The impact of a single whole body cryostimulation treatment on selected skin properties of healthy young subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic cryotherapy is a popular treatment involving a short stay in a cryogenic chamber at a temperature below -100 °C. This leads to a number of physiological reactions, some of them also observed in the skin. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of a single cryogenic treatment on selected skin characteristics (skin pH, level of hydration and TEWL - Transepidermal Water Loss) in young, healthy people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin characteristics in 77 young people (23.63 ± 1.36 years) were assessed. In the study, 43 women and 33 men who took part in a one-time treatment (-120 °C) lasting 3 min. Measurements were made on the forearm skin and (in men) on the face twice: before and immediately after the procedure. RESULTS: Initial differences in hydration of the stratum corneum and TEWL were observed between the group of women and men. After one treatment, the examined characteristics of the forearm skin did not change, and an unfavorable increase in TEWL in men was indicated in the facial area. CONCLUSIONS: A single stay in the cryogenic chamber, while maintaining the correct methodology of the treatment, is safe for the skin. The changes taking place depend on the body surface area tested, which indicates that the skin on the limbs and on the face reacts differently to the cryogenic stimulus.

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on the muscle damage after eccentric exercise in young men: a randomized, control trial.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D contributes to the optimal functioning of muscles. This study was designed to determine the modulating effect of vitamin D supplementation on the degree of muscle cell damage caused by eccentric exercise in young men. METHODS: 60 male volunteers (20-24 years old) taking part in this study were divided in two groups - with suboptimal (S) and optimal (O;) 25(OH)D plasma levels. These groups were randomly subdivided into groups with vitamin D supplementation (experimental: SE and OE) and controls (SC and OC). Before the supplementation (Test I) and after 3 months (Test II), participants were subjected to two rounds of eccentric exercise tests on a declined treadmill (running speed corresponded 60% VO2peak determined in each subject in incremental exercise test). During each test, blood samples used for determination of 25(OH)D, Il-1ß, myoglobin (Mb) levels and CK, LDH activity were taken at three timepoints: before the test, 1 h and 24 h after it ended. After distribution normality testing (Saphiro-Wilk test), statistical analyses were performed. Non-parametric: Kruskal-Wallis test and the Wilcoxon test were applied, and the Dunn-Bonferroni test as a post-hoc test. RESULTS: In all groups, after 3 months, higher concentrations of 25(OH)D were indicated (SE p = 0.005; SC p = 0.018; OE p = 0.018; OC p = 0.028). SE and SC groups showed higher baseline concentrations of Il-1ß and significantly higher concentrations of this interleukin after 1 h compared to groups with an optimal 25(OH)D level. After supplementation, the SE group reacted with a similar jump in concentration of Il-1ß as the OC and OE groups. The change after 1 h after exercise in Test II was significantly different from that from Test I (p = 0.047) in SE group. Lower Mb concentrations indicated 1 h after exercise in Test II for SC and SE groups were indicated. CK activity did not differentiate the studied groups. Plasma calcium and phosphate disorders were also not indicated. CONCLUSIONS: The study has shown that vitamin D doses determined from the plasma concentration of 25(OH)D of individuals to match their specific needs can significantly reduce muscle cell damage induced by eccentric exercise.

Alterations of aorta intima and media transcriptome in swine fed high-fat diet over 1-year follow-up period and of the switch to normal diet.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We previously showed that 12-month high-fat diet (HFD) in pigs led to fattening and increased artery intima-media-thickness, which were partly reversed after 3-month return to control diet (CD). The aim of this study was to decipher underlying mechanism of action by using transcriptomic analyses of intima and media of aorta. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-two pigs were divided into three groups: CD for 12 months; HFD for 12 months; switch diet group (regression diet; RD): HFD for 9 months followed by CD for 3 months. After 12 months, RNA was isolated from aorta intima and media for nutrigenomic analyses. HFD significantly affected gene expression in intima, while RD gene expression profile was distinct from the CD group. This suggests that switch to CD is not sufficient to correct gene expression alterations induced by HFD but counteracted expression of a group of genes. HFD also affected gene expression in media and as for intima, the expression profile of media of pigs on RD differed from that of these on CD. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed nutrigenomic modifications induced by long-term HFD consumption on arterial intima and media. The return to CD was not sufficient to counteract the genomic effect of HFD.

Stretching magnetism with an electric field in a nitride semiconductor.

The significant inversion symmetry breaking specific to wurtzite semiconductors, and the associated spontaneous electrical polarization, lead to outstanding features such as high density of carriers at the GaN/(Al,Ga)N interface-exploited in high-power/high-frequency electronics-and piezoelectric capabilities serving for nanodrives, sensors and energy harvesting devices. Here we show that the multifunctionality of nitride semiconductors encompasses also a magnetoelectric effect allowing to control the magnetization by an electric field. We first demonstrate that doping of GaN by Mn results in a semi-insulating material apt to sustain electric fields as high as 5 MV cm-1. Having such a material we find experimentally that the inverse piezoelectric effect controls the magnitude of the single-ion magnetic anisotropy specific to Mn3+ ions in GaN. The corresponding changes in the magnetization can be quantitatively described by a theory developed here.

Effect of dietary lignocellulose on ileal and total tract digestibility of fat and fatty acids in broiler chickens.

The study was conducted to determine the effect of a lignocellulose supplemented diet on apparent ileal and total tract digestibility of fat and fatty acids (FA) in broiler chickens. A total of 48 21-day-old male Ross 308 chickens were divided into four treatment groups (n = 12) with six replicates per treatment. From 21 to 42 days of age, the broilers were fed experimental diets varied in the amount of lignocellulose: 0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%. Total excreta were gathered during the last 3 days of the feeding trial and digesta was collected from the ileum at 42 days of the bird age. Digestibility was determined by the indicator method. The ether extract content in diet/digesta/excreta was determined by the gravimetric method, and fatty acid methyl esters were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fat digestibility measured to the end of the small intestine and in the whole gastrointestinal tract in birds was high and exceeded 90% and 87% respectively. Addition of lignocellulose (1%) increased (p < 0.05) ileal fat digestibility but had no significant effect on total tract fat digestion. Absorption of total fatty acids (TFA) as well as myristic (C14:0), palmitoleic (C16:1) and α-linolenic (C18:3n-3) acids, estimated by both methods, was significantly higher in birds fed the diets supplemented with lignocellulose, especially at a dose of 1%. Total tract absorption of some dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (C20:2, C20:4n-6) was significantly lower from diet supplemented with 0.5% and 0.25% lignocellulose. There was observed a decrease in apparent digestibility of fat and most examined fatty acids, when measured between terminal ileum and total gastrointestinal tract. The results suggest that lignocellulose can affect digestion and FA absorption in broilers but, as the effect of lignocellulose was not studied previously, further investigations are necessary to confirm the results of the present experiment.

Long-term Complications of Congenital Esophageal Atresia, Single Institution Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate general health condition of children operated for esophageal atresia, including complications from gastrointestinal tract and skeletal defects. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2005, 77 patients were operated for esophageal atresia in the Polish Mothers Health Memorial Hospital. The study was based on retrospective analysis of medical case records of all children with esophageal atresia. All living patients (n=51) were invited for follow-up studies. RESULTS: Pathological gastroesophageal reflux was found in 46.7% of children. Scoliosis was diagnosed in 20 patients. Chest deformations were observed in 43.3% children. CONCLUSION: The absence of clinical symptoms does not exclude the presence of gastroesophageal reflux in children operated for esophageal atresia. Children operated for esophageal atresia should be followed up regularly by a multispecialistic medical team.

Mapping of polar fox renal cortex proteins using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry--a preliminary study.

The aim of the present study was to establish protein map of polar fox (Alopex lagopus) renal cortex. Kidney cortex proteins of isoelectric point ranging from 3 to 10 were analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Sixteen protein spots corresponding to thirteen different gene products were identified. These proteins were divided into following groups: lipid and fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energetic pathways, regulatory proteins, transport proteins and structural proteins. This is the first attempt to create reproducible 2-D map, of renal cortex proteins characteristic for polar foxes, used as animal model for carnivores. It is worth emphasizing that the results of this study may broaden currently available protein databases.

Distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal in the neurogenic urinary bladder of children with myelomeningocele.

PURPOSE: C-kit positive interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) play an important role in the regulation of the smooth muscle motility, acting as pacemakers to provide the slow wave activity in various organs. Recent studies have shown that c-kit positive ICCs are widely distributed in the urinary tract of animals and humans. The aim of our study was to examine the distribution of ICCs in the children's neurogenic bladder. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study of specimens obtained from neurogenic urinary bladder (from the trigonum and the corpus) of children with meningomyelocele and during autopsy was performed using antibody against c-kit (CD 117). Histological morphometry of immunoexpression of c-kit positive ICCs was performed by means of an image analyzing system. RESULTS: Our investigation demonstrated ICCs located in the vesical muscle layers. The distribution of those cells is different in the trigonum and the corpus of the urinary bladder. No remarkable differences were observed in c-kit immunoexpression between the neurogenic and the control group. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the distribution of ICCs in the urinary bladder of healthy children as compared to children with myelomeningocele. Biopsy revealed different distribution of ICCs in particular parts of the bladder (trigonum/ corpus) in both groups of children.

Involvement of the monoaminergic system in the antidepressant-like activity of chromium chloride in the forced swim test.

Bio-metal chromium(III) is a crucial microelement for the proper functioning of living organisms. Previous preclinical and clinical studies reported its potential antidepressant properties. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of antidepressants and noradrenergic and dopaminergic receptor antagonists on chromium chloride (CrCl3) activity in the forced swim test (FST) in mice and rats. Imipramine (5 mg/kg), fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) and reboxetine (5 mg/kg) but not bupropion (1 mg/kg), administered jointly with CrCl3 at a dose of 6 mg/kg, reduced the immobility time in the FST in mice. The reduction of the immobility time induced by the active dose (12 mg/kg) of CrCl3 was completely abolished by propranolol (2 mg/kg, ß-adrenoceptor antagonist), SCH 23390 (0.5 mg/kg, a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist), and partially by prazosin (1 mg/kg, an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), yohimbine (1 mg/kg, an α2-adrenoceptor antagonist) and sulpiryd (50 mg/kg, a dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist) administration. The locomotor activity was significantly reduced by CrCl3 + reboxetine treatment, which did not influence the reboxetine enhancement of the antidepressant-like effect of CrCl3 in the FST. Moreover, CrCl3 at a dose of 32 mg/kg (although not at 12 mg/kg) significantly reduced the immobility and enhanced the climbing (but not swimming) time in the FST in rats, which indicates the involvement of the noradrenergic pathway in this effect. The present study indicates that the antidepressant-like activity of chromium in the FST is dependent (although to a different extent) on the noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonin systems.

Adventitial lymphatics and atherosclerosis.

Lymphatic vessels are important in reverse cholesterol transport and play a crucial role in regression of atherosclerotic plaque in experimental animal models. Therefore, we attempted to analyze adventitial microcirculation including lymphatic vessels and adventitial macrophages in large human arteries in various stages of atherosclerosis. Eighty-one arterial segments of large arteries (iliac arteries and abdominal aortas) were obtained from deceased organ donors. Lymphatic vessels were identified using anti-LYVE-1 and anti-D2-40/podoplanin immunohistochemical staining. Adventitial blood vessels and macrophages were visualized using anti-CD-31 and anti-CD-68. Intimal thickness was measured under 100x magnification with an Olympus BX 41 light microscope using the visual mode analySIS 3.2 software. Lymphatic vessels were counted in each cross section of the examined arteries, and adventitial blood vessels (CD31+) were counted using the "hot spot" method. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistica 9.1 PL software (StatSoft, Cracow, Poland). Mann-Whitney, F-Cox, Chi-square, and Spearman's correlation tests were performed and the differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Lymphatic and blood vessels in the adventitia of examined arteries were identified and quantified. Significant positive correlations were found between the number of adventitial lymphatics (LYVE-L +) and intimal thickness (r = 0.37; p < 0.05) as well as with age of the subjects (r = 0.3; p < 0.05). Thus, lymphatic vessels are present in the adventitia of large arteries in humans and the number of adventitial lymphatic vessels increases with progression of atherosclerosis as assessed by intimal thickness.

On the robust parametric detection of EEG artifacts in polysomnographic recordings.

We present an open, parametric system for automatic detection of EEG artifacts in polysomnographic recordings. It relies on independent parameters reflecting the relative presence of each of the eight types of artifacts in a given epoch. An artifact is marked if any of these parameters exceeds a threshold. These thresholds, set for each parameter separately, can be adjusted via "learning by example" procedure (multidimensional minimization with computationally intensive cost function), which can be used to automatically tune the parameters to new types of datasets, environments or requirements. Performance of the system, evaluated on 103 overnight polysomnographic recordings, revealed concordance with decisions of human experts close to the inter-expert agreement. To make this statement well defined, we review the methodology of evaluation for this kind of detection systems. Complete source code is available from http://eeg.pl; a user-friendly version with Java interface is available from http://signalml.org.

Histopathological differences between recto-sigmoid Hirschsprung's disease and total colonic aganglionosis.

Total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) is a severe form of ultra long Hirschsprung's disease with an incidence of 2 to 14% among all forms of intestinal aganglionosis. C-kit positive interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that play a key role in the motility function of the bowel. The aim of this study was to compare the innervation and ICCs distribution in total colonic and recto-sigmoid HD. Full thickness colonic specimens were obtained from four children with TCA, ten with recto-sigmoid HD and four controls. Single immunohistochemistry using peripherin, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and c-kit antibody was performed and analysed in light microscopy. Additionally, whole-mount preparations were stained using anti c-kit immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase. In the ganglionic bowel of TCA, recto-sigmoid HD and control patients there was a strong nNOS and peripherin immunoreactivity (IR) in ganglia of myenteric and submucous plexus and in thin nerve fibres in the muscle layers. In the TCA there was weak or lack of nNOS IR in the sparse, short nerve trunks of the myenteric and submucous plexuses and muscle layers, whereas nNOS weakly positive nerve trunks were observed in the recto-sigmoid HD bowel. Peripherin IR was markedly reduced in the TCA specimens compared to recto-sigmoid HD. In the TCA specimens there was a lack of ICCs-MY in the smooth muscle layer in all the specimens, whereas in the recto-sigmoid aganglionic bowel ICCs-MY were markedly reduced. Whole-mount preparations showed lack of ICCs-MY and a markedly reduced number of NADPH-positive nerve trunks in TCA. Our findings demonstrate clear histopathological differences between rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease and total colonic aganglionosis.

Alterations in smooth muscle contractile and cytoskeleton proteins and interstitial cells of Cajal in megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is characterized by decreased or absent peristalsis. Gastrointestinal motility depends on the enteric nervous system, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). Contractile and cytoskeleton proteinase are important structural and functional components of SMCs. The aim of study was to examine the expression of contractile and cytoskeleton proteins in SMCs and distribution of ICCs in MMIHS bowel. METHODS: Full-thickness bowel specimens were obtained from 4 infants with MMIHS and 4 controls. Specimens were processed as whole-mount preparations and frozen and paraffin sections. Combined staining of NADPH-d histochemistry/c-kit immunohistochemistry, single and double immunohistochemistry using alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), calponin (CALP), caldesmon (CALD), desmin (DES), protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and c-kit antibodies were performed and examined using light and confocal scanning microscopy. RESULTS: alpha-SMA, CALP, CALD, and DES immunoreactivity were reduced markedly in MMIHS bowel compared with controls. Combined NADPH/c-kit staining showed dense network of ICCs around myenteric plexus in MMIHS bowel. In contrast, the intramuscular ICCs either were absent or reduced in MMIHS bowel. CONCLUSIONS: Marked reduction of contractile and cytoskeleton proteins in SMCs combined with reduced expression of intramuscular ICCs in the gut may be responsible for the motility dysfunction in MMIHS.

Ising quantum Hall ferromagnet in magnetically doped quantum wells.

We report on the observation of the Ising quantum Hall ferromagnet with Curie temperature T(C) as high as 2 K in a modulation-doped (Cd,Mn)Te heterostructure. In this system field-induced crossing of Landau levels occurs due to the giant spin-splitting effect. Magnetoresistance data, collected over a wide range of temperatures, magnetic fields, tilt angles, and electron densities, are discussed taking into account both Coulomb electron-electron interactions and s-d coupling to Mn spin fluctuations. The critical behavior of the resistance "spikes" at T-->T(C) corroborates theoretical suggestions that the ferromagnet is destroyed by domain excitations.

Gastroesophageal reflux in infants with food allergy.

The authors present results of studies in a group of 58 children aged 4-36 months in whom food allergy has been diagnosed. Esophageal 24-hour pH-metric studies revealed the presence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in 27 cases (46.5%). In 13 cases it was primary and independent of the allergic disease, and in 14 children it showed features of secondary gastroesophageal reflux. Conservative treatment appeared ineffective more frequently in the group of infants with primary reflux (in 23.1% of cases) than in children with secondary reflux and food allergy (in 7.1% of cases). In 4 infants fundoplication according to Nissen was performed.

[The value of the head-up tilt table test for with unexplained syncope in children and young adolescents]. / Znaczenie próby pionizacyjnej w diagnostyce nawracajacych stanów napadowych pod postacia zaburzen swiadomosci wystepujacych u dzieci i mlodziezy.

UNLABELLED: Syncope occurs in about 15% of children and young adolescents. The diagnosis of syncope of unknown origin is frequently difficult. In 1986, Kenny et al. introduced the Head-up Tilt Table Test (HUT), which enables to reproduce syncope. The aim of the study was to evaluate HUT in diagnosis of syncope in children and young adolescents. Ninety five children and young adolescents (57 females, 38 males, age range 7-18 years) with recurrent syncope of unexplained etiology were referred for HUT. The study group was divided into two subgroups: A--with history consistent with vasovagal syncope (VVS) and B--with non-characteristic symptoms for VVS. HUT was performed according to the Westminster protocol. The patient was tilted at 60 degree for 45 min. or until syncope occurred. Positive response to HUT was 36%. Negative outcome occurred in 59%. Non-diagnostic HUT was observed in 5%. The vasodepressive type of VVS was recognised in 35%, cardioinhibitory in 12% and mixed in 53%. In group A positive response of HUT occurred in 65% of pts., negative in 31%. In group B positive HUT was observed in 4% of pts. and negative in 89%. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In children and young adolescents head-up tilt test is a very useful diagnostic method. 2. In patients referred for the head-up tilt test the history of syncope should be taken into consideration.

Monitoring of rat islet allografts with dithizone after induction of donor specific transplant tolerance by intrathymic administration of soluble alloantigens.

Transplantation of whole pancreas or pancreatic islets remains a promising approach to treatment of diabetes mellitus. Since there is no efficient method presently known for in vivo detection of pancreatic islet rejection, we have utilized dithizone [DTZ] to monitor the survival of transplanted islet allografts following the induction of tolerance by a new strategy of deliberate introduction of donor antigens into the adult thymus. In this study, we examined the morphology of islet allografts in vivo and in vitro following pretreatment with intrathymic (IT) inoculation of 2 mg soluble Ag obtained from 3M KCl extracts of resting T-cells with or without ALS immunosuppression in the WF-to-Lewis combination. Fresh isolated rat islets stained pink 3-5 minutes following exposure to medium containing 0.12 mM DTZ solution in DMSO. Intravenous (i.v.) injection of DTZ solution into unmodified recipients of islet allografts that had rejected their grafts showed massive degranulation of islets which did not stain pink with DTZ. This was confirmed by microscopic finding of fibrosis and lymphocytic infiltration. In contrast, i.v. injection of DTZ solution into long-term recipients of islet allografts at 50, 100, and 150 days after transplantation showed viable islet cells which stained crimson red with DTZ and the findings were confirmed with microscopic sections. This study demonstrates that DTZ is an effective means of in vivo and in vitro identification of transplanted pancreatic islets and suggests that this strategy may have potential clinical application in the diagnosis of the pancreatic islet rejection.

Size-selective predation by roach (Rutilus rutilus) on zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha): field stuides.

Studies of predation by roach (Rutilus rutilus) on zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in a large, eutrophic lake showed that there was a clearly marked size threshold (∼ 160 mm SL) above which roach began to feed on mussels. Roach preying on various sizes of mussels selected them in proportions different from their abundance and accessibility in the habitat. The mean size of mussels ingested by roach of 220 mm and larger, which fed predominantly on Dreissena, closely followed the pattern expected for a constant ratio of mean prey size to mean predator mouth size = 0.59. To explain the size selection we applied an optimal foraging approach, based on the ability of different-sized fish to crush (cost) mussels of different sizes, and hence crushing resistance, and energy contents ('benefit'). We found that fish smaller than 160 mm, which showed no inclination to eat Dreissena, would only be able to take small mussels with a very high cost/benefit ratio. The real switch to Dreissena would be expected in fish of 230-240 mm that could take most of their prey from highly profitable, numerous, and easily accessible size classes while keeping the mean prey size at the optimal level relative to mean predator mouth size.