The aim of this paper is to compare susceptibility to the Stroop effect in men with schizophrenia and in men with frontal lobe lesions. A sample of 90 men participated in the study. They were divided into three groups: men with schizophrenia (n = 30), men with localized frontal lobe lesions (n = 30) and healthy men (n = 30) as a control group. Significant differences measures found between controls and men with schizophrenia in all of the analyzed variable (Control task execution time p 0,001; Interference task execution time: p 0,001; Difference between two times p 0,05). Men with frontal lobe lesions differed significantly from healthy controls in the terms of speed of the task execution (Control task execution time p 0,01; Interference task execution time: p 0,01), but were no more prone to the Stroop effect than healthy controls. No significant differences were found between schizophrenia and frontal lobe lesion groups.
A new approach to comparative modeling of proteins, TRACER, is described and benchmarked against classical modeling procedures. The new method unifies true three-dimensional threading with coarse-grained sampling of query protein conformational space. The initial sequence alignment of a query protein with a template is not required, although a template needs to be somehow identified. The template is used as a multi-featured fuzzy three-dimensional scaffold. The conformational search for the query protein is guided by intrinsic force field of the coarse-grained modeling engine CABS and by compatibility with the template scaffold. During Replica Exchange Monte Carlo simulations the model chain representing the query protein finds the best possible structural alignment with the template chain, that also optimizes the intra-protein interactions as approximated by the knowledge based force field of CABS. The benchmark done for a representative set of query/template pairs of various degrees of sequence similarity showed that the new method allows meaningful comparative modeling also for the region of marginal, or non-existing, sequence similarity. Thus, the new approach significantly extends the applicability of comparative modeling.
Conformations of globular proteins in the denatured state were studied using a high-resolution lattice model of proteins and Monte Carlo dynamics. The model assumes a united-atom and high-coordination lattice representation of the polypeptide conformational space. The force field of the model mimics the short-range protein-like conformational stiffness, hydrophobic interactions of the side chains and the main-chain hydrogen bonds. Two types of approximations for the short-range interactions were compared: simple statistical potentials and knowledge-based protein-specific potentials derived from the sequence-structure compatibility of short fragments of protein chains. Model proteins in the denatured state are relatively compact, although the majority of the sampled conformations are globally different from the native fold. At the same time short protein fragments are mostly native-like. Thus, the denatured state of the model proteins has several features of the molten globule state observed experimentally. Statistical potentials induce native-like conformational propensities in the denatured state, especially for the fragments located in the core of folded proteins. Knowledge-based protein-specific potentials increase only slightly the level of similarity to the native conformations, in spite of their qualitatively higher specificity in the native structures. For a few cases, where fairly accurate experimental data exist, the simulation results are in semiquantitative agreement with the physical picture revealed by the experiments. This shows that the model studied in this work could be used efficiently in computational studies of protein dynamics in the denatured state, and consequently for studies of protein folding pathways, i.e. not only for the modeling of folded structures, as it was shown in previous studies. The results of the present studies also provide a new insight into the explanation of the Levinthal's paradox.
Objective: The analysis of family risk factors associated with the occurrence of suicidal attempts and self-mutilation in girls aged 12–16 years old. Material and method: The participants of this study consisted of 34 girls aged 12–16 years old, hospitalized in the Department of Paediatrics of the Medical University (Klinika Pediatrii UM) in Lublin due to suicidal attempts. Fifty-five percent of the participants came from complete families, 20% were brought up by mothers only, 20% declared their parents to be divorced. The majority of the girls (76%) were hospitalized due to medication overdose, 8% due to medication overdose and vein cutting, and 5% due to medication and alcohol overdose. The participants were presented with a complementary metric survey, and guided interviews were carried out with them. Results: A positive relationship between the number of self-mutilation acts and the number of suicidal attempts has been shown. The greatest number of suicidal attempts has been observed in the group of girls whose parents were divorced. Such a relationship has not been observed in the case of self-mutilation acts. A positive correlation has been observed between the feeling of isolation and the number of self-mutilation acts and suicidal attempts. The increase in the number of family rows was indicative of the increase in the number of self-mutilation acts. The feeling of being rejected by the family was positively related to the number of suicidal attempts. Conclusions: Adolescent girls with a tendency towards suicidal behaviours are simultaneously prone to self-destructive behaviours. Parental relationships affect the girls’ functioning, with the risk of suicidal attempts being higher in the group of girls whose parents are divorced. The risk of suicidal attempts and self-mutilation acts increases with the feeling of isolation in teenage girls.
PL
Cel: Analiza rodzinnych czynników ryzyka występowania prób samobójczych i samouszkodzeń u dziewcząt w wieku 12–16 lat. Materiał i metoda: Grupa badana obejmowała 34 dziewczęta w wieku 12–16 lat hospitalizowane w Klinice Pediatrii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lublinie z powodu próby samobójczej. Pięćdziesiąt pięć procent badanych pochodziło z rodzin pełnych, 20% wychowywała matka, a u 20% rodzice byli po rozwodzie. Najwięcej dziewcząt hospitalizowano z powodu przedawkowania leków (76%), 8% z powodu przedawkowania leków oraz podcięcia żył, a 5% z powodu przedawkowania leków i alkoholu. Badanym przedstawiono ankietę autorską, metryczkową oraz przeprowadzono z nimi wywiad ukierunkowany. Wyniki: Stwierdzono dodatnią zależność między liczbą samookaleczeń a liczbą prób samobójczych. Wykazano, że najwięcej prób samobójczych wystąpiło w grupie dziewcząt, których rodzice byli po rozwodzie. Nie odnotowano takiej zależności w odniesieniu do samookaleczeń. Zaobserwowano dodatnią korelację między poczuciem osamotnienia a liczbą samookaleczeń i prób samobójczych. Wraz ze wzrostem awantur domowych wzrastała liczba samookaleczeń. Poczucie odrzucenia ze strony rodziny wpływało dodatnio na liczbę prób samobójczych. Wnioski: Dziewczęta w wieku dorastania z tendencją do zachowań samobójczych są jednocześnie podatne na zachowania autodestrukcyjne. Relacje rodziców wpływają na ich funkcjonowanie – ryzyko wystąpienia prób samobójczych jest wyższe w grupie dziewcząt, których rodzice są po rozwodzie. Ryzyko prób samobójczych oraz samookaleczeń zwiększa się wraz z poczuciem osamotnienia dziewcząt.
Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that modifies the activity of hormones, leading to adverse health effects. BPA is a stabilizer of polyvinyl chloride – one of the most common synthetic plastic polymers, used in the production of common products, including packaging materials, plastic bottles, toys, and thermal paper; it is also used to synthetize the epoxy resins, a component of food cans. Hence, consumption of canned products – the source of BPA exposure – increases BPA concentration in human body and may increase the risk of several lifestyle diseases and hormonal, metabolic, and fertility disorders. Objectives: To evaluate the regularity of consumption of canned products among young women living in the city of Gdansk (Poland). Patients and methods: 277 women filled a food frequency questionnaire to determine consumption of alimentary products which, according to published research, may be contaminated with BPA Results: Products with high BPA content (>100 ng/g) were consumed at least once a week by 7% of respondents, while these with moderate (10-100 ng/g) and low (<10 ng/g) content of BPA by 33% and 60%, respectively. Conclusions: Young women regularly consume canned products, mostly with low or moderate BPA content. However, persistent exposure, even at low doses, may trigger adverse health effects. Thus, it is crucial to conduct further research on the effects of this EDC on human health and reconsider tolerable daily intake, if such a safe dose of BPA exposure exists. Simultaneously, it would be advisable to find safer materials for food packaging, free from EDC.
PL
Wstęp: Bisfenol A (BPA) jest organicznym związkiem endokrynnie czynnym (ang. endocrine disrupting chemical, EDC), który modyfikuje pracę hormonów powadząc do niekorzystnych dla zdrowia skutków. BPA jest substancją stabilizującą chlorek poliwinylu – jednego z najczęściej stosowanych polimerów plastiku, wykorzystywanego w produkcji powszechnie używanych produktów, w tym: opakowań, plastikowych butelek, zabawek, papieru paragonowego; używany jest także w produkcji żywic epoksydowych umieszczanych w puszkach do żywności. Zatem spożywanie produktów puszkowanych, będące źródłem ekspozycji na BPA, zwiększa jego stężenie BPA w organizmie człowieka i może zwiększać ryzyko chorób cywilizacyjnych, a także zaburzeń hormonalnych, metabolicznych oraz płodności. Celem pracy było oszacowanie częstości spożycia produktów puszkowanych wśród młodych mieszkanek Gdańska. Pacjenci i metody: 277 kobiet wypełniło kwestionariusz żywieniowy mający na celu określenie spożycia produktów puszkowanych, które według danych literaturowych mogą być zanieczyszczone BPA. Wyniki: Produkty o wysokim stężeniu BPA (>100 ng/g) były konsumowane co najmniej raz w tygodniu przez 7% respodentów, podczas gdy te o umiarkowanym (10–100 ng/g) oraz niskim stężeniu (<10 ng/g), były spożywane z tą samą częstością przez odpowiednio 33% oraz 60%. Wnioski: Młode kobiety regularnie spożywają produkty puszkowane, głównie o niskim oraz umiarkowanym stężeniu BPA. Jednakże, długotrwała ekspozycja, nawet na niewielkie dawki, może wywoływać niekorzystne dla zdrowia skutki. Kluczowym jest przeprowadzenie dalszych badań celem określenia efektów ekspozycji człowieka na ten związek oraz ponowne rozważenie tolerowanego dziennego spożycia oraz tego czy istnieje bezpieczna dawka narażenia na BPA. Jednocześnie wskazane jest znalezienie materiałów do opakowań produktów spożywczych, które będą pozbawione EDC.
Nowadays, because of irregular lifestyle, high level of stress dietary supplements (DS) are becoming more popular as a source of needful nutrients among millions of people all over the world. The main purpose of present study was to estimate prevalence of dietary supplement consumption in sport, motivation in DS usage and sources of information. Anonymous self-administered questionnaire was spread among students of medical faculty in the end of their fourth year of study. There were 218 students of the fourth year of the Medical Faculty, of which 60.1% were females and 39.9% were males. Males more often used or had been using dietary supplements than females. The most popular dietary supplement was whey protein. The most common aim among men was to build up muscle mass. It is possible to state conclusions that prevalence of using dietary supplement among students is similar to values reported previously in the literature. Males were definitely more often undertaking physical activity in the gym and that could be the reason why they were definitely more often using specific dietary supplements.
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