The novel Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020, impacting the lifestyles, economy, physical and mental health of individuals ...globally. This study aimed to test the model triggered by physical symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection, in which the need for health information and perceived impact of the pandemic mediated the path sequentially, leading to adverse mental health outcomes. A cross-sectional research design with chain mediation model involving 4612 participants from participating 8 countries selected via a respondent-driven sampling strategy was used. Participants completed online questionnaires on physical symptoms, the need for health information, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) questionnaire and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The results showed that Poland and the Philippines were the two countries with the highest levels of anxiety, depression and stress; conversely, Vietnam had the lowest mean scores in these areas. Chain mediation model showed the need for health information, and the perceived impact of the pandemic were sequential mediators between physical symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection (predictor) and consequent mental health status (outcome). Excessive and contradictory health information might increase the perceived impact of the pandemic. Rapid COVID-19 testing should be implemented to minimize the psychological burden associated with physical symptoms, whilst public mental health interventions could target adverse mental outcomes associated with the pandemic.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The physical and mental health of citizens living in a country that encouraged face masks (China) and discouraged face masks (Poland) during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic remained ...unknown. We conducted a cross-country study to compare the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Poles and Chinese. This study aimed to compare the levels of psychological impact of pandemic and levels of anxiety and depression between China and Poland.
The survey collected information on demographic data, physical symptoms, contact history, and precautionary measures. The psychological impact was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and mental health status was assessed by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The chi-squared test was used to analyze the differences in categorical variables between the two populations. Linear regression was used to calculate the bivariate associations between independents variables (e.g., physical symptoms and precautionary measures) and dependent variables (e.g., mental health outcomes).
This study included a total of 2,266 respondents from both countries (1,056 Poles and 1,210 Chinese). There were significantly less Polish respondents who wore face masks (Poles: 35.0%; Chinese: 96.8% p < 0.001). Significantly more Polish respondents reported physical symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection (p < 0.001), recent medical consultation (p < 0.01), recent COVID-19 testing (p < 0.001), and hospitalization (p < 0.01). Furthermore, Polish respondents had significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress (p < 0.001) than Chinese. The mean IES-R scores of Poland and China were above the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Besides precautionary measures, unemployment, retirement, physical symptoms resembling COVID-19 infection, recent medical consultation or COVID-19 testing, and long daily duration of home confinement were risk factors for PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, or stress for Polish respondents.
Use of face masks at the community level may safeguard better physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need of health education with scientific information from Polish health authority on the proper use of face masks and reduce social stigma. This study was limited by the respondent sampling method that had compromised the representativeness of samples.
The aim of the study was to present the manner in which coat colour genes are inherited in the Newfoundland dog breed and to estimate the number of dogs with various coat colours in the Polish ...Newfoundland dog population in 2017. This population numbered 656 dogs, including 248 males and 408 females. The estimated number of dogs of this breed also included all registered puppies, broken down by gender and coat colour. The genes determining coat colour are described, including more precisely the genes responsible for the coat colour of the Newfoundland breed. According to FCI regulations, the coat colours for Newfoundland dogs are black, brown and black-and-white. Other colours, such as brown-and-white or blue, are not recognized for breeding purposes in Europe. The study found that the dominant black coat was predominant in the Polish Newfoundland dog population in 2017. These dogs could be heterozygous at some other loci and have undesirable alleles. The second most common coat colour was chocolate, while the fewest dogs had spotted coats. The group with spotted coats contained more males than females, in contrast to the other two colour variants. There were also individuals with the blue coat colour, which is not accepted for breeding, as the result of mating of parents with proper coat colours. An understanding of how dog coat colours are inherited and the need for tests to determine coat colour genotypes would make it possible to foresee the occurrence of incorrect colours in subsequent generations, which is crucial for Newfoundland dog breeders, whose goal is to obtain dogs whose coat colour is in line with the FCI standard.
The hymenostome ciliate Colpidium kleini undergoes a morphological defence response when in the presence of the predatory ciliate Lembadion bullinum, with cells of C. kleini becoming shorter and ...wider and thus more difficult for L. bullinum to ingest. The ultrastructural events associated with this morphological transformation were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. A number of differences between defended and undefended C. kleini cells were observed with defended cells showing: an increased localization of mitochondria in the peripheral regions of the cell cortex; a mobilization of mucocysts; a change in the appearance of the plasmalemma. Possible explanations for these ultrastructural events are discussed.
This study brings the first evidence for the interclonal variation in the expression of predator-induced morphological defence in ciliates. The degree of response to the ciliate predator Stylonychia ...mytilus was compared in 18 clones of Euplotes octocarinatus. Although all the examined clones were inducible, they attained similar level of the response at a different "dose" of inducing factor. One of the clones maintained the "induced form" permanently, i.e. in the absence of any predator. Furthermore, comparing the effects of two different predators S. mytilus and a turbellarian Stenostomum sp. revealed differences among closely related clones in their relative responses to these predators. The degree of response in a given clone to one predator species did not preclude its response level to the other one suggesting that the expression of the defence to different predators might change independently. Our findings indicate that there is genetic variation for sensitivity to the inducing factors in Euplotes and hence the possibility for selection on this variation.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Genlisea is a terrestrial carnivorous plant which occurs mainly in nutrient-poor soil. It has been known that individuals of ciliates Paramecium caudatum are trapped and digested by this plant. Our ...observations show that Genlisea can trap not only Protozoa but also bigger animals, that their prey depend on the kind of available organisms and that prey were trapped passively. In the laboratory, Genlisea traps contained a variety of organisms: bacteria, algae, protozoans, nematodes, rotifers, annelids, tardigrades, crustaceans and mites.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose of Review
Endometriosis (EM) is a chronic gynecological disease that affects about 10% of women worldwide. It is characterized by the implantation of endometrial cells at ectopic sites. The ...most common symptom of EM is painful menstruation, which can often lead to chronic pelvic pain that significantly worsens the quality of life. Because some disease-related processes, such as inflammation, hormonal activity, menstrual cycle, or prostaglandin metabolism, can be modified by diet, nutrition may have a significant impact on development and treatment of EM. The purpose of this article was to overview the current knowledge regarding the dietary management of endometriosis.
Recent Findings
The attention of researchers has so far concentrated mainly on the role of nutrition in the risk of developing EM, while less attention has been paid to examining the use of diet in the treatment of the disease. Current studies focus primarily on various dietary components that have antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and estrogen-lowering properties.
Summary
Exploring different ways of coping with endometriosis can make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of women at risk or diagnosed with EM.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has been observed from the very beginning of the fight against COVID-19, some mutations are indicators of potentially dangerous variants of the virus. However, there is no ...clear association between the genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-19. We aimed to analyze the genetic variability of RdRp in correlation with different courses of COVID-19.
The prospective study included 77 samples of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from outpatients (1st degree of severity) and hospitalized patients (2nd, 3rd and 4th degree of severity). The retrospective analyses included 15,898,266 cases of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences deposited in the GISAID repository. Single-nucleotide variants were identified based on the four sequenced amplified fragments of SARS-CoV-2. The analysis of the results was performed using appropriate statistical methods, with p < 0.05, considered statistically significant. Additionally, logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the strongest determinants of the observed relationships. The number of mutations was positively correlated with the severity of the COVID-19, and older male patients. We detected four mutations that significantly increased the risk of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients (14676C > T, 14697C > T, 15096 T > C, and 15279C > T), while the 15240C > T mutation was common among strains isolated from outpatients. The selected mutations were searched worldwide in the GISAID database, their presence was correlated with the severity of COVID-19.
Identified mutations have the potential to be used to assess the increased risk of hospitalization in COVID-19 positive patients. Experimental studies and extensive epidemiological data are needed to investigate the association between individual mutations and the severity of COVID-19.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Urinary tract infections (UTI), among which the main etiological factor is uropathogenic
(UPEC,
), remain an important issue for clinicians. The aim of the study was to demonstrate clear differences ...in the pathogenic properties of urine-derived
compared to other extraintestinal
clinical isolates (derived from: blood, lower respiratory tracts, sputum, reproductive tract, body fluids, perianal pus, other pus, wound, postoperative wound and other sources).
The collection of 784
isolates was collected from various materials of hospitalized patients. They were analyzed in terms of virulence-associated genes (
), belonging to phylogenetic groups and the presence of CRISPR-
regions using PCR. In addition, the epidemiological data and the antibiotic resistance profiles provided by the hospital's microbiology department were included for statistical analyses.
Urine-derived
showed significantly greater virulence potential compared to other isolates, but they were generally unremarkable in terms of drug resistance. The isolates most often belonged to phylogenetic group B2. Drug resistance was negatively correlated with CRISPR 2 presence and high average virulence score, but positively correlated with CRISPR 4 presence. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report significant differences in sputum-derived isolates-they revealed the lowest virulence potential and, at the same time, the highest drug resistance.
In conclusion, we demonstrated significant differences of urinary-derived
compared to other clinical
isolates. We would like to suggest excluding penicillins from use in
infection at this time and monitoring strains with a high pathogenicity potential.
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