Mycorrhizal frequency, physiological parameters, and yield of strawberry plants inoculated with endomycorrhizal fungi and rhizosphere bacteria.

Due to the impoverishment of agricultural and horticultural soils and replant diseases, there is a need to use bioproducts and beneficial microorganisms in order to improve the quality of soils and growth substrates. For this reason, research was undertaken to assess the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizosphere bacteria on changes in soil microbiology, the degree of colonization of plant roots by mycorrhizal fungi, selected physiological parameters, and fruit quality and yield of the strawberry cultivar "Rumba." The plants were inoculated with the mycorrhizal preparation Mykoflor (Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus etunicatum), MYC 800 (Rhizophagus intraradices), and the bacterial preparation Rhizocell C (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IT45). The applied preparations increased the total number of bacteria and fungi in the soil and mycorrhizal frequency in the roots of the strawberry plants. They increased the chlorophyll "a" and total chlorophyll concentrations in the leaves as well as the rate of transpiration and CO2 concentration in the intercellular spaces in the leaves. The plants treated with Rhizocell C and MYC 800 exhibited a higher CO2 assimilation rate than control plants. The biopreparations increased chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as maximum fluorescence (FM) and the maximum potential photochemical reaction efficiency in PS II (FV/FM). The influence of the species of rhizosphere bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi used in the experiment on the physiological traits of strawberry plants contributed, especially in the second year of the study, to increase the yield and mean weight of strawberry fruit.

Associations Between Vaspin Rs2236242 Gene Polymorphism, Walking Time and the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome.

The associations between serum vaspin levels and metabolic or coronary artery disease (CAD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is under the scope of current researchers. Therefore, this adipokine can be considered as a biomarker of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of the study was to analyze the associations between the vaspin rs2236242 polymorphism and physical activity in relation to MetS and its components. The analysis involved the genetic material and clinical data of 108 individuals with MetS and 110 controls. Vaspin rs2236242 polymorphism was detected using the tetra-primer amplification-refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS PCR) method. The TA genotype of vaspin rs2236242 was associated with a greater risk of MetS and its components compared with the TT genotype. The analysis of interactions between genotype and walking time revealed that a walking time longer than 60 min./day significantly decreased the risk of MetS in the TA carriers (p = 0.007). The obtained results suggest that any unfavorable effect of the TA genotype of the vaspin rs2236242 polymorphism can be essentially reduced, or even reversed, in a case of individuals walking longer than 60 min. a day. The analysis of the interaction between vaspin rs2236242 polymorphism and walking showed that a walking time of longer than 1 hour a day significantly reduced the risk of MetS, elevated blood pressure and triglycerides concentration.

Acardius acephalus fetus--report of distinctive anatomical anomalies with regards to pathophysiology of TRAP sequence.

Acardiac fetuses are consequences of twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP). Here the authors present a case of 40-year-old gravida IX who gave birth to a healthy, 2,900 g female child by a cesarean section. Additionally amorphic 1,020 g maldeveloped fetus was removed. There was a diamnion monochorionic type of twin placenta with incorrect single umbilical arteries (SUA) both in umbilical cord of healthy fetus and in atrophic second umbilical cord. A malformed fetus developed a rather well formed lower leg with four digital foot and oval shape amorphous body mass with omphalocele and eventration of the intestines. X-ray picture showed well visible metatarsal and femur bone and anatomically undefined bones cluster in the central part. A cavity of fetal body contained intestines--the only one well-formed organ, nests of heterotopic pilosebaceous residues, remnants of adrenal glands, well-formed ganglia, and nests of neural tissue covered by neuroepithelium.

Respect for illiterate or unconscious patient's autonomy as a requirement for the legality of medical procedures in the polish healthcare system: a case report and review of the literature.

According to the Polish law, each patient has the right to refuse to consent to a medical procedure, even if the refusal concerns a life-saving procedure. It may be difficult for a physician to accept this kind of decision. In each case, however, medical intervention requires patient's consent. Its lack makes physician's actions illegal. Such a situation becomes more complicated when the patient who is intellectually incompetent, unconscious or illiterate is unable to express a consent to a medical procedure. Then, the possibility and the need to document and prove the patient's consent becomes crucial from the point of view of the legality of medical personnel's conduct. In this article, two representative clinical cases are discussed in the context of the legal assessment of the physician's conduct in the event of legal complications related to the process of consenting to medical treatment. The authors analyze ethical dilemmas and legal risks that doctors may face in the process of consenting to risky medical procedures by unconscious and illiterate patient.

The value of ventricular gradient for predicting pulmonary hypertension and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is associated with increased mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The ventricular gradient optimized for right ventricular pressure overload (VG-RVPO) is sensitive to early changes in right ventricular overload. The study aimed to assess the ability of the VG-RVPO to detect PHT and predict all-cause and cardiac mortality in HD patients. 265 selected HD patients were enrolled. Clinical, biochemical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. Patients were divided into normal and abnormal VG-RVPO groups, and were followed-up for 3 years. Abnormal VG-RVPO patients were more likely to be at high or intermediate risk for PHT, were older, had longer HD vintage, higher prevalence of myocardial infarction, higher parathormone levels, shorter pulmonary flow acceleration time, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, higher values of left atrial volume index, left ventricular mass index, and peak tricuspid regurgitant velocity. Both all-cause and CV mortality were higher in abnormal VG-RVPO group. In multivariate Cox analysis, VG-RVPO remained an independent and strong predictor of all-cause and CV mortality. In HD patients, abnormal VG-RVPO not only predicts PHT, but also all-cause and CV mortality.

Can the matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 predict the course of acute pancreatitis in previously healthy patients?

BACKGROUND: It was confirmed that during the inflammatory process development, granulocytes are among the main groups of cells responsible for the course of acute pancreatitis. One of these substances produced by them are extracellular matrix enzymesmetalloproteinases. In the presented study, we undertook an attempt to investigate whether they may be used as an instrument to predict the course of acute pancreatitis in previously healthy patients. METHODS: The study included 72 patients with the first-time episode of acute pancreatitis. The 2012 Atlanta classification was used in order to divide them into 3 groups. The patients were assessed according to the most popular multifactor scoring systems and single laboratory markers. The levels of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 were determined by the ELISA method. The diagnostic value of the commonly applied scoring systems and single diagnostic markers was compared with the value of matrix metalloproteinases levels. RESULTS: A mild form of AP developed in 42 patients, a moderate form in 16, and severe in 14. All multifactor prognostic systems have high specificity and rather low sensitivity. Single laboratory markers have higher sensitivity but lower specificity than multifactor tools. The determination of the level of MMP-2 shows specificity of 98.3%, while MMP-9-100%. CONCLUSION: The determination of a single laboratory marker, which is the level of metalloproteinase-2 or metalloproteinase-9, is characterized by sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of multifactor prognostic scoring systems.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver treated surgically.

This report describes the case of an inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver in a 61 year-old female, diagnosed by an ultrasound scan (USG), computed tomography (CT) and needle biopsy. The right hemihepatectomy has been carried out. There were no complications in the post-operative course.

[Experience with surgical treatment of liver neoplasms]. / Doswiadczenia w leczeniu chirurgicznym nowotworów watroby.

Six cases of primary and metastatic hepatic tumors are reported. The diagnoses, surgical treatment and the possibilities of complications after rarely performed liver resection are presented.

[Prevention and principles of management in case of cardiac tamponade after catheterisation of the subclavian vein in parenteral nutrition]. / Profilaktyka i postepowanie w przypadku tamponady serca po cewnikowaniu zyly podobojczykowej w celu zywienia pozajelitowego.

The authors described different complications after the subclavian vein catheterisation, focusing on the cardiac tamponade. The authors presented the prevention and treatment principles respectively in case of the cardiac tamponade and reported experiences in this field.

Validation of the Joensuu risk criteria for primary resectable gastrointestinal stromal tumour - the impact of tumour rupture on patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Approval of imatinib for adjuvant treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) raised discussion about accuracy of prognostic factors in GIST and the clinical significance of the available risk stratification criteria. METHODS: We studied the influence of a new modification of the NIH Consensus Criteria (the Joensuu risk criteria), NCCN-AFIP criteria, and several clinicopathological factors, including tumour rupture, on relapse-free survival (RFS) in a prospectively collected tumour registry series consisting of 640 consecutive patients with primary, resectable, CD117-immunopositive GIST. The median follow-up time after tumour resection was 39 months. None of the patients received adjuvant imatinib. RESULTS: The median RFS time after surgery was 50 months. In univariable analyses, high Joensuu risk group, tumour mitotic count >5/50 HPF, size >5 cm, non-gastric location, tumour rupture (7% of cases; P = 0.0014) and male gender had adverse influence on RFS. In a multivariable analysis mitotic count >5/50HPF, tumour size >5 cm and non-gastric location were independent adverse prognostic factors. Forty, 151, 86 and 348 patients were assigned according to the Joensuu criteria to very low, low, intermediate and high risk groups and had 5-year RFS of 94%, 94%, 86% and 29%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Joensuu criteria, which include 4 prognostic factors (tumour size, site, mitotic count and rupture) and 3 categories for the mitotic count, were found to be a reliable tool for assessing prognosis of operable GIST. The Joensuu criteria identified particularly well high risk patients, who are likely the proper candidates for adjuvant therapy.