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Background: In the contemporary world, a cult of perfection is being created, and deviations from such an ideal image are becoming socially unacceptable. A particular situation arises when a defect or symptoms of a disease appear on the skin, which, in the case of people suffering from psoriasis, are a source of stress, dissatisfaction with the disease, and a reduction in quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess whether the quality of life related to the occurrence of psoriasis and the level of acceptance of the disease affect coping strategies in stressful situations. Methods: The study involved 111 people with common psoriasis (46.8% women and 53.2% men). Inclusion criteria were as follows: a diagnosis of common psoriasis for at least 0.5 years, no other types of psoriasis, no mental illnesses, and an informed consent of the respondent to participate in the study. In order to compile the research input, a proprietary questionnaire was used along with the following standardised tools: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results: The duration of the disease in the studied population varied and ranged from 0.5 years to over 50 years. Most respondents showed relatively low DLQI scores, with an average value of 10.8 points. In stressful situations (CISS), the respondents primarily used a strategy based on rational thinking (Task-oriented coping), with approximately 54 points on average; followed by an avoidant style (Avoidance-oriented coping), with approximately 50 points on average; and least often an emotional style (Emotion-oriented coping), with approximately 46 points on average. The average level of disease acceptance (AIS) in the studied group equalled approximately 26 points. Conclusions: Psoriatic lesions on the torso caused less rational behaviour in stressful situations (a decrease in the Task-oriented coping) in women but had the opposite result in men, whereas psoriatic lesions on the head stimulated the use of Task-oriented coping in women but had the opposite result in men. The higher the acceptance of the disease (AIS) presented by the respondents, the less often they used an emotional strategy (Emotion-oriented coping) in stressful situations. The higher the quality of life (DLQI) was, the lower the values of Emotion-oriented coping were noted.
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Introduction: Sex life is an important element contributing to the overall quality of life. It is also a particularly sensitive dimension of quality of life for HIV-positive patients. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the sexual life of people living with HIV in Poland treated in the Observation and Infection Clinic with the Subunit for HIV/AIDS Patients of the University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, and its impact on the quality of life, life satisfaction, HIV status acceptance, general health status and depressive symptoms among the respondents. Methods: A total of 147 participants, including 104 men (70.7%) and 43 women (29.3%), took part in the research. The study was conducted between May 2019 and January 2020. The study used a diagnostic survey method with a modified questionnaire "Psychosocial situation of people living with HIV/AIDS" by Dr. Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak and the following standardised psychometric tools: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: One-third of patients rated their sex life as poor or very poor. Almost half of respondents always informed sexual partners of their HIV status (49.7%). The sex life of respondents was highly correlated with almost all psychometric measures used in the study. Those indicating sexual contact as a possible source of HIV infection had a lower quality of life in the domain of general health compared to other respondents, but the difference was relatively small (about 5.5 points). Discussion: In conclusion, the overall satisfaction with the sex life of people living with HIV was moderate with a tendency to poor. The quality of life of people living with HIV was determined by their sex life. Better quality of life was presented by those with good self-reported sex life.
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The quality of life is one of the key factors in assessing the health status of HIV-positive individuals, with its improvement considered an important goal of treatment. Assessment of the quality of life helps accurately evaluate the impact of diseases and treatment on the patient's life. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of HIV-positive people in Poland using the example of patients treated in the Observation and Infection Clinic with the Subunit for HIV/AIDS Patients of the University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, based on the evaluation of HIV-positive status acceptance in HIV patients as well as sociometric variables such as age, gender and marital status. A total of 147 patients participated in this study, including 104 men (70.7%) and 43 women (29.3%). This study was conducted between May 2019 and January 2020 in the Observation and Infection Clinic with the Subunit for HIV/AIDS Patients with the Consultation and Diagnostic Centre at the Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Bialystok. This study used a diagnostic survey method with a modified questionnaire "Psychosocial Situation of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Poland" by Dr. Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak and the following standardised psychometric tools: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The majority of respondents (60%) reported no significant changes in their lives as a result of HIV infection. Gender was not a differentiating factor in the quality of life of people living with HIV. The variation in psychometric measures within the female and male groups was far greater than the difference between them. Marital status clearly differentiated the quality of life. The following conclusions were drawn from this study: The surveyed HIV patients presented a moderate level of quality of life, which was mainly determined by marital status. Higher quality of life was presented by married persons. Duration of infection was not correlated with quality of life. The level of acceptance of HIV infection was relatively high among respondents. A higher level of HIV acceptance was associated with a higher quality of life. The respondents presented a relatively poor level of satisfaction with life. Changing jobs, going on disability, relationship breakdown, not having a family of their own and losing friends were the key HIV-related changes in the lives of the respondents.
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BACKGROUND: Surgery of the aortic arch is challenging. AIM: To assess the results of aortic arch surgery. METHODS: Analysis of 172 patients operated on arch dissection (emergency group: 97 patients) or aneurysm (elective group: 75 patients) between 2007 and 2014. Arch surgery was defined as a procedure requiring circumferential anastomosis at the level of the aortic arch or the descending aorta with the use of techniques of brain protection (deep hypothermic circulatory arrest [DHCA] or selective antegrade cerebral perfusion [SACP]) and/or debranching of at least one supra-aortic vessel. RESULTS: Men predominated in both groups (> 70%). Men were younger in the emergency group (55 vs. 66 years; p < 0.008). The operative risk was higher in the emergency group (19.2% vs. 12.5%; p < 0.001). Forty-nine per cent of the patients from the emergency group and 5% from the elective group were operated with antiplatelet therapy (p < 0.001). Extended hemiarch procedure was performed in 79% (n = 77) in the emergency and 76% (n = 57) in the elective group. Total arch replacement was performed in 19 (21%) patients from the emergency and 18 (24%) patients from the elective group. In these patients debranching was performed in 68% of the emergency patients group and in 67% of the elective group. Elephant trunk procedure (classic/frozen) was performed in 53% (n = 10) from the emergency and in 78% (n = 14) of patients from the elective group. Aortic valve sparing surgery was performed in 20% of patients from the emergency and 9% from the elective group (p = 0.063). DHCA was performed in 58% (n = 43) of patients from the elective group and 39% (n = 37) from the emergency group. SACP was performed in 61% (n = 58) of patients from the emergency and 42% (n = 31) from the elective group. Thirty-day mortality in the emergency group reached 33% (n = 32), and in the elective group 15% (n = 11; p = 0.007). In multivariate analysis, predictors of death in the emergency group were: Logistic EuroSCORE above 19.5%, extracorporeal circulation time above 228 min, and postoperative acute renal failure (ARF); and in the elective group: DHCA time above 26 min, rethoracotomy due to bleeding, and ARF. Follow-up was completed in 100% of patients in terms of vital status. The mean follow-up time of the patients from the emergency group was 24.3 ± 27.10 (min 0, max 92) months, and from the elective group 30.3 ± 24.5 (min 0, max 99) months. During the follow-up period all-cause mortality in the emergency group was 43% (n = 42/97), and in the elective group it was 36% (n = 27/75). CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality in the emergency group was higher, while long-term mortality did not differ among the groups. Postoperative ARF is a critical predictor of mortality in both groups.