Anxiety Levels among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccines.

Background: The pandemic has proven to be a particular challenge for healthcare workers, not only in the professional but also individual sense. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively influenced their well-being and caused psychological distress. Undoubtedly, direct contact with sick patients, the fight against the pandemic, and observing the epidemiological situation influenced the attitudes of this group towards COVID-19 and vaccinations. The aim of the study was to analyse the level of anxiety among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess attitudes towards vaccinations against COVID-19. Methods: The cross-sectional study followed the recommendations of STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology). A convenience purposive sampling method was used and the study was led among nurses and doctors employed in healthcare facilities. The study used a survey and the Trait Anxiety Scale SL-C. Results: The study included 385 participants, with an average age of 48.41 ± 6.76 years. The nurses constituted 55% of the study group and the doctors 45%. A total of 70% of healthcare workers had over 10 years of work experience. Over half of the subjects (57%) became infected with COVID-19. A total of 85% of respondents have received vaccination. A total of 71% of respondents believe vaccinations are harmless. Frequently, the participants assessed their level of anxiety as moderate. Conclusions: Almost all surveyed doctors chose to be vaccinated, while the percentage of vaccinated nurses was significantly lower. As a result, it is possible to conclude that the employment position has a significant influence on the decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In self-assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic, most healthcare professionals experienced a moderate level of anxiety. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccination reduced the level of anxiety.

The Risk of Melanoma due to Exposure to Sun and Solarium Use in Poland: A Large-Scale, Hospital Based Case - Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of skin cancer is constantly growing, it is considered a serious problem of public health. Most cases of skin cancer are caused by a combination of non-modifiable genetic, and modifiable environmental risk factors. The study objective was to analyse the correlation between pigmentation traits, excessive sunlight exposure, solarium use and the risk of melanoma development. METHODS: The study included 480 patients diagnosed with melanoma and 400 within the control group. Subjects diagnosed with the melanoma confirmed by histopathology were invited to take part in the study. The research was based on a clinical, direct, individual, structured, in-depth and focused interview. RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 44.3 ± 7.86, while in the control group 59.5 (7.93) Most frequently, melanoma was located on the upper extremities (64%). A family history of neoplastic diseases was found in 55% of the patients. The assessment of sunburns showed that only 15%  of the respondents never experienced sunburn, 49% of the study subjects never used solarium. Among patients with multiple sunburns, the risk of developing skin cancer was 1.27 (AOR = 1,27; 95% CI, 1.07-1.55) compared with non-sunburns subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Risky behaviours including excessive exposure to UV radiation, both natural and artificial, are of special significance in women with fair complexion and fair hair. Indoor tanning is a probable factor of increased skin cancer incidence in younger women, as compared to men.

The Differences between Gluten Sensitivity, Intestinal Biomarkers and Immune Biomarkers in Patients with First-Episode and Chronic Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder without a fully elucidated etiology and mechanisms. One likely explanation for the development of schizophrenia is low-grade inflammation, possibly caused by processes in the gastrointestinal tract related to gluten sensitivity. The aims of this study were to: (1) compare levels of markers of gluten sensitivity, inflammation and gut permeability, and (2) determine associations between gluten sensitivity, inflammation, and intestinal permeability in patients with first-episode/chronic (FS/CS) schizophrenia and healthy individuals (HC). The total sample comprised 162 individuals (52 FS; 50 CS, and 60 HC). The examination included clinical variables, nutritional assessment, and serum concentrations of: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble CD14 (sCD14), anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA), antigliadin antibodies (AGA) IgA/IgG, antibodies against tissue transglutaminase 2 (anti-tTG) IgA, anti-deamidated gliadin peptides (anti-DGP) IgG. A significant difference between groups was found in sCD14, ASCA, hs-CRP, IL-6 and AGA IgA levels. AGA IgG/IgA levels were higher in the FS (11.54%; 30.77%) and CS (26%; 20%) groups compared to HC. The association between intestinal permeability and inflammation in the schizophrenic patients only was noted. The risk for developing schizophrenia was odds ratio (OR) = 4.35 (95% confidence interval (CI 1.23-15.39) for AGA IgA and 3.08 (95% CI 1.19-7.99) for positive AGA IgG. Inflammation and food hypersensitivity reactions initiated by increased intestinal permeability may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The immune response to gluten in FS differs from that found in CS.

Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy.

Background: Life-quality tests are the basis for assessing the condition of oncological patients. They allow for obtaining valuable information from the patients regarding not only the symptoms of disease and adverse effects of the treatment but also assessment of the psychological, social and spiritual aspects. Taking into account assessment of the quality of life made by the patient in the course of disease has a positive effect on the well-being of patients, their families and their caregivers as well as on satisfaction with the interdisciplinary and holistic oncological care. Methods: A population-based, multi-area cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with cancer in the study in order to assess their life quality. The method used in the study was a clinical interview. Quality of life was measured using the EQ-5D-5L Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Karnofsky Performance Status, our own symptom checklist, Edmonton Symptom Assessment and Visual Analogue Scale. Results: In the subjective assessment of fitness, after using the Karnofsky fitness index, it was shown that 28% (95% CI (confidence interval): 27-30) of patients declared the ability to perform normal physical activity. In the assessment the profile, quality of life and psychometric properties of EQ-5D-5L, it was shown that patients had the most severe problems in terms of self-care (81%, 95% CI: 76-89) and feeling anxious and depressed (63%, 95% CI: 60-68). Conclusions: Cancer undoubtedly has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients, which is related to the disease process itself, the treatment used and the duration of the disease.

The impact of electroconvulsive therapy on the spatial QRS-T angle and cardiac troponin T concentration in psychiatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment method used in psychiatry; however, its cardiac safety has not been clearly demonstrated. The aim of the study was evaluation of the ECT effects on the myocardium based on troponin T concentrations and the following ECG parameters: the spatial QRS-T angle (QRS-TA), QRS duration (QRSd) and the corrected QT interval (QTc). METHODS: In the study 44 patients (12 female and 32 male) were enrolled diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 21) and major depressive disorders (n = 23), according to the DSM-IVR criteria. All cases were undergoing ECT procedures. The mean age of the patients was 36.9±16 years (range: 18-74). Resting ECG was recorded before performing ECG and 1 hour after. The spatial QRS-TA was reconstructed from 12-lead ECG using the inverse Dower method. Troponin T concentration was assessed before the procedure and 6 hours after ECT. RESULTS: No significant changes to troponin T concentrations were observed during the ECT series. The pre-ECT value of the spatial QRS-TA was 41.1±18.9°. The follow-up examinations did not reveal any significant increase of this parameter (p = 0.09) in any of the consecutive measurements. There were no significant changes in the QTc interval duration or the QRS complex duration demonstrated before the third, fifth and last procedure in the cycle (p>0.05). No significant changes to troponin T concentrations were observed during the ECT series. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a lack of negative ECT effects on the risk of adverse cardiovascular events measured by the spatial QRS-T angle and cardiac troponin T concentration.

[Cardiac safety of electroconvulsive therapy in an elderly patient--a case report]. / Bezpieczenstwo kardiologiczne zabiegów elektrycznych w podeszlym wieku--opis przypadku.

Since electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was introduced as treatment for psychiatric disorders in 1938, it has remained one of the most effective therapeutic methods. ECT is often used as a "treatment of last resort" when other methods fail, and a life-saving procedure in acute clinical states when a rapid therapeutic effect is needed. Mortality associated with ECT is lower, compared to the treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, and comparable to that observed in so-called minor surgery. In the literature, cases of effective and safe electroconvulsive therapy have been described in patients of advanced age, with a burden of many somatic disorders. However, cases of acute cardiac episodes have also been reported during ECT. The qualification of patients for ECT and the selection of a group of patients at the highest risk of cardiovascular complications remains a serious clinical problem. An assessment of the predictive value of parameters of standard electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a simple, cheap and easily available procedure, deserves special attention. This paper reports a case of a 74-year-old male patient treated with ECT for a severe depressive episode, in the context of cardiologic safety. Both every single ECT session and the full course were assessed to examine their impact on levels of troponin T, which is a basic marker of cardiac damage, and selected ECG parameters (QTc, QRS). In the presented case ECT demonstrated its high general and cardiac safety with no negative effect on cardiac troponin (TnT) levels, corrected QT interval (QTc) duration, or other measured ECG parameters despite initially increased troponin levels, the patient's advanced age, the burden of a severe somatic disease and its treatment (anticancer therapy).