Kazimierz Funk: Polish vitamins' discoverer. / Kazimierz Funk - polski odkrywca witamin.

Kazimierz Funk, born on February 23, 1884, in Warsaw, demonstrated an early inclination toward the field of human physiology. He charted his scientific trajectory within esteemed European scientific institutions, commencing at the age of 16 in Geneva, where he pursued studies in natural sciences. Subsequently, he continued his academic endeavors in Bern, culminating in the attainment of his doctorate in 1904. Following this, Funk relocated to Paris and secured a position at the Pasteur Institute. In France, his research concentrated on elucidating the role of trace elements in the human body. In 1906 he transitioned to Berlin, collaborating with Hermann Fisher (1852-1919) to investigate proteins and cancer processes. In 1910, Funk ventured to London, joining the Lister Institute, where he initiated research on beriberi disease. His investigations led to the isolation of a substance pivotal in treating the ailment, which he termed "vitamin" (derived from 'vita' meaning life and 'amine' indicating a nitrogen-containing compound). Despite four nominations for the Nobel Prize (in 1914, 1925, 1926, and 1946), Kazimierz Funk didn't receive the prestigious accolade. In 1925, at the urging of Dr. Ludwik Rajchman (1881-1965), the director of the National Institute of Hygiene, Funk assumed the directorship of the Biochemistry and Hygiene of Nutrition Branch at the National School of Hygiene. Under Funk's guidance, Poland became the third European country to produce insulin. Kazimierz Funk passed away on November 19, 1967, in New York City, at the age of 83. His significant contributions to the fields of biochemistry and nutrition endure as a testament to his enduring impact on scientific understanding. This proposal aims to condense and emphasise Kazimierz Funk's diverse scientific interests and the various scientific teams and sites he collaborated with, which ultimately led to his groundbreaking discover.

Sir Frederick Grant Banting - the discoverer of insulin. On the 100th anniversary on the Nobel Prize.

Over the past thousands of years, diabetes has deprived people all over the world of their lives. Until 1922, mankind remained powerless. However, change came, with Frederick Banting (1891-1941), the discoverer of insulin. This breakthrough discovery was made not by a great scientist, but by a hard-working and persistent doctor. Perhaps Banting's conscientiousness and integrity stemmed from where he grew up? A small farm in the provinces certainly influenced his further development. A development that was not obvious, because as a child little Freddie had learning difficulties. Determination led him to medicine. It must not have been without surprise to Professor MacLeod (1876-1935) when, in his office at the University of Ontario, he heard from the 30-year-old doctor that he had an idea on how to save lives from an incurable disease. The opportunity Banting was given, he used effectively. Together with the help of his student Charles Best (1899-1978), he isolated insulin. The dissemination of insulin in Poland was very quickly taken up by Kazimierz Funk (1884-1967), the discoverer of thiamine and creator of the term 'vitamin'. As head of the Department of Biochemistry at the National Institute of Hygiene (PZH), he began producing insulin from bovine pancreases in 1924. He carried out this initiative using his private funds, equipping the laboratory with the appropriate equipment. Banting's remarkable feat was rewarded in 1923. Nobel Prize, which he shared with MacLeod. The fact that the actual co-discoverer of insulin, Charles Best, was not included in the award outraged Banting to such an extent that he decided not to accept the prize. After much persuasion, he changed his mind, but shared the financial reward with his faithful assistant. The discoverer's determination and behaviour in the face of success provides an invaluable lesson for today's doctors and scientists. By following the principles Banting espoused, we can honour his memory.

Cephalic index in the first three years of life: study of children with normal brain development based on computed tomography.

Cephalic index is a highly useful method for planning surgical procedures, as well as assessing their effectiveness in correcting cranial deformations in children. There are relatively very few studies measuring cephalic index in healthy Caucasian young children. The aim of our study was to develop a classification of current cephalic index for healthy Caucasian children up to 3 years of age with normal brain development, using axial slice computer tomography performed with very thin slices (0.5 mm) resulting in more accurate measurements. 180 healthy infants (83 females and 97 males) were divided into 5 age categories: 0-3, 4-6, 7-12, 13-24, and 25-36 months. The average value of cephalic index in children up to 3 years of age amounted to 81.45 ± 7.06. The index value in case of children under 3 months was 80.19, 4 to 6 months was 81.45, 7 to 12 months was 83.15, in children under 2 years was 81.05, and in children under 3 years was 79.76. Mesocephaly is the dominating skull shape in children. In this study, we formulated a classification of current cephalic indices of children with normal brain development. Our date appears to be of utmost importance in anthropology, anatomy forensic medicine, and genetics.

Study of social awareness regarding body donations for scientific and educational purposes.

BACKGROUND: The basis of teaching anatomy is the understanding of the body's structures using human cadavers. Body donation should be a fully conscious and voluntary act. There is a growing demand for human cadavers in medical universities. To meet these demands, it is necessary to understand the societal awareness regarding body donation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study utilized a proprietary single-choice questionnaire while maintaining the anonymity of the respondents. The study included 1004 individuals, comprising 700 women and 304 men. The analysis employed the Mann-Whitney test, Pearson's chi-squared test with calculation of the Cramer's V coefficient. RESULTS: Among the respondents, 56.37% consider donating their bodies for scientific and educational purposes. Among the concerns associated with donation, fear of lack of proper respect for the remains by students (18.23%), family opposition (16.24%), and religious reasons (9.16%) were highlighted. Non-religious individuals are more inclined to donate their bodies for scientific and educational purposes than religious individuals (p < 0.001). Residents of rural areas and small towns are less likely to consider donating their bodies for scientific and educational purposes than residents of large cities (p = 0.002). As many as 85.76% of respondents believe that human remains are essential for effective anatomy education. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing public awareness of cadaver donation may contribute to increasing the effectiveness of anatomy teaching at medical universities.

[Vaccination against Streptococcus pneumonia and knowledge about it in the cardiology and general practitioners patients]. / Szczepienia przeciw Streptococcus pneumoniae i wiedza w tym zakresie pacjentów Poradni Kardiologicznej i Poradni Lekarza Rodzinnego.

UNLABELLED: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a reason of many infectious diseases, from prosy respiratory tract infections to the grave bacterial hematosepsis which often is a cause of patients death. Infection spreads with droplets or sometimes by direct contact. Symptomatic Staphylococcal infections most often unfold as a otitis, sinusitis, broncho-pneumonia and lobal pneumonia or as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma aggravation or they can be the cause of many other illnesses like: meningitis and encephalitis, endocarditis, epicarditis, peritonitis, arthritis and hematosepsis. The aim of the study was to evaluate anti-streptococcal vaccinations and to analyze cardiology patients and General Practitioners patients knowledge about Streptococcus pneumoniae. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 312 Cardiology and General Practitioners patient's from Outpatients Clinic in Katowice included to the study. Additionally there were national registers analyzed involving anti-streptococcal vaccination and streptococcal infections data from years from 2006 to 2009. Informations about anti-streptococcal vaccination and data evaluating knowledge about streptococcal infections problems were obtained from the poll made especially for this study. RESULTS: Results of the study showed, that patient's knowledge about anti-streptococcal vaccination is very poor. From 312 patients included to the study only 16 were vaccinated and 118 persons had no knowledge about Streptococus pneumoniae. Data from the national registers showed, that in the years 2006-2009 the invasive form of streptococcal infection had similar number of patients - 273 and 274 respectively - in Silesia, 28 and 26 patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge about anti-streptococcal vaccinations is very poor and a number of people vaccinated small. There is the need to provide more information to rise the number of vaccinated persons, especially in the group of increased risk and consequently reduce worker absenteeism in the work and financial loss.

[Brugada syndrome--case report]. / Zespól Brugadów--opis przypadku.

Brugada syndrome (BS) is a rare genetically-based condition occurring usually in the third and fourth decade of human life, mainly developing in men (85%). It is manifested through permanent or periodic malignant ventricular arrhythmia leading to fainting, and consequently sudden cardiac death. Despite possessing great knowledge of the condition, implementation of cardioverter-defibrillator still remains the only effective way of treating malignant arrhythmia and of preventing sudden cardiac death. The following paper presents a case of a healthy nineteen-year-old man who was admitted to the Outpatient Cardiologic Center for a sport qualifying check-up. During examination, the ECG showed some features of Brugada syndrome and the patient was sent for further hospital diagnostics. During the aimaline provocative test the ECG revealed ST elevation up to 4mm in V1-V2 leads, whereas the electrophysiological examination with standard protocol and with right ventricular apex and right ventricular output aggressive protocol did not provoke any ventricular arrhythmia. The patient was qualified for preventive treatment with recommendation for regular check-up in an outpatient cardiologic center and with a total ban on extreme sport exercises.

[Recent clinical picture of Brugada syndrome]. / Wspólczesny obraz zespolu Brugadów.

Brugada syndrome is a genetically-based autosomal dominant condition. It occurs as a result of some disorder of ion channels which regulate currents responsible for development of activity potential. Brugada syndrome may appear as a family disease or as a sporadic condition. The syndrome can develop at every age of human life, yet, most frequently in the 3-4th life decade, mostly in men (85%). Its main symptoms include: malignant ventricular arrhythmia leading to fainting, and consequently accounting for, at least 4-12% of all sudden cardiac deaths and for 20-50% of deaths without any confirmed organic heart disease. The purpose of the paper was to present the currently-possessed knowledge about the condition and to highlight the necessity of an indepth ECG analysis, especially with respect to discovery of rare conditions. Due to different clinical symptoms of Brugada syndrome and a possibility of occurrence of changes in the ECG record, it is necessary to regularly monitor and check Brugada syndrome patients. Moreover, it is important to make both patients and first-contact doctors aware of a Brugada syndrome diagnosis and to inform them about a necessity of eliminating certain medicaments and factors (infections, intense physical activity) responsible for sudden cardiac death. Despite possessing great and advanced knowledge about the disorder, the implementation of cardioverter-defibrillator remains the only effective way of treating malignant arrhythmia and of preventing sudden cardiac death.

[B hepatitis vaccination evaluated in population of non-medical staff members]. / Szczepienia ochronne przeciw wirusowemu zapaleniu watroby typu B, oceniane w populacji doroslych pacjentów niebedacych pracownikami sluzby zdrowia.

UNLABELLED: Hepatitis belongs to a group of diseases caused by different hepatotropic viruses, which are responsible for inflamation of the liver. The most common form of liver infection is hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is transmitted by blood and other body fluids. The infection can also occur during pregnancy--the fetus contact with mother physiological fluids, direct contact with infected blood, unprotected sexual contact and intravenous administration of drugs using of unsterile needles. Chronic hepatitis B accounts for approximately 80% of liver cancer. HBV constitutes a major epidemiological threat. According to statistical data over 2 billion people worldwide are infected. 60% of patients are non-symptomatic, while 40-50 develop disease symptoms. All this often lead to inflamation, cirrhosis hepatis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV vaccinaton presents the only effective way to prevent the disease. Therefore it is extremely important to make people fully aware of the disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate hepatitis virus B vaccination and hepatitis incidence rate in the patients, who are non-medical staff members. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Family Doctor Office and Cardiology Clinic patients were included in the study. The source of data was questionnaire concerning anti-hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis occurrence. RESULTS: The research was conducted on a group of 312 patient (109 male and 203 female). In this group, 168 people got vaccinated against the hepatitis B (53.84%). 29 patients (9.29%) had little knowledge about such a possibility of immunization, while 17 people (5.44%) knew nothing about the vaccination. The most common reason for vaccination was preventive action (preparation for medical treatment)--83 people (49.40%). Only 10 people (3.20%) from the studied group got infected. The most frequent reason were medical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: In Poland, the number of people vaccinated against B hepatitis is still very low. Therefore it is necessary to run a nationwide informative campaign and to intensify pro-vaccination activities. All this is extremely important for prevention of serious complications such as: liver failure, cirrhosis hepatis and hapatocelluar carcinoma. In the studied group it was medical procedures that became the source of infection. To guard ourselves against such situations in future it is vital to introduce and follow septic and antiseptic regime.

[Vaccination against influenza--recommendations and reality in the assessments of patients of cardiology and family physician center]. / Szczepienia przeciw grypie--zalecenia a rzeczywistosc oceniane wsród pacjentów poradni lekarza rodzinnego i poradni kardiologicznej.

UNLABELLED: Influenza is one of the most common diseases in the world. It occurs seasonally and is a viral disease contracted by a direct contact (respiratory droplets), causing many serious complications. The best way to prevent influenza is to get vaccinated once a year, which is the cheapest and the most effective protection. Research results have confirmed positive effects of influenza vaccination in the group of patients above the age of 65 and under the age of five. The group of high-risk patients comprises people with chronic diseases, especially people suffering from chronic conditions like heart and lung diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate influenza vaccination and influenza incidence rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Family Doctor Office and Cardiology Clinic patients were included to the study The source of data was questionnaire concerning anti-influenza avaccination and influenza occurrence. Another source of the data were records from the National Health Institute, the Public Sanitation Institute and the Warsaw Epidemiological Center. RESULTS: The research was conducted on a group of 312 patients. In this group, 134 people got vaccinated against the seasonal influenza (42.94%). Regular vaccination was declared by 78 patients (58.20%). 29 people had symptoms of influenza. From a group of higher-risk patients above the age of 65, 35 patients got vaccinated (51.47%). In this group only 3 people got ill (8.57%). CONCLUSIONS: According to research, not enough Poles get vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Moreover, not all of them do this regularly. Vaccinated people get ill less frequently than people who have not been vaccinated, which proves the effectiveness of vaccination. There is a need of further informative actions and wide-spread activities in order to increase the number of vaccinated people, especially from a higher risk group, which - based on the latest research results - is significant in a prevention of complications, including the development of acute coronary syndrome.

Can the expression of the metalloproteinase 9 gene and its inhibitor be considered as markers of heart failure?

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of mortality in developed countries. Its formation is associated with a change in the transcriptional activity of many genes. The aim of the study was to select, from the group of genes related to coronary atherosclerosis and heart failure, genes differentiating patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure on the basis of myocardial ischemia from healthy people, and then genes differentiating patients with various stages of heart failure. METHODS: The study was carried out using the oligonucleotide microarray technique HG-U133A (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Cluster analysis showed a homogeneous division of the study group into patients with heart failure and healthy patients with excluded coronary artery disease and patients with heart failure depending on the size of the left ventricle ejection fraction. RESULTS: The study showed that genes differentiating the group of patients from healthy people were: TGF-ß1, TIMP-1 and MMP-9. The analysis also showed that genes differentiated patients with advanced heart failure in the course of coronary disease and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 20% and patients from the group with 40% LVEF were MMP-9 and TIMP-1. CONCLUSIONS: Extracting from the group of genes related to coronary atherosclerosis and cardiac failure: MMP-9, TGF-ß1 and TIMP-1 differentiating patients with heart failure on the basis of myocardial ischemia in varying degrees of severity from healthy people may indicate their significant contribution to disease development. Also increased expression of the metalloproteinase gene 9 (MMP-9) with a simultaneous decrease in the expression of its tissue inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) in the studied group of patients with ischemic heart failure differing in left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF makes them the markers of progression in failure.

Female and male orbit asymmetry: Digital analysis.

BACKGROUND: Standard anthropometric methods applied to measurements of the skull differentials are laden with mistakes stemming from the way the measuring devices are built and from a lack of experience on the part of the researchers. To increase objectivity, digital imaging measurements via computer systems were introduced. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to assess the asymmetry of the male and female orbit with the application of the new graphic methods: raster graphics and vector graphics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination was conducted on 184 well-preserved skulls. The photos were taken by a digital camera with high definition. Orbit asymmetry was examined by determining the distance between the centers of gravity of both orbits and the frontal median line d1 and d2. Then angles α and ß were appointed. They are defined as angles between the line that runs through craniometrical points mf and ek on the right side (angle α) and on the left side (angle ß), and the frontal median line at their crossing point. Distances r2 and r1, which are allocated points between the frontal median lines (LPP), were also set. RESULTS: Angles α and ß were also analyzed while comparing the skulls of both genders. Statistically significant differences were only observed in male skulls. However, differences for both genders were noted in parameters d1 and d2. No statistically significant differences were discovered between men and women for parameters r1 and r2. The groups of women and men were merged, being treated as a population; which resulted in the conclusion that there are no statistically significant differences between these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The skull's asymmetry connected to gender and the asymmetry of the right and left sides of examined craniums can be used in criminal examinations as well as in facial reconstructive surgeries.

[Surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease as a supplement to pharmacological therapy]. / Leczenie chirurgiczne choroby Parkinsona jako uzupelnienie leczenia zachowawczego.

The aim of the study was review of literature and description of surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease, based on neuroanatomical and neurophysiological aspects ofnigrostriatal system. Parkinson's disease is the neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic cell loss in the compact part of substantia nigra. It is treated pharmacologically or surgically. The surgical treatment is the supplement to the pharmacological one in severe and drug resistant cases. In this study the common methods of surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease: ablative lesions and deep brain stimulation procedures in globus pallidus internus, thalamus and subthalamic nucleus and also the intrastriatal transplantation ofdopaminergic cells (into the striatum) were described.

[Transplantation of islets of langerhans--alternative or solution in type 1 diabetes treatment?]. / Przeszczep wysp trzustkowych langerhansa--alternatywa czy rozwiazanie w leczeniu cukrzycy typu 1?

Diabetes mellitus is severe disease caused by partial or total lack of insulin leading to microangiopathy. Methods of treatment used today do not protect patients from the complications of disease. The proposed alternative of the treatment is transplantation of the pancreas islets. Till June 2003, 705 transplantation were performed worldwide. Allotransplant trials were described so far, while xenotransplants may appear as an alternative using alien species donors. Immune incompatibility of a human and animals is a major problem in the method, which can be solved by the use of genetically modified animals. In vitro genetic modifications of the pancreatic islets were already undertaken. New perspective arose with the development of the "stem cells" technology--differentiation of the primary cells into the Langerhans islets cells. Contemporary data show positive value of the method and give new perspective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus with respect to its rising morbidity.

Orbital Opening Shape and Its Alphanumerical Classification.

BACKGROUND: Orbit is the one of the most complicated areas of the facial part of cranium. The anthropological analysis of the orbits comprises basic measurement characterizing their shape: width and height. Classic anthropometric methods used to measure the skull variability are burdened with mistakes resulting from construction of measuring devices as well as from researcher's experience. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our research was to introduce a metric classification of the orbital opening. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 184 skulls. In our study we suggest introducing a classification of the orbital opening shape by calculating a functional for the 15 categories of the orbit shape. Shape categories have been arranged following the increasing value of the functionals. Each shape category of the orbital opening, according to the Piasecki's descriptive classification, was assigned a letter from the alphabet. RESULTS: We have observed a greater number of symmetrical skulls in the female group (29.11%) than in the male (23.81%). In both groups the symmetry type AA was the most frequent, it corresponds to the value of functional comprised in the interval from 0 to 1,30. According to the Piasecki's descriptive classification it was the oval elongated type. CONCLUSIONS: Our alphanumerical classification based on the value of functional and on the orbit outline assigned to the value is an objective and useful method of the orbital opening shape analysis.

Digital analysis of the orbit using the non-referring method.

INTRODUCTION: Anthropological analysis of the orbits using classic anthropometric instruments based on width and height measurements as well as orbital index allows for classification of orbits in terms of their shape, yet it has poor clinical application. Nowadays computer graphics enables a precise research technique implementing the latest achievements in digital technology and data recording. The aim of the study was to compare in let parameters of left and right orbits in male and female skulls by means of digital analysis techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis was carried out on 184 early medieval well-preserved skulls. The examined crania were fixed into Molisson's craniost at in the author's own modification. They were directed in space towards the Frankfurt plane and photographed in a frontal norm. Parameters describing the plane structure of the orbits were obtained through computer analysis, integrating raster and vector graphics of mathematical recordings of craniofacial structures. RESULTS: The research demonstrated some differences between male and female skulls. Parameters of right orbit like area, circumference, radius, excavation, circularity deviation and functional were statistically significant higher values in male skull. The following parameters of left orbit: area, circumference, reference circle radius, parameter describing height between two point (mf-ek), maximal width, maximal excavation in relation to median and mean, circularity deviation and functional were statistically significant higher parameter in the male group. CONCLUSIONS: Orbit shape variability, and especially variability of the orbit in let, are highly important features for anthropologists and maxillofacial surgeons, hence the usefulness of the in let orbit shape digital analysis.

Analysis of the upper massif of the craniofacial with the radial method - practical use.

INTRODUCTION: The analysis of the upper massif of the craniofacial (UMC) is widely used in many fields of science. The aim of the study was to create a high resolution computer system based on a digital information record and on vector graphics, that could enable dimension measuring and evaluation of craniofacial shape using the radial method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 184 skulls, in a good state of preservation, from the early middle ages. The examined skulls were fixed into Molisson's craniostat in the author's own modification. They were directed in space towards the Frankfurt plane and photographed in frontal norm with a digital camera. The parameters describing the plane and dimensional structure of the UMC and orbits were obtained thanks to the computer analysis of the function recordings picturing the craniofacial structures and using software combining raster graphics with vector graphics. RESULTS: It was compared mean values of both orbits separately for male and female groups. In female skulls the comparison of the left and right side did not show statistically significant differences. In male group, higher values were observed for the right side. Only the circularity index presented higher values for the left side. CONCLUSIONS: Computer graphics with the software used for analysing digital pictures of UMC and orbits increase the precision of measurements as well as the calculation possibilities. Recognition of the face in the post mortem examination is crucial for those working on identification in anthropology and criminology laboratories.