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Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by a reduction in bone strength due to increased porosity and impaired mineralisation. In our study, we investigated whether muscle strength and mass exert a significant effect on bone mineral density in young adult women. We also tested whether sclerostin can be used as an indicator in the assessment of bone mineralisation. The study included 111 patients. All patients had their bone mineral density determined in the L1–L4 section of the lumbar spine and in the whole skeleton. The parameters of fat mass (FM), lean body mass (LBM) and visceral fat mass (VF) were also determined. Metabolic activity of osteocytes was assessed by measuring the serum sclerostin concentration. There was a statistically significant association of both hands’ muscle strength with all parameters expressing bone mineralisation. A statistically significant relationship was also obtained between BMD L1–L4 and the body mass components (FM, LBM). Sclerostin levels in the study did not differ between groups with normal and reduced bone mineral density. Muscle strength assessment may be a potential exponent of reduced bone mineral density, also used clinically in young adult women. The utility of sclerostin in the clinical assessment of bone mineralisation has not been demonstrated.

Celem artykułu jest pokazanie, w jaki sposób Andrzej Stasiuk, jeden z najwyraźniejszych autorów współczesnej polskiej literatury, przedstawia wieś w najnowszej powieści Przewóz (2021). W artykule poruszane są kwestie wpływu tzw. zwrotu ludowego na najnowszą polską prozę, rozważane są kwestie chłopskiej tożsamości, rewizji mitu polskiej wsi jako miejsca sielankowego oraz stosunku do Holokaustu. Jest mu bliska chłopska mentalność, dostrzega różne nakładające się na siebie konteksty i potrafi oddać złożoność polskiej wsi. Poprzez konkretne sceny, często wzbogacone o wymiar symboliczny, stara się przybliżyć całe imaginarium związane ze wsią. Stasiuk w swojej najnowszej powieści podąża śladem zwrotu ludowego, inspiruje się wyznaczonymi przezeń nowymi nurtami w myśleniu, ale nie podąża ślepo, dokonuje rewizji mitu chłopskiego biorąc pod uwagę swoją filozofie życiową i prezentuje tym samym oryginalne, nowatorskie spojrzenie na fenomen plebejskości.

Background Infantile hypercalcaemia (IH) is a vitamin D3 metabolism disorder. The molecular basis for IH is biallelic mutations in the CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 gene. These changes lead to catabolism disorders (CYP24A1 mutations) or excessive generation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] (SLC34A1 mutations). The incidence rate of IH in children and the risk level for developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are still unknown. The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term outcome of adolescents and young adults who suffered from IH in infancy. Design Forty-two children (23 girls; average age 10.7 ± 6.3 years) and 26 adults (14 women; average age 24.2 ± 4.4 years) with a personal history of hypercalcaemia with elevated 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were included in the analysis. In all patients, a genetic analysis of possible IH mutations was conducted, as well as laboratory tests and renal ultrasonography. Results IH was confirmed in 20 studied patients (10 females). CYP24A1 mutations were found in 16 patients (8 females) and SLC34A1 in 4 patients (2 females). The long-term outcome was assessed in 18 patients with an average age of 23.8 years (age range 2–34). The average glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 72 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range 15–105). Two patients with a CYP24A1 mutation developed ESRD and underwent renal transplantation. A GFR 2.6 mmol/L. A renal ultrasound revealed nephrocalcinosis in 16 of 18 (88%) patients, however, mild hypercalciuria was detected in only one subject. Conclusions Subjects who suffered from IH have a greater risk of progressive chronic kidney disease and nephrocalcinosis. This indicates that all survivors of IH should be closely monitored, with early implementation of preventive measures, e.g. inhibition of active metabolites of vitamin D3 synthesis.

The main goal of this paper is to analyze, depict, and characterize the semantic construction of the latest novel Przewóz [The Carriage] (2021) written by one of the most significant contemporary Polish writers Andrzej Stasiuk. A key way of organizing Stasiuk’s novel is juxtaposing semantically distant wholes, which creates strong tensions not only at the level of language but above all at the level of meaning. Categories of different meaning interpenetrate in the novel, creating a conglomerate of new meanings, showing the fractures of the world described by the novelist, the incoherence of a reality infected by war.Such construction of the novel, based on contrasts and the tensions resulting from their occurrence, allows Stasiuk to reflect the tragedy of wartime experience. War is a catalyst that makes us aware of the uncertain anchoring of concepts and categories, hitherto considered unchanging and permanent, it allows us to capture the illusory nature of human beliefs, the incoherence of human actions, and the naivety of human recognition. The marginal comes to the fore, becoming a model of the world under a microscope, a theatre of history, revealing the nakedness of human existence. Such basic and key concepts as strength, courage, beauty, sacrifice, patriotism, culture, universality, boundary, and truth are questioned.Stasiuk’s ontology is based upon a constant play of tensions between particular categories that make up reality. Nonetheless, the writer does not propose a coherent, unambiguous assessment of reality but rather draws attention to its complexity, impossibility of complete cognition, elusiveness, and delusion. These tensions, so pronounced in Stasiuk’s novel, reveal the illusory nature of the concepts in which a human is immersed, and at the same time, as one of the fundamental elements determining the artistic value of artwork, they are expected to lead to a catharsis, to a release of emotions, they also help to understand better the situation into which a person is thrown at the border moments. Thus, works designed in this way – as cleansing and releasing, and saturated with tension and contrasts – become, as it were, automatically universal, going far beyond transient vogues.The goal of the paper is also to focus on these aspects of Stasiuk’s novel, to demonstrate how war as a border situation can lead to a relativization of concepts, how it can introduce confusion and chaos into a well-established, as it would seem, axiological system, which the writer demonstrates precisely by creating clear tensions. In his novel, Stasiuk does not offer a zero-one vision of the world, tensions are not created mechanically, and the writer uses contrasts and paradox, but what is really important for him are halftones, ambiguities, multivocalities, and a smooth transition in between categories. This is what sets Stasiuk’s world in motion.

Infantile hypercalcemia (IH), is a rare disorder caused by CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 variants which lead to disturbed catabolism of 25(OH)DTo assess the status of 2425(OH)16 IH survivors in whom CYP24A1 (n = 13) or SLC34A1 (n = 3) variants were found and 41 subjects in whom hypercalcemia was diagnosed in the first year of life but in whom CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 variants were not found were included in the study. 25(OH)DSubjects with CYP24A1 variants, despite normal 25(OH)DSurvivors of IH with CYP24A1 variant, despite being normocalcemic, still presented extremely high 25(OH)D

The aim of the study is to offer a slightly different view of Milan Kundera’s prose and to recall the issues of memory and human activities as the subjects of constant interpretation and reinterpretation. Last but not least, the article examines human identity and the freedom of human decision-making. In the study, the theory of cultural oblivion is used as a strategy for building our own identity and subjectivity. Notably, since the 1960s, Kundera has dealt with these issues, which later became the subject of memory studies. Kundera has overtaken the memory boom which was highly popular for some years. Another important issue analysed in the study is the question of responsibility for one’s own deeds, worlds, actions and the issue of the possibility of dialogue between people. All these issues are examined on the basis of Kundera’s novels.

Infantile hypercalcemia (IH), is a rare disorder caused by CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 variants which lead to disturbed catabolism of 25(OH)D3 and 125(OH)2D3 or increased generation of 125(OH)2D3. Aim of study To assess the status of 2425(OH)2D3 and other markers of vitamin D in IH survivors, in whom variants of CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 gene were found and to compare these unique biochemical features with those obtained from subjects who were diagnosed in the first year of life with hypercalcemia, elevated 25(OH)D3 and low PTH but in whom neither CYP24A1 nor SLC34A1 variant was found. Patients and methods 16 IH survivors in whom CYP24A1 (n = 13) or SLC34A1 (n = 3) variants were found and 41 subjects in whom hypercalcemia was diagnosed in the first year of life but in whom CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 variants were not found were included in the study. 25(OH)D3, 3-epi-25(OH)D3, 25(OH)D2, 2425(OH)2D3 were assessed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. 125(OH)2D3 concentrations were assessed by chemiluminescence. Results Subjects with CYP24A1 variants, despite normal 25(OH)D3 levels, had higher 25(OH)D3/2425(OH)2D3 ratio values (487; 265−1073 ng/mL) when compared to subjects with SLC34A1 variants (16; 16−23 ng/mL) and with subjects in whom CYP24A1 or SLC34A1 were not found (56; 9−56 ng/mL) (p = 0.00003). Separation of interfering metabolite further increased differences between subjects with and without CYP24A1 mutation. Conclusions Survivors of IH with CYP24A1 variant, despite being normocalcemic, still presented extremely high 25(OH)D3/2425(OH)2D3 ratio values. Separation of interfering compound further increased differences between subjects with CYP24A1 mutation and without this mutation.

Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia (IIH) is a mineral metabolism disorder characterized by severe hypercalcemia, failure to thrive, vomiting, dehydration, and nephrocalcinosis. The periodical increase in incidence of IIH, which occurred in the twentieth century in the United Kingdom, Poland, and West Germany, turned out to be a side effect of rickets over-prophylaxis. It was recently discovered that the condition is linked to two genes, CYP24A1 and SLC34A1. The aim of the study was to search for pathogenic variants of the genes in adult persons who were shortlisted in infancy as IIH caused by “hypersensitivity to vit. D”. All persons were found to carry mutations in CYP24A1 or SLC34A1, nine and two persons respectively. The changes were biallelic, with one exception. Incidence of IIH in Polish population estimated on the basis of allele frequency of recurrent p.R396W CYP24A1 variant, is 1:32,465 births. It indicates that at least a thousand homozygotes and compound heterozygotes with risk of IIH live in the country. Differences in mechanism of developing hypercalcemia indicate that its prevention may vary in both IIH defects. Theoretically, vit. D restriction is a first indication for CYP24A1 defect (which disturbs 1,25(OH)2D degradation) and phosphate supplementation for SLC34A1 defect (which impairs renal phosphate transport). In conclusion, we suggest that molecular testing for CYP24A1 and SLC34A1 mutations should be performed in each case of idiopathic hypercalcemia/hypercalciuria, both in children and adults, to determine the proper way for acute treatment and complications prevention.

This article is devoted to certain themes, problems, and motifs known as key questions in the literary heritage of the interwar period Czech writer Karel Capek, which can be seen in Milan Kundera’s prose as well. The author depicts and briefly characterizes the most important points of contact in the works of these two prominent writers, focusing on narrative similarities and examining analogies which appear at the semantic level: a search for identity, a fascination with diversity and difference, or the concept of “unrealized lives”, to name only a few. Another important aspect of the study is the question of searching for the truth and its ambiguity, which is the key problem in Capek’s works, and it also plays a very important role in Kundera’s prose. Finally, the theme of ambiguous and unstable identity is also explored, the identity that constantly changes under the influence of the “watchful gaze of others”.

Results of the thermal stability of expanded perlite modified by mullite are presented. Mullite was formed from alumino-silicate gel by sol–gel method. This method allowed us to obtain very homogenous and reactive gel and phase formation of mullite took place at relatively low temperatures. Expanded perlite modified with alumino-silicate gel after firing above the temperature of mullite formation had better thermal stability and durability during heating. The thermal stability of this material was examined up to 1400 °C.

Vse je izgubilo nekdanjo jasnost – eksistencialisticni elementi v zgodnjih kratkih zgodbah Karla Capka (Boži muka, Trapne povidky) Namen prispevka je odkriti in predstaviti možne sledi eksistencializma v zgodnjih kratkih zgodbah Karla Capka (Boži muka – Kalvarija, Trapne povidky – Smesne pripovedke) ter opredeliti nacin njihovega upodabljanja. Avtorica skusa spremljati spremembe v razmisljanju ceskega pisatelja, ki jih je mogoce zaslediti v dveh analiziranih kratkih zgodbah, in jih predstaviti v eksistencialisticnem konktekstu.