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This study evaluates the scope and consequences of the application of new technologies (NTs) within the Polish banking and insurance sectors and thus contributes to the knowledge of CEE financial market development. The goal is to understand the implementation of particular NTs in two different sectors and identify the motivations, strategies, phases of realisation and cost efficiency depending on the institution’s size. The detail of the study requires the use of qualitative research methods. In-depth interviews are employed to figure out the criteria based on which decisions to implement NTs are made. The findings indicate that the primary objective of NT implementation is to respond to customers’ needs, followed by cost-cutting and achieving more efficient internal processes. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in risk management areas is still a work in progress. In the next five years cloud computing is expected to become the most important NT and thus will have to meet numerous regulatory requirements.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of pathological conditions well described in humans but still investigated insufficiently in animals. A novel approach in its management is the utilisation of nutrients from natural sources. Recent studies suggested that phenolic compounds from pomegranate peel could be a promising dietary intervention for MetS. This study evaluated the potency of polyphenol-rich pomegranate peel extract (EPP) in mitigating some MetS components in an animal model.

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common causes of death in humans in highly developed countries. Among its most frequent complications affecting the patient’s prognosis are cardiac arrhythmias: ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF).

Background: Myxomatous mitral valve disease is the most common cardiac disease among dogs. The mitral valve consists of valve leaflets, chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. Much attention has been given to lesions of the valve leaflets, but there is still a lack of information in the literature about the chordae. During myxomatous mitral valve disease, an episode of chordae rupture can occur. Predisposing factors for such an episode are known in human cardiology. Materials and methods: The 54 mitral valves were prepared from the hearts of older dogs, from which the chordae tendineae were then isolated. The chordae tendineae were subjected to two tests: biomechanical and histopathological. The first consisted of a uniaxial tensile test to determine the mechanical strength values of chordae tendineae. The histopathological examination was based on a 4-point scale (0–3 scale), which assessed the extent of degenerative changes within chordae tendineae. The biomechanical and histopathological findings were correlated in the statistical analysis. Results: Degenerated chordae tendineae tended to rupture more rapidly during the static stretching test as compared to healthy chordae. The more advanced the degenerative changes in the chordae tendineae, the more the biomechanical function was affected. Conclusions: Degeneration affects the biomechanical properties of the mitral valve chordae tendineae in dogs, as confirmed by chordae tendineae stress studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent consumption of processed meat has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Group 1), while red meat has been classified as probably carcinogenic (Group 2A). Mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds formed by heating in protein-rich food include, among others, heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). Modifying the heat treatment of meat and using natural additives with antioxidant properties can lead to a reduction in their formation. The aim of this study was to determine polar HAAs (imidazoquinolines, IQ and MeIQ; imidazoquinoxalines, 8-MeIQx and 4,8-DiMeIQx; and phenylimidazopyridine, PhIP) in pork loin prepared without additives and with three types of dried fruit (apricots, cranberries, and prunes), baked in a roasting bag. HAAs were isolated from meat samples by solid-phase extraction. Quantitative analysis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (FLD) and a diode array detector (DAD). Only two HAAs, 8-MeIQx and PhIP, were detected in extracts isolated from meat samples. The total content of these compounds in meat roasted without additives was 5.9 ng/g. Using a dried fruit stuffing content of 200 g/kg of meat reduced these concentrations in dishes prepared with prunes, apricots, and cranberries by 42%, 47%, and 77%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diarrhoea in growing-finishing pigs is a common problem of commercial pig farms. Among many causative factors, porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one considered an important pathogen in modern pig production. The aim of the study was to verify if PCV2 was responsible for antibiotic non-responsive diarrhoea and wasting in pigs.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of selenium compounds in preventing and treating lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. The formulation of selenium-enriched supplements for humans and animals, particularly those containing selenium yeast, is highly advantageous. These products are rich in organic selenium derivatives, showing significantly higher bioavailability than inorganic forms of selenium. A particularly promising selenium analogue of sulphur-containing compounds is selenobiotin. The literature indicates that Phycomyces blakesleeanus and Escherichia coli strains can synthesise this compound. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of selenium supplementation on the biosynthesis of biotin and selenobiotin in Trichosporon cutaneum and Meyerozyma guilliermondii. The results have the potential to advance biotechnological approaches for the production of selenobiotin for various applications. A method based on affinity chromatography was used to quantify selenobiotin. The results confirmed that both yeast strains could synthesise selenobiotin in addition to biotin. In M. guilliermondii cells, selenobiotin accounted for up to 17.3% of the total biotin vitamer fraction. In comparison, in T. cutaneum cells, it accounted for up to 28.4% of the sum of biotin and its analogues. The highest levels of selenobiotin were observed in cells cultured with selenomethionine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) being an economical 3D printing method known for its material versatility and ease of use, the mechanical performance of FDM-produced components is significantly influenced by process parameter settings. This study investigated the effects of the layer thickness, raster angle, build orientation, and extrusion temperature on the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elastic modulus of Polylactic Acid (PLA) specimens using Taguchi methods, with significance analyzed through analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that the build orientation is the primary factor affecting both the UTS and elastic modulus, with a flat orientation yielding the best performance. ANOVA showed that the build orientation, raster angle, and extrusion temperature significantly influence the UTS, with the build orientation contributing 98.16%. For the elastic modulus, the build orientation and raster angle were significant, contributing 94.83% and 1.76%, respectively. The optimal parameters were a 0.16 mm layer thickness, flat build orientation, 30°/−60° raster angle, and 200 °C extrusion temperature, resulting in predicted UTS and elastic modulus values with error percentages of 4.33% and 2.74%, respectively, compared to experimental values. The regression model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with R-squared values of 99.71% for the UTS and 99.52% for the elastic modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely known that glass–epoxy laminates are renowned for their high stiffness, good thermal properties, and economic qualities. For this reason, composite materials find successful applications in various industrial sectors such as aerospace, astronautics, the storage sector, and energy. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical and thermal properties of composite materials comprising two different types of epoxy resin and three different hardeners, both at room temperature and under cryogenic conditions. The samples were produced at IZOERG (Gliwice, Poland) using a laboratory hot-hydraulic-press technique. During cyclic loading–unloading tests, degradation up to a strain level of 0.6% was observed both at room temperature (RT) and at 77 K. For a glass-reinforced composite with YDPN resin (EP_1_1), the highest degradation was recorded at 18.84% at RT and 33.63% at 77 K. We have also investigated the temperature dependence of thermal conductivity for all samples in a wide temperature range down to 5 K. The thermal conductivity was found to be low and had a relative difference of up to 20% among the composites. The experimental results indicated that composites under cryogenic conditions exhibited less damage and were stiffer. It was confirmed that the choice of hardener significantly influenced both properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypophosphatemic osteomalacia is a rare condition caused by different causes, all resulting in disturbances of calcium-phosphate management. One of the most common causes among adults is tumor-induced osteomalacia, which is characterized by increased secretion of fibroblast growth factor-23. Its symptoms are vague, tests necessary for diagnosis are not commonly used by clinicians and some of them are only available in highly specialized centers. Due to these reasons, patients often are misdiagnosed for more common conditions and are left without proper treatment for many years. We present a case of a patient suffering from multiple fractures, diffuse bone pain, and muscle weakness, who was previously misdiagnosed for osteoporosis, primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. We discuss the pathophysiology of tumor-induced osteomalacia, diagnostic path, differential diagnosis, available forms of treatment and possible complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and maintain the immune system in balance; therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of polyphenols present in pomegranate peel extract on the spleens of rats with metabolic syndrome. The study objects were adult male Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF-Leprfa/Crl, fa/fa) rats. The rats were divided into a control group (MetS) consisting of rats with metabolic syndrome and four study groups consisting of rats with metabolic syndrome (MetS + 100 mg and MetS + 200 mg) or healthy animals (H + 100 mg and H + 200 mg) receiving polyphenol extract at a dose of 100 mg or 200 mg/kg, respectively. Concentrations of IL-6, NF-κB, NFATc1, Cyt-C, TNFα, MMP-2, ROS/RNS, and MDA were measured; the activities of GPX, SOD, CAT, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were assessed; and the expression of the BAX and BCL-2 genes was evaluated in homogenized spleens. In conclusion, pomegranate extract may lead to an increase in catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity. Additionally, it may have a reducing effect on the ROS/RNS level, leading to a reduction in the activity of SOD in the MetS groups with PPE administration. Moreover, the BCL-2 gene showed lower expression in the MetS + 100 mg group compared to the H + 100 mg group, indicating that the balance between pro- and antiapoptotic factors of the BCL-2 family may be disrupted by the metabolic syndrome promoting the proapoptotic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder. It is characterised by elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) level causing hypercalcemia. 90-95% of cases have a spontaneous cause, with the remaining 5-10% having a genetic basis. On routine examination, a 47-year-old patient was found to have hypercalcemia, vitamin D deficiency, normal PTH levels and no hypercalciuria. Despite vitamin supplementation, calcemia remained unchanged. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) examination detected possible adenomas in the lower parathyroids regions, and ultrasound revealed an adenoma of the lower left parathyroid gland and hypertrophy of the lower right parathyroid gland. The atypical clinical presentation - young age, inadequate normal PTH levels and the location of the lesions within the two parathyroid glands suggested genetic testing, which confirmed the presence of a genetic mutation - the GCM2 variant. Treatment included exploration of the parathyroid area using fluorescence. Both lower parathyroid glands were dissected. PTH monitoring showed a decrease in baseline levels of more than 50% after surgery. One month after surgery, PTH and calcium levels remained normal. Primary hyperparathyroidism is usually asymptomatic, detected when laboratory tests are performed for another cause. Symptoms include nephrolithiasis, bone and joint pain, osteoporosis, arrhythmias and fatigue. The typical patient has high PTH levels and hypercalcemia, but not every case will be schematic. High serum calcium levels do not always result in increased PTH levels and an in-depth diagnosis is required. The GCM2 mutation, detected in the patient presented here, may occur in familial isolated hyperparathyroidism. Correct diagnosis and treatment is crucial not only for the patient, as it significantly improves their quality of life, but also for their family members, who may also have a genetic mutation and be unaware of the disorder developing in their body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The atrial septal pouch was first recognised in humans in 2006 and, since 2010, has been described in more detail. The first reports on the left-sided atrial septal pouch linked its occurrence with a higher risk of thromboembolic stroke resulting from left atrial thrombus formation. However, subsequent studies have challenged this theory; therefore, the consequences of septal pouch occurrence remain disputed. Currently, in veterinary species, septal pouch occurrence and morphology have been described in sheep and pigs, showing species-related differences. No studies have been conducted on cats. As cats show a species-related risk of aortic thromboembolic disease resulting from left atrial thrombus formation, we aimed to describe the interatrial septum anatomical variations as the first step in the investigation of the relationship between the septal pouch presence and left atrial thrombus formation. Methods: The study was conducted on hearts collected post mortem from 80 cats. After formalin fixation and dissection, a detailed anatomical description of the interatrial septum for all cases was followed by a histopathological analysis of the heart in 25 cases. After dissection, the specimens were embedded in paraffin blocks and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, Masson–Goldner trichrome, Picrosirius Red and Movat pentachrome in a routine manner and evaluated via light microscopy. Results: Our study showed a very high prevalence (95%) of the left-sided septal pouch in cats with a lower incidence (29%) of the right-sided septal pouch. We noted a high morphological variety of the left-sided septal pouch and described anatomical variants not previously reported in the literature. Conclusions and relevance: The septal pouch is a common anatomical variation of the interatrial septum in cats. Although, based on the current study, we cannot draw further conclusions on the relationship between the left-sided septal pouch and thromboembolic events in cats, the high prevalence of this anatomical entity points to a need of further studies on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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