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Background: This study presents a case of a patient with sudden hearing loss of a mixed type in both ears. Case report: A 45-year-old man came to our center for consultation because he had had no improvement in hearing after therapy in another clinic. In our clinic the patient was treated for 2 weeks. During each of his visits to our center, a battery of tests assessing the hearing organ were performed: pure-tone audiometry, impedance audiometry, and absorbance measurement. Decisions concerning the treatments to be applied were agreed between both centers managing the patient. In consecutive visits improvement of hearing was observed. Conclusions: As test results showed, treatments with a wider spectrum of action, such as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant drugs, inhalations with an AMSA inhaler, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy restored the patient's hearing and eliminated the concurrent ailments he reported during the first visit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE ARTICLE PRESENTS A NEW EXPERIMENTAL METHOD of analysis of density and longitudinal engineering compressive strain (LECS) in porous ductile rod, plastically deformed with a Taylor direct impact experiment (Taylor DIE). Two essential singularities in the distribution of the LECS are revealed, namely: maximum of the LECS εr max occurs near the rod striking end (Fig. 2), and at high impact velocities (U > 100 m/s) εr max decreases along with an increase of the rod initial porosity, this behaviour is inverse to that under static loading. The dynamical density -- LECS curves for porous copper are also presented in the paper. According to the authors' best knowledge, these singularities have not been published in available literature so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is limited knowledge of the incidence or severity of tinnitus in children. Population studies on the epidemiology of the condition among children give widely ranging figures making it difficult to ascertain the actual figure. As yet, there have been limited findings of a negative impact of tinnitus on children's day-to-day functioning. Aim: To gauge the audiological and psychological profiles of children with tinnitus. Methods: 25 paediatric patients who voluntarily came to our clinic in 2017 were included into the study. The children and their parents underwent a structured interview as part of a consultation in the Tinnitus Department. Otolaryngological examination and tonal and impedance audiometry were performed. Children filled a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on loudness, annoyance, and how well they were coping with their tinnitus. Additionally, the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Revised Children Anxiety and Depression Scale (Parent Version) was used, to look for possible depressive and anxiety disorders, and the EAS Temperament Survey to assess the temperament of the children. Results: Most of the children had normal hearing. Tinnitus had a significant daily impact on sleeping, studying, and leisure. The VAS scale results revealed that younger children, 6 to 10 years old, found tinnitus more troublesome than older children (11 to 16 years). No child with tinnitus showed any severe symptoms of depression or anxiety. All showed average levels of temperamental traits, close to normative values. Conclusions: When diagnosing tinnitus in children it is important to recognise that tinnitus affects children differently to adults. There is an urgent need to devise a questionnaire that can assess the impact of tinnitus on children's quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of electrode length on hearing preservation (HP) in a selected group of adults with Partial Deafness Treatment-electric complementation (PDTEC) receiving one of two kinds of flexible electrodes: the longer 24 mm electrode array or shorter 20 mm electrode array. Material: Twenty-three PDT-EC patients (with preoperative air-conduction thresholds ≤30 dB up to 500 Hz) were divided into two groups: Flex20 electrode (Med-EL GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria) (12 patients) and Flex24 electrode (Med- EL GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria) (11 patients). The mean of age of patients with Flex20 at the time of surgery was M=49.6 years (standard deviation, SD=15.5) and M=52.8 (SD=15.2) for patients with Flex24. Methods: Hearing threshold measurements were conducted on all patients five times: preoperatively, 1 month after the operation (at activation), 6 months after the operation, 12 months after the operation, and 24 months after the operation. HP was established using the HEARRING group formula. The Pruszewicz monosyllabic word test was conducted in free-field at the preoperative period under unaided and aided configurations (with hearing aids) under the best conditions. All participants were subjected to minimally invasive cochlear implantation using the round window approach. Results: Analysis of HP for every individual indicates that more than half the patients with Flex20 and Flex24 had complete HP at 6 months follow-up. None of the patients from either group had complete loss of hearing. At activation, average air-conduction thresholds for low frequencies (125--500 Hz) were slightly better for the short electrode (M=29.03) than for the long (M=39.10) but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.067). The effect of electrode (Flex20 versus Flex24) was not significant in terms of pure tone audiometry and speech recognition at long-term follow-up. Conclusions: In early postoperative observations, complete HP was possible in the majority of patients from both groups, although slightly better HP outcomes were achieved by the Flex20. In the long-term, however, the electrode length (20 or 24 mm) does not affect the degree of HP or speech understanding, at least in the hands of an experienced otosurgeon. Considering that HP is also possible using a deeply inserted long electrode array, and that most patients have progressive hearing loss, the use of a longer, flexible electrode seems to be a better choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents research on the morphological architecture of feet and foot structure in rock climbers. A group of climbers is compared to a control group of non-climbers. Examinations determined that the rock climbers had normal structure of the longitudinal arch, but had more disorders of the transversal arch structure than did the control group.

Life-limiting conditions often cause children to be overlooked as participants in everyday activities. For parents child development should lead to independence in daily living activity. For parents of children who are disabled, independence is a step to a better quality of a child's life. The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of functional intervention of self-service activities in children with life-limiting conditions at the age of 3-6 years of life. 32 children aged 3-6 years (N = 32, girls and boys) were followed for two years. The Progress Assessment Chart of Personal and Social Development (PPAC) H.C Gunzburg according to Witkowski inventory was used to assess. After two years of functional intervention, statistically significant improvement in everyday activities was observed in examining group. The control group showed less progress than the study group, even though the children in the control group were older. Functional intervention allows for effective work with a patient with life-limited conditions. Better progress was observed in the younger group, subjected to therapy for the existence of developmental potential occurring in children with limitations in intellectual development., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Outcomes of treatment with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with CKD seem to be poorer than in the general population. Long‑term follow‑up studies are lacking., Objectives: Our aim was to asses short- and long‑term outcomes (up to 365 days after stroke) in MT‑treated AIS patients with concomitant CKD., Patients and Methods: The study included all AIS patients treated with MT at the Comprehensive Stroke Center in Kraków, Poland, from 2019 to 2021. The patients were divided into the CKD group (best glomerular filtration rate [GFR] during hospitalization <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or diagnosed CKD) and the controls. In‑hospital, 90‑day, and 365‑day mortality and rate of good functional outcomes (defined as modified Rankin Scale ≤2) were compared between the CKD patients and controls as well as between patients with CKD stages 1-3 (GFR ≥30 ml/min/1.73 m2) and 4-5 (GFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2). Factors associated with the abovementioned outcomes were identified using univariable logistic regression analyses and then added to multivariable analyses., Results: The CKD patients had higher 90- and 365‑day mortality and lower 90- and 365‑day good functional outcome rates than the controls. The patients with CKD stage 4-5 had significantly higher in‑hospital, 90‑day, and 365‑day mortality than the patients with CKD stage 1-3. Neither CKD nor its late stages (4-5) were independently associated with short- and long‑term mortality and functional outcomes of MT., Conclusions: MT outcomes in CKD patients are worse, especially in advanced stages of the disease, but CKD is not independently associated with poor prognosis. CKD alone should not be a contraindication for MT in otherwise eligible patients, although patients with impaired kidney function require more careful postprocedural monitoring.

Introduction: Patients with cancer (CP) need a different approach to acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) treatment as intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) may be contraindicated. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a treatment of choice for otherwise eligible patients, although the literature on its long-term outcomes in CP is limited., Aim: Assessing outcomes of MT-treated AIS patients with concomitant malignancy in a year-long follow-up., Material and Methods: The study included 593 MT-treated AIS patients admitted in 2019-2021. The group was divided into CP (defined as a diagnosis of malignancy and undergoing/qualified for cancer treatment within previous 5 years) and a control group. The profile of cardiovascular risk factors, stroke severity and discharge, 90-day and 365-day outcomes were compared between the groups., Results: CP and controls had a similar profile of cardiovascular risk factors and comparable stroke severity. CP were less frequently treated with IVT (25.7% vs. 59.1%, p < 0.001). There were no differences between the groups in the successful reperfusion rate and occurrence of haemorrhagic complications. Discharge and 90-day outcomes were similar. CP had higher 365-day mortality (48.6% vs. 29.9%, p = 0.024) but the percentage of patients achieving good functional outcome in a year-long observation was comparable., Conclusions: Treatment with MT seems beneficial for AIS patients with concomitant malignancy both in short- and long-term observation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Termedia Sp. z o. o.)

Introduction: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are the first-line treatment for primary and secondary acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), but a significant percentage of patients develop AIS despite being treated with DOAC. As the number of DOAC-treated patients is growing, so is the number of patients with AIS on DOAC. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of AIS with prestroke DOAC treatment among patients hospitalised in the University Hospital in Kraków, to analyse the clinical characteristics of AIS occurring in patients on DOAC, and to identify potential causes of treatment ineffectiveness in this group., Materials and Methods: In the study, we included all patients hospitalised in the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital in Kraków within one year (July 2022 to June 2023) with the diagnosis of AIS. The group was divided into two subgroups of patients with and without prestroke DOAC treatment. Based on medical files, we retrospectively analysed the profile of cardiovascular risk factors, stroke severity (assessed with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS), use of causative stroke treatment and short-term outcomes (defined as NIHSS score, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge, in-hospital mortality, and secondary intracerebral haemorrhage among patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy, MT). Within the DOAC-treated subgroup, we looked for potential causes of AIS occurring despite DOAC treatment (valvular AF, poor adherence to treatment, underdosing, other prothrombotic conditions, aetiology of stroke other than thromboembolic, and drug-drug interactions)., Results: In the study, we included 768 AIS patients. 109 (14.2%) had a history of prestroke DOAC treatment. A potential cause of DOAC treatment failure was identified in the majority of them ( n = 63, 57.8%). Patients with prestroke DOAC treatment had worse functional condition before stroke and higher stroke severity on admission but similar short-term outcomes and similar short-term effects of treatment with MT. DOAC (+) and DOAC (-) patients had different profiles of cardiovascular risk factors and different factors associated with short-term outcome. Conclusions and Clinical Implications . A potential cause of AIS occurring in DOAC-treated patients can be identified in most cases and in many of them prevented., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Katarzyna Sawczyńska et al.)

Aim of Study: To assess outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in nonagenarians suffering from acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) in a 1-year follow-up., Clinical Rationale for Study: Age is a factor associated with both the occurrence of AIS and a poorer prognosis. As the population ages, the prevalence of AIS among the very old (90 and older) is expected to rise. Data on long-term outcomes of MT, being the optimal treatment of AIS caused by large vessel occlusions, is scarce in the population of nonagenarians., Material and Methods: We analysed all AIS patients treated with MT in a single Comprehensive Stroke Centre. We compared two subgroups: nonagenarians (people aged 90-99) and controls ( < 90 years) in terms of cardiovascular risk factors profile, stroke severity, treatment course, presence of in-hospital complications, and outcomes (mortality and good functional outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale ≤ 2) at discharge and at 90- and 365-day follow-ups., Results: Nonagenarians were more commonly female and suffering from atrial fibrillation. They more often developed urinary tract infection during hospitalisation. Stroke severity, treatment course and in-hospital outcomes were comparable between the groups. Nonagenarians had non-significantly higher 90-day and 365-day mortality, and a significantly lower rate of good functional outcomes after 90 days (25.0% vs 57.7%, p = 0.011) and 365 days (31.5% vs 61.0%, p = 0.020)., Conclusions and Clinical Implications: Despite worse outcomes than in younger patients, 25% of nonagenarians were functionally independent three months after MT, and almost one in three of them were so a year after the procedure, thereby showing the benefits of the treatment in this group.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify predictors of 90-day good functional outcome (GFO) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) who were treated with mechanical thrombectomy but did not achieve a delayed neurological improvement (DNI)., Clinical Rationale for the Study: In-hospital neurological improvement in patients with AIS is consistently associated with long- -term GFO. Patients who experience neither early nor delayed neurological improvement can still achieve long-term GFO, but predictors of such an outcome have not been studied., Material and Methods: This single-centre retrospective study involved 307 patients with anterior circulation AIS treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Multiple clinical, biochemical, radiological, and treatment-related variables were collected and analysed. DNI on day 7 was defined as at least a 10-point reduction in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score or NIHSS score < 2. GFO on day 90 was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤ 2. We compared the characteristics of patients with and without DNI, with special attention paid to patients who achieved 90-GFO despite a lack of DNI. Multivariate analyses were then performed to establish independent predictors of 90-day GFO among patients without DNI., Results: DNI occurred in 150 out of 307 patients (48.7%) and significantly increased the odds for 90-day GFO (odds ratio [OR]: 13.99; p < 0.001). Among patients without DNI, 41.4% achieved 90-day GFO. Younger age (OR: 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-0.99; p = 0.008), lower baseline NIHSS score (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.73-0.89; p < 0.001), treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (OR: 3.06; 95% CI: 1.25-7.49; p = 0.014), lack of an undetermined aetiology (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.16-0.998; p = 0.050), lack of pneumonia (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.02-0.31; p < 0.001), and higher haemoglobin concentration on admission (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.04-1.69; p = 0.024) were identified as predictors of 90-day GFO in this subgroup., Conclusion: Almost half of patients with AIS in anterior circulation treated with mechanical thrombectomy experience DNI, which is a good predictor of 90-day GFO. Furthermore, 40% of patients without DNI achieve 90-day GFO which can be independently predicted by younger age, lower baseline NIHSS score, treatment with intravenous thrombolysis, higher haemoglobin concentration on admission, lack of undetermined ischaemic stroke aetiology, and lack of pneumonia.

Introduction: Our study analysed the safety and effectiveness of idarucizumab in enabling intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in dabigatran-treated patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS)., Clinical Rationale for the Study: New oral anticoagulants (NOAC), including dabigatran, are the first-choice treatment option for preventing ischaemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, a significant percentage of AF patients develops AIS despite NOAC treatment. According to current guidelines, treatment with IVT is contraindicated in patients who have received NOAC within the last 48 hours. Idarucizumab is a fragment of a monoclonal antibody that reverses the anticoagulation effect of dabigatran. The latest research shows that it can enable safe and successful IVT in patients with recent dabigatran intake, but more data is needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of such treatment., Material and Methods: Our study included dabigatran-treated patients who received idarucizumab to allow AIS treatment with IVT in the University Hospital in Kraków (Poland) from December 2018 to June 2023. We gathered data on their past medical history, stroke severity, course of treatment and outcomes as defined by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at discharge. A good functional outcome was defined as mRS 0-2 points at discharge., Results: This observational study included 19 patients (13 male and six female) with a median age of 74 (IQR = 13) years. In all patients (100%), the reason for dabigatran treatment was AF. A good functional outcome after treatment (mRS 0-2) was achieved in 68.4% of patients, but mRS was already ≥ 3 points before stroke onset in three (15.8%) patients. Haemorrhagic transformation of stroke occurred in three (15.8%) patients, including symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage in two (10.5%). The mortality rate was 5.3%., Conclusions and Clinical Implications: Our study results are in line with previous research on this topic, showing that IVT after idarucizumab can be successfully administered and is reasonably safe in dabigatran-treated patients with AIS.

Traditional voice evaluations, including imaging techniques, auditory-perceptual ratings, and acoustic and aerodynamic analyses, fail to assess the global handicap that a patient experiences as a result of a voice disorder. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is currently one of the most widely used and psychometrically robust instruments for measuring voice disability. The aim of the study is to translate and validate a Polish version of the VHI. The original English-language version of VHI-30 was translated into Polish. We enrolled 188 subjects-123 patients (91 women and 32 men) with voice disorders and 65 controls (53 women and 12 men) without voice disorders. Results obtained by the patients were significantly higher than those obtained by the controls on the Emotional subscale ( U = 519.0; p < 0.001), Functional ( U = 829.0; p < 0.001), Physical ( U = 331.0; p < 0.001), and the global score ( U = 390.0; p < 0.001). There were statistically significant negative correlations between maximum phonation time and global score ( rho = -0.31; p < 0.01) as well as all three subscales. Shimmer and Smoothed Amplitude Perturbation Quotient were correlated positively with the global score ( rho = 0.22; p < 0.05; rho = 0.25; p < 0.01, respectively) and with all three subscales. There were also statistically significant correlations between VHI scores and auditory perceptual evaluation. In the patient group, there was excellent internal consistency (α = 0.97) and strong test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.94). The cut-off value equal to 17 points was estimated. The Polish VHI showed excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reproducibility, and clinical validity. It is a useful tool for evaluating the voice disability perceived by a patient.

(1) Background: To confirm the credibility, consistency, and replicability of the Polish versions of the Reflux Symptoms Index (PL-RSI) and the Reflux Finding Score (PL-RFS). (2) Methods: The translation followed the WHO recommendations. The study group included 100 volunteers (age 15−87) with hoarseness and pharyngolaryngeal complaints. The control group comprised 55 healthy volunteers (age 20−75). Study participants completed the PL-RSI; then, two independent otolaryngologists completed the PL-RFS based on pharyngeal videostroboscopy. Questionnaires were repeated after 7 days, with no treatment before the second round. Additionally, patients underwent 24 h pH-metry. The control group had a single round of questionnaires followed by pH-metry. (3) Results: The PL-RSI is consistent, reliable (Cronbach’s alpha 0.77−0.83; test−retest reliability 0.83), and significantly correlated with other patient-filled tools (p < 0.001). The PL-RFS intra-rater reliability is 0.84−0.91, and inter-rater is 0.88. Both questionnaires strongly correlate with pH-metry (PL-RSI upright Ryan Score 0.35, PL-RFS—0.60). Both clearly distinguish (i) healthy from persons with voice disorders, but without acid LPR (p < 0.0001), and (ii) within patient group between subjects with and without acid LPR (p = 0.0002). (4) Conclusions: The PL-RSI and PL-RFS are reliable and can be recommended to Polish-speaking otolaryngologists. Our findings confirm the role of country-specific factors in RSI results and that practitioners should always use a proper control group.

Purpose: The objective was to evaluate the long-term voice outcomes in pa-tients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis treated with injection laryngoplasty using either cal-cium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) or hyaluronic acid (HA)., Methods: A single-centre retrospective study was performed. There were 75 patients with dysphonia due to unilateral vocal fold paralysis: injected with CaHA or injected with HA. We analysed Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI), videostroboscopic images, auditory-perceptual (GRBAS), and acoustic measures (MDVP) in 6, 12, and 24 months after augmentation., Results: The mean change in VHI 24 months after augmentation was 29.14 in the CaHA group, and 22.88 in the HA group. There was an improvement of glottal gap 6, 12, and 24 months after augmentation in both groups. The GRBAS parameters were similar in both groups throughout the whole period. The MDVP pa-rameters decreased 6 and 12 months after augmentation and were similar in both groups. There were 4 patients augmented with CaHA (12.5%) who needed reintervention within 2 years of surgery and another 4 (9.3%) augmented with HA., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there are no long-term differences in voice outcomes or number of reaugmentations for injection laryn-goplasty with CaHA compared to HA., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Theory of mind (ToM) is crucial for social interactions. Previous research has indicated that deaf and hard-of-hearing children born into hearing families (DoH) are at risk of delayed ToM development. However, it is unclear whether this is the case for DoH children who receive cochlear implants (CIs) before and around the second year of life. The present study aimed to investigate false belief understanding (FBU) in DoH children with CIs. The relationships between false belief task (FBT) performance, sentence comprehension, age at implantation, duration of CI use, and Speech Recognition Threshold were explored. A total of 94 children with typical levels of hearing (TH) and 45 DoH children (age range: 3-8), who received their first CI between 6 and 27 months of age, were tested on the FBT and a sentence comprehension test. Results showed that 4- and 5-year-old children with CIs performed significantly worse than their peers with TH on the FBT; 6- to 8-year-old children with CIs performed similarly to age-matched children with TH. Age at implantation and duration of CI use were correlated with sentence comprehension but not with the FBT. The results indicated that FBU was delayed until the age of 6 years in most of children with CIs., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term audiological outcomes and safety of the latest generation of middle ear transducer (MET) among a group of Polish patients., Methods: Ten patients aged 48-72 years with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (n = 8) and mixed hearing loss (n = 2) were included in this study. Pure tone audiometry, sound thresholds, word recognition scores in quiet and speech reception thresholds in noise were assessed. Medical and technical complication information was gathered., Results: All the patients underwent unilateral implantation with the latest generation Cochlear MET between 2014 and 2016. Mean length of follow-up was 3.7 years. Compared to the unaided condition, the implant provided significant functional gain (mean M = 26.1 dB) at 12 months follow-up. Compared to before surgery, average word recognition in quiet at 65 dB and at 80 dB SPL, as well as speech reception threshold in noise, were significantly better at 12 months. However, postoperative air conduction thresholds 6 months after implantation worsened by 10.3 dB (standard deviation SD = 5.8 dB). Postoperatively, three patients had skin problems around the processor, and one of them completely resigned from using the device 5 months after activation. Technical failures occurred in 4 cases. There were 9 out of 10 patients who still used the MET, but only 5 of them used the processor regularly (every day)., Conclusion: Despite changes in the transducer implemented by the manufacturer, we observed a significant number of adverse events in users of the latest generation of MET.

Aim of Study: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is one of the aetiological treatment options recommended for anticoagulated patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). We analysed its long-term outcomes using the modified Rankin Score (mRS) or mortality on day 90., Clinical Rationale for the Study: Data describing the anticoagulant efficacy and safety of MT in patients with AIS is limited., Materials and Methods: This study included 291 patients with AIS (49% women, mean [SD] age 66 [15] years) who underwent MT in the Comprehensive Stroke Centre in Krakow, Poland. Data describing demographics, stroke risk factors, NIHSS on admission, postprocedural thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score, 24-hour postprocedural haemorrhagic transformation (ECASS-2) as seen on computed tomography, and time between stroke onset and groin puncture was collected. The outcome measure was the mRS on day 90 after stroke onset (a favourable outcome was defined as an mRS not exceeding 2 points; an unfavourable outcome was death)., Results: Thirty-seven patients (13%) were on therapeutic anticoagulation during MT. Univariate analysis showed that anticoagulated patients were older and more likely to have been diagnosed with hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, or atrial fibrillation. The patient groups did not differ in terms of clot location, postprocedural thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score, haemorrhagic transformation on computed tomography, or mRS on day 90. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that younger age, male sex, no history of diabetes mellitus, lower NIHSS score on admission, shorter time between stroke onset and groin puncture, and better recanalisation were associated with favourable outcomes at day 90, and that therapeutic anticoagulation was not (OR, 1.00; 95%CI, 0.46-2.15; p = 0.99). Anticoagulation did not affect mortality at day 90 (OR, 1.28; 95%CI, 0.56-2.92; p = 0.55)., Conclusion and Clinical Implications: In anticoagulated patients with AIS, MT does not affect long-term outcomes.

Purpose Children with (central) auditory processing disorder [(C)APD] exhibit many cognitive difficulties and receive negative psychosocial consequences from their disorder. Diagnosis of (C)APD relies on multidisciplinary assessment, including psychological testing. There is a strong need for valid and reliable questionnaires to identify children who are at risk of (C)APD. This work aims to establish the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Scale of Auditory Behaviors (SAB; Domitz & Schow, 2000; Krzeszewska & Kurkowski, 2015; Miranda, Bruera, & Serra 2016; Musiek & Chermak, 2007; Nunes et al., 2013) as a screening tool in children. Method The SAB was administered to parents of 326 children (152 girls and 174 boys) aged from 6 to 12 years ( M = 8.24, SD = 1.56). The questionnaire consists of 12 items related to various symptoms of (C)APD and allows the frequency of particular behaviors to be assessed. In addition, the questionnaire Children's Home Inventory for Listening Difficulties was administered to parents, and 3 other psychoacoustic behavioral tests (Frequency Pattern Test, Duration Pattern Test, Dichotic Digit Test; Czajka et al., 2012) were conducted on the children to evaluate their auditory abilities. Results The Polish version of SAB demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .93), confirmed by interitem correlations. Intraclass correlation, which was used to determine reproducibility, was .95. There were also significant and positive relationships, ranging from r = .17 to .68, between the SAB score and scores of other measures, indicating convergent validity of the tool. Girls demonstrated higher SAB scores than boys ( p < .05); however, age was not statistically significant. A ceiling effect was detected, but no floor effect. Conclusions Results of psychometric and statistical analyses suggest the Polish version of SAB appears to be a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate symptoms of (C)APD in children, especially as a screening tool.

Introduction: Coexistence of dysphagia with voice disorders is a topic rarely raised in the literature. Particular attention is paid to the aspect of dysfunction of laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles., Aim: The aim of the study was to analyse cases of patients with dysphonia in relation to coexistence of swallowing disorder., Material and Method: The material of the study included 515 patients hospitalised due to dysphonia in 2018. Patients whose interview indicated swallowing difficulties were subjected to additional diagnosis for dysphagia (FEES, extended speech therapy test, SEMG). R esults: 11.8% of people requiring treatment for voice disorders reported coexistence of swallowing difficulties. Dysphagia was diagnosed in 9.3%. The percentage of respondents diagnosed with swallowing disorder differed depending on the type of underlying disease and was the highest in the group with neurological disorders. Analysis of the correlation between the severity of dysphagia (according to the assessed grade, DHI, EAT-10 results) and the severity of VHI showed a weak correlation between VHI and EAT-10 (p = 0.1), statistically significant correlations (p &lt; 0,05) between the value of VHI and RSI in people with diagnosed neurological disease, between the value of VHI and DHI in people with hyperfunctional dysphonia and the value of VHI and BMI and EAT- 10 in people with chronic laryngitis. Moreover, statistically significant correlations were found between the severity of dysphagia and EAT-10 and DHI (p &lt; 0.05). The speech therapy test indicated the co-existing problem of non-normative swallowing pattern. The electromyographic study showed the largest asymmetries in recording the average and maximum amplitude from masseters. C onclusions: Treatment of patients with voice disorders requires interdisciplinary care. A history of dysphagia in these patients should complement the medical history of voice disorders. The characteristics of swallowing disorders vary depending on the cause of the voice disorder and their co-occurrence affects on average 9.3% of patients. Coexistence of muscle tension dysphagia with voice disorder requires separate diagnostic protocol. Logopaedic procedure ought to be a key element in the interdisciplinary care of patients suffering from muscle tension dysphagia.

Background: Sensory deprivation, such as hearing loss, has been demonstrated to change the intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) of the brain, as measured with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Patients with sloping sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) are a unique population among the hearing impaired, as they have all been exposed to some auditory input throughout their lifespan and all use spoken language., Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with SNHL and 21 control subjects participated in a rs-fMRI study. Whole-brain seed-driven FC maps were obtained, with audiological scores of patients, including hearing loss severity and speech performance, used as covariates., Results: Most profound differences in FC were found between patients with prelingual (before language development, PRE) vs. postlingual onset (after language development, POST) of SNHL. An early onset was related to enhancement in long-range network connections, including the default-mode network, the dorsal-attention network and the fronto-parietal network, as well as in local sensory networks, the visual and the sensorimotor. A number of multisensory brain regions in frontal and parietal cortices, as well as the cerebellum, were also more internally connected. We interpret these effects as top-down mechanisms serving optimization of multisensory experience in SNHL with a prelingual onset. At the same time, POST patients showed enhanced FC between the salience network and multisensory parietal areas, as well as with the hippocampus, when they were compared to those with PRE hearing loss. Signal in several cortex regions subserving visual processing was also more intra-correlated in POST vs. PRE patients. This outcome might point to more attention resources directed to multisensory as well as memory experience. Finally, audiological scores correlated with FC in several sensory and high-order brain regions in all patients., Conclusion: The results show that a sloping hearing loss is related to altered resting-state brain organization. Effects were shown in attention and cognitive control networks, as well as visual and sensorimotor regions. Specifically, we found that even in a partial hearing deficit (affecting only some of the hearing frequency ranges), the age at the onset affects the brain function differently, pointing to the role of sensitive periods in brain development.

ntroduction: The publication describes the characteristics of the glottis in FDs objectified by OQ, measured with VSK and EGG., Aim: The aim of the study was to objectify glottal function in different types of FDs. The scope was to use open quotients gained from various mucosal wave imaging techniques for differential diagnosis of FDs., Material and Method: The study included 204 individuals. In the study, each patient underwent otolaryngological and phoniatric examination. LVS, EGG and VSK were conducted, their results were recorded and stored using an EndoSTROB-DX- -Xion GmbH (Berlin) device with DIVAS software., Results: All patients with FDs had abnormalities in LVS. A statistical analysis showed differences in LVS characteristics according to the type of FD. The mean value of OQVSK was 0.521 in the control group and 0.565 in the study group (P &lt; 0.05). Significant differences were found between patients with hypofunctional - 0.584 and hyperfunctional dysphonia - 0.55. The QOQEGG mean value in patients with FDs was 0.581 and in the control group 0.549 (P &lt; 0.01). There were statistically significant differences between groups of patients with hyper- and hypofunctional dysphonias. Medians amounted to 0.574 and 0.604, respectively. Authors observed different relations of OQ with the type of FD. They decided to introduce a new parameter, illustrating the proportion of QOQEGG/OQVSK., Conclusions: Videostrobokymographic and electroglottographic open quotients differentiate euphony from dysphony. The value of OQVSK and QOQEGG and their proportion varies depending on different types of functional dysphonias. The OQVSK and QOQEGG should be included in the diagnostic algorithm of voice.

Introduction: The diagnostic procedure of phonation is dominated by subjective assessment tools. It seems reasonable to seek methods of quantitative glottal cycle assessment., Objective: The aim of our study was the analysis of open quotients (OQ) of the glottis., Methods: One hundred and twenty-four people were included in the study. Methodology was based on tools available in everyday phoniatrics practice - laryngovideostroboscopy (LVS) and electroglottography (EGG). There were statistically significant differences between control and studied group. Vocal fold polyps, nodules and edema influence glottal function in a different manner, what can be illustrated by objective glottal function parameters. Establishing Videostroboscopic Open Quotient values from three parts of glottis and Electroglottographic Quasi Open Quotient (QOQ) value, can help in dividing patients with benign lesions of vocal folds according to the type of disease., Results and Conclusions: Measurement of the open quotient from three parts of the glottis helps to differentially diagnose and localize glottal vocal fold lesions. Videostroboscopic Open Quotient and Electroglottographic QOQ values can be used to quantify the glottal cycle. Videostroboscopic Open Quotient, Electroglottographic QOQ and their ratio varies depending on the type of organic dysphonia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of 24-h pharyngeal pH monitoring in the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in children with voice disorders., Methods: The study was conducted on 68 children aged 3-18 years old. In all cases, pH monitoring was successful; no child removed the probe from the nasal cavity or reported discomfort or other complaints. The following definitions were adopted: LPR in the upright position if Ryan Score upright >9.41; LPR in the supine position if there was at least one supine episode below pH 5.0 (equal to a Ryan Score supine >2.91)., Results: In 43 children (63%), vocal fold edema was strongly related to recorded reflux episodes, especially in the upright position. In 18 children (26%), vocal nodules were observed, but their occurrence did not significantly affect the Ryan Score, either upright or supine. The selected potential LPR markers were significantly correlated to all the pH monitoring variables and individual elements on the Reflux Symptoms Index and the Reflux Finding Score questionnaire., Conclusion: Our findings indicate that, together with vocal fold edema, laryngeal edema and posterior commissure mucosal hypertrophy are important determinants of paediatric LPR. In fact, if LPR is suspected in a child, 24-h pharyngeal pH monitoring appears to be a valuable and welltolerated diagnostic tool. Vocal fold edema observed in laryngeal endoscopy can be considered a probable sign of LPR. The Reflux Finding Score appears to be helpful in diagnosing LPR in children, especially if a cut-off value of 4/5 is adopted., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: A pelvic tilt may lead to body posture disturbances. The aim of the study was to determine relationships between the anterior pelvic tilt angle and the curvature and mobility of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis., Methods: The angles of anterior pelvic tilt, lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis and spinal elongation were measured with the use of Posturometr-S device. The posturometric measurements were carried out with the pointing stick of the device moving along spinous processes (from C7 to L5) and marking the selected anthropometric points., Results: In the studied group of boys, the angles in a free-standing position and the thoracic kyphosis angle during elongation were significantly greater than the corresponding lordosis angles. In all measured variables the range of measured angles was characteristically wide. The greatest individual differences were found in the lumbar lordosis angles. All the boys featured a significant increase in body height during linear elongation. The measurements of angles at baseline and during elongations of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis in a standing position in the entire study group revealed that the anterior pelvic tilt had no significant impact on lumbar lordosis in a free-standing posture and its elongation. In the case of thoracic kyphosis, the correlation was statistically significant, although it was not strong., Conclusions: The anterior pelvic tilt angle is correlated with the subject's age, body mass, body height and the size of thoracic kyphosis.

Introduction: Twenty-four-hour oesophageal pH-monitoring is a gold standard in the diagnostics of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD); however, this examination does not always perform well in patients in whom laryngeal symptoms of reflux are observed., Aim: To test the effectiveness of Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS) in confirming the occurrence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)., Material and Methods: Eighty-two patients with symptoms suggesting the occurrence of LPR were studied. The mean age of the participants amounted to 48.79 ±12.02. The patients were asked to fill in the RSI. The pharynx was assessed using videolaryngostroboscopy and then the RSF was filled in. Next, 24-hour pharyngeal pH-monitoring was performed with the use of a Dx pH - Restech System device. All the statistical analyses were conducted with the use of the R computational environment., Results: The authors attempted to determine the reference values of the RSI and RFS questionnaires for the Polish population. For a very general approximation, normality of the distributions of the results in the RSI and RFS questionnaire can be done and an approximation mean + 2 SD can be used as a reference value. Then, for RSI the recommended cut-off limit of LPR would fluctuate, depending on the study, between 8 and 17, whereas for RFS it would be between 8 and 14., Conclusions: When used alone, RSI/RFS questionnaires do not allow an unambiguous diagnosis of LPR assessed by 24-hour pharyngeal pH-monitoring., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 Termedia Sp. z o. o.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between psychoacoustic matches of tinnitus loudness and tinnitus loudness measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS) in patients with normal hearing and patients with hearing loss., Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Patients: A clinical group of 140 adult patients (46.4% women, 53.6% men) aged from 19 to 81 years old who had had tinnitus for at least 6 months were included in the study. The most frequent reported localization of their tinnitus sensation was bilateral (48.6%); 40% experienced unilateral tinnitus; and 11.4% heard tinnitus in the head., Methods: All participants were first asked to complete a VAS to indicate their tinnitus loudness. Hearing thresholds were then determined for each patient at frequencies from 0.125 to 8 kHz; loudness and frequency of the tinnitus were also matched psychoacoustically., Results: Tinnitus loudness measured in dB SL was significantly lower in patients with bilateral hearing loss than in patients with unilateral hearing loss or in patients with normal hearing. Tinnitus loudness measured with VAS was significantly higher in patients with bilateral hearing loss than in patients with normal hearing. In patients with normal hearing there was a relationship between psychoacoustic matches of tinnitus loudness and tinnitus loudness measured with VAS, but this relationship did not hold for the hearing loss patients., Conclusions: The VAS scale for tinnitus loudness does not generally correspond to psychoacoustic measures of tinnitus loudness. It is only indicative for tinnitus patients who have normal hearing.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the static and dynamic plantar pressure profiles of amateur marathon runners with sedentary cohorts., Research Questions: Are there differences in the plantar pressures of these two populations? Is there a correlation between body mass and BMI with plantar loading?, Methods: The study involved 43 runners involved in marathon training and 30 age-matched untrained individuals. Plantar pressure was measured using a baropodometric system., Results: The marathon runners showed greater forefoot plantar pressure of the dominant extremity in the static condition and reduced medial plantar pressure of both extremities in the dynamic condition. A correlation was observed between body mass and BMI with mean plantar pressure only in the marathon group and only for the dominant extremity in the dynamic condition., Conclusions: Marathon training may modify the forefoot plantar loading characteristics of the dominant extremity during static conditions and increase lateral plantar pressure of both extremities in a dynamic (gait) condition.

Purpose: This is a retrospective study to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of patients with pathological sulcus vocalis., Methods: Thirty-six patients with pathological sulcus underwent surgery and in 33 cases were performed additional injection laryngoplasty. The pre- and postoperative evaluation of patients included the GRBAS scale, stroboscopic, and objective acoustic voice assessment. The Voice Handicap Index questionnaire (VHI-30) was also used and the scores were obtained from 33 patients., Results: The stroboscopic evaluation showed significant improvement of amplitude, mucosal wave, and glottal closure after treatment (p < 0.001). The VHI-30 scores decreased considerably indicating improvement due to the treatment for all aspects measured by VHI (p < 0.05, or p < 0.01). In all domains of GRBAS scale, the differences between preoperative and postoperative assessment were statistically significant (p < 0.001). We observed a significant change in Shim and APQ parameters (p < 0.05). Improvement was also observed in the sAPQ parameter, but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.051). For the remaining acoustic parameters, no changes were observed., Conclusions: The surgical procedure with supplementary injection laryngoplasty of the vocal folds is a good treatment option for pathological sulcus vocalis. The post-treatment self-assessment indicates the significant improvement in VHI, just as perceptual-acoustic evaluation of voice does. Patients with pathological sulcus frequently present with amplitude disturbances, what explains their significant improvement after treatment.

RSI and RFS questionnaires are a basic and common method used for initial diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). However, they only measure symptoms which may or may not be concurrent with LPR. The severity of these symptoms is assessed either by the patients themselves (with the use of the Reflux Symptoms Index - RSI) or by the doctor specialising in the field (with the use of the Reflux Finding Score - RFS). Therefore, the findings of the questionnaire may to a large extent depend on the study population - its demographic and cultural characteristics; the extent to which the medical terms used in the questionnaires are understood; and on the linguistic aspects and translation choices. As for the Polish language versions of these questionnaires, there is no reliable analysis of their consistency and if they reach the assumed goal. The studies we have conducted on a group of 84 patients show that we encounter at least one of the above-mentioned problems. Therefore, to make the questionnaires reliable and useful for diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a formal validation of their translation and to conduct studies on reference groups.

Introduction: Distorted processing of auditory information has a negative impact on the child's cognitive development. There are only a few studies conducted by Polish researchers determining normative values of psychoacoustic tests in auditory processing disorders. They are inconsistent due to different methodologies and research protocols., Objective: The aim of this work is to determine the reference values of selected psychoacoustic tests for the population of Polish children between 7 and 12 years of age., Material and Method: The study group consisted of 213 healthy children from 7 to 12 years of age. The condition for including the child in the study was an intellectual norm, proper sound sensitivity, proper development of children's voice and speech. All children underwent two auditory temporal processing tests. The diagnostic procedure used a standardized Frequency Pattern Test (FPT) and Duration Pattern Test (DPT). The tests were carried out in accordance with the authors&apos; recommendations, using the original versions available on the CD for 60 dB SL intensity, simultaneously for the right and left ear., Results: The reference values for FPT and DPT tests were determined at various age ranges in children aged 7-12. It has been shown that auditory functions change with the child's age and development. Reference values including age, language, cultural and educational differences were prepared., Conclusions: Development of reference values for individual tests for the Polish children population is a key element in reliable diagnosis of auditory processing.

Nanoparticles have an extended surface and a large surface area, which is the ratio of the size of the surface area to the volume. A functionalized surface can give rise to more modifications and therefore allows this nanomaterial to have new properties. Fluorescent molecules contain fluorophore, which is capable of being excited via the absorption of light energy at a specific wavelength and subsequently emitting radiation energy of a longer wavelength. A chemically modified surface of nanodiamond (ND; by carboxylation) demonstrated biocompatibility with DNA, cytochrome C, and antigens. In turn, fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) belong to a group of new nanomaterials. Their surface can be modified by joining functional groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, or amino, after which they can be employed as a fluorescence agent. Their fluorescent properties result from defects in the crystal lattice. FNDs reach dimensions of 4-100 nm, have attributes such as photostability, long fluorescence lifetimes (10 ns), and fluorescence emission between 600 and 700 nm. They are also nontoxic, chemically inert, biocompatible, and environmentally harmless. The main purpose of this article was to present the medical applications of various types of modified NDs.

Planar chromatography and related techniques [micro-planar chromatography, micro-TLC, or paper-based microfluidic devices (μPADs)] present several advantages in analytical applications, such as simplicity, low cost of analysis, and the ability to work with raw complex samples without the involvement of time-consuming prepurification steps. By using commonly applied planar chromatographic systems and μPADs devices, stationary phases (silica and cellulose based), different solvent mixtures (methanol-water and dichloromethane-methanol), and proportions varying from 0 to 100% (v/v), micro-TLC migration profiles of several dyes described in terms of characteristic of chromatographic parameters (retardation factor, peak base width, and asymmetry factor) were investigated. Combining these results with some quantum mechanics calculated properties for each solute (dipole moment, polarizability), and by using the data mining approach, we modeled this overall chromatographic behavior in order to describe experimental data. With this approach, we were able to predict with reasonable confidence some chromatographic properties. This effort its crucial in order to (1) optimize solute elution, (2) increase mixture resolution, and (3) identify some molecular properties of analytes for designing simple micro-TLC. It is hoped that the presented nonhypothesis-driven data-mining approach can be helpful for understanding the chromatographic behavior of dyes on silica and cellulose adsorbents using the simplest mobile phases. This should be helpful for further designing the micro-TLC separation systems or μPADs quantification devices based on cellulose and related biopolymers and considering dye compounds as analytes for separation and sensing molecules.

In this study, we showed an abnormal resting-state quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) pattern in children with central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). Twenty-seven children (16 male, 11 female; mean age = 10.7 years) with CAPD and no symptoms of other developmental disorders, as well as 23 age- and sex-matched, typically developing children (TDC, 11 male, 13 female; mean age = 11.8 years) underwent examination of central auditory processes (CAPs) and QEEG evaluation consisting of two randomly presented blocks of "Eyes Open" (EO) or "Eyes Closed" (EC) recordings. Significant correlations between individual frequency band powers and CAP tests performance were found. The QEEG studies revealed that in CAPD relative to TDC there was no effect of decreased delta absolute power (1.5-4 Hz) in EO compared to the EC condition. Furthermore, children with CAPD showed increased theta power (4-8 Hz) in the frontal area, a tendency toward elevated theta power in EO block, and reduced low-frequency beta power (12-15 Hz) in the bilateral occipital and the left temporo-occipital regions for both EO and EC conditions. Decreased middle-frequency beta power (15-18 Hz) in children with CAPD was observed only in the EC block. The findings of the present study suggest that QEEG could be an adequate tool to discriminate children with CAPD from normally developing children. Correlation analysis shows relationship between the individual EEG resting frequency bands and the CAPs. Increased power of slow waves and decreased power of fast rhythms could indicate abnormal functioning (hypoarousal of the cortex and/or an immaturity) of brain areas not specialized in auditory information processing.

The proper course of speech development heavily influences the cognitive and personal development of children. It is a condition for achieving preschool and school successes - it facilitates socializing and expressing feelings and needs. Impairment of language and its development in children represents a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for physicians and therapists. Early diagnosis of coexisting deficits and starting the therapy influence the therapeutic success. One of the basic diagnostic tests for children suffering from specific language impairment (SLI) is audiometry, thus far referred to as a hearing test. Auditory processing is just as important as a proper hearing threshold. Therefore, diagnosis of central auditory disorder may be a valuable supplementation of diagnosis of language impairment. Early diagnosis and implementation of appropriate treatment may contribute to an effective language therapy.

There is increasing interest in the development of simple analytical systems enabling the fast screening of target components in complex samples. A number of newly invented protocols are based on quasi separation techniques involving microfluidic paper-based analytical devices and/or micro total analysis systems. Under such conditions, the quantification of target components can be performed mainly due to selective detection. The main goal of this paper is to demonstrate that miniaturized planar chromatography has the capability to work as an efficient separation and quantification tool for the analysis of multiple targets within complex environmental samples isolated and concentrated using an optimized SPE method. In particular, we analyzed various samples collected from surface water ecosystems (lakes, rivers, and the Baltic Sea of Middle Pomerania in the northern part of Poland) in different seasons, as well as samples collected during key wastewater technological processes (originating from the "Jamno" wastewater treatment plant in Koszalin, Poland). We documented that the multiple detection of chromatographic spots on RP-18W microplates-under visible light, fluorescence, and fluorescence quenching conditions, and using the visualization reagent phosphomolybdic acid-enables fast and robust sample classification. The presented data reveal that the proposed micro-TLC system is useful, inexpensive, and can be considered as a complementary method for the fast control of treated sewage water discharged by a municipal wastewater treatment plant, particularly for the detection of low-molecular mass micropollutants with polarity ranging from estetrol to progesterone, as well as chlorophyll-related dyes. Due to the low consumption of mobile phases composed of water-alcohol binary mixtures (less than 1 mL/run for the simultaneous separation of up to nine samples), this method can be considered an environmentally friendly and green chemistry analytical tool. The described analytical protocol can be complementary to those involving classical column chromatography (HPLC) or various planar microfluidic devices.

We report the results of experimental work focusing on host-guest supramolecular complex creation between macrocyclic compound (β-cyclodextrin) and 1-acenaphthenol enantiomers (racemic mixture) in liquid phase composed of 35% acetonitrile in water (v/v) at different temperatures ranging from 0 to 90 °C. Experimental setup involved several analytical protocols based on classical non-forced flow planar chromatography (RP-18 TLC plates), micro-TLC (RP-18 W HPTLC plates), column chromatography (HPLC with C-18 and C-30 stationary phases), as well as UV-Vis spectrophotometry and optical microscopy. It has been found that under various planar chromatographic conditions (stationary plates type, chamber shape and volume, development mode, and saturation) non-typical retention properties (extremely high retention) of 1-acenaphthenol at subambient temperatures can be observed. To our knowledge, reported experimental results are in opposition to currently described retention models based on column chromatographic investigation of host-guest complexes (where in case of strong interaction of given analyte with macrocyclic mobile phases additive, which itself is non strongly retarded by stationary phase-close to the retention of dead volume marker, the retention of target compounds is shortened at low temperatures). To explain this TLC phenomenon that may have in our opinion a number of practical applications, especially for selective high throughput separation involving microchromatographic and/or microfluidic devices as well fractionation and extraction protocols (using, e.g., bar extraction systems), several experiments were conducted focusing on (i) acenaphthenol chromatography under different instrumental conditions, (ii) cyclodextrin retention measured as analyte or mobile phase additive, (iii) plate development time under different mobile phases and temperature settings, (iv) various column chromatographic conditions including C-30 and two C-18 stationary phases, (v) UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and (vi) microscopy inspection of precipitated CD-acenaphthenol crystals. Analysis of collected data has revealed that the most probable reasons for TLC retention behavior of 1-acenaphthenol under β-cyclodextrin additive conditions can be associated with (i) solubility changes of created host-guest complex, (ii) kinetics of solid complex precipitation, and (iii) differences in analysis time between planar and column chromatography. Because precipitation phenomenon may have a massive impact on analytes quantification involving macrocycles as the mobile phase additives, our previously reported data concerning a number of low-molecular compounds (mainly steroids and non steroidal endocrine disrupting chemicals) using HPLC methodology based on binary mobile phases without and with β-cyclodextrin and its hydroxypropyl derivative were re-examined and results discussed. Considering these data and the whole data set reported presently, the enhanced model of chromatographic retention driven by host-guest interaction was proposed.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the range of motion (ROM) of lumbar and thoracic articulations and static and dynamic plantar pressure in sport climbing athletes., Methods: The sample included 30 sport climbers with a minimum of 2 years training experience and 30 physical education students who served as an active untrained control. ROM was assessed by a Saunders digital inclinometer and plantar pressure by a baropodometric platform., Results: Mean spinal ROMs were greater in the sport climbers with an exception of extension, rotation, and lateral thoracic flexion, with a high degree of statistical significance obtained in the majority of the analyzed ROMs. The climbers exhibited increased mean forefoot pressure (smaller rearfoot pressure) in both the dominant and nondominant extremities, with significant intergroup differences found in dominant forefoot/rearfoot pressure distribution., Conclusions: Sport climbers present increased lumbar and thoracic ROM. The characteristics of climbing may also affect transverse arch structure and plantar pressure distribution.