Assessment of Mental Health Factors among Health Professionals Depending on Their Contact with COVID-19 Patients.

It seems that the medical personnel in contact with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at an especially high risk of adverse psychological effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the mental health factors among healthcare workers by quantifying the severity of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders during the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, while taking into account coexisting diseases. The study involved 441 healthcare professionals including 206 healthcare workers at emergency wards, infectious wards, and intensive care units. The control group consisted of 235 healthcare workers working in wards other than those where individuals from the study group worked. Regression adjusted by age, gender, the occurrence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and cigarette smoking showed the elevated risk of anxiety on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale (OR = 1.934; p < 0.001), depression on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale (OR = 2.623; p < 0.001), and sleep disorders on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale (OR = 3.078; p < 0.001). Our study showed that healthcare workers who are exposed to SARS-CoV-2-infected patients at emergency wards, infectious wards, and intensive care units are at a much higher risk of showing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders than healthcare workers working in other wards.

Assessment of the Relationship between Selected Factors and Stress-Coping Strategies in Handcyclists-A Preliminary Study.

Background and Objectives: Playing competitive sports is associated with stress, especially during the starting season. Disabled athletes are additionally burdened with physical and/or emotional factors, resulting from the trauma they have experienced. The aim of the work was to assess the relationship between strategies of coping with stress and the level of education, category of disability and its duration of handcyclists before the competition. Materials and Methods: 44 handcyclists with a mean age of 41.8 ± 11.6, from European countries, were divided according to the severity of mobility impairments, education and duration of the disability. The participants were asked to fill in the Mini-COPE Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress, which provided answers in writing to some sociodemographic questions regarding age, sex, education, type of mobility impairment and duration of the disability. Results: The subjects who had suffered spinal injury at the cervical section obtained the lowest scores regarding their subjective assessment of their active stress management in difficult situations (p = 0.007). They scored the lowest, 1.5 points, when asked about acceptance in difficult circumstances compared to those with university education (p = 0.02). A statistically significant correlation was found to exist between education levels and positive revaluation, acceptance and seeking instrumental support. A negative correlation was observed between education and sustained use of psychoactive substances and denial. Conclusions: Highly educated cyclists with short-lasting disability, damage to the lower spine section or amputations tend to cope better with stress than other study participants.

Assessment of Selected Anthropometric Parameters Influence on Balance Parameters in Children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Balance is the ability of an organism to maintain its position in space. Balance disorders in children can lead to injuries and limited physical activity. Balance maintenance changes throughout puberty as well as in response to external factors. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of anthropometric parameters on balance in children aged 10 to 13 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 308 children were accessed to eligibility to participate in the study. After considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria the study included 223 participants (123 boys and 100 girls) aged 10 to 13 from elementary schools in Szczecin. The stabilometry of examineted children was performed using the SIGMA balance platform. RESULTS: It was shown that the balance parameters in children aged 10 to 13 worsen with increasing body mass and height, and do not correlate with age. CONCLUSION: Rapid diagnosis and identification of postural disorders in children make it possible to start targeted physical exercises and to make the therapeutic process more effective and complex. Future research is needed to obtain more data and draw conclusions crucial for physiotherapy practice.

Assessment of Sclerostin and Interleukin 6 Levels and Selected Anthropometric Parameters in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis Replacement Therapy-Pilot Study.

Background and Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem associated with, e.g., progressive renal insufficiency, bone mineral disorders, and increased inflammatory marker levels. The objective of this study was to compare selected biochemical parameters and to evaluate potential correlations between selected anthropometric parameters and levels of sclerostin and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in blood plasma. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 34 patients aged 59.8 ± 9.8 years, receiving hemodialysis therapy. The control group consisted of 31 individuals aged 55.4 ± 9.37 years, presenting with GFR (glomerular filtration rate) of more than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline, as well as 3 and 6 months into the study. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistica 2014 software package (StatSoft, Inc.Tulsa, OK, USA). Analyses included descriptive statistics, intergroup comparisons using the Mann-Whitney U-test or the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's correlation analysis. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.005. Results: At all measurement time points, i.e., at baseline, at month 3, and at month 6, the IL-6 levels in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group. No correlations were observed in the study group between SCL or IL-6 levels and anthropometric parameters such as body weight, body mass index (BMI), or waist circumference. Conclusions: Patients receiving hemodialysis replacement therapy present with significantly higher levels of IL-6 in their blood. Anthropometric parameters (body weight, BMI, and waist circumference) have no impact on sclerostin and IL-6 levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy. The results obtained are satisfactory, and the research will be continued.

Comparative assessment and monitoring of deterioration of articulatory organs using subjective and objective tools among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal degenerative disease of a rapid course. In 25% of ALS sufferers, speech disorders occur as prodromal symptoms of the disease. Impaired communication affects physical health and has a negative impact on mental and emotional condition. In this study, we assessed which domains of speech are particularly affected in ALS. Subsequently, we estimated possible correlations between the ALS patients' subjective perception of their speech quality and an objective assessment of the speech organs carried out by an expert. METHODS: The study group consisted of 63 patients with sporadic ALS. The patients were examined for articulatory functions by means of Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (FDA). RESULTS: On the basis of the VHI scores, the entire cohort was divided into 2 groups: group I (40 subjects) with mild speech impairment, and group II (23 subjects) displaying moderate and profound speech deficits. In an early phase of ALS, changes were typically reported in the tongue, lips and soft palate. The FDA and VHI-based measurements revealed a high, positive correlation between the objective and subjective evaluation of articulation quality. CONCLUSIONS: Deterioration of the articulatory organs resulted in the reduction of social, physical and emotional functioning. The highly positive correlation between the VHI and FDA scales seems to indicate that the VHI questionnaire may be a reliable, self-contained tool for monitoring the course and progression of speech disorders in ALS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02193893 .

Assessment of morphological changes and steroid receptors in the uteri of postmenopausal women.

INTRODUCTION: The morphology of the endometrium constantly changes in the reproductive period, depending on the levels of ovarian steroid hormones, and undergoes atrophic changes during menopause as a result of their insufficiency. The purpose of this study was to analyze morphological and morphometric changes in the mucous and muscle layers of the uterine wall in postmenopausal women, and to assess localization and number of cells showing the expression of steroid hormone receptors, namely estrogen receptor α (ER-α), progesterone receptor (PR), and androgen receptor (AR) in glandular epithelial cells and smooth muscle cells in particular groups of women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study material consisted of uterine specimens sectioned across the full thickness of the uterine wall, and embedded in 164 paraffin blocks. The specimens came from women without menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) operated due to reproductive organ prolapse or uterine myomas. The material was divided into four groups depending on the time interval from menopause to surgery: group I - from 1 to 5 years after menopause, group II - from 6 to 10 years after menopause, group III - more than 11 years after menopause, and group IV - women over 70 years of age. The sections were stained by standard HE, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemical methods (ERα, PR, AR). Quantitative assessment of the results was based on computer image analysis. RESULTS: Analysis of morphological changes in the endometrium and myometrium revealed the presence of increasing regressive changes, such as various types of atrophy, fibrosis, and calcification, augmented over time from the last menstruation. Furthermore, endometrial polyps, foci of endometriosis, and leiomyomas were observed. Based on the results of morphometric measurements, a constant decrease in the endometrial and myometrial thickness was noticed in the studied groups (I-IV). Significant differences between the groups were observed in the number of ER-α positive cells in the myometrium, but not in the endometrial glandular epithelium. Statistically significant differences in the number of AR positive cells were detected in the endometrial epithelium and in the uterine muscle. The analysis the number of PR positive cells demonstrated differences between the groups in the endometrial stroma and the myometrium. CONCLUSION: The uterus of postmenopausal woman undergo major morphological changes (mainly atrophic lesions in the endometrium and myometrium), leading to a decline in their morphometric parameters over time from the last menstruation. Localization and number of cells showing the expression of steroid receptors: ER-α, PR, and AR in the uterus of postmenopausal women, depending on the time interval from the last menstruation.

Differences between Subjective and Objective Assessment of Speech Deficiency in Parkinson Disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to establish the frequency at which patients with Parkinson disease subjectively assess the intensity of their speech disorders, factors that the patients believe determine the severity of their vocal impairment, and how their subjective self-assessment of vocal impairment by means of the Voice Handicap Index compares with the objective evaluation of the performance of the articulatory organs by means of Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The methods used Voice Handicap Index, Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment, and the Hoehn and Yahr scale. RESULTS: Positive correlation was found between the subjective assessment of the performance of the speech organs and the impaired differentiation of lip movements and tongue sideways movements, impaired saliva control, dysfunction of the soft palate, and the pitch. Negative correlation was found between the subjective assessment of the severity of speech disorder, breathing at rest, and sentence comprehension. CONCLUSIONS: Although we observed correlation between the subjective perception of certain speech disorders of patients with Parkinson disease and the objective assessment carried out by means of the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment scale, the subjects did not believe the disorders had a significant impact on the quality of speech. Negative results of an examination do not necessarily reflect the subjective perception of the decline in the functioning of the articulatory organs. It should be assumed that lack of correlation between the subjective perception measured using Voice Handicap Index and the objective Frenchay Dysarthria-based assessment of the performance of the articulatory organs may result from a good adaptation to the progressive changes.

[POLISH CITIZENS' OPINIONS CONCERNING CO-PAYMENT FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND SUBSIDIES FOR NON-STANDARD BENEFITS]. / OPINIE POLAKÓW O WSPÓLPLACENIU ZA LECZENIE SZPITALNE ORAZ O DOPLATACH DO SWIADCZEN PONADSTANDARDOWYCH.

INTRODUCTION: Co-payment in the health sector operates in most healthcare systems in European countries. The aim of this study was knowledge of Polish citizens' opinions concerning healthcare services co-payment with respect to selected socio-demographic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted using a diagnostic survey of 636 respondents, representing residents of the West Pomeranian region, Poland. RESULTS: The majority of respondents did not accept co-payment for health services. CONCLUSIONS: Material situation and educational background impact on decisions concerning co-payment for hospital treatment.

[Evaluation of the quality of medical services by patients including selected sociodemographic variables]. / Ocena jakosci uslug medycznych przez pacjentów z uwzglednieniem wybranych zmiennych socjodemograficznych.

INTRODUCTION: Medical health care centres should aim at the application of a two-dimensional concept of quality--technical quality and functional quality. Technical quality means the compliance with norms and technical requirements which apply to medical services that are provided to patients. This concerns medical standards, technology and the competence of medical staff. Functional quality, which means the subjective estimate of patients, is an additional benefit for the patient and it becomes the best competitive advantage in conditions of comparable technical levels of provided medical services. The patient will be satisfied with medical services if these elements are balanced. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the quality of functional services in a specialist outpatient clinic in the Szczecin area by patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 200 randomly-chosen patients of specialist outpatient clinics in Szczecin were asked to estimate the functional quality of services in specialist outpatient clinics. A questionnaire was used. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Most of the patients--51.3% had confidence in their physician. 52.34% of the patients claimed that their doctor was not interested in their problems. Almost half of the respondents--47.92% stated that there was no telephone contact with their doctor. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to educate future physicians in problems of interpersonal communication.

[Assessment of the impact of some sociodemographic factors on the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis]. / Ocena wplywu wybranych czynników socjodemograficznych na jakosc zycia osób chorujacych na stwardnienie rozsiane.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis is the most common cause of disability among young people, affecting the emotional and intellectual condition of the patient. Assessment of the quality of life enables long-term planning of the strategy of support and thus should constitute a permanent part of care for multiple sclerosis patients. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of gender, age, duration of the disease, and economic status of multiple sclerosis patients on the quality of life in separate domains. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A diagnostic survey was conducted in 64 patients with multiple sclerosis. We administered a questionnaire developed by us with questions referring to sociodemographic data of the patients. We also used the standard SF-36 questionnaire with eight scales. RESULTS: No significant differences between male and female SM patients were noted as regards the quality of life in each scale. Wealthy patients experienced a higher quality of life as regards the general health and physical functioning in comparison to patients with a middle economic status. There was no effect of the place of residence on the quality of life. Elderly patients and patients with long-term multiple sclerosis had a poorer quality of life in the physical functioning, general health, vitality, and role-emotional domains. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Gender and place of residence of multiple sclerosis patients has no effect on any of the scales of the quality of life. 2. High economic status favors a higher quality of life in the physical functioning and general health scales. 3. Age and long duration of multiple sclerosis are important factors decreasing the quality of life in most scales.

[The assessment of quality of life after stroke, sex and age factors]. / Ocena jakosci zycia chorych po udarze niedokrwiennym mózgu w zaleznosci od plci i wieku.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the work was quality of life depending on sex and age. The study included 79 persons, at age 25-70 after first stroke. Examination was provided in home conditions in 3, 6, 12 month after stroke. For evaluation of quality of life used was the London Handicap Scale questionnaire. In the present study quality of life people in the first year after stroke is increasing systematically. Women and younger people have higher adaptation skills for new life situation. CONCLUSION: quality of life is better in the second part of the first year after stroke.