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Chronic tinnitus is often associated with cognitive and emotional problems, such as excessive stress, sleeping disorders and relaxation, anxiety disorders. We assumed that application of real time fMRI neurofeedback helps to reduce stress and negative feelings caused by tinnitus. Haller et al. made the first attempts to treat tinnitus with rt-fMRI-neurofeedback in 2010. Based on the results of studies showing that disruption of the auditory cortex with TMS promotes noise reduction (Kleinjung et al. 2005) Haller et al. conducted an experiment on which people suffering from tinnitus have undergone therapy aimed at reducing the activity of the auditory cortex. Surveys (TFIs) carried out 2 weeks after training showed improvement in 2 out of 6 subjects. More recent studies on the effectiveness of auditory cortex deactivation training in tinnitus therapy conducted in two experimental groups including continuous and intermittent neurofeedback showed greater effectiveness (at trend level) of continuous training measured using the TFI scale immediately after training and 6 weeks later (Emmert et al. 2017). The above results indicate the limited effectiveness of tinnitus therapy by reducing the activity of the auditory cortex with rtfMRI- neurofeedback therapy. This is probably due to both the undetermined etiology of this disease and the early developmental stage of the therapy used. Recent reviews indicate the efficacy of rt-fMRI-neurofeedback in changing brain activity in targeted areas in approximately 60% of studies (Alkoby et al. 2018; Thibault et al. 2018) while behavioral changes are observed in about 40% of studies (Thibault et al. 2018), and clinical improvement of patients in 20--30% (Thibault et al. 2018). The relatively high effectiveness of modulation of brain activity using rt-fMRI-neurofeedback gives the possibility of a causal study of neuronal mechanisms in both a healthy brain and pathological conditions, and the study of the impact of the activity of various structures on improving the functioning of patients (e.g. amygdala in tinnitus [Davies'a et al. 2017]). Mechanisms of rt-fMRI-neurofeedback are particularly interesting from both a cognitive and clinical point of view. Understanding these mechanisms would make it possible to consciously modulate the activity of brain structures and their impact on the causes and symptoms of studied disorders. To this aim, by using the new possibilities resulting from the continuous development of new rt-fMRI-neurofeedback methods (training individualization, process training sessions, the use of machine learning methods) and the availability of open software (openNFT, opendecnef), we have undertaken research aimed at understanding the mechanisms of neurofeedback and the possibilities transfer of brain autoregulation skills between modalities of stimuli and feedback signals used. This work is proof of concept study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seroprevalence of Paslahepevirus balayani genotype 3 (hepatitis E virus genotype 3 - HEV-3; Hepeviridae family, genus Paslahepevirus) in pet cats, dogs and rabbits was evaluated. Samples from cats and dogs were collected from three veterinary practices from various parts of Poland: Poznan (wielkopolskie voivodeship), Przemysl (podkarpackie voivodeship) and Lublin (lubelskie voivodeship). Samples from rabbits were collected in Poznan. In total, serum samples from 90 cats, 82 dogs and 71 rabbits were selected and tested for specific anti-HEV-3 immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies using a commercial ELISA test. Pathogen seroprevalence among rabbits was calculated at a 95% confidence interval (CI) for each gender, age (up to 12 months, 1-3 years, 4-7 years and over 8 years), symptoms group (healthy, gastrointestinal disorders, other disorders) and compared with a chi-squared test. No anti-HEV-3 IgG antibodies were detected in any of the samples from cats and dogs. Anti-HEV-3 IgG antibodies were detected in 2.82% of the serum samples from rabbits (2/71; 95% CI: 0.78-9.70). No significant correlations between seropositivity and gender, age, and symptoms (p > 0.05) were observed in rabbits. Our findings indicate that pet rabbits in Poland are exposed to HEV-3, develop humoral response due to infection and might constitute a source for HEV-3 transmission to humans., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Neospora caninum (N. caninum) has a broad intermediate host range and might cause multisystemic lesions in various species of animals. Dogs are both intermediate and definitive hosts of the parasite and play a crucial role in the horizontal transmission of this protozoan to other animals. Cats and rabbits could be sensitive to infection with N. caninum, however, clinical symptoms and the exact route of infection in these species are unknown. The epidemiology of N. caninum in cats and rabbits has been barely researched, and there is no published record of the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in these species in Poland. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the frequency of seroreagents for N. caninum within pet dogs, cats and rabbits from urban areas of Poland and to identify possible risk factors for these animals., Results: In total, serum samples from 184 cats (Felis catus), 203 dogs (Canis familiaris) and 70 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used in the study. The seroprevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in dogs and cats reached 1.0% (2/203; 95% CI: 0.3-3.5) and 3.3% (6/184; 95% CI: 1.5-6.9), respectively. No significant differences in seroprevalence regarding age group, gender, symptoms or sampling location were found. All 70 samples from pet rabbits were negative for anti-N. caninum antibodies., Conclusions: The seroprevalence rates of N. caninum in dogs and cats in the present study were low, however, our results confirmed N. caninum circulates among dog and cat populations in Poland, and neosporosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of neuro-muscular disorders in these species. This is the first serological survey of N. caninum in European pet cats and rabbits. The role of pet rabbits in N. caninum epidemiology and circulation in Poland is marginal., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Previous psychological studies have shown that images of food elicit hedonic responses, either consciously or unconsciously, and that participants' cultural experiences moderate conscious hedonic ratings of food. However, whether cultural factors moderate unconscious hedonic responses to food remains unknown. We investigated this issue in Polish and Japanese participants using the subliminal affective priming paradigm. Images of international fast food and domestic Japanese food were presented subliminally as prime stimuli. Participants rated their preferences for the subsequently presented target ideographs. Participants also rated their preferences for supraliminally presented food images. In the subliminal rating task, Polish participants showed higher preference ratings for fast food primes than for Japanese food primes, whereas Japanese participants showed comparable preference ratings across these two conditions. In the supraliminal rating task, both Polish and Japanese participants reported comparable preferences for fast and Japanese food stimuli. These results suggest that cultural experiences moderate unconscious hedonic responses to food, which may not be detected based on explicit ratings.

Unlabelled: The results of numerous studies have recently revealed that the motor activity are able to prolong the live of middle-aged and elderly human subjects preventing serious diseases and premature death. A regular physical activity decreases the number of fat cells and increases their vulnerability to insulin. Physical exercises regulate the metabolic disorders observed in obesity. The physical activity of persons with lipid disorders may induce some favorable changes and an increase the HDL of cholesterol fraction. The influence of physical activity on fat and carbohydrate changes was confirmed in some studies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the selected parameters of the fat and carbohydrate changes in subjects after 15 days health-related training performed on rehabilitation and reconditioning tables SLENDER-LIFE., Material and Methods: A group of 50 patients during health-resort therapy were examined on the first and last day of training for biochemical blood parameters., Results: The examined biochemical parameters were reduced statistically significantly in all subjects, as follows: the total cholesterol concentration, the LDL value fraction of cholesterol, triglycerides, and the glucose concentration., Conclusions: It has been documented that the level of the HDL fraction of cholesterol and the basic energy index were increased in the examined subjects. The training on the rehabilitation and reconditioning tables has been confirmed by the subjects as useful and efficient.

Unlabelled: More and more people in the world contend with overweight or obesity, and this phenomenon at the moment is being recognized as one of the most important problems of modern civilization observed in many developed countries. Change of the lifestyle connected with turning from the active life to the more sedentary one and bad eating habits led to the development of overweight and obesity at an alarmingly fast rate with the parallel development of interests directed on conducting the research and looking for the effective methods of fighting against the overweight and obesity. The aim of the study was to evaluate some parameters of body weight among people being put on the healthy training on the rehabilitation and keep-fit tables Slender-Life., Material and Methods: A group of 50 patients treated in sanatorium were included into the observation. Double measurement of body weight and thickness of the skin and fat were performed during the first and last days of the fifteen day training on the formerly mentioned tables., Results: The statistically important decrease of examined parameters including the real body weight, fat mass, the BMI indication and the thickness of the skin and fat folds was detected., Conclusions: The healthy training on the rehabilitation and keep-fit tables Slender-Life causes the increase of the body fat-free weight. The positive acceptation of the rehabilitation on tables Slender-Life proves it should be applied.

1. Prolongation of the QT interval is associated with a risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. In the present study, we examined whether reversible blockade of preganglionic sympathetic fibres of the heart, achieved by thoracic epidural anaesthesia, affects cardiac repolarization and thus confers an anti-arrhythmic effect. 2. Fifty-two men, aged between 28 and 65 years, were included in the study: 28 were patients scheduled for thoracic epidural anaesthesia (Group T) and 24 were patients scheduled for lumbar epidural anaesthesia (Group L). Epidural blockade was achieved with 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine solution. Measurements were taken from electrocardiogram fragments obtained before epidural anaesthesia and after detection of blockade (T1 or T8 segment sensory block in Groups T and L, respectively). Correction of the QT interval was calculated using Bazett's formula (QTcb), Fridericia's correction (QTcf) and the Framingham formula (QTcF). Transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) was determined using the Tpeak--Tend time, where Tpeak is the peak of the T wave and Tend is the end of the T wave. 3. Significant shortening of the QTcb interval and TDR was detected after blockade in Group T. However, there were no changes in the ECG parameters in Group L. 4. In conclusion, reversible blockade of preganglionic sympathetic fibres to the heart, achieved by thoracic epidural anaesthesia, results in a reduction in QTcb, as well as the TDR. These changes may explain the anti-arrhythmic action seen with central blockade.

Objective: Epidemiological analysis of HBV infections in dialysis units of Wielkopolska., Methods: Studies were carried out in 19 dialysis units, in which patients were treated with intermittent hemodialysis (IHD). Data were collected from 18.04.2007 to 18.06.2007., Main Observations: There were 39 persons with HBsAg(+) among 1140 patients (3.42%). Positive results of HBcAb were shown in 114 from 349 examined patients with HBsAg(-) (32.7%). The group with HBsAg(+) consisted of 7 women (17.9%) and 32 men (82.1%). Documented duration of HBV infection was 9.7 +/- 6.0 years. Eight patients before detection of HBsAg(+) were vaccinated against hepatitis B; 21 patients (53.8%) underwent surgical interventions or invasive diagnostic procedures. Transfusions of blood or blood-related products were documented in 17 cases (43.6%). HBV infection in at least 32 patients (82.1%) was not connected with IHD treatment (p = 0.000). Four patients (10.3%) showed symptoms of acute hepatitis. Eleven patients (28.2%) with HBsAg(+) had renal transplantation. Patients with HBsAg(-) were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Vaccination was not effective (level of HBsAb < 10 IU/l) in 244 patients (22.2%)., Conclusions: HBV infection in patients with chronic kidney disease is most frequently detected before or due to initiation of IHD treatment. Over 20% IHD patients remains susceptible for HBV infection despite vaccination against hepatitis B.