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Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) frequently experience malnutrition and develop nutrients deficiencies such as vitamin D or iron. Collectively, 39 patients were recruited to the study - 32 with IBD and 7 patients constituting the control group (CG). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to assess the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR), hepcidin (HAMP) and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) in colon mucosa. The mean expression of VDR and CAMP was higher in patients with ulcerative colitis than other groups (VDR vs. CG, p<0.05). However, the mean HAMP expression reached higher values in CG than in groups with IBD. Further research to understand the relationship between the VDR, HAMP and CAMP may constitute the way for development of future diagnostic and therapeutic options in patients with IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we introduce the research plan for the preparation of a searchable electronic repository of the earliest extant legal oaths from medieval Poland drawing on the expertise in historical corpus-building developed for the history of English. The oaths survive in the overwhelmingly Latin land books from the period between 1386 and 1446 for six localities Greater Poland, in which the land courts operated: Poznań, Kościan, Pyzdry, Gniezno, Konin and Kalisz. A diplomatic edition of the oaths was published in five volumes by Polish historical linguists (Kowalewicz & Kuraszkiewicz 1959–1966). The edition is the only comprehensive resource of considerable scope (over 6300 oaths from the years 1386–1446) for the study of the earliest attestations of the Polish language beyond glosses. Recognising some limitations, but most of all its unparalleled coverage of the coexistence of Latin and the vernacular, the ROThA project embarks on transforming the edition into an open up-to-date digital resource. We thus aim to facilitate research into the history of Polish and Latin as well as of the legal system and the related social and linguistic issues of the period.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminths in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in the Augustów Primeval Forest (north-eastern Poland), with particular regard to zoonotic parasites.

Michał Nowak, Katarzyna Królak-Nowak, Aleksandra Sobolewska-Włodarczyk, Jakub Fichna, Marcin Włodarczyk Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland Abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a multifactorial disease manifesting as either deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Its prevalence makes VTE a significant issue for both the individual – as a negative factor influencing the quality of life and prognosis – and the society due to economic burden. VTE is the third most common vascular disorder in Western countries, after myocardial infarction and stroke, making it a major cause of in-hospital mortality, responsible for 5%–10% of hospital deaths. Despite many studies conducted, only 50%–60% provoking factors have been identified, while the remaining 40%–50% have been classified as idiopathic or unprovoked. Chronic inflammatory disorders, with their underlying prothrombotic state, reveal an increased risk of VTE (six to eight times) compared with the general population. Among the inflammatory disorders, we can identify inflammatory myopathies – a group of rare, chronic diseases featuring weakness and inflammation of muscles with periods of exacerbation and remission; their main classes are polymyositis and dermatomyositis. The objective of this review is to emphasize the need of VTE prophylaxis in individuals with inflammatory myopathies in order to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among those patients and improve their quality of life and prognosis. Keywords: deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, inflammation, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, prothrombotic state

Aleksandra Sobolewska-Włodarczyk,1 Marcin Włodarczyk,1 Martin Storr,2 Jakub Fichna1 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; 2Center of Endoscopy, Starnberg, Germany Abstract: Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) belongs to the group of functional gastrointestinal disorders and is characterized by abdominal pain in conjunction with diarrhea. The incidence of IBS-D is currently increasing, leading to a heavy economic burden for patients and health care systems worldwide. Recent studies suggest eluxadoline as an attractive new tool for the treatment of patients with IBS-D. Eluxadoline is an orally active µ- and κ-opioid receptor agonist and δ-opioid receptor antagonist, with powerful antidiarrheal and analgesic activity. Eluxadoline is believed to act locally in the enteric nervous system, and has no adverse effects in the central nervous system. In this review, we discuss the most recent findings on the mechanism of action of eluxadoline and the results of the clinical trials in patients with IBS-D. We also discuss possible side effects and analyze the potential of eluxadoline to be used in the treatment of IBS-D. Keywords: abdominal pain, health care, functional gastrointestinal disorders, IBS, constipation, discomfort

Study aim: To compare the blood ammonia and lactate concentrations in sprinters and triathletes during an incremental treadmill exercise test and in the 30 minutes of recovery. Material and methods: The study included 10 male sprinters and 14 male triathletes who compete at the national and international level. A treadmill test until exhaustion was administered. Blood samples for ammonia and lactate were obtained when the athletes were at rest, during and immediately after exercise, and between 5 and 30 min after exercise.

The purpose of the paper was to assess the changes in the concentration of selected metals in the bottom sediment and interstitial water of the River Chotla in northwest Poland. The research was conducted on the river section flowing through Zaspy Małe and a salmonid fish breeding farm. Samples of water and bottom sediment were taken in four control and measurement points, located above and below the village and on a backwater above the trouteries and below the fish breeding ponds. The pH and the concentration of the metals potassium, iron, calcium, manganese and zinc were determined in the water and sediment samples. The lowest concentrations of the metals were found in the samples collected above and below Zaspy Małe, while the highest concentrations of metals in the water and sediment were found in the samples taken in the backwater, above the fish breeding ponds. Exceptions were calcium and potassium, with the highest concentrations of metals in the water being found in the samples taken below the fish breeding ponds. The content of metals in sediments of the analysed section of the River Chotla was mainly determined by the content of organic matter, which varied as it is dependent on water accumulation processes and the operation of nearby fishery facilities. The slightly alkaline pH facilitated long-lasting accumulation of metals in sediments.

This paper briefly describes commonly used methods of determination of shear strength of reinforced concrete beams. Classical method, Eurocode 2 approach and most complex approach proposed by P. D. Zararis in a series of papers are depicted and compared. Experimental tests of RC beams shown in the subsequent paper (Part II) are confronted with the model predictions.

Results of experiments carried out on beams with varying shear reinforcement are presented. Depending on the amount of transverse reinforcement different failure modes with different ultimate loads were recorded. The results were compared to theoretical load capacity estimates. Three models for shear capacity were used: classical, EC and Zararis described in the accompanying paper [1]. When shear failure mode governs beam behaviour, theoretical results according to the EC and Zararis are in good compatibility with experiments.