Association of cognitive performance with the physical activity and body mass index in middle-aged and older rural inhabitants.

OBJECTIVE: Last few decades have witnessed rapid ageing of the population. The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia is significantly higher in people aged 60 and over than in younger. The aim of the study was the assessment of the putative associations between physical activity and cognitive functioning in elderly inhabitants of a rural area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The participants underwent physical assessment, physical activity, cognitive functions, depression were assessed. RESULTS: Highly active participants had better results in tests assessing psychomotor speed and in measuring attention and its flexibility comparing to groups of medium and low physical activity. Active people made fewer errors in the test measuring visual memory and new learning, and had significantly better results in the spatial-recognition memory test. Persons with symptoms of depression performed worse in visuospatial memory and working memory tests. Associations between physical activity and cognitive test results as well as association between body mass index and blood pressure and cognitive performance were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest an association between higher physical activity and better cognitive functioning in the field of working memory and visual and spatial-recognition, attention and attention flexibility. Symptoms of depression, hypertension and increased BMI may adversely affect cognitive performance in elderly.

Age of linear enamel hypoplasia formation based on Massler and colleagues' and Reid and Dean's standards in a Polish sample dated to 13th-18th century CE.

In the study of enamel hypoplasia formation ages basically two standards of dental development are being applied. According to some authors, different methods produce different results, thus it is critical to decide which method to use. This study focuses on the comparison of three methods for estimating ages of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) formation. The skeletal material derives from three burial grounds localized on the territory of Poland, dated to 13th-18th c. CE. In total 642 teeth of 77 individuals were qualified for the study. The position of LEHs on the crown surface was measured and then converted to age at formation using the regression equations proposed by Goodman and Rose, Goodman and Song, and the data provided by Reid and Dean. There were 51.9% of individuals and 17.9% of teeth affected by LEH. The lowest age estimates were provided by the Goodman and Rose's method then higher by the Goodman and Song's method and the highest using the Reid and Dean's data. The age ranges and peaks of LEH provided by the three methods differed more for the maxillary than for the mandibular teeth. Crown formation ages supplied by Reid and Dean account for intra- and inter-tooth as well as inter-population variation in the timing of tooth development and also for variation in crown heights. This approach undoubtedly increases reliability of the results. Thus, it seems advisable to use the Reid and Dean's standard when calculating ages of enamel hypoplasia formation.

Allosteric activation of protein phosphatase 2C by D-chiro-inositol-galactosamine, a putative mediator mimetic of insulin action.

Insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in skeletal muscle proceeds predominantly through a nonoxidative pathway with glycogen synthase as a rate-limiting enzyme, yet the mechanisms for insulin activation of glycogen synthase are not understood despite years of investigation. Isolation of putative insulin second messengers from beef liver yielded a pseudo-disaccharide consisting of pinitol (3-O-methyl-d-chiro-inositol) beta-1,4 linked to galactosamine chelated with Mn(2+) (called INS2). Here we show that chemically synthesized INS2 has biological activity that significantly enhances insulin reduction of hyperglycemia in streptozotocin diabetic rats. We used computer modeling to dock INS2 onto the known three-dimensional crystal structure of protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C). Modeling and FlexX/CScore energy minimization predicted a unique favorable site on PP2C for INS2 in a surface cleft adjacent to the catalytic center. Binding of INS2 is predicted to involve formation of multiple H-bonds, including one with residue Asp163. Wild-type PP2C activity assayed with a phosphopeptide substrate was potently stimulated in a dose-dependent manner by INS2. In contrast, the D163A mutant of PP2C was not activated by INS2. The D163A mutant and wild-type PP2C in the absence of INS2 had the same Mn(2+)-dependent phosphatase activity with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate, showing that this mutation did not disrupt the catalytic site. We propose that INS2 allosterically activates PP2C, fulfilling the role of a putative mediator mimetic of insulin signaling to promote protein dephosphorylation and metabolic responses.

[Mycosis in otolaryngology]. / Grzybice w otorynolaryngologii.

Authors present the most common systemic and opportunistic mycotic infections in otolaryngology. Morphological structure, development cycle and low requirements give possibilities to spread the disease. Mycotic infections can cause different disease entities even with the same fungal pathogen.

[Submandibular pathology as an interdisciplinary problem]. / Patologia przestrzeni podzuchwowej jako problem interdyscyplinarny.

Basing on the own material of 328 patients treated surgically the authors have presented the problem of submandibular space pathology. They have pointed out its interspecialty in diagnosing and treatment. Among 328 patients the presence of inflammatory tumors have been stated in 220 (67.1%) cases, non-specific inflammation in 194 (88.2%) patients and specific inflammation in 26 (11.8%) patients. Neoplasmatic tumors have occurred in 98 (29.9%) patients, malignant tumors in 78 (79.6%) patients and benign ones in 20 (20.4%) patients. Among malignant tumors metastatic ones were observed in 41 (52.6%) cases, while primary tumors in 37 (47.4%) cases. In 3.0% patients developmental anomaly have occurred.

[Tumors of the submandibular gland]. / Guzy slinianki podzuchwowej.

The authors have analyzed 148 cases with submandibular gland tumors treated surgically in ENT Department of County Hospital Nr 1 in Rzeszów from 1974 to 1994. Inflammatory tumors occurred in 123 (83%) patients, in this number non-specific inflammation caused by calculi occurred in 120 (97.5%) patients and specific inflammations (tuberculosis) in 3 (2.5%) ones. Neoplastic tumors occurred in 14 (56.0%) patients and non-malignant in 11 (44.0%) patients. Among malignant tumors adenoid cystic carcinoma occurs most frequently (8 cases, 57%), whereas among non-malignant ones pleomorphic adenoma is most frequent (10 cases, 91%).

[Diseases of the orbit]. / Schorzenia oczodolu.

Diseases of the orbital cavity require more attention because of its specific anatomic structure and placement. Their curing requires cooperation of many medical specialties. Analysis consider orbital fractures, mainly caused by car accidents (69.2%). The next half of them consider inflammatory processes and tumor in equal numbers. Malignant tumors of orbital cavity occur most frequently (48.0%), less frequent are pseudotumors--pseudotumor orbitae (36.0%) and rare--malignant ones (16.0%). Malignant tumors more frequently infiltrate the orbit in neighborhood (63.3%), less frequently they come out from orbit tissue (16.7%). It should be emphasized that the number of orbit inflammations decreases in subsequent years, whereas occurrence of orbit tumors increases.

[Comparison of the incidence of various tumors of the parotid and submandibular gland]. / Porównanie czestosci wystepowania róznych guzów w sliniance przyusznej i podzuchwowej.

The authors have analyzed 396 cases with parotid and submandibular gland tumors treated surgically in ENT Department of County Hospital Nr 1 in Rzeszów from 1974 to 1994. The most frequent disease was neoplastic tumor located in parotid gland, while the most frequent inflammatory disease was non-specific inflammation caused by a calculus in submandibular gland.

[Tumors of the submandibular triangle]. / Guzy trójkata podzuchwowego.

Analysed material consists of 180 patients with different kind of submandibular triangle tumors, excluded disturbances of the submandibular gland. All these patients were treated in ENT Department of County Hospital No 1 in Rzeszów in 1974-1993. Among 180 patients in 97 (54%) cases, the presence of inflammatory tumors were stated: non specific inflammation in 74 (76%) patients and specific inflammation in 23 (24%) patients. In 10 (6%) patients occurred branchial or dermoid cysts. Neoplastic tumors occurred in 73 (40%), malignant tumors in 64 (86%) patients and benign ones in 9 (12%) patients. Among malignant tumors metastatic ones were stated 41 (64%) cases, while primary tumors in 23 (36%). The histology type of tumors were revealed by histology examination.

[Analysis of orbital diseases]. / Analiza schorzen oczodolu.

Orbital diseases, in view of the special situation and anatomic structure of the orbit require greater attention and wide cooperation of doctors of many specialities, being an interdisciplinary problem. The analysis of the presented material showed that almost half the treated orbital diseases were bone fractures (48.4%), resulting mainly from traffic trauma (67.4%). The remaining diseases were orbital inflammations and tumours, and their numbers were similar. The fact is worth attention of decreasing number of orbital inflammations in successive years and increasing tendency for orbital tumour occurrence.

[A case of sarcoidosis in the orbit]. / Przypadek sarkoidozy w oczodole.

A case is described of a rare location of sarcoidosis in the orbit in a 43-year-old woman. The complaints persisting for four weeks for which the patient sought medical advice were: oedema and left eyelid ptosis with narrowing of the eyelid fissure. In the diagnostic process, endocrine background of the disease was excluded, and a tumour was found in the orbit in computed tomography. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made on the basis of histopathological examination of the tissues removed from the orbit during surgical operation.

[Purposes, tasks and duties of the ENT departments of the provincial hospital]. / Cele, zadania i obowiazki oddzialu otolaryngologicznego szpitala wojewódzkiego.

The authors present the scheme of work, aims and duties of otolaryngology department of the county hospital. Basic activities and aims are as follows: diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, specialistic supervision over other otolaryngology departments and out-patients clinics in the county, teaching otolaryngology department assistants and voluntary workers, postgraduate courses supervised by The Postgraduate Medical Centre, public and educational service. All those activities guarantees the proper work of the department, especially in case of the new country area division.

[Borreliosis]. / Kretkowica kleszczowa.

Borreliosis which incidence and epidemic range are constantly increasing is an infectious zoonosis, detected in the town of Lyme, Connecticut, USA in 1975. This disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by ticks. It relatively easily responds to antibiotic therapy. Making of correct diagnosis, however, causes more problems. The disease has often atypical course, its phases overlap. It may also mimic collagen diseases and other spirochetoses. The relatively low specificity of serological tests additionally makes the diagnosis more difficult.

[Orbital pathology--I]. / Patologia oczodolu--cz. I.

The signs of orbital diseases depend on an ideal anatomic and physiological symmetry which ensures correct position of the eyeballs and proper coordination and synchronization of the action of the oculomotor muscles. In the initial stage of pathological lesion development, the following may occur: burning sensation in conjunctivae, feeling of dryness, excessive lacrimation, and periodically appearing stabbing pain in the eye. Orbital diseases are associated most frequently with exophthalmus, and frequently also with lateral displacement of the eyeball and disturbances of its mobility. Injuries, inflammatory states and orbital neoplasms jeopardize not only the visual system but often are life-threatening. The determination of precise localization, size, type, and aetiology of pathological lesion and undertaking as soon as possible proper therapeutic management is the foremost task of every doctor.

[Orbital pathology--II. Methods of diagnostically differentiating orbital diseases]. / Patologia oczodolu--cz. II. Metody rozpoznawania schorzen oczodolu.

In view of extreme variety of orbital diseases, making of a correct diagnosis requires application of a number of diagnostic methods and close cooperation of various specialists. In order to determine the localization and aetiology of pathological focus in the orbita the following is carried out: measurement of exophthalmus, funduscopy, piezometry, thermography, gammagraphy, echography, plain and aimed X-ray examinations, angiography, phlebography, CT examinations and NMR examinations.

[Effect of long-term treatment with propranolol or hydrochlorothiazide on biochemical risk factors of coronary disease in patients with hypertension]. / Wplyw prezewleklego leczenia propranololem lub hydrochlorotiazydem na biochemiczne czynniki zagrozenia choroba wiencowa u chorych na nadcisnienie tetnicze krwi.

In 59 patients with mild or moderate essential hypertension effects of propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide on serum lipids, fibrynogen, glucose and uric acid concentrations as well as serum euglobulins fibrynolysis time were studied. 36 patients received propranolol and 23 subjects hydrochlorothiazide. Follow-up time was 1 year. Statistically significant increases of serum triglycerides, fibrynogen, levels and total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol LDH/HDL indices in comparison with their initial values were stated in a propranolol group. Significant serum cholesterol increase after 6 month therapy was the most substantial metabolic change in a hydrochlorothiazide group. Alterations of lipids indices in both groups were especially intensive in patients with pretreatment stated disturbances of lipids metabolism.