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Contemporary development policy concentrates predominantly on reducing noticeable economic differences in a spatial system, and an important role in this respect is played by EU Cohesion Policy. Owing to the considerable scale of financial exposure of Cohesion Policy, the assessment of effectiveness of the implemented measures and their greater reliance on evidence are of major significance. Despite numerous attempts to empirically verify the effects of EU funds spending, the problem remains unresolved, and the results of recent studies lead frequently to ambiguous conclusions.

Abstract Background Previous studies explored multifactorial interactions and sirtuin expression in the aortic cells of laboratory rodents and humans. Human studies were limited due to the availability of biological material exclusively in the advanced stage of the disease. The role of sirtuins in aortic pathology has not been explained extensively therefore the aim of the study was to assess the plasma concentrations of human sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and human sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) in patients with ascending aortic dissection and ascending aortic aneurysm. Material and methods The study group included 43 adults (34 males and 9 females) aged 44–92 years with ascending aortic dissection (n = 10) or with ascending aortic aneurysm (n = 33). The SIRT1 and SIRT2 plasma concentrations in patients’ blood samples were determined, and the differences between groups were observed (p = 0.02 for SIRT1, p = 0.04 for SIRT2). Results Levels of both SIRT1 and SIRT2 were lower in patients with ascending aortic dissection (SIRT1: median = 6.5 ng/mL; SIRT2: median = 5.7 ng/mL) than in patients with ascending aortic aneurysm (SIRT1: median = 9.2 ng/mL; SIRT2: median = 7.8 ng/mL). The SIRT1 and SIRT2 cut-off levels differentiating both groups of patients were 6.7 ng/mL and 3.2 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusions The patients with ascending aortic dissection had lower plasma concentrations of SIRT1 and SIRT2 than the patients with ascending aortic aneurysm. Calculated cut-off values for both enzymes may be helpful in laboratory differentiation of ascending aortic dissection from ascending aortic aneurysm.

Background and Objectives: The safe zone in total hip replacement was introduced many years ago. Its aim was to provide guidelines for orthopedic surgeons in order to avoid complications such as instability. With the growing interest in spinopelvic alignment, some new insights suggest that the safe zone is an obsolete concept. This study aims to show that, even outside the safe zone, the effect of total hip replacement can be satisfactory. This could be used as preliminary study for an analysis of a larger group. Materials and Methods: Fifty-nine consecutive patients with end-stage osteoarthritis treated by total hip replacement were enrolled into the study and divided into two groups: inside the safe zone and outside the safe zone. A physical examination during postoperative visits was performed; the range of movement was measured using a goniometer; and the HHS and VAS were taken to measure functional outcomes and pain, respectively. An analysis of the radiological outcomes was performed. Results: There was no significant difference in regard to changes in total offset, pain, HHS and other complications. There were no signs of instability among patients during the follow-up. Conclusions: The results of this study show that the “safe zone” is a more complicated term that was previously thought. A proper soft tissue balance and spinopelvic alignment could be factors that change the “safe zone” for each patient and make it more individual.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is considered to be highly successful in treatment of end-stage osteoarthritis. There are multiple implant designs available on the market, and it is difficult to point which one is the best. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and functional outcomes and gait pattern after TKA with the use of fixed-bearing medial pivot (K-Mod) vs multi-radius design (NexGen) implants and to compare them to norms for healthy patients with no osteoarthritis or arthroplasty procedure in anamnesis. Methods: A group of 30 patients who received the medial pivot (MP) TKA and 33 patients who received the posterior-stabilized (PS) TKA between May and August of 2018 were included. All surgeries were performed in the level III academic hospital by a single surgeon. Every patient was asked to fulfill the The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. Standard X-ray, biomechanical gait analysis using a motion capture system, and statistical analysis were performed at 2 years postoperatively. Results: A total of 28 patients from either MP cohort (93%) or PS (85%) matched-control cohort completed the whole assessment at the final follow-up. There were statistically significant differences in a few gait parameters such as shorter mean step length both in operated and healthy limb, lower mean gait velocity, and lower mean walking cadence than the norm in both MP and PS groups. As to the WOMAC score, there was statistically significant improvement in both groups comparing preoperative and postoperative outcomes. Nevertheless, in the MP group, there was a significantly higher score, indicating worse outcomes, in the stiffness part of the WOMAC score than in the PS group. No significant differences were found between groups during radiological evaluation. Conclusions: There were satisfying and promising clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes in both MP and PS groups with very little difference in relation to norm values. However, both implants failed in fully restoring gait patterns similar to the healthy limb of the same patient.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is considered the most efficient treatment of end-stage osteoarthritis. There is an ongoing debate about proper implant designs and articulation types. One of the considered causes of unsatisfactory outcome and patients’ dissatisfaction is femoral or tibial component overhanging, which can lead to chronic knee pain and restricted motion. The aim of this study is to compare radiological outcomes of TKA using an anatomic PERSONA Posterior-Stabilized (PS) knee design with its nonanatomic predecessor, the NexGen LPS. Methods: A group of 39 patients who received the PERSONA PS system and 33 patients who received the NexGen LPS was included. PERSONA patients were matched to NexGen patients using a 0.1 propensity score threshold with priority given to exact matches. Anteroposterior, lateral, and long-leg radiographs were taken preoperatively and at 6 weeks postoperatively to perform radiological and statistical analysis. Results: The PERSONA subgroup had statistically higher posterior condylar offset. There is no statistically significant difference in posterior condylar offset ratio. There were less cases of femoral notching, femoral overhang, and placing tibial baseplate in the medial overhang in the PERSONA PS subgroup than in the NexGen subgroup (each statistically significant). Occurrence of tibial underhang was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Radiological assessment in short-term follow-up showed excellent results for PERSONA knee design with better fit to native femur and tibia. In comparison to its predecessor, it also spares more bone tissue. As the aforementioned parameters are risk factors of lesser clinical outcomes, the PERSONA design gives high hopes for improvement of TKA satisfaction rate.

Background and Objectives: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most effective treatment method for end-stage osteoarthritis. One of the most important aspects of this surgery is adequate implant positioning, as it guarantees the desired outcome of restoring limb biomechanics. Surgical technique is being continuously improved along with hardware development. There are two novel devices designed to help establish proper femoral component rotation: soft-tissue tensor and robotic–assisted TKA (RATKA). This study compared the femoral component rotation achieved with the use of three methods: RATKA, soft tissue tensioner and the conventional measured-resection technique, all of them utilizing anatomical design prosthesis components. Materials and Methods: A total of 139 patients diagnosed with end-stage osteoarthritis underwent total knee arthroplasty between December 2020 and June 2021. After the surgery, they were divided into three groups depending on procedure technique and implant type: Persona (Zimmer Biomet) + Fuzion Balancer, RATKA + Journey II BCS or conventional TKA + Persona/Journey. Postoperatively, a computed tomography examination was performed in order to measure femoral component rotation. All three groups were compared independently during statistical analysis. Fisher’s exact, Kruskal–Wallis and Dwass–Steel–Crichtlow–Fligner tests were used for particular calculations. Results: Statistically significant differences in femoral component rotation between groups were noticed. However, in terms of values other than 0° in external rotation, no significant variance was revealed. Conclusions: Additional total knee arthroplasty instruments seem to improve the outcomes of the surgery, providing better component positioning than in the conventional measured-resection technique based only on bone landmarks.

An innovative approach to the management of waste in the form of ash obtained during biomass combustion is justified due to its specific properties, including the presence of macro- and microelements. The aim of the current study was to determine the concentration of ash obtained from Sorghum combustion regarding its fertilizer value and its effect on the cytological structures, physiological parameters, growth and development of Lemnaceae plants, thereby demonstrating the possibility of using this waste to supplement culture media. The analyses showed that the use of ash in the in vitro cultivation of Lemnaceae aquatic plants had a dose-dependent effect. The addition of 2% ash favorably affected the condition of plant roots, i.e., meristem elongation and an increase in nucleoli sizes as well as improving the chlorophyll content index, gas exchange parameters, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and plant vigor via PSII, which was confirmed by a chlorophyll fluorescence measurement. On the other hand, too high of a concentration, i.e., 10% ash, adversely affected the plant development and parameters studied. Concluding, the use of ash at a low concentration favorably affected the yielding of Spirodela polyrrhiza, whose biomass can be used for energy purposes in the production of bioethanol, plant biogas or the phytoremediation of industrial waters and leachate.

The social reception of economic development processes has been underrated in studies conducted so far. The scarcity of such analyses may be perceived as a problem especially in the case of CEE states, in which economic growth has often been accompanied by a deepening of the socio-economic inequalities in the recent years. This article aims to identify the preferences of Poles concerning the goals of regional policy and the assignment of the European funds. Special attention was given to the differences among various categories of residents, examined in terms of their places of residence, occupational status, education, and age. The research has shown a highly positive attitude of Poles concerning the European funds, and statistically significant relations between selected socio-demographic characteristics of Poles and their preferences concerning the places and fields of activity to which the funds should go

Skeletal metastases are severe complications in the course of cancer, and they indicate a worse prognosis. The use of modern imaging techniques allows rapid diagnosis of bone metastases. Properly selected diagnostic imaging (scintigraphy, positron emission tomography, whole body MRI) allows us to evaluate the number of metastatic foci in the skeletal system. Complementary imaging examinations (X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) determine the extent of metastasis and its character: osteolytic, osteoblast, mixed). Hypercalcaemia is a symptom of low specificity for metastatic bone disease (a result of osteolysis); nevertheless, it is a significant complication in oncological treatment and worsens the prognosis of the patient. A biopsy is the final stage of the diagnostic process, which allows us to assess cell and tissue changes. Guided biopsies are performed under the control of musculoskeletal imaging methods (CT, MRI) and they are the most promising tools in bone metastases diagnosis. The development of guided biopsy techniques has led to the conclusion that they should be standard in diagnosing bone metastases. Liquid biopsy (LB) seems to be the most promising diagnostic method for detection of bone metastases. LB based on tumour-specific DNA mutation gives an opportunity for early detection and assessment of the molecular heterogeneity of the overall disease.

The cuticle commonly appears as a continuous lipophilic layer located at the outer epidermal cell walls of land plants. Cutin and waxes are its main components. Two methods for cutin synthesis are considered in plants. One that is based on enzymatic biosynthesis, in which cutin synthase (CUS) is involved, is well-known and commonly accepted. The other assumes the participation of specific nanostructures, cutinsomes, which are formed in physicochemical self-assembly processes from cutin precursors without enzyme involvement. Cutinsomes are formed in ground cytoplasm or, in some species, in specific cytoplasmic domains, lipotubuloid metabolons (LMs), and are most probably translocated via microtubules toward the cuticle-covered cell wall. Cutinsomes may additionally serve as platforms transporting cuticular enzymes. Presumably, cutinsomes enrich the cuticle in branched and cross-linked esterified polyhydroxy fatty acid oligomers, while CUS1 can provide both linear chains and branching cutin oligomers. These two systems of cuticle formation seem to co-operate on the surface of aboveground organs, as well as in the embryo and seed coat epidermis. This review focuses on the role that cutinsomes play in cuticle biosynthesis in S. lycopersicum, O. umbellatum and A. thaliana, which have been studied so far; however, these nanoparticles may be commonly involved in this process in different plants.

V letech 2010–2016 byl prováděn detektorový průzkum v bezprostředním okolí zaniklých cest v k. ú. Křenov (okr. Svitavy, Pardubický kraj, Česká republika). Mimo jiné byl objeven depot sestávající z železné radlice a čepele meče typu Bell-Zemplín, kterou lze zařadit do pozdní doby laténské až časné doby římské. Z prospekce dále pochází hrot meče z doby římské zhotovený technikou damasku. Nálezy s největší pravděpodobností souvisí s překonáváním obtížného úseku na soudobé komunikaci.

Powstanie Kompleksu Olimpijskiego w Berlinie powszechnie wiązane jest z XI. Letnimi Igrzyskami Olimpijskimi, zorganizowanymi w nazistowskim Berlinie w dniach 1–16 sierpnia 1936 roku. W drugiej części artykułu opisano proces podejmowania decyzji dotyczących budowy, a w zasadzie rozbudowy Kompleksu Olimpijskiego. Przedstawiono działania osób odpowiedzialnych za ten proces oraz wpływ Adolfa Hitlera i Wernera Marcha na ostateczną wersję projektu obiektów. Oprócz tego przedstawiono harmonogram prac przygotowawczych, problemy finansowe i prawne, a także trudne negocjacje z właścicielami, klubami sportowymi i organizacjami, które zarządzały terenami w dzielnicy Gruenewald, gdzie budowano stadion i przyległe do niego obiekty. Wszystkie te procesy odbywały się w specyficznej otoczce nazistowskiej propagandy, której wybrane przykłady opisano również w tekście.

Powstanie Kompleksu Olimpijskiego w Berlinie powszechnie wiązane jest z XI Letnimi Igrzyskami Olimpijskimi, zorganizowanymi w nazistowskim Berlinie w dniach 1–16 VIII 1936 roku. Mało kto wie, że w tym samym miejscu Niemcy już wcześniej wznieśli okazały obiekt – „Stadion Niemiecki”, który miał być miejscem rozgrywania Igrzysk olimpijskich w 1916 roku (odwołanych ze względu na przedłużającą się I wojnę światową). W pracy omówiono stosunek władz III Rzeszy do idei organizacji Igrzysk w Berlinie. Przedstawiono proces transformacji podejścia Hitlera – od niechęci powodowanej sprzecznością kosmopolitycznych idei olimpijskich z ideałami narodowosocjalistycznymi do poparcia podszytego chęcią wykorzystania Olimpizmu dla własnych, propagandowych celów. Wszystko to znalazło swój wymiar w koncepcjach budowy i realizacji kompleksu Olimpijskiego.

The Olympic Games of 1936 in Berlin found sports and Olympic movement in the Second Republic of Poland at astage of developing and strengthening its organizational structure. The most famous and honored sport newspapers were: “Przegląd Sportowy” from Warsaw and – published by “IKC” concern from Cracow – “Raz, Dwa, Trzy”. The circulation of both titles constituted more than 3/4 of the circulation of all the sporting titles in the Second Republic of Poland. In this paper reports of “Raz, Dwa, Trzy” correspondents of the Olympic Games and the capital of Germany were presented. The analysis of the reporting of the journalists of “Raz, Dwa, Trzy” from the The Games of the XI Olympiad in Berlin allows to conclude that the narration of the reports fully corresponded with the aforementioned Polish-German Press Agreement of the 7th October 1934 and its basic assumptions. At the same time it was in accordance with the appreciation expressed to German organizers by foreign correspondents. The relations of the correspondents from Cracow indicate that Hitler’s’ regimentation reached its goals also in this environment. Enormous sports and infrastructural investments in the Third Reich, together with incorporating the modern technology, high degree of social discipline and the penchant for order and cleanliness, so typical for Germans, found their expressive reflection in the pages of “Raz, Dwa, Trzy”.

The immunogold technique with anti-diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) antibody revealed inA. thaliana embryo and root meristematic cells gold particles manifesting the presence of DGAT2 in ER as wellas in lipid bodies. This being so, lipid synthesis could take place both in ER and in the lipid bodies. The presenceof microtubules around the lipid bodies was evidenced under transmission EM. Detection of tubulin around thelipid bodies using the immunogold technique with anti-a-tubulin is in agreement with the above observations.Connection of lipid bodies with microtubules was also detected by us in other plants where they probably participatedin lipid synthesis. A similar phenomenon may take place in A. thaliana.The immunogold technique with anti-diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) antibody revealed inA. thaliana embryo and root meristematic cells gold particles manifesting the presence of DGAT2 in ER as wellas in lipid bodies. This being so, lipid synthesis could take place both in ER and in the lipid bodies. The presenceof microtubules around the lipid bodies was evidenced under transmission EM. Detection of tubulin around thelipid bodies using the immunogold technique with anti-a-tubulin is in agreement with the above observations.Connection of lipid bodies with microtubules was also detected by us in other plants where they probably participatedin lipid synthesis. A similar phenomenon may take place in A. thaliana.

Este trabajo presenta los últimos resultados de la investigación sobre la Szczerbiec – la espada de coronación polaca. El examen tecnológico revela que la espada se fabricó a partir de hierro forjado acerado con un contenido de carbono del 0.3-0.6%. La espada recibió tratamiento térmico (templado y revenido) en la hoja por debajo del puño. El examen radiográfico no revela pattern welding o una estructura compuesta. Todo ello demuestra la autenticidad de la espada como una genuina arma medieval y no como una réplica del s. XIX (según se ha propuesto en ocasiones). El pomo y la guarda son de plata cubierta con placas de oro nielado. La combinación de análisis tipológico, estilístico y epigráfico sugiere una fecha de c. 1250 d.C. para la espada. La rica decoración y las inscripciones del puño metálico, así como las inscripciones, sugieren que la espada puede haber sido influida por armas de la esfera cultural mediterránea, y especialmente de la Península Ibérica. Las espadas de Sancho IV de Castilla y León, de Santa Casilda, de Federico II Hohenstaufen, de los Condes de Dreux, y una espada del MAN de Madrid parecen paralelos especialmente relevantes. Es significativa la inscripción Hebrea-Latina en la guarda, que entronca con una tradición de voces magicae de origen hebreo. El primer dueño de la espada fue probablemente Bolesław Pobożny (el Piadoso), Duque de Polonia (fallecido en 1279). Fue para él su hacia el 1293) por el Duque Vladislao Łokietek, futuro rey de Polonia. Fue probablemente el Duque Vladislao quien por primera vez empleó la espada como insignia en la coronación.

"Elaioplasts" observed in Vanilla planifolia, Funkia Sieboldiana and Althaea rosea exhibit all the features characteristic of lipotubuloids earlier described in Ornithogalum umbellatum. They are cytoplasmic domains containing aggregates of lipid bodies connected with microtubules. The immunogold technique confirmed the presence of tubulin in this domain. These structures do not have their own membranes but they are surrounded by a tonoplast at the side of a vacuole since they invaginate into it. In cytoplasm of this domain among lipid bodies there are numerous ribosomes, ER cisternae and vesicles as well as few mitochondria, Golgi structures and microbodies while at older developmental stages there are also autolytic vacuoles. The fact that they are so similar to O. umbellatum lipotubuloids suggest that "elaioplasts" of V. planifolia, F. Sieboldiana and A. rosea can also be named lipotubuloids.

Lipotubuloids, structures containing lipid bodies and microtubules, are described in ovary epidermal cells of Ornithogalum umbellatum. Microtubules of lipotubuloids can be fixed in electron microscope fixative containing only buffered OsO4 or in glutaraldehyde with OsO4 post-fixation, or in a mixture of OsO4 and glutaraldehyde [1]. None of these substances fixes cortical microtubules of ovary epidermis of this plant which is characterized by dynamic longitudinal growth. However, cortical microtubules can be fixed with cold methanol according immunocytological methods with the use of b-tubulin antibodies and fluorescein. The existence of cortical microtubules has also been evidenced by EM observations solely after the use of taxol, microtubule stabilizer, and fixation in a glutaraldehyde/OsO4 mixture. These microtubules mostly lie transversely, sometimes obliquely, and rarely parallel to the cell axis. Staining, using Ruthenium Red and silver hexamine, has revealed that lipotubuloid microtubules surface is covered with polysaccharides. The presumption has been made that the presence of a polysaccharide layer enhances the stability of lipotubuloid microtubules. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011, Vol. 49, No. 2, 285–290)

Lipotubuloids, structures containing lipid bodies and microtubules, are described in ovary epidermalcells of Ornithogalum umbellatum. Microtubules of lipotubuloids can be fixed in electron microscope fixativecontaining only buffered OsO4 or in glutaraldehyde with OsO4 post-fixation, or in a mixture of OsO4 and glutaraldehyde[1]. None of these substances fixes cortical microtubules of ovary epidermis of this plant which ischaracterized by dynamic longitudinal growth. However, cortical microtubules can be fixed with cold methanolaccording immunocytological methods with the use of b-tubulin antibodies and fluorescein. The existence ofcortical microtubules has also been evidenced by EM observations solely after the use of taxol, microtubulestabilizer, and fixation in a glutaraldehyde/OsO4 mixture. These microtubules mostly lie transversely, sometimesobliquely, and rarely parallel to the cell axis. Staining, using Ruthenium Red and silver hexamine, has revealedthat lipotubuloid microtubules surface is covered with polysaccharides. The presumption has been made thatthe presence of a polysaccharide layer enhances the stability of lipotubuloid microtubules.

Autoradiographic studies of 3H-uridine incorporation (20-min incubation) and dynamics of radioactive particle translocation from nucleolus into cytoplasm (following 80-min postincubation in non-radioactive medium) in root meristematic cells of soybean have been carried out. The experiment was performed with plants subjected to 4-day acclimation in chilling or subjected to 2-hour cold stress and control plants. Three cultivars of soybean: Mazowia, Polan and Progres (cultivated in Poland) were used in the experiment. It has been shown that in control conditions the greatest number of RNA precursor is incorporated into nucleoli after 20-min incubation. Following 80-min postincubation cytoplasm is the most radioactive area of the cell - this mainly testifies to dynamic translocation of radioactive ribosome subunits from nucleolus into cytoplasm. In chilling conditions the reduction of 3H-uridine incorporation into cells occurs, as compared to control conditions. Plants subjected to a 4-day acclimation incorporate the radioactive precursor more intensively than plants subjected to cold stress. Following 80-min postincubation - in the case of acclimated plants - the nucleolus is the most radioactive area of the cell, which testifies to accumulation of pre-rRNA in it. After the cold stress cytoplasm is more radioactive than the nucleolus. In all three cultivars the processes of synthesis and transport of pre-rRNA particles are similar, only their intensity is different. Morphometric measurements of nucleoli in all cultivars subjected to 4-day chilling have shown that root cell nucleoli are larger than those in control. This phenomenon can be connected with stronger inhibition of rRNA transport than its synthesis.

W artykule zaprezentowano rezultaty analiz chemicznych i metalograficznych czterech pieczęci ołowianych z Czermna (Grody Czerwieńskie). Zostały one wybite przez książąt ruskich i datowane są na XII–XIII w. Przedmioty te poddano obserwacji pod elektronowym mikroskopem skaningowym (SEM). Wśród analiz chemicznych należy wymienić mikroanalizę rentgenowską z dyspersją energii (EDS) i rentgenowską analizę fluorescencyjną (EDXRF). Czerwoną warstwę widoczną na kilku pieczęciach zidentyfikowano metodą rentgenowskiej dyfrakcji proszkowej (XRPD) jako typowy produkt korozji: tlenek ołowiu. Pieczęcie zawierają od 98,9% do 99,4% ołowiu. Ślady obecności srebra, miedzi, chromu i żelaza należy uznać za zanieczyszczenia.

Modern physical culture was one of the many important processes that have taken over the political, social, and cultural life in Germany in the second half of the 19th century. At the turn of the 19th century in Germany, two big middle-class organizations have been formed to deal with physical activity affairs: the German Gymnastics Association (Deutsche Turnerschaft; the Turnverein) and dynamically-growing English sports. The paper demonstrates the relations between the Turnverein movement and the world of sport in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. The German Gymnastics Association, an organization founded in the 60s of the 19th century, had long-time achievements initiated by the work of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. Simultaneously, the world of sport in Germany was concentrated on the newly-founded in 1904 German Olympics Committee – primary organization bringing together several various federations of sport disciplines. It was an organization primarily brought into existence to coordinate the debut appearance of the German Empire in the restored by P. Coubertain Olympic Games.

El objeto de este trabajo es una espada fragmentada encontrada en Racibórz (Polonia), presumiblemente en un enterramiento ducal, datada con anteriodidad a 1520. Según la tipología de Oakeshott, la hoja puede ser clasificada como una variante del tipo XVII (similar al Tipo XVIIIb), el pomo pertenece al Tipo T5 y el arriaz al Tipo 12. Dado que las hojas del Tipo XVII fueron fundamentalmente usadas c. 1350-1450, no se puede excluir que la hoja de la espada Racibórz fuera guarnecida de nuevo con un pomo y un arriaz a la moda de c. 1500. En este trabajo se presentan otras espadas análogas. En cuanto al análisis aqueometalúrgico de la hoja, puede decirse que estaba hecha de una sola pieza de hierro, carburizado y endurecido. El resultado es una hoja de alta calidad, con un núcleo dúctil y fuertes filos. Como elementos de comparación se proporcionan paralelos escogidos de análisis arqueometalúrgicos sobre otras hojas bajomedievales.

The content of gibberellic acid (GA3) in male sex organs of Chara tomentosa L. was estimated using capillary electrophoresis. Young antheridia contained 0.25 μg GA3 while mature ones 0.48 μg per antheridium. Although there are significant differences in GA3 content in antheridia between C. vulgaris and C. tomentosa, these values calculated per one spermatid are 2.4 and 3.3 pg, respectively. The present results compiled with the previous knowledge about regulation of GA3-dependent development of Characeae species allow an implication that the mechanisms controlling antheridia differentiation in both species can be similar

In this study, using the immunofluorescent method, the immunopositive signals to ubiquitin and proteasomes in nucleoli of root meristematic cells of soybean seedlings have been observed. In fact, those signals were present exclusively in nucleolar vacuoles. No signals were observed in the nucleolar territory out of the nucleolar vacuoles or in the nucleoli without vacuoles. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) may act within the nucleoli of plants with high metabolic activities and may provide an additional level of regulation of intracellular proteolysis via compartment-specific activities of their components. It is suggested that the presence of the UPS solely in vacuolated nucleoli serves as a mechanism that enhances the speed of ribosome subunit production in very actively transcribing nucleoli. On the other hand, nucleolar vacuoles in a cell/nucleus could play additional roles associated with temporary sequestration or storage of some cellular factors, including components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system.

Rok 1923 zajmuje ważne miejsce w historii Niemiec pierwszej połowy XX wieku. Kraj był w stanie głębokiego kryzysu politycznego, gospodarczego i ustrojowego, wywołanego skutkami pierwszej wojny światowej i postanowieniami traktatu wersalskiego. Stan ten nie ominął także prowincji Pomorze, gdzie na ogólnoniemieckie zjawiska nakładał się fakt, że prowincja ta stała się obszarem granicznym wobec wskrzeszonego państwa polskiego. Szczególnie prawica polityczna, skupiona głównie w Niemiecko-Narodowej Partii Ludowej (DNVP), najsilniejszej i najbardziej wpływowej partii politycznej w prowincji Pomorze, uczyniła ze swojej gazety – „Pommersche Tagespost” – ważny instrument walki z młodą Republiką Weimarską. Główne argumenty tej kampanii przeciw demokracji niemieckiej właściwie nie różniły się wiele od tych, którymi prawicowe partie polityczne uderzały w rządy republiki. Na czoło wysuwały się zarzuty o pozostawanie kanclerzy i ministrów na służbie mocarstw zachodnich, zwłaszcza znienawidzonej Francji, a także międzynarodowego kapitału i „żydowskiej międzynarodówki”. Polityka Polski wobec Niemiec miała pogłębiać konsekwencje „zbójeckiego pokoju w Wersalu”. Elementami wyróżniającymi prasę prawicy prowincji Pomorze od mediów prawicy z centralnych lub południowych części Niemiec było ulokowanie w 1923 roku przez „Pommersche Tagespost” kampanii antypolskiej w międzynarodowym kontekście. Była nim okupacja Zagłębia Ruhry przez Francję i Belgię, z jej doniosłymi konsekwencjami. Polska miała odgrywać kluczową rolę w okrążaniu Niemiec. Podsycano szok, jakim dla mas Niemców w prowincji Pomorze było powstanie II RP. Kreowano wizerunek Polski jako potencjalnego agresora wobec słabych Niemiec. Warszawa, szczególnie w tymże 1923 roku, miała demonstrować swoją siłę i wrogie zamiary na Śląsku i w Prusach Wschodnich. Polskę ukazywano jako sąsiada planującego agresję na kolejne ziemie niemieckie, korzystającego z poparcia Francji, państwa szachującego pokonane Niemcy od wschodu. Straszono wizją wspólnie działających „paryskich i warszawskich rabusiów”. Do dalszych zagrożeń płynących ze wschodu należały masy Żydów, głównie z Galicji. Osiedlali się oni w Berlinie, siali tam jakoby przestępczość i uprawiali spekulację kosztownościami. Swoistym ukoronowaniem „polskiego niebezpieczeństwa” stała się emigracja tysięcy polskich robotników sezonowych do wschodnich prowincji Niemiec, którzy nie tracili ścisłych związków z ojczyzną. Listę zaciekłych ataków na Polskę zamykał antyniemiecki kurs Warszawy wobec mniejszości niemieckiej w nowych granicach II RP. Tę antypolską politykę informacyjną i antypolską propagandę ubierano w brutalną semantykę języka walki, wykluczając Polskę z grona narodów godnych posiadać własne państwo narodowe.

Background and Objectives : The safe zone in total hip replacement was introduced many years ago. Its aim was to provide guidelines for orthopedic surgeons in order to avoid complications such as instability. With the growing interest in spinopelvic alignment, some new insights suggest that the safe zone is an obsolete concept. This study aims to show that, even outside the safe zone, the effect of total hip replacement can be satisfactory. This could be used as preliminary study for an analysis of a larger group. Materials and Methods : Fifty-nine consecutive patients with end-stage osteoarthritis treated by total hip replacement were enrolled into the study and divided into two groups: inside the safe zone and outside the safe zone. A physical examination during postoperative visits was performed; the range of movement was measured using a goniometer; and the HHS and VAS were taken to measure functional outcomes and pain, respectively. An analysis of the radiological outcomes was performed. Results: There was no significant difference in regard to changes in total offset, pain, HHS and other complications. There were no signs of instability among patients during the follow-up. Conclusions : The results of this study show that the "safe zone" is a more complicated term that was previously thought. A proper soft tissue balance and spinopelvic alignment could be factors that change the "safe zone" for each patient and make it more individual.

Background and Objectives : Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most effective treatment method for end-stage osteoarthritis. One of the most important aspects of this surgery is adequate implant positioning, as it guarantees the desired outcome of restoring limb biomechanics. Surgical technique is being continuously improved along with hardware development. There are two novel devices designed to help establish proper femoral component rotation: soft-tissue tensor and robotic-assisted TKA (RATKA). This study compared the femoral component rotation achieved with the use of three methods: RATKA, soft tissue tensioner and the conventional measured-resection technique, all of them utilizing anatomical design prosthesis components. Materials and Methods : A total of 139 patients diagnosed with end-stage osteoarthritis underwent total knee arthroplasty between December 2020 and June 2021. After the surgery, they were divided into three groups depending on procedure technique and implant type: Persona (Zimmer Biomet) + Fuzion Balancer, RATKA + Journey II BCS or conventional TKA + Persona/Journey. Postoperatively, a computed tomography examination was performed in order to measure femoral component rotation. All three groups were compared independently during statistical analysis. Fisher's exact, Kruskal-Wallis and Dwass-Steel-Crichtlow-Fligner tests were used for particular calculations. Results : Statistically significant differences in femoral component rotation between groups were noticed. However, in terms of values other than 0° in external rotation, no significant variance was revealed. Conclusions : Additional total knee arthroplasty instruments seem to improve the outcomes of the surgery, providing better component positioning than in the conventional measured-resection technique based only on bone landmarks.

In every surgical subspecialty surgical site infection (SSI) or implant infections, although occur seldom, pose a threat to patients' health. Risk factors of such states is diabetes mellitus (DM), considered one of the most widespread health-related problems of the 21st century. Orthopedists perform big joint replacements that usually concern older adults and therefore often deal with patients suffering from comorbidities. DM is frequently one of them and can furthermore often remain underdiagnosed. The other risk for complication is a rapid beginning of the rehabilitation which starts on the day following the surgery. To eliminate the debilitating impact of DM and hypoglycemia on surgical patients, we aim to investigate the relationship between the glycemia values and the postoperative outcomes in certain periods of time in patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries. Participants meeting inclusion criteria will have inserted a glycemia measuring device (Dexcom G5, Inc., San Diego, CA) in the periods of time. First time it will take place 14 days prior to the surgery and right after the surgery for the second time for the period of another 14 days. All patients will undergo standard total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty procedures. Patients will be assessed preoperatively and 14 days, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The assessment of the joint condition will consist of: patient-reported outcomes (The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Harris Hip Score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]); assessment of potential SSI and cardiovascular complications (the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score [FINDRISC], the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation [SCORE]) and the clinical examination. To investigate the influence of orthopedic surgery (anesthesia) on glycemia and the significance and safety of early patients mobilization after the big joints surgeries. To investigate changes of glycemia in patients with normal glycemia metabolism, potentially protecting them from hypoglycemia during hospital stay and increasing their awareness of potential development of DM in the future. Additionally, this study will correlate perioperative glycemic levels with risk of cardiovascular events in one year follow-up, and its influence on SSI and implant complications., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is considered to be highly successful in treatment of end-stage osteoarthritis. There are multiple implant designs available on the market, and it is difficult to point which one is the best. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and functional outcomes and gait pattern after TKA with the use of fixed-bearing medial pivot (K-Mod) vs multi-radius design (NexGen) implants and to compare them to norms for healthy patients with no osteoarthritis or arthroplasty procedure in anamnesis., Methods: A group of 30 patients who received the medial pivot (MP) TKA and 33 patients who received the posterior-stabilized (PS) TKA between May and August of 2018 were included. All surgeries were performed in the level III academic hospital by a single surgeon. Every patient was asked to fulfill the The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. Standard X-ray, biomechanical gait analysis using a motion capture system, and statistical analysis were performed at 2 years postoperatively., Results: A total of 28 patients from either MP cohort (93%) or PS (85%) matched-control cohort completed the whole assessment at the final follow-up. There were statistically significant differences in a few gait parameters such as shorter mean step length both in operated and healthy limb, lower mean gait velocity, and lower mean walking cadence than the norm in both MP and PS groups. As to the WOMAC score, there was statistically significant improvement in both groups comparing preoperative and postoperative outcomes. Nevertheless, in the MP group, there was a significantly higher score, indicating worse outcomes, in the stiffness part of the WOMAC score than in the PS group. No significant differences were found between groups during radiological evaluation., Conclusions: There were satisfying and promising clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes in both MP and PS groups with very little difference in relation to norm values. However, both implants failed in fully restoring gait patterns similar to the healthy limb of the same patient., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is considered the most efficient treatment of end-stage osteoarthritis. There is an ongoing debate about proper implant designs and articulation types. One of the considered causes of unsatisfactory outcome and patients' dissatisfaction is femoral or tibial component overhanging, which can lead to chronic knee pain and restricted motion. The aim of this study is to compare radiological outcomes of TKA using an anatomic PERSONA Posterior-Stabilized (PS) knee design with its nonanatomic predecessor, the NexGen LPS., Methods: A group of 39 patients who received the PERSONA PS system and 33 patients who received the NexGen LPS was included. PERSONA patients were matched to NexGen patients using a 0.1 propensity score threshold with priority given to exact matches. Anteroposterior, lateral, and long-leg radiographs were taken preoperatively and at 6 weeks postoperatively to perform radiological and statistical analysis., Results: The PERSONA subgroup had statistically higher posterior condylar offset. There is no statistically significant difference in posterior condylar offset ratio. There were less cases of femoral notching, femoral overhang, and placing tibial baseplate in the medial overhang in the PERSONA PS subgroup than in the NexGen subgroup (each statistically significant). Occurrence of tibial underhang was not statistically significant., Conclusion: Radiological assessment in short-term follow-up showed excellent results for PERSONA knee design with better fit to native femur and tibia. In comparison to its predecessor, it also spares more bone tissue. As the aforementioned parameters are risk factors of lesser clinical outcomes, the PERSONA design gives high hopes for improvement of TKA satisfaction rate., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Worldwide tendencies to perform large numbers of total hip arthroplasties in the treatment of osteoarthritis are observable over a long period of time. Every year, there is an observable increase in the number of these procedures performed. The outcomes are good but not ideal, especially in groups of patients with spine problems. In recent years, a growing interest in this field may be observed, since spinopelvic alignment seems to have a significant impact on total hip replacement (THR) results. The aim of this study is to describe relations between spine and pelvic alignment and provide practical information about its impact on total hip replacement. The authors performed a literature review based on PubMed, Embase, and Medline and provide practical guidelines based on them and their own experience.