Resting energy expenditure and gut microbiota in obese and normal weight subjects.

Objectives: It is suggested that gut microbiota play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity enhancing energy utilization from digested food. The influence of gut microbiota on resting energy expenditure (REE) has not been evaluated yet.

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the composition on gut microbiota and its association with REE in obese and normal weight subjects.

Bronchial asthma control after argon plasma coagulation turbinectomy in patients with chronic rhinitis.

Bronchial asthma is frequently accompanied by chronic rhinitis. It has been observed that effective treatment of rhinitis may reduce asthma symptoms. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the control of bronchial asthma symptoms in patients with chronic rhinitis after argon plasma coagulation turbinectomy (APCt).

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease and its relation to socioeconomic conditions in an elderly Polish population: results from the national population-based study PolSenior.

Background: Rapidly progressing ageing of worldwide populations is likely to increase the occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the next decades. However, until now little is known about the prevalence of CKD in the Polish elderly population. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CKD and its relation to socioeconomic conditions in the Polish elderly population.

Perioperative management of cardiac surgery patients who are at the risk of acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury is one of the most frequent and clinically important of all postoperative complications in cardiac surgery. It is estimated that almost half of subjects suffer from a deterioration of kidney function after a cardio-pulmonary by-pass. Renal insufficiency impacts upon the outcome in terms of an increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality, and a decrease in quality of life.

The level of health education in the Polish population.

Background: The study assessed factors influencing awareness of Poles concerning lifestyle factors that affect development of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Methods: A questionnaire survey covering awareness of lifestyle factors performed by general practitioners in 37,557 unselected patients.

Results: 96.

Purulent cutaneous fistula: as the first symptom of the late aortic stent-graft infection-a case report and review of the literature.

Purpose. Aortic stent-graft infection with fistula formation is a rare complication with high mortality rate when treated surgically by stent-graft removal. We report a case of a patient with aortic stent-graft infection, prosthetic-duodenal, and prosthetic-cutaneous fistulas operated without the removal of an infected prosthesis and ineffectively tailored antibiotic therapy.

Gut microbiota, microinflammation, metabolic profile, and zonulin concentration in obese and normal weight subjects.

The association between gut microbiota and circulating zonulin level, a marker of intestinal permeability, has not been studied yet. The aim of the study is the assessment of plasma zonulin, haptoglobin and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF- α and IL-6) levels in relation to composition of gut microbiota in obese and normal weight subjects. Circulating inflammation markers, such as TNF- α , sTNFR1, sTNFR2, IL-6, zonulin, and haptoglobin levels were measured and semiquantitative analysis of gut microbiota composition was carried out in 50 obese and 30 normal weight subjects without concomitant diseases.

Long-term inhibition of intestinal lipase by orlistat improves release of gut hormones increasing satiety in obese women.

Background: Reduced postprandial secretion of peptide YY (PYY), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), cholecystokinin, and increased hunger was reported after a single dose of orlistat, an inhibitor of intestinal lipase. As yet, the influence of long-term therapy with orlistat on PYYand GLP-1 release has not been studied. Our study was aimed at assessing the influence of 8-week therapy with orlistat as a component of a weight loss program on pre-prandial circulating PYY and GLP-1 levels.

The influence of Body Mass Index on chronic venous disorders therapy.

Aim: Obesity is of importance among the risk factors predisposing for chronic venous disorders (CVD). Little is known how obesity affects the management of CVD. As the data concerning the treatments of CVD in the obese are incomplete, we performed an analysis of the different CVD therapies managements with respect to body mass index and the obesity.

Adipokines in the pathogenesis of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are the two common forms of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aetiology and pathogenesis of IBD are not yet known. Genetic predisposition has been suggested as playing a role in the improper immune response to commensal microbiota.

Extrarenal factors influencing resistance index in stable kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Increased intrarenal resistance index (RI) has been associated with decreased long-term allograft and patient survival in kidney transplant recipients. Taking into account the potential role of endothelial dysfunction, systemic inflammation, arteriosclerotic lesions, and left ventricle remodeling, we performed a cross-sectional study that aimed to evaluate extrarenal factors that may have influence on kidney graft RI in a large cohort of stable kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: One hundred seventy-four kidney transplant recipients were enrolled into the study.

Plasma level of N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in elderly population in Poland--the PolSenior Study.

Background: The brain natriuretic peptides (BNP, NT-proBNP) are useful diagnostic markers of heart failure (HF), as exemplified by the ESC Heart Failure guidelines. The PolSenior project was an epidemiological study carried out to examine medical, psychological and socioeconomic aspects of aging in Poland. The aim of this study is an epidemiological description of HF based on elderly population from the PolSenior Study, stratified by NT-pro-BNP concentration values.

Nephron underdosing as a risk factor for impaired early kidney graft function and increased graft loss during the long-term follow-up period.

Background: It is generally accepted that kidneys procured from female donors may not perform optimally in male recipients, mostly due to their smaller size and nephron underdosing. Nowadays, conflicting results have been published regarding the detrimental effect of H-Y incompatibility on the long-term prognosis of male kidneys transplanted into female recipient. The aim of this study was an analysis of the impact of donor-recipient gender matching on early function and survival of grafts among a relatively homogenous cohort of kidney recipients.

Nutritional status and intrarenal resistive indices after kidney transplantation.

Background: Obesity predicts vascular stiffness, which is prevalent among kidney transplant patients. However, the influence of obesity has not been established on parameters of renal vascular resistance variation. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of nutritional status on intrarenal resistive parameters as measured in the early period after successful kidney transplantation by Doppler ultrasound.

Three pregnancies in a Marfan syndrome patient after a mitral and tricuspid valve surgery.

Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue with up to 25% of cases related to a spontaneous mutation. It has been associated with perinatal loss, preterm labor and, potentially a rupture of the maternal aortic arch. We present a case of a woman diagnosed with Marfan syndrome after a miscarriage of her first pregnancy.

Electromechanical behaviour of Nafion-based soft actuators.

Soft actuators based on Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites (IPMCs) are of considerable interest for applications in biomedical devices and robotics. In this work, thin commercial and thick laboratory-prepared Nafion membranes were made into model IPMC actuator devices by incorporation of Pt electrode layers. In extensive electromechanical tests the maximum average tip displacement and maximum force generated were recorded.

Do primary care physicians follow the current recommendations for hypertensive pharmacotherapy?

Introduction: In 2007, the joint recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH) were announced.

Objectives: The aim of this survey was to evaluate the implementation rate of the new ESC/ESH recommendations by primary care physicians and to assess the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy.

Patients And Methods: Data concerning pharmacotherapy, blood pressure (BP) measurements, and compliance with the guidelines were collected in 10,880 hypertensive patients during 3 subsequent follow-up visits.

The effect of sodium restricted diet on plasma visfatin levels in hypertensive patients with visceral obesity.

Aim/background: Experimental and clinical studies revealed contradictory data concerning the influence of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system activation on visfatin release. The aim of the present study was the assessment of the effect of dietary sodium restriction with RAA system activation on visfatin level in hypertensive and normotensive patients with visceral obesity.

Methods: The study included 24 hypertensive patients with visceral obesity (12 women) and 22 normotensive subjects with visceral obesity (11 women) constituting the control group.

Phlebotonic and compression stocking therapy in venous edema management: an overview of recent advances with a focus on Cyclo 3 Fort® and progressive compression stockings.

Venous edema of the limb presents several challenges to clinicians, particularly with regard to its definition, pathophysiology and measurement, as well as those relating to its management. Compression therapy forms the cornerstone of standard care for thromboprophylaxis and management of lower limb venous and lymphatic disorders. Venoactive drugs, of plant or synthetic origin, have also been shown to be effective and safe in the management of venous edema and/or chronic venous disease-related symptoms.

[Sports training and circulating adipokine levels].

The beneficial effect of regular moderate physical activity on metabolic profile is well documented. Sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor of excessive visceral fat accumulation, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease development. However, intensive training in athletes may be related to unfavorable changes in secretion of adipose tissue hormones and constitute a link in the pathogenesis of hormonal disturbances observed in athletes.

Blood pressure for optimal health-related quality of life in hypertensive patients.

Objective: The optimal blood pressure (BP) in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients treated for hypertension remains unknown. This study aimed to determine BP values associated with optimal HRQoL among younger (<65 years old) and older patients (≥65 years old) treated for hypertension.

Methods: HRQoL was assessed using the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey in 11,498 unselected white patients treated for hypertension for at least 12 months.

[State of nutrition and diet habits versus estradiol level and its changes in the pre-season preparatory period for the league contest match in female handball and basketball players].

Background: Intense exercise is known to induce menstrual disturbances--irregular menstrual cycles, oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea in female athletes. Menstrual disturbances, followed by hypoestrogenism, are associated with infertility decreased bone mineral density high prevalence of stress fractures, and endothelial dysfunction.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of nutrition and diet habits on the estradiol level and its changes in the pre-season preparatory period for the league contest match in female handball and basketball players.

Changes of systemic microinflammation after weight loss and regain - a five-year follow up study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of body mass changes on plasma concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in obese women after the initially obtained weight reduction in a five-year follow-up period.

Material And Methods: Thirty out of 42 women with simple obesity (age 41.8 ± 11.

The influence of oral water load on energy expenditure and sympatho-vagal balance in obese and normal weight women.

Introduction: Oral water load may increase the energy expenditure (EE) by stimulation of sympathetic dependent thermogenesis. Thus, drinking of water may be helpful in weight reduction. The aim of the study is to assess the influence of water load on energy expenditure and sympathetic activity in obese and normal weight women.