Illness perception is significantly determined by depression and anxiety in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives Illness perception is a cognitive representation influencing physical and psychological functioning and adherence in patients with rheumatic disease. Studies exploring illness perception in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are still scarce and none of them have investigated factors determining illness perception. We aimed to assess illness perception and to identify psychological, clinical and sociodemographic factors that might influence illness perception in SLE. Methods The study involved 80 patients with SLE (87.5% women, mean age 41.56 years). The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Visual Analogue Scale-Pain and Fatigue Severity Scale were used. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected via structured interview and medical files review. Results Illness perception was significantly positively correlated with anxiety, depression, sleep quality, fatigue and pain while it was not related to age, education, steroid treatment, disease duration and activity (SLEDAI) or organ damage (SLICC/ACR). Regression analysis revealed that state anxiety and depression explained 43% of illness perception variance. Cluster analysis identified three patient groups among which the middle-aged group had the most negative illness perception, the highest levels of anxiety, depression, pain and fatigue, and the poorest sleep quality. Conclusions The study has proved a significant relationship between negative illness perception and anxiety and depression. Patients reporting fatigue, poor sleep and pain might have special needs in terms of psychological intervention focused on negative illness perception and distress symptoms. Multidisciplinary care in managing SLE seems to be of great importance.

Prevalence and correlates of suicidal thoughts in patients with neuropsychiatric lupus.

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation is observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). No study on this notable phenomenon in neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) is available so far. METHODS: Participants were 53 consecutive outpatients with NPSLE (48 women; mean age 43.8 years) diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology nomenclature for SLE neuropsychiatric syndromes. A Neuropsychiatric Questionnaire (NP-Q) concerning 45 neurological, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms was used to assess the prevalence of self-perceived neuropsychiatric symptoms. The Modified Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M) was used to assess the level of anxiety, depression and irritability. Formal neuropsychological examination was performed. Clinical data were collected by means of medical charts review and structured interview. RESULTS: Suicidal thoughts were present in 25% of patients with NPSLE, irrespective of sex, age, education, work status, disease duration and steroid treatment. Suicidal ideation was connected with elevated levels of depression, anxiety and irritability. In patients with suicidal ideation the prevalence of cognitive, psychiatric and neurological self-perceived problems was significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal thoughts are common in patients with NPSLE. Neuropsychiatric manifestation per se, depression, anxiety and patients' subjective complaints can be risk factors for suicidal ideation. Screening for suicidal thoughts is vital in routine care of SLE patients.

Silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in bronchial tumors.

Various AgNOR parameters were measured using the computer-aided image analysis in the normal bronchial epithelium (n = 13), in squamous cell carcinoma (n = 25) and in small-cell carcinoma (n = 11). The number and area of AgNOR dots were the highest in squamous cell carcinoma. In small cell carcinoma and in the normal epithelium the values were significantly lower. The number of AgNOR separate locations was higher in tumors in general. The size of single AgNOR dots showed differences between squamous cell carcinoma and small-cell carcinoma. Ratio of AgNOR dot area to nuclear area was similar in various pathological lesions and normal epithelium. There was a positive correlation ( < or = 0.0001) between the number and area of dots, the number of AgNOR separate locations, the area of single AgNOR dots on one hand and nuclear area on the other.

Pregnancy associated diffuse malignant fibrous mesothelioma of peritoneum. Immunohistochemical studies of ectopic decidual reaction and concomitant myofibroblastic and mesothelial proliferations.

A case of diffuse proliferations in the peritoneum in a 24-year-old woman several months post partum has been reported. Multinodular growth of myofibroblastic cells without atypia was observed, which predominated and revealed a positive immunohistochemical reaction to muscle-specific actin and vimentin, and dispersed clusters of mesothelial cells showing a positive reaction to cytokeratin and vimentin, with moderate atypia and scarce mitotic figures. On cesarean section the greater omentum contained an ectopic decidua in the form of a nodule. Decidual cells, in part transforming into spindle-shaped cells, showed the presence of desmin. Multifocal proliferation of myofibroblasts, most probably of metaplastic type, concomitant with pregnancy-induced peritoneal deciduosis and diffuse progressive mesothelial proliferations has been identified.

[The effect of progressive incremental exercise on some parameters of hemostasis]. / Wplyw wysilku fizycznego o wzrastajacym obciazeniu na zachowanie sie niektórych parametrów hemostazy.

In 18 sportsmen the platelet count, thrombin time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), cloting factors (F):I, VII, VIII and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) were measured before, immediately after progressive incremental exercise--and 30 min later. All post-exercise changes of the values were corrected for the plasma volume changes, which were calculated from hematocrit values. Platelet count, thrombin time, prothrombin time FI and FVII did not change significantly after exercise. Immediately post-exercise APTT was significantly shortened, but FVIII and FDP were significantly elevated. 30 min later FDP level normalized but FVIII and APTT changes persisted. The obtained data show that the applied physical exercise caused shift of the existing balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis towards hypercoagulability. They also confirm the necessity of taking into account post-exercise hemostasis changes in cardiological rehabilitation and endurance training in adults.

[Residues of organochlorine insecticides in the fat of game animals from eastern Poland 1988-1989]. / Pozostalosci pestycydów chloroorganicznych w tluszczu zwierzat lownych z terenu Polski wschodniej, 1988-1989 R.

Residues of organochlorine pesticides in fat of game bagged in Eastern Poland in years 1988-1989 were determined. They were found to be smaller than the analogous residues in years 1986-1987.

[Residues of organic chlorinated pesticides in the fat of game from eastern Poland]. / Pozostalosci pestycydów chloroorganicznych w tluszczu zwierzat lownych z terenu polski wschodniej.

The results are presented of the determinations of the content of organic chlorine pesticides in the perirenal fat tissue in wild animals killed in the years 1986-1987. The obtained mean values were similar to those found in our country in the 1980s.

[Organochlorine pesticide residues in the adipose tissue of slaughtered animals from Eastern Poland]. / Pozostalosci pestycydów chloroorganicznych w tluszczu zwierzat rzeznych z terenu.Polski Wschodniej.

The results are presented of determinations of organic chlorine pesticides (sigma DDT, sigma BHC, HCB) in the perirenal fat of slaughtered animals. The study was done in the years 1986-1987 in East Poland.