Polish Botanical Society

WprowadzenieOd czasu rewolucji przemysowej szybki wzrost liczby ludnoci, urbanizacja i intensyfikacja rolnictwa powoduj postpujc degradacj przyrody (albo ekosystemw) i fragmentacj siedlisk.Nadmierne wykorzystywanie zasobw przyrodniczych, wprowadzanie gatunkw obcych i zmiany klimatyczne doprowadzaj do kurczenia si populacji rodzimych gatunkw rolin.Z tego punktu widzenia dzi, jak nigdy dotd, kluczowego znaczenia nabraa ochrona in situ gatunkw rolin i zachowanie ich naturalnych siedlisk oraz ochrona ex situ realizowana przez ogrody botaniczne (Guerrant i in.(red

BackgroundTogether with other elevated areas, the Mountains of Central Asia are significantly threatened by ongoing climate change. The presence of refuges during the glaciations makes the region extremely rich in species, especially endemic ones. However, the limited potential for colonisation of other habitats makes rocky-related species with ‘island‐like’ distribution, particularly vulnerable to climate change. To understand the processes underlying species response to climate warming, we assessed differences in ecological niches and phylogenetic relationship of two geographically disjunctive alpine species belonging to the genus Sergia. The taxa are considered Tertiary relicts, endemic to the Tian Shan and Pamir-Alai Mountains. To illustrate range dynamics and differences in occupied niches of Sergia species, we used Ecological Niche Modelling of current and future distribution. Whereas, to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship within and between Sergia and other related Campanulaceae species from the region we used molecular data (ITS, cpDNA, DArTseq-derived SNPs).ResultsThe results reveal that the genus Sergia is a polyphyletic group, and its representatives differ geographically, ecologically and genetically. Both S. regelii and S. sewerzowii constitute a common clade with Asyneuma group, however, S. sewerzowii is more closely related to Campanula alberti (a species that has never previously been considered closely related to the genus Asyneuma or Sergia) than to S. regelii. Sergia sewerzowii is adapted to lower elevations with higher temperatures, while S. regelii prefers higher elevations with lower temperatures. The future distribution models demonstrate a dramatic loss of S. regelii range with a shift to suitable habitats in higher elevations, while the potential range of S. sewerzowii increases and shifts to the north.ConclusionsThis study shows that S. regelii and S. sewerzowii have a long and independent evolution history. Sergia regelii and S. sewerzowii significantly differ in realised niches. These differences are mirrored in the response of the studied endemics to future climate warming. As suitable habitats shrink, rapid changes in distribution can lead to species' range loss, which is also directly related to declines in genetic variability. The outcomes of this paper will help to more precisely assess the impact of climate changes on rocky-related plant species found in this world’s biodiversity hotspot.

Weight bias and weight stigma pose significant challenges in healthcare, particularly affecting obesity management practices and patient care quality. Our study evaluates their prevalence and impact among healthcare professionals in Poland. Using the Fat Phobia Scale and custom questions, we surveyed 686 professionals via Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI). Results reveal a moderate level of explicit weight bias (mean score: 3.60 ± 0.57), with significant variations across professional groups: physicians (3.70 ± 0.48), dietitians (3.51 ± 0.48), and others (3.44 ± 0.77). Common feelings towards individuals with obesity include willingness to help (57.0%) and compassion (37.8%), yet 29.9% perceive obesity as shameful. The results also vary depending on the respondent's sex or BMI. These findings underscore the need for evidence-based interventions to mitigate weight stigma and enhance understanding of obesity among healthcare professionals.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death worldwide. CVDs have become the dominant cause of death and have been a significant health challenge since the second half of the 20th century in the Polish population. The aim of our HDMI (hospital diet medical investigation) study was to examine the quality of the hospital diets given to cardiac patients and assess how much they adhere to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2021 guidelines. By comparing the diets received by patients with the recommended dietary patterns outlined in the ESC 2021 guidelines, we sought to identify discrepancies. The study was conducted in two steps: creating a 7-day model menu and comparing it with the received diets and then making comparisons with ESC 2021 guidelines. Additionally, we designed a survey to obtain the characteristics of the hospitals. The results show that the nutrition in hospitals remains substandard. None of the diets had an appropriate salt supply or predominance of plant-based food patterns. Only 1/7 diets avoided sweetened beverages, and 2/7 diets had an appropriate amount of fiber. This underscores a gap in the healthcare system to improve patients' health by implementing dietary interventions that foster the development of healthy eating habits.

In COVID-19, the rapid prediction of the severity of a patient's condition using modern biomarkers can accelerate the implementation of appropriate therapy, and thus improve the patient's prognosis. A meta-analysis was conducted of data available in the literature on the differences in baseline suPAR blood concentration between patients (1) who tested positive and negative for COVID-19, (2) who had severe and non-severe COVID-19, and (3) COVID-19 survivors and non-survivors. SuPAR levels in SARS-CoV-2 negative and positive patients varied and amounted to 3.61±1.59 ng/ml vs. 6.45±3.13 ng/ml, respectively (MD = -3.18; 95%CI: -4.71 to -1.66; p<0.001). suPAR levels among non-severe and severe COVID-19 patients were 7.06±2.64 ng/ml and 5.06±3.16 ng/ml (MD = 0.18; 95%CI: -2.48 to 2.83; p=0.90), respectively. Pooled analysis showed that suPAR levels between severe versus critical COVID-19 patients to be 5.59±1.54 ng/ml and 6.49±1.43 ng/ml, respectively (MD = -1.00; 95%CI: -1.31 to -0.70; p<0.001). The suPAR levels between ICU survivors versus non-survivors amounted to 5.82±2.33 ng/ml and 8.43±4.66 ng/ml (MD = -3.59; 95%CI: -6.19 to -1.00; p=0.007). In the case of in-hospital mortality, the mean suPAR level among survivors to hospital discharge was 5.63±1.27 ng/ml, compared to 7.85±2.61 ng/ml for patients who did not survive (MD = -3.58; 95%CI: -5.42 to -1.74; p<0.001). SuPAR levels are significantly elevated in severe COVID-19 illness and maybe useful in predicting mortality. Further studies are needed to determine cut-off points and clarify the association of suPAR levels with disease progression. This is of utmost importance given the ongoing pandemic and overburdened health care systems.

This document is MINKE’s Deliverable 9.1: “White paper on advances in Absolute Salinity measurements”. It describes the state-of-the-art in the measurement of Absolute Salinity in seawater.

This paper describes the design and characterization of a reference calibrator, able to generate any type of reference wave shape, such as AC, DC, LI, SI, combined, or composite, up to 900 V. This reference calibrator has been developed at the French National Metrology Institute (LNE), using a novel approach, based on a linear high voltage amplifier. For combined and composite wave shapes, there are no reference or commercial calibrators available on the market nor at National Metrology Institutes. This reference calibrator will enable required calibration capabilities to be created to accurately determine the uncertainty in the calibration of combined and composite wave shapes, and fulfil the requirements of the IEC 61083-1 standard. Further experiments have been performed in order to evaluate the calibrator performances, for impulses as fast as LI, as slow as SI, and combined and composite wave shapes, during which LI or SI are superimposed on AC or DC voltages. Furthermore, two methods have been proposed to demonstrate the calibrator traceability to the international system of units, up to 900 V. This study will contribute to the preparation of voltage testing standardization with combined and composite wave shapes for the forthcoming revision of the IEC 61083-1 standard.

Social prescribing has been identified as a chance to take a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing, especially for people with one or more long-term conditions. Its systemic implementation was a part of the recent United Kingdom National Health Service Long Term Plan. With a lifestyle medicine focus on equipping patients in tools necessary for self-care and self-management of their lifestyle-related health problems that coexists with the need for creating an environment supporting healthy choices, a social prescribing model seems to offer a promising strategy for advancing lifestyle medicine. This idea was discussed during a meeting hosted by the Polish Society of Lifestyle Medicine in collaboration with European Rural and Isolated Practitioners Association, Polish Society of Young Family Doctors (“Młodzi Lekarze Rodzinni”), British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and European Lifestyle Medicine Council in June 2020. The aftermath—this position statement is an Authors’ attempt at summarizing the common ground for social prescribing and lifestyle medicine. It collects experiences of practitioners and researchers from five European countries as well as making recommendations for applying this model in Poland. Despite referring to local conditions, it might provide universal takeaway messages for any healthcare providers interested in combining social prescribing with lifestyle medicine practice.