Changes in the Strength Properties and Phase Transition of Gypsum Modified with Microspheres, Aerogel and HEMC Polymer.

The paper presents an assessment of the impact of using additives on the strength of a binding material, i.e., building gypsum, and also the phase transformation that takes place in it. Microspheres, aerogel and polymer (HEMC) additives were added to a building gypsum slurry with a water to gypsum ratio of 0.75. In order to investigate their influence on bending strength, compressive strength, and the effect of high temperatures, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as tests of the multicomponent binder, were carried out in accordance with the applicable PN-EN 13279-2:2005 standard. The obtained test results allowed to determine that the used additives influenced the strength parameters of the obtained composites. It was shown that the applied additives decreased the compressive and bending strength of the modified gypsum. Despite these properties, the obtained gypsum materials are environmentally friendly because they reuse wastes, such as microspheres. Out of all the applied additives, the use of microspheres in an amount of 10% caused a decrease in the bending strength by only 10%, and an increase in the compressive strength by 4%.

Evaluation of the Possibility of Using 1.4462 and 1.4501 Steel as a Construction Material for Apparatus Operating at an Increased Temperature and with Corrosive Factors.

The objective of this study was to determine the requirements for steels used as construction materials for chemical apparatus operating at an elevated temperature and to correlate them with the properties of the tested steels. The experimental part examined the influence of the annealing process on the structure and properties of X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 (1.4462) and X2CrNiMoCuWN25-7-4 (1.4501) steel. Heat treatment was carried out on the tested samples at a temperature of 600 °C and 800 °C. Changes were observed after the indicated time intervals of 250 and 500 h. In order to determine the differences between the initial state and after individual annealing stages, metallographic specimens were performed, the structure was analyzed using an optical microscope and the micro-hardness was measured using the Vickers method. Potentiostatic tests of the samples were carried out to assess the influence of thermal process parameters on the electrochemical properties of the passive layer. An increase in the hardness of the samples was observed with increasing temperature and annealing time, the disappearance of magnetic properties for both samples after annealing at the temperature of 800 °C, as well as a significant deterioration in corrosion resistance in the case of treatment at a higher temperature.

Surgical approach to the management of field cancerization: Own experience.

The term field cancerization was proposed by Slaughter in 1953 to describe multifocal neoplastic lesions in the oral mucosa. Currently, it is well known that field cancerization can occur also in the skin. There is no one, universal and generally accepted management for the patients with multiple actinic keratosis and field cancerization. We presented two cases with large field cancerization on the face and the scalp. In both patients, we performed one stage surgery with split thickness skin graft with good final esthetic and functional result. Available literature on the role of classical surgical removal in treating field cancerization is very limited. We believe that surgery can be consider as an option for the treatment in some high risk patients with very large field cancerization, but further observation and evaluation of this method is needed.

Genetic Factors in Selected Complex Congenital Malformations with Cleft Defect.

Cleft lips, alveolar ridges and palates are among the most common birth defects. There are over 500 different complex genetic disorders that include cleft defects. The most common related defects include abnormalities of the skeleton, skull, cardiovascular and nervous system. The occurrence of a cleft results from the interplay of multiple genes and environmental factors. Several thousand different mutations responsible for these syndromes have been discovered, whereas there are still numerous phenotypic cases of unknown genetic origin. The aim of this study was to present various clinical aspects and the latest discoveries with regard to genetic research in complex malformations, such as Van der Woude syndrome, popliteal pterygium syndrome, EEC syndrome, Pierre Robin sequence, various forms of Stickler syndrome, and Treacher Collins syndrome. These complex syndromes have different incidences, and most of them also have allelic variants with characteristic severities that differ even among close relatives. Easier access to genetic counseling and the lower cost of DNA testing in recent years can lead to new findings on the causes of such syndromes.

Epidemiology, diagnostics and treatment of vascular tumours and malformations.

Vascular tumours and vascular malformations are common vasculose anomalies characteristic for dissimilar clinical course, specific biological as well as immune cytological and histological properties. Vascular lesions classification system and their detailed division into groups and subgroups were elaborated and implemented in Rome, in 1996, during meeting of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA). It was based on modification of an earlier going division by Mullikien and Glowacki from 1982. Infantile hemangiomas are the most numerous group of benign tumours of mesenchymal origin. Vascular malformations appear definitely less often. They are composed of normal endothelium lined displastic vessels which originate from vascular tissue abnormal morphogenesis. In contrast, in hemangiomas, at the proliferation stage, increased, multiplication of endothelial cells is observed as well as of fibroblasts, mastocytes and macrophages. Infantile hemangiomas are usually not present at the moment of birth and white chloasma with superficial teleangiectasis appears which increases within 3-4 weeks and gets bright red colour and reveal very characteristic clinical course basing on intensive growth period and involution long process. Vascular malformations are observed most often at the delivery moment or they may appear at an early childhood. They enlarge proportionally along with the child's growth and their sudden expansion may be triggered by an infection, hormonal changes or trauma. Contrary to hemangiomas, they do not subside spontaneously and their abrupt increase may result in impairment or deformation of important anatomical structures. Infantile hemangiomas and vascular malformations require different and individual treatments which are often multi-stage procedures carried on in specialistic centres of plastic surgery, vascular surgery or maxillofacial surgery.

Laparoscopic management of appendicular abscess (clinical observation).

This article presents the diagnostics and laparoscopic management of appendicular abscess of 66 y.o. woman operated 3 weeks after the disease onset. The patient underwent surgery successfully. Purulent septic post-operative complications were not demonstrated. That confirms the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.

The treatment of extensive arteriovenous malformations in the head.

Vascular tumours and malformations are revealed at birth and do not subside. The aim of the study was to present the principles and outcomes of treatment of patients with arteriovenous malformations treated at the Clinic of Plastic Surgery in Polanica Zdrój in the years 2009- 2010. Only one patient, who had not been treated previously, had the lesion on the cheek removed subtotally and the defect was closed by means of local repair. In the remaining patients, with primary lesions located in the auricle, scalp, and cheeks, the indications for operation included recurrent infections, ulcerations, and first of all, massive, life-threatening haemorrhages. All the patients, treated for many years in other centres, had underwent numerous resection procedures, vessel ligations, embolizations and obliterations. The patients were followed up after the surgery every 6 months. The therapy aim was achieved in all the patients. Vascular tumours were removed totally or subtotally, the lost structures were reconstructed and permanent healing of the wound was achieved. None of the patients developed recurrence of the disease, infection, or bleeding.

Polymorphic variants at 10q25.3 and 17q22 loci and the risk of non-syndromic cleft lip and palate in the Polish population.

BACKGROUND: Non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (CLP) is one of the most common birth defects. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several novel risk loci associated with this craniofacial anomaly. Therefore, the objective of this report was to investigate the contribution of the top seven polymorphisms reaching genome-wide statistical significance in GWAS analyses in the Polish population. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nucleotide variants located at chromosomal regions 1p22.1, 10q25.3, 17q22, and 20q12 were tested in a group of 206 patients with nonsyndromic CLP and a properly matched control group. Significant results, which persisted even after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.0071), were observed for polymorphisms located at 10q25.3 (rs7078160 and rs4752028) and 17q22 (rs227731). Under a recessive model, both rs7078160 and rs4752028 were associated with a greater than fourfold increase in the risk of CLP (odds ratio [OR] = 4.536; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.678-12.265; p = 0.0012 and OR = 4.573; 95% CI, 1.817-11.512; p = 0.0004, respectively). Polymorphism rs227731 increased the risk of CLP when analyzed under a dominant model (OR = 1.732; 95% CI, 0.184-2.253; p = 0.0044). Borderline association was alsoidentified for the 1p22.1 locus (rs481931). Moreover, 10q25.3 haplotypes were significantly associated with a susceptibility to CLP. CONCLUSION: Our evaluation study confirmed a substantial association of polymorphisms located at chromosomal regions 10q25.3 and 17q22 with nonsyndromic CLP in the Polish population.

Polymorphisms of stress-related genes and the risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

BACKGROUND: Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NCL/P) is a common structural malformation with a complex and multifactorial etiology. It has been shown that maternal psychological stress in the periconceptional period can contribute to an increase in the risk of NCL/P affecting pregnancy. METHODS: Twenty-four single nucleotide polymorphisms of 11 stress-related genes (COMT, CRHR1, FKBP5, GABRA6, HSD11ß2, MAOA, NPY, NR3C1, SERPINA6, SLC6A4, and TPH2) were investigated in 220 healthy mothers of children with facial clefts and 210 matched controls using restriction fragment-length polymorphism and high-resolution melting analysis. RESULTS: We found that polymorphisms in SLC6A4, TPH2, and SERPINA6 appear to be maternal factors increasing the risk of having a child with facial clefts. The closest correlations with NCL/P were found for the SLC6A4 rs2020942 and TPH2 rs10879357 gene variants (odds ratio [OR], 1.720; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.158-2.553; p = 0.0069; p(trend) = 0.0036; and OR, 1.837; 95% CI, 1.226-2.753, p = 0.0030, p(trend) = 0.0057; respectively). Moreover, haplotype analysis revealed that several combinations of markers in SLC6A4, TPH2, and SERPINA6 might be significantly associated with the risk of NCL/P affected pregnancies. However, these associations were not statistically significant after correction for multiple testing. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that nucleotide variants of genes encoding components of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and serotoninergic system have a role in the etiology of NCL/P in the Polish population. SLC6A4, TPH2, and SERPINA6 might be novel candidate genes for this common congenital anomaly.

Prospective evaluation of the outcome of velopharyngeal insufficiency therapy after pharyngeal flap, a sphincter pharyngoplasty, a double Z-plasty and simultaneous Orticochea and Furlow operations.

Between 2001 and 2006 treated 84 patients with VPI. The patients were qualified for pharyngeal flap, Orticochea and Furlow's operations. Since 2007-2009 there were 22 consecutive patients who were qualified for Orticochea and Furlow operations performed at the same operation-stage. The best results were obtained by using Orticochea and Furlow operations.

Ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting syndrome-plastic surgeon's considerations.

BACKGROUND: Ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (EEC) syndrome is a rare autosomally dominant disorder phenotypically characterized by specific abnormalities of the hand, feet, and orofacial region coexisting with ectodermal dysplasia features. The purpose of this study was to describe the plastic surgeon's approach to EEC treatment by retrospective analysis of the course of surgical treatment. METHODS: Medical documentation of 10 patients with EEC syndrome treated in the Department of Plastic Surgery in Polanica Zdroj in the years 1976-2008 was given retrospective analysis. RESULTS: In the analyzed group of patients, various levels of intensity of ectodermal dysplasia symptoms were confirmed, and in every case, severe forms of clefts were observed. Intensity of cleft malformation, but foremost belated and exacerbated healing, and coexistence of ectodermal dysplasia were the evident cause of more frequent complications and occurrence of greater postcleft deformations. Treatment of this hand and feet malformation is by its nature hampered, and procedures between subsequent stages of cleft surgery are performed. In patients with nasolacrimal duct atresia, dilatation or dacryocystorhinostomy was performed, which effectively improved patients' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: In reference to plastic surgery point of view, treatment of coexistence with ectodermal dysplasia malformations in EEC syndrome demands more individual therapeutic approach. The presence of ectodermal dysplasia symptoms increases the risk of complications in cleft surgery and treatment of hand and foot deformities or orbital area malformations. Severity of cleft malformation requires surgery supported by experience and embracing the necessity of performing a greater number of more complex corrective procedures.