Determinants and coverage of seasonal influenza vaccination among women of childbearing age in Poland.

OBJECTIVES: Vaccination is the most effective method of controlling influenza in the human population, where pregnant women belong to a risk group that is especially vulnerable to influenza-related morbidity and mortality. The objectives of the survey were to report estimates of maternal vaccination coverage and assess reasons for the lack of influenza vaccination among Polish women of childbearing age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey analysis included 564 pregnant women who had been surveyed in a self-reported questionnaire during the 2017-2018 influenza season in Warsaw, Poland. RESULTS: Over 95% of Polish women of childbearing age did not vaccinate against influenza due to the low perception of risk and a lack of providing evidence-based information on vaccine by physicians and midwives. General practitioners were most often indicated as healthcare workers who educated women about influenza risk factors and recommended influenza vaccine to them. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the survey suggest that women of childbearing age did not vaccinate against influenza due to the low perception of risk and a lack of providing evidence-based information by healthcare workers (including obstetrician-gynaecologists and midwives), while their recommendations appear to be a powerful method of overcoming barriers to influenza vaccination among patients.

Influenza vaccination in pregnancy - current data on safety and effectiveness.

Pregnant women are at risk of severe and complicated influenza, and so are children aged 2-5 years. Despite numerous recommendations, influenza vaccination coverage in pregnant women is still low. The trigger for this article was the development of new quadrivalent influenza vaccines along with the publication of new studies on the safety and effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccines in pregnant women, administered also in the first trimester of pregnancy. The inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine is a safe and effective measure for preventing influenza in both mother and child. Live attenuated influenza vaccines are contraindicated in pregnant women, whereas inactivated influenza vaccines should be recommended to all pregnant women, either healthy or with comorbidities. Influenza vaccines can be administered during any pregnancy trimester, at least two weeks before delivery. The time of vaccination depends on vaccine availability; however, it should not be postponed unless there are significant medical contraindications.

Protein-Bound Solute Clearance During Hemodialysis.

Indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresol sulfate (p-CS) are protein-bound solutes that accumulate in the blood serum in chronic kidney disease and have a detrimental effect on the kidney and other organs' function. This study seeks to define the effectiveness of IS and p-CS clearance after single dialysis sessions and after 8-week-long cycles of hemodialysis using the following different dialysis modalities in succession: low-flux hemodialysis (lfHD), high-flux hemodialysis (hfHD), and post-dilution hemodiafiltration (HDF). We also investigated to what extent IS and p-CS serum content would associate with some other biochemical indices in patients with chronic kidney diseases. The study included 21 uremic patients. We found that a single session of each modality effectively decreased the content of both IS and p-CS, with the predominance of p-CS decrease. There were no appreciable differences depending on the modality of hemodialysis chosen. However, the leaching effect tended to wear off with the weeks' long dialysis cycles. We further found that a greater inflammation-prone level of hsCRP evoked by dialysis led to a greater removal of solutes, and thus their decrease in the serum, during a single dialysis session. Reversely, a greater protein level might result in a greater solute binding and a decrease in removal. We conclude that there are no major differences in the serum clearance of IS and p-CS depending on the dialysis modality. These protein-bound toxins are significantly cleared from the serum already during the first dialysis session, but their level tends to revert during weeks' long dialysis sessions.

The influence of hypothyroidism and substitution treatment on thyroid hormone conversion ratios and rT3 concentration in patients with end-stage renal failure.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requires seeking new opportunities to improve their quality of life, not only because of kidney disease but also due to other disturbances, such as thyroid hormone disorders. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of coexisting hypothyroidism and thyroid hormone therapy in patients with ESRD on thyroid hormone conversion ratios and rT3 concentration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 85 patients aged 26 to 87 years, with a mean age of 59.62 ± 15.45 years. Four groups of patients were examined: G1 group - 25 persons without RF and hypothyroidism, G2 - 26 patients with ESRD treated with haemodialysis (HD), G3 - 12 patients with ESRD treated with HD and newly diagnosed hypothyroidism, and G4 - 22 HD patients with hypothyroidism treated with thyroid hormones substitution. The concentrations of TSH, T4, T3, fT4, fT3, and rT3 were measured and the fT3/fT4, T3/T4, and rT3/T4 conversion ratios and rT3/T3 ratio were calculated. Concentrations of protein, hsCRP, Hg, and blood gases were also checked; the anion gap was calculated. RESULTS: Patients from group G1 through G2 to G3 were older (ptrend = 0.002), with lower Hb level (ptrend < 0.001), with lower pH (ptrend < 0.001), with increased anion gap (ptrend < 0.013) and CRP concentrations (ptrend < 0.001), and decreased total protein level (ptrend < 0.001). There were increased TSH values (ptrend < 0.001) and lower T4 (ptrend = 0.024), fT3 (ptrend < 0.001), T3 (ptrend < 0.001), and rT3 (ptrend = 0.008) levels. rT3/T3 ratio did not change, the rT3/T4 ratio tended to decrease (ptrend = 0.065) similarly to T3/T4 ratio (ptrend = 0.063), and the fT3/fT4 ratio also decreased (ptrend = 0.005). It seems that the treatment of thyroid disease in patients with renal failure, treated with haemodialysis, is not associated with change of rT3 and conversion factor levels. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of rT3 in HD patients in relation to healthy persons tends to decrease, and hypothyroidism increases this tendency in these patients. Hormone substitution treatment does not eliminate the influence of RF on inhibition of rT3 production. In patients with ESRD, hypothyroidism additionally reduces the conversion of thyroid hormones examined by fT3/fT4 and to a lesser extent T3/T4 ratios.

Biventricular takotsubo cardiomyopathy in an elderly woman with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes: the biphasic echocardiographic and clinical pattern.

We describe a case of an elderly woman who was diagnosed with a biventricular takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) with combination of emotional stress and poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. We observed significant correlation between biphasic improvement of right (after 4 days) and left ventricle function (after 4 weeks) with normalization glycemic status. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature of biventricular TTC with such metabolic disturbances.

Visceral adipose tissue is associated with insulin resistance in hemodialyzed patients.

BACKGROUND: It has not been definitively established which factors affect insulin resistance (IR) and whether dialysis decreases IR. The aim of this study was to investigate factors that may have an influence on homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) in hemodialyzed patients (HDpts) and to compare IR between HDpts and healthy subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 33 HDpts and paired 33 subjects of the control group, matched for sex, age, and BMI. We analyzed concentrations of insulin, glucose, leptin, resistin, and total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMWad) in serum. Using computed tomography in HDpts, we evaluated visceral adipose tissue (VAT), concentrations of visfatin, CRP, and IL-6. RESULTS: HOMA-IR (median, 1.3 vs. 1.4, P=0.19), insulin (median 6.8 vs. 6.0 µIU/mL, P=0.7), glucose (79 mg/dL vs. 93 mg/dL, P=0.001). IR in HDpts is dependent on VAT (r=0.36, P=0.04) and this relationship is stronger than the relationship of BMI and IR (r=0.3, P=0.1). In HDpts we found higher concentrations of leptin (P=0.001) and resistin (P<0.001), with no relation to IR. HMWad and its percentage in relation to total adiponectin are higher in HDpts (P=0.03 and P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: HOMA-IR in HDpts does not differ from the control group. In HDpts it depends on the quantity of VAT and this relationship is stronger than with BMI. In HDpts leptin and resistin do not influence IR. HMWad and its percentage in total adiponectin are significantly higher in HDpts.

Clinical aspects of fungal infections in diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the main risk factors of fungal infections of oral cavity, lower part of gastrointestinal tract, skin, foot, urogenital system and blood. Mycosis is a serious diagnostic and therapeutic problem and cause of mortality in diabetes. Fungal infections are also an important problem among hemodialysis patients with diabetes or diabetic patients after pancreas or kidney transplantation This work briefly describes the etiology, symptoms, diagnosis and ways of prophylaxis and treatment of mycosis in diabetic population. There is also emphasized the great connection between effective treatment of mycosis and glycemic control.

Homeostatic model assessment indices in evaluation of insulin resistance and secretion in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Some previous observations suggest that insulin resistance and glucose metabolism disturbances are frequent complications of chronic kidney disease. However, there are no conclusive studies on other indices of the effectiveness of insulin action in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, including chronically hemodialysed (HD) ones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The groups comprised 33 non-diabetic ESRD hemodialysed patients and 33 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). In both groups, HOMA-%B, HOMA-%S, HOMA-IR indices, and DI were calculated using HOMA1 and HOMA2 as measures of insulin resistance. The indices were also assessed in subgroups divided according to BMI. RESULTS: Mean fasting plasma glucose concentrations were lower in ESRD patients than in healthy persons (82.4±10.4 vs. 93.9±11.6, p=0.001). Fasting serum insulin concentrations were similar in both groups (median 6.8 vs. 6.0 mU/l, p=0.698). HOMA1-%B values were higher in ESRD patients than controls (median 137.1 vs. 81.6, p=0.002). HOMA1-%S (median 75.6 vs. 71.5) and HOMA1-IR (median 1.3 vs. 1.4) values were not significantly different (p=0.264 and p=0.189, respectively). DI1 levels were higher for HD patients than for healthy subjects (median 1.16 vs. 0.53, p<0.001). In subgroup analysis, all statistically significant differences were restricted mainly to persons with BMI <25 kg/m2. Similar results as for the HOMA1 model were obtained for HOMA2. CONCLUSIONS: 1. HOMA beta-cell function is strongly correlated with HOMA insulin resistance in HD patients. 2. In non-diabetic ESRD hemodialysed patients, the HOMA indices and DI may be useful and important models in interpretation of glucose metabolism disturbances.

Insulin replacement therapy in patients with type 1 diabetes by isolated pancreatic islet transplantation.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia which causes micro- and macrovascular complications. A significant increase in diabetes morbidity rate has been observed. It is estimated that in year 2030 there will be 552 million diabetics worldwide. Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong treatment with insulin. The only available treatment of diabetes restoring physiological glucose metabolism is transplantation of pancreatic beta cells in form of pancreas or isolated pancreatic islets transplantation. The treatment restores normoglycemia and reduces chances of complications of diabetes. Over the past 10 years there has been significant progress in the development of the islet transplantation procedure. Constant improvement of the method, in particular the development of islets isolation and sourcing techniques, shows promise. According to the Collaborative Islet Transplant Registry in 1999-2009, there have been performed 1,072 allotransplantations. This paper summarizes the indications and contraindications for the procedure, the transplantation process, as well as the surgical procedure and immunosuppressive treatment. The review presents problems related to pancreatic islet cells transplantation and standard scheme of immunosuppressive treatment, requiring a solution.

Agents in development for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Nephropathy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Current treatments include optimization of glycemic and blood pressure control, but more innovative strategies are needed for the prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy. OBJECTIVES: To review emerging therapies for diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: This paper discusses the molecular mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy and the potential therapeutic interventions. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: New therapies, including those targeting the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, are likely to feature in future treatment regimens. Other approaches that at this stage do not appear to be progressing include the glycosaminoglycan sulodexide and the protein kinase C-beta (PKC-beta) inhibitor, ruboxistaurin.

Amiodarone after unsuccessful direct-current cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation.

AIM: To assess the safety and efficacy of amiodarone used after unsuccessful direct current (DC) cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: The study group comprised 67 patients (F/M 26/41; mean age 61.3+/-11.2 years) after unsuccessful DC cardioversion (DCC) of persistent AF (mean arrhythmia duration 212.6+/-135.2 days) in whom another attempt of DCC was intended. Repeat DC cardioversion was performed after loading with oral amiodarone, for a period necessary to achieve a cumulative dose of up to 12.0-16.0 g. Pretreatment was an outpatient procedure. After successful DC cardioversion all study subjects received a maintenance dose of amiodarone, 100-200 mg daily, aimed at preventing AF. The follow-up period was 12 months. RESULTS: Spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm (SR) during amiodarone pretreatment was observed in 13 pts (19.2%). DCC was performed in 54 pts and SR was restored in 41 of the study pts (76%). Complications occurred in 3 pts, including 1 case of apparent hyperthyroidism and 2 cases of decreased TSH level, and required amiodarone withdrawal. After 12 months, 72.2% of pts maintained SR on low dose (179.2+/-42.1 mg/day) amiodarone. Spontaneous conversion to SR during amiodarone loading was significantly related to long-term SR maintenance after successful DC cardioversion (p<0.013; RR 2.01; 95% CI 1.34-3.03). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with amiodarone and repeat DC cardioversion results in sinus rhythm restoration in about 80.6% of pts with persistent AF after an initial unsuccessful attempt. Direct-current cardioversion can be performed safely taking standard precautions for patients receiving amiodarone. At 12 months after successful repeated DC cardioversion, more than 72.2% of pts on low-dose amiodarone maintain SR.

[Value of electrocardiographic treadmill test for rate control strategy in permanent atrial fibrillation]. / Przydatnosc elektrokardiograficznej próby wysilkowej podczas realizowania strategii kontroli rytmu serca u chorych z przewleklym migotaniem przedsionków.

AIM: of our study was to determine the correlation between physical activity tolerance assesed by exercise tolerance test (ETT) and dynamics of change of echocardiographic parameters of left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) in standard transtoracic echocardiography (TTE) in long-term follow up of patients with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 67 patients (W/M: 23/44; mean age 63.2 +/- 7.1 years) with persistent AF lasting longer than 1 month. Rate control strategy targeted resting heart rate 70-90/min. All study subject underwent ETT in order to assess their exercise capacity. Before ETT we performed TTE in all patients and calculated the area of LA (LAar), longitudinal and saggital diameter of LA (LAlax, LAsax), LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and LV shortening fraction (FS). TTE was performed again in 2 and 12 months after beginning of observation. RESULTS: Using variation analysis we established the correlation between time of ETT in patients with persistent AF and dynamics of change of specific echocardiographic parameters in 12 months follow-up. In patients with ETT time <60 sec we observed statistically significant rise of LAar from 26.5 +/- 6.1 to 29.6 +/- 4.9 cm2 (p < 0.05; ANOVA) and deterioration of LV function assessed with FS from 35.6 +/- 5.3% on the beginning to 31.7 +/- 7.4% at the end of study (p < 0.02; ANOVA). There was no correlation between time of ETT and dynamics of change of other echocardiographic parameters in patients with time of ETT >60 sec. CONCLUSIONS: Time of exercise tolerance test limited with heart failure symptoms is an independent factor predicting dynamics of change of chosen echocardiographic parameters of left heart in long-term observation of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Differences between cardiologists and internists in the management of heart failure. Medical guidelines compared with every-day practice.

BACKGROUND: A marked progress in the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) took place during the last decade. Large, randomised studies documented the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and beta-blockers in the reduction of mortality and morbidity in CHF. AIM: To assess differences in the management of CHF patients between cardiologists and internists. METHODS: Medical records of 433 patients with CHF, aged 38-98 years, hospitalised between October 2000 and May 2002 in an academic centre, were retrospectively analysed. Cardiologists treated 241 patients, and internists - 192 patients. In addition, 12 randomly selected physicians who treated CHF patients, filled-in a questionnaire concerning CHF treatment. Next, the answers were compared with the actual treatment, documented in patients medical files. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the CHF treatment between cardiologists and internists. Cardiologists significantly more often prescribed ACE-I in NYHA class III patients (77% vs 58%, p=0.003), beta-blockers in all NYHA classes (80% vs 57%, p<0.001), loop diuretics in NYHA classes III and IV (76% vs 42%, p<0.001 and 91% vs 44%, p=0.005), and thiazides in NYHA class III patients (36% vs 11%, p<0.001). Internists more often used loop diuretics (37% vs 15%, p<0.001), digoxin (28% vs 7%, p<0.001) and aldosterone antagonists (24% vs 13%, p=0.022) in NYHA class II patients. All cardiologists and almost half of internists declared combined usage of ACE-I and beta-blockers at increasing dosages as the treatment was continued. The highest concordance between declared and actual medication concerned the concomitant use of ACE-I and beta-blockers. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiologists used more often ACE-I and beta-blockers than internists in the treatment of CHF patients. A satisfactory knowledge of treatment guidelines was not associated with widespread usage of ACE-I and beta-blockers in every-day practice.

[Therapy of diabetic neuropathy]. / Terapia neuropatii cukrzycowej.

A clinical state of peripheral and autonomic nerve damage in the abnormal environment of diabetes mellitus leads to syndromes of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is a complication that affects most patients with longstanding diabetes mellitus, deteriorating their quality of life. The pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy is multifactorial. The goals of treating diabetic neuropathy are to prevent the progression and reduce the symptoms. Smooth diabetes control without the risk of hypoglycaemia is most important to prevent progression. Early treatment is suggested, because of advanced marked nerve fiber loss. Treatments are supported by several investigations in diabetic patients: aldose reductase inhibition, prevention of protein glycation, improvement of nerve and administration of neurotrophic factors. Many other medications like amitriptiline, gabapentin, and carbamazepine have been used successfully in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy. To reduce the symptoms, studies have also shown analgesics to be effective.

[Treatment of heart failure: guidelines compared to clinical practice]. / Leczenie niewydolnosci serca--standardy kliniczne a praktyka lekarska.

UNLABELLED: Last decade brought great development in the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). General use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) in patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction or with HF significantly reduced morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess how the specialists from Cardiology Department and Gastroenterology Department think that heart failure should be managed, how they implement their knowledge and if it is consistent with the recommendation of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and whether differences exists in practice between specialists. In the first phase the specialists, cardiologists and diabetologists, answered the questions about the management of different stages of HF. In second phase we analysed medical documentation of 345 patients aged between 38 and 98 years, hospitalised in Cardiology and Gastroenterology Departments from October 2000 to February 2002 by reason of coronary artery disease, hypertension and dilated cardiomyopathy. In the third phase we compared the knowledge of heart failure management from questionnaire and its implementation, the compliance with ESC recommendation and finally whether differences in clinical practice exist between cardiologist and diabetologists. RESULTS: ACE-I were prescribed in all NYHA classes of HF. In over 50% patients in II NYHA class to 94% in IV NYHA class in Cardiology Department. Differences between the Departments in prescribing of ACE-I were observed. Beta-blockers (BB) were used with the same frequency in all NYHA classes, more often in Cardiology Department. Frequency of the administration of digoxin, diuretics, aldosterone receptor blocker was increasing starting with II NYHA class. The highest compliance between declarations from questionnaire and clinical practice concerned the use of BB and ACE-I combination.

[Glimepiride in daily practice]. / Glimepirid w aspekcie codziennej praktyki lekarskiej.

Application of the strategies and principles of oral diabetic therapy in type 2 diabetes should be individualized based on the degree of hyperglycemia, insulin deficiency and insulin resistance. This paper presents the evaluation of the new third-generation sulfonylurea compound, glimepiride in daily practice. Glimepiride appears to have several clinical advantages over conventional sulfonylureas: different binding kinetics, advisable cardiovascular effects and beneficial extrapancreatic activity. This may explain the observation that glimepiride provides more stable blood glucose control and lower risk of hypoglycemia over some second-generation sulfonylureas. Glimepiride is safe and well tolerated in patients with type 2 diabetes. Finally, glimepiride also has been shown to be safe and effective in combination with other oral agents or with insulin treatment.