Journals of Rzeszow University - Open Journal System
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Evaluation of adrenomedullin, growth differentiation factor-15, and atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Get PDFIntroduction and aim. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation and systemic complications, including cardiovascular involvement. This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of angiotensinogen (AGT), serum amyloid A-4 protein (SAA4) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in RA, along with new cardiac biomarkers adrenomedullin (ADM), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), to assess cardiac complications.
Material and methods. This case-control study included 61 RA patients (divided into newly diagnosed, sDMARD-treated, and sDMARD/bDMARD-treated groups) and 27 healthy controls. Serum levels of AGT, SAA4, CRP, ADM, GDF-15, and ANP were measured using ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.
Results. RA patients exhibited significantly elevated levels of AGT (40.841±17.285 µg/mL), SAA4 (48.128±17.065 ng/mL), CRP (13.097±18.702 mg/L), ADM (96.295±19.424 pg/mL), GDF-15 (1247.049±854.335 pg/mL), and ANP (334.016±40.874 pg/mL) levels compared to controls (p≤0.001). No significant differences were observed between the treatment groups for AGT, SAA4, or CRP levels. Cardiac biomarkers (ADM, GDF-15, and ANP) remained elevated in all RA groups, with strong inter-parameter correlations (Spearman r>0.6).
Conclusion. AGT, SAA4, and CRP demonstrate robust diagnostic value for RA. Persistent elevation of ADM, GDF-15, and ANP in all patient groups confirms significant cardiac involvement in RA
Aprocitentan mitigates ischemia reperfusion induced kidney injury in rats by attenuating inflammation and pyroptosis through suppressing NF-κB/NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway
Get PDFIntroduction and aim. Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a primary cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The NF-κB/NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling system is crucial for I/R-induced kidney damage, which leads to inflammation, pyroptosis, and tissue damage. Aprocitentan has anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective properties, suggesting its potential nephroprotective advantages.
The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the protective advantages of aprocitentan against renal I/R injury in rat models. This was achieved by evaluating the impact of aprocitentan on inflammation, pyroptosis, and kidney function by altering the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway.
Material and methods. Using twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, four separate groups were formed: sham group, I/R control group, dimethyl sulfoxide group (DMSO) and aprocitentan group (10 mg/kg). Renal ischemia/reperfusion was induced by a period of forty minutes of bilateral ischemia, which was followed by two hours of reperfusion. To evaluate the renoprotective effect of aprocitentan urea, creatinine, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), and cysteine-aspartic protease-1 (caspase-1), were measured, along with histopathological examination.
Results. Compared to the sham group, the I/R control group had significantly increased concentrations of urea, creatinine, NGAL, NF-κB p65, NLRP3, as well as caspase-1. These signs decreased in the aprocitentan group, leading to enhanced renal function, reduction of inflammation, and inhibition of pyroptosis. Histology showed a decrease in tubular inflammation and necrosis in the aprocitentan group.
Conclusion. Aprocitentan decreases inflammation and inhibits pyroptosis by suppressing the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway. These results illustrate its promising potential to prevent ischemic renal diseases, including acute kidney injury
Plasma KIM-1 and interleukin-18 are superior biomarkers for diagnosing and stratifying risk in type 1 acute cardiorenal syndrome
Get PDFIntroduction and aim. Acute cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is a condition in which acute cardiac dysfunction leads to acute kidney injury (AKI), resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels in acute CRS compared to acute heart failure (AHF) and healthy controls.
Material and methods. A case-control study was conducted with 90 participants divided into three groups: control (n=30), AHF (n=30), and acute CRS (n=30). Renal function parameters (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, estimated glomerular filtration rate) and plasma biomarkers (KIM-1, IL-18) were measured. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate diagnostic performance and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of disease outcomes.
Results. Plasma KIM-1 and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in the acute CRS group than in the AHF and control groups. KIM-1 demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy (the area under the curve (AUC)=1.000) with 100% sensitivity and specificity, while IL-18 also performed well (AUC=0.96, sensitivity=96%, specificity=97%). ROC analysis identified plasma KIM-1 and IL-18 cut-off values of >72.78 pg/mL and >254.8 pg/mL, respectively, which may be used as thresholds for early diagnosis and risk stratification. Logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma KIM-1 was a significant predictor of adverse outcomes (OR=3.5, 95% CI 1.50–8.49, p=0.003), while IL-18 also contributed to risk stratification (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.125, p=0.03). These adverse outcomes included progression to kidney disease. However, these findings require validation in an independent cohort to confirm reproducibility and generalizability.
Conclusion. KIM-1 and IL-18 are highly effective biomarkers for diagnosing and stratifying the risk of acute CRS, outperforming traditional markers of renal function. Their clinical integration could enable early detection and personalized treatment, thus improving patient outcomes. However, more studies with larger cohorts, serial measurements, and independent validation are warranted
Efficacy of furosemide in patients with chronic kidney disease with residual renal functions in hemodialysis and non-hemodialysis patients
Get PDFIntroduction and aim. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects kidney function, characterized by albuminuria or reduced estimat ed glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and is influenced by factors such as etiology, pathogenesis, intensity, and progression. Ac cording to data from the literature, the efficacy of furosemide has not been much researched much in CKD patients. The study evaluates the efficacy in chronic kidney disease patients, regardless of hemodialysis, and compares its diuretic effect based on the administration route.
Material and methods. A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary healthcare facility for 6 months (October 2021 to March 2022). 100 CKD patients who met the criteria were enrolled in the study. Data on study-relevant parameters, such as route of administration (ROA), hemodialysis frequency, hospital stay, blood urea, serum creatinine, sodium, and potas sium, were collected. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to evaluate the association between parameters. One-way ANOVA was applied to analyze the significant association between ROA and urine output.
Results. Of all the study samples, 72% received intravenous furosemide and 28% received furosemide orally. There was a sig nificant difference in eGFR and urine output on admission and discharge days. There was an increase in urine output when the patient received furosemide and improvement in eGFR was found. A significant association was also observed between systolic blood pressure, sodium, and potassium.
Conclusion. The study found no significant differences in furosemide efficacy in CKD patients, regardless of ROA, hospital stay, or frequency of hemodialysis, indicating similar effectiveness
Protective and ameliorative effects of Picrorhiza kurroa rhizome extract against drug-induced liver injury in rats model
Get PDFIntroduction and aim. The study evaluated the hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of Picrorhiza kurroa rhizome ex tracts in rats, assessing their ability to scavenge free radicals and protect against liver damage.
Material and methods. Liver damage was observed in Wistar rats after seven days of oral paracetamol (PCM) and azithromycin (AZM) combination therapy, with serum biomarkers evaluated for effect.
Results. During the DPPH experiment, the antioxidant DPPH assay on rats’ livers revealed that the ethanol extract of P. kurroa demonstrated free radical scavenging activity. The crude ethanol extract of P. kurroa showed a 15.62% yield and 48.62 IC50 values in an antioxidant DPPH experiment. Long-term treatment reduces liver toxicity by balancing biochemical factors. When compared to the group that received only PCM and AZM, the rats treated with P. kurroa crude extract showed a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate pyruvic transaminase, and bilirubin (p<0.001) while showing an increase in protein and albumin at all doses (p<0.05). In addition, it was reproved by in vivo antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase, lactate dehydrogenase, catalase, and glutathione, which were also examined to verify its strong hepatoprotective effect.
Conclusion. The study found that the ethanolic extract of P. kurroa rhizome has the potential to protect against liver damage caused by PCM and AZM due to its complementary anti-oxidant properties
Comparative efficacy of topical microbicides in the prevention of HIV transmission – results from a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Get PDFIntroduction and aim. Preventing new HIV infections is crucial, particularly for women and girls at high risk. Vaginal microbi cides offer a female-controlled HIV prevention method. This systematic review evaluated the comparative efficacy of topical microbicides in preventing HIV transmission.
Material and methods. Electronic databases were searched up to May 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing topical microbicides versus placebo/no treatment in sexually active women. The primary outcome was the incidence of HIV. A random effects network meta-analysis (NMA) was employed. Relative ranking was assessed using surface under the cumula tive ranking curve (SUCRA) probabilities.
Analysis of literature. Thirteen RCTs were included in the review comparing the dapivirine ring, the tenofovir gel, BufferGel, PRO 2000, Carraguard, cellulose sulfate, or SAVVY against placebos. Compared to placebo, only dapivirine significantly reduced HIV incidence (risk ratio (RR) 0.71 [95% CI 0.56 to 0.91]). Dapivirine was superior to BufferGel (RR 0.61 [95% CI 0.39 to 0.94]) and SAVVY (RR 0.52 [95% CI 0.28 to 0.97]). Dapivirine ranked highest in efficacy (SUCRA=0.93), followed by tenofovir (SUCRA=0.76). In general, consistent network results with some small study effects.
Conclusion. This study supports the use of the vaginal dapivirine ring for HIV prevention over SAVVY or BufferGel. More high-quality trials are needed to validate the efficacy of tenofovir gel
Ochotnicze hufce pracy w latach 1958‒1992. Powstanie – struktura organizacyjna – zadania w świetle podstawowych aktów prawnych
Get PDFThe goal of this paper is to characterize the Volunteer Labor Corps across various aspects: oversight and organizational structure, conditions and methods of youth recruitment, scope of duties, tasks, and methods of operation, as well as funding principles (here: sources of funding and equipment for the corps) against the backdrop of events in the country. The lower limit is defined by the year of the resolution of the Council of Ministers from June 13, 1958, on the establishment of corps with goals aligned with the real socialist economy, while the upper limit is set by the year of the regulation of the Council of Ministers from September 8, 1992, sanctioning the adaptation of the Corps to the needs of the market economy.
The analysis was conducted based on the foundational legislation, thus theoretically. The empirical side was omitted, which is the subject of a separate study. The intention was to indicate the programmatic evolution of the OHP, including the shift in the vision of the organization at the turn of the 90s, and the following few years.
The OHP evolved from 1958 to 1992 under the influence of events in the country. It positively contributed to youth employment policy during the era of the Polish People’s Republic and the Third Polish Republic, despite systemic and economic changes. Indeed, until the turning point of the late 1980s and early 1990s, ideological content predominated over economic content in the program, but the latter occupied an important place in the list of tasks. Over time, ideological goals were omitted in legislation.Moim celem jest charakterystyka ochotniczych hufców pracy w różnych aspektach badawczych: zwierzchności i struktury organizacyjnej, warunków i metod rekrutacji młodzieży, zakresu obowiązków, zadań i metod działania oraz zasad finansowania (tu: źródeł finansowania i wyposażenia hufców) na tle wydarzeń w kraju. Dolną granicę analizy określa rok ukazania się uchwały Rady Ministrów z 13 czerwca 1958 r. o powołaniu hufców o celach wpisanych w gospodarkę realnego socjalizmu, górną zaś rok wydania rozporządzenia Rady Ministrów z 8 września 1992 r. sankcjonującego dostosowanie hufców do potrzeb gospodarki rynkowej.
Analiza opiera się na podstawowym ustawodawstwie, ma zatem charakter teoretyczny. Pominięto stronę empiryczną, która jest przedmiotem mojego odrębnego opracowania. Moim celem było wskazanie na ewolucję programową OHP, w tym na zwrot w wizji organizacji na przełomie lat 80. i 90. oraz na początku lat 90. XX wieku.
OHP ewaluowało w latach 1958‒1992 pod wpływem wydarzeń w kraju. Pozytywnie wpisało się w politykę zatrudnienia młodzieży w okresie Polski Ludowej oraz Trzeciej Rzeczpospolitej, pomimo zmian ustrojowych i ekonomicznych. Wprawdzie do przełomu lat 80. i 90. XX wieku w programie przeważały treści ideowe nad ekonomicznymi, ale te drugie zajmowały istotne miejsce w wykazie zadań. Potem cele ideowe zostały w ustawodawstwie pominięte
Problematyka handlu zagranicznego w rozważaniach polskich merkantylistów
Get PDFRepresentatives of the doctrine of mercantilism (merchant capitalism) proposed a new look at economic policy, including the role of foreign trade in the creation and multiplication of wealth, in the development of productive forces. In their view, economic policy should be conducted in the spirit of interventionism and customs protectionism.
The mercantilists, justifying the economic and political-militaristic expansion of the state, advocated both the protection of trade and domestic production (especially industrial), and the protection of their own market against external competition. Therefore, on the one hand, they supported a pro-export policy, and on the other hand, they supported an anti-import policy.
Economic and demographic conditions in Western Europe determined the development of the manor and serf economy in Poland. The growing demand for agricultural products triggered the mechanism of wealth growth, which translated into improved farming conditions in agriculture. The change of the terms of trade index in the 17th century triggered the reverse mechanism, the profitability of agricultural production was systematically decreasing.Przedstawiciele doktryny merkantylizmu (kapitalizmu kupieckiego) zaproponowali nowe spojrzenie na politykę gospodarczą, w tym na rolę handlu zagranicznego w tworzeniu i pomnażaniu bogactwa, w rozwoju sił wytwórczych. W ich ujęciu polityka gospodarcza powinna być prowadzona w duchu interwencjonizmu i protekcjonizmu celnego.
Merkantyliści, uzasadniając ekonomiczną i polityczno-militarystyczną ekspansję państwa, opowiadali się zarówno za ochroną handlu i rodzimej produkcji (zwłaszcza przemysłowej), jak i za ochroną własnego rynku przed konkurencją zewnętrzną. Dlatego też z jednej strony popierali politykę proeksportową, a z drugiej, wspierali politykę antyimportową.
Uwarunkowania gospodarczo-demograficzne w Europie Zachodniej zadecydowały o rozwoju gospodarki folwarczno-pańszczyźnianej w XVI-wiecznej Polsce. Jednak zamiana wskaźnika terms of trade w XVII w. uruchomiła mechanizm odwrotny, opłacalność produkcji rolnej systematycznie malała i dlatego wzrosło zainteresowanie koncepcją „zwarcia granic”
Potrzeby seniorów na tle zmian sytuacji demograficznej gmin wiejskich Podkarpacia
Get PDFThe ageing of society and the growing awareness of the need to activate older people encourage the intensification of activities aimed at improving their quality of life, especially in rural areas, which require adapted local senior policy. Demographic processes and the growing dissatisfaction of seniors have made them an important subject of social policy at various levels. The aim of this article was to identify the needs of seniors living in rural areas of the Podkarpacie region and to highlight demographic changes in this area as a significant determinant of planning actions to address current challenges in local senior policy. To achieve the research objective, the following research hypotheses were formulated: 1. Seniors living in rural areas of the Podkarpacie Voivodeship perceive the poor economic development of municipalities, and with age, their opinions in this regard become increasingly critical; 2. Seniors report deficits in meeting diverse needs, and the variability of their views is determined by gender, age, education, and financial situation.
In the study of the needs of seniors in rural communes in the Podkarpackie Province, the paper survey technique (PAPI) was used. A specially prepared tool was used, i.e. a survey questionnaire, which consisted of two parts. The first part consisted of questions describing the respondents. The second part contained questions regarding local conditions and the needs of seniors living in rural areas.
Analyses of the respondents’ responses showed that older people have an average assessment of the development of communes, and their opinions deteriorate with age. Seniors highly evaluate administrative services, but most of all indicate deficits in the area of health care and social care. Younger seniors emphasize the need to develop recreational opportunities, while women draw attention to the importance of intergenerational integration. A decline in seniors’ interest in public and social activity is also observed.Starzenie się społeczeństwa i świadomość potrzeby aktywizacji osób starszych skłaniają do intensyfikacji działań na rzecz poprawy ich jakości życia, szczególnie na obszarach wiejskich, które wymagają dostosowanej lokalnej polityki senioralnej. Procesy demograficzne i rosnące niezadowolenie seniorów uczyniły ich istotnym podmiotem polityki społecznej na różnych szczeblach. Celem artykułu była identyfikacja potrzeb seniorów zamieszkujących obszary wiejskie Podkarpacia oraz wskazanie przemian demograficznych na tym obszarze jako istotnego uwarunkowania planowania działań odpowiadających na aktualne wyzwania w obszarze lokalnej polityki senioralnej. Dla zrealizowania założonego celu badawczego sformułowano następujące hipotezy badawcze: 1) seniorzy zamieszkujący obszary wiejskie województwa podkarpackiego dostrzegają słaby rozwój gospodarczy gmin, a wraz z wiekiem ich opinie w tym zakresie stają się coraz bardziej krytyczne; 2) seniorzy zgłaszają deficyty w obszarze zaspokojenia zróżnicowanych potrzeb, a zmienność ich poglądów determinowana jest płcią, wiekiem, wykształceniem i sytuacją materialną.
W badaniu potrzeb seniorów w gminach wiejskich w województwie podkarpackim, wykorzystano technikę ankiety papierowej (PAPI). Posłużono się specjalnie przygotowanym narzędziem, tj. kwestionariuszem ankiety, który składał się z dwóch części. Pierwszą część stanowiły pytania opisujące respondentów. Druga część zawierała pytania dotyczące lokalnych warunków i potrzeb seniorów mieszkających na obszarach wiejskich.
Analiza odpowiedzi respondentów wykazała, że osoby starsze przeciętnie oceniają rozwój gmin, a ich opinie pogarszają się wraz z wiekiem. Wysoko natomiast oceniają obsługę administracyjną, lecz wskazują w największym stopniu na deficyty w zakresie ochrony zdrowia i opieki społecznej. Młodsiseniorzy podkreślają potrzebę rozwoju oferty rekreacyjnej, natomiast kobiety zwracają uwagę na znaczenie integracji międzypokoleniowej. Obserwuje się również spadek zainteresowania seniorów aktywnością publiczną i społeczną
Percepcja zjawiska aktywnego zabójcy w Polsce
Get PDFIn this article, the author addresses two research questions: How is the phenomenon of the active killer defined in Polish criminal law and in documents regulating the preparation and operational activities of the Polish Police? To what extent does the phenomenon of the active killer pose a real threat to public safety and order in Poland? Accordingly, two research hypotheses were formulated and confirmed in light of the conducted analyses and presented research findings: In Poland, attacks are carried out using the active killer mechanism, which pose a real threat to public safety and order; Polish criminal law and documents regulating Police activities lack a unified and consistent definition of the active killer phenomenon, which hinders its clear classification and effective prevention. The first part of the article presents the definitional aspects of the analyzed phenomenon, while the subsequent sections offer an analysis of crimes committed on Polish territory using the active killer modus operandi. The article is further supported by the author’s original research, conducted between 2019 and 2023 as part of doctoral proceedings.W niniejszym artykule autor udzielił odpowiedzi na dwa pytania badawcze: Jak definiowane jest zjawisko aktywnego zabójcy w polskim prawie karnym oraz dokumentach regulujących przygotowanie i działanie polskiej Policji? W jakim stopniu zjawisko aktywnego zabójcy stanowi rzeczywiste zagrożenie dla bezpieczeństwa i porządku publicznego w Polsce? W związku z powyższym sformułowano dwie hipotezy badawcze, które – w świetle przeprowadzonych analiz i zaprezentowanych wyników badań – zostały potwierdzone: na terenie Polski dochodzi do ataków realizowanych w mechanizmie aktywnego zabójcy, które stanowią realne zagrożenie dla bezpieczeństwa i porządku publicznego; w polskim prawie karnym oraz w dokumentach regulujących działania Policji brak jest jednolitej i spójnej definicji zjawiska aktywnego zabójcy, co utrudnia jego jednoznaczną klasyfikację oraz skuteczne przeciwdziałanie. W pierwszej części artykułu przedstawiono aspekt definicyjny analizowanego zjawiska, natomiast w dalszej części dokonano analizy przestępstw popełnionych na terytorium Polski z wykorzystaniem mechanizmu działania aktywnego zabójcy. Uzupełnienie stanowią wyniki badań własnych autora przeprowadzonych w latach 2019–2023 w ramach postępowania doktorskiego