Instrumental and Non-Instrumental Measurements in Patients with Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunctions.

Vestibular dysfunction is a disturbance of the body's balance system. The control of balance and gait has a particular influence on the quality of life. Currently, assessing patients with these problems is mainly subjective.

Innovative System for Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Human Imbalance.

<b>Introduction:</b> Mobile posturography is based on wearable inertial sensors; it allows to test static stability (static posturography) and gait disturbances. </br> </br> <b>Aim:</b> The aim of this work was to present the results of research on the innovative MEDIPOST system used for diagnosis and rehabilitation of balance disorders. </br> </br> <b>Material and methods:</b> Fourteen articles published in influenced foreign journals were presented and discussed.

NaCT/SLC13A5 facilitates citrate import and metabolism under nutrient-limited conditions.

Citrate lies at a critical node of metabolism, linking tricarboxylic acid metabolism and lipogenesis via acetyl-coenzyme A. Recent studies have observed that deficiency of the sodium-dependent citrate transporter (NaCT), encoded by SLC13A5, dysregulates hepatic metabolism and drives pediatric epilepsy. To examine how NaCT contributes to citrate metabolism in cells relevant to the pathophysiology of these diseases, we apply C isotope tracing to SLC13A5-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and primary rat cortical neurons.

A Locally Both Leptokurtic and Fat-Tailed Distribution with Application in a Bayesian Stochastic Volatility Model.

In the paper, we begin with introducing a novel scale mixture of normal distribution such that its leptokurticity and fat-tailedness are only local, with this "locality" being separately controlled by two censoring parameters. This new, locally leptokurtic and fat-tailed (LLFT) distribution makes a viable alternative for other, globally leptokurtic, fat-tailed and symmetric distributions, typically entertained in financial volatility modelling. Then, we incorporate the LLFT distribution into a basic stochastic volatility (SV) model to yield a flexible alternative for common heavy-tailed SV models.

The Ototoxicity of Antimalarial Drugs-A State of the Art Review.

This review summarizes current knowledge about the occurrence of hearing and balance disorders after antimalarial drugs treatment. It also examines the clinical applications of antimalarials, their mechanisms behind this ototoxicity and how it can be monitored. It includes studies with larger numbers of patients and those in which auditory function was assessed using audiological tests.

New Estimators of the Bayes Factor for Models with High-Dimensional Parameter and/or Latent Variable Spaces.

Formal Bayesian comparison of two competing models, based on the posterior odds ratio, amounts to estimation of the Bayes factor, which is equal to the ratio of respective two marginal data density values. In models with a large number of parameters and/or latent variables, they are expressed by high-dimensional integrals, which are often computationally infeasible. Therefore, other methods of evaluation of the Bayes factor are needed.

Usefulness of Mobile Devices in the Diagnosis and Rehabilitation of Patients with Dizziness and Balance Disorders: A State of the Art Review.

Objective: The gold standard for objective body posture examination is posturography. Body movements are detected through the use of force platforms that assess static and dynamic balance (conventional posturography). In recent years, new technologies like wearable sensors (mobile posturography) have been applied during complex dynamic activities to diagnose and rehabilitate balance disorders.

[Relation between sexual dysfunction and metabolic syndrome].

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and depression have increased during the recent years. As the sexual dysfunction is also frequent, we aimed to search for the associations between sexual dysfunction and the metabolic syndrome and its components, respectively, by reviewing the literature. The clinical and biochemical components of the metabolic syndrome included cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, visceral obesity and depression, furthermore, insulin resistance, atherogenic lipid profile, hypogonadism, chronic systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction were all demonstrated to affect adversely the sexual function.

Vestibular system dysfunction in patients after mild traumatic brain injury.

Introduction: In the literature there are some discrepancies concerning the occurrence of vertigo and disequilibrium, as well as the type of vestibular dysfunction in patients after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the type of vestibular system dysfunction in MTBI patients after injury at baseline and 6-month follow-up.

Material And Methods: From a group of 188 patients with vertigo/dizziness and balance instability after MTBI, prospective analysis in 50 patients with abnormal videonystagmography (VNG) were conducted.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in patients after mild traumatic brain injury.

Background: Post-traumatic vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders following head trauma range from 15% to 78% in the general population. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vestibular disorder in such patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of BPPV in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and determine the outcome of treatment.

Mapping Functionally Important Residues in the Na/Dicarboxylate Cotransporter, NaDC1.

Transporters from the SLC13 family couple the transport of two to four Na ions with a di- or tricarboxylate, such as succinate or citrate. We have previously modeled mammalian members of the SLC13 family, including the Na/dicarboxylate cotransporter NaDC1 (SLC13A2), based on a structure of the bacterial homologue VcINDY in an inward-facing conformation with one sodium ion bound at the Na1 site. In the study presented here, we modeled the outward-facing conformation of rabbit and human NaDC1 (rbNaDC1 and hNaDC1, respectively) using an outward-facing model of VcINDY as a template and identified residues in or near the putative Na2 and Na3 cation binding sites.

A clinic-epidemiological study of head and neck tuberculosis - a single-center experience.

Introduction: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) accounts for less than 6% of all tuberculosis (TB) cases in Poland, although in other countries (European in particular) this proportion is much higher. The study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological differences in patients hospitalized in one of Otolaryngology Departments in Poland during 36 years.

Material And Methods: In a retrospective study, 71 patients were identified and divided into three groups according to the study period: I - 1978-1989 (30 patients, 42%), II - 1990-2001 (19 patients, 27%) and III - 2002-2013 (22 patients, 31% of all cases).

Molecular Basis for Inhibition of the Na+/Citrate Transporter NaCT (SLC13A5) by Dicarboxylate Inhibitors.

The Na/citrate transporter, NaCT (SLC13A5), is a therapeutic target for metabolic diseases. Citrate is an important signaling molecule that regulates the activity of lipid- and glucose-metabolizing enzymes in cells. Previous studies identified two compounds, PF-06649298 (compound 2: ) and PF-06678419 (compound 4: ), that inhibit human NaCT with high affinity, and one of the compounds demonstrated specificity relative to other SLC13 family members.

Mutations in the Na(+)/citrate cotransporter NaCT (SLC13A5) in pediatric patients with epilepsy and developmental delay.

Mutations in the SLC13A5 gene that codes for the Na(+)/citrate cotransporter, NaCT, are associated with early onset epilepsy, developmental delay and tooth dysplasia in children. In the present study we identify additional SLC13A5 mutations in nine epilepsy patients from six families. To better characterize the syndrome, families with affected children answered questions about the scope of illness and treatment strategies.

Satisfaction with life, self-esteem and evaluation of mental health in people with tattoos or piercings.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the level of life satisfaction and the various dimensions of self-esteem of pierced or tattooed people, and evaluate their mental health, compared to those without similar body modifications.

Methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 449 people aged 16-58 years (mean age 26.7 ± 6.

Structure-Based Identification of Inhibitors for the SLC13 Family of Na(+)/Dicarboxylate Cotransporters.

In mammals, citric acid cycle intermediates play a key role in regulating various metabolic processes, such as fatty acid synthesis and glycolysis. Members of the sodium-dependent SLC13 transporter family mediate the transport of di- and tricarboxylates into cells. SLC13 family members have been implicated in lifespan extension and resistance to high-fat diets; thus, they are emerging drug targets for aging and metabolic disorders.

[Uterine anomalies in women with recurrent pregnancy loss].

Introduction: One percent of couples trying to have children are affected by recurrent miscarriage. These pregnancy losses have different pathogenetic (genetic, endocrine, anatomic, immunologic, microbiologic, haematologic and andrologic) backgrounds, but recurrent miscarriage remains unexplained in more than half of the affected couples.

Aim: To explore risk factors for recurrent pregnancy loss the authors studied the incidence of anatomic disorders of the uterine cavity occur in Hungarian women with recurrent miscarriage.

Acute laryngeal dyspnea as first presentation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a multi-organ disease which mostly affects lungs, kidney, and head and neck region. We report a rare case of acute laryngeal dyspnea and rapidly progressive pulmonary changes as first manifestations of disease. A 53 year-old woman presented with symptoms of two-week dyspnea, which aggravated rapidly in the preceding hours.

Determinants of substrate and cation transport in the human Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporter NaDC3.

Metabolic intermediates, such as succinate and citrate, regulate important processes ranging from energy metabolism to fatty acid synthesis. Cytosolic concentrations of these metabolites are controlled, in part, by members of the SLC13 gene family. The molecular mechanism underlying Na(+)-coupled di- and tricarboxylate transport by this family is understood poorly.

The immunoexpression of CD34, Bcl-2, and Ki-67 antigens in sinonasal inverted papillomas.

Background: Numerous molecular markers of sinonasal inverted papillomas (IP) were investigated in the past; however, significance of angiogenesis and inhibition of apoptosis were not well documented. This study was designed to determine expression of angiogenic marker CD34 antigen, antiapoptotic marker Bcl-2 oncoprotein, and proliferative marker Ki-67 antigen in the group of patients with IP. We matched up these findings to the group of patients with sinonasal carcinoma (SNC) and used chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients as control group.

Localization of the calcium-regulated citrate transport process in proximal tubule cells.

Urinary citrate is an important inhibitor of calcium-stone formation. Most of the citrate reabsorption in the proximal tubule is thought to occur via a dicarboxylate transporter NaDC1 located in the apical membrane. OK cells, an established opossum kidney proximal tubule cell line, transport citrate but the characteristics change with extracellular calcium such that low calcium solutions stimulate total citrate transport as well as increase the apparent affinity for transport.

Evaluation of biophysical skin parameters and assessment of hair growth in patients with acne treated with isotretinoin.

Introduction: Treatment of the severe forms of acne vulgaris remains a challenge. Isotretinoin is a drug often used in these cases. Retinoids affect the mechanisms that play a role in the pathogenesis of acne, reduce the production of sebum and sizes of the sebaceous glands.

Sodium-coupled dicarboxylate and citrate transporters from the SLC13 family.

The SLC13 family in humans and other mammals consists of sodium-coupled transporters for anionic substrates: three transporters for dicarboxylates/citrate and two transporters for sulfate. This review will focus on the di- and tricarboxylate transporters: NaDC1 (SLC13A2), NaDC3 (SLC13A3), and NaCT (SLC13A5). The substrates of these transporters are metabolic intermediates of the citric acid cycle, including citrate, succinate, and α-ketoglutarate, which can exert signaling effects through specific receptors or can affect metabolic enzymes directly.

Functional characterization of SdcF from Bacillus licheniformis, a homolog of the SLC13 Na⁺/dicarboxylate transporters.

The SdcF transporter from Bacillus licheniformis (gene BL02343) is a member of the divalent anion sodium symporter (DASS)/SLC13 family that includes Na⁺/dicarboxylate transporters from bacteria to humans. SdcF was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli (BL21) and assayed in right side out membrane vesicles. ScdF catalyzed the sodium-coupled transport of succinate and α-ketoglutarate.

[Rare case of giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus].

The benign lesions of esophagus constitutes small part of all esophageal tumors and among them giant esophageal polyps are exceptionally rarely reported. The authors present the uncommon case of pedunculated giant fibrovascular polyp (lenght 12cm and diameter 2cm) in the esophagus in a 79-years-old woman who was admitted to our department because of hoarseness, throat discomfort during swallowing and endoral tumor regurgitation during cough. The polyp was removed by minimally invasive approach by endoscopic procedure which was particularly important in our patient because of her advanced age.