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Marta Szukalska,1 Bartosz F Grześkowiak,2 Magdalena J Bigaj-Józefowska,2 Marta Witkowska,3,4 Emilia Cicha,5 Patrycja Sujka-Kordowska,6 Izabela Miechowicz,7 Michał Nowicki,6 Radosław Mrówczyński,3,4 Ewa Florek1 1Laboratory of Environmental Research, Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland; 2NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland; 3Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland; 4Centre for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland; 5Laboratory of Experimental Animals, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland; 6Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland; 7Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, PolandCorrespondence: Marta Szukalska, Laboratory of Environmental Research, Department of Toxicology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3 Street, Poznan, 60-806, Poland, Email martan@ump.edu.plPurpose: Polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) have great potential in medicine. Their applications being widely investigated in cancer therapy, imaging, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and tissue repair. The aim of our study was to assess the in vivo toxicity and changes in oxidative stress biomarkers in organs of animals treated with mesoporous PDA NPs modified with iron (MPDAFe NPs), coated with the cancer cell membrane and loaded with doxorubicin (DOX), and subsequently subjected to PTT.Methods: Liver and kidney homogenates were obtained from BALB/c nude mice with xenograft HepG2 human hepatoma cells, treated with iron modified mesoporous PDA nanoparticles, coated with the cancer cell membrane and loaded with doxorubicin (MPDAFe@DOX@Mem NPs), and subjected to PTT. These samples were used for histological evaluation and measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers, including total protein (TP), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), S-nitrosothiols (RSNO), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD).Results: In the kidney, MPDAFe@DOX@Mem NPs in combination with PTT increased GSH (43%), TBARS (32%), and CAT (27%), while SOD decreased by 20% compared to the control group. Additionally, CAT activity in the liver increased by 79%.Conclusion: Significant differences in oxidative stress parameters and histological changes after administration with MPDAFe@DOX@Mem NPs and PTT were observed in the kidneys, showing more pronounced changes than the liver, indicating potential kidney toxicity. Our research provides insights into oxidative stress and possible toxic effects after in vivo administration of mesoporous PDA NPs combined with chemotherapy-photothermal therapy (CT-PTT), which is extremely important for their future applications in anticancer therapies. Keywords: polydopamine nanoparticles, oxidative stress, liver cancer model, in vivo toxicity, chemo- and photothermal therapy

AbstractPolydopamine (PDA) stands as a versatile material explored in cancer nanomedicine for its unique properties, offering opportunities for multifunctional drug delivery platforms. This study explores the potential of utilizing a one-pot synthesis to concurrently integrate Fe, Gd and Mn ions into porous PDA-based theranostic drug delivery platforms called Ferritis, Gadolinis and Manganis, respectively. Our investigation spans the morphology, magnetic properties, photothermal characteristics and cytotoxicity profiles of those potent nanoformulations. The obtained structures showcase a spherical morphology, robust magnetic response and promising photothermal behaviour. All of the presented nanoparticles (NPs) display pronounced paramagnetism, revealing contrasting potential for MRI imaging. Relaxivity values, a key determinant of contrast efficacy, demonstrated competitive or superior performance compared to established, used contrasting agents. These nanoformulations also exhibited robust photothermal properties under near infra-red irradiation, showcasing their possible application for photothermal therapy of cancer. Our findings provide insights into the potential of metal-doped PDA NPs for cancer theranostics.

Olaparib, an oral poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, is a relatively new anticancer drug. It is essential to find TDM-guided dosage for better safety and tolerability of patients. However, first, it is important to develop a suitable analytical method to conduct reliable TDM. The aim of the study was the validation of UPLC-MS/MS method for TDM of olaparib in patients with ovarian cancer, with a particular attention to optimization of recovery. The validation of the method under analysis were accomplished by the ICH guidelines. The recovery of olaparib was optimized with the Central Composite Design (CCD). The TDM study was conducted on 10 patients with ovarian cancer treated with olaparib. The method validation was characterized by good precision (CV

The contribution looks into what be be termed a paradigm shift in the field of asylum law, decisively away from a focus on the individual and towards harsh, indiscriminate measures, whenever ‘security’ so dictates.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive and hard to treat cancers. Traditional anti-cancer treatment methods have low efficiency and the lifespan after diagnosis is only 12–18 months. Brain tumor cells overexpress many proteins that play an important role in tumor progression and can be used as therapeutic targets. One of the promising approaches in cancer treatment is down-regulation of an extracellular matrix glycoprotein – Tenascin-C (TN-C) through RNA interference therapy. However, the effective delivery of double stranded RNA with one strand complementary to TN-C mRNA sequence is difficult due to rapid degradation by nucleases and low intracellular uptake. Polydopamine (PDA), a biomimetic polymer characterized by high biocompatibility and simple modification ability, is commonly used in nanobiomedicine to create a drug/gene delivery vehicle. Furthermore, photothermal characteristics of this polymer enable its application in photothermal therapy (PTT), which is a great option for cancer treatment. Here we synthesize PDA nanoparticles (NPs) coated with polyamidoamine dendrimers generation 3.0 (DD3.0) for therapeutic anti-TN-C RNA and doxorubicin delivery. As prepared PDA@DD3.0 NPs are then used in combined drug delivery, gene silencing, and PTT of GBM. The obtained materials are analyzed in terms of physicochemical and photothermal properties as well as their cytotoxicity, using human GBM cells. The results demonstrate that the obtained nanocarriers are effective non-viral vehicle for combined therapeutic approach for killing glioma cells via anti-TN-C RNA delivery and combined chemo-PTT therapy (CT-PTT). The application of PDA@DD3.0 NPs contributed to the 3-fold reduction in the proliferation rate of GBM cells, a decrease in the level of TN-C expression (by 30%) and a reduction in the number of viable cells by up to 20%.

The article outlines a contemporary method for creating software for multi-processor computers. It describes the identification of parallelizable sequential code structures. Three structures were found and then carefully examined. The algorithms used to determine whether or not certain parts of code may be parallelized result from static analysis. The techniques demonstrate how, if possible, existing sequential structures might be transformed into parallel-running programs. A dynamic evaluation is also a part of our process, and it can be used to assess the efficiency of the parallel programs that are developed. As a tool for sequential programs, the algorithms have been implemented in C#. All proposed methods were discussed using a common benchmark.

The flammability of cellulosic material restricts its use in insulation and packaging applications. This study examined carbon-based additives to protect cellulose paper against thermal degradation. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and expandable graphite (EG) were used to modify paper material. Thermal analysis was performed to examine the different modification systems. Our results showed consistently that the addition of EG resulted in an increased fire resistance in the mini fire tube (MFT) test, limited oxygen index (LOI) measurements, and mass loss calorimeter (MLC). In combination with CNT, the heat-release rate could be drastically reduced. Thermal analysis (DSC with TG analysis) revealed that EG had a longer resistance to thermal degradation. The developed composite material can be used, depending on the needs of the industry, as part of thin panel material, partition, or fireproof cladding in construction, railways, transport, automotive, and shipbuilding industries.

Diclofenac is one of the most common, commercially available, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the world, with thousands of tons produced and consumed per year, which creates issues related to its presence in water bodies and the need for its removal from them. Diclofenac forms complexes with cations of each metal, which has inspired a study to check if the formation/precipitation of such complexes can be used for effective diclofenac removal from water solutions. It was found that iron salts, e.g., FeCl3, can be used to remove diclofenac from a water solution in the form a of precipitated complex, provided that a high excess of iron salt was used. It has been observed that the diclofenac initial concentration of 5 × 10−4 M, as a result of FeCl3 addition, after 48 h, decreased by two orders of magnitude. Salts of other metals were found less effective in reducing diclofenac concentration. The iron cation–diclofenac interaction was found to be specific, since the precipitation of other drugs by iron cations has not been observed. In order to quantitively analyze the diclofenac removal (precipitation) by iron and other metal cations, the HPLC/ESI-MS analyses were performed.

The Polish reckoning with the illiberal turn of the past years seemingly does not apply to the unlawful practice of pushbacks on the Poland-Belarus border. The unlawful practices, best exemplified by pushbacks, have come to be accepted in the European mainstream. The humanitarian crisis on the Poland-Belarus border and its handling by the new government, together with its rejection of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, vividly illustrates this point.

Nowadays, the search for unconventional antibacterial agents is very common. One of them may be eugenol (EU) (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol), which exhibits antimicrobial properties against pathogenic bacteria and is used in the pharmaceutical industry. Owing to its structure, EU decreases the exotherm of polymerization without a negative impact on the degree of conversion. The properties of EU-modified bone cement, such as doughing time, maximum temperature, and setting time, will be characterized, as well as mechanical properties, EU release, and antibacterial properties. Bone cements were synthesized by mixing a powder phase composed of two commercially available methacrylate copolymers (Evonic) and a liquid phase containing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and EU with an amount of 0.5 wt% of bone cement sample. As an initiating system, benzoyl peroxide and N,N-dimethylaniline were used. Samples were prepared with various amounts of the initiating system. The doughing time, maximum temperature (T max), setting temperature (T set), setting time (t set), and compressive strength tests were determined according to the ISO 5833:2002 standard requirements. The doughing time for bone cement depends on the amount of the initiating system. The maximum temperature during curing of bone cement is very low; however, the setting time is closer to the upper limit set by the standard. The compressive strength of the tested materials is good and significantly exceeds the requirements of the standard. EU release was very high and ranged from around 43–62% after 168 h. Moreover, antibacterial studies show that the tested bone cements are bacteriostatic for Staphylococcus aureus or and Escherichia coil strains. In summary, modified bone cements meet the ISO 5833:2002 standard requirements in all parameters and are characterized by good mechanical properties (similar to or higher than commercial bone cement), high EU release, and bacteriostatic properties.

Entertainments of Padua’s Polish community: Hieronim Morsztyn’s poetic letters from 1617/18 as a source for the history of customs This article is devoted to a collection of poetic letters written by Hieronim Morsztyn in Padua in late 1617 and early 1618. Their collegial tone and lack of self-censorship made them a unique source of the everyday life of Padua’s Polish community. Mentions of numerous libations, love affairs with virgos and married women, the use of courtesans and, finally, the pregnancy of one of them, all add up to a colourful picture of the social life of students and travellers visiting Padua and nearby Venice. Even the two letters concerning attendance at a public autopsy, which was carried out at the Pallazo del Bo by anatomy professor Adriaan van den Spieghel between 25 January and 19 February 1618, are focusing on an account of the dissection of male and female genitalia.

Sore throat is a common symptom that accompanies infectious and non-infectious diseases. World standards of sore throat treatment mainly regulate approaches to the diagnosis of the streptococcal nature of sore throat and the use of antibacterial therapy in a positive case. However, the predominant cause of sore throat is viruses and symptomatic treatment can be used. The study presents a brief overview of modern medical standards for sore throat, defining the role of a pharmacist and the experience of certain countries in involving him in the diagnosing and treating process. An analysis of the content of the Ukrainian Pharmacist’s protocol “Symptomatic treatment of sore throat” and the dynamics of its changes was carried out. Pharmacist’s Protocol elaborated in Ukraine successfully combines the algorithm of the primary pre-medical assessment of the patient’s condition with information and advisory support when dispensing over-the-counter medicines for responsible self-treatment of sore throat. However, certain improvements in the list of recommended medicines may be appropriate.

Most hospitalized patients with COVID-19 require complex pharmacotherapy due to underlying diseases, and polypharmacy may significantly increase the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and, in consequence, trigger adverse effects. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of potential DDIs during hospitalization in COVID-19 patients. A retrospective analysis of pharmacotherapy in 75 patients (age, Mean±SD, 63.6±14.9) with a proven diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was conducted. The analysis included drugs administered to treat comorbidities and the COVID-19 treatment. 524 moderate and 112 major interaction cases were revealed in the analyzed COVID-19 patients, and 84% of the patients were exposed to at least one major DDI. Drugs that caused the most frequently observed DDIs include macrolides, low molecular weight heparins, glucocorticosteroids, quinolones, and antihypertensive drugs. Most COVID-19 patients have comorbidities requiring polypharmacy, which increases the risk of DDIs. Therefore, additional monitoring should be considered due to potential adverse effects, drug conversion, and deprescription.

Many diseases compromise the immune status. Some of them are congenital, and environmental factors induce others. As a result, patients are more prone to other diseases that would not match their clinical presentation at first sight. The main categories include primary and secondary immunodeficiency. Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a group of congenital diseases characterised by incomplete innate or acquired immunity pathways. Secondary immunodeficiency is the result of the immune system being compromised due to an environmental factor, such as specific viruses. The clinical presentation of immunodeficiency tends to be apparent at first sight as diagnostic criteria include recurrent infections of severity that are incoherent with age-related risk factors. Late diagnosis may lead to conditions such as sepsis due to severe infection. Every specialist has his own points of view on the factors that lead to sepsis, but all of them should keep in mind the possibility that a patient develops sepsis. To see the different points of view, we reviewed the literature on patients with immunodeficiency-related sepsis treated by clinicians of different specialities to find factors leading to such complications.

Abstract Understanding the interplay between nanoparticles (NPs) and cells is essential to designing more efficient nanomedicines. Previous research has shown the role of the cell cycle having impact on the efficiency of cellular uptake and accumulation of NPs. However, there is a limited investigation into the biological fate of NPs in cells that are permanently withdrawn from the cell cycle. Here we utilize senescent WI-38 fibroblasts, which do not divide and provide a definitive model for tracking the biological fate of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) independent of cell cycle. We use several methods to measure the cellular uptake kinetics and intracellular retention of SiNPs, including confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), flow cytometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We demonstrate that SiNPs readily enter into senescent cells. Once internalized, SiNPs do not exit and accumulate in the cytoplasm for long term. Our study provides a basis for future development of NP-based tools that can detect and target senescent cells for therapy.

Sericulture is associated primarily with the production of cocoons for textile purposes. However, the widespread availability of synthetic fibers caused a decline in interest in natural fabrics, including silk. Changing trends on the textile market made it necessary to find the new possibilities of using mulberry silkworm cocoons. Due to the, fact that the silk fiber is made mainly of two proteins – sericin and fibroin they began to be used in the cosmetics industry. Smoothing, moisturizing, nourishing and anti-wrinkle properties have made cosmetics based on silk proteins very popular. Research conducted among consumers shows that when choosing cosmetics, they are more and more often guided not only by the price, but also by the composition and origin of the ingredients. The fully organic rearing of the mulberry silkworm provides raw materials with valuable properties. The possibilities of using cocoons in cosmetics constitute an alternative to the use of cocoons in the textile industry. We examined the prospect of revitalizing the Polish silk industry in the view of testing whether silkworm farming in Poland may become a common and profitable activity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the experimental, off-label treatments with co-administration of supportive therapies for many patients with severe infections and coexisting chronic conditions. This situation has inevitably led to polypharmacy, which is always related to a disproportionately large increase in drug-drug interaction and adverse drug effects probability. Immediate, difficult therapeutic decisions have taken priority, rendering drug interactions and adverse drug effects less important. Additionally, there has been a shortage of studies describing such interactions and guiding how to avoid them in clinical practice. Our systematic review aimed to analyze and summarize the available information about clinically relevant drug-drug interactions observed between COVID-19 treatment and other drugs used in the care of individual patients. To perform a systematic review, we searched PubMed and Embase databases. After data extraction, we checked drug-drug interactions with two independent interaction checkers: the COVID-19 Drug Interactions checker created by the University of Liverpool and the Drug Interactions Checker, powered by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Cerner Multum, and IBM Watson Micromedex. According to our findings, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir as a COVID-19 treatment carried the highest risk of interactions related to QT prolongation and cytochrome P450 inhibition. The other group most at risk of interactions involved patients taking immunosuppressants with the potential to prolong the QT interval and direct oral anticoagulants. In the case of immunosuppression therapy, one should expect increased blood levels of drugs and a higher risk of toxicity, co-administration of QT prolongation drugs involves the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias, and anticoagulant treatment requires paying attention to the increased risk of bleeding. Considering complex COVID-19 therapy, avoiding drug-drug interactions requires a multidisciplinary approach and up-to-date information about possible interactions.

Wśród epigramatów Źwierzyńca Mikołaja Reja znajdują się trzy poświęcone wizerunkom św. Krzysztofa (IV 1) oraz św. Jerzego (IV 2 i II 121). Uznawano je dotąd za literacką recepcję dzieł malarskich lub emblematycznych. W rzeczywistości ich bezpośrednią inspiracją była wykładnia zaproponowana na przełomie lat dwudziestych i trzydziestych XVI w. przez Marcina Lutra, którą spopularyzowały niemiecko- i łacińskojęzyczne dzieła jego wyznawców.

Phosphorylated cellulose can be an intrinsic flame retardant and a promising alternative for halogenated fire inhibitors. In this study, the mixture of di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) and urea (U), containing phosphate and nitrogen groups, was applied to attain fire inhibitor properties. Functional groups of cellulose were grafted with phosphorous by keeping the constant molar ratio of 1/1.2/4.9 between anhydroglucose units of cellulose/DAP/U in different concentrations of bleached kraft pulp. Phosphorus concentrations were determined using the ICP hrOES method, and paper sheets were made using the Rapid Köthen apparatus. The tensile strength of phosphorylated cellulose increased twice compared with unmodified cellulose when the phosphorous concentration increased to 10,000 g/kg. An increase in the tensile index comes from the higher freeness of pulp and cross-linking of the phosphorous group between cellulose fibers. Remarkable fire retardancy effects were achieved in cellulose concentrations above 5 wt%. The raised phosphorous concentration above 10,000 g/kg due to the phosphorylation process caused the formation of a char layer on a cellulose surface and the nonflammable gas emission. That effect was indirectly confirmed by reducing the combustion temperature and HRR by 50 and 45%, respectively. Due to increasing phosphorus concentration in cellulose sheets, cellulose’s fire and strength properties increased significantly.

Introduction: It is commonly considered that myotonometry is a non-invasive method capable of quantifying linear elastic and viscoelastic properties of the myofascial tissue through the application of a weak mechanical impulse to the surface of the skin. However, before the impulse can reach the myofascial tissue, it must cross more superficial tissues such as the skin and subcutaneous tissue (ST). All these superficial tissues have different distributions and organizations of structural components. Therefore, the study aimed to examine the potential relationships between the mechanical and morphometric properties of various superficial soft tissues surrounding the lumbar multifidus muscle (LM).Methods: Myotonometric measurements of dynamic stiffness, logarithmic decrement, and creep, and ultrasonographic measurements of thickness and echogenicity of cutaneous, subcutaneous, perimuscular tissue, and LM were obtained from 50 healthy individuals in the resting prone position and during contralateral arm lift.Results: The most important findings were that in both the relaxed and contracted LM state, the dynamic stiffness strongly negatively (r = −0.69; p < 0.001 in relaxation, r = −0.83; p < 0.001 in contraction) and creep strongly positively (r = 0.79; p < 0.001 in relaxation, r = 0.85; p < 0.001 in contraction) correlated with the thicknesses of the ST. Similar but weaker correlations were noticed between both these measures and the perimuscular tissue thickness. Elasticity was uncorrelated to the thicknesses of the tissues. With LM contraction (change from the relaxed to contracted state), the relative increase in dynamic stiffness was correlated with the relative decrease in dermis (r = −0.51; p < 0.001) and ST (r = −0.47; p = 0.001) thickness, and with the relative increase in LM (r = 0.36; p = 0.010) thickness. Moreover, the relative decrease (thinning) in the ST thickness was correlated with the relative increase in logarithmic decrement (i.e., decrease in soft tissue elasticity, r = −0.37, p = 0.011). The mechanical properties of the soft tissues were not related to their echogenicity.Discussion: In conclusion, the thicker the subcutaneous and perimuscular layers, the lesser the stiffness and the greater the time-dependent deformation to the external force of the tissues surrounding the LM during its relaxation and isometric contraction. Moreover, the greater the thinning of the ST and the thickening of the LM during its contraction, the higher the increase in lumbosacral tissue stiffness and the decrease in elasticity. Therefore, one should consider the thickness of the ST before planning or analyzing the outcomes of myotonometric or other external biomechanical measurements to avoid drawing the wrong conclusions about the mechanical properties of the myofascial tissue.

“Złego sługę malarze tak figurowali” (“A bad servant was so depicted”): Sources of the Images of a Good and Bad Servant and of a Good and Bad Wife in Chapter 4 of Mikołaj Rej’s Źwierzyniec (‘The Bestiary’) The chapter of Mikołaj Rej’s Źwierzyniec (‘The Bestiary’), entitled Jako starych wieków przypadki świeckie ludzie sobie malowali (‘As People Painted Secular Shapes from Old Times’), is a collection of epigrams accompanied by visual illustrations of various human features and vices. As proved in 1893 by Ignacy Chrzanowski, some of the pieces were inspired by Andrea Alciato’s emblems, hence the search for Rej’s sources focused on emblem literature. However, despite the evidence that Rej’s epigrams were intended as comments to illustrations, they still may be rooted in literary texts. This article deals with the sources of four epigrams, namely, the one depicting a bad servant, a good servant, a good wife and a bad wife. The epigram Sługa dobry (IV 31, ‘The Good Servant’) may have been modeled on the popular treaty Οίκετηςsive De officio famulorum, written in 1535 by Gilbert Cousin, who described an image of a good servant, subsequently painted in French nobles’ chambers. It presented a human silhouette with a pig’s face, donkey’s ears and deer’s legs, which captured the idea of the servant being easy to feed, eager to listen and fast to follow the master’s orders. This image was widely popularized in 16th-century drawings, however none of them is known to have been familiar to Rej before 1562 and used by him as a pattern for his epigram. Since a pig’s snout is associated with gluttony in Rej’s other texts, in the epigram Sługa dobry it is replaced by a bull’s head. The image of the snout is exploited in Zły sługa (IV 30, ‘The Bad Servant’). Rej equipped the bad servant with a wolf ’s ears – he will pretend to misunderstand orders for his own benefit, a bear’s paws –he steals, and a dog’s tail – he flatters his master. The two epigrams presenting the images of a good wife and a bad wife, were inspired by verses that were echoed in Rej’s other works, for instance in Postylla (1557, ‘Postil’) and Żywot człowieka poczciwego (1568, ‘Life of a Virtuous Man’). The epigram Żona poczciwa (IV 32, ‘The Virtuous Wife’) alludes to Ps. 128(127):3, whereas Żona wszeteczna (IV 33, ‘The Profligate Wife’) to Prov. 11:22.

Background. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a widely used sedative agent for treating post-surgery patients. It also acts on hemodynamic parameters like heart rate or cardiac output. This study aimed to develop a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model of DEX using bispectral index (BIS) and cardiac output (CO) as a response. Methodology and results. 21 mechanically ventilated elderly cardiac patients undergoing abdominal aortic surgery were enrolled in the study. DEX was given to maintain moderate or deep sedation. Genotypes of ADR2A*55 were identified using real-time PCR-HRM. Data were analyzed using nonlinear mixed-effect modelling. A two-compartment model described DEX pharmacokinetics. The sigmoid Emax and linear models were used to describe BIS and CO measurements. The typical value of EC50 for DEX effects on BIS was 3.62 ng/ml, and the slope between CO and DEX concentrations was 0.819 (L/min)/(ng/ml). We were unable to show the effects of considered covariates on DEX pharmacodynamics. Conclusions. WE proposed the PK/PD model of DEX to understand better the BIS and CO changes observed after surgery. The measured CI values were in the reference range showing that the used doses of DEX ensured stable cardiac function in the studied patients.

Maternal dietary factors have been reported to influence Clostridioides difficile colonisation in the offspring. Twenty suckling piglets from sows fed diets supplemented with high-fermentable sugar beet pulp (SBP) or low-fermentable lignocellulose (LNC) fibres during gestation and lactation were dissected in the first week after birth. Postmortem analysis included clinical mesocolon and faecal scoring, concentration of C. difficile and respective toxins in colon digesta and faeces, immunoglobulins in serum and inflammatory markers in serum and colon tissues. Sow colostrum was assessed for nutrients, immunoglobulins and biogenic amines. Toxin-neutralising IgG antibodies were measured in colostrum and serum of the sows, and in colon digesta and serum of the piglets. Mesocolonic oedema of different severity was present in most of the piglets from both sows’ feeding groups. Concentrations of C. difficile, toxins and calprotectin in colon digesta and faecal contents did not differ between the study piglets. Calprotectin correlated positively with mesocolon score (rho = 413, P = 0.07). Piglets from sows fed LNC vs SBP tended to have higher IgA (P = 0.089), IgG (P = 0.053), total Ig (P = 0.053), albumin (P = 0.075) and total protein content (P = 0.007) in serum. Colon tissues of piglets from the SFB vs LNC had upregulated expression of ZO-1 (P = 0.021), PCNA (P = 0.015) and TGF-β (P = 0.014). Titers of anti-toxin-IgG-antibodies in serum and colostrum and in piglet colon digesta and serum did not differ between sows from both dietary groups, but they all showed strong positive correlations. In conclusion, dietary sugar beet pulp or lignocellulose fed to sows did not influence the concentrations of C. difficile and toxins titers in colon digesta and faeces of neonatal piglets.

This paper presents the place of e-learning methods in the teaching of Advanced Life Support (ALS) to second year medical students. The described course lasts 30 hours and consists of lectures, seminars, and classes. Numerous modifications of the course were introduced in the past and at the moment electronic learning methods are being improved with new ones being added as well. The following have been implemented: 1. e-learning presentations instead of lectures; 2. recording own instructional movie demonstrating advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation; 3. a change in the method of conducting practical classes consisting in recording the medical procedures performed by students with a camera. Although e-learning plays an important role in ALS teaching, it cannot completely replace on-site classes. Thus, ALS without any practice to acquire resuscitation skills is impossible.

As a result of the epidemiological situation in Poland that occurred as a consequence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, all classroom study was suspended in March 2020 and schools were required to deliver online education. There number of teachers who create educational resources for medical e-education, also those including interactive elements, is still insufficient. Teachers’ IT skills must be continuously improved and they have to take part in e-learning course design training programmes, taking into account the characteristics of the teaching process in medical sciences and health studies. The existing examples of effective e-classes, particularly for medical training, are important sources of knowledge on how to build e-learning courses for beginners and an inspiration for others in subsequent implementations. This knowledge is needed immediately, and the time available for acquiring it is shorter than previously, as the epidemic does not allow for full-range training schemes. This paper presents such results, collected from the period from March to June 2020 at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences by teachers who had started working on e-learning resources in 2019 and are successfully implementing these in the educational offer made available to their students as part of various curricula.