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In the Polish community sample (N = 662), we examined the relationship between three facets of grandiose narcissism (agentic, antagonistic, and communal) and loneliness, mediated by the social support. Data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Agentic narcissism was unrelated to loneliness and social support. People characterized by a high level of antagonistic narcissism reported getting less social support and therefore feeling more lonely. People characterized by a high level of communal narcissism reported getting more social support, protecting them from feeling lonely. Our study points to different consequences of social restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to people characterized by higher agentic, antagonistic, and communal narcissism levels. This research expands current knowledge about grandiose narcissists and their social functioning, also during forced isolation. Antagonistic narcissism seems to be maladaptive, communal narcissism has no adverse consequences, while agentic narcissism is unrelated to reactions toward forced isolation.

The aim of the study was to estimate target values of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) pharmacokinetic parameters in children with proteinuric glomerulopathies by calculating the pharmacokinetic parameters of MMF metabolites (mycophenolic acid [MPA], free MPA [fMPA] and MPA glucuronide [MPAG]) and assessing their relation to proteinuria recurrence. One hundred and sixty-eight blood samples were collected from children, aged 3-18 years, diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome or lupus nephritis. MMF metabolites concentrations were examined before drug administration (Ctrough) and up to 12h afterward employing high-performance liquid chromatography. Dose-normalized MPA Ctrough and area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 12h (AUC12) were within 0.29-6.47 μg/mL/600 mg/m(2) and 9.97-105.52 μg h/mL/600 mg/m(2), respectively. MPA Ctrough was twofold lower (p=0.024) in children with proteinuria recurrence. MPA, fMPA and MPAG concentrations correlated positively to respective AUC12. It may be suggested MMF metabolites monitoring in children with proteinuric glomerulopathies is justified by MPA Ctrough2 μg/mL in patients at risk of the proteinuria recurrence. Such a recurrence is most probably caused by not sufficient MPA concentration during proteinuric glomerulopathies treatment. MPA Ctrough3 μg/mL may be considered as an efficient one to avoid proteinuria recurrence. Finally, MPA target AUC12 should exceed 60 μg h/mL to ensure the safe and effective treatment in children with nephrotic syndrome, however, the upper limit is still to be established.

A new solvatochromic complex of copper (II) and 3H-indolium (HQIndol) with the formula (HQIndol) 3 Cu has been synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, UV–vis, IR spectroscopies, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and static magnetic susceptibility and conductance measurements. The stoichiometry of complex has been determined as 1:3 (M:L) and the binding constant was calculated to be 5.86 × 10 16 mol −1 L at 25 °C in CH 3 OH. Magnetization measurements indicate that (HQIndol) 3 Cu sample is paramagnetic with spin S = 1/2 for which phase transition from paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic has been registered at T N = 2.5 K. The symmetry of the EPR spectrum points to elongated tetragonal octahedral geometry of the complex. Examined heterochelate exhibits solvatochromic properties. Blue shift of the vis absorption band with increased solvent polarity is observed, Δ ν ‾ max in examined solvents amounts to 1466 cm − 1 .

Common hop (Humulus lupulus) constitutes a source of numerous prenylated chalcones such as xanthohumol (XH) and flavanones such as 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) and isoxanthohumol (IXH). Range of their biological activities includes estrogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, anti-cancer, and antioxidant activities. The aim of the present work was to characterize the influence of prenylated polyphenols on model 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) membranes by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopies. All studied compounds intercalated into DPPC bilayers and decreased its melting temperature as recorded by DSC, Laurdan and Prodan fluorescence, and ATR-FTIR. Polyphenols interacted mainly with glycerol backbone and acyl chain region of membrane. Magnitude of the induced effect correlated both with lipophilicity and molecular shape of the studied compounds. Elbow-shaped 8-PN and IXH were locked at polar–apolar region with their prenyl chains penetrating into hydrophobic part of the bilayer, while relatively planar XH molecule adopted linear shape that resulted in its deeper insertion into hydrophobic region. Additionally, by means of DSC and Laurdan fluorescence IXH was demonstrated to induce lateral phase separation in DPPC bilayers in gel-like state. It was assumed that IXH-rich and IXH-poor microdomains appeared within membrane. Present work constitutes the first experimental report describing interactions of prenylated hop polyphenols with phospholipid model membranes.

Purpose Long-term β-adrenolytics treatment in takotsubo syndrome (TTS) patients is based on the premise, that TTS is strongly associated with sympathetic nervous system overactivity. The aim of the study was to establish hemodynamic response to tilt, handgrip and Valsalva manoeuvre in patients with takotsubo syndrome compared to healthy subjects (CONTROL) and patients after ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Material and method Echocardiographic examination was performed at rest, ECG and continuously non-invasively measured arterial blood pressure were used for evaluation of hemodynamic responses to Valsalva manoeuvre, static handgrip (HG) followed by post-exercise ischemia, and tilt. Ten healthy women, 20 with TTS and 20 after STEMI, mean age 64 ± 8.5 years, participated in the study. Results Pressor response to Valsalva manoeuvre and tilt in TTS group was diminished in comparison to CONTROL and close to that of STEMI. During HG, increase of SBP was the lowest in TTS group. Data indirectly suggest that it was due to deficient stroke volume in TTS and STEMI patients during these manoeuvres; though echocardiographic findings at rest did not reveal any significant differences between groups. Conclusions Our data show that despite apparent resolution of the immediate effects of TTS, impaired response to cardiovascular challenge, similar to that in STEMI patients, persisted. As the manoeuvres applied mimic daily life situations, causes of impairment should be searched for and potential health risk evaluated.

Some authors suggest that adipocytokines contribute to the induction of pancreatic carcinogenesis as well as the development of endocrine insufficiency.We evaluate the circulating concentrations of leptin, resistin and visfatin in patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer (PC) and relationship between serum adipocytokines level and clinicopathological features of PC. Moreover the usefulness of those adipocytokines as possible biomarkers of endocrine pancreatic function in PC has been assessed.The pilot study group consisted of 45 individuals (mean age 65.6 ± 11.5 years, BMI 21.8 ± 3.4 kg/m(2)) with newly diagnosed PC (within last 1-3 months) and 13 healthy individuals with age, gender and BMI matched to the study group. Among PC patients 18 (40%) had recently diagnosed diabetes. Fasting plasma leptin, resistin, visfatin concentrations were determined with ELISA (RD Systems, Phoenix Pharmaceuticals) and insulin by RIA (DakoCytomation).Patients with PC as compared to controls had significantly lower plasma leptin (40.6 ± 21.3 vs 63.2 ± 16.3 pg/mL; p0,0008). In contrast PC patients showed more than six fold higher level of resistin (126.2 ± 143.2 vs 18.9 ± 7.2 ng/mL; p0.009) than controls. The median plasma visfatin was 2.8 ± 1.8 ng/mL, which was not significantly different from the controls (3.8 ± 1.1 ng/mL). When PC patients with and without diabetes were considered separately, plasma leptin concentrations among nondiabetic patients were slightly, but not significantly higher (44.6 ± 21.0) as compared to diabetics (34.5 ± 20.7). Moreover there was no difference between visfatin and resistin level in PC, among patients with and without diabetes. No significant differences between serum level of leptin, visfatin and resistin and age, gender, BMI, smoking status, tumor localization, distant metastases and pain has been found.The results of this study confirm previous findings that patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer are characterized with lower level of leptin. This pilot study showed significantly higher resistin concentrations in patients with PC in comparison to healthy controls, which may be helpful in PC early diagnosis. Changes in leptin and resistin level in PC are not likely related to endocrine disorders.

During the development of synthesis of acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives, newly synthesized pyridinium derivatives were used by the UV-initiated polymerization quarantines of new polymer design for the synthesized self-adhesive acrylics with excellent performance, for which tack, peel adhesion, shear strength and shrinkage were measured. For example, the best tack and peel adhesion performances were achieved after 30 and 60 s UV radiation for 3.0 wt% pyridinium photoinitiator PPP, after 60 and 90 s UV exposure for 4.0 wt% pyridinium photoinitiator HPP and after 90 s UV-crosslinking in the case of 5.0 wt% pyridinium photoinitiator OPP. An increase of novel pyridinium photoinitiators concentration causes in an increase of the monomers conversion. For high photoinitiator content, characterized for each investigated photoinitiator, ranging from about 3.0 (PPP) to 5.0 wt% (OPP), the degree of monomer conversion reaches a maximum value of about 99.6 wt%. Preliminary results are reported illustrating the effectiveness of the acrylic PSA development.

BackgroundThe optimal management of advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers (L&HC) must involve consideration of both survival and functional effect of the given treatment approach. Despite over two decades of investigations of several treatment options, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or some combinations thereof, little consensus exists as to which treatment offers the best survival, together with functional speech and swallowing.AimTo determine predictive and prognostic value of p53, EGFr, Ki-67 in patients with advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, treated with larynx preservation intent.Materials and methodsThirty-three patients received 2–3 cycles of induction chemotherapy (ICHT) consisting of cisplatin and fluoruracil and underwent subsequent radical radiotherapy. Immunohistochemical analyzes of p53, EGFr and Ki-67 were performed.ResultsResponse to ICHT was obtained in 24 patients (75%). Better response to ICHT was correlated only with EGFr expression (p=0.04, RR=1.91). The 5-year loco-regional control (LRC) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 48% and 57%, respectively. The 5-year larynx preservation rate was 68% in responders to ICHT compared to 21% in non-responders (p=0.02). It was also higher in patients without EGFr expression (but not significantly, p=0.43).ConclusionLack of EGFr expression is a favorable predictive factor for response to ICHT. Neither p53 nor Ki-67 have predictive and prognostic value in larynx preservation treatment.