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Background/Objectives: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a protein hormone involved in physiological conditions in the regulation of energy expenditure and several metabolic processes. The aim of this present study was to analyze the effect of successful kidney transplantations on the plasma FGF21 concentration and to study the factors which may influence plasma FGF21 concentration in patients in long time after kidney transplantation. Methods: This study consisted of two independent parts. The first part was a prospective observation of CKD patients in stage 5 before and then on the 14th and 30th day and 6 months after kidney transplantation. The second part of this study was the cross-sectional study completed in patients at least one year after kidney transplantation and the control group. In CKD patients directly before and during the early period after KTx, plasma FGF21 concentrations were measured four times (immediately before and 14 and 30 days and 6 months after KTx). In patients long time after kidney transplantation and in healthy subjects, plasma FGF21 concentration was measured once. Results: Forty patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were either directly before or within the early period after kidney transplantation (KTx), 184 patients longtime after KTx and 50 healthy subjects were enrolled into this study. In CKD patients at the stage directly before receiving a KTx, the mean plasma FGF21 concentration was significantly higher than in the healthy subjects [1013.0 pg/mL versus 239.5 pg/mL, p < 0.001]. At 14, 30 days, and 6 months after the KTx, a significant decrease of plasma FGF21 was observed, with values of 322.5 pg/mL; 355.0 pg/mL; and 344.0 pg/mL (p < 0.001), respectively]. In patients long time after KTx, a negative correlation was found between the plasma FGF21 concentration and the estimated glomerular filtration rate and a positive correlation was found between the plasma FGF21 concentration and the BMI, the serum concentration of triglycerides, insulin, interleukin-6, CRP, and cystatin C. Conclusions: The plasma FGF21 concentration in patients with end-stage renal disease is higher than in healthy subjects and significantly decreases after a successful KTx. The plasma FGF21 concentration measured by ELISA in patients long time after kidney transplantation seems to be related to the degree of kidney function impairment and their metabolic status. The kidneys appear to be one of the main organs involved in the biodegradation and/or elimination of FGF21. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The distribution sector, contrary to film production, was not subsidized in 21st-century Poland from public funds, with only very rare exceptions. The distribution sector demands high levels of investment with regard to advertising movies and the necessity of building awareness of the titles before releasing them. The investment could be profitable but, in the case of a box office flop, becomes a permanent loss. Operating in the distribution sector is inevitably a high-risk endeavour. Predicting box office results is the key element of risk assessment made by distributors. The specificity of the film market and future results of the movies seem to be determined by uncertainty and unpredictability, according to William Goldman's famous dictum nobody knows anything. However, distributors were able to develop a few ways to assess future box office results, at least roughly. The tendency to establish franchises and whole universes, the role of the opening weekend, the types of weekly results trajectories and the impact of major festival awards for the box office result are described in the article. In the case of the latter, the brand and capacity of the distributor seems to be more relevant than the award itself, which leads to conclusions about the crucial and probably still underestimated role of the distribution sector in the cinema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angioten-sin II accelerates and renin-angiotensin system blockade halts progression; blockade with high doses even reverses established glomerulosclerosis. Aldosterone also accelerates progression of glomerulosclerosis, partially independently of angiotensin 1I. The purpose of this study was to assess the relative ability of an angiotensin receptor type I (A[T.sub.1]) blocker, a mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, and their combination to reverse glomerulosclerosis. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to subtotal renal ablation (SNX) or sham operation. Eight weeks after surgery, they were either euthanized or allocated to treatment with vehicle, losartan, spironolactone, their combination, or unspecific antihypertensive treatment (dihydralazine) for 4 wk. Renal morphology was evaluated by stereology in tissues obtained using pressure-controlled perfusion fixation. Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in SNX compared with sham-operated animals and decreased in all treatment groups. Compared with wk 8 after SNX, the glomerulosclerosis index (GSI) had increased further by week 12 in the vehicle- and dihydralazine-treated groups but was significantly lowered in the SNX+losartan as well as in the SNX+losartan+spironolactone groups and had not progressed further in the SNX+spironolactone group. The study confirms the partial regression of established glomerulosclerosis in subtotally nephrectomized rats alter high-dose A[T.sub.1] receptor blockade. Nonhyperkalemic doses of spironotactone prevented the increase but failed to decrease the GSI below the 8-wk level and preserved podocyte numbers. Combining the A[T.sub.1] blocker with mineralocorticoid receptor blockade failed to further increase the regression of glomerulosclerosis. aldosterone escape: renin-angiotensin system