes. The aim of this study was to assess sleep in the working population, in relation to the share of remote working. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted among students and staff representing 3 universities in Lódz, Poland (N = 1209). The participants were divided into 3 groups according to the percentage of time they worked remotely. Group I consisted of respondents performing tasks remotely for ≤45% of their working time; group II included respondents performing their duties remotely for >45-75% of their working time, and group III included those working >75% of their time remotely. RESULTS: performing their duties remotely for >45-75% of their working time, and group III included those working >75% of their time remotely. Results: In the study, the authors found the association between the length of time spent on a computer, the percentage of time working remotely, and the occurrence of physical symptoms and the prevalence of sleep disorders. The most significant difference between working days and days off in terms of the mid-point of sleep (1.5 h) was observed in group I, where there was the greatest variability in the form of work performance. The participants who worked most of their time remotely (group III) shifted their bedtime to midnight, both on working days and on days off. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights that increased remote computer use leads to a shift in sleeping patterns towards midnight. The participants with later midpoint of sleep hours were found to have a higher incidence of sleep disorders. The prevalence of sleep disorders was significantly impacted by prolonged mobile phone use before bedtime and long hours of computer use. Thus, limiting both the time spent in front of a computer and the use of mobile phones before bedtime is recommended. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):34-44.

Skeletal facial asymmetry: reliability of manual and artificial intelligence-driven analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare artificial intelligence (AI)-driven web-based platform and manual measurements for analysing facial asymmetry in craniofacial CT examinations. METHODS: The study included 95 craniofacial CT scans from patients aged 18-30 years. The degree of asymmetry was measured based on AI platform-predefined anatomical landmarks: sella (S), condylion (Co), anterior nasal spine (ANS), and menton (Me). The concordance between the results of automatic asymmetry reports and manual linear 3D measurements was calculated. The asymmetry rate (AR) indicator was determined for both automatic and manual measurements, and the concordance between them was calculated. The repeatability of manual measurements in 20 randomly selected subjects was assessed. The concordance of measurements of quantitative variables was assessed with interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) according to the Shrout and Fleiss classification. RESULTS: Erroneous AI tracings were found in 16.8% of cases, reducing the analysed cases to 79. The agreement between automatic and manual asymmetry measurements was very low (ICC < 0.3). A lack of agreement between AI and manual AR analysis (ICC type 3 = 0) was found. The repeatability of manual measurements and AR calculations showed excellent correlation (ICC type 2 > 0.947). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the rate of tracing errors and lack of agreement with manual AR analysis make it impossible to use the tested AI platform to assess the degree of facial asymmetry.

The value of metal artifact reduction and iterative algorithms in dual energy CT angiography in patients after complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

Rationale and objectives: Evaluation of the diagnostic value of linearly blended (LB) and virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) reconstruction techniques with and without metal artifacts reduction (MAR) and of adaptive statistical iterative reconstructions (ASIR) in the assessment of target vessels after branched/fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (f/brEVAR) procedures. Materials and methods: CT scans of 28 patients were used in this study. Arterial phase of examination was obtained using a dual-energy fast-kVp switching scanner. CT numbers in the aorta, celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries were measured in the following reconstructions: LB, VMI 60 keV, VMI MAR 60 keV, VMI ASIR 60 % 60 keV. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were calculated for each reconstruction. Luminal diameters (measurements at 2 levels of stent) and subjective image quality (5-point Likert scale) were assessed (2 readers, blinded to the type of reconstruction). Results: The highest mean values of CNR and SNR in vascular structures were obtained in VMI MAR 60 keV (CNR 12.526 ± 2.46, SNR 17.398 ± 2.52), lower in VMI 60 keV (CNR 11.508 ± 2.01, SNR 16.524 ± 2.07) and VMI ASIR (CNR 11.086 ± 1.78, SNR 15.928 ± 1.82), and the lowest in LB (CNR 6.808 ± 0.79, SNR 11.492 ± 0.79) reconstructions. There were no statistically significant differences in the measurements of the stent width between reconstructions (p > 0.05). The highest subjective image quality was obtained in the ASIR VMI (4.25 ± 0.44) and the lowest in the MAR VMI (1.57 ± 0.5) reconstruction. Conclusion: Despite obtaining the highest values of SNR and CNR in the MAR VMI reconstruction, the subjective diagnostic value was the lowest for this technique due to significant artifacts. The type of reconstruction did not significantly affect vessel diameter measurements (p > 0.05). Iterative reconstructions raised both objective and subjective image quality.

Prenatal polyunsaturated fatty acids and atopic dermatitis and food allergy in children from Polish Mother and Child Cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are involved both in immune system regulation and inflammation. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the association between maternal dietary intake of PUFAs during pregnancy and atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergy (FA) in their children up to 7-9 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consists of 557 mother-child pairs from the Polish Mother and Child Cohort (REPRO_PL). Based on the Food Frequency Questionnaire completed between the 20-24th weeks of pregnancy, n-3 and n-6 PUFAs as well as n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio were estimated using food composition tables. Children's health examinations at the age of 1, 2, and 7-9 years were performed by an allergist. Generalized estimating equations were performed in order to assess the prevalence of AD and FA at 3 time points. Independent variables in the equation were n-3, n-6 PUFAs and n-6:n-3 PUFAs ratio. In addition multivariate models were performed to assess the association of PUFAs with AD and FA. RESULTS: The prevalence of AD was 37%, 26% and 21% and FA 26%, 22% and 22% at age of 1, 2 and 7-9 years, respectively. Higher n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio correlated with higher prevalence of AD at age of 7-9 years (p < 0.07). In multivariate model n-6 PUFAs were significantly associated with increased risk of persistent FA (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.1). CONCLUSIONS: These results may contribute to the existing knowledge on the impact of maternal diet during pregnancy on children's optimal health, however further studies are needed before drawing conclusions and creating clinical practice guidelines. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):428-36.

Relationship between prenatal and postnatal exposure to BPA and its analogues (BPS, BPF) and allergic diseases.

Bisphenols, endocrine disrupting chemicals, are widely used in daily life. Continued exposure during key developmental periods of life (pregnancy, infancy and early childhood) can contribute to adverse health consequences such as decreased lung function, wheezing/asthma, the occurrence of allergies or changes in immune system responses. The purpose of this review is to present the current state of knowledge on the effects of prenatal or postnatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) on the development of allergic diseases in childhood. A com- prehensive and systematic search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted. The review is restricted to studies published since 2015, in English in peer-reviewed journals. Based on keywords, 2648 studies were identified and reviewed for eligibility. Finally, 8 epidemio- logical studies were found to be appropriate for inclusion in this publication. The data collected in this review suggests that there is an associa- tion between maternal exposure during pregnancy or childhood to BPA and the development of allergic diseases. Most studies reported positive relationships between BPA exposure and at least one of the types of allergic disease. The paucity of studies and the observed differences in findings regarding the association between prenatal/postnatal exposure to BPS and/or BPF do not allow firm conclusions to be drawn. Further research is needed to identify the vulnerable population and the mechanisms responsible for the development of undesirable health consequences. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(5):575-86.

Morphological Variations and Anomalies of the Sella Turcica on Lateral Cephalograms of Cleft-Palate-Only (CPO) Patients.

Sella turcica abnormalities were reported in malocclusions and clefts. No studies were found on sella turcica abnormalities in CPO patients. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of sella turcica abnormalities on cephalometric radiographs in CPO versus non-cleft orthodontic patients. Cephalograms of CPO patients (n = 89) and controls (n = 89) were analyzed for normal sella turcicae and sella turcica abnormalities. Then, cephalometric analysis was performed using specialized software. Statistical analysis was performed using the Rv.4.1.1 package. No variation in or anomaly of the sella turcica was more frequent in CPO compared to non-cleft individuals. Patients with hypertrophic posterior clinoid process had higher interincisal and 1+:Nasion-A angles. Subjects with hypertrophic posterior clinoid process and double contour of the floor had higher Sella-Nasion-A, Sella-Nasion-B and Sella-Nasion-Pogonion and lower ANB. A pyramidal shape of the dorsum sellae was more prevalent in males, as was double contour of the floor in females. Subjects with an oblique anterior wall had lower SNB, GntgoAr and NLA. Subjects with a normal sella had higher SNPg, ML-NSL and 1+:NAmm. A normal sella was more prevalent in younger patients. CPO is not associated with sella turcica abnormalities compared to non-cleft orthodontic patients.

Surface Modification of Silicone by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma.

The objective of the study was to modify the surface of the silicone rubber, using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) to improve its hydrophilic properties. The influence of the exposure time, discharge power, and gas composition-in which the dielectric barrier discharge was generated-on the properties of the silicone surface layer were examined. After the modification, the wetting angles of the surface were measured. Then, the value of surface free energy (SFE) and changes in the polar components of the modified silicone over time were determined using the Owens-Wendt method. The surfaces and morphology of the selected samples before and after plasma modification were examined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), atomic force microscopy AFM, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Based on the research, it can be concluded that the silicone surface can be modified using a dielectric barrier discharge. Surface modification, regardless of the chosen method, is not permanent. The AFM and XPS study show that the structure's ratio of oxygen to carbon increases. However, after less than four weeks, it decreases and reaches the value of the unmodified silicone. It was found that the cause of the changes in the parameters of the modified silicone rubber is the disappearance of oxygen-containing groups on the surface and a decrease in the molar ratio of oxygen to carbon, causing the RMS surface roughness and the roughness factor to return to the initial values.

Analgesic Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Combining the Use of Electromagnetic Fields with Light Radiation Emitted by LEDs along with the Use of Topical Herbal Ointment in Patients with Gonarthrosis.

(1) Background: The aim of the study is to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of a physical therapy regimen that combines the use of an electromagnetic field with light radiation emitted by LEDs, along with the use of Traumeel S ointment, in patients with gonarthrosis. (2) Methods: The study included 90 patients with knee osteoarthritis (grade 2 Kellgren and Lawrence osteoarthritis). They were divided into three groups: Group I, 30 patients treated with magnetic stimulation plus LED therapy; Group II, 30 patients treated with Traumeel S ointment; and Group III, 30 patients treated with magnetic stimulation plus LED therapy with Traumeel S ointment. Pain intensity was assessed using the VAS and Laitinen scales before and after a series of treatments. (3) Results: Significant results in terms of pain reduction before and after treatment were obtained in each of the study groups, as there were significant differences in the VAS pain intensity scores before and after the procedures between the groups. In group I, with electromagnetic field and LED light treatment, the difference was 35.5; in group II, which received Traumeel S® ointment, the difference was 18.5; and in group III, with electromagnetic field and LED light treatment as well as Traumeel S ointment, the difference was 26.5. In the Laitinen scale, the differences were insignificant, although the size distribution was similar. (4) Conclusions: The therapy used in this study showed that magnetic stimulation plus LED therapy and the use of Traumeel S ointment gave positive results in terms of pain reduction in each of the study groups. The strongest analgesic factor seems to be magnetic and LED therapies used separately. Traumeel S in magnetoledophoresis does not work synergistically with the magnetic field of LED light, and even worsens the effect of the therapy used.

Ergonomics of E-Learning Workstations and the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders-Study among University Students.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) has increased significantly in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a fundamental change in the lifestyles, ways of learning and working patterns of the general population, which in turn, might lead to health consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the conditions of e-learning and the impact of the learning modality on the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms among university students in Poland. This cross-sectional study included 914 students who completed an anonymous questionnaire. The questions covered two time periods (before and during the COVID-19 pandemic) and were aimed at obtaining information about lifestyle (including physical activity using the modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire, 2007 (IPAQ), perceived stress and sleep patterns), the ergonomics of computer workstations (by Rapid Office Strain Assessment, 2012 (ROSA) method), the incidence and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms (by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, 2018 (NMQ)) and headaches. The main differences between the two periods were statistically significant according to the Wilcoxon test in terms of physical activity, computer use time, and severity of headaches. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in MSD (68.2% vs. 74.6%) and their intensity (2.83 ± 2.36 vs. 3.50 ± 2.79 points) among the student population (p < 0.001). In the group of students with MSD, there was a high musculoskeletal load, due to the lack of ergonomic remote learning workstations. In future, a thorough study should be carried out, and there is an urgent need to raise students' awareness of arranging learning workstations according to ergonomic principles in order to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems.

REPRO_PL-Polish Mother and Child Cohort-Exposure, Health Status, and Neurobehavioral Assessments in Adolescents-Design and Cohort Update.

Early life is a crucial window of opportunity to improve health across the life course. The prospective cohort study design is the most adequate to evaluate the longitudinal effects of exposure, the notification of changes in the exposure level and evaluation of the simultaneous impact of various exposures, as well as the assessment of several health effects and trajectories throughout childhood and adolescence. This paper provides an overview of the Polish Mother and Child cohort (REPRO_PL), with particular emphasis on Phase IV of this study. REPRO_PL is conducted in central Europe, where such longitudinal studies are less frequently implemented. In this population-based prospective cohort, which was established in 2007, three phases covering pregnancy (I), early childhood (II), and early school age (III) periods have already been completed. Phase IV gives a uniform opportunity to follow-up children during adolescence in order to evaluate if the consequences of prenatal and early postnatal exposures still persist at the age of 14. Moreover, we will be able to investigate the associations between simultaneous exposures to a broad spectrum of environmental factors, adolescents' health and neurobehavioral outcomes, and their trajectories within life, which is a novel framework of high scientific, public health and clinical priority.

Self-reported diabetes and quality of life: findings from a general population survey with the Short Form-12 (SF-12) Health Survey.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in subjects with and without self-reported diabetes in a representative sample of the Polish general adult population. Material and methods: Members of the general Polish population, selected with multi-stage stratified sampling, filled in the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire and answered a question about the diagnosis of diabetes. We estimated four types of outcomes: eight domain scores, physical component (PCS-12) and mental component (MCS-12) summaries, and a measure of overall health status weighted according to societal health preferences - SF-6D. We used multiple linear regression to examine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics with SF-12 summary indices. Results: Among 2938 respondents with complete SF-12 data, the prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 8.5% (95% CI: 7.5-9.6). Respondents with diabetes differed significantly from non-diabetic subjects in all SF-12 dimensions, with the most significant differences in physical functioning, general health, role physical and bodily pain (differences of means 31.9, 24.9, 24.1 and 22.3 points, respectively). Analysis across age groups showed that diabetes was associated with a mean decrease in PCS-12 and MCS-12 by 4.6 and 1.4 points, respectively. Female sex, advanced age, low education levels and treatment with insulin were independently associated with the impaired physical health of respondents with diabetes. Conclusions: We provided a consistent description of HRQoL, measured using the SF-12 questionnaire, in subjects with self-reported diabetes and respondents without diabetes in a nationally representative sample of Polish adults. Identifying factors independently associated with worse HRQoL in respondents with diabetes may help healthcare providers target intervention programmes more effectively.

Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of purine-2,6-dione-based TRPA1 antagonists with PDE4/7 inhibitory activity.

BACKGROUND: To verify the validity of the proposed pain treatment approach, which is based on concomitant blocking of the Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel and phosphodiesterases (PDEs) 4B/7A activity, we continued our pharmacological studies on 8-alkoxypurine-2,6-diones selected based on previous in vitro screening. METHODS: Derivatives 17, 31, and 36 were pharmacologically evaluated in vivo using the formalin test and oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain: the von Frey and the cold plate tests, and in the carrageenan-induced edema model. Compound 36, which turned out to be the most promising, was further evaluated in the collagen-induced arthritis model. The pharmacokinetic parameters of this compound were also estimated. RESULTS: All the tested compounds exhibited significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Compound 36 was additionally characterized by an antiarthritic effect and showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in rats. CONCLUSION: The compounds evaluated in this study represent a new class of derivatives with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities that involve TRPA1 antagonism and PDE4/7 inhibition.

Predictors of maternal dietary quality and dietary inflammation during pregnancy: An individual participant data meta-analysis of seven European cohorts from the ALPHABET consortium.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Maternal diet during pregnancy is a modifiable behaviour which plays an important role in maternal, neonatal and child health outcomes. Thus, knowledge of predictors of dietary quality and dietary inflammatory potential in European countries may contribute to developing maternal diet-related public health policies that target specific at-risk populations in Europe. METHODS: We used harmonised data from >26,000 pregnant women enrolled in the ALSPAC, EDEN, Generation R, Lifeways, REPRO_PL, ROLO and SWS cohorts, as part of the ALPHABET consortium. Maternal dietary quality and inflammatory potential were assessed using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII). We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis to investigate the maternal sociodemographic, health and behavioural predictors of maternal diet before and during pregnancy. RESULTS: DASH and E-DII scores were moderately correlated: from -0.63 (95% CI: -0.66, -0.59) to -0.48 (95% CI: -0.49, -0.47) across cohorts. Higher maternal age, education, household income, and physical activity during pregnancy were associated with a better dietary quality and a more anti-inflammatory diet. Conversely, multiparity and smoking during pregnancy were associated with a poorer dietary quality and a more proinflammatory diet. Women with obesity had a poorer pregnancy dietary quality than women with a normal body mass index range. CONCLUSIONS: The results will help identify population subgroups who may benefit from targeted public health strategies and interventions aimed at improving women's dietary quality during pregnancy.

Mild Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Middle-Age Male Athletes as a Sign of Masked Arterial Hypertension.

Mild left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been considered as one of the possible structural, physiological adaptations to regular, intensive physical activity. However, it may also appear as one of the subclinical complications of hypertension. In athletes, the differential diagnosis between these two entities may be complicated as regular physical activity may potentially mask the presence of arterial hypertension. We sought to determine the relation between LVH in middle-age athletes and the presence of hypertension. The study included 71 healthy, male long-time amateur athletes (mean age 41 ± 6 years, 83% endurance and 17% power sports) without known hypertension or any other cardiovascular diseases and with normal self-measured and office blood pressure. All subjects underwent resting electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiography, maximal exercise test on a treadmill and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. LVH was diagnosed as left ventricular wall diameter >11 mm. Hypertension was defined as mean 24 h systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 130 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 80 mmHg. Exaggerated blood pressure response (EBPR) to exercise was defined as SBP ≥ 210 mmHg. LVH (range > 11 to 14 mm) was found in 20 subjects (28%) and hypertension was diagnosed in 33 subjects (46%). Athletes with LVH were more likely to have hypertension than those without LVH (70% vs. 37%, p = 0.01). EBPR to exercise was found equally common in athletes with and without LVH (35% vs. 29%, p = 0.68), but more often in subjects with hypertension (51% vs. 13%, p < 0.001). Presence of LVH and hypertension was equally common in the studied endurance and power sport athletes (p = 0.66 and p = 0.79, respectively). In comparison to athletes without LVH, those with LVH had larger left atrial size (26 ± 6 vs. 21 ± 4 cm2, p < 0.001) and a tendency for lower left ventricular diastolic function (E/A 1.2 ± 0.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.4, p = 0.05) and a larger ascending aorta diameter (34 ± 3 vs. 32 ± 3, p = 0.05), but a similar left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (51 ± 3 vs. 51 ± 4, p = 0.71). The presence of mild left ventricular hypertrophy in middle-age male amateur athletes with normal home and office blood pressure may be considered as a potential sign of masked hypertension. It should not be overlooked as an element of a physiological adaptation to exercise and may warrant further medical evaluation with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Low-Density Particleboards Modified with Expanded and Unexpanded Fillers-Characteristics and Properties.

Reducing the density of wood-based materials is a desirable research direction in the development of the wood-based materials sector. Even though lightweight wooden particleboards have been commercially available for many years, they still have a number of disadvantages, especially their low strength parameters. The aim of this paper was to determine the possibility of producing particleboards of reduced density for use in the furniture industry, as a result of using expanded polystyrene and two types of microspheres (expanded and unexpanded) to modify the core layer of three-layer particleboards. Analysis of the results of testing the particleboards' properties when using various types of modifiers (expanded and unexpanded fillers), urea formaldehyde (UF) glue content (high: 10%/12% and low: 8%/10%), various glue-dosing methods, and different particle sizes, allows us to conclude that the most satisfactory effect was found when using EPS. One partly positive effect was observed when using the Expancel-type 031 DU 40 as a filler; therefore, it is recommended that research be continued in this area. Using microspheres that have not been used before as a filler in the production of wood-based panels is the novelty of the presented research. The proposed technology has potential for application in the industry.

Low-Density Particleboards Modified with Blowing Agents-Characteristic and Properties.

Although lightweight particleboards have been commercially available for years, they still have a number of disadvantages, including difficulty to process, brittleness, low impact strength, and other mechanical resistance. The aim of the paper was to determine the possibility of producing particleboards of reduced density (dedicated for furniture industry) as a result of using blowing agents from the group of hydrazides, dicarboxamides, or tetrazoles, which were modifiers of the adhesive resin used for bonding the particles of the core layer of three-layer particleboards. The concept presents the possibility of producing low-density particleboards in a standard technological process by modifying the adhesive resin, which has not been practiced by others until now. Analysis of the results of testing the particleboards properties with various types of modifiers (blowing agents), glue content (high 10%/12% and low 8%/10%), differing in glue dosing method, and different particle sizes allowed concluding that the most satisfactory effect was found in particleboards made of the variant modified with p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide. This variant was characterised by the highest mechanical properties (bending strength, modulus elasticity, and internal bond strength) with high dimensional stability. The presented technology proposal can be applied in the industry.

USING THE SODA SCALE TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NEUROLOGICAL SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY ON IMPROVING LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS IN POST-STROKE PATIENTS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Assess the impact of neurological SLA on improvement of language functions in post-stroke patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The study covered a total of 82 patients aged 40-80, of both sexes, with stroke-induced cognitive deficits. They were in-patients of the Clinic Of Rehabilitation And Physical Medicine of the "WAM" Teaching Hospital in Lódz. The study comprised two groups. The study group consisted of post-stroke patients with aphasia, who were referred to four-week comprehensive program of neurological SLA therapy earlier (about a month) after experiencing stroke. The group comprised 44 patients. Six months after the stroke, the patients underwent another four weeks of neurological SLA. The control group consisted of post-stroke patients with aphasia. The group comprised 38 patients. The four-week neurological SLA therapy was applied more than six months after stroke ("late therapy"). The patients were ascribed to the groups randomly. Language abilities were evaluated with the Aphasia Dynamics Assessment Scale (Polish: Skala Oceny Dynamiki Afazji, abbrev. SODA). RESULTS: Results: The study showed that neurological SLA helped patients in both the study and control group to significantly regain their language functions. However, greater improvement was found in the study group, which underwent neurological SLA twice, which proves that duration of the therapeutic process is an important factor. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: neurological SLA was beneficial for both groups, regardless of the time that elapsed between stroke and start of the therapy. neurological SLA therapy allowed patients to restore part of their language functions, both in the study and control group. The sooner neurological SLA is implemented and the longer its duration, the more beneficial it is to patients.