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Bogusz Jan Aksak-Wąs,1 Agnieszka Ripa,2 Paweł Szakoła,3 Karolina Horbacka,3 Jolanta Niścigorska-Olsen,2 Magdalena Witak-Jędra,2 Małgorzata Zając-Marczewska,2 Malwina Karasińska-Cieślak,2 Jacek Kot,4 Miłosz Parczewski1 1Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Immune Deficiency, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland; 2Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Immune Deficiency, Provincial Hospital, Szczecin, Poland; 3Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Department of Vascular Surgery, Provincial Hospital, Szczecin, Poland; 4National Center for Hyperbaric Medicine, University Center for Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, PolandCorrespondence: Bogusz Jan Aksak-Wąs Email bogusz.aw@gmail.comIntroduction: Vibrio vulnificus infections are a growing problem worldwide. In recent years, infections with this bacteria have been reported in Central Europe, especially in the German Baltic coast but also in France and Italy. Climate warming causes the sea temperature to increase every year, which translates to an increased risk of infections from the Vibrio group. Most of these are mild and present as wound infections, but some patients develop life-threatening sepsis from either ingestion of infected mollusks or wound lesions that develop into generalized infections. Illness may be associated with necrotizing fasciitis and may require several weeks of therapy, often based on a surgical operation, demarcation of necrosis or limb amputation. A case such as the one described in this manuscript has not been previously described in Poland and demonstrates the need for a multidisciplinary approach to infection with Vibrio vulnificus.Case Presentation: A 68-year-old patient was pricked with an unknown object in the side of a lower limb during his stay at the Polish seaside. He developed a life-threatening infection in the form of severe sepsis with multiple organ failure. He required broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, and after obtaining results for Vibrio vulnificus targeted therapy, a surgical operation with skin lesion decompression and fasciotomy was performed. Finally, hyperbaric chamber therapy was given. The patient’s general condition improved, and local changes and his vital parameters stabilized.Conclusion: Vibrio vulnificus infection may be confused with other causes of skin and subcutaneous tissue infection, although it requires a different approach and different targeted antibiotic therapies. This infection may take the form of a life-threatening disease requiring a multidisciplinary approach.Keywords: case report, Vibrio vulnificus, sepsis shock, crustaceans, hyperbaric chamber

Aerogels are characterized by excellent insulation properties and a good resistance to high and low temperatures. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of silica aerogel on thermal properties of textile–polymer composites. Aerogel was applied in protective clothing fabric to improve its heat resistance. The composites were produced by coating a fabric made of meta-aramid (polyamide–imide) yarns with a dispersion of polychloroprene latex and synthetic resins or an acrylic–styrene dispersion with aerogel (100–700 μm particle size). The composites were subjected to thermal radiation (20 kW/m2) and their thermal properties were determined by thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG). Scanning electron microscopy/X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) was used to characterize the microstructure and study the elemental composition of materials. The thermal conductivity and resistance of composites were measured with an Alambeta apparatus. The tests indicated an increase in resistance to thermal radiation by approximately 15–25%. In TG/DTG analysis, the initial temperature for an unmodified fabric was 423.3°C. After modification, it decreased to 361.8° and 365.3°C for composites with 7 and 14% of aerogel, respectively. SEM images revealed a reduction in aerogel particle size.

Textile floor coverings (TFC), an important element of equipment in homes and public buildings, are regarded as a settlement of house dust mites, and thus the cause of mite-induced allergy. It is believed that TFC should be removed from premises used by persons with a diagnosed allergy to house dust mites. On the other hand, TFC removal is associated with an increased air concentration of dust particles and dust-containing allergens. It is feasible to equip TFC with properties that can prevent the settlement and development of dust mites. The aim of this study was to evaluate TFC properties designed to protect against dust mite generation. The culture of Dermatophagoides farinae was used to test the efficacy of the direct anti-mite action. TFC acquired anti-dust mite properties through the addition of biologically active agents to the coated backing and mounting the same acaricides and anti-adhesive fluorocarbon dispersion on pile fibers. The results of our studies show that modified TFCs are characterized by anti-dust mite properties that protect against Dermatophagoides farinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat capacity of solid NdBr3 was measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry in the temperature range from 300 K up to the melting temperature. The heat capacity of liquid NdBr3 was also determined. These results were least-squares fitted to a temperature polynome. The melting enthalpy of NdBr3 was measured separately. DSC was used also to study phase equilibrium in the NdBr3-LiBr system. The results obtained provided a basis for constructing the phase diagram of the system under investigation. It represents a typical example of simple eutectic system. The eutectic composition, x(NdBr3)=0.278, was obtained from the Tamman construction. This eutectic mixture melts at 678 K. The electrical conductivity of NdBr3-LiBr liquid mixtures and of pure components was measured down to temperatures below solidification. Reflectance spectra of the pure components and their solid mixtures (after homogenisation in the liquid state) with different composition were recorded in order to confirm the reliability of the constructed phase diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jan Klata’s Shakespearean productions are famous for his liberal attitude to the text, innovative sets and locations, and a strong contemporary context. His 2004 H., a Teatr Wybrzeże production performed in the Gdańsk Shipyard, reaches to the Polish history of the eighties (the importance of Solidarity and the fall of communism) to comment on the state of the democratic Poland twenty years later. The 2012 Titus Andronicus, a coproduction of Teatr Polski in Wrocław and Staatsschauspiel Dresden, explores the impact of historical traumas on national prejudice and relations within the new Europe. The 2013 Hamlet with Schauspielhaus Bochum again tries to diagnose the contemporary condition and is again deeply rooted in a specific geopolitical context.

Bogusz Aksak-Wąs, Malwina Karasińska-Cieślak, Miłosz Parczewski Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Acquired Immunodeficiency, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, PolandCorrespondence: Bogusz Aksak-Wąs, Email bogusz.aksak.was@pum.edu.plAbstract: This case report provides data on unique challenges related to amoebiasis diagnostics and treatment in non-endemic regions. The presented case report is focused a 28-year-old male patient of Indian origin, temporarily living in Poland, who was diagnosed with an amoebic liver abscess. The patient presented with a range of non-specific symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever. The differential diagnosis included cardio-pulmonary diseases, a range of tropical diseases such as malaria or typhoid fever, bacterial abscesses, and malignancies, necessitating a comprehensive, multi-modal diagnostic approach. This approach included an extensive review of patient history, physical examination, and various laboratory and imaging investigations. A further challenge in this case was the unavailability of standard cysticidal treatments in Poland, which required individualized therapeutic strategy. Despite these obstacles, the patient was successfully treated using an alternative regimen of intravenous metronidazole, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, chloroquine, and finally, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (treatment with metronidazole was used as a base drug, due to the lack of typical cysticidal treatment, an alternative treatment was added: chloroquine is a recommended drug used in the treatment of pregnant patients, in addition, doxycycline showed in vitro activity against Entamoeba histolytica). This therapeutic journey underscored the value of adaptability in treatment protocols, particularly in regions where certain resources may not be readily available. This case report underlines the importance of broadening the differential diagnosis in non-endemic regions to include tropical diseases, particularly in the context of increasing global travel and migration. It also highlights the significance of employing comprehensive diagnostic strategies and adaptable treatment protocols in such scenarios. In addition, the report reiterates the need for global collaboration and education among healthcare providers to effectively manage tropical diseases, especially in non-endemic regions. Through its exploration of the complexities associated with diagnosing and managing amebiasis in a non-endemic region, this report offers valuable insights to clinicians worldwide.Keywords: amoebiasis, non endemic region, abscess, tropical disease