Temperature and E-Poling Evolution of Structural, Vibrational, Dielectric, and Ferroelectric Properties of BaSrTiO Ceramics (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.45).

Lead-free BaSrTiO (BST) (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.

Influence of Streptococcus pneumoniae Within-Strain Population Diversity on Virulence and Pathogenesis.

The short generation time of many bacterial pathogens allows the accumulation of mutations during routine culture procedures used for the preparation and propagation of bacterial stocks. Taking the major human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae as an example, we sought to determine the influence of standard laboratory handling of microbes on within-strain genetic diversity and explore how these changes influence virulence characteristics and experimental outcomes. A single culture of S.

Neurotic "disorders" or "disorder"?

Objectives: To check the legitimacy of the presumption that there are many "neurotic" disorders.

Methods: Taxonomic analyzes by single linkage method, unweighted pair-group average and Ward's method, also k-means clustering. The material in the pilot study used the information obtained from the Symptom Checklist "O", completed before treatment by 4,649 patients, who applied for treatment due to various functional disorders.

Site-specific PEGylation of HR2 peptides: effects of PEG conjugation position and chain length on HIV-1 membrane fusion inhibition and proteolytic degradation.

Peptides derived from the HR1 or HR2 regions of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp41 have been shown to be effective inhibitors to prevent virus-host cell membrane fusion. These peptide drugs, however, suffer from relatively short plasma half-lives and are susceptible to enzymatic degradation. Modification of peptides/proteins with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a well-established strategy to overcome these limitations.

[Symptom checklist S-III].

Aim: Symptom checklists enable clinicians and researchers to quickly estimate the probability of neurotic disorder presence. To pursue this goal, they should include a possibly limited number of items, describing symptoms most prevalent in the disordered population. Fluctuations in that prevalence force researchers to prepare new variants of checklists every few years, therefore the next (current) version of the checklist "S" for screening has been prepared.

[KON-2006--Neurotic Personality Questionnaire].

Aim: Construction of a questionnaire describing personality traits connected to the occurrence and persistence of neurotic disorders.

Method: Responses of 794 patients (before treatment) and 520 persons from the control group on items of the constructed personality questionnaire and the symptom checklist "0". Analyses of subscales reliability and item-scale correlations, test-retest and split-half reliability.

[Imaging of hypnosis with functional magnetic resonance].

Aim: The aim of the study was imaging of the central nervous system activity with the fMRI method during hypnosis as well as confirmation of the observations linking subjective effects of suggested analgesia with the functional changes on the neurophysiological level.

Method: At first volunteers (7 female, 7 male) were examined with fMRI in the resting state and then four times during application of painful stimuli such as pricking of the right hand. Four experimental conditions were associated with this stimulation: only nociceptive stimulation, after analgesic suggestion, after hypnotic induction and after consecutive analgesic suggestion in hypnosis.

[Use of reactions with Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) to determine biological activity of lipopolysaccharides from reference and clinical strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group].

The aim of this study was to determine and compare a biological activity of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from reference and clinical strains of strictly anaerobic bacteria belonging to the Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) by means of quantitative, photometric BET (LAL) method with Limulus polyphemus amoebocyte lysate and chromogenic substrate S-2423. Lipopolysaccharides of five BFG species were extracted by Westphal and Jann method (1965) from eight reference and two clinical strains of B. fragilis group.

[Changes in the recurrence rate of neurotic symptoms].

The frequency of neurotic disorders' symptoms measured by symptom check-list in those admitted for specialist treatment, varied significantly even in a time-span of more than ten months (studies 1979-1999).

[S-II symptom questionnaire].

"S-II" Symptom Check-list which allows for a fast diagnosis of neurotic disorders. A result of 165 points suggests the incidence of such disorders with the probability of 90%. The methodology of the construction of the check-list intends for the application of questions most common in those ill due to neurotic disorders (owing to the change in frequency) and the most possibly equal amount of questions on the symptoms common to women and men.

Effects of various aluminium compounds given orally to mice on Al tissue distribution and tissue concentrations of essential elements.

To evaluate the risk of gastrointestinal long-term aluminium (Al) exposure, aluminium distribution and the levels of the following essential elements: Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Fe in tissue were studied. Aluminium was administered in drinking water as aluminium chloride, dihydroxyaluminium sodium carbonate or aluminium hydroxide. Mice (strain Pzh:SFIS) were exposed to a total dose of 700 mg Al in long-term treatment (for each Al compound n = 15).

[Neurotic symptoms frequency].

The analysis of symptom checklists completed by 3196 patients before treatment--1970 females and 1226 males starting the therapy due to neurotic disorders--revealed that 12 symptoms occur im more than 80% of patients; 9 symptoms in 70-80%, 18 dysfunctions in 70-60% and 17 other dysfunctions in 60-50% of examined population. This means that a large number of symptoms including tension, mood depression an anxiety as well as difficulties in concentration, lack of self-confidence, sense of tiredness, loss of energy, persistent thoughts and images, constant fear, absent-mindedness, motor tensions, pessimism, thought flood, the sense of difficulty in thinking and tachycardia occur in almost all patients suffering from neurotic disorders, mo matter what these disorders are. Tle largest group consisted of patients with the diagnosis of anxiety disorders like phobias and the like (ca.

[Drug resistance of Enterococcus species isolated from the urogenital system].

Despite low virulence of enterococci, they have become important nosocomial pathogens. This has been correlated with the increased use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, particularly cephalosporins. Many strains of enterococci exhibit multiple drug resistance; the most important being high-level resistance (HLR) to penicillin (MIC > 100 mg/l) and gentamicin (MIC > 500 mg/l and 2000 mg/l) and/or streptomycin (MIC > 2000 mg/l).

[Level of bacterial endotoxins in Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines conjugated with toxoids (td, Di)].

Quantitative evaluation of bacterial endotoxin was performed in the following vaccines: Act-Hib, Hiberix, Hib-Titer. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and precision of chromogenic LAL test with S-2423 substrate for this particular biopreparations and after that to determine the amounts of endotoxin as a factor of vaccine safety. Because of the lack of information concerning the presence of endotoxin in Act-Hib vaccine, we also tried to establish the limits for the presence of endotoxin in this type of vaccine.

The level of endotoxin contamination in biopreparations.

Bacterial endotoxins as contamination of biopreparations have been estimated by chromogenic LAL test. Study on some compounds (aluminium hydroxide, formaldehyde and merthiolate) being components of vaccines showed no effect on the result of LAL test. The level of endotoxins in virus vaccines with the limits defined in producers certificate was adequate, the level of endotoxin was also low in virus vaccines of undefined requirements.

[Examination of protein MPB 70 properties in BCG substrains used for the production of Polish antituberculosis vaccines].

The aim of the study was examination of MPB70 protein production by different BCG substrains and testing this protein as reagent in allergenic skin test on BCG vaccinated guinea pigs. Three BCG substrains: Danish 1331 (D), Japanese 172 (J) and Polish BCG Moreau (P) were used for the study. The protein MPB70 received from dr Nagai from Osaka University was used as reference preparation.

[Use of the LAL test for quantitative determination of Bacteroids fragilis endotoxin].

The aim of this study was the evaluation of LAL test with chromogenic substrate usefulness for the quantitative detection of B. fragilis endotoxin and the determination of the amount of endotoxin in culture filtrates of the strains of this species. Also, the trial was undertaken to determine the influence of clindamycin on endotoxin release from B.

[LAL (Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate) test as applied to the safety evaluation of biological preparations].

In the paper some problems concerning of pyrogen testing were described. The risk of reactions after administration parenteral preparations contaminated pyrogenic substances give the cause for searching sensitive, repeated methods of their designation. The paper is review of the adaptation Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) test for the estimation of endotoxin in biological preparations.

[LAL test used for detection of undesirable biologically active substances in biopreparations].

Detection of bacterial endotoxin was performed in four groups of biopreparations: IVIG, virus and bacterial vaccines and antibiotics. The 44 samples of biopreparations were tested by the qualitative LAL-test (gel-clot) and some of them (22 samples) by the quantitative, LAL-test (chromogenic end-point). The concentration of endotoxin in 10 samples of IVIG was in the range from 0.

[The immunochemical characteristics of adult sera after Td vaccination].

The results of immunochemical test of 29 adults sera before and after Td vaccination were presented. The level of 12 protein fractions was in normal range value in 26 of examined sera. There was IgA deficiency in one serum, in two others haptoglobin deficiency and high levels of transferrin and IgM were observed.

[Symptom check-lists in the diagnosis and epidemiology of neurotic disorders].

Epidemiological studies related to the occurrence of neurotic disorders commonly use symptom check-lists. The results of such studies depend on, amongst others, the construction of the questionnaire and especially on the specification of the value of the questionnaire (GSI) which is determined as the boundary between the "psychophysiological" or organic symptoms and neurotic symptoms. A control study was carried out on the norms of two symptom checklists which have been used for many years in Poland: SCL-"S" (73 symptoms), most often diagnosed in neurotic patients, at the time of constructing the questionnaire and the SCL-"O" (the same 73 + 62 other symptoms).

[Evaluation of contamination of serum derived intravenous preparations].

The concentration of Al in 4 lots of 5% Albumina and in 14 lots of 5% immunoglobulins were estimated by adsorptive stripping voltammetric method. Mean Al concentrations amounted to 142.6 micrograms/l in 5% Albumina and to 202 micrograms/l in IVIG preparations produced in Poland.

[Aluminum as an adjuvant in vaccines and post-vaccine reactions].

Aluminium compounds have been widely used as adjuvants in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Adjuvants are able to stimulate the immune system in a nonspecific manner, i.e.