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This study aimed to investigate the ACTN3 R577X, ACE I/D, CKM rs8111989, and TRHR rs7832552 genotypes in climbers and controls in three ethnicities. The study consisted of 258 climbers (Japanese, n = 100; Polish, n = 128; Russian, n = 30) and 1151 controls (Japanese: n = 332, Polish: n = 635, Russian: n = 184). Genotyping results were analyzed using the TaqMan approach in Japanese and Polish subjects and HumanOmni1-Quad Bead Chips in Russian subjects. There were no significant differences in ACTN3 R577X and ACE I/D polymorphism distribution between climbers and controls in any ethnic cohort or model. The frequencies of the C allele in the CKM polymorphism and the T allele in the TRHR polymorphism were higher in climbers than in controls only in the Russian cohort (p = 0.045 and p = 0.039, respectively). The results of the meta analysis on three cohorts showed that the frequency of XX+RX genotypes in the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was significantly higher in climbers than that in the controls (p = 0.01). The X allele of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was associated with sport climbing status, as assessed using a meta-analysis of climbers across three different ethnicities.

Introduction and objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely premature babies at the age of 2 years, and to determine whether rehabilitation was carried out during this period. An additional aim was to determine the relationship between the use of rehabilitation and the degree of prematurity, asphyxia, birth weight, and the result of brain ultrasound. Material and methods The study included 87 premature babies born between 24–31 weeks of pregnancy. A rehabilitation specialist assessed the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the children aged 2 years. Based on the documentation, the frequency of rehabilitation and its dependence on prematurity, asphyxia, birth weight and ultrasound results were analyzed. Results Correct neurodevelopmental outcome in children aged 2 years was found in 57 (65%) children, of whom 40 (46%) did not undergo rehabilitation. Incorrect development was observed in a group of 30 children – 12 patients were diagnosed with CP (14%), and 18 (21%) had ‘red flags’ of development milestones, they underwent rehabilitation. There was no statistically significant relationship between the degree of prematurity, perinatal asphyxia, birth weight and rehabilitation in the first 2 years of life. Abnormal ultrasound results were more common in rehabilitated children (n = 25; 53%) than in children without rehabilitation (n = 10; 25%), p = 0.008. Conclusions Correct neurodevelopmental outcome at the age of 2 reached two-thirds of extreme prematurities, most of which did not need rehabilitation during this period. According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to show the percentage of premature babies who in the first 2 years of life did not require rehabilitation and achieved normal development.

Introduction Premature babies are a special group at risk of persistent brain damage caused by diseases, the most serious of which are cerebral palsy(CP), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and mental retardation, among others. These conditions may occur concurrently, but appear more often as separate disease syndromes in the same group of at-risk children. Long-term observation of psychomotor development by an interdisciplinary medical team closely cooperating with parents is necessary. It is important to detect the risk of developing these diseases as soon as possible in all development spheres. Material and methods The research was conducted to demonstrate the prognostic value of ‘red flags’ of developmental milestones and the ability to detect early signs of risk of developing CP and ASD in extremely premature babies. In this preliminary study, 42 preterm babies, born after less than 32 weeks pregnancy participated. Results The occurrence of ‚red flags‘in the spheres: gross motor, fine motor and cognitive at 9 months was strongly associated with their presence at 24 months. The sensitivity and specificity were: gross motor – 0.91 (95% CI: 0.59, 1.00) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.79, 0.99); fine motor – 0.83 (95% CI 0.36–1.00) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.90–1.00); cognitive – 1.00 (0.40, 1.00) and 0.97 (0.86, 1.00). Other spheres had lower sensitivity but high specificity. Conclusions The conclusion is that the ‚red flags‘at the 9 months milestones already predict the normal or developmental delay of premature babies, and predict the risk of CP and ASD. Due to the availability and lack of the need for specialized and costly training, it is worth considering their use in everyday life medical practice.

The essay by Peter Handke The Dreamer’s Farewell to the Ninth Country (1991) belongs to the text corpus of the Austrian author, where his opinion on the disintegrating Yugoslavia and the resulting war confl icts in the Balkans is included. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the essay The Dreamer’s Farewell to the Ninth Country to answer the question whether Peter Handke positively or negatively assesses Slovenia’s declaration of independence in 1991 and why he represents such a position in relation to this political event. In such a way, the contrast between the Handke’s and the real (media) reality should be emphasized.

Sport climbing will become an official event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; it is a popular wilderness sport among athletes and amateurs. Our previous study suggested that the T1470A polymorphism (rs1049434) of the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) gene is associated with athletic performance and physiological phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of MCT1 T1470A polymorphism in Polish and Japanese climbers using a case-control study. Our sample consisted of 226 climbers (Japanese: n = 100, 64 male and 36 female; Polish: n = 126, 97 male and 29 female) and 1028 non-athletic controls (Japanese, n = 407; Polish = 621) who were genotyped for the MCT1 T1470A polymorphism (rs1049434) using the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay or restriction enzyme. The frequency of the TT genotype and T allele was significantly higher in climbers than in controls among the Polish subjects (genotype: p = 0.030, allele: p = 0.010); however, there were no significant differences in the genotype and allelic frequencies between the Japanese climbers and controls (genotype: p = 0.968; allele: p = 0.803). Our results suggested that the frequency of the T allele (TT+TA genotype) in the MCT1 T1470A polymorphism is over-represented in Polish climbers but not in Japanese climbers. In addition, the frequency of the T allele and TT genotype in Polish lead climbers is higher than that in controls.

Objective. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation of eye length and bioelectric activity of temporalis, masseter, digastric, and sternocleidomastoid muscles in women with myopia compared to healthy women. Methods. Based on the exclusion and inclusion criteria, 42 women aged 24 years (±2 years) were eligible for the study. Two equally sized groups with myopic (n = 21) and emmetropic healthy subjects (n = 21) were formed. An electromyographic study of the examined muscles was performed in four conditions: at rest, during maximal voluntary clenching in the intercuspal position, during maximal voluntary clenching on dental cotton rollers, and during maximal mouth opening using BioEMG III (BioResearch Associates, Inc. Milwaukee, WI, USA). The IOL Master 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany) was used to examine the eyeball length. Statistical analysis showed significant positive correlations during mouth opening in both groups with open and closed eyes. Results. A greater number of correlations between the analyzed variables was observed in emmetropic women. In almost all cases, the longer axial eye length was associated with an increase in the bioelectrical activity of the analyzed muscles. Significant correlations were most often observed within the masseter and digastric muscles during the maximum mouth opening and at rest. Conclusion. There is a relationship between the bioelectrical activity of the masticatory muscles and the axial length of the eyeball on the same side.

Introduction and objective Fascia Manipulation® is one of the methods focusing on the deep fascia. The assumption is that fascial manipulation is carried out on precisely determined points – coordination centres (cc), and on a limited area so as the friction occurring during manipulation would cause a local rise in temperature due to the inflammatory reaction. Rise in temperature influences modification in consistency of elementary matter in the manipulated area, and by the same token causing a decrease in the negative effects of fascia densification which stems from accumulation of hyaluronic acid. The purpose of the research is to prove the thesis that fascial manipulation causes local rise in temperature due to inflammatory reaction. Material and methods For the research, 25 individuals with densification in lower limb area were qualified. They were exposed to a single, 3-minute facial manipulation®. By means of a thermal-imaging camera, changes in the temperature of the body in the examined area were evaluated. The body’s temperature evaluation was carried out 8 times: before the treatment, 5 minutes after the treatment, and, next, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 hours after the treatment. Results The average surface temperature of the treated area before mobilization was 33.4°C. A statistically relevant increase in temperature was already observed 5 minutes after the treatment (increase of 0.5°C; p

INTRODUCTION Pain within the glenohumeral joint is characterized as a limitation and pain when performing shoulder joint movements. Considering that this ailment is found in about 20-33% of the population, it seems to be important to investigate the factors that cause these symptoms. One of the reasons for the formation of pain syndrome may be an incorrect posture and overloading within the glenohumeral joint resulting from the habit of carrying the bag on one arm. AIM OF STUDY The aim of this study was to determine whether the motor habit in the form of wearing a bag is associated with the formation and maintenance of pain within the weighted shoulder joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS Applying the exclusion criteria, 126 women were qualified for the study (mean age 26 years ± 6 years). In order to determine the intensity of pain, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used. The surveyed women were asked to determine the time of occurrence of the length of pain and to provide anthropometric data such as weight and height. The following were used for statistical analysis: the Shapiro-Wilk test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (with the Lillierfors amendment). Differences were considered statistically significant if the test probability level was lower than the assumed level of significance (p

Introduction: Bruxism is defined as a repetitive jaw and muscle activity involving teeth clenching and/or grinding which may occur during everyday activities or during sleep. The aetiology of bruxism includes three groups of causes: psychosocial, personal and pathophysiological factors. Currently, there is no effective method of treatment to completely eliminate the problem of bruxism. Teeth protection and pain reduction methods are used. Bruxism-associated pain is found in approximately 47.6% of children aged 3–6 years. The aim of the present study was to establish sleep bruxism risk factors in children based on a literature review. Material and methods: The material for review included articles from the PubMed, ResearchGate and Google Scholar databases. In order to identify suitable publications the search was conducted using combinations of the following keywords: “bruxism,” “child,” “teeth grinding” (according to Medical Subject Headings, MeSH). This review includes 12 publication regarding sleep bruxism risk factors in children. Results: The association between bruxism and respiratory disorders and that between bruxism and sleep problems were described by three studies each. Stress as a predisposing factor was noted in four articles and parental divorce in two papers. Conclusions: 1) Respiratory disorders during sleep, sleep disorders and stressful situations, particularly parents’ divorce, contribute to sleep bruxism in children. 2) The impact of the remaining factors discussed in this paper on the development of sleep bruxism requires further research.

Introduction Tension-type headache (TTH) is perceived as bilateral pressure, tension or non-pulsatile mild to moderate headache. The etiopathogenesis of the occurrence of this phenomenon among children has been extrapolated from adult studies. The purpose of this review was to show the association between tension-type headaches and vitamin D deficiency in children based on available literature. Materials and methods Systematic review based on the content of PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar databases was performed. In order to identify relevant publications, a search was performed using a combination of key words: "children", "tension-type headache", "vitamin D", "25 (OH) D". Three studies have been included in our review. Results Considering the value of the evidence and the results in peer-reviewed publications, we conclude that there is too little evidence to support the hypothesis that there is a connection between tension-type pains and vitamin D deficiency in children. Conclusions Due to the small amount of available literature, research on the effects of vitamin D deficiency on tension-type headaches in children should be continued on a larger scale. Based on the above analysis, we find that there is too little evidence to support the hypothesis that the level of vitamin D affects the development of tension-type headaches in children.

Background: Surface electromyography is one of the test methods allowing to evaluate the bioelectric activity of muscles using the excitability of some tissues. One of the components of the electromyographic study is the recording of resting muscle activity, referred to as passive skeletal muscle tension. The main function of resting tension is to maintain posture with minimal energy costs. The aim of this study was to compare resting masticatory muscle activity between women of different ages. Materials and methods: 75 women were invited to the study, 27 women were admitted after applying the exclusion criteria (average age 22 years ± 2 years). Qualified women were divided into three groups depending on their age: 1st group - 20-year-olds, the 2nd group - twenty-two-year-olds and 3rd group - twenty-four-year-olds. The study involved an 8-channel BioEMG IIITM surface electromyography apparatus with BioPak Measurement System (BioResearch Associates, Inc. Milwaukee, WI, USA). The surface electrodes were distributed bilaterally to the muscle fibre direction of temporal and masseter muscles. The nonparametric U Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical calculations. Statistical significance was determined at 5%. Results: An increase in the resting activity of temporal muscle and a decrease in the resting activity of masseter muscles depending on age were observed. Differences in resting activity were not statistically significant p> 0.05. Conclusions: The results suggest that there are no significant relationships between age and masticatory muscle activity among healthy young women. However, due to the small research group, we recommend further research in this direction.

Introduction: Pain in the lumbosacral spine is a substantial problem of modern civilization. It leads to lowering the quality of life and to the reduced functioning in social and professional context. This problem mainly affects people with sedentary work such as drivers and office workers. Long-term work in one position and a frequent lack of physical activity are two of the factors conducive to the occurrence of pain in people doing work in a sitting position. Aim of the study: To assess the influence of Kaltenborn-Evejth manual therapy techniques on the quality of life of people doing sedentary work. Material and Method: The research was carried out in the Medi-Sport Rehabilitation and Sports Center from March to October 2018. The study included 60 people doing sedentary work of which 37 were women and 23 men. The Oswestry Questionnaire was the research tool. In the study group there were 21 people aged 30-40, 23 aged 41-50 and 16 aged 51-60. Results: The use of Kaltenborn-Evejth manual therapy techniques in people doing sedentary work reduced pain in the lumbosacral spine, improved its functions, which improved the quality of life of patients. After the therapy, the severity of pain in the lumbosacral spine decreased. Conclusions: Techniques of Kaltenborn-Evejth manual therapy mobilization significantly reduce pain in the lumbosacral spine, which improves the quality of life of persons performing sedentary work. The severity of pain in the lumbosacral spine decreased after the therapy.

Introduction: Modern literature indicates an uptrend in the occurrence of sleep disorders. Currently, about 30-40% of adults are suffering from sleep disorders, which makes them one of the most common health problems of the population. The aim of the study: The determination of the quality of sleep on the muscle tension of the masticatory apparatus. Methods and materials: 27 adults volunteered to take part in the study. After the application of the exclusion criteria, 12 women (with an average age of 23 ± 1 year) have qualified. They were subsequently divided into two equal groups, in accordance with the guidelines of the Pittsburgh questionnaire: six women with a below 6 point result - high quality of sleep and six women with an over 6 point result (or higher) - low quality of sleep. Electromyographic activity of the anterior temporalis (TA) and masseter muscle (MM) was evaluated in resting mandibular position. Based on the electromyographic results, the values of the asymmetry indexes of the muscles of the masticatory apparatus muscles were calculated. The U Mann-Whitney test has been used for the statistical analysis, with the significance level of 0,05. Results: There were no significant differences in resting activity of the anterior temporalis, masseter muscles and the asymmetry index of the anterior temporalis between groups (p>0,05). There was the significant difference in the asymmetry index of masseter muscles between groups (p

Introduction: Depression, as one of the most common psychological disorders, which is characterized by anxiety problems, lack of energy, feeling of worthlessness or self-esteem problems affects from 5 to 17% of the population. Despite the fact that it is such a vast problem, standard methods of treatment are usually unsatisfactory and relatively not universally accessible. For these reasons, it is crucial that some alternatives to traditional methods of depression treating, such as physical activity should be pursued. Methods and materials: The main study material of our research consisted of publications, which were found in PubMed, ResearchGate and Google Scholar databases. The first stage of the research was to find publications from the last 5 years and review the mentioned titles. The second stage was to conduct an overview of the abstracts as well as entire texts. Based on these criteria, four publications have been qualified for the study. Results: The overview of the literature indicates that despite the differences in methodology, size and age of the study groups, some comparable conclusions when it comes to the effectiveness of practicing climbing on the process of regulating emotions can be drawn. What is more, practicing climbing can benefit depression treatment by controlling the feeling of fear and anxiety, which may also occur during depression. Conclusions: The research suggests that sport climbing can positively influence the reduction of the depression and anxiety levels as well as maintain emotional stability. Further research should be carried out on the question of whether it is sport climbing as a particular sport that influences the reduction of depression and anxiety levels, or is any other form of physical activity equally influential when it comes the reduction of these disorders.

Aging society, lack of habit shaping attitude to correct posture among children and youth and a lifestyle that often requires excessive effort make lumbosacral discogenic pain syndrome a social disease. It is essential that effective methods for the prevention and treatment of these changes go hand in hand with the frequently occurring pains of the lumbosacral spine. Aim of the study: Comparison of the subjective assessment of the patient's feelings related to the lumbosacral discogenic pain. Material and method: The research group included 60 people diagnosed with a lumbosacral discogenic pain. All patients were divided into three groups of 20 people. Each group was subjected to a different type of rehabilitation, depending on the method analyzed - PNF, manual therapy, and physical treatments. The questionnaire was used as the research tool, it was filled in by the respondents. Results: The patients, before and after the treatments, regardless of the type of rehabilitation to which they were subjected, declared that the most common pain is in the buttock, thigh and calf. Before the rehabilitation, the most frequent additional complaints of the examined patients were numbness and muscle weakness, after rehabilitation it was muscle weakness. After the rehabilitation, the number of painkillers taken by the respondents decreased. Only in the case of patients who underwent physiotherapeutic procedures, the number of people taking medication increased. Conclusions: The best results from the analyzed therapies were obtained after manual therapy. The second most effective was PNF therapy, while the weakest result was achieved by physiotherapeutic procedures.

Background: The synergy of all muscle groups seems to play crucial role in professional sport climbing. Climbing activity demands good balance and coordination between various parts of musculature. Unfortunately, this issue is an under-reviewed aspect in the literature. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the endurance-fatigue characteristics in rectus abdominals (RA) and erector spinae (ES) muscles during the isometric exercises performed by professional and amateur sport climbers. Material and methods: We examined 50 healthy sport climbers (38 men, 12 women) aged 23 ± 3 years. Participants were divided into two groups: 25 professional and 25 amateur sport climbers. The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation UIAA scale was used for classification: professional climbers > X-, amateurs < VII. The myoelectric activity of the RA and ES muscles was recorded simultaneously during isometric activity in a basic plank position. Results: Significant differences in ES and RA muscles activity, between professional climbers and amateurs, were observed during trunk muscle strength tests in a basic plank position. EMG median frequency was reduced from beginning to end of exercise (amateur climbers: RA - 23.40%, ES - 26.81%; professional climbers: RA - 19.69%, ES - 15.78%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Difference in muscle activity between professional and amateur sport climbers suggests that rectus abdominals and erector spinae muscles plays an important role in climbing.

Wprowadzenie. Z danych WHO wynika, że z każdym rokiem rośnie liczba dzieci ze zwiększoną masą ciała. Wpływ na taki stan mają błędy żywieniowe, brak czasu wolnego rodziców na wspólne przygotowywanie odpowiednich posiłków, oraz coraz mniejsze zainteresowanie młodzieży szkolnej kulturą fizyczną i zajęciami ruchowymi. Cel. Celem głównym pracy jest określenie wielkości różnic w zawartości tkanki tłuszczowej u dziewcząt i chłopców w wieku 11–12 lat, w ujęciu całościowym i tułowiu. Celem szczegółowym jest ocena proporcji wagowo-wzrostowych uczniów w wieku 11–12 lat w odniesieniu do płci. Materiał i metody. W badaniu wzięło udział 100 uczniów Szkoły Podstawowej nr 3 w Radomiu. Badaną grupę stanowili chłopcy (48) i dziewczęta (52) w wieku 11–12 lat. Do przeprowadzenia badania wykorzystano analizator składu ciała BC 545 Tanita, który określił masę ciała z dokładnością do 0,1 kg. Oprócz masy, urządzenie określiło zawartość tkanki tłuszczowej w całym ciele, jak również występującej w tułowiu. Na podstawie zebranych danych i po otrzymaniu wyniku pomiaru ciała badanych osób, prowadzący wyliczyli wskaźnik BMI (Body Mass Index). Pozwoliło to stwierdzić, czy dziecko ma niedowagę, masę ciała prawidłową, nadwagę lub otyłość. W przypadku chłopców przedziały BMI prezentują się następująco: I przedział (poniżej 15) oznacza niedowagę, II przedział (w granicach 15–20) oznacza masę ciała prawidłową, III przedział (20–23) wskazuje na nadwagę, a IV (przy BMI powyżej 23) oznacza otyłość. Wartości BMI są zróżnicowane ze względu na płeć. Jest to spowodowane wcześniejszymi zmianami antropomorficznymi ciał dziewcząt. Wartości BMI dziewcząt przedstawiają się następująco: I przedział (BMI poniżej 14) – niedowaga, II (dla wartości 14–22) wskazuje na masę ciała prawidłową, III przedział (22–27) oznacza nadwagę, a IV (powyżej 27) świadczy o występowaniu otyłości. Wyniki. Na podstawie zebranych danych można zauważyć, że u chłopców BMI poniżej 15 (świadczące o niedowadze) nie występuje, w przedziale masy ciała prawidłowej jest 26 osób (BMI między 15–20), w przedziale nadwagi jest 12 badanych (BMI w zakresie 20–23), natomiast z BMI powyżej 23 (świadczącym o otyłości) jest 10 chłopców. Dziewcząt ze wskaźnikiem Body Mass Index poniżej 14 (z niedowagą) jest 3, z wynikiem w przedziale normy prawidłowej (14–20) jest aż 34, w trzeciej grupie (BMI pomiędzy 22–27) jest 12 dziewcząt z nadwagą, natomiast powyżej 27 są tylko 3 osoby z otyłością. Wnioski. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań można wyciągnąć następujące wnioski. Badania własne potwierdzają, że istnieje różnica w zawartości tkanki tłuszczowej w ciele człowieka w zależności od płci. Większa zawartość tkanki tłuszczowej w tułowiu występuje u chłopców. Całkowita zawartość tkanki tłuszczowej u dzieci, na przykładzie uczniów klas piątych Szkoły Podstawowej nr 3 w Radomiu, jest większa u dziewcząt. Badania własne pokazują, że u chłopców w wieku 11–12 lat występuje większa tendencja do nadwagi i otyłości niż u dziewcząt. Problem nadwagi i otyłości dotyka zarówno dziewcząt, jak i chłopców. Jak wynika z zebranych danych, chłopcy są bardziej podatni na nie przestrzeganie zasad zdrowego żywienia.

Zespół cieśni nadgarstka (ZCN) należy do jednej z najczęstszych neuropatii w obrębie kończyny górnej. W pracy zostały omówione zagadnienia związane z ogólnymi informacjami na temat występowania, przedstawiono cel pracy, anatomię, patofizjologię, etiologię oraz szeroko pojętą diagnostykę, w tym funkcjonalną i obrazową, oraz leczenie. Występowanie zespołu cieśni nadgarstka może warunkować ucisk na nerw pośrodkowy na poziomie więzadła poprzecznego w kanale nadgarstka. Innymi czynnikami mogą być praca zawodowa, wiek, otyłość, zaburzenia hormonalne, mięśniowo-szkieletowe i naczynioworuchowe. Diagnostyka opiera się przede wszystkim na dokładnym badaniu pacjenta, w tym – wywiadzie chorobowym i rodzinnym, badaniu klinicznym oraz badaniach pomocniczych. Leczenie ZCN może mieć charakter zachowawczy, polegający na usunięciu czynników odpowiedzialnych za rozwój neuropatii w obrębie nerwu pośrodkowego lub czasowym unieruchomieniu kończyny. Innym rodzajem leczenia mogą być iniekcje steroidowe, szeroko pojęta fizjoterapia czy zabieg chirurgiczny.

The presented study aimed to analyze and compare the electromyographic patterns of masticatory muscles in subjects with active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) within upper trapezius, patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and healthy adults. Based on the diagnostic criteria of MTrPs according to Travell & Simons and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, 167 people were qualified for the study. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: with active MTrPs in the upper trapezius, with diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and healthy adults. Measurements of the bioelectric activity of the temporalis anterior (TA) and masseter muscle (MM) were carried out using the BioEMG III ™. Based on statistical analysis, significantly lower values of TA resting activity were observed among controls in comparison to MTrPs (1.49 μV vs. 2.81 μV, p = 0.00) and TMDs (1.49 μV vs. 2.97 μV, p = 0.01). The POC index values at rest differed significantly between MTrPs and TMDs (86.61% vs. 105%, p = 0.04). Controls presented different electromyographic patterns within AcI in comparison to both MTrPs (4.90 vs. −15.51, p = 0.00) and TMDs (4.90 vs. −16.49, p = 0.00). During clenching, the difference between MTrPs and TMDs was observed within MVC TA (91.82% vs. 116.98%, p = 0.02). TMDs showed differences within AcI in comparison to both MTrPs group (−42.52 vs. 20.42, p = 0.01) and controls (−42.52 vs. 3.07, p = 0.00). During maximum mouth opening, differences between MTrPs and TMDs were observed within the bioelectric activity of masseter muscle (16.45 μV vs. 10.73 μV, p = 0.01), AsI MM (0.67 vs. 11.12, p = 0.04) and AcI (13.04 vs. −3.89, p = 0.01). Both the presence of MTrPs in the upper trapezius and TMDs are related to changes in electromyographic patterns of masticatory muscles.

Active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in masticatory muscles are associated with a reduced range of motion and muscle weakness within the stomatognathic system. However, it is hard to identify the most effective treatment technique for disorders associated with MTrPs. The objective of this study was to analyze the acute effect of the compression technique (CT) on active maximal mouth opening (MMO) and electromyographic activity of the masseter (MM) and temporalis anterior (TA) muscles in subjects with active myofascial trigger points in the MM muscles. The study group comprised 26 women (mean age 22 ± 2) with bilateral active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the MM. The control group comprised 26 healthy women (mean age 22 ± 1) without the presence of MTrPs in the MM. Masticatory muscle activity was recorded in two conditions (during resting mandibular position and maximum voluntary clenching) before and after the application of the CT to the MTrPs in MM. After the CT application, a significant decrease in resting activity (3.09 μV vs. 2.37 μV, p = 0.006) and a significant increase in clenching activity (110.20 μV vs. 139.06 μV, p = 0.014) within the MM muscles were observed in the study group, which was not observed within TA muscles. Controls showed significantly higher active MMO values compared to the study group before CT (50.42 mm vs. 46.31 mm, p = 0.024). The differences between the study group after CT and controls, as well as among the study group before and after CT did not reach the assumed level of significance in terms of active MMO. The compression technique appears to be effective in the improvement of the active maximal mouth opening and gives significant acute effects on bioelectric masticatory muscle activity. Therefore, CT seems to be effective in MTrPs rehabilitation within the stomatognathic system.

The Dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) has been previously linked to financial risk-taking propensity. Past works demonstrated that individuals with a specific variant of the DRD4 gene (7R+) are more risk-seeking than people without it (7R−). The most prominent explanation for this effect is the fact that 7R+ individuals are less sensitive to dopamine and thus seek more stimulation to generate “normal” dopaminergic activity and feel pleasure. However, results about this relationship have not been conclusive, and some revealed a lack of the relationship. In the current work, we tested if those unclear results might be explained by the motivation that underlies the risk-taking activity; i.e., if people take risks to feel excitement or if they take risk to obtain a specific goal. In our study we tested the differences in risk-taking between 7R+ and 7R− among people who are experienced in financial risk-taking (113 investors) and non-experienced financial decision makers (104 non-investors). We measured risk-taking propensity with the Holt-Laury test and the Stimulating-Instrumental Risk Inventory. Moreover, we asked investors about their motivations for engaging in investment activity. Our study is the next one to report a lack of differences in risk-taking between 7R+ and 7R− individuals. As well, our results did not indicate any differences between the 7R+ and 7R− investors in motivation to engage in investment activity. We only observed that risk-taking propensity was higher among investors than non-investors and this was noticed for all measures. More research is needed to better understand the genetic foundations of risk-taking, which could answer the question about the substantial variation in the domain of risky financial decisions.

Introduction The vertical orientation of the body in the upright standing position is maintained by keeping the body’s centre of gravity (COG) upright, above the base of support, by a dynamic interplay of visual, vestibular, and somatosensory control systems. The objectives of this study were: to compare the postural control strategy between people with and without low back pain (LBP), to estimate the influence of the stretching therapy on the postural control strategy, and to discover the relationship between the restriction of spine mobility and occurrence of some ergonomic factors. Material and Methods The study consisted of 32 patients with LBP and 25 healthy controls. Postural characteristics of the subjects were measured with the use of a computerized force platform. The software programme filters and measures COG sway velocity in different conditions. Additional measurements and tests were conducted in patients after stretching therapy. Based on survey research, all individuals were selected and evaluated from the aspect of ergonomics. Results The results of the COG sway velocity vary under the testing conditions. From the aspect of ergonomic attitude and influence of the rehabilitation, results varied in the groups. Conclusions Ergonomic factors are often accompanied by the appearance of LBP. The restrictions within the musculoskeletal system cause disorders in muscle synergies, which is expressed by an increase in the angular velocity of the COG. In patients with chronic back pain syndrome, selected stretching therapy techniques improves the range of motion of the spine and reduces pain.

This article analyses The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge (1910) by Rainer Maria Rilke and A Moment of True Feeling (1975) by Peter Handke, aiming to demonstrate that the protagonists of the two works are trying to overcome existential problems through the subjectivist perception of reality. The article demonstrates how Rilke and Handke referred to subjectivity in their works listed above. The comparison of The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge and A Moment of True Feeling reveals Handke’s attitude to the concept proposed by Rilke.