Ecdysteroids coordinate molting and metamorphosis in insects via a heterodimer of two nuclear receptors, the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and the ultraspiracle (Usp) protein. Here we show how the DNA-recognition alpha-helix and the T box region of the EcR DNA-binding domain (EcRDBD) contribute to the specific interaction with the natural response element and to the stabilization of the EcRDBD molecule. The data indicate a remarkable mutational tolerance with respect to the DNA-binding function of the EcRDBD. This is particularly manifested in the heterocomplexes formed between the EcRDBD mutants and the wild-type Usp DNA-binding domain (UspDBD). Circular dichroism (CD) spectra and protein unfolding experiments indicate that, in contrast to the UspDBD, the EcRDBD is characterized by a lower alpha-helix content and a lower stability. As such, the EcRDBD appears to be an intrinsically unstructured protein-like molecule with a high degree of intramolecular plasticity. Because recently published crystal structures indicate that the ligand binding domain of the EcR is also characterized by the extreme adaptability, we suggest that plasticity of the EcR domains may be a key factor that allows a single EcR molecule to mediate diverse biological effects.

Zewnętrzne źródła finansowania MINI GRANT-NZG/NM1/15Praca wpłynęła do Redakcji: 11.04.2016 StreszczenieWprowadzenie. Temat naturalnego planowania rodziny oraz fizjologii płodności kobiety jest poruszany w toku kształcenia na kierunkach medycznych. Dzięki temu studenci mogą poznać zalety i wady tej metody. Wiedza ta jest niezbędna, aby móc w przyszłości w pełni profesjonalnie przekazywać rzetelne informacje swoim pacjentom lub też stosować ją w życiu osobistym.Cel pracy. Ocena wiedzy dotyczącej fizjologii płodności kobiety i naturalnych metod planowania rodziny wśród studentów kierunków medycznych Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego. Materiał i metody.Badanie przeprowadzono wśród 380 studentów (I-V rok studiów) kierunków medycznych Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w okresie 1.10-31.12.2015 r. Wykorzystano sondaż diagnostyczny. Techniką badań była ankieta, a narzędziem kwestionariusz ankiety własnego autorstwa.Wyniki. Większość respondentów zna prawidłową kolejność faz w cyklu miesiączkowym (77,4%). Badania wykazały, że według 63% studentów faza wyższych temperatur to faza owulacyjna, a tylko 31,8% wiedziało, że jest to faza progesteronowa. Aż 68,9% studentów wskazało naturalne planowanie rodziny jako metodę, która umożliwia kobietom po porodzie rozpoznanie, kiedy powróci płodność. Mniej niż połowa ankietowanych -37,1% odpowiedziała "zdecydowanie tak" na pytanie, czy wnikliwa ocena płodności kobiety (temperatura, śluz) umożliwia wczesne wykrycie niektórych stanów chorobowych.Wnioski. Większość studentów kierunków medycznych zna podstawy fizjologii płodności kobiety. Mimo to nie wszyscy respondenci wiedzą, że obserwacja cyklu miesiączkowego pozwala wykryć wiele zaburzeń funkcjonowania i chorób układu rozrodczego. Naturalne metody planowania rodziny są i będą stosowane przez mniejszość studentów kierunków medycznych.Słowa kluczowe: wiedza, studenci, płodność, planowanie rodziny AbstractBackground. The subjects of natural family planning (NFP) and physiology of female fertility are a part of a medical student's curriculum. As such, medical students are able to familiarize themselves with the advantages and disadvantages of this method. This knowledge is essential for a medical professional to be able to relay accurate information to the patients or to use it in his or her own personal life.

Preterm births and parity are two medical areas that seem to be entirely different from each other. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between parity and maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with preterm birth. This study involved a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from St. Sophia Hospital in Warsaw (Poland). This study was conducted among women who gave birth to preterm infants between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021. A total of 2043 cases of preterm births were included in the final analysis. A higher odds ratio of preterm birth in primiparas was found in women living in a city/town (OR = 1.56) and having secondary (OR = 1.46) and higher education (OR = 1.82). Multiparas who gave birth to preterm infants were more frequently diagnosed with gestational diabetes (19.69%) than primiparas. Multiparas were more likely to give birth to preterm infants who received an Apgar score of ≤7 both at 1 and 5 min after birth (25.80% and 15.34%). The results of our study emphasize the differences between primiparas and multiparas who give birth to preterm infants. Knowledge of these differences is essential to improve the perinatal care provided to mothers and their infants.

Introduction and Objective.Childbirth is one of the most important events in a woman's life and is influenced by many factors. The aim of the research was to analyze the impact of the place of residence of women giving birth and the time of day on the course of natural birth. Materials and method. The study was conducted using the method of analysis of retrospective electronic documentation of patients who gave natural vaginal birth in the St. Zofia hospital in Warsaw, Poland. The analysis covered the period from 1 January 2015-31 December 2020; from 40,007 cases, 20,980 were qualified for final analysis. Analysis of the documentation allowed to obtain the following data: socio-demographic, lifestyle, obstetrics, course of delivery and the condition of the newborn. Analysis of the relationship between qualitative variables was performed using the Chi-square test, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two quantitative variables. Results. Women giving vaginal delivery from rural areas were younger (30.9 vs. 31.3), had primary education (2.4% vs. 1.7%) and secondary education (16.2% vs. 10.1%), were in a relationship (86.1% vs. 81.6%) and more often had a higher BMI at birth (27.8 vs. 27.0), compared to the patients living in cities (p<0.05). In addition, between 07:00-18:59., induction of labour (20.7% vs. 19.1%), epidural anesthesia (35.4% vs. 34.0%) and episiotomy were performed more often (29.1% vs. 27.8%) (p<0.05). Conclusions. Differences were shown in the course of vaginal delivery in relation to the place of residence of the women, and the time of day of the delivery. These factors should be considered in the planning of perinatal care. At the same time, it is necessary to conduct further research on the analyzed aspect in order to ensure the highest quality care.

Introduction: The definition of motherhood is manifold. The responsibilities of motherhood should be considered biologically, psychologically and socially. Conscious motherhood is characterized amongst others by the responsibility of parents for procreative decisions, care for the health, development and safety of the child. In Poland, the model of a woman as mother, who dedicates her life to birthing and raising her offspring, dominates. This has a huge impact on the future functioning of the offspring as citizens of Poland. Materials and method: Study was conducted through a diagnostic survey in a group of 365 women (284 of which are mothers of three or more children, the remaining 81 being mothers of one child). A self-developed survey containing 29 multiple choice questions with a single correct response as well as a standardized assessment tool SWLS- Life Satisfaction Scale E. Diener, R.A. Emmons, R.J. Larson, S. Griffin (adaptation: Z. Juczyński) were used as a research tool. Results: The vast majority of respondents are satisfied with their role as mother (97.1%). Many of the women do not plan to have more children (44.1%). In the respondents' opinion, childbirth is a social privilege of a woman (p<0.05). Mothers of more than one child have definitively declared that having multiple children does not decrease the quality of life of women, is a source of life satisfaction, aids in the fulfillment of societal roles and does not impede professional development (p<0.05). A constant partner, religious beliefs and relations with other women having more than two children are important factors for respondents when deciding to expand their family (p<0.05). Women who have given birth to three or more children have greater life satisfaction as compared to mothers of a single child (p<0.05). Conclusion: Women are happy to be mothers. Motherhood is not a factor hindering their social and private functioning. Women's procreative decisions are influenced by fixed income, formal relationships and religious beliefs. Mothers of large families have greater life satisfaction in comparison to mothers of one child who do not desire more children.