SARS-CoV-2 Infection Prevalence in the Population of South-Eastern Poland.

COVID-19 outbreak began in Wuhan, China, and has spread to other continents, including Europe, placing pressure on healthcare systems. Poland is one of the European countries with the highest number of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related deaths. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the population of south-eastern Poland. The correlation between viral infection and demographic data (gender, age, place of residence) and cancer was also investigated. A total of 44,801 samples were tested, of which 4862 cases were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infections. A total of 14,970 samples were tested in cancer patients. The RT-PCR method was used to detect viral nucleic acid. In this study, significantly, the highest rate of virus detection was among people living in Lublin and the lowest among people living in a small town (p < 0.0001). Moreover, there was no significant relationship between sex and the frequency of virus detection. The highest number of SARS-CoV-2 infections was observed in the age groups 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, and 90+ (p = 0.0001). In cancer patients, the percentage of positive cases was significantly lower than in the rest (p = 0.0001).

Use of Oral Contraceptives as a Potential Risk Factor for Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies Up to 2010.

Despite numerous studies evaluating the risk of breast cancer among oral contraception users, the effect of oral contraceptive on developing breast cancer remains inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of literature with meta-analysis in order to quantitative estimate this association. The bibliographic database MEDLINE and EMBASE, and reference lists of identified articles were searched, with no language restrictions, from the start of publication to August 2010. We performed a reanalysis and overall estimate of 79 case-control studies conducted between 1960-2010, including a total of 72,030 incidents, histologically confirmed cases of breast cancer and 123,650 population/hospital controls. A decrease was observed in cancer risk in OC users before age 25 years (0.91, 0.83-1.00). However, the use of OCs before the first full-term pregnancy had a significant increased risk of breast cancer (OR, 1.14, 1.01-1.28, p = 0.04), as did OC use longer than 5 years (1.09, 1.01-1.18, p = 0.02). Pooled crude odds ratios of breast cancer in ever-users of oral contraceptives was 1.01 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.95-1.07], compared with never-users. There was no significant increase in risk among premenopausal women (1.06, 0.92-1.22), postmenopausal women (0.99, 0.89-1.10), or nulliparous women (1.02, 0.82-1.26). Oral contraceptives do not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer among users. However, OC use before a first full-term pregnancy or using them longer than 5 years can modify the development of the breast cancer.

Hope of patients in the terminal phase of cancer and place of residence.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to compare the hope of rural and urban inhabitants in the terminal stage of a neoplastic disease covered by stationary hospice care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out among patients in the terminal phase of a neoplastic disease. They were patients of both 24-hour and daily palliative and hospice care units throughout the country. The study group consisted of 246 patients, average age - 59.5, the youngest respondent was 18 and the oldest - 90. The B. L. Block (NCN-36) test, prepared for people struggling with serious life-threatening diseases, was used. Comparison of the results with regard to the place of residence was based on the test Friedman ANOVA and Kendall compatibility factor. The general comparison of hope in individual dimensions and globally with the division into the degree of urbanization, was based on the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: On the basis of factor analysis, 4 scales constructed from 8 items branch were distinguished. The following scales are used to study hope in the situational dimension - health, the telek-temporal dimension - goals, the spiritual dimension - religious beliefs and in the emotional-affective (affective) dimension - motivations. CONCLUSIONS: The strength of hope in people in the terminal phase of cancer, residing in villages, settlements, small, medium and large cities, was similar and depended on its magnitude. Of all the manifestations of hope, the greatest variation in results occurred in the subjects when they encountered serious problems and difficulties. The inhabitants of medium-sized cities were characterized by a higher hope at that time.

Satisfaction with the Aesthetic Effect and Quality of Life for Women after Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT)-Preliminary Research.

All methods of breast cancer treatment may potentially lead to breast deformities, which are often associated with the reduced mental well-being of patients. Breast conserving therapy (BCT) is commonly used, and its core element is breast conserving surgery (BCS).The aim of this study was to determine the level of satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome of surgery and quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients undergoing BCT in a longitudinal study performed three months, six months and 12 months after surgery. This longitudinal observational study was carried out on a group of 91 women. The Breast-QTM BCT 1.0 questionnaire was used in this study. Before surgery, patients assessed their satisfaction with the appearance of their breasts (SwB) at an average level of M = 56.0. Satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome (SwO) of BCS was highest among all patients three months after surgery (M = 63.0). The mean score in the sub-scale of psychosocial well-being (Psycho-soc W-B) before surgery was M = 62.0, while in the subsequent periods of the study, it was higher. The mean score for physical well-being (Physical W-B) before surgery was M = 69.92; and in the subsequent study periods, it was lower. The level of patient satisfaction with the outcome of the surgery and the QoL related to health do not differ significantly in post-operative observation. QoL in terms of psychosocial functioning in patients undergoing BCT is significantly higher 12 months after surgery compared to the pre-operative period. Patient satisfaction with the BCS aesthetic outcome is positively related to the evaluation of QoL in terms of psychosocial functioning.

[Comparative assessement of the elderly females before total hip or knee replacements].

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common and burdensome illness in the elderly patients. It is the main cause of locomotor impairment and disability resulting in significant decrease of the quality of life (QL) in highly developed countries. Sf-36v2 questionnaire was standardized in the United States by J.E. Ware et al. in the years 1985-1992 and at present SF-36v2 is the most commonly used questionnaire for investigations in patients with various conditions. The aim: To compare two cohorts of post-menopausal female patients with the predominantly clinically active one-site advanced osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joint prior to the replacement surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Material and methods: Two cohorts of fifty female postmenopausal patients aged from sixty to eighty were investigated. The inclusion criteria relied on sex, age and clinically single joint predominant OA disease prior to hip and knee joint replacement. The Polish version of SF-36v2 for the quality of life was accomplished by the patient under direct supervision of a trained nurse. The sets of obtained data were analyzed with the use of Statistica 10.0 (Shapiro-Wilk test, U - Mann-Whitney test, Spearmann, Kruskall-Wallis, Friedmann's ANOVA and Chi 2 Pearson). p <0.05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS: Results: It was found that patients with advanced knee OA demonstrated significantly lower QL than these with hip OA in Vitality (p=0,004), Functioning in Social Roles (p=0,0001), General Health (p <0,000001) and Pain (p <0,000001). No significant differences within the cohorts were observed as the other scales were concerned (p >0,05). In the general assessment as for the QL in the Physical domain significant difference was found with lower scoring in the knee group (p=0.00001). In the assessment of the general QL two domains were considered -Physical and Mental Health. Highly significant difference was recorded for the Physical better in regard for hip OA (p <0,00001). In the Mental Health domain no significant difference was found (p=0,09). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: 1. Quality of life of postmenopausal women with hip OA is predominantly lowered by the local disease whereas lower quality of life of these females with knee OA is related to the general poor health, low index of vitality and decrease of function in social functioning resulting from co-existence of chronic illnesses due to overweight and obesity. 2. Reduction of overweight or obesity in the group of patients with knee arthritis could improve their quality of life and general health.

Lifestyle of the elderly living in rural and urban areas measured by the FANTASTIC Life Inventory.

INTRODUCTION: A healthy lifestyle can help older people maintain their functional ability and, therefore, satisfaction with life. An important aspect of health promotion is the assessment of lifestyle factors over which patients have some control. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the lifestyle of the elderly in urban and rural areas using the Fantastic Life Inventory (FLI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research group comprised 138 people aged 65-94 years (M = 72.41, SD = 6.90). Participants were recruited from urban 78 (56.5%) and rural 60 (43.5%) areas. The FLI used in this study has 25 closed-ended questions that explore nine domains, including physical, psychological, and social lifestyle components. RESULTS: The overall lifestyle of most seniors was 'excellent' (45.7%) or 'very good' (41.3%); none of the respondents scored in the lowest category - 'needs improvement'. The domains that mostly demonstrated the need for a change were related to activity, nutrition, insight, sleep, stress. Participants from rural areas tended to have lower scores in the activity (p= 0.017) and nutrition (p= 0.015) domains. The lifestyle of the elderly is determined by several factors, including age, gender, health status, level of education, and the place of residence. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of older persons demonstrated an 'excellent' or 'very good' lifestyle with healthy habits. The adoption of healthy lifestyle patterns, in particular a regular balanced diet and proper physical activity, can help prevent functional limitations among the elderly in rural areas.

Injuries treated in hospital among urban and rural inhabitants of eastern Poland.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Injuries are a serious medical and social problem, especially when accompanied by distant or deferred effects, often causing serious dysfunctions and permanent disability for life. The study aimed at presenting the incidence of injuries of urban and rural population treated in a district hospital in eastern Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out in the Independent Public Health Care Institution in Krasnik in 2011 among patients hospitalized in the Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedic Unit who sustained injuries. Medical records of 795 patients - 326 women and 469 men, aged 10-99 years, were analyzed. RESULTS: During the period considered among those hospitalized due to injuries, men (59%), those aged 50-59 years (19.0%), and living in rural areas (72.7%) predominated. Injuries most commonly affected the head (18.87%), elbow and forearm (16.86%), knee and lower leg (16.60%), and the hip and thigh (13.96%). Average hospital stay was 5.65 days and was the longest for hip and thigh injuries (11.86 days). CONCLUSIONS: Injuries occurred most frequently in the population of patients living in rural areas, often among men, usually on weekdays and in the morning.

P53 protein in proliferation, repair and apoptosis of cells.

The p53 protein is an important factor of many intra- and extracellular processes. This protein regulates the repair of cellular DNA and induces apoptosis. It is also responsible for the regulation of the senescence and the cell entering the subsequent stages of the cellular cycle. The protein p53 is also involved in inhibiting angiogenesis and the induction of oxidative shock. In our study, we examined the activity of p53 protein in the uterine epithelial cells in rats treated with cladribine. Its action is mainly based on apoptosis induction. We compared the activity of p53 protein in cells with a high apoptosis index and in cells with active repair mechanisms and high proliferation index. We observed stronger p53 protein expression in the epithelial cells of the materials taken 24 h after the last dose of 2-CdA associated with the active process of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation. After 4 weeks from the last dose of cladribine, the stronger expression of p53 protein was associated with both the existing changes in the cell's genome, the effects of the ongoing repair mechanisms, as well as the high proliferation activity.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of cell proliferation and apoptosis markers in ovarian surface epithelial cells of cladribine-treated rats.

Cladribine has been used in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia for about 30 years. In addition, the number of indications for the application of 2-CdA is constantly increasing. The treatment with cladribine, of younger persons and even children, appears to be a major factor stimulating the more exact recognition of its activities. However, till now, little has been known about the impact of cladribine on the reproductive system. The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of cell proliferation and apoptosis markers in ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells. In our study, ten rats were placed into two equal groups. The study group received daily subcutaneous injections of cladribine in a dose of 0.10 mg/kg of weight/day for one cycle lasting 7 days. The control group received only saline injections. The rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last injection, and their ovaries were extracted. The sections were immunohistochemically stained with cell proliferation marker Ki-67 and the apoptosis marker caspase 3. The expressions of the markers were evaluated using a light microscope. An analysis was made using an image analysis system and the CellAD software. The results were then statistically explored by way of the Mann-Whitney U test. The proliferative index (Ki-67) of ovarian surface epithelial cells was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that cladribine treatment has a potential to inhibit the OSE cell proliferation in rats. The apoptosis marker demonstrated a significant increase after the cladribine treatment. These suggest that cladribine induces apoptosis in OSE cells.

Melatonin in experimental seizures and epilepsy.

Although melatonin is approved only for the treatment of jet-lag syndrome and some types of insomnia, clinical data suggest that it is effective in the adjunctive therapy of osteoporosis, cataract, sepsis, neurodegenerative diseases, hypertension, and even cancer. Melatonin also modulates the electrical activity of neurons by reducing glutamatergic and enhancing GABA-ergic neurotransmission. The indoleamine may also be metabolized to kynurenic acid, an endogenous anticonvulsant. Finally, the hormone and its metabolites act as free radical scavengers and antioxidants. The vast majority of experimental data indicates anticonvulsant properties of the hormone. Melatonin inhibited audiogenic and electrical seizures, as well as reduced convulsions induced by pentetrazole, pilocarpine, L-cysteine and kainate. Only a few studies have shown direct or indirect proconvulsant effects of melatonin. For instance, melatonin enhanced low Mg2+-induced epileptiform activity in the hippocampus, whereas melatonin antagonists delayed the onset of pilocarpine-induced seizures. However, the relatively high doses of melatonin required to inhibit experimental seizures can induce some undesired effects (e.g., cognitive and motor impairment and decreased body temperature). In humans, melatonin may attenuate seizures, and it is most effective in the treatment of juvenile intractable epilepsy. Its additional benefits include improved physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functions. On the other hand, melatonin has been shown to induce electroencephalographic abnormalities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and increase seizure activity in neurologically disabled children. The hormone showed very low toxicity in clinical practice. The reported adverse effects (nightmares, hypotension, and sleep disorders) were rare and mild. However, more placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trials are needed to establish the usefulness of melatonin in the adjunctive treatment of epilepsy.