Attitudes of Polish Medical Students toward Organ Donation in Cases of Brain Death.

(1) The aim of our study was to determine the attitudes of medical students toward organ donation in the case of brain death. (2) The study was conducted among 1348 medical students from three medical universities in Poland. The research tool was the Polish version of the standardized questionnaire concerning attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation (ODT) [PCID-DTO RIOS: A questionnaire designed by the 'International Collaborative Organ Donation project about organ transplantation and donation]. (3) Some sources of information on organ donation were found to have a significant impact on the recipients' knowledge of brain death. These were books, friends, family, lectures in other centers, social media, and the Church. Medical students holding the opinion that recovery and leading a normal lifestyle after brain death is impossible were significantly more likely to donate their organs after death, not for religious reasons and not because they wanted to survive their own death. (4) The medical students in our study showed a high level of awareness and favorable attitudes toward ODT. However, the number of registered donors was low. It is important to educate students on these issues to raise the awareness of both future medical professionals and the public on organ transplantation procedures. The public should be made aware that transplantation procedures are of a high standard, and that the law protects both donors and recipients. These measures would reduce recipients' waiting time, and certainly increase the statistics of the number of life-saving and health-saving procedures.

Association between symptoms of depression and inflammatory parameters in people aged over 90 years.

BACKGROUND: Old age is a period of life that presents many health and social challenges, resulting in a greater vulnerability to the development of mental disorders, including depression. There has been a growing interest in the relationship between depression and inflammatory factors, because of its potential clinical and therapeutic implications. Inflammatory processes, which were originally understood as a response to infection and trauma, appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression in the elderly. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the severity of depressive disorders and inflammatory parameters in people over 90 years of age. METHODS: The study was conducted in Poland in 2017. The study population consisted of long-lived individuals, both living at home and staying in residential care homes. The participants were 90 people of both sexes (69 women and 21 men), aged between 90 and 103 years (mean = 92.36; SD = 2.98). The study was conducted using the diagnostic survey method with a questionnaire technique. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to carry out the analysis. The levels of selected inflammatory factors were determined using relevant laboratory tests. RESULTS: In the study group, the highest percentage of people had symptoms of moderate depression (n = 36;40%), followed by those without depression (n = 35;38.9%). There was a weak negative correlation between GDS scores and fibrinogen levels (p ≤ 0.05). The logistic regression model showed no significant relationship between inflammatory parameters and the development of depressive disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory parameters do not appear to predict the development of depressive disorders in people over 90 years of age.

Evaluation of Health Pattern and Stress Levels among Patients Undergoing Alcohol Addiction Treatment-A Cross Sectional Study.

Alcohol consumption is linked to over 200 diseases and injuries. It is also classified as a risk factor for several types of neoplasms as well as infectious diseases (i.e., HIV and tuberculosis). In 2019, among people aged 25 to 49, alcohol use was the leading risk factor for attributable burden of disease. There are many factors that affect alcohol drinking patterns such as social and economic status, social norms, cultural customs, availability of alcohol, etc. Stress also plays a significant role in the process of developing alcohol addiction. The aim of our study was to examine health patterns and stress levels among patients undergoing alcohol addiction treatment. The study sample consisted of 104 patients who were treated in a hospital ward due to alcohol dependence. Three standardized questionnaire tools were used to measure the sense of coherence and the level of stress among those patients. The main results suggest that the level of perceived stress correlated negatively with all dimensions of sense of coherence and all indicators of health behaviors, however, age was positively correlated with positive mental attitude, proper eating habits, and health behaviors. In conclusion, it is worth noting that developing patterns for positive health behaviors will make it possible to avoid alcohol dependence or reinforce the treatment results if alcohol dependence syndrome occurs.

A Multicentre Study of the Attitude of Medical Students towards Organ Donation and Transplantation in Poland.

(1) The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of sociodemographic (age, sex, religion, place of residence) and university-related factors (university, year of studies) on the attitudes of students towards organ donation and transplantation. (2) Methods: The study was conducted on 1530 students from the Faculty of Medicine from three medical universities in Poland. The measurement tool was a validated questionnaire of attitude towards organ donation and transplantation (PCID-DTO RIOS: A questionnaire designed by the International Collaborative Organ Donation project about organ transplantation and donation). (3) Results: The completion rate was 88.10% (n = 1348). The vast majority declared a willingness to donate their organs in the future (86.60%), and 31.71% had an organ donation card. It was found that place of residence (p = 0.018) and religion (p = 0.003) had a significant effect on the attitude towards transplantation. Age, sex, and year of the study were not found to have a statistically significant effect on the decision. (4) Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that medical students show a favourable attitude towards transplantation in the first year of their study, and their knowledge and positive tendencies increase in the final years of medical education.

COVID-19 control measures in correctional facilities of selected countries - A literature overview.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant public health challenges for this generation. Governments have been forced to undertake different measures to constrain the spread of the virus and protect the people. Restrictive and other measures have also been taken in correctional facilities to control the epidemiological situation. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this review are: 1) to contribute to knowledge by providing an overview of anti-COVID-19 measures that have been undertaken by the proper authorities in a few selected countries to control the epidemiological situation in prison; 2) to demonstrate proposals made in this respect by international organizations and scientific institutions and 3) to complete the most important bibliographical items for further studies. REVIEW METHODS: A literature review was carried out of international scientific and grey literature published between 30.01.2020 and 30.07.2021 (with some exemptions). In every correctional system in the countries under scrutiny, the proper authorities introduced many measures to control the epidemiological situation from the very beginning of the pandemic. SUMMARY: The COVD - pandemic impacts almost all aspects of social and individual life. Governments were forced to undertake different measures to constrain the spread of the virus. Restrictive and other measures also had to be taken in correctional systems, where more than ten million people are held worldwide. The measures introduced differed regarding details such as time, scope and range, but were generally similar to solutions proposed by organisations such as the WHO or CDC. In most countries, the discussion regarding the reform of the legal system have been observed. One of the most discussed issues was the problem of decarceration.

Influence of Selected Indicators of Healthcare System Functioning Evaluation on the Health Result.

BACKGROUND: According to the World Health Organization's statistics, 7 of the 10 main causes of death in 2019 were noncommunicable diseases. Health indicators are measures used to evaluate public health system effectiveness and functioning. Monitoring mortality rates from leading causes, life expectancy and other health indicators is essential to address their causes and adapt health systems to react adequately. The aim of this study is to present the dependencies of selected health care indicators and health outcomes. METHODS: Based on the literature review conducted, selected health indicators, along with healthcare system data, were analyzed using Pearson's r correlation. The analyses included data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) presented in statistics and the Health at a Glance 2021 report and data collected as part of the preparation of the Financing Global Health 2020 report by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. RESULTS: Health system resources are linked to health outcomes. The number of medical consultations, the number of nurses per patient or the level of financing of services under general health insurance are related to life expectancy and deaths due to causes that could have been avoided or treated. CONCLUSIONS: Life expectancy is positively correlated with access to general health insurance and public expenditure on healthcare. There is a need for all countries to provide their citizens with broad access to healthcare services.

The Opinions of Poles about the Need to Provide Humanitarian Aid to Refugees from the Area Covered by the Russian-Ukrainian War.

The armed conflict in Ukraine has caused a lot of emotions around the world. Many countries have been involved in helping brutally attacked people, especially mothers and children. The versatile involvement of large powers is monitored and noticeable by the media. Active help from Poland is a very visible sign of human solidarity with the suffering Ukrainian nation. Open hearts, houses and institutions and humanitarian and medical aid are elements of Polish kindness and empathy. The aim of the research was to collect Poles' opinions about the need to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainians from the territories of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Capturing feelings of Poles towards Ukrainians during the war is an interesting issue that shows subjective opinions about the existential situation perceived in the space of mutual personal interactions. The results showing opinions on help were collected from a group of 1012 people throughout Poland with the help of an authorial questionnaire. The obtained data shows a positive attitude of Poles to Ukrainians. The most willing to help are people over 49 years old, more often with a good and very good financial situation. Respondents believe that general assistance from other countries and the European Parliament is not sufficient. Military support is accepted the most by the oldest participants of research, and less by the age group up to 30 years who support medical help more. More concerned about the ongoing conflict are respondents under the age of 30 and the least wealthy, including, more often, women. The richest respondents are least afraid of the effects of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The conducted research confirms the openness of Polish society to refugees and brings opinions about existential solidarity with the suffering Ukrainian nation.

Comparison of US and EU Prices for Orphan Drugs in the Perspective of the Considered US Orphan Drugs Act Modifications and Discussed Price-Regulation Mechanisms Adjustments in US and European Union.

The 2019 worldwide sales of Orphan Drugs were estimated at $136 billion USD, which constituted 16% of the global pharmaceutical prescription market and is expected to grow by 12% in the next 5 years. A better understanding of Orphan Drug pricing may contribute to on-going discussions on Orphan Drug Act (ODA) corrections in US or modifications of price setting mechanisms in EU. The objective of the study was comparison and analysis of the prices of Orphan Drugs in US and EU. All drugs with Orphan Drug status were compared in the US and EU. For the US prices, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was sourced. The EU List Prices came from six EU countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Spain. We found US prices to be higher than the six selected EU countries. The average Price Ratio was 1.64. The prices across EU countries were more homogeneous, while the number of the reimbursed and therefore available to patient medicines varied and was correlated with GDP per capita r = 0.87. Considered implementation of the External Reference Price system in US may generate significant savings in the US but may result in upward pressure on pricing of Orphan Drugs in EU. Centralization of the Orphan Drugs pricing negotiations in EU may prevent such development and offer a win-win opportunity for all involved parties.

The Sense of Coherence and Health Behavior of Men with Alcohol Addiction.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol dependence is one of the world's major health challenges. The salutogenic concept of health developed by Antonovsky focuses on the search for resources and factors supporting health. Its basic concept of the sense of coherence (SOC) focuses on strengthening the global orientation of the patient, and creating permanent internal resources that translate into the improvement of pro-health behavior, including the fight against alcoholism. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between individual factors and the SOC as well as the influence of the SOC concept on pro-health behavior of people addicted to alcohol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 110 men undergoing treatment in an addiction treatment ward. To check the level of the SOC, two standardized questionnaires, Antonovsky's "SOC-29 Life Orientation Questionnaire" and Juczynski's "Health Behaviour Inventory", were used. The correlation coefficient between the sociodemographic variables was checked using the Pearson's r test. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found with the intensity of pro-health behaviors for three sociodemographic variables. In people aged 43-65 (r = 0.299; p = 0.030), people with primary/vocational education (r = 0.276; p = 0.015), and respondents living in rural areas (r = 0.303; p = 0.028) a greater SOC was associated with pro-health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals addicted to alcohol are characterized by a low SOC and a low level of pro-health behaviors. Strengthening the internal level of the SOC can constitute an element of addiction therapy when introducing health education to prepare the patient for independent life in sobriety.

Searching for the Relationship between the Concentration of Heavy Metals in the Blood and the Clinical Course of Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Poland.

(1) Background: Of all environmental pollutants, heavy metals have the most detrimental effect on public health because they remain in the ecosystem and are not biodegradable. The neurotoxicity of heavy metals, including cadmium and lead, has been well documented, and blood levels of heavy metals serve as a biomarker of exposure, reflecting their content in soft tissues. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic neurodegenerative diseases. The pathogenesis of MS is complex and relies on the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to search for the relationship between the values of cadmium and lead concentration in the blood and the health history and functional status of patients with MS. (2) Methods: The study group consisted of 151 patients with a clinical diagnosis of MS. Determination of the presence of tested elements in serum was performed using an ELAN DRC-e ICP mass spectrometer. (3) Results: Statistical analysis demonstrated that an increase in the level of cadmium was accompanied by an increase in the level of lead. There was no significant correlation between the blood lead concentration and the functional status assessed by EDSS among patients with MS in Poland. However, a tendency towards worse functional status of patients with higher blood lead concentration (p = 0.07) was demonstrated. Patients who experienced first MS symptoms at older age had higher blood levels of the tested metals. (4) Conclusions: The concentrations of cadmium and lead in the blood of MS patients in Poland were not factors differentiating their functional status and the course of the disease.

Hepcidin (rs10421768), Transferrin (rs3811647, rs1049296) and Transferrin Receptor 2 (rs7385804) Gene Polymorphism Might Be Associated with the Origin of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system in which there is a multifocal damage to the nerve tissue. Additionally, the literature emphasizes the excessive accumulation of iron in the central nervous system of patients, which is negatively correlated with their psychophysical fitness. Iron metabolism genes polymorphisms may modulate iron deposition in the body and thus affect the clinical course of MS. We aimed to assess the frequency of HAMP, TFR2, and TF polymorphisms in MS patients and their impact on the clinical course of the disease. The studied polymorphisms were identified by the Real-Time PCR using TaqMan technology. Neurological assessment by means of EDSS scale was conducted. This cross-sectional study included 176 patients, with the mean age of onset of symptoms at 30.6 years. The frequency of alleles of the studied polymorphisms was as follows: (a) HAMP rs10421768: A 75.9% (n = 267), G 24.1% (n = 65), (b) TF rs1049296: C 89.2% (n = 314), T 10.8% (n = 38), (c) TF rs3811647: A 39.8% (n = 140), G 60.2% (n = 212), (d) TFR2 rs7385804: A 59.1% (n = 59.1%), C 40.9% (n = 144). In the codominant inheritance model of TF rs1049269, it was shown that people with the CT genotype scored statistically significantly lower points in the EDSS scale at the time of diagnosis than those with the CC genotype (CC Me = 1.5, CT Me = 1.0 p = 0.0236). In the recessive model of TF inheritance rs3811647, it was noticed that the primary relapses were significantly more frequent in patients with at least one G allele compared with those with the AA genotype (AG + GG = 81.2%, AA = 18.8%, p = 0.0354). In the overdominant model rs7385804 TFR2, it was shown that among patients with the AA genotype, multiple sclerosis occurs significantly more often in relatives in a straight line compared with people with the AC and CC genotypes (AA = 100.0%, AC + CC = 0.0%, p = 0.0437). We concluded that the studied polymorphisms might affect the clinical course of MS.

A Retrospective, Single-Centre Study on the Learning Curve for Liver Tumor Open Resection in Patients with Hepatocellular Cancers and Intrahepatic Cholagangiocarcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Liver resections have become the first-line treatment for primary malignant tumors and, therefore, are considered a core aspect of surgical training. This study aims to evaluate the learning curve for the safety of open hemihepatectomy procedures for patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). METHODS: This single tertiary center retrospective analysis includes 81 consecutive cases of right or left hemihepatectmy. A cumulative sum (CUSUM) control chart was used to investigate the learning curve. RESULTS: The CUSUM curve for operative time and blood loss level peaked at the 29th and 30th case, respectively. The CUSUM curve for minor adverse effects (mAEs) and severe adverse effects (sAEs) showed a downward slope after the 27th and 36th procedures; the curve, however, remained within the acceptable range throughout the entire study. CONCLUSION: When performing open hemihepatectomies in patients with HCC and ICC, the stabilization of the operative time and intraoperative blood loss level are gained earlier than sAEs risk reduction.

Problematic Internet Use, health behaviors, depression and eating disorders: a cross-sectional study among Polish medical school students.

BACKGROUND: Problematic Internet Use is defined as a use of the Internet which leads to various difficulties. The aim of this study was to check whether Problematic Internet Use is associated with health risks, such as: anti-health behaviors, depressive symptoms, abnormal body weight or eating disorders. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 540 medical school students of Polish descent (83.5% females; 16.5% males), whose mean age was 22.49 years (SD = 5.20). The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire set, including the Problematic Internet Use Test, Juczynski's Health-Related Behavior Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Eating Attitudes Test and a self-designed demographic survey. RESULTS: Increased Problematic Internet Use scores were observed in male, full-time students, persons who use the Internet on the computer (compared to those who mostly use it on the phone), and those who go online mainly for entertainment purposes (compared to those who indicated another main purpose of using the Internet). 47.6% of the sample reported poor health behaviors, while 27.1% met the criteria of a depressive episode and 6.9% of an eating disorder. High risk of Problematic Internet Use was observed in 2.8% of the sample, particularly those who reported having more free time during the day, engaged in fewer health protective behaviors, manifested more severe depressive symptoms and scored higher on the Eating Attitudes Test. CONCLUSION: Such results indicate that students with Problematic Internet Use lead an unhealthy lifestyle and more often show symptoms of depression and eating disorders than students without Problematic Internet Use.

Co-occurrence of adult abuse and child abuse: analysis of the phenomenon.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the co-occurrence of adult and child abuse based on the reports collected from the Polish police and social welfare institutions. METHODS: The study involved data concerning 468 households in Szczecin (Poland) inhabited by children where acts of violence between adults took place. The presented data refer to the years 2012-2103. The data came from so called Blue Card files, i.e. documents issued by the police and social workers in cases of domestic abuse, providing information about its forms, perpetrators, and victims. RESULTS: Domestic violence usually occurs between spouses and cohabitees (78%). The perpetrator was usually a man (88%). Violence usually lasted from 1 up to 3 years (30.0%). The most common forms of physical abuse against adults and children included pushing (79.5% of adults, 22.4% of children) and hitting (64.7% of adults, 16.6% of children), and psychologically abusive behaviors were mostly insults (91.9% of adults, 27.5% of children) and criticism (79.1% of adults, 21.5% of children). This work has shown that the longer the psychological abuse between adults lasts, the greater probability is that it will also be used against children. Child abuse is also associated with putting up resistance to the police by perpetrators. CONCLUSIONS: Summing up, in households where violence between adults is observed, actions should be taken to prevent violence against children.

Epidemiological factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus: evidence from the Global Burden of Disease.

BACKGROUND: The United Nations acknowledged diabetes as an epidemic of the 21st century. Global trends demonstrate a continuing growth in its prevalence at approximately 2.5 % per year. The aim of the study was to analyse selected epidemiological factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus in Poland, Central Europe and the World. METHODS: This study presents Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data. Study describes the type 2 diabetes burden in the studied populations based on years lived with disability (YLD), years of life lost (YLL), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). RESULTS: Type 2 diabetes has been demonstrated to be a determinant of reduced life expectancy, as in the analysed period the condition presented an increasing trend, compared to other diseases. CONCLUSIONS: In recent years the observed YLL, YLD and DALY values for type 2 diabetes have been comparable to the expected ones. Thus the prognosis presented by GBD may be used as a reliable source of information and a basis for a health policy that reduces the number of patients with diabetes and related complications, comorbidities or mortality.

The incidence of eating disorders among upper secondary school female students. / Wystepowanie zaburzen odzywiania wsród uczennic szkól ponadgimnazjalnych.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of eating disorders in the population of Polish upper secondary school female students, while considering the type of school and living conditions. METHODS: The investigations of eating disorders were conducted between March and June 2017 and covered female students of the upper secondary schools of Szczecin. Selection for the survey was multistep. 1,750 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The study used a tool for screening for the occurrence of eating disorders - the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). RESULTS: Lower scores were observed among higher grade students (EAT-26, EAT dieting) as well as those who did not receive pocket money (EAT dieting, EAT bulimia) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Age has proved to be an important prognostic factor for eating disorders. The risk decreased as the age of the examined girls increased. (2) The risk of eating disorders was almost 21 times higher among first and second grade girls.

Changes in disease burden in Poland between 1990-2017 in comparison with other Central European countries: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

BACKGROUND: Systematic collection of mortality/morbidity data over time is crucial for monitoring trends in population health, developing health policies, assessing the impact of health programs. In Poland, a comprehensive analysis describing trends in disease burden for major conditions has never been published. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides data on the burden of over 300 diseases in 195 countries since 1990. We used the GBD database to undertake an assessment of disease burden in Poland, evaluate changes in population health between 1990-2017, and compare Poland with other Central European (CE) countries. METHODS: The results of GBD 2017 for 1990 and 2017 for Poland and CE were used to assess rates and trends in years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Data came from cause-of-death registration systems, population health surveys, disease registries, hospitalization databases, and the scientific literature. Analytical approaches have been used to adjust for missing data, errors in cause-of-death certification, and differences in data collection methodology. Main estimation strategies were ensemble modelling for mortality and Bayesian meta-regression for disability. RESULTS: Between 1990-2017, age-standardized YLL rates for all causes declined in Poland by 46.0% (95% UI: 43.7-48.2), YLD rates declined by 4.0% (4.2-4.9), DALY rates by 31.7% (29.2-34.4). For both YLLs and YLDs, greater relative declines were observed for females. There was a large decrease in communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disease DALYs (48.2%; 46.3-50.4). DALYs due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) decreased slightly (2.0%; 0.1-4.6). In 2017, Poland performed better than CE as a whole (ranked fourth for YLLs, sixth for YLDs, and fifth for DALYs) and achieved greater reductions in YLLs and DALYs than most CE countries. In 2017 and 1990, the leading cause of YLLs and DALYs in Poland and CE was ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and the leading cause of YLDs was low back pain. In 2017, the top 20 causes of YLLs and YLDs in Poland and CE were the same, although in different order. In Poland, age-standardized DALYs from neonatal causes, other cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, and road injuries declined substantially between 1990-2017, while alcohol use disorders and chronic liver diseases increased. The highest observed-to-expected ratios were seen for alcohol use disorders for YLLs, neonatal sepsis for YLDs, and falls for DALYs (3.21, 2.65, and 2.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There was relatively little geographical variation in premature death and disability in CE in 2017, although some between-country differences existed. Health in Poland has been improving since 1990; in 2017 Poland outperformed CE as a whole for YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs. While the health gap between Poland and Western Europe has diminished, it remains substantial. The shift to NCDs and chronic disability, together with marked between-gender health inequalities, poses a challenge for the Polish health-care system. IHD is still the leading cause of disease burden in Poland, but DALYs from IHD are declining. To further reduce disease burden, an integrated response focused on NCDs and population groups with disproportionally high burden is needed.

Pulp sensibility to electric stimuli in the Caucasian population.

The aim of the study was to determine electric sensibility of the pulp in the Caucasian population depending on tooth morphotype, age and sex. Dental pulp sensibility was determined in 279 patients (2640 teeth). The study group consisted of 226 patients (1296 teeth), 110 men and 116 women aged 55-101. The control group consisted of 53 patients (1344 teeth), 23 men and 30 women aged 20-30. A statistically significant lower sensory threshold and increased pulp sensibility in the study group were noted. These affected the lower incisors, the second upper premolars and the first and second upper molar. The differences in the pulp sensibility were found in the region of maxillary central incisors, maxillary premolars, mandibular lateral incisors and mandibular premolars. The pulp sensibility threshold was lower for the aforementioned groups of teeth in the study group. The correlation between sensibility of the pulp and sex was not confirmed.

Occurrence of alcohol addiction in the adult population living in rural areas.

INTRODUCTION: Risky alcohol consumption is one of the main threats to the health of both individuals and society as a whole. These threats affect, among others, health, safety and financial situation. Their scale and intensity cause the issue of alcohol consumption to become a significant challenge for public health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was assessment of the occurrence of the problem of alcohol consumption among residents of rural areas in Western Pomerania and the Lubuskie Province of Western Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 350 residents of rural areas - 236 females (66.4%) and 114 males (32.6%), median age - 42 y. (range - 20-76 years). The tools used included MAST and AUDIT questionnaires, Health Behaviour Inventory (HBI), Social Activity Questionnaire (SA), and original questions. RESULTS: In the studied group the problem with proper alcohol consumption occurred. High convergence was observed between results obtained by individual respondents with both tools (r=0.868 with p<0.001). Median on the AUDIT scale indicated the possibility of alcoholism occurrence in the studied group, whereas the MAST test indicated the necessity to conduct an in-depth alcohol diagnosis. Factors that differentiated the points scored by respondents in AUDIT test included gender - more women drank alcohol in a risky way (Z=-2.54, p=0.011), education, health behaviours, professional passivity, and using various forms of support. In the AUDIT test, the alcoholism threat was over 7 times higher in people without permanent employment (vs. employed people), OR=7.41 (95% CI-4.56-12.04), and in MAST test it was over 4 times higher in these individuals: OR =4.45 (95% CI-2.64-7.49). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate the need to intensify the work of regional facilities for solving alcohol problems, as well as educational campaigns in schools and health care facilities.

Influence of Pb and Cd levels in whole blood of postmenopausal women on the incidence of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: To-date, the influence of heavy metals such as Pb or Cd on mental functioning, and especially on the occurrence of depressive and anxiety-related disorders, has not been well understood. OBJECTIVES: 1) Assessment of Pb and Cd levels in whole blood of postmenopausal women. 2) Assessment of the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms depending on Pb and Cd levels in whole blood of postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey-based study involved 198 healthy postmenopausal women from West Pomeranian province in Poland. It was performed using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The second part of the study was based on biochemical analysis of the levels of heavy metals (Pb, Cd). RESULTS: The mean level of Pb was 19.85 ± 8.99 µg/l and Cd 0.87±0.98 µg/l; these levels were within normal ranges. Analysis of the mean levels of Pb and Cd in whole blood of postmenopausal women in relation to the severity of depressive symptoms did not reveal statistically significant differences. Correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant (p<0.05) negative correlation (-0.22) between the level of Pb and the severity of anxiety as a state. Correlations between the levels of Pb and Cd and the severity of anxiety as a trait were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The mean Pb and Cd levels in whole blood of healthy postmenopausal women did not exceed acceptable limits. The study did not confirm a relationship between the levels of selected heavy metals and the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in healthy women. However, there was a relationship between the level of Pb and the severity of anxiety as a state.