Postdiagenetic Changes in Kerogen Properties and Type by Bacterial Oxidation and Dehydrogenation

A significant part of organic carbon found on the earth is deposited as fossil organic matter in the lithosphere. The most important reservoir of carbon is shale rocks enriched with organic matter in the form of kerogen created during diagenesis. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the bacterial communities currently inhabiting the shale rocks have had any impact on the properties and type of kerogen. We used the shale rock located on the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, which is characterized by oil-prone kerogen type II. We were able to show that shale rock inhabited by bacterial communities are characterized by oxidized and dehydrated kerogen type III (gas-prone) and type IV (nonproductive, residual, and hydrogen-free). Bacterial communities inhabiting shale rock were dominated by heterotrophs of the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria phyla. Additionally, we detected a number of protein sequences in the metaproteomes of bacterial communities matched with enzymes involved in the oxidative metabolism of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, which may potentially contribute to the postdiagenetic oxidation and dehydrogenation of kerogen. The kerogen transformation contributes to the mobilization of fossil carbon in the form of extractable bitumen dominated by oxidized organic compounds.

The use of panniculectomy in morbidly obese patients undergoing gynecological surgery

Panniculectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removal of the skin and fat excess which facilitates access to the peritoneal cavity. In the paper we present three cases of morbidly obese women (BMI: 46.3-59.5) who were treated in the Department of Gynecology and Oncological Gynecology in Lodz. One of the patients underwent an operation due to the presence of a large cervical myoma. Two another women were treated for endometrial cancer. During all of the three procedures panniculectomy was the first stage of the operation.

Coagulation and fibrynolitic parameters in women and the effects of hormone therapy; comparison of transdermal and oral administration

It is established that hormone therapy (HT) is related with significant increased prothrombotic risk factor. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of oral hormone therapy (o-HT) and transdermal hormone therapy (t-HT) on hemostasis parameters: fibrinogen (Fg) concentration, the maximum velocity of polymerization of clot formation, fibrin half-time lysis, plasma level of thrombin inhibitor of fibrinolysis (TAFI) and activity of generated thrombin and plasmin amidolytic activity. We observed that values of initial velocity of polymerization in o-HT group were increased (94.64 mOD/min vs. 131.50 mOD/min, p < 0.001) compared to control group. Fibrin lysis half-time increased in both groups with HT (controls - 18.26 min vs. 32.43 min (o-HT); 23.34 min transdermal hormone therapy (t-HT) p < 0.001) compared to controls. The activity of thrombin was statistically higher in plasma of women after o-HT (72.6 ± 8.5 mOD/min) than in patients with t-HT (53.7 ± 10.1 mOD/min) and controls (51.2 ± 10 mOD/min. Plasmin activity was the highest in controls (84.5 ± 10.2 mOD/min). The highest level of TAFI we observed in patients after oral hormones (80.38 ± 8.23%); women on transdermal HT had 61.58 ± 9.81% and the lowest concentration of TAFI we noted in controls 44.70 ± 10.16). The results of our study show that HT may partly explain the increase in venous thrombosis (VTE) and cardiovascular events reported after the use of it, especially the oral form of treatment.

Changes in hemostatic parameters after oral and transdermal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women

Hormone therapy (HT) can be prothrombotic risk factor. We compared the effects of oral HT (o-HT) and transdermal HT (t-HT) on the kinetic of clot formation and fibrinolysis in postmenopausal women after 6 months HT using a multiparameter test. We observed that after HT, the level of fibrinogen was higher than in controls (Fg 3.12 g/l vs. 4.24 g/l (o-HT); 3,7 g/l (t-HT); p < 0.001) and values of velocity of polymerization in o-HT group were increased (95.84 mOD/min vs. 146.50 mOD/min, p < 0.001) compared to controls. Maximum absorbance of formed clots was higher in o-HT group (0.279 vs. 0.312, p < 0.001) than in controls, but in t-HT group was lowest (0.268). Fibrin lysis half-time increased in both HT groups (controls 17.16 min vs. 31.43 min (o-HT); 23.34 min (t-HT) p < 0.001) compared to values in controls. The results of our study show that o-HT caused the changes in clot formation and fibrinolysis than t-HT in postmenopausal women. The increased level of fibrinogen and its accelerated kinetics of polymerization as well as a lower rate of clot lysis may partly explain the increase in venous thrombosis and cardiovascular events reported after the use of HT, especially the oral form of that.

[Dynamic sequences of MR in evaluation of anatomy and function of pelvic floor by perimenopausal women]

Pelvic organ prolapse is one of the most common disorders and it concerns over 50% of women over the age of fifty who gave birth.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to establish a clinically useful protocol of MR investigation in the assessment of pelvic organs position changes during rest and in time of Velsalva test

OBJECTIVE

The material includes 17 postmenopausal women (48- 59-years-old) who were examined due of lumbosacralis discopathy in MR division of USK 1 in Lodz since 2007. The examination was extended to pelvic organs imaging with the help of Velsalva test.

RESULTS

Having compared static and dynamic images of investigated group and results of reference lines measurements, we have found normal pelvic organ position comparing to the H line in case of 10 women, in case of 5 women there was just a small displacement--up to 2 cm under the H line--and in case of 2 other women 2 cm above the H line. We have also found substantial increase of P line length (over 25% during tenesmus) in women with pelvic floor disorders.

CONCLUSION

Dynamic MR imaging proves extremely useful in evaluation of pelvic organs position changes during rest and in time of Velsalva test.

[Occurrence of correlation between occurrence of genital tract candidiasis in young girls and some subjective and objective examination parameters]

The authors tried to find the correlation between the occurrence of genital tract candidiasis in adolescents and some subjective and objective examination parameters. The highest correlation rates were found for pudendal pruritus, lower abdominal pains and early applied antibiotic therapy material: 188 adolescent girls.

[Trial of characterizing bacterial strains isolated from vaginal discharge of girls]

Evaluation of vaginal discharge in children. Vulvovaginitis is one of the most common problems in clinical medicine and it is the cause cited most often for visits of children to gynecologists. The purpose of the study was to examine vaginal discharge and the sensitivity of there microorganisms to antibiotics. In this study the most (prevalent organism) was Escherichia coli (47.5%). We observed high sensitivity of Escherichia coli to examined antibiotics.

[Effect of melatonin on the function of the pituitary-gonadal axis in food restriction states]

The effects of melatonin (25 micrograms s.c. daily in the late afternoon during ten days) on the ovarian morphometry and the gonadotropin secretion were investigated in food-restricted and fed ad libitum rats. It was found that in food-restricted rats melatonin produced the significant decrease of the surface area of the whole ovary and of zona granulosa. Moreover melatonin treatment of food-restricted rats resulted in significant decrease of the relative areas of graafian follicles and zona granulosa estimated in relation to the whole ovary cross-section surface area. On the other hand melatonin did not produced significant alterations of the morphometric indices of the ovary in fed ad libitum rats. Melatonin administration was found to inhibit the effects of gonadotropin release in food-restricted but not in normally fed rats. These findings suggest that food restriction sensitizes the pituitary ovarian axis to antigonadotropic melatonin action.

Food restriction enhances melatonin effects on the pituitary-gonadal axis in female rats

The effects of melatonin (25 micrograms s.c. daily in the late afternoon for 10 days) on the ovarian morphometry and the gonadotropin secretion were investigated in food-restricted rats and rats fed ad libitum. In food-restricted rats melatonin produced the significant decrease of the surface area of the ovary and of zona granulosa. Moreover, melatonin treatment of food-restricted rats resulted in significant diminishment of the relative areas of Graafian follicles and zona granulosa estimated in relation to the ovary cross-sectional surface area. On the other hand, melatonin did not produce significant alterations of the morphometric indices of the ovary in rats fed ad libitum. Melatonin administration was found to inhibit the effects of gonadoliberin on gonadotropin release in food-restricted but not in normally-fed rats. These findings suggest that food restriction sensitizes the pituitary-ovarian axis to antigonadotropic melatonin action.