Unpredictable Effects Research Articles

A Self‐Regulating Academic Community in Turbulent Times: Ethical Dilemmas in the History of Turkic Studies in Leningrad in the 1930s

AbstractOn February 1931, Russian linguist Sergei Malov sent a complaint to the Union of Education Workers’ Disputes Commission regarding one of his colleagues, Alexander Samoilovich, who was one of the leading Soviet scholars of the time. According to Malov, Samoilovich had used his position and influence to obstruct Malov’s appointment to a professorship for the sole purpose of revenge. Malov demanded an official apology from Samoilovich, certified by the union, for his actions. Scholars who study the history of Oriental Studies in Russia usually focus on the evolution of ideas and approaches within the field, or on the relationship within the profession between knowledge and power. But they have not paid sufficient attention to the self‐regulatory mechanisms that operated within the Soviet Orientologist community. This article argues that during the 1920s and 1930s, a period of great social and political uncertainty, Soviet scholars used “ethics” for specific goals, one of which was to try to limit the scale of intervention by state and party officials in academic life and thereby shelter their community from the unpredictable effects such intervention might have. Malov and Smoilovich, however, attached different meanings to this notion, which consequently played a major role in the collision between the two scholars who previously had been allies.

Digital Debt – The Breach with Unpredictable Effects in the Management of the Accounting Expertise Office

Digital Debt – The Breach with Unpredictable Effects in the Management of the Accounting Expertise Office

Impact of Social Needs and Identity Experiences on the Burden of Illness in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematologic malignancy, but due to its incurable nature, patients experience many relapses in their lifetime and hence face unique challenges. This mixed-methods study consisting of an online survey and subsequent focus groups aimed to understand how social and identity experiences affected the diagnostic, treatment, and care journey for patients with MM. Twenty-three adult patients with MM participated in this study. The survey participants identified common determinants negatively impacting their health, including mental health concerns (experienced by 90.5% of respondents), worries about food shortage (42.9%), and transportation concerns (28.6%). Focus group participants described high physical and mental health burdens associated with MM. Frequent monitoring, fear of a relapse, and unpredictable side effects contributed to high anxiety. Participants indicated that MM differed from other types of cancer and chronic health conditions in many ways, particularly how and where the diagnosis was made, disease progression and relapse, treatments and side effects, and financial concerns. Most participants (65.0%) reported ≥1 social need that negatively impacted health outcomes including lack of knowledge about MM, financial instability, and lack of insurance, transportation, and social support. The findings reveal that patients with MM continually experience patient-specific mental and physical health burdens indicating high unmet needs throughout the disease journey.

Microwave detection towards marine climate monitoring: fog and humidity

Sea fog severely impacts marine operations and coastal transportation due to the low visibility, metal corrosion, and unpredictable effects. This paper introduces a microwave detection technique for monitoring the sea fog generation in-time, as well as the salt-content within sea fog. Besides, in the fogless time, the microwave sensor can also work for humidity detection. The proposed sensor doesn’t use the sensitive materials which assure the reliability and stability. In humidity detection, the nested split-ring resonator (NSRR) sensor achieves a maximum sensitivity with a 1.19 MHz/% RH frequency shift, 0.034 dB/% RH return-loss change, and 0.24°/% RH phase change. For NaCl content, the 2NSRR sensor exhibits a significantly higher sensitivity of 4.42 MHz/% compared to the 1NSRR sensor. This paper firstly introduces four non-resonant detection parameters (FWHM, HPI, FSI, and IF) to avoid high loss due to the fog. This microwave sensor and non-resonant parameters offer a comprehensive solution for accurate and timely sea fog monitoring, enhancing safety and efficiency in maritime and coastal operations.

π-π Stacking Network-Based Supramolecular Peptide Nanoprobe for Visualization of the ICB-Enhanced Ferroptosis Process.

The construction of coassembled peptide nanoprobes based on structural adaptation provides an effective template for stable monitoring of the molecular events in physiological and pathological processes. This also greatly expands their applications in biomedicine, such as multimodal combined diagnosis and treatment. However, the insufficient understanding of the physicochemical properties and structural features of different molecules still makes it difficult to construct the coassembled probes with mutually reinforcing functions, leading to unpredictable effects. Here, we showed how to utilize the π-π stacking network on β-sheets formed by PD-L1-targeting peptides to capture small molecules with ferroptosis functions, thus, coassembling them into a visual probe with synergistic effects. Compared with individual components, the coassembled strategy could significantly improve the stability of the nanoprobe, inducing stronger ferroptosis effects and immune checkpoint blocking effects, and track and reflect the process. This study provides new insights into the design of multicomponent collaborative coassembly systems with biological effects.

Mitigating the Effects of Persistent Antipolymer Immune Reactions in Nanomedicine: Evaluating Materials-Based Approaches Using Molecular Imaging.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a hydrophilic polymer ubiquitously used in both medical and nonmedical goods. Recent debate surrounding the observed stimulation of immune responses against PEG has spurred the development of materials that may be suitable replacements for this common polymeric component. The underlying view is that these alternative materials with comparable physicochemical properties can overcome the unfavorable and unpredictable effects of antibody-mediated clearance by being chemically, and therefore antigenically, distinct from PEG. However, this hypothesis has not been thoroughly tested in any defined manner, and the immune response observed against PEG has not been rigorously investigated within the context of these emerging materials. Consequently, it remains unclear whether immunity-mediated discrimination between polymeric entities even occurs in vivo and, if this is the case, how it may be exploited. In this study, we utilize positron emission tomography-computed tomography molecular imaging in mice immunized to develop specific antibody responses to PEG and an alternative polymer in order to visualize and quantify the influence of antipolymer antibodies on the biodistribution of synthetic polymers in vivo as a function of immunization status. Under the conditions of this experiment, mice could be primed to exhibit both innate and adaptive immunity to all of the polymer systems to which they were exposed. We demonstrate that alternating between chemically disparate polymers is a viable approach to extend their efficacy when antipolymer humoral immune responses arise.

Evaluation of the effect of agroclimatic variables on the probability and timing of olive fruit fly attack.

Agroclimatic variables may affect insect and plant phenology, with unpredictable effects on pest populations and crop losses. Bactrocera oleae Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a specific pest of Olea europaea plants that can cause annual economic losses of more than one billion US dollars in the Mediterranean region. In this study, we aimed at understanding the effect of olive tree phenology and other agroclimatic variables on B. oleae infestation dynamics in the Umbria region (Central Italy). Analyses were carried out on B. oleae infestation data collected in 79 olive groves during a 7-year period (from 2015 to 2021). In July-August, B. oleae infestation (1% attack) was negatively affected by altitude and spring mean daily temperatures and positively by higher winter mean daily temperatures and olive tree cumulative degree days. In September-October, infestation was negatively affected by a positive soil water balance and high spring temperatures. High altitude and cumulative plant degree days were related to delayed attacks. In contrast, high winter and spring temperatures accelerated them. Our results could be helpful for the development of predictive models and for increasing the reliability of decision support systems currently used in olive orchards.

Phage display-derived alpaca nanobodies as potential therapeutics for Naja atra snake envenomation.

Naja atra, the Chinese cobra, is a major cause of snake envenomation in Asia, causing hundreds of thousands of clinical incidents annually. The current treatment, horse serum-derived antivenom, has unpredictable side effects and presents manufacturing challenges. This study focused on developing new-generation snake venom antidotes by using microbial phage display technology to derive nanobodies from an alpaca immunized with attenuated N. atra venom. Following confirmation of the immune response in the alpaca, we amplified VHH genes from isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and constructed a phage display VHH library of 1.0 × 107 transformants. After four rounds of biopanning, the enriched phages exhibited increased binding activity to N. atra venom. Four nanobody clones with high binding affinities were selected: aNAH1, aNAH6, aNAH7, and aNAH9. Specificity testing against venom from various snake species, including two Southeast Asian cobra species, revealed nanobodies specific to the genus Naja. An in vivo mouse venom neutralization assay demonstrated that all nanobodies prolonged mouse survival and aNAH6 protected 66.6% of the mice from the lethal dosage. These findings highlight the potential of phage display-derived nanobodies as valuable antidotes for N. atra venom, laying the groundwork for future applications in snakebite treatment.IMPORTANCEChinese cobra venom bites present a formidable medical challenge, and current serum treatments face unresolved issues. Our research applied microbial phage display technology to obtain a new, effective, and cost-efficient treatment approach. Despite interest among scientists in utilizing this technology to screen alpaca antibodies against toxins, the available literature is limited. This study makes a significant contribution by introducing neutralizing antibodies that are specifically tailored to Chinese cobra venom. We provide a comprehensive and unbiased account of the antibody construction process, accompanied by thorough testing of various nanobodies and an assessment of cross-reactivity with diverse snake venoms. These nanobodies represent a promising avenue for targeted antivenom development that bridges microbiology and biotechnology to address critical health needs.

Transformational Leadership Style and Team Innovation: The Moderating Role of Leaders’ Emotional Intelligence

Organizations around the world continuously confront a wide range of challenges, risks and obstructions occurring in dynamic and complex business environment. These vulnerabilities keep on menacing their sustainability and appropriate functioning. Given such uncertain external pressures, the capabilities of employees working in teams within these organizations have become crucial and by time evolving as their viable assets. Business leaders are often tested for their agility in response, resource base sufficiency and innovative outcomes through unpredicted crises. Leading in tough times is itself a toughest challenge in face of unparalleled environmental pressures. It is therefore important to understand and explore what entails a successful leadership role for teams to remain innovative given any drastic change occurs. The objective of intended research was to address gaps in the understanding and comprehension of team innovation through leadership and leaders’ emotional intelligence in order to identify how leaders derive their teams in uncertain business environments. This study determined the influence of transformational leadership on team innovation with emotional intelligence of leaders as a moderating variable. The results showed that a relationship exists between transformational leadership and innovation in teams in an uncertain environment. Transformational leadership boosted employee innovation in teams. Accordingly, emotional intelligence has been seen as ability of leaders to make a set of norms that recognize employees in teams; yet, unpredicted effect of emotional intelligence on the relationship between transformational leadership and team innovation has been witnessed in this research.

MDMB-4en-PINACA-Related Deaths in Cook County Jail: Awareness and Preventive Measures.

Since January 2023, a series of fatalities has occurred in the Cook County Jail. Upon reviewing surveillance videos, in some cases, the inmates shared paper strips, and it was followed by the onset of labored breathing and loss of consciousness. Scene investigation revealed burnt paper strips near the body in 3 cases. No trauma was observed during autopsy. The expanded toxicology panels did not detect any illegal drugs in the postmortem blood samples. However, additional analysis specifically targeting synthetic cannabinoids revealed the presence of MDMB-4en-PINACA [methyl 3,3-dimethyl-2-{[1-(pent-4-en-1-yl)-1H-indazole-3-carbonyl]amino}butanoate], a synthetic cannabinoid associated with a wide range of adverse effects, including cardiovascular complications such as tachycardia and hypertension, respiratory depression, and acute kidney injury. There is limited research on the lethality of MDMB-4en-PINACA. This case series suggests that even isolated use can potentially lead to death. This study aims to raise public awareness regarding MDMB-4en-PINACA, highlighting its unpredictable effects and potential for severe adverse reactions, and to facilitate the development of effective prevention and harm reduction strategies. Implementing screening methods in correctional facilities is crucial to prevent the circulation of potentially fatal substances.

Anti-Xa Activity Test Is Needed but Is Not Enough for Monitoring Fondaparinux Therapy Among Critically Ill Patients.

Fondaparinux monitoring is not required among noncritically ill patients due to a predictable dose-response effect. However, this is debatable among critically ill patients, because fondaparinux bioavailability can be influenced by complicated medical conditions. To investigate fondaparinux monitoring among the critically ill. Retrospective analysis of patients admitted in intensive care unit from February 2021 to December 2021, who received prophylactic fondaparinux and had anti-Xa activity tests. Of 156 anti-Xa values, 86 (55.1%) were within 0.10-0.50 μg/mL (the recommended prophylactic range), 38 (24.4%) were less than 0.10 μg/mL, 32 (20.5%) were greater than 0.50 μg/mL, demonstrating an unpredictable dose-response effect. Among 70 patients, thrombotic tendency was controlled in 32 (45.7%), thrombosis progressed in 22 (31.4%), bleeding events occurred in 16 (22.9%). Patients with progressed thrombosis had 17 of 54 (31.5%) anti-Xa less than 0.10 μg/mL, even though this proportion was greater than that of patients with controlled thrombotic tendency (11 of 72, 15.3%), it was similar to that of patients with bleeding (10 of 30, 33.3%), indicating a weak practicability of anti-Xa for monitoring fondaparinux efficacy. Thrombin-antithrombin complex showed a gradual decline among patients with controlled thrombotic tendency, but a bounce-back effect among patients with progressed thrombosis. Thrombelastography R value above the upper reference value occurred more frequently among patients with bleeding (4 of 6, 66.7%) compared to patients without bleeding (4 of 22, 18.2%) (P = .01). The fondaparinux dose-response effect was unpredictable among the critically ill; anti-Xa activity combined with thrombin-antithrombin complex and thrombelastography can be helpful to guide a precise fondaparinux therapy in this population.

Improving the accuracy of sediment source fingerprinting under particle sorting

Sediment fingerprinting has proven highly efficient and rapid in identifying the sources and hotspots of sediment, thereby facilitating the targeted implementation of control measures. However, the unpredictable effect of particle sorting during sediment transport on source identification has increased the uncertainty associated with this method. Here, laboratory sieving experiments were carried out to simulate particle sorting during sediment transport. The conservatism of the five widely used tracers (geochemical elements, mid-infrared, near-infrared, visible, and color properties) and the accuracy of sediment source fingerprinting were investigated in the process of sorting. The results highlight that selected tracers exhibited high source contribution prediction accuracy (mean MAE 6.6 %) without particle sorting, with the exception of the color tracer. In contrast, the predictive ability of all tracers significantly reduced (mean MAE 16.2 %) in simulated particle sorting groups (especially for 125–31 μm) due to the enrichment of fine particles. Moreover, the correction factor failed to improve the accuracy of source contribution prediction in this study. The uncertainty caused by particle sorting can be effectively resolved by narrowing the source and sediment particle sizes to <63 μm (for all five tracers) or <31 μm (except for color tracer). This study contributes a deeper understanding of the role of particle size in sediment source fingerprinting, providing valuable insights to guide future tracer selection and associated particle size criteria.

Weather conditions at different spatial and temporal scales influence avian post‐breeding migration patterns on route

AbstractMigration plays a central role in many ecological and evolutionary processes. Global patterns of climatic variation are having a profound influence upon animal migration patterns. Even though regular counts of bird migrations at bottleneck sites can certainly offer insights into how natural populations of different species at different scales are responding to changes in weather conditions, they have not yet been widely used. By analysing a time series of regular counts, collected during autumn, of 126 species migrating during the daytime through one of the most important migratory bottlenecks in Western Europe, we found that an increase in temperature at the regional scale, as well as a decrease in precipitation level during the breeding period, may result not only in a decrease in the migration rate during autumn but also in a delay in the timing of fall migration. Furthermore, adverse weather conditions at the local scale interrupted bird migration through the bottleneck until favourable weather conditions returned. Importantly, temporal variation in the number of migratory birds followed a nonlinear pattern, something which might be partially due to the idiosyncratic responses of migratory species with different life‐history characteristics to changes in weather conditions. Our results highlight that migration is a nonlinear, multiscale and multi‐faceted process, suggesting that it will be difficult to predict the responses of idiosyncratic migratory species to the unpredictable effects of climate change.

Combined stress of an insecticide and heatwaves or elevated temperature induce community and food web effects in a Mediterranean freshwater ecosystem

Ongoing global climate change will shift nature towards Anthropocene's unprecedented conditions by increasing average temperatures and the frequency and severity of extreme events, such as heatwaves. While such climatic changes pose an increased threat for freshwater ecosystems, other stressors like pesticides may interact with warming and lead to unpredictable effects. Studies that examine the underpinned mechanisms of multiple stressor effects are scarce and often lack environmental realism. Here, we conducted a multiple stressors experiment using outdoor freshwater mesocosms with natural assemblages of macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton, macrophytes, and microbes. The effects of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid (1 µg/L) were investigated in combination with three temperature scenarios representing ambient, elevated temperatures (+4 °C), and heatwaves (+0 to 8 °C), the latter two having similar energy input. We found similar imidacloprid dissipation patterns for all temperature treatments with lowest average dissipation half-lives under both warming scenarios (DT50: 3 days) and highest under ambient temperatures (DT50: 4 days) throughout the experiment. Amongst all communities, only the zooplankton community was significantly affected by the combined treatments. This community demonstrated low chemical sensitivity with lagged and significant negative imidacloprid effects only for cyclopoids. Heatwaves caused early and long-lasting significant effects on the zooplankton community as compared to elevated temperatures, with Polyarthra, Daphnia longispina, Lecanidae, and cyclopoids being the most negatively affected taxa, whereas Ceriodaphnia and nauplii showed positive responses to temperature. Community recovery from imidacloprid stress was slower under heatwaves, suggesting temperature-enhanced toxicity. Finally, microbial and macrofauna litter degradation were significantly enhanced by temperature, whereas the latter was also negatively affected by imidacloprid. A structural equation model depicted cascading food web effects of both stressors with stronger relationships and significant negative stressor effects at higher than at lower trophic levels. Our study highlights the threat of a series of heatwaves compared to elevated temperatures for imidacloprid-stressed freshwaters.

УПРАВЛІННЯ СТАЛИМ РОЗВИТКОМ ПІДПРИЄМСТВА В УМОВАХ МІНЛИВОГО СЕРЕДОВИЩА

The need to solve the global problems of humanity has already convincingly and indisputably proven the feasibility of introducing the concept of sustainable development into the practical sphere of economic activity and management of business entities. However, the complexity and scale of the components of the trilemma of sustainable development create several risks and threats to the organization's management system. These risks are exacerbated by the unpredictable effects of external and internal business environment factors. The article examines the peculiarities of managing the activities of enterprises based on sustainable development under the influence of factors of a changing business environment. The proposed author's vision of the content of sustainable development is based on the combination of commercial and non-commercial goals of the company's existence. The implementation of the principles of the global concept of sustainable development in the practical sphere of enterprise management showed the urgent need to consider the challenges and risks exacerbated by the high degree of volatility and variability of the external business environment. Under such conditions, modern approaches to management are updated, which are based on the principles of risk management and allow effective management and leveling of the consequences of transformational transformations associated with the sustainable development of the company. It was determined that the key risks for sustainable business are environmental, social and managerial risks. Considering the nature of their origin and the nature of the manifestation, the article examines the phasing of the risk management process recommended by the world's leading companies when the company achieves the goals of sustainable development. A set of management methods based on the principles of sustainable business development is recommended under the conditions of the need to level the risks of the organization's changing environment. Among the main ones, the following are proposed: a method of analyzing hierarchy processes; method of analytical and network processes; a method of assessing the priority of organizational sub-risks of sustainable management; compliance, assessment of codes of business conduct, assessment of sustainability risks of supply chains. It was determined that the achievement of the goals and objectives of sustainable development and modern approaches to risk management of the business environment should be based on a more transparent disclosure of information about activities. The international standard IFRS S1 "General Requirements For Disclosures Of Sustainability-Related Financial Information" is not just a strategic guideline, but a necessity for the disclosure of information and the creation of a transparent information and analytical management base. This practice is now becoming mandatory for large and medium-sized businesses in foreign management practice, underlining its importance in sustainable business management.

Combining multiple stressors unexpectedly blocks bacterial migration and growth.

In nature, organisms experience combinations of stressors. However, laboratory studies typically simplify reality and focus on the effects of an individual stressor. Here, we use a microfluidic approach to simultaneously provide a physical stressor (shear flow) and a chemical stressor (H 2 O 2 ) to the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa . By treating cells with levels of flow and H 2 O 2 that commonly co-occur in nature, we discover that previous reports significantly overestimate the H 2 O 2 levels required to block bacterial growth. Specifically, we establish that flow increases H 2 O 2 effectiveness 50-fold, explaining why previous studies lacking flow required much higher concentrations. Using natural H 2 O 2 levels, we identify the core H 2 O 2 regulon, characterize OxyR-mediated dynamic regulation, and dissect the redundant roles of multiple H 2 O 2 scavenging systems. By examining single-cell behavior, we serendipitously discover that the combined effects of H 2 O 2 and flow block pilus-driven surface migration. Thus, our results counter previous studies and reveal that natural levels of H 2 O 2 and flow synergize to restrict bacterial colonization and survival. By studying two stressors at once, our research highlights the limitations of oversimplifying nature and demonstrates that physical and chemical stress can combine to yield unpredictable effects.

Gene expression in the dorsal root ganglion and the cerebrospinal fluid metabolome in polyneuropathy and opioid tolerance in rats

First-line pharmacotherapy for peripheral neuropathic pain (NP) of diverse pathophysiology consists of antidepressants and gabapentinoids, but only a minority achieve sufficient analgesia with these drugs. Opioids are considered third-line analgesics in NP due to potential severe and unpredictable adverse effects in long-term use. Also, opioid tolerance and NP may have shared mechanisms, raising further concerns about opioid use in NP. We set out to further elucidate possible shared and separate mechanisms after chronic morphine treatment and oxaliplatin-induced and diabetic polyneuropathies, and to identify potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. We analysed thermal nociceptive behaviour, the transcriptome of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the metabolome of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in these three conditions, in rats. Several genes were differentially expressed, most following oxaliplatin and least after chronic morphine treatment, compared with saline-treated rats. A few genes were differentially expressed in the DRGs in all three models (e.g. Csf3r and Fkbp5). Some, e.g. Alox15 and Slc12a5, were differentially expressed in both diabetic and oxaliplatin models. Other differentially expressed genes were associated with nociception, inflammation, and glial cells. The CSF metabolome was most significantly affected in the diabetic rats. Interestingly, we saw changes in nicotinamide metabolism, which has been associated with opioid addiction and withdrawal, in the CSF of morphine-tolerant rats. Our results offer new hypotheses for the pathophysiology and treatment of NP and opioid tolerance. In particular, the role of nicotinamide metabolism in opioid addiction deserves further study.

Metal–Organic Framework-Capped Gold Nanorod Hybrids for Combinatorial Cancer Therapy

Recently, nanomaterials have attracted extensive attention in cancer-targeting therapy and as drug delivery vehicles owing to their unique surface and size properties. Multifunctional combinations of nanomaterials have become a research hotspot as researchers aim to provide a full understanding of their nanomaterial characteristics. In this study, metal–organic framework-capped gold nanorod hybrids were synthesized. Our research explored their ability to kill tumor cells by locally increasing the temperature via photothermal conclusion. The specific peroxidase-like activity endows the hybrids with the ability to disrupt the oxidative balance in vitro. Simultaneously, chemotherapeutic drugs are administered and delivered by loading and transportation for effective combinatorial cancer treatment, thereby enhancing the curative effect and reducing the unpredictable toxicity and side effects of large doses of chemotherapeutic drugs. These studies can improve combinatorial cancer therapy and enhance cancer treatment.

Interannual Variation in the Zooplankton Community of the North Adriatic Sea under Short-Term Climatic Anomalies

Zooplankton are a pivotal component of the pelagic community, and their abundance and distribution are often strongly dependent on environmental conditions at sea. However, climate change can pose significant challenges to planktonic organisms. Therefore, in this study, we tried to address the possible effect of short-term climatic anomalies on the zooplankton community in the North Adriatic Sea, comparing mesozooplankton composition in June between two years with very different temperature and rainfall levels, i.e., 2019 and 2022. Environmental conditions at sea were significantly different, since 2022 faced rising temperatures in the northern part of the area and higher salinity and lower chlorophyll values in coastal samples. Our data unveiled a community shift, from a Noctiluca-dominated community to a crustacean-dominated one, and revealed that even offshore areas can be subject to changes, despite having quite stable environmental parameters. Our findings confirmed the influence of river inputs and temperature on the Adriatic community’s distribution and composition, highlighting how climate-driven changes could have unpredictable effects on the whole Adriatic ecosystem. Indeed, each species has its own role in ecosystem functioning and climatic anomalies could uncouple the fine-scale connections that make up the pelagic trophic web.

Evaluation of Heavy Silicon Oil in the Treatment of Retinal Detachment Mainly Iinvolving Lower Quadrants

Introduction:The article presents a retrospective analysis of postoperative, anatomic results, including complications in a group with diagnosed primary and recurrent retinal detachment, involving the lower quadrants, where heavy silicon oil was used.Material and methods:Heavy silicone oil was injected in 53 eyes in 51 patients. In most cases combined procedures were performed, including lens removal, removal of cerclage or iris reconstruction.Results:Retinal attachment was finally achieved in 88.5% of cases in the eyes with diagnosed primary retinal detachment and in 77.7% in the group with recurrent retinal detachment. Statistically significantly more retinotomies were performed in the eyes with recurrent retinal detachment. Residual peripheral vitreous required removal during repair surgery in the eyes with recurrent retinal detachment. In the eyes with postoperative aphakia a modification of Ando iridotomy was performed.Conclusions:Heavy silicon oil should be used as the endotamponade of choice, in eyes where the cause of retinal detachment is located in lower quadrants and cannot be effectively treated using another form of endotamponade because of low and unpredictable postoperative effectiveness. Location of the cause of retinal detachment should constitute the main criterion of choosing of the right kind of endotamponade.