The Severity of Depressive Symptoms as an Independent Predictor of Sustained Virological Response During Treatment of Hepatitis C With Pegylated Interferon-α2a and Oral Ribavirin.

BACKGROUND: Sustained virological response (SVR) is the best indicator of successful therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Patients with chronic HCV infection treated with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (PEG-IFN-α/RBV) can achieve SVR 56% of the time. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate baseline predictors of SVR in patients treated with PEG-IFN-α/RBV for HCV chronic infection. METHODS: A total of 101 patients receiving PEG-IFN-α/RBV for chronic HCV infection participated in the prospective cohort study. Symptoms of depression were assessed with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) before the treatment. The multivariate regression analysis was applied to determine predictors of SVR. RESULTS: Of a total of 101 patients included, 99 patients reached the primary end point-24 weeks after completing treatment. After the initial analysis of probable predictive variables, the logistic analysis included age, sex, HCV genetic type, and MADRS score. The HCV genotype (odds ratio = 0.22 [confidence interval = 0.073-0.68, p = .008) and MADRS score (OR = 0.88 [confidence interval = 0.80-0.98), p = .013]) predicted an SVR outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of depressive symptoms before treatment and HCV genotype are independent predictors of SVR.

Stress level and general mental state in Polish pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to mental state worsening. Mental health disorders in pregnancy are known to have adverse outcomes both for mothers and their children. It is the first study in Poland to investigate the impact of the pandemic on stress level and general mental state in pregnant women. METHODS: Three hundred sixteen pregnant women completed an online survey containing four instruments. The main research questions were investigated with Bayesian regression analyses. RESULTS: We found that 37% of pregnant women presented with some mental state disorders and almost 46% with elevated emotional tension. Seventeen % had elevated stress level, 11% elevated intrapsychic stress level and 13% elevated outward stress level. Both 'being scared of lack of social support...' and 'being scared of infection...' have an impact on stress level, however the first factor is a more substantial stressor. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple pregnant women during the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presented with mental state disorders and elevated stress levels. As mental state disorders contribute to adverse neonatal outcomes and maternal mortality, it is imperative to focus on pregnant women's psychological and psychiatric conditions during the pandemic. It seems crucial to use screening tests to make early psychiatric diagnoses.

The role of anthranilic acid in the increase of depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder during treatment for hepatitis C with pegylated interferon-α2a and oral ribavirin.

Background: Tryptophan metabolism via the kynurenine pathway is considered the link between the immune and endocrine systems. Dysregulation of serotonergic transmission can stem from the direct influence of interferon-α on the activity of serotonergic receptors 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A, and from its indirect effect on tryptophan metabolism. Induction of the kynurenine pathway increases the concentration of neurotoxic kynurenine metabolites, and the activity of kynurenine derivatives is linked to the onset of depression. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationships between depressive symptoms and kynurenine, tryptophan, anthranilic acid and kynurenic acid concentrations, indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity and tryptophan availability to the brain. Methods: The study followed a prospective longitudinal cohort design. We evaluated 101 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with pegylated interferon-α2a, and 40 controls who were awaiting treatment. We evaluated the relationships between total score on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and kynurenine, tryptophan, anthranilic acid and kynurenic acid concentrations, IDO activity and tryptophan availability to the brain. A logistic regression model was adapted for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder at each time point, taking into account changes in parameters of the kynurenine pathway between a given time point and the baseline measurement. Results: Of the treated patients, 44% fulfilled the criteria for major depressive disorder at least once during the 24 weeks of treatment. Anthranilic acid concentrations were significantly increased compared to baseline for all time points except week 2. Tryptophan availability showed a significant decrease (ß = -0.09, p = 0.01) only in week 12 of treatment. Over time, kynurenine, tryptophan and anthranilic acid concentrations, as well as IDO activity and tryptophan availability to the brain, were significantly associated with total score on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. A logistic regression model revealed that participants with decreased tryptophan availability to the brain at 12 weeks of treatment and participants with increased anthranilic acid concentrations at week 24 of treatment were at increased risk for diagnosis of major depressive disorder (odds ratios 2.92 and 3.59, respectively). Limitations: This study had an open-label design in a population receiving naturalistic treatment. Conclusion: The present study provides the first direct evidence of the role of anthranilic acid in the pathogenesis of inflammation-induced major depressive disorder during treatment for hepatitis C with pegylated interferon-α2a.

Interferon-free therapy as the cause of white matter tracts and cerebral perfusion recovery in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The purpose of this study was to assess cerebral microstructural and perfusion changes in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection before and after interferon-free therapy, using advanced magnetic resonance (MR) techniques. Eleven HCV-positive patients underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) using a 1.5T MR unit, before and 24 weeks after completion of interferon-free therapy. DTI fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were obtained from 14 white matter tracts. PWI values of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were assessed from 8 areas, including basal ganglia, and cortical and white matter locations. In HCV-positive patients therapy with ombitasvir, paritaprevir boosted with ritonavir and dasabuvir, with or without ribavirin, was scheduled. Cognitive tests were used to assess cognitive function. We found increased FA values after interferon-free therapy compared to values obtained before treatment in HCV patients in almost all white matter tracts. We also observed elevated rCBV values in basal ganglia after therapy. There were significant correlations between improvement in the score of cognitive tests and increased FA values in both inferior fronto-occipital fascicles and left posterior cingulum after treatment. Liver fibrosis regression in elastography, APRI and improvement in cognitive tests were observed. This is the first report of interferon-free therapy as the cause of white matter tracts recovery as well as cerebral perfusion improvement in HCV-infected patients, indicating better functioning of frontal lobes after interferon-free treatment.

Quantitative magnetic resonance assessment of brain atrophy related to selected aspects of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis: preliminary results.

PURPOSE: The aim of this volumetric study was to evaluate the relationship between brain atrophy quantification in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and the progression of disability measured by neurological standardised tests. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen patients (mean age 40.89 years) with clinically definite MS and 24 control subjects (mean age 38.45 years) were enrolled in the study. Brain examinations were performed on a 1.5T MR scanner. Automatic brain segmentation was done using FreeSurfer. Neurological disability was assessed in all patients in baseline and after a median follow-up of two years, using EDSS score evaluation. RESULTS: In MS patients we found significantly (p < 0.05) higher atrophy rates in many brain areas compared with the control group. The white matter did not show any significant rate of volume loss in MS patients compared to healthy controls. Significant changes were found only in grey matter volume in MS subjects. At the follow-up evaluation after two years MS patients with deterioration in disability revealed significantly decreased cerebral volume in 14 grey matter areas at baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to MS subjects without disability progression. CONCLUSIONS: Grey matter atrophy is associated with the degree of disability in MS patients. Our results suggest that morphometric measurements of brain volume could be a promising non-invasive biomarker in assessing the volumetric changes in MS patients as related to disability progression in the course of the disease.

Assessment of body surface potential mapping in diabetic patients with recognized depression.

OBJECTIVES: Parameters of body surface potential mapping (BSPM) in DM II patients are significantly different comparing with healthy non-diabetic subjects. Hypothesis that these changes are more pronounced in DM II patients with depression was tested in the present study. For this purpose, analysis of the relationship between the Int-QRST (isointegral) maps distribution and the depressive symptoms intensification, as well interrelation between depressive and diabetic symptoms were performed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: BSPM registrations were obtained from the three study groups (aged 37-52 years), namely 40 diabetic patients with clinically documented depression, 30 depressive patient without DM and 90 normal subjects. BSPM recordings were displayed in a form of the Int-QRST maps. Examination with BDI and HbA1c test were also performed in all investigated subjects. RESULTS: Isointegral QRST maps turned out to display abnormal, i.e. non-dipolar distribution. Moreover, extent of Int-QRST maps multipolarity increased in the examined diabetic patients along with DM II duration, BDI scores and HbA1c level. CONCLUSIONS: Non-dipolar distribution of Int-QRST maps, more pronounced in diabetic patients with depression, can be a specific indicator of the increased risk of severe ventricular arrhythmias occurring prior to abnormalities detectable on the standard 12-lead ECG recordings, which is of great importance especially in prevention of life-threatening arrhythmias.

Disability and emotional symptoms in women with lipedema: A comparison with overweight/obese women.

BACKGROUND: Lipedema is characterized by the painful abnormal deposition of adipose tissue in the lower limbs and is often misdiagnosed as obesity. Considering the numerous bothersome physical symptoms of lipedema, women with lipedema may have greater disability and emotional problems than women with lifestyle-induced obesity. OBJECTIVES: Our study aims to assess disability, anxiety and depression symptoms in women with lipedema compared to women with overweight/obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Women with lipedema (n = 45, with a mean age of 41 years) and women who are overweight/obese (n = 43, with a mean age of 44.95 years) were asked to complete the following questionnaires: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS II), Beck's Depression Inventory - II (BDI-II), and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Despite the higher BMI in the overweight/obesity group, the group with lipedema was more disabled in numerous domains of the WHO-DAS II questionnaire, including Life activities - domestic, work and school responsibilities and Participation in society When the influence of BMI was adjusted, a difference in the domain of Mobility was also present. The study groups did not differ in anxiety and depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that behavioral impairment was the main factor affecting functioning in women with lipedema. Emotional symptoms did not differentiate the study groups. Leg volumes and adipose tissue pain intensity were associated with greater disability in women with lipedema, and should be considered in managing women with this condition and in future research estimating the effectiveness of lipedema treatment.

Evaluation of early cerebral metabolic, perfusion and microstructural changes in HCV-positive patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate early metabolic perfusion, and microstructural cerebral changes in patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and normal appearing brain on plain MR using advanced MR techniques, as well as to assess correlations of MR measurements with the liver histology activity index (HAI). METHODS: Fifteen HCV-positive patients and 18 control subjects underwent single voxel MR spectroscopy (MRS), perfusion weighted imaging (PWI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), using a 1.5T MR unit. MRS metabolite ratios (NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr) were calculated. PWI values of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) were assessed from 8 areas including several cortical locations, basal ganglia, and fronto-parietal white matter. DTI fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were obtained from 14 white matter tracts. RESULTS: Compared to controls, HCV-positive patients showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower NAA/Cr ratios within frontal and parietal white matters, lower rCBV values within frontal and temporo-parietal cortices, decreased FA values, as well as increased ADC values in several white matter tracts. We also found elevated rCBV values in basal ganglia regions. The increase in mI/Cr and Cho/Cr ratio was correlated with a higher HAI score. CONCLUSIONS: The results of advanced MR techniques indicate neurotoxicity of HCV reflected by neuronal impairment within white matter, cortical hypoperfusion, and disintegrity within several white matter tracts. Hyperperfusion in basal ganglia may be an indicator of brain inflammation in HCV patients. Our findings may suggest a biologic link between HCV-related liver disease and cerebral dysfunction.

Replication of hepatitis C virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a primarily hepatotropic virus, but hepatocytes are not the only localization of its replication. It is still unclear if extrahepatic HCV replication, measured as the detection of HCV RNA negative strand in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before initiation of treatment, has an influence on therapy response. Detection of HCV RNA in extrahepatic sites for assessment of therapy efficacy is not routinely used in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the replication of HCV in PBMCs affects the rate of sustained virological response (SVR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised 55 patients with chronic hepatitis C, originally treatment naive. They were treated with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha 2a and ribavirin, with the standard dosing schedule. Parallel serum samples for HCV RNA and PBMC samples for HCV RNA negative strand were obtained at baseline, at the end of treatment and 24 weeks after finishing therapy. RESULTS: Undetectable HCV RNA in serum at the end of therapy was found in 48 patients (87.3%), while 33 patients (60.0%) achieved sustained virological response (SVR) (51% for HCV genotype 1 and 78% for genotype 3, respectively). Fifteen individuals (31.3%) were relapsers. Factors associated with significantly higher rate of SVR were young age, mild or no fibrosis and infection with HCV genotype 3. HCV RNA negative strand in PBMCs before treatment was found in 21.8% (12 out of 55 patients). HCV RNA negative strand was detected at baseline more frequently in patients who later achieved SVR. Relapse appeared significantly more often in patients with negative strand at the end of therapy: in 2 out of 15 individuals compared to 0 out of 33 patients (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of negative HCV RNA strand in PBMCs before treatment may be suggested as a potential marker of good treatment response. Detection of negative strand at the end of therapy is a predictor of relapse.

Polish Adaption of Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire - Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2). / Polska adaptacja Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire ­ Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2).

AIM: To create a Polish adaption of the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire - Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2), which is widely used abroad. METHODS: PRAQ-R2 was translated into Polish by independent bilingual speakers. Fortyeight pregnant women completed our survey containing the Polish version of PRAQ-R2, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Modified (HADS-M), and a short sociodemographic questionnaire. After a week, they were asked to complete the PRAQ-R2 questionnaire again. Parametric statistics were used to assess psychometric properties. RESULTS: Our study has shown a good test-retest correlation of 0.70. Participants completed the survey twice (in t1 and after one week - in t2). Cronbach's alpha was calculated as 0.847 at t1 and 0.895 at t2. There was a moderate correlation between PRAQ-R2 at both time points and the HADS-M scale and its subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Our Polish adaption of PRAQ-R2 has shown good validity and reliability. It has good internal consistency. Moderate correlation with HADS-M proves that pregnancyrelated anxiety (PrA) is a distinctive disorder from generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. Given the great frequency and the burden of PrA, we believe that PRAQ-R2 should be routinely used among physicians working with pregnant patients.

HTR1A, TPH2, and 5-HTTLPR Polymorphisms and Their Impact on the Severity of Depressive Symptoms and on the Concentration of Tryptophan Catabolites during Hepatitis C Treatment with Pegylated Interferon-α2a and Oral Ribavirin (PEG-IFN-α2a/RBV).

BACKGROUND: Seeing that there are no data about associations between serotonin gene polymorphism and tryptophan catabolite concentration during PEG-IFN-α2a treatment, the aim of the current study is to examine (a) the associations between polymorphisms within the HTR1A, TPH2, and 5-HTT genes and the severity of depression symptoms and (b) the relationships among rs6295, rs4570625, and 5-HTTLPR rs25531polymorphisms and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity, as well as kynurenine (KYN), tryptophan (TRP), kynurenic acid (KA), and anthranilic acid (AA) concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study followed a prospective, longitudinal, single-center cohort design. The severity of the depressive symptoms of 101 adult patients with chronic HCV infections was measured during PEG-IFN-α2a/RBV treatment. We used the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. The subjects were evaluated six times-at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24. At all the time points, MADRS score, as well as KYN, TRP, KA, and AA concentrations, and IDO activity were measured. At baseline, rs6295, rs4570625, and 5-HTTLPR rs25531polymorphisms were assessed. RESULTS: Subjects with C/C genotypes of 5-HT1A and lower-expressing alleles (S/S, LG/LG, and S/LG) of 5-HTTLPR scored the highest total MADRS scores and recorded the highest increase in MADRS scores during treatment. We found associations between TRP concentrations and the TPH-2 and 5-HTTLPR rs25531 genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide new data that we believe can help better understand infection-induced depression as a distinct type of depression.

COVID-19-related consultation-liaison (CL) mental health services in general hospitals: A perspective from Europe and beyond.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges for integrated health care worldwide. Our study aimed to describe newly implemented structures and procedures of psychosocial consultation and liaison (CL) services in Europe and beyond, and to highlight emerging needs for co-operation. METHODS: Cross-sectional online survey from June to October 2021, using a self-developed 25-item questionnaire in four language versions (English, French, Italian, German). Dissemination was via national professional societies, working groups, and heads of CL services. RESULTS: Of the participating 259 CL services from Europe, Iran, and parts of Canada, 222 reported COVID-19 related psychosocial care (COVID-psyCare) in their hospital. Among these, 86.5% indicated that specific COVID-psyCare co-operation structures had been established. 50.8% provided specific COVID-psyCare for patients, 38.2% for relatives, and 77.0% for staff. Over half of the time resources were invested for patients. About a quarter of the time was used for staff, and these interventions, typically associated with the liaison function of CL services, were reported as most useful. Concerning emerging needs, 58.1% of the CL services providing COVID-psyCare expressed wishes for mutual information exchange and support, and 64.0% suggested specific changes or improvements that they considered essential for the future. CONCLUSION: Over 80% of participating CL services established specific structures to provide COVID-psyCare for patients, their relatives, or staff. Mostly, resources were committed to patient care and specific interventions were largely implemented for staff support. Future development of COVID-psyCare warrants intensified intra- and inter-institutional exchange and co-operation.

The circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders affect blood pressure both during the day and at night. Little is known about the effect of individual anxiety disorders on the circadian rhythm of blood pressure. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to compare the nocturnal drop in blood pressure in patients with panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and healthy individuals. METHODS: The study was conducted on fifty consecutive outpatients with anxiety disorders and personality disorders who participated in intensive group psychotherapy. Diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV-TR criteria using the PSE-10 questionnaire. Out of 50 patients under study, 17 were diagnosed with PD and 21 with GAD. The control group consisted of 40 healthy people recruited in the course of other studies. The resulting three groups were compared in terms of circadian blood pressure using the ABPM method. RESULTS: Mean nocturnal falls in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were the following: 2% and 3% (PD), 11% and 12% (GAD), 27% and 23% (control). Four people out of PD group had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure at night than during the day. The ratios between non-dippers/dippers were: 0/15 (PD), 8/21 (38% - GAD) and 40/40 (100% - control). CONCLUSIONS: The patients with PD were characterized by an almost flat course of circadian blood pressure. The patients with GAD had a lower mean nocturnal fall in blood pressure than the control group, but significantly higher than the patients with PD. The differences in the circadian course of blood pressure between PD and GAD are so large that the impact of these disorders should be investigated separately.

Biological factors and consequences of pregnancy-related anxiety - What do we know so far? / Czynniki biologiczne i skutki zaburzen lekowych specyficznych dla ciazy ­ aktualny stan wiedzy.

This review aims to sum up the current knowledge about biological factors of pregnancy related anxiety (PrA) and the most common consequences for both mother and child, thereby identifying the most crucial concerns and suggesting the course of further research in this field. We pursued a literature review using PubMed. Scientists have shown a significant connection between prenatal anxiety and hormonal changes. These alterations include HPA-axis regulation, thyroid function, oxytocin, prolactin, and progesterone levels. PrA is proven to be a multifactorial condition. Several psychological factors correlate with it, e.g., insufficient social support, unplanned pregnancy, lack of physical activity, and a high level of distress. Although pregnancy is a significant change in one's life and may be a stressful event, it seems inadequate to believe that clinically relevant prenatal anxiety should be explained only by these psychological factors. Pregnancy-related anxiety is a common mental health disorder in pregnancy, and further studies are needed to minimize the risk of its severe consequences.

High-frequency changes in single-trial visual evoked potentials for unattended stimuli in chronic schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia reveal changes in information processing associated with external stimuli, which is reflected in the measurements of brain evoked potentials. We discuss actual knowledge on electro- (EEG) and magnetoencephalographic (MEG) changes in schizophrenia. NEW METHOD: The commonly used averaging technique entails the loss of information regarding the generation of evoked responses. We propose a methodology to describe single-trial (non-averaged) visual evoked potentials (VEP) using spectral and statistical analyses. We analysed EEG data registered in the O1-Cz and O2-Cz leads during unattended pattern-reversal stimulation, collected from a group of adult patients with chronic schizophrenia, and compared them to those of healthy individuals. Short-time single-trial VEP were transformed to the frequency domain using the FFT algorithm. Changes of the spectral power were visualized using spectrograms which were created by stacking single-trial spectra across all trials. Measures of the absolute and the relative spectral power were calculated and compared statistically. RESULTS: In schizophrenia, the energy density of VEP oscillations is shifted towards higher (gamma) frequencies, compared to healthy individuals. These differences are statistically significant in all analysed frequency bands for the relative power. This indicates distorted early processing of visual stimuli in schizophrenia. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The main advantage of the presented methodology is its simplicity and ease of interpretation of obtained results. The presented observations complement the knowledge on gamma oscillations acquired from computationally more complex methods of time-frequency analysis. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency changes for single-trial VEPs are detected in chronic schizophrenia.

The relationship between panic disorder and hypertension. A review of literature. / Zwiazek pomiedzy zaburzeniem lekowym z napadami leku a nadcisnieniem tetniczym. Przeglad pismiennictwa.

About 1/4 of the world's adult population suffers from hypertension. Due to the high prevalence of the disease, its impact on mortality and socio-economic costs, it is important to search for modifiable causes of its development. This review analyses studies in order to answer the question: Is there a higher prevalence of panic disorder in adults (≥18 years of age) with hypertension, than in normotensive group? There have been found 10 cross-sectional studies describing correlation between hypertension and panic disorder. Odds ratio for this two clinical entities ranged from OR = 3.31 (2.99-3.67) to OR = 1.19 (0.87-1.62). Moreover, frequency of coincidence of those two clinical entities was found between 4.2% and 18.75%. In the prospective studies there have been found a positive association between panic disorder and subsequent life-long development of hypertension OR= 1.7 (1.4-2.0). On the other hand, association between hypertension and subsequent development of panic disorder in the 12-months observation was OR = 3.23 (1.51-6.93), but in 3 years of observation it was insignificant OR = 1.12 (0.80-1.57). Based on the literaturereview, dueto the differences in methodology and the small number of prospective studies, it can only be suggested to clinicians that in some cases they should search for panic disorder in patients with hypertension, especially paroxysmal one.

Physical and psychological impairments of women with upper limb lymphedema following breast cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with worse physical and emotional functioning of breast cancer survivors with upper extremity lymphedema. METHODS: 1250 sets of questionnaires consisting of WHO-DAS II, EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-BR23 and GHQ-30 were mailed to women who underwent a breast cancer surgery at the Lower Silesian Oncology Center in Poland between January 1998 and December 2005. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The response rate was 33.47%. 117 women were included into a lymphedema group and 211 into a group without this complication. Women with lymphedema were more disabled (overall disability (DAS) score 39.78 versus 34.67; p<0.001), reported symptoms from the upper extremity (shoulder or arm pain and difficulties in arm movement) and from the operated breast (pain and swelling) 2-3 times more often, experienced poorer quality of life (global quality of life (QOL) score 0.50 versus 0.57; p=0.005) and higher psychological distress (GHQ score 10.61 versus 8.01; p=0.007) in comparison to breast cancer survivors without lymphedema. The factors associated with higher DAS score, higher GHQ score and lower QOL score in women with lymphedema were as following: pain in the upper limb (mainly shoulder and arm), pain in operated breast, difficulties with arm movement, localization of lymphedema within the hand or in operated breast, a history of dermatolymphangitis and of receiving chemotherapy. Severity of lymphedema, younger age, BMI and localization of lymphedema within the dominant limb were not considerably related to worse outcomes in these women.

Cognitive disorders in type 2 diabetic patients with recognized depression.

OBJECTIVES: The most important factors in the pathogenesis of cognitive disorders in diabetes mellitus (DM) are metabolic changes directly caused by hyperglycemia. Impairment of cognitive function is accompanied by a decrease in cerebral insulin. Insulin improves cognitive processes, including somatosensoric cognitive functions. Cognitive disorders are especially pronounced if diabetic patients suffer also from depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The evaluation of cognitive functions, especially sensomotoric skills were obtained from three study groups (aged 37-52 years): 30 healthy subjects, 40 diabetic patients with clinically documented depression and 30 depressive patients without DM. The sensomotoric skills were carried out using a SPS-2001E apparatus - a computer working stress simulator. The examination with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were also performed in all the investigated persons. RESULTS: Sensomotoric skills investigation revealed slight cognitive disorders in the early stages DM (subgroup IA) and its intensification according to increasing BDI scores and HbA1c blood concentration (from subgroup IA to IC). Intensification of sensomotoric cognitive disorders was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the depressive patients with DM (group I), than in these without DM (group III). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results suggest that coincidence of aggravating factors, such as depression and metabolic disorders in DM, may cause mutual interactions leading to premature and more intense cognitive impairment. The method proposed by the authors may serve as a screening examination in early diagnosis of CNS disorders reflected by somatosensoric cognitive disorders. The presented work indicates importance of sensomotoric skills investigation for the early diagnosis of the nervous system damage related to DM.

[Growing boreliosis anxiety and its reasons]. / Narastajacy lek przed borelioza i jego przyczyny.

UNLABELLED: At the beginning of the XXIst century the Internet became one of the most important sources of information. Medicine and health are the main topics of discussion on numerous forums and portals. Authors of the following article took the trouble to investigate Polish forums concerning Lyme disease. A typical Googlesearch of the Polish Internet reveals 77 forums with boreliosis threads. The largest (ca. 700 threads) and mostly quoted (26/77, which states for 34% all forums contained references to it) of all the forums is entitled 'borelioza' and it is hosted by Gazeta.pl (http:// forum.gazeta.pl/forum/71,1.html?f = 26140). It was founded and it is still run by the Boreliosis Patients Association. The Association disseminates ideas of ILADS, which presents boreliosis as a chronic, serious disease and also supports diagnostic and treating recommendations, contradictory to the standards of renowned medical authorities. People searching the Internet for the information on boreliosis are very likely to come across the webpages referring to the forum of the Association. As a result they might encounter faulty recommendations of ILADS. Members of the Association induce one another with hypochondriac fantasies of a disease, sometimes exceeding the limits of a delusion. The Association promotes faulty convictions about the internal "enemy"--boreliosis, incompetent and unfeeling doctors protecting it, and propose to unite in common defence. Such actions are a perfect encouragement for all somatization prone patients to undertake activities destructive to their health. It also leads to irrational social behaviour, which can be described as an induced hypochondria. CONCLUSION: The Internet has become a source of many unreliable information on boreliosis, which may potentially impose a serious threat to patients' health. While counselling the patients who affiliate their chronic symptoms with boreliosis, do not forget the possibility of induced anxiety disorder, hypochondria, or a propagated distrust to the doctors and pay more attention to the patients.

[Factorial structure of the general health questionnaire (GHQ-30)]. / Struktura czynnikowa Kwestionariusza Ogólnego Zdrowia (GHQ-30).

UNLABELLED: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was designed by Goldberg in the 1970's as a screening instrument to provide information on the mental wellbeing. Although it is widely used as a unidimensional instrument, factor analyses tend to suggest that it contains more than one dimension. AIM: The purpose of this paper is to review the factor-analytic research that has been carried out with regard to the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and to present the results of the analysis of our research. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 623 patients suffering from neurotic disorders and somatic illnesses were included into the study, 130 men and 493 women at the age ranged from 17 to 85 years old. A total score was calculated with Likert's method. The principal factor analysis with orthogonal varimax normalised rotation was used. Results. The GHQ-30 was found to have high internal consistency as a scale and high item-total correlations for most of the items. The factorial analysis showed that three factors labelled as the followed can be abstracted from the scale: depression and anxiety, interpersonal relations, general functioning. These factors jointly account for 58% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed both multifactorial (at the level of a lower order) and unifactorial (at the level of an upper order) structure of the GHQ-30.