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The study aims to present a case of atypical poisoning with lithium carbonate in a 57-yearold woman treated for bipolar affective disorder with lithium carbonate for about 30 years. The patient was admitted to the hospital with significant agitation. An important finding obtained from the family interview was the patient's significant weight loss over the past year. In the hospital, the patient received haloperidol and clonazepam. Laboratory tests showed a very high blood lithium concentration of 3.79 mmol/l (N: 0.6-1.2 mmol/l) and elevated serum concentrations of creatinine (3.6 mg/dl) and urea (110 mg/dl). The patient was transferred to the toxicology department, where hemodialysis was performed and intensive treatment initiated. Despite the rapid decrease in lithium levels, her condition gradually deteriorated. The patient died on the fifth day of hospitalization. The autopsy revealed polycystic kidney disease (PKD). During the preparation of the medico-legal report on the correctness of the medical treatment, it was assumed that the cause of death was lithium carbonate poisoning in the course of advanced chronic kidney disease due to PKD, probably a consequence of long-term lithium therapy. The analysis of medical records revealed that despite her psychiatrist's recommendation, the patient had been refusing the monitoring of lithium levels for the past 18 years. This case demonstrates that both psychiatrists and toxicologists should be aware of possible lithium poisoning upon the deterioration of renal function. Therefore, assessment of renal function should be an integral part of lithium therapy monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the most common children's endocrine and autoimmune diseases in the world is type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The incidence of type 1 diabetes is constantly increasing, and according to current estimates, the number of children with T1DM in the world has exceeded 542,000. There are 3 main components emphasized in the pathogenesis: genetic and environmental factors, and the patient's immune system. Many publications have confirmed the role of natural killer cells (NK) in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the population of NK cells and pancreatic b cell autoantibodies in a group of children with T1DM and their healthy siblings in comparison with children from families with no history of autoimmune diseases. Material and methods: The research included 76 children with T1DM, 101 children from the sibling group, and 30 children from the control group. Peripheral blood was analysed on a FACSCalibur flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson) to evaluate the NK cell population. The results were presented as the percentage of NK cells among lymphocytes. Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA 10 PL software. Results: The mean percentage of NK cells in children with T1D (10.59 ±5.37) and in the sibling group (11.93 ±5.62) was statistically reduced in comparison to the control group (14.89 ±7.78) in sequence (Student's t-test: t = -3.24; df = 103; p = 0.002) (Student's t-test: t = -2.30; df = 128; p = 0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of NK cells between the group of children with T1DM and their siblings (Student's t-test: t = -1.59; df = 173; p = 0.11). In the group of siblings, the younger the child, the lower the reported percentage of NK cells. This relationship was statistically significant (test for the Pearson correlation coefficient t = 3.41; p = 0.0009; r = 0.33). In the group of children with type 1 diabetes, a similar relationship was not found. The concentration of anti-IA2 and anti-Znt8 antibodies was statistically significantly higher in the sibling group compared to the control group (anti-IA2 p = 0.0000001; anti-ZnT8 p = 0.00001), and the concentration of anti-GAD antibodies was comparable in both groups. In the group of children with type 1 diabetes, a positive correlation was demonstrated between the reduced percentage of NK cells and the coexistence of anti-GAD and anti-ZnT8 antibodies (Mann-Whitney U test Z = -2.02; p = 0.04). There was no similar relationship in the group of siblings. Conclusions: The reduced percentage of NK cells in children with T1DM and in their siblings compared to the control group suggests the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of T1DM. Genetic predisposition and dysfunction of NK cells probably underlie the pathogenesis of T1DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-nine grade-matched 4th-8th-grade males, 12 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (age M = 12.2 years, SD = 1.48), and 17 without (age M = 11.5, SD = 1.59), completed two working memory tasks (digit span and the Simon game) and three long-term episodic memory tasks (a personal event memory task, story memory task, and picture recognition task). In line with clinical observations, children with ADHD performed worse than peers on all working memory tasks, but performed as well as or better than peers on long-term episodic tasks, demonstrating particularly detailed memory for personally experienced past events. Participants' parents also completed questionnaires about their children's memories in daily life. Parents rated children with ADHD lower than children without ADHD on working and semantic memory (e.g., remembering names, spelling, and math), but rated them as high or higher on memory for events. Implications for theory and educational practice are discussed.

Current knowledge concerning the introduction of shipboard artillery in Europe is limited. A small, muzzle-loading cast copper-alloy gun recovered off Marstrand on the west coast of Sweden may, however, provide some important leads regarding this development. Radiocarbon analysis of a piece of cloth from the powder chamber, possibly the remains of a cartouche, suggests a date for the cannon in the fourteenth century, making it probably the earliest example of European shipboard artillery found so far. In this paper we give an account of our recent investigations of this important find, which also include a geochemical analysis of the metal used for the casting of the gun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study investigated the complex interactions between a novel consortium and tomato seedlings under cadmium (Cd) stress. The consortium consists of two bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. HS4 and Paenarthrobacter sp. AS8, both with proven plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties, isolated from Cd hyperaccumulators. Our research highlights the paradoxical effects of these bacteria, revealing their dual role in reducing Cd uptake while simultaneously inducing oxidative stress in plants. Hydroponic experiments showed that the consortium reduced Cd accumulation in tomato shoots by 52% compared to uninoculated controls. However, this reduction was accompanied by decreased plant biomass and increased oxidative stress, with malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels up to 80% and 160% higher, respectively, in inoculated plants. Root H₂O₂ production increased by 38% under 50 μM Cd without a corresponding rise in catalase (CAT) activity. Despite Cd exposure, the consortium promoted chlorophyll and carotenoid synthesis, restoring pigment levels to those of unstressed controls. Gene expression analysis revealed a complex impact on stress responses, with inoculation suppressing Sl1 gene expression in roots and upregulating the oxidative stress-related GR-1 gene in shoots. These findings highlight the complex and multifaceted relationship between beneficial bacteria and plant fitness under heavy metal stress, with significant implications for sustainable agriculture. The study raises new questions regarding the broader physiological and ecological impacts of applying hyperaccumulator-associated bacteria in crop management, emphasizing the necessity for deeper mechanistic insights into these interactions to fully harness their potential in improving crop resilience and productivity. [Display omitted] • PGPB from hyperaccumulator plants lowered Cd uptake in tomato shoots. • Reduced Cd suggests PGPB use to limit heavy metal contamination in crops. • PGPB increased oxidative stress and affected genes like Sl1 , MT-2 , GR-1. • Plant-bacteria interaction influenced tomato stress response under Cd exposure. • Cautious use of PGPB is advised to avoid unintended plant stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]