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Background: The perforating cutaneous nerve/perforating nerve of the sacrotuberous ligament is rarely observed. It usually arises from the posterior division of the sacral plexus or the pudendal nerve and perforates the sacrotuberous ligament. The anatomy of this nerve and its variants is poorly described in the literature, but there are data indicating its role in pudendal neuralgia. Materials and methods: Herein, we present an anatomical study of six formal-in-fixed cadavers with descriptions of the topography of spinal nerves S2-S4, the pudendal bundle, the perforating cutaneous nerve and the sacrotuberous ligament. Results: We found three perforating cutaneous nerves and described each of them in detail, with measurements of length and width, and point of perforation of the sacrotuberous ligament. Conclusions: We distinguished three types of perforating cutaneous nerve on the basis of our findings and previous publications; two of the three types were observed in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheet resistance and Hall effect measurements evaluated high-resistivity region formation as a function of ion dose and annealing temperature when n-type InGaAsP was subjected to ion bombardment at various temperatures. Samples subjected to He+ amorphization at 80 Kelvin, when annealed, exhibited excellent stability and high resistivity. High-resistivity region formation was essential for current restriction and device isolation in laser structures.

The article discusses the universal current sensor fault detection and compensation mechanism, which can be applied in three-phase power electronics (PE) symmetrical system. The mechanism is based on the assumption that a symmetrical system can be described using different components in the stationary reference frame. The solution given in article as a Cri-base detector was tested in electrical drives with induction motors (IMs) and permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). This study also proves that the same algorithm can work stable in active rectifier systems. Such an application of this detector has not been previously reported in the literature. The article describes the detection of various types of faults in different phases. The fault-tolerant voltage-oriented control (FTVOC) of an active rectifier is compared with previously described solutions for IMs and PMSMs. By analysing in various types of systems, the work proves the universality of the detector based on Cri markers.

Due to their many advantages, permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are increasingly used in not only industrial drive systems but also electric and hybrid vehicle drives, aviation and other applications. Unfortunately, PMSMs are not free from damage that occurs during their operation. It is assumed that about 40% of the damage that occurs is related to rolling bearing damage. This article focuses on the use of Kohonen neural network (KNN) for rolling bearing damage detection in a PMSM drive system. The symptoms from the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and Envelope (ENV) Analysis of the mechanical vibration acceleration signal were analysed. The signal ENV was obtained by applying the Hilbert transform (HT). Two neural network functions are discussed: a detector and a classifier. The detector detected the damage and the classifier determined the type of damage to the rolling bearing (undamaged bearing, damaged rolling element, outer or inner race). The effectiveness of the analysed networks from the point of view of the applied signal processing method, map size, type of neighbourhood radius, distance function and the influence of input data normalisation are presented. The results are presented in the form of a confusion matrix, together with 2D and 3D maps of active neurons.

Contents Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that bovine endometrium has the capacity to convert inactive cortisone to biologically active cortisol (Cr) and that Cr inhibits cytokine-stimulated prostaglandin F2α (PGF) production. This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that bovine reproductive tract has the capacity to convert cortisone to Cr in vivo and to evaluate the effects of intravaginal application of exogenous cortisone on uterine PGF secretion during the late luteal stage. The temporal relationships between PGF and Cr levels in uterine plasma were also determined. Catheters were inserted into jugular vein (JV), uterine vein (UV), vena cava caudalis (VCC) and aorta abdominalis (AA) of six cows on Day 15 of the oestrous cycle (ovulation = Day 0) for frequent blood collection. On Day 16, the cows were divided randomly into two groups and infused intravaginally with vaseline gel (10 ml; control; n = 3) or cortisone dissolved in vaseline gel (100 mg; n = 3). Blood samples were collected at −2, −1, −0.5, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after treatments (0 h). Intravaginal application of cortisone increased plasma concentrations of Cr between 0.5 and 1.5 h in UV, at 0.5 h in VCC, at 1 h in JV and at 1.5 h in AA. The plasma concentrations of PGF in UV and of PGF metabolite in JV were greater at 0.5 and 1 h in the cortisone-treated animals than in control animals. The levels of PGF in UV blood plasma decreased after Cr reached its highest levels. The overall findings suggest that the female reproductive tract has the capacity to convert cortisone to Cr in vivo. Based on the temporal changes of PGF and Cr levels in the uterine plasma, a biphasic response in PGF secretion was found to be associated to the Cr increase induced by the cortisone treatment at the late luteal stage in non-pregnant cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the study was to assess the potential of three systems (UV irradiation, ozonation, and micro/ultrafiltration) operated in a pilot scale in removal of antimicrobial-resistant fecal bacteria from secondary effluent of the local wastewater treatment plant (700,000 population equivalent). The effectiveness of the processes was analysed using the removal ratio of fecal indicators (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp.). The susceptibility of fecal indicators to antimicrobial agents important in human therapy was examined. Resistance to nitrofurantoin and erythromyciri was common among enterococci and followed by resistance to fluoroquinolones and tetracycline. Resistance to high-level aminoglycosides and glycopeptides was also observed. E. co/i isolates were most frequently resistant to penicillins and tetracycline. The extended-spectrum betalactamase-producirig E. co/i was detected once, after ozonation. Substantial attention should be paid to the E. co/i and enterococci resistant to three or more chemical classes of antimicrobials (MAR), which in general constituted up to 15 and 49% of the tested isolates, respectively. Although the applied methods were effective in elimination of fecal indicators (removal efficiency up to 99.99%), special attention has to be paid to the application of sufficient disinfection and operation conditions to avoid selection of antimicrobial resistant bacteria [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The material for this study comprised control protocols from 248 mammography screening facilities, prepared by physicists employed at 16 Regional Coordinating Centres and the results from the clinical evaluation of mammographic images in 248 facilities in Poland. All mammograms were evaluated independently by three experts selected from a list approved by the national consultant of radiology and diagnostic imaging. The requirements for proper breast positioning, selection of appropriate parameters for exposure and absence of artefacts were fulfilled only in 38 % of inspected mammography facilities. The requirements of the clinical audit were met only in 15 % of the mammography facilities. The requirements for the physical parameters of mammographic equipment were met only in 28 % of them. The requirements of the quality control (QC) tests and clinical audit were not fulfilled only in 19 % of the mammography facilities. Results from the QC of physical parameters are comparable with results from clinical evaluation of mammographic images in 57 % of the mammography facilities in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the study species distributions and antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined among riverine Enterococcus spp. Susceptibility of the isolates was tested against: ampicillin, imipenem, teicoplanin, vancomycin, erythromycin, linezolid, fosfomycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, tetracycline, high levels of gentamicin and streptomycin. The enterococci were detected in all of the analyzed water samples, periodically exceeding the mandatory standards of the EU Bathing Water Directive. Isolates were predominantly E. faecium (68.6%) and E. faecalis (21.6%) strains. The remaining isolates belonged to E. casseliflavus/gallinarum (5.2%), E. hirae (3.9%), and E. durans (0.7%). Of enterococci strains, 27% were susceptible to all tested antimicrobial agents and as much as 9% were classified as multiple-antibiotic-resistant (MAR). Resistance to erythromycin was common in all investigated areas (55%), followed by resistance to ciprofloxacin (22%) and tetracycline (14%). The resistance phenotypes related to glycopeptides and high-level aminoglycosides were also observed. Relatively low frequency of ampicillin resistance was found among studied strains, in contrast to the frequent use of this antimicrobial agent in Poland. According to the obtained results the Enterococcus should be regarded as an important genus, according to its potential contribution to dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in the water environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of resistance patterns among wastewater fecal coliforms was determined in the study. Susceptibility of the isolates was tested against 19 antimicrobial agents: aminoglycosides, aztreonam, carbapenems, cephalosporines, b-lactam/b-lactamase inhibitors, penicillines, tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and fluoroquinolones. Additionally the removal of resistant isolates was evaluated in the laboratory-scale wastewater treatment model plant (M-WWTP), continuously supplied with the wastewater obtained from the full-scale WWTP. Number of fecal coliforms in raw (after mechanical treatment) and treated wastewater, as well as in aerobic chamber effluent was determined using selective medium. The selected strains were identified and examined for antibiotic resistance using Phoenix Automated Microbiology System (BD Biosciences, USA). The strains were identified as Escherichia coli (n = 222), Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. ozaenae (n = 9), and Pantoea agglomerans (n = 1). The isolate of P. agglomerans as well as 48% of E. coli isolates were sensitive to all antimicrobials tested. The most frequent resistance patterns were found for ampicillin: 100% of K. pneumoniae ssp. ozaenae and 41% of E. coli isolates. Among E. coli isolates 12% was regarded as multiple antimicrobial resistant (MAR). In the studied M-WWTP, the applied activated sludge processes reduced considerably the number of fecal coliforms, but increased the ratio of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli isolates to sensitive ones, especially among strains with MAR patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2006 there was an outbreak of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) in Ireland. This paper describes the use of the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical cases of the disease. In acute cases the ELISAs and the immunoblot were more sensitive than the AGID. In one mare, fluctuating antibody levels were observed in all the serological assays before it seroconverted by AGID. Viral RNA and DNA were detected by RT-PCR and PCR in all the tissues from the infected animals examined postmortem. The PCR detected viral DNA in plasma regardless of the stage of the disease. In contrast, the RT-PCR detected RNA in only 52 per cent of the seropositive animals tested and appeared to be most sensitive for the detection of virus early in infection. Both PCR and RT-PCR demonstrated potential to detect acutely infected horses earlier than some of the official tests. The serological data suggest that the usual incubation/seroconversion period for this strain of the virus war approximately 37 days but may be more than 60 days in a few cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity of bacteria, isolated from coastal marine sediments and waters of Sopot beach, Gdańsk Bay (Poland), to heavy metals in the presence of mineral ship motor oil were studied. All isolated heterotrophic bacteria were resistant to the 0.1 mM lead concentration occurring in the environment. Metal resistance of bacteria isolated from coastal water was strongly related to mineral ship motor oil concentration. At 0.1% mineral ship motor oil (stimulating bacteria growth) Pb and Cd resistance was lower compared to 1% oil concentration. The number of Pb-resistant bacteria, isolated from shoreline sediments, decreased with increasing metal and oil concentrations within the range occurring in the environment. The number of Cd-resistant bacteria at 0.1 mM Cd concentration was slightly stimulated by 1% concentration of mineral ship motor oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results of bacteriological investigations concerning coastal seawater and sandy sediments in the Three-city region at the outlet of four streams: Kacza (KaS), Swelina (SwS), Grodowy (GS) and Kamienny (KmS). The numbers of facultative psychrophilic bacteria, mesophilic bacteria and indicator bacteria (coliforms, fecal coliforms, fecal enterococci) were determined. It was found that all streams are carrying fecal bacteriological pollution of human and animal origin which contributes to poor quality of coastal seawater and sandy sediments. The lowest sanitary quality was KaS water, where the number of all indicator bacteria, as a rule, exceeded admissible levels. In sandy sediments of the estuaries of all four streams the average number of indicator bacteria was about one order of magnitude higher than in water. Enterococcus was the bacterial indicator that exceeded single water or sediment sample standards most often. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which investigated the bacteriological quality of the coastal seawater and sandy sediments along the beach in Sopot in Gdansk Bay, Poland. Materials and methods; Results; Discussion.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), interleukin-1-alpha (IL-1α), and nitric oxide donor (NONOate) on both in vivo and in vitro secretion of prostaglandin (PG)E 2 , PGF 2α , leukotriene (LT)B 4 , and LTC 4 by the bovine mammary gland. In the first experiment, tissues isolated from the teat cavity and lactiferous sinus were treated in vitro with LPS (10 ng/mL), TNF (10 ng/mL), IL-1α (10 ng/mL), NONOate (10 −4 M), and the combination of TNF + IL-1α + NONOate for 4 or 8 h. PGE 2 or PGF 2α secretion was stimulated by all treatments ( P < 0.05) excepting NONOate alone, which did not stimulate PGF 2α secretion. Moreover, all factors increased LTB 4 and LTC 4 secretion ( P < 0.05). In the second experiment, mastitis was experimentally mimicked in vivo by repeated (12 h apart) intramammary infusions (5 mL) of (1) sterile saline; (2) 250-μg LPS; (3) 1-μg/mL TNF; (4) 1-μg/mL IL-1α; (5) 12.8-μg/mL NONOate; and (6) TNF + IL-1α + NONOate into 2 udder quarters. All infused factors changed PGE 2 , 13,14-dihydro,15-keto-PGF 2α , and LT concentrations in blood plasma collected from the caudal vena cava, the caudal superficial epigastric (milk) vein, the jugular vein, and the abdominal aorta ( P < 0.05). In summary, LPS and other inflammatory mastitis mediators modulate PG and LT secretion by bovine mammary gland in both in vivo and in vitro studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs) are rare neuroectodermal neoplasms that originate in the endolymphatic sac and duct. They exhibit no specific age or gender predilection, although they are more prevalent in patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome., Material and Methods: The manuscript preparation adhered to the CARE guidelines for standardizing clinical cases and the PRISMA guidelines for scientific reviews. Three studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected from an analysis of 15 articles, supplemented by two additional studies identified through citation review., Results: The presented case describes a 16-year-old boy diagnosed with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss secondary to bilateral ELST. Surgical excision of the right ear tumor with simultaneous cochlear implantation was performed, followed by left ear surgery. Hearing restoration was achieved in the implanted right ear, with normal hearing in the left ear, and no postoperative vestibular symptoms were observed., Conclusion: Prompt surgical intervention remains the cornerstone of ELST treatment. While cochlear implantation is sporadically reported in scientific literature, it offers a potential option for hearing improvement in patients suffering from deafness caused by the disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Rosiak, Pietrzak, Jankowska, Kucharski, Konopka and Szymański.)

Until recently, the data on the diversity of the entire microbial community from the Baltic Sea were relatively rare and very scarce. However, modern molecular methods have provided new insights into this field with interesting results. They can be summarized as follows. (i) Although low salinity causes a reduction in the biodiversity of multicellular species relative to the populations of the North-East Atlantic, no such reduction occurs in bacterial diversity. (ii) Among cyanobacteria, the picocyanobacterial group dominates when considering gene abundance, while filamentous cyanobacteria dominate in means of biomass. (iii) The diversity of diatoms and dinoflagellates is significantly larger than described a few decades ago; however, molecular studies on these groups are still scarce. (iv) Knowledge gaps in other protistan communities are evident. (v) Salinity is the main limiting parameter of pelagic fungal community composition, while the benthic fungal diversity is shaped by water depth, salinity, and sediment C and N availability. (vi) Bacteriophages are the predominant group of viruses, while among viruses infecting eukaryotic hosts, Phycodnaviridae are the most abundant; the Baltic Sea virome is contaminated with viruses originating from urban and/or industrial habitats. These features make the Baltic Sea microbiome specific and unique among other marine environments., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)

Organochlorides and particularly chlorophenols are environmental pollutants that deserve special attention. Enzymatic membrane bioreactors may be alternatives for efficiently removing such hazardous organochlorides from aqueous solutions. We propose here a novel enzymatic membrane bioreactor comprising an ultrafiltration membrane GR81PP, electrospun fibers made of cellulose acetate, and laccase immobilized using an incubation and a fouling approach. Configurations of this biosystem exhibiting the highest catalytic activity were selected for removal of 2-chlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol from aqueous solution in an enzymatic membrane bioreactor under various process conditions. The highest removal of chlorophenols, at 88% and 74% for 2-chlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol, respectively, occurred at pH 5 and 30 °C in the GR81PP/cellulose acetate/laccase biosystem with enzyme immobilized by the fouling method. Furthermore, the GR81PP/cellulose acetate/laccase biosystem with enzyme immobilized by the fouling method exhibited significant reusability and storage stability compared with the biosystem with laccase immobilized by the incubation method. The mechanism of enzyme immobilization is based on pore blocking and cake-layer formation, while the mechanism of chlorophenols removal was identified as a synergistic combination of membrane separation and enzymatic conversion. The importance of the conducted research is due to efficient removal of hazardous organochlorides using a novel enzymatic membrane bioreactor. The study demonstrates the biosystem's high catalytic activity, reusability, and stability, offering a promising solution for environmental pollution control., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Chitosan is a very promising material for tissue model printing. It is also known that the introduction of chemical modifications to the structure of the material in the form of methacrylate groups makes it very attractive for application in the bioprinting of tissue models. The aim of this work is to study the characteristics of biomaterials containing chitosan (BCH) and its methacrylated equivalent (BCM) in order to identify differences in their usefulness in 3D bioprinting technology. It has been shown that the BCM material containing methacrylic chitosan is three times more viscous than its non-methacrylated BCH counterpart. Additionally, the BCM material is characterized by stability in a larger range of stresses, as well as better printability, resolution, and fiber stability. The BCM material has higher mechanical parameters, both mechanical strength and Young's modulus, than the BCH material. Both materials are ideal for bioprinting, but BCM has unique rheological properties and significant mechanical resistance. In addition, biological tests have shown that the addition of chitosan to biomaterials increases cell proliferation, particularly in 3D-printed models. Moreover, modification in the form of methacrylation encourages reduced toxicity of the biomaterial in 3D constructs. Our investigation demonstrates the suitability of a chitosan-enhanced biomaterial, specifically methacrylate-treated, for application in tissue engineering, and particularly for tissues requiring resistance to high stress, i.e., vascular or cartilage models.

This study reports a comprehensive analysis of photoautotrophic euglenids' distribution and biodiversity in 16 small water bodies of various types (including fish ponds, field ponds, rural ponds and park ponds) located in three regions of Poland: Masovia, Masuria and Pomerania during a period of three years. By employing a euglenid specific barcode marker and a curated database of V2 18S rDNA sequences it was possible to identify 97.7 % of euglenid reads at species level. A total of 152 species classified in 13 genera were identified. The number of euglenid species found in one pond varied from 40 to 102. The most common species were Euglena agilis and Euglenaria caudata, found in every analysed waterbody. The highest number of observed species belonged to Trachelomonas and Phacus. Certain species exhibited a tendency to coexist, suggesting the presence of distinct species assemblages. Among them, the most distinctive cluster was associated with water bodies located in the Masuria region, characterized also by the greatest species richness, including many very rare species: Euglenaformis chlorophoenicea, Lepocinclis autumnalis, L. marssonii, Trachelomonas eurystoma, T. manschurica, T. mucosa, T. zuberi, T. zuberi var. nepos., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

The recombinant structural protein described in this study was designed based on sequences derived from elastin and silk. Silk-elastin hybrid copolymers are characterized by high solubility while maintaining high product flexibility. The phase transition temperature from aqueous solution to hydrogel, as well as other physicochemical and mechanical properties of such particles, can differ significantly depending on the number of sequence repeats. We present a preliminary characterization of the EJ17zipR protein obtained in high yield in a prokaryotic expression system and efficiently purified via a multistep process. Its addition significantly improves biomaterial's rheological and mechanical properties, especially elasticity. As a result, EJ17zipR appears to be a promising component for bioinks designed to print spatially complex structures that positively influence both shape retention and the internal transport of body fluids. The results of biological studies indicate that the addition of the studied protein creates a favorable microenvironment for cell adhesion, growth, and migration.

Currently, a major challenge in material engineering is to develop a cell-safe biomaterial with significant utility in processing technology such as 3D bioprinting. The main goal of this work was to optimize the composition of a new graphene oxide (GO)-based bioink containing additional extracellular matrix (ECM) with unique properties that may find application in 3D bioprinting of biomimetic scaffolds. The experimental work evaluated functional properties such as viscosity and complex modulus, printability, mechanical strength, elasticity, degradation and absorbability, as well as biological properties such as cytotoxicity and cell response after exposure to a biomaterial. The findings demonstrated that the inclusion of GO had no substantial impact on the rheological properties and printability, but it did enhance the mechanical properties. This enhancement is crucial for the advancement of 3D scaffolds that are resilient to deformation and promote their utilization in tissue engineering investigations. Furthermore, GO-based hydrogels exhibited much greater swelling, absorbability and degradation compared to non-GO-based bioink. Additionally, these biomaterials showed lower cytotoxicity. Due to its properties, it is recommended to use bioink containing GO for bioprinting functional tissue models with the vascular system, e.g., for testing drugs or hard tissue models.

In this study we propose to use for bioprinting a bioink enriched with a recombinant RE15mR protein with a molecular weight of 26 kDa, containing functional sequences derived from resilin and elastin. The resulting protein also contains RGD sequences in its structure, as well as a metalloproteinase cleavage site, allowing positive interaction with the cells seeded on the construct and remodeling the structure of this protein in situ. The described protein is produced in a prokaryotic expression system using an E. coli bacterial strain and purified by a process using a unique combination of known methods not previously used for recombinant elastin-like proteins. The positive effect of RE15mR on the mechanical, physico-chemical, and biological properties of the print is shown in the attached results. The addition of RE15mR to the bioink resulted in improved mechanical and physicochemical properties and promoted the habitation of the prints by cells of the L-929 line.

Herein we describe a new photosynthetic euglenoid species found in Poland - Euglena mazurica. A large population exists in a small, eutrophic body of water located in a pasture near Mikołajki town inside the Masurian Landscape Park (covering a part of the Masurian Lake District in Poland). The unique cell shape (corkscrew-like) discerns it well from other previously described euglenoid species with metabolic cells. The new species possesses two plate-like chloroplasts each with a pyrenoid accompanied by two paramylon caps placed on either side of it (diplopyrenoids). On the phylogenetic tree, the new species is situated within the Euglena clade. Though it is a sister branch to three clades - one representing the similar Euglena agilis, characterized by its fusiform cells and two chloroplasts with diplopyrenoids, the two species are clearly morphologically and molecularly distinct., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

(1) Background: Hemangiomas in Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome patients are typically benign but pose threats due to their vital locations involving the central nervous system and the retina. An MRI is currently recommended as the gold standard for tumors associated with VHL in the head region. This narrative review aims to comprehensively outline current standards and recent findings related to imaging of retinal and CNS hemangiomas in Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. (2) Material and Methods: A review in adherence to PRISMA guidelines using the search string "Von Hippel-Lindau hemangioblastoma imaging" was conducted on PUBMED and SCOPUS databases. (3) Results: After reviewing 455 titles and abstracts, 20 publications fulfilling the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The analysis included studies describing MRI, CT, optical coherence tomography, and PET/CT. (4) Conclusion: While MRI remains the gold standard for diagnosing head tumors in Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, various PET/CT methods show promise as alternative imaging modalities.

A large body of evidence indicates that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk of developing Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) than healthy individuals. Given the strong genetic impact on both diseases, common predisposing genetic factors are possibly involved but are not fully understood. Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) for 250 women with sporadic PCOS, HT, combined PCOS and HT (PCOS+HT), and healthy controls to explore the genetic background of the joint occurrence of PCOS and HT. Based on relevant comparative analyses, multivariate logistic regression prediction modeling, and the most informative feature selection using the Monte Carlo feature selection and interdependency discovery algorithm, 77 variants were selected for further validation by TaqMan genotyping in a group of 533 patients. In the allele frequency test, variants in RAB6A , GBP3 , and FNDC7 genes were found to significantly ( p adjusted < 0.05) differentiated the PCOS+HT and PCOS groups, variant in HIF3A differentiated the PCOS+HT and HT groups, whereas variants in CDK20 and CCDC71 differentiated the PCOS+HT and both single disorder groups. TaqMan genotyping data were used to create final prediction models, which differentiated between PCOS+HT and PCOS or HT with a prediction accuracy of AUC = 0.78. Using a 70% cutoff of the prediction score improved the model parameters, increasing the AUC value to 0.87. In summary, we demonstrated the polygenic burden of both PCOS and HT, and many common and intersecting signaling pathways and biological processes whose disorders mutually predispose patients to the development of both diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zeber-Lubecka, Suchta, Kulecka, Kluska, Piątkowska, Dabrowski, Jankowska, Grymowicz, Smolarczyk and Hennig.)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a female affective disorder that is defined by mood symptoms. The condition is linked to unstable progesterone concentrations. Progestin supplementation is given in cases of threatened or recurrent miscarriage and for luteal phase support. Progesterone is essential for implantation, immune tolerance, and modulation of uterine contractility. For a long time, the administration of progestins was associated with an unfavorable impact on mood, leading to negative affect, and, therefore, was contraindicated in existing mood disorders. Establishing the role of the natural progesterone derivative allopregnanolone in advances in the treatment of postpartum depression has shed new light on the general pathophysiology of mood disorders. Allopregnanolone directly interacts with gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptors even at nanomolar concentrations and induces significant anti-depressant, anti-stress, sedative, and anxiolytic effects. Postpartum depression is caused by a rapid drop in hormones and can be instantly reversed by the administration of allopregnanolone. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder can also be considered to result from insufficient neuroactive steroid action due to low progesterone derivative concentration, unstable hormone levels, or decreased receptor sensitivity. The decrease in progesterone levels in perimenopause is also associated with affective symptoms and an exacerbation of some psychosomatic syndromes. Bioidentical progesterone supplementation encounters several obstacles, including limited absorption, first-pass effect, and rapid metabolism. Hence, non-bioidentical progestins with better bioavailability were widely applied. The paradoxical, unfavorable effect of progestins on mood can be explained by the fact that progestins suppress ovulation and disturb the endocrine function of the ovary in the luteal phase. Moreover, their distinct chemical structure prevents their metabolism to neuroactive, mood-improving derivatives. A new understanding of progesterone-related mood disorders can translate the study results from case series and observational studies to cohort studies, clinical trials, and novel, effective treatment protocols being developed.

Autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes (APSs), also called autoimmune polyglandular syndromes, are a group of autoimmune diseases characterized by the co-occurrence of dysfunctions of several (at least two) endocrine glands. They develop under the influence of environmental factors in genetically predisposed people. Autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes may accompany autoimmune rheumatic diseases and worsen their course - APS-2 and APS-3 are the most common. The APS-2 includes the coexistence of, e.g. Hashimoto's disease, celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In APS-3, rheumatic diseases such as RA, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjögren's syndrome may coexist with Hashimoto's disease, type 1 diabetes and hypogonadism or other endocrinopathies. Undiagnosed endocrine diseases may be the reason for the intensification of metabolic disorders observed in the course of rheumatic diseases, cause the ineffectiveness of rheumatological treatment and also increase the frequency of bone fractures due to osteoporosis, cardiovascular complications and even miscarriages when coexistent, e.g. Hashimoto's disease with hypothyroiditis, which increases the risk of pregnancy loss. It is important to be able to conduct an extensive interview, paying attention to the symptoms of possible endocrinopathy as well as the features of other autoimmune disorders in the physical examination (e.g. vitiligo or darkening of the skin in Addison's disease). Depending on the history and physical examination, screening for various APSs is advised., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Narodowy Instytut Geriatrii, Reumatologii i Rehabilitacji w Warszawie.)

A rise in the incidence of infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has sparked the search for protective strategies against the new pathogen. It is known that individual food components can interact with different immune cells, modulating the immune response of the body. The aim of this study was to develop an index assessing the immunomodulatory potential of diet (POLA index) and to test its utility for the prediction of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a group of healthy young people following a traditional or vegetarian diet. Data on body composition, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, dietary intake, and gut microbiota were obtained from 95 adults (mean age, 34.66 ± 5.76 years). There was a strong correlation between the dietary inflammatory index and the POLA index (r = 0.90; p < 0.0001). Based on Cohen’s kappa statistic, there was a good agreement in qualitative interpretation between the two indices (kappa = 0.61; p < 0.0001). People on a diet with beneficial immunomodulatory effects had a lower risk of COVID-19 of approximately 80%, as compared with those on a diet with highly unbeneficial immunomodulatory effects. In daily practice, the POLA index might serve as a useful tool for dietitians to identify individuals whose diet is deficient in ingredients for optimal immune system function and change their dietary behavior to ensure optimal immune function that reduces the risk of infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Enzymatic membrane reactors equipped with multifunctional biocatalytic membranes are promising and sustainable alternatives for removal of micropollutants, including steroid estrogens, under mild conditions. Thus, in this study an effort was made to produce novel multifunctional biocatalytic polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes via polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer assembly with laccase enzyme immobilized between or into polyelectrolyte layers. In this study, multifunctional biocatalytic membranes are considered as systems composed of commercially available filtration membrane modified by polyelectrolytes and immobilized enzymes, which are produced for complex treatment of water pollutants. The multifunctionality of the proposed systems is related to the fact that these membranes are capable of micropollutants removal via simultaneous catalytic conversion, membrane adsorption and membrane rejection making remediation process more complex, however, also more efficient. Briefly, cationic poly-l-lysine and polyethylenimine as well as anionic poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) polyelectrolytes were deposited onto NP010 nanofiltration and UFX5 ultrafiltration membranes to produce systems for removal of 17α-ethynylestradiol. Images from scanning electron microscopy confirm effective enzyme deposition, whereas results of zeta potential measurements indicate introduction of positive charge onto the membranes. Based on preliminary results, four membranes with over 70%, activity retention produced using polyethylenimine in internal and entrapped mode, were selected for degradation tests. Systems based on UFX5 membrane allowed over 60% 17α-ethynylestradiol removal within 100 min, whereas NP010-based systems removed over 75% of estrogen within 150 min. Further, around 80% removal of 17α-ethynylestradiol was possible from the solutions at concentration up to 0.1 mg/L at pH ranging from 4 to 6 and at the pressure up to 3 bar, indicating high activity of the immobilized laccase over wide range of process conditions. Produced systems exhibited also great long-term stability followed by limited enzyme elution from the membrane. Finally, removal of over 70% and 60% of 17α-ethynylestradiol, respectively by NP010 and UFX5 systems after 8 cycles of repeated use indicate high reusability potential of the systems and suggest their practical application in removal of micropollutants, including estrogens., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Considering how the impact of human activity in Antarctica is growing, the aim of this study was to conduct the first assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), other emerging contaminants (ECs), and antibiotic resistance genes present in the western shore of the Admiralty Bay region of King George Island. In total, more than 170 substances were evaluated to assess the potential environmental risks they pose to the study area. The major evaluated source of pollutants in this study is discharged untreated wastewater. The highest PPCP concentrations in wastewater were found for naproxen (2653 ngL -1 ), diclofenac (747 ngL -1 ), ketoconazole (760 ngL -1 ), ibuprofen (477 ngL -1 ) and acetaminophen (332 ngL -1 ). Moreover, the concentrations of benzotriazole (6340 ngL -1 ) and caffeine (3310 ngL -1 ) were also high. The Risk Quotient values indicate that azole antifungals (ketoconazole), anti-inflammatories (diclofenac, ibuprofen) and stimulants (caffeine) are the main groups responsible for the highest toxic burden. In addition, antibiotic resistance genes integrons (int 1) and sulphonamide resistance genes (sul 1-2) were detected in wastewater and seawater. These results indicate that regular monitoring of PPCPs and other ECs is of great importance in this environment. Additionally, the following mitigation strategies are suggested: (1) to create a centralised record of the medications prescribed and consumed in situ (to improve knowledge of potential contaminants without analysis); (2) to use more environmentally friendly substitutes both for pharmaceuticals and personal care products when possible (limiting consumption at the source); and (3) to apply advanced systems for wastewater treatment before discharge to the recipient (end-of-pipe technologies as a final barrier)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nowadays, the increasing amounts of dyes present in wastewaters and even water bodies is an emerging global problem. In this work we decided to fabricate new biosystems made of nanofiltration or ultrafiltration membranes combined with laccase entrapped between polystyrene electrospun fibers and apply them for decolorization of aqueous solutions of three azo dyes, C.I. Acid Yellow 23 (AY23), C.I. Direct Blue 71 (DB71) and C.I. Reactive Black 5 (RB5). Besides effective decolorization of the permeate stream, the biosystems also allowed removal of dyes from the retentate stream as a result of enzymatic action. The effect of pH and applied pressure on decolorization efficiencies was investigated, and pH 5 and pressure of 2 bar gave the highest removal efficiencies of 97% for AY23 and 100% for both DB71 and RB5 from permeate solutions while decolorization of retentate for RB5 reached 65% under these conditions. Almost 100% decolorization of all dyes was achieved after three consecutive enzyme membrane cycles. Decolorization was shown to be due to the synergistic action of membrane separation and bioconversion. The biocatalytic action also enabled significant reduction of permeate and retentate toxicity, which is one of the biggest environmental health issues for these types of streams., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Apart from chemical constituents, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents also release microorganisms that can be important to the receiving water bodies either from a sanitary point of view, or taking to the account the biogeochemical potential of the recipients. However, little is known about the treated wastewater microbial community, its composition, seasonal changes, functions and fate in the waters of the receiver. Thus, this study presents a synergistic approach coupling new and traditional methods: analytical chemistry, classical microbiology (cultivation- and microscopy-based methods), as well as Next Generation Sequencing and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The results show that in terms of bacterial community composition, treated wastewater differed from the environmental samples, irrespectively if they were related or unrelated to the WWTP effluent discharge. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) taking into account chemical parameters and taxonomical biodiversity indirectly confirmed the seasonal deterioration of the treated wastewater quality as a result of temperature-driven change of activated sludge community structure and biomass washout (observed also by DAPI staining). Despite seasonal fluctuations of total suspended solids and inter-related parameters (such as COD, BOD, TN, TP), the treated wastewater quality remained within current discharge limits. It was due to treatment processes intensively adjusted by WWTP operators, particularly those necessary to maintain an appropriate rate of autotrophic processes of nitrification and to support biological phosphorus removal. This can explain the observed microbiome composition similarity among WWTP effluents at high taxonomic levels. Obtained data also suggest that besides wastewater treatment efficiency, WWTP effluents are still sources of both human-related microorganisms as well as bacteria equipped in genes involved in N-cycling. Their potential of participation in nutrients cycling in the receivers is widely unknown and require critical attention and better understanding., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The presence of micropollutants in water, wastewater and soil are a global problem due to their persistent effect on ecosystems and human health. Although there are many methods of removal of environmental pollutants, they are often ineffective for degradation of pharmaceuticals, including estrogens. In presented work we proposed fabrication of electrospun material from polyacrylonitrile/polyethersulfone (PAN/PES) as a support for laccase immobilization by covalent binding. Oxidoreductase was attached to the electrospun fibers using polydopamine as a linker and produced system was used for degradation of two estrogens: 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2). It was shown that 92% of E2 and 100% of EE2 were degraded after 24 h of the process. Moreover, the effect of surfactants, metal ions and mediators on conversion efficiencies of estrogens was investigated and it was confirmed that immobilized enzyme possessed higher resistance to inhibitory agents as well as thermal and storage stability, compared to its native form. Finally, estrogenic activities of E2 and EE2 solutions decreased around 99% and 87%, respectively, after enzymatic conversion, that corresponds to significant reduction of the total organic carbon and formation of low-toxic final products of estrogens degradation., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) and especially highly pathogenic (HP) AIVs of the H5 and H7 subtypes are of both veterinary and public health concern worldwide. In response to the demand for effective vaccines against H5N1 HPAIVs, we produced recombinant protein based on hemagglutinin (HA), a protective viral antigen. A fragment of the HA ectodomain, with a multibasic cleavage site deletion, was expressed in Escherichia coli, refolded, and chromatographically purified from inclusion bodies. Finally, the protein was formulated in Tris-HCl buffer of pH 8.0 or PBS of pH 7.4 to obtain antigens denoted rH5-1 and rH5-2, respectively. The systemic prime and boost immunizations proved that rH5-1 adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide induces anti-H5 HA neutralizing antibodies and protective immune responses against H5N1 HPAIVs in chickens. The present studies were aimed at stimulating immune responses via the mucosal routes using the systemic prime-mucosal boost strategy. Efficacy trials were performed in commercial layer chickens. For systemic and mucosal immunizations, H5 HA antigens were adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide and chitosan glutamate, respectively. The first dose of rH5-2 was administered subcutaneously, while its second dose was administered subcutaneously, intraocularly, oculo-nasally, or intranasally. rH5-1 was delivered to the subcutaneously primed chickens by the intranasal route. Post-vaccination sera were analyzed for anti-H5 HA antibodies, using homologous ELISA and heterologous FluAC H5 and hemagglutination inhibition tests. Intraocularly and oculo-nasally delivered rH5-2 mixed with chitosan glutamate was capable of stimulating anti-H5 HA IgY antibody responses in the subcutaneously primed chickens; however, it was ineffective when administered by the intranasal route. Efficient intranasal boosting was achieved using rH5-1. The enhanced production of antigen-specific antibodies was reflected in the development of H5-subtype specific and hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies. Conclusively, the subcutaneous prime and oculo-nasal boost vaccination is proposed as the target strategy for future optimization., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The specific combinations of materials and dopants presented in this work have not been previously described. The main goal of the presented work was to prepare and compare the different properties of newly developed composite materials manufactured by sintering. The synthetic- (SHAP) or natural- (NHAP) hydroxyapatite serves as a matrix and was doped with: (i) organic: multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), fullerenes C60, (ii) inorganic: Cu nanowires. Research undertaken was aimed at seeking novel candidates for bone replacement biomaterials based on hydroxyapatite-the main inorganic component of bone, because bone reconstructive surgery is currently mostly carried out with the use of autografts; titanium or other non-hydroxyapatite -based materials. The physicomechanical properties of the developed biomaterials were tested by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dielectric Spectroscopy (BSD), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), as well as microhardness using Vickers method. The results showed that despite obtaining porous sinters. The highest microhardness was achieved for composite materials based on NHAP. Based on NMR spectroscopy, residue organic substances could be observed in NHAP composites, probably due to the organic structures that make up the tooth. Microbiology investigations showed that the selected samples exhibit bacteriostatic properties against Gram-positive reference bacterial strain S. epidermidis (ATCC 12228); however, the property was much less pronounced against Gram-negative reference strain E. coli (ATCC 25922). Both NHAP and SHAP, as well as their doped derivates, displayed in good general compatibility, with the exception of Cu-nanowire doped derivates.

Biochemical markers of spermatogenesis and fertility assessment are important in the practical management of infertile males and the determination of an individual’s prognosis. We performed an analysis on 100 males with a male infertility factor. The following study inclusion parameters were analyzed: seminogram, FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, TSH, and inhibin B concentrations. The patients were subsequently treated by reproductive endocrinologists in accordance with AUA/ASRM and EAU guidelines. The reproductive status was evaluated over a period of 3 years. We found a strong correlation of sperm count with inhibin B (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and FSH concentration levels (r = −0.46, p < 0.001). Among 95 patients at follow-up, pregnancies occurred for 59 of their partners (48 spontaneous, 5 after IVF−ET, and 6 after IUI). Thirty-six patients remained childless despite the therapy. Sperm count and inhibin B level were the best predictors of natural fertilization (ROC AUC: 0.86 and 0.84; cut-off: 2.7 mln/mL and 45 pg/mL). Although inhibin B and FSH can be used to evaluate spermatogenesis and fertility, the initial sperm concentration appeared to be the best predictor of success. Pregnancy was achieved in a surprisingly large proportion of patients with a very low concentration of inhibin B and a low initial sperm count. It is noteworthy that 81% of the pregnancies were achieved without medically assisted reproduction.