Thermal and optical properties of P3HT:PC70BM:ZnO nanoparticles composite films.

The results of studies on the influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the structural, thermal and optical properties of thin films of mixtures of phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with poly[3-hexylthiophene] (P3HT) of various molecular weights are described in this article. The structural properties of the layers of: polymers, mixtures of polymers with fullerenes and their composites with ZnO-NPs were investigated using X-ray diffraction. Whereas their glass transition temperature and optical parameters have been determined by temperature-dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry. The presence of ZnO-NPs was also visible in the images of the surface of the composite layers obtained using scanning electron microscopy. These blends and composite films have also been used as the active layer in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic structures. The molecular weight of P3HT (Mw = 65.2; 54.2 and 34.1 kDa) and the addition of nanoparticles affected the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the obtained solar cells. The determined PCE was the highest for the device prepared from the blend of P3HT:PCBM with the polymer of the lowest molecular weight. However, solar cells with ZnO-NPs present in their active layer had lower efficiency, although the open-circuit voltage and fill factor of almost all devices had the same values whether they contained ZnO-NPs or not. It is worth noting that thermal studies carried out using temperature-dependent ellipsometry showed a significant effect of the presence of ZnO-NPs on the value of the glass transition temperature, which was higher for composite films than for films made of a polymer-fullerene blend alone.

Influence of hereditary haemochromatosis on left ventricular wall thickness: does iron overload exacerbate cardiac hypertrophy?

BACKGROUND: The left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy increases the risk of heart failure. Hypertension and infiltrative cardiomyopathies are the well-known reasons of LV hypertrophy. The growing interest of scientists in this issue affects hereditary haemochromatosis (HH), which is characterised by the excess deposition of iron mostly due to HFE gene mutation. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible influence of HH on LV parameters in patients with early-diagnosed (early HH) and long-lasting and long-treated (old HH) disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty nine early HH and 19 old HH patients were prospectively enrolled in the study; age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers constituted the appropriate control groups. All participants had echocardiography performed (including three-dimension volume and mass analysis); the iron turnover parameters were measured at the time of enrolment in every HH patients. RESULTS: Echocardiographic parameters regarding to left atrium (LA), LV thickness, mass and long axis length were significantly higher, whereas LV ejection fraction was lower in early HH in comparison to healthy persons. In old HH patients the differences were similar to those mentioned before, except LV ejection fraction. The presence of hypertension in both HH groups did not influence echo parameters, as well as diabetes in old HH. The strongest correlation in all HH group was found between the time from HH diagnosis and LA, LV thickness and volumes parameters, but the correlations between iron turnover and echo parameters were non-existent. CONCLUSIONS: Hereditary haemochromatosis, not only long-lasting, but also early-diagnosed, could lead to exacerbation of LV wall thickness and cardiac hypertrophy. This effect is not simply connected with hypertension and diabetes that are frequent additional diseases in these patients, but with the time from HH diagnosis.

Brain resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy an inseparable pair of brain and heart.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is often triggered by emotional or physical stress factors. Psychological variables can have an impact on the physical manifestations of heart disease. TTC may reflect stunned myocardium from a neurogenic source. Anatomical connections between different parts of the brain can be visualized by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and thus, expressed by diffusion coefficient - fractional anisotropy (FA). A novel tool used to evaluate brain function in the absence of task is resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). METHODS: The study included both psychological tests and RS-fMRI examination, and was performed uniformly, in patients with takotsubo and healthy controls. The final group of patients consisted of 13 women, each who underwent a typical pattern of TTC triggered by emotionally stressful factors. The control group included thirteen healthy, age-matched women. RESULTS: Psychological tests revealed that the Type D personality was not more likely to appear among studied patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy than amongst the healthy population. However, the level of anxiety seen in patients with TTC was increased. There were no differences in FA values between patients and healthy controls. RS-fMRI showed that TTC patients had increased connectivity areas in the precuneus. The healthy controls, when compared to TTC patients had increased connectivity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account the RS-fMRI results, psychological testing may suggest that TTC patients place a greater focus on themselves (increased tendency to experience negative affectivity, greater conscientiousness) and might have problems with emotional control. Our findings lead to the hypothesis that there is a personality profile for TTC patients' reactions to stressful triggers.

Nanostructured Diamond Device for Biomedical Applications.

Diamond is increasingly used in biomedical applications because of its unique properties such as the highest thermal conductivity, good optical properties, high electrical breakdown voltage as well as excellent biocompatibility and chemical resistance. Diamond has also been introduced as an excellent substrate to make the functional microchip structures for electrophoresis, which is the most popular separation technique for the determination of analytes. In this investigation, a diamond electrophoretic chip was manufactured by a replica method using a silicon mold. A polycrystalline 300 micron-thick diamond layer was grown by the microwave plasma-assisted CVD (MPCVD) technique onto a patterned silicon substrate followed by the removal of the substrate. The geometry of microstructure, chemical composition, thermal and optical properties of the resulting free-standing diamond electrophoretic microchip structure were examined by CLSM, SFE, UV-Vis, Raman, XRD and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and by a modified laser flash method for thermal property measurements.

Evolution from a non-Fermi liquid Kondo lattice to intermediate valence behaviour in CeRhSn(1-x)In(x).

We present investigations of the magnetic and electric transport properties, specific heat, and electronic structure of the intermetallic and strongly correlated system of CeRhSn(1-x)In(x) compounds. The main goal of this paper is to determine the hybridization energy between the f electron and conduction electron states, V(cf), and its influence on the ground state properties of the system. The complementary experimental data are discussed on the basis of the Anderson model for a periodic Kondo lattice. CeRhSn is known as a non-Fermi liquid, while CeRhIn is a valence fluctuating system. We discuss the ground state properties of CeRhSn(1-x)In(x) and compare the results with those obtained for the doped Ce-based Kondo insulators.

Specific heat and magnetic susceptibility of CeNiSn doped with Rh.

CeNiSn is known as a semimetallic system with a small pseudogap at the Fermi energy. We investigate the effect of Rh doping on the Kondo insulator CeNiSn by means of measurements of ac magnetic susceptibility and specific heat. We show that the formation of the Kondo insulator narrow gap in CeNi(1 - x)Rh(x)Sn is associated with disorder-induced f-electron localization. For doped CeNiSn with x ≤ 0.06, the electrical resistivity data follow an activation and variable range hopping behaviour at low T, consistent with weak disorder and localization, while C/T is large, which is not a common feature of Kondo insulators. For x > 0.06, the system is metallic and exhibits non-Fermi liquid behaviour with magnetic susceptibility χ ∼ T( - n) with n ∼ 0.4 and electrical resistivity ρ ∼ T.

Efficacy and toxicity of MDR versus HDR brachytherapy for primary vaginal cancer.

The retrospective analysis includes a group of 50 patients with primary, invasive vaginal cancer treated with brachytherapy in the period of 1982-1993. Over 80% cases were squamous cell carcinoma. There were 14 patients in stage I according to FIGO classification and 20%, 36%, and 16% of patients in stage II, III and IV, respectively. Twenty one patients (42%) received MDR brachytherapy using Cs137 source, the remaining 29 (58%) were treated with HDR using Co60 or Ir192 sources. Among 50 patients 31 (62%) received also external beam irradiation. An overall 5-year actuarial disease-free survival was 40%, and it was 78.6% (11/14), 40% (4/10), 27.8% (5/18), 0% (0/8) for stage I, II, III and IV, respectively. For MDR or HDR5-year disease-free survival was 38% and 41%, respectively. No influence of dose rate on survival has been found (p=0.7). Local failure occurred in 20 patients (40%). Recurrences appeared in 10 patients (20%). Late complications rate was 0% and 17% for MDR and HDR, respectively. Effectiveness of brachytherapy MDR and HDR was similar, whereas serious late complications developed more often after HDR brachytherapy.

[Tuberculous pleurisy--still difficult diagnostic problem]. / Gruzlicze zapalenie oplucnej--nadal trudny problem diagnostyczny.

In years 1989-2000 in Lung Diseases Hospital in Lódz tuberculous pleurisy TP was diagnosed in 271 patients; in 130 (48%) cases this diagnosis was confirmed by microbiological and histopathological examinations. Presence of tubercle bacilli in pleural fluid was discovered by smear and culture only in 13 cases, only by culture in 95 and in Bactec method in 7. During this period in 135 patients with pleural effusion of unknown etiology biopsy of the pleura (with Abrams needle) was performed and specific granuloma was found in 17 (13%) persons. In 15 (12%) patients it was the only method establishing diagnosis of TP (because in 2 remaining patients tubercle bacilli in pleural fluid were also found). Assessment of clinical symptoms indicates that onset of TP was insidious and course of the disease was subacute in about 30% of patients, manifested mainly by: fatigue, general weakness, night sweats. Radiological estimation of patients with TP disclosed (besides pleural effusion) lung infiltrations in 38 (28%) cases, including 13 (10%) with cavitation. Tuberculin induration with diameter 0 mm was found in 32% of patients with TP and with greater than 10 mm in 29% of patients. Because of low sensitivity of microbiological examinations of pleural fluid for tubercle bacilli biopsy of pleura should be method of choice in the diagnosis of TP in selected cases.

Influence of previous treatment on palliative effect of HDR brachytherapy in advanced esophageal cancer.

General effectiveness and influence of previous treatment on value of palliative HDR brachytherapy were assessed in 35 patients with advanced esophageal cancer treated from 1992 till 1997 with brachytherapy HDR (BT). Twelve of them were treated only with BT, II received previously chemoradiotherapy (CHTT), 12 teleradiotherapy (TT). BT appeared to be effective method of palliation. No significant differences in effectiveness of BT in analyzed groups were observed. Sever complications were observed in 9 cases (26%), and that in patients treated previously. Brachytherapy seems to be efficient after previous treatment, however, in this case, the risk of complications increases.

[Pseudomonas aerogunosa pneumonia in patients treated at the Hospital for Chest Diseases]. / Zapalenia pluc wywolane przez paleczke ropy blekitnej u chorych leczonych w Szpitalu Chorób Pluc.

Retrospective analysis of pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was made in 66 patients, treated in hospital. Nosocomial pneumonia was diagnosed in 11 (17%) patients. In 51 patients coexisting lung diseases were present: mainly COPD and bronchiectasis. Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were susceptible mostly to imipenem, meropenem, aztreonam, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, netilmicin. Duration of treatment in hospital was very long--59% were treated over 30 days. Combined antibacterial therapy was applied in 35 (53%) patients and monotherapy, often with different antibiotics--in 31 (47%) patients. Treatment was successful in 45 (68%) patients. In 9 patients the results of treatment was not successful: mainly because of empyema in 7 pts. Twelve (18%) patients (with coexisting COPD--6 and lung cancer--6) died. We can support current recommendations for treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection with combination of aminoglycosides or fluoroquinolones plus one of remaining antipseudomonal antibiotics. Treatment failures occurred mainly in patients with severe coexisting diseases and/or empyema.

[Pleural needle biopsy in the diagnostic standards of pleural diseases in the past and today]. / Biopsja iglowa oplucnej w standardzie diagnostyki chorób oplucnej wczoraj i dzis.

Pleural needle biopsy (PNB) maintained its value in spite of introduction of videothoracoscopy. Diagnostic possibilities of PNB using Abrams needle were evaluated during 1989-1998 in 114 patients aged 17-82 years. In histological examinations of the biopsy specimens were diagnosed: neoplasms--in 47 (41%) patients, tuberculosis--in 10 (9%) and chronic nonspecific pleuritis--in remaining 57 patients. Data from further course of the disease confirmed diagnosis of neoplasms and tuberculosis. Complication of PNB was encountered only in 1 patient (pneumothorax). Among 47 patients with malignant infiltration of the pleura in the biopsy specimen only in 20 (42%) neoplastic cells were demonstrated in cytologic examination of the pleural fluid. PNB remains still useful in the diagnosis of causes of pleural diseases. Specificity of this method can be enhanced by more precise localization of the pleural lesions using imaging technics (USG, CT, MRI). PNB should be more widely performed in the diagnosis of pleural diseases of unknown etiology particularly when videothoracoscopy is not feasible.

[Staphylococcal pneumonia--analysis of material from patients treated at the Hospital for Lung Diseases in the years 1981-1994]. / Gronkowcowe zapalenia pluc--analiza materialu chorych leczonych w Szpitalu Chorób Pluc w latach 1981-1994.

Retrospective analysis of staphylococcal pneumonia was made in 182 patients, aged 18-88 years /61% more than 60 years old/ treated in hospital in years 1981-1994. Majority of these patients had various concomitant diseases, mostly chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive mainly to amoxycillin--clavulanic acid, roxitromycin, amikacin, netilmicin, clindamycin, cefamandol, chloramphenicol, rifampicin and resistant mostly to penicillin /90% of strains/, ampicillin, tetracyclines. In many cases initial antibacterial treatment was inadequate in relation to sensitivity pattern of staphylococci--hence many changes of antibiotics were observed in the course of the therapy. Newer antistaphylococcal drugs were applied only in the last years of the study. Despite these therapeutical drawback outcome of staphylococcal pneumonia was good in 85% of patients; 14% of patients died /mainly as a consequence of comorbidities/. Successful therapy of staphylococcal pneumonia requires early recognition of possibility of infection due to Staphylococcus aureus and adjustment of drugs to probable or actual sensitivity of these pathogens.

[Pleural needle biopsy in diagnosis of pleural effusion]. / Biopsja oplucnej w rozpoznawaniu przyczyn wysieku oplucnej.

Diagnostic reliability of percutaneous parietal pleural biopsy with use of the Abrams needle technique performed over a period 1989-1994 was assessed in 37 patients with pleural effusion of unknown etiology, aged 24-82 years. Adequate diagnostic specimens were obtained in 33 patients. Histopathological diagnosis established neoplasma (39,4%), tuberculosis (9.1%) and chronic nonspecific pleuritis (51,5%). No complications of the procedure were encountered. Pleural needle biopsy should be more widely applied as a basic method in the diagnosis of pleural effusions of unknown etiology.

[Psychogenic pseudo-asthmatic syndrome]. / Psychogenny zespól pseudoastmatyczny.

The authors present a case of a 42-year-old patient treated for severe attacks of dyspnoea and wheezing of 12 years duration. She was hospitalized 8 times in medical or pneumonology wards and underwent treatment in a sanatorium 6 times. Since 5 years she has been periodically and recently permanently on oral glucocorticosteroids. Dyspnoea was accompanied by diffuse wheezing and prolongs expiration. It was also observed that her mode of respiration during an attack consisted in forced expiration at small air volumes in the lungs. Theatrical behaviour of the patient was striking. Bronchial challenge with acetylcholine and metacholine was negative. Bronchoscopy revealed profound intussusception of the membraneous part of the trachea and bronchi. Psychiatric diagnosis confirmed hysterical personality. The demonstrated case proves that the value of bronchial challenge is difficult to overestimate in diagnosing asthma. It concerns not only cases where symptoms are scanty but also patients with the so-called troublesome treatment-resistant asthma.

[Logistic model in diagnosis of lung cancer]. / Model logistyczny w rozpoznawaniu raka pluca.

Specificity of the diagnosis of lung cancer (l.c.) based upon clinical and radiological criteria was investigated in patients who died in Hospital of Lung Diseases in Lódz between in 1985 and 1989. Autopsy revealed diagnostic errors in 37% cases. Twenty most common disease features were taken into consideration. Logistic analysis helped to create clinical-mathematical model which allows for interpretation of disease features in two distinct categories: l.c. (non-neoplasmatic lung disease). Eight features proved to be significant (changes in RBC, weight loss, chest pain, increased sputum production, haemoptisis, hilar tumor, pleural effusion, peripheral round shadow on chest X-ray). Diagnostic usefulness of the model was checked in prospective study a group of patients who died from properly diagnosed l.c. (499 cases). Our model allowed for proper diagnosis of neoplasmatic cause of the disease with higher probability than morphological methods (including both intravital and autopsy examination).

[History of the surgical treatment of decubitus ulcers]. / Die Geschichte der chirurgischen Behandlung von Dekubitalulzera.

A retrospective presentation of the development of surgical treatment for pressure sores is given. Experimental research is described for the etiology and pathogenesis of decubital ulcers. Typical localizations and predisposing factors for pressure sores are mentioned.