Assessment of the Environmental Impact of a Car Tire throughout Its Lifecycle Using the LCA Method.

There are numerous threats to the natural environment that pose a significant risk both to the environment and to human health, including car tires. Thus, there is a need to determine the impact of the life cycle of car tires on the environment, starting with the processes of raw materials acquisition, production, and ending with end-of-life management. Therefore, the authors of this study chose to do research on passenger car tires (size: P205/55/R16).

The Determination of Procalcitonin Concentration in Early-Onset Neonatal Infection.

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of blood procalcitonin (PCT) levels for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS). PCT as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and white blood cell (WBC) count were measured in venous blood from 57 infected and 72 uninfected neonates. Differences between groups for PCT, CRP, and WBC levels were significant.

The Impact of rs3762271 and rs930557 Polymorphisms of ASPM and MCPH1 Genes on the Anatomy and Function of the Brain.

The ASPM and MCPH1 genes are involved in early neurogenesis and are thus potential candidates for affecting the formation of the anatomical and functional characteristics of the brain. However, the results of studies to date have been conflicting, an issue for which the factor of ethnicity may be responsible. We aimed to examine whether the rs3762271 and rs930557 polymorphisms of these two genes can influence brain anatomy and function.

Clinical Evaluation of the Safety and Feasibility of Whole Autologous Cord Blood Transplant as a Source of Stem and Progenitor Cells for Extremely Premature Neonates: Preliminary Report.

Objectives: This is a preliminary, single-center, prospective study in the field of autologous cord blood transplant. We investigated the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of autologous whole cord blood transplant in extremely premature infants as a potential therapeutic modality to prevent developing complications related to prematurity.

Materials And Methods: This preliminary prospective study (ClinicalTrials.

[The 2nd conference 'Rare diseases not only in the curriculum', Szczecin - Wrocław, 26 and 30 May 2015].

The 2nd conference 'Rare diseases not only in the curriculum', that took place on 26th May, 2015 in Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin and 30 May in Wroclaw Medical University. In accordance with the convention adopted at the first conference in 2014 in Szczecin participants of the meeting realized the idea expressed in the title of the conference by presenting issues of commonly known rare diseases and those that are not discussed in the course of medical studies. The active participants of the meeting were scientific workers medical schools in Szczecin, Wrocław and Białystok, medical students and PhD students.

Usefulness of estimation of blood procalcitonin concentration versus C-reactive protein concentration and white blood cell count for therapeutic monitoring of sepsis in neonates.

Aim: This study was intended to assess the clinical usefulness of blood procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of nosocomial neonatal sepsis.

Material/methods: The enrolment criterion was sepsis clinically manifesting after three days of life. PCT concentrations were measured in venous blood from 52 infected and 88 uninfected neonates.

Congenital candidiasis as a subject of research in medicine and human ecology.

Congenital candidiasis is a severe complication of candidal vulvovaginitis. It occurs in two forms,congenital mucocutaneous candidiasis and congenital systemic candidiasis. Also newborns are in age group the most vulnerable to invasive candidiasis.

Circulating hematopoietic stem cell count is a valuable predictor of prematurity complications in preterm newborns.

Background: The frequency of preterm labour has risen over the last few years. Hence, there is growing interest in the identification of markers that may facilitate prediction and prevention of premature birth complications. Here, we studied the association of the number of circulating stem cell populations with the incidence of complications typical of prematurity.

Association of 1936A > G in AKAP10 (A-kinase anchoring protein 10) and blood pressure in Polish full-term newborns.

Objective: The 1936G AKAP10 allele is associated with increased adult basal heart rate (HR) and decreased variability, markers of low cholinergic/vagus sensitivity associated with hypertension. Blood pressure (BP) values in newborns are important measurable markers of cardiovascular risk later in life. The question was whether decreased vagal function-related 1936A > G AKAP10 is associated with newborn BP.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in premature infants: is there an association with premature birth complications?

Background: The most common morbidities in preterm infants are associated with vascular pathology. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been implicated in repair of the vasculature, but their role in the pathogenesis of prematurity complications is not clear.

Objectives: We prospectively investigated an association between the number of EPCs circulating in blood during delivery as well as 2 and 6 weeks afterwards, the level of growth factors regulating their migration/homing, and the incidence of premature birth complications.

EEG, brain maturation, and the development of retinopathy of prematurity.

Objectives: The factors that influence the central nervous system (CNS) development can affect either the retina or the brain cortex. Immaturity of the brain cortex reflects immaturity of the retina and vice versa. The immature retina is more vulnerable than the mature retina, and is therefore more likely to develop retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Recording of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and cerebral blood flow during massage of premature infants.

Objective: Stimulation of the nervous system plays an important role in brain function and psychomotor development of children. Massage can benefit premature infants, but has limitations.

Study Design: The authors conducted a study to verify the direct effects of massage on amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG), oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), and pulse analyzed by color cerebral function monitor (CCFM) and cerebral blood flow assessed by the Doppler technique.

[The role of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in the progression of retinopathy of prematurity--a prospective study].

Purpose: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the primary cause of visual impairment in preterm infants. There are available data confirming that circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are involved in forming the growing network of blood vessels in the developing retina. In this study we sought to explore potential relationship between concentration of circulating bone marrow-derived EPCs and development of ROP in prospective study.

The role of hemoglobin variant replacement in retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective: To conduct tests of relationships between different factors that could influence the course of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and ROP, particularly the role of hemoglobin variant replacement in adult blood transfusions.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study of 83 infants born between 23 and 34 wks gestation was conducted.

Results: The infants without ROP, with 1 and 2 stage of ROP and with ≥ 3 stage of ROP received Q 28 (12-134); 51 (14-149); 156 (38-244) ml/kg of transfused blood, respectively, and the factor Qt was 1,545 (560-10,045); 3,093 (614-13,419); 11,907 (1,288-20,638) (ml/kg)·day, respectively.

Does prenatal antibiotic therapy compromise the diagnosis of early-onset infection and management of the neonate?

Aim: To assess the impact of prenatal antibiotic treatment on procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in cord blood, and on the rate of positive neonatal blood cultures.

Methods: Neonates with early-onset infection (Group A; n=46) were compared with healthy controls (Group B; n=240). We evaluated the relationship between prenatal antibiotic therapy and early-onset infection, and for interactions with antibiotic therapy in the neonate immediately after birth.

Circulating stem cell populations in preterm infants: implications for the development of retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective: To investigate the association among different circulating stem cell (SC) populations, the levels of selected growth factors and chemokines regulating SC migration in the peripheral blood, and the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: We evaluated 88 participants in this study: 29 preterm infants with ROP, 29 preterm infants without ROP, and 30 healthy full-term infants. Peripheral blood samples collected 10 weeks after delivery were analyzed using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[Role of the nurse and midwife in educating parents of neonates treated at intensive care units].

Introduction: Health education is an important element in the therapeutic process of every patient. If the patient is a neonate at an intensive care unit (ICU), the parents or legal guardians become the object of education. Knowledge and skills learned by parents at neonatal ICUs are later reflected in the quality of their childcare.

Prematurity and protracted mechanical ventilation as risk factors for Pneumocystis jiroveci infection in HIV-negative neonates in an intensive care unit.

This work was undertaken to elucidate some aspects of the epidemiology of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PP). We studied 42 mechanically ventilated, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative, severely ill neonates treated at an intensive care unit. The study group included 40 premature neonates and two mature neonates with lethal congenital defects.

[Pneumocystis pneumonia in newborns: a challenge in contemporary intensive care].

Pneumocystis jiroveci (P. jiroveci) is the etiological agent of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunodeficient patients. The increased interest of clinicians in this particular pathogen during the past decade was prompted by rising numbers of patients with immunosuppression caused by AIDS, chemotherapy, or organ transplantation.

Maternal serum proinflammatory cytokines in preterm labor with intact membranes: neonatal outcome and histological associations.

Our aim was to compare maternal serum concentrations of interleukin(IL)-1alpha IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 in pregnancies complicated by preterm labor (PTL), with the levels in healthy controls at comparable gestational age, and to determine if these assays have any value in the prediction of early-onset neonatal infection or histological chorioamnionitis. The study population consisted of 65 women with new-onset PTL, and 31 healthy controls. Maternal serum concentrations of IL-6 (8.

Value of vaginal fluid proinflammatory cytokines for the prediction of early-onset neonatal infection in preterm premature rupture of the membranes.

The usefulness of vaginal fluid proinflammatory cytokine assays in the prediction of neonatal congenital infection was evaluated. Sixty-two women between 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, complicated by premature rupture of the membranes, were divided into those who delivered newborns with (n = 21) and without (n = 41) signs of infection. Concentrations of all studied cytokines were higher in women who delivered babies with infection.

[The detachment of retina as possible complication after BCG vaccination during HOP--description of case].

Purpose: The authors described the rare case of the progression of changes in the retina of child in course of retinopathy of prematurity. It happened after finished laser-treatment and full regression of changes of the retina. It seems that BCG vaccination done in 3-th month of life could reactivate the disease of the retina which caused total retina detachment of both eyes.

[The results of panphotocoagulation laser treatment in retinopathy of prematurity in the West Pomeranian Region in 2003-2005 years].

Purpose: ROP--retinopathy of prematurity is a disease of the retina and the vitreous body of premature infants, especially born before 28 weeks of intrauterine life (71%), rare till 33 weeks of pregnancy (7.6%). The pathogenesis is involved with damage of immature vessels of the retina.

[Bigeminal pregnancy complicated with twin-to-twin transfusion].

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is one of the complications during bigeminal pregnancy usually seen between 17 and 31 weeks of gestation. The most typical symptoms of twin-to-twin transfusion are ascites, hydropericardium and generalized hydrops of donors fetus. Characteristic is also difference of body weight over 15% and hemoglobin level more than 5 g/dl between twins.

[Nosocomial infections in a neonatology department, 1995-2002].

Nosocomial infections in newborns department are common due to number of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, prolonged hospitalization and development antibiotic resistance culture. Sepsis achieved 1 to 8 newborn infants for 1000 live births. This is still unresolved very important medical, organization, ethical and medical problem.