Effect of continuous passive motion on the early recovery outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: Continuous passive motion (CPM) is a frequently used method in the early post-operative rehabilitation of patients after knee surgery. In this study, the effectiveness of the CPM method was evaluated after primary total knee arthroplasty during an early recovery period.

Methods: Eighty patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were assigned into two groups.

Influence of d-Electron Divalent Metal Ions in Complex Formation with L-Tartaric and L-Malic Acids.

Binary complexes of α-hydroxy acids (L-Tartaric acid and L-Malic acid) with d-electron metal ions (copper, cobalt, nickel) were investigated. Potentiometric measurements have been performed in aqueous solution with computer analysis of the data for determination of the stability constants of complexes formed in the studied systems. The coordination mode of the complexes was defined using spectroscopic methods: electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), circular dichroism (CD), and infrared (IR).

New chemiluminescent method of levofloxacin and ofloxacin determination based on terbium (III)-sensitized fluoroquinolone-KBrO reaction.

Fluoroquinolones can be oxidized with some agents, in this study selected fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin and enrofloxacin) were oxidized with potassium bromate in the presence of terbium (III) ions. According to the kinetic and spectral analysis of chemiluminescence emitted by the above systems, the terbium (III) ions were the only emitter. The excitation of the lanthanide ion was a result of the process of energy transfer from the products of fluoroquinolones oxidation to Tb(III) ions.

Thermodynamic and Spectroscopic Studies of the Complexes Formed in Tartaric Acid and Lanthanide(III) Ions Binary Systems.

Binary complexes of tartaric acid with lanthanide(III) ions were investigated. The studies have been performed in aqueous solution using the potentiometric method with computer analysis of the data for detection of the complexes set, determination of the stability constants of these compounds. The mode of the coordination of complexes found was determined using spectroscopy, which shows: Infrared, circular dichroism, ultraviolet, visible as well as luminescence spectroscopy.

New coordination compounds of citric acid and polyamines with lanthanide ions - potential application in monitoring the treatment of cancer diseases.

Non-covalent interaction in the binary systems of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) with citric acid and complex formation in the binary as well as ternary systems of lanthanide(III) ions, citric acid and polyamine have been investigated. The studies were performed in aqueous solution. The overall stability constants of the complexes were determined using the potentiometric method with computer analysis of the data.

Carboxyl groups of citric acid in the process of complex formation with bivalent and trivalent metal ions in biological systems.

Binary complexes of citric acid (HL - protonated form, HL and HL - partly protonated forms, L - fully deprotonated) with d- and f-electron metal ions were investigated. The studies have been performed in aqueous solution using the potentiometric method with computer analysis of the data, electron paramagnetic resonance, infrared, visible as well as luminescence spectroscopies. The overall stability constants of the complexes were determined.

Correlations between serum adipocytokine concentrations, disease stage, radiological status and total body fat content in the patients with primary knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose: The study was designed to investigate whether serum concentrations of leptin, resistin and adiponectin in obese and normal-weight patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) correlate with clinical and radiological stages of the disease and percentage of total body fat.

Methods: Seventy-three patients with knee OA, divided into obese and normal-weight groups, were clinically evaluated according to the Knee Society Score (KSS), and radiologically assessed using Kellgren and Lawrence scale. The percentage of total body fat and some anthropometric data were also given.

Genome-wide identification, characterisation and expression profiles of calcium-dependent protein kinase genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

In plant cells, calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are important sensors of Ca flux resulting from various environmental stresses like cold, drought or salt stress. Previous genome sequence analysis and comparative studies in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.

Acceptance of home support and integrated care among advanced COPD patients who live outside large medical centers.

Background: Poor self-management constitutes a risk factor for COPD deterioration. Patients from rural areas located at a considerable distance from large medical centers frequently need home-support in advanced stages of the disease. Integrated care has been proposed as a comprehensive model for appropriate treatment, coordination and holistic support.

Immunogenicity of parenterally delivered plant-derived small and medium surface antigens of hepatitis B virus.

Intramuscularly delivered plant-derived M-HBsAg was compared to S-HBsAg, and as a result elicited specific anti-preS2 antibodies and significantly higher titre of anti-HBs antibodies, together with IgG isotype profile indicating some Th1 polarisation, apart from the main Th2 response. HBV prevalence is still threatening, regardless of prevention programmes using vaccines containing S-HBsAg, supplemented by third-generation vaccines, comprising also M- and L-HBsAg. Plant expression systems offer a cost-effective production option of the antigens.

Hitting rock bottom? Resource loss as a predictor of alcoholism treatment completion.

Background Efforts to better understand the phenomenon of the 'bottom', the beginning of the process of turning away from alcohol, are important for both theoretical and practical goals. The conservation of resources theory by Hobfoll may represent a suitable framework to base these attempts around. Aim The aim of the study was to examine the role of resource loss in completing alcoholism treatment on the basis of Hobfoll's conservation of resources theory.

Application of cell and biomaterial-based tissue engineering methods in the treatment of cartilage, menisci and ligament injuries.

Over 20 years ago it was realized that the traditional methods of the treatment of injuries to joint components: cartilage, menisci and ligaments, did not give satisfactory results and so there is a need of employing novel, more effective therapeutic techniques. Recent advances in molecular biology, biotechnology and polymer science have led to both the experimental and clinical application of various cell types, adapting their culture conditions in order to ensure a directed differentiation of the cells into a desired cell type, and employing non-toxic and non-immunogenic biomaterial in the treatment of knee joint injuries. In the present review the current state of knowledge regarding novel cell sources, in vitro conditions of cell culture and major important biomaterials, both natural and synthetic, used in cartilage, meniscus and ligament repair by tissue engineering techniques are described, and the assets and drawbacks of their clinical application are critically evaluated.

Energy transfer processes of chemiluminescence reaction systems with cerium(IV) ions and their analytical application: a review.

This review is devoted to a thorough discussion of chemiluminescence of the systems containing Ce(IV) ions as oxidising agents, with particular emphasis on the energy transfer processes in such systems. The influence of sensitisers such as: rhodamines, quinine, lanthanide ions and their complexes and quantum-dots has been analysed and the practical use of reaction systems for development of new chemiluminescence methods for determination of therapeutic drugs and substances of biological importance in different matrices such as human urine or serum is indicated. The types of emitters and excited reaction products taking part in energy transfer to sensitisers and processes taking place in the chemiluminescence reaction systems containing Ce(IV) ions are presented on the basis of recent literature.

The trimorphic structure of N,N'-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine.

The new Schiff base ligand, N,N'-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine (H2L), has been prepared by condensation of 5-methylsalicylaldehyde with 4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine. It was found that this ligand crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, with Z' = 1. Further studies showed that - as a result of the one-pot metal-promoted reactions - three different polymorphic forms of H2L were obtained, with different numbers (1, 3 or 4) of symmetry-independent molecules depending on the lanthanide metal ion present in the reaction media: La (Z' = 3), Nd (Z' = 4), Sm, Tb, Ho and Yb (all Z' = 1); the last form is identical with that obtained by crystallization of the ligand itself.

[Variation in the course of human veins based on the anatomical and morphometric research].

Introduction: The cardiac veins have inspired numerous generations of researchers. From anatomists and pathologists to cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, the issue of the structure of heart and cardiovascular disorders- in spite of enormous progress of medicine - have not been completely discovered so far.

Material And Methods: The material of the research comes from the collection of the Chair and Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy of the Pomeranian Medical University and it includes 102 human hearts, of which 59 male and 43 female ones, aged from 12 and 70.

Chemiluminescence of the reaction system Ce(IV)-non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs containing europium(III) ions and its application to the determination of naproxen in pharmaceutical preparations and urine.

The chemiluminescence (CL) of oxidation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by Ce(IV) ions, was recorded in the presence and absence europium(III) ions, in solution of pH ~ 4 of solution. Kinetic curves and CL emission spectra of the all studied systems were discussed. CL of measurable intensity was observed in the Ce(IV)-NP-Eu(III) reaction system only in acidic solutions.

Chemiluminescence determination of fluoroquinolones using Fenton system in the presence of terbium(iii) ions.

A simple new chemiluminescent, CL, method is described for the determination of fluoroquinolones such as: ciprofloxacin (CF), norfloxacin (NF), and ofloxacin (OF). This method is based on the measurement of terbium(iii) emission. This emission follows an energy transfer to the uncomplexed terbium(iii) ions from the excited products of fluoroquinolone oxidations.

Comparative analysis of the Brassica oleracea genetic map and the Arabidopsis thaliana genome.

We further investigated genome macrosynteny for Brassica species and Arabidopsis thaliana. This work aimed at comparative map construction for B. oleracea and A.

Chemiluminescence determination of tetracyclines using Fenton system in the presence europium(III) ions.

A new simple chemiluminescent method for the determination of chlortetracycline (Chlor-TC), oxytetracycline (Oxy-TC) and doxycycline (Doxy-TC) is described. This method is based on the europium(III) emission as a result of the energy transfer process from the excited product of the tetracyclines oxidation to the uncomplexed Eu(III). Under the optimum conditions, calibration graphs were obtained for 4x10(-7) to 2x10(-5) mol L(-1) of Chlor-TC; 2x10(-7) to 2x10(-5) mol L(-1) of Oxy-TC and 1x10(-7) to 3x10(-5) mol L(-1) of Doxy-TC.

2,4-Diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine methanol solvate.

The crystal structure of the title compound, C(4)H(7)N(5)·CH(4)O, is determined by an extensive network of hydrogen bonding. A sequence of centrosymmetric dimeric associations, formed by two different N-H(amino)⋯N(ring) hydrogen bonds, connects the triazine rings into a planar mol-ecular tape. The methanol solvent mol-ecules act as di-acceptors and mono-donors of hydrogen bonds and inter-link, almost perpendicularly, the hydrogen-bonded tapes into a three-dimensional structure.

Genome evolution in Arabidopsis/Brassica: conservation and divergence of ancient rearranged segments and their breakpoints.

Since the tetraploidization of the Arabidopsis thaliana ancestor 30-35 million years ago (Mya), a wave of chromosomal rearrangements have modified its genome architecture. The dynamics of this process is unknown, as it has so far been impossible to date individual rearrangement events. In this paper, we present evidence demonstrating that the majority of rearrangements occurred before the Arabidopsis-Brassica split 20-24 Mya, and that the segmental architecture of the A.