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During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in addition to human remains. Those objects might be of a different origin, depending on various factors influencing members of a community... more
During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in addition to human remains. Those objects might be of a different origin, depending on various factors influencing members of a community (i.e. diseases, trauma), which provides information about their living conditions. The St. Nicholas Church archaeological site (Libkovice, Czechia) in the 18th century horizon of the cemetery, yielded a maturus-senilis female skeleton with a stone object in the left iliac fossa. This object was an oviform cyst-like rough structure, measuring 54 mm in length, 35 mm in maximum diameter and 0.2–0.7 mm shell thickness. Within the object there were small fetal bones (long bones, i.e. femur and two tibias, two scapulas, three ribs, vertebrae and other tiny bone fragments). Methods utilized to analyze the outer and inner surface morphology of the cyst and its inside, included: X-ray, CT imaging, SEM, histological staining and EDS. The EDS analysis revealed th...
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Located in the south-western part of Poland, the Forest Zgorzelecka included in the Lower Silesian Wilderness – one of the largest forest on the Central European Lowlands. Knowledge about its natural past and historical relevance is... more
Located in the south-western part of Poland, the Forest Zgorzelecka included in the Lower Silesian Wilderness – one of the largest forest on the Central European Lowlands. Knowledge about its natural past and historical relevance is however insufficient. Such matters as chronology, settlement forms, methods and scale of natural resource exploitation and environmental changes resulting from anthropopressure possess great potential for further study. This article contains selected preliminary results of the changes in woodland ecosystems from late prehistory to modern times revealed by the in-depth, complementary natural and archaeological analysis of forest landscapes. Findings related to the settlement from the Roman Influence Period, operation of bog iron ore deposits and charcoal production for the needs of medieval and post-medieval metallurgy, research on the transformations caused by man of forest biotopes and phytocoenoses are described.
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Research Interests: Art History and Art
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Castles were centres of the socio-economic life. In the last centuries castles were gradually disappearing from the landscape of Central Europe. It was mostly due to changes in a social order, but also because of natural disasters which... more
Castles were centres of the socio-economic life. In the last centuries castles were gradually disappearing from the landscape of Central Europe. It was mostly due to changes in a social order, but also because of natural disasters which happened during that time. In few cases this happened so suddenly and fully that today we even can’t point out their approximate location. This is especially true for castles functioning between 14th and 16th century in the Zgorzelec Wilderness (south-west Poland), in places known nowadays as Prędocice, Nowoszów, Pieńsk and Piaseczna. To identify castles’ oikumenes authors decided to re-analyse known historical evidences and execute a field research. The latter one was targeted to recognize not only cultural heritage such as ruins of buildings or earthworks, but also changes in the natural environment, such as biotope’s transformations. As a result of dual humanistic-environmental studies remains of a medieval building were found in Nowoszów. They were assumed to be vestiges of the castle’s oikumene, maybe a tower house, functioning at the manmade isle on the Czerna Wielka river. The other result of the research was identifying other artificial islands, in these cases, on the Lusatian Neisse river that with a big probability contain remains of castles in Prędocice and Pieńsk. Castles in the Zgorzelec Wilderness didn’t deviate from other structures of this type and were built in naturally defensive locations. River valleys’ neckings and natural elevations within river fluvial valleys were accordingly transformed to better serve its purposes. Rivers and streams in addition were used as an economic base, for example to power hammer forges. A natural environment’s transformations caused by castles’ inhabitants were so vast, that these changes dated back to Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period to this day are clearly visible in ecosystems of the Zgorzelec Wilderness.
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Research Interests: History and Archaeology
This study aims to estimate the levels of physiological stress in the medieval rural population of Sypniewo by evaluating patterns of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and enamel hypoplasia (EH), and provide information on the influence of... more
This study aims to estimate the levels of physiological stress in the medieval rural population of Sypniewo by evaluating patterns of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and enamel hypoplasia (EH), and provide information on the influence of physiological stress during the prenatal and perinatal period on early childhood development. Stress is defined as any external or internal condition that challenges homeostasis of an organism. FA is associated with physiological stress occurring mainly during prenatal development and early childhood. The level of FA is thought to reflect the intensity of the stressor(s). EH is caused by physiological stress such as nutritional instability during the first years of life. The studied material consisted of 126 skulls from the village of Sypniewo (Poland). Cranial radiographs were taken in postero-anterior (P-A) and basal views. The images were scanned and calibrated. Measurements of the cranium were used to estimate FA. The presence of EH was assessed usin...
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Smoking cigarettes negatively influences the functioning of the body. Among other effects, it has an important impact on the respiratory system, circulation, and behavior. It leads to morphological and physiological changes in organs and... more
Smoking cigarettes negatively influences the functioning of the body. Among other effects, it has an important impact on the respiratory system, circulation, and behavior. It leads to morphological and physiological changes in organs and tissues, so it can change mood. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between tobacco abuse and self-assessment of health. The survey was conducted among Polish (243) and foreign (80) medical students at the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland. The study was based on a survey questionnaire of the authors' own design, comprising open and multi-choice questions. Our questionnaire was based on the international standard questionnaire from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children study (Currie et al. 2009). 80 % of students surveyed were free of any chronic diseases. The results showed that only 23 % of the women and 20 % of the men assessed their health as very good, over 60 % as good, and the remaining at lower levels. We did not observe significant differences between smokers and non-smokers. Physical activity in both groups was generally assessed as good or sufficient. We did not observe significant differences between groups in the incidence of headache, abdominal pain, or vertigo. Significant differences were found in the intake of painkillers.
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Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a spectrum of abnormal respiratory events including habitual snoring and increased upper airway resistance and obstructive episodes. The uncertainties concerning the incidence and recognition of SDB... more
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a spectrum of abnormal respiratory events including habitual snoring and increased upper airway resistance and obstructive episodes. The uncertainties concerning the incidence and recognition of SDB during pregnancy and the importance of the issue for fetal and maternal health prompted us to screen pregnant women for SDB. The study included 312 women in the third trimester of pregnancy aged 17-46 of whom 51 were preselected, based on the results of SDB questionnaires, for a nighttime home screening using a portable ApneaLink Air device. We found that single or multiple episodes of apnea were present in 35 (69%) women. The mean apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was 1.8 ± 1.8 episodes/h of sleep, which did not exceed the prevalence in the general young-adult female population. However, we noticed a substantial number of inspiratory airflow limitation (IFL) episodes most often accompanied by snoring and more frequent in pregnant women with a greater weight gain. IFLs, although not fulfilling the quantifiable criteria of hypopnea, raise the possibility of hardly recognizable oxygenation and cardiovascular disturbances in pregnancy, reflected in an increased risk index for SDB. We conclude that pregnancy encompasses the risk of revealing or intensifying pre-existing SDB which can jeopardize maternal and fetal health. The risk particularly applies to overweight women. We submit that women in late pregnancy should be carefully screened for possible SDB.
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Snoring during pregnancy increases the risk of low Apgar score and low birth weight of newborns. Snoring women are twice as likely to be diagnosed as having preeclampsia when compared to non-snoring ones. Snoring may also be linked to,... more
Snoring during pregnancy increases the risk of low Apgar score and low birth weight of newborns. Snoring women are twice as likely to be diagnosed as having preeclampsia when compared to non-snoring ones. Snoring may also be linked to, albeit it is not a prerequisite for, apneic events at sleep. The aim of this survey-type study was to evaluate the occurrence and severity of nocturnal respiratory complaints in a group of 312 pregnant women. Problems associated with snoring and other nasopharyngeal symptoms were reported by 60% of women. Complaints were more frequent in patients with a higher body mass index. The symptoms were significantly more frequent in the group of snorers. The results of this study suggest a pattern of basic features in pregnancy, such as snoring, overweight, and upper airway symptoms, which all ought to direct attention of care givers to the diagnostics of sleep-related breathing disorders. The early diagnosis would enable to undertake the measures to prevent preterm labor and to avoid postpartum complications in both mother and newborn.
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Kłosińska E. M., Libera J., Twardowski W., Szczurowski J., Szostek K. 2019. The presumed Early Bronze Age grave from the Radom Plain, Sprawozdania Archeologiczne 71, 273-301. In the area of Mokrzec village, human bones were accidentally... more
Kłosińska E. M., Libera J., Twardowski W., Szczurowski J., Szostek K. 2019. The presumed Early Bronze Age grave from the Radom Plain, Sprawozdania Archeologiczne 71, 273-301. In the area of Mokrzec village, human bones were accidentally discovered, along with the following accompanying artefacts: a small cup, products made of copper – a bracelet, the blade of a dagger, five chapes, a bone awl, flint tools and flakes. It is probably a grave from the beginning of the Bronze Age, which can be related to the early phase of the Mierzanowice culture. The inventory of the grave indicates the importance and status of the buried man.
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Introduction: Human nutrition depends on many factors. Cultural practices, socio-psychological and economic factors play important roles in development of correct nutrition patterns. Eating habits are formed most strongly during childhood... more
Introduction: Human nutrition depends on many factors. Cultural practices, socio-psychological and economic factors play important roles in development of correct nutrition patterns. Eating habits are formed most strongly during childhood and adolescence. When young people begin university study, their way of life changes significantly. In this study group, not only do the necessities of independent living and food preparation occur, but also a change the country of residence.The aim of the study was to investigate the dietary habits of medical students of the English programme.Materials and methods: The material consisted of data collected from an anonymous survey distributed among 1st year students of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (28 men and 52 women). The study used a questionnaire consisting of open and multi-choice questions concerning the anthropometric data of subjects and principles of nutrition. Data were analysedstatistically.Results: Obesity was generally not obs...
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Concha bullosa is a variant of the sinonasal anatomy in which the middle nasal turbinate contains pneumatized cells, which leads to turbinate enlargement. The reason for concha bullosa formation is unclear, but the variant is seen in up... more
Concha bullosa is a variant of the sinonasal anatomy in which the middle nasal turbinate contains pneumatized cells, which leads to turbinate enlargement. The reason for concha bullosa formation is unclear, but the variant is seen in up to half the modern population and it may predispose to paranasal sinusitis. The variant has hitherto featured little in paleopathology. Therefore, in the present study we seek to determine the presence of concha bullosa, with the coexisting hypertrophy of the middle turbinate and signs of sinusitis or other pathology of the paranasal complex, in a population living in Tomersdorf-Toporow in the Upper Lausatia, a historical region in Germany and Poland, presently Zgorzelec County in the Lower Silesian voivodeship, at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century. The material consisted of 32 skeletons (24 males, 8 females). The gender, age, and stress indicators and the presence of pathological signs were assessed, followed by CT of the skulls. We found 2 skulls (6.3 %) with concha bullosa. In one case septal nasal deviation was present. We conclude that the incidence of concha bullosa could be lower in the past times than at present. Wider research is necessary to settle whether concha bullosa is indeed a rare respiratory paleopathology or a missed, and thus underreported observation.
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During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in addition to human remains. Those objects might be of a different origin, depending on various factors influencing members of a community... more
During archaeological excavations in burial sites, sometimes stoned organic objects are found, in addition to human remains. Those objects might be of a different origin, depending on various factors influencing members of a community (i.e. diseases, trauma), which provides information about their living conditions. The St. Nicholas Church archaeological site (Libkovice, Czechia) in the 18 th century horizon of the cemetery, yielded a maturus-senilis female skeleton with a stone object in the left iliac fossa. This object was an oviform cyst-like rough structure, measuring 54 mm in length, 35 mm in maximum diameter and 0.2-0.7 mm shell thickness. Within the object there were small fetal bones (long bones, i.e. femur and two tibias, two scapulas, three ribs, vertebrae and other tiny bone fragments). Methods utilized to analyze the outer and inner surface morphology of the cyst and its inside, included: X-ray, CT imaging, SEM, histological staining and EDS. The EDS analysis revealed the presence of primarily oxygen, calcium and phosphorus in bone samples, and oxygen and silicon, in stone shell. Based on the length of the femur (20.2 mm) and tibia (16 mm) shafts, the fetal age was determined as being in the 15-18 week of pregnancy. The differential diagnosis was conducted, including for the three most probable cases: fetiform teratoma (FT), fetus-in-fetu (FIF) and lithopedion. The possibility of fetiform teratoma was discounted due to the presence of an anatomically correct spine, long bones and the proportions of the find. Although the low calcium content in the shell (2.3% atom mass), the lack of skull bones and the better developed lower limbs indicate fetus-in-fetu rather than lithopedion, the analyses results are unable to conclusively identify the object under one of these two categories since there are insufficient such cases in excavation material with which to draw comparison.
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Castles were centres of the socio-economic life. In the last centuries castles were gradually disappearing from the landscape of Central Europe. It was mostly due to changes in a social order, but also because of natural disasters which... more
Castles were centres of the socio-economic life. In the last centuries castles were gradually disappearing from the landscape of Central Europe. It was mostly due to changes in a social order, but also because of natural disasters which happened during that time. In few cases this happened so suddenly and fully that today we even can’t point out their approximate location. This is especially true for castles functioning between 14th and 16th century in the Zgorzelec Wilderness (south-west Poland), in places known nowadays as Prędocice, Nowoszów, Pieńsk and Piaseczna. To identify castles’ oikumenes authors decided to re-analyse known historical evidences and execute a field research. The latter one was targeted to recognize not only cultural heritage such as ruins of buildings or earthworks, but also changes in the natural environment, such as biotope’s transformations. As a result of dual humanistic-environmental studies remains of a medieval building were found in Nowoszów. They we...
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Research Interests:
650 years ago, members of the Upper Lusatian League burned the city of Nowoszów, along with the castle Neuhaus built by Duke Bolko II. Apparently, the traces of it were still visible in the last century, but the knowledge about its... more
650 years ago, members of the Upper Lusatian League burned the city of Nowoszów, along with the castle Neuhaus built by Duke Bolko II. Apparently, the traces of it were still visible in the last century, but the knowledge about its location has not survived to the present day.
Using basic research methods, such as querying and analyzing of archives and literature, analyzing LiDAR data, surface survey, excavations, artefacts‘ chronological and formal analysis, and geophysical survey, the site has been thoroughly examined.
As a result of the conducted activities, the usefulness of individual research methods was verified, the layout of the village and functions of some buildings were recognized, and probably the court of Bolko II was located.
Using basic research methods, such as querying and analyzing of archives and literature, analyzing LiDAR data, surface survey, excavations, artefacts‘ chronological and formal analysis, and geophysical survey, the site has been thoroughly examined.
As a result of the conducted activities, the usefulness of individual research methods was verified, the layout of the village and functions of some buildings were recognized, and probably the court of Bolko II was located.
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Concha bullosa is a variant of the sinonasal anatomy in which the middle nasal turbinate contains pneumatized cells, which leads to turbinate enlargement. The reason for concha bullosa formation is unclear, but the variant is seen in up... more
Concha bullosa is a variant of the sinonasal anatomy in which the middle nasal turbinate contains pneumatized cells, which leads to turbinate enlargement. The reason for concha bullosa formation is unclear, but the variant is seen in up to half the modern population and it may predispose to paranasal sinusitis. The variant has hitherto featured little in paleopa-thology. Therefore, in the present study we seek to determine the presence of concha bullosa, with the coexisting hypertrophy of the middle turbinate and signs of sinusitis or other pathology of the paranasal complex, in a population living in Tomersdorf-Toporow in the Upper Lausatia, a historical region in Germany and Poland, presently Zgorzelec County in the Lower Silesian voivodeship, at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century. The material consisted of 32 skeletons (24 males, 8 females). The gender, age, and stress indicators and the presence of pathological signs were assessed, followed by CT of the skulls. We found 2 skulls (6.3 %) with concha bullosa. In one case septal nasal deviation was present. We conclude that the incidence of concha bullosa could be lower in the past A genetic component is suggested since differences in the presence of concha bullosa are observed between populations from different regions of the world and different climatic conditions.
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Located in the south-western part of Poland, the Forest Zgorzelecka included in the Lower Silesian Wilderness – one of the largest forest on the Central European Lowlands. Knowledge about its natural past and historical relevance is... more
Located in the south-western part of Poland, the Forest Zgorzelecka included in the Lower Silesian Wilderness – one of the largest forest on the Central European Lowlands. Knowledge about its natural past and historical relevance is however insufficient. Such matters as chronology,
settlement forms, methods and scale of natural resource exploitation and environmental changes resulting from anthropopressure possess great potential for further study. This article contains selected preliminary results of the changes in woodland ecosystems from late prehistory to modern times revealed by the in-depth, complementary natural and archaeological analysis of forest landscapes. Findings related to the settlement from the Roman Influence Period, operation of bog iron ore deposits and charcoal production for the needs of medieval and post-medieval metallurgy, research on the transformations caused by man of forest biotopes and phytocoenoses are described.
settlement forms, methods and scale of natural resource exploitation and environmental changes resulting from anthropopressure possess great potential for further study. This article contains selected preliminary results of the changes in woodland ecosystems from late prehistory to modern times revealed by the in-depth, complementary natural and archaeological analysis of forest landscapes. Findings related to the settlement from the Roman Influence Period, operation of bog iron ore deposits and charcoal production for the needs of medieval and post-medieval metallurgy, research on the transformations caused by man of forest biotopes and phytocoenoses are described.
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Research project Tormersdorf-Toporów. Residents, culture and the natural environment abandoned microregion in Upper Lusatia.
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Książka - monografia stanowiska Puławy-Włostowice, z autorskim udziałem: / Book - monography of the Puławy-Włostowice site with author's participation: Monica Abreu-Głowacka, Dariusza Gałązka, Mariusz Glapiński, Zdzisław Hensel, Anna... more
Książka - monografia stanowiska Puławy-Włostowice, z autorskim udziałem: / Book - monography of the Puławy-Włostowice site with author's participation: Monica Abreu-Głowacka, Dariusza Gałązka, Mariusz Glapiński, Zdzisław Hensel, Anna Hyrchała, Michał Jakubczak, Wojciech Kociemba, Andrzej Kokowski, Aldona Kurzawska, Paweł Lis, Maria Lityńska-Zając, Dorota Lorkiewicz-Muszyńska, Piotr Mączyński, Eliza Michalak, Magdalena Moskal-del Hoyo, Jerzy Nitychoruk, Jan Reder, Michał Rychlik, Jacek Szczurowski, Marcin Szeliga, Krystyna Wasylikowa, Krzysztof Wertz, Jarosław Wilczyński, Tadeusz Wiśniewski