Chemical composition and biological activity of Abies alba and A. koreana seed and cone essential oils and characterization of their seed hydrolates.

The chemical composition, including the enantiomeric excess of the main terpenes, the antimicrobial and antiradical activities, as well as the cytotoxicity of Abies alba and A. koreana seed and cone essential oils were investigated. Additionally, their seed hydrolates were characterized. In the examined oils and hydrolates, a total of 174 compounds were identified, which comprised 95.6-99.9% of the volatiles. The essential oils were mainly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons, whereas the composition of the hydrolates, differing from the seed oils of the corresponding fir species, consisted mainly of oxygenated derivatives of sesquiterpenes. The seed and cone essential oils of both firs exhibited DPPH-radical-scavenging properties and low antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains tested. Moreover, they evoked only low cytotoxicity towards normal fibroblasts and the two cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MBA-231. At concentrations up to 50 µg/ml, all essential oils were safe in relation to normal fibroblasts. Although they induced cytotoxicity towards the cancer cells at concentrations slightly lower than those required for the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation, their influence on cancer cells was weak, with IC50 values similar to those observed towards normal fibroblasts.

[Direct and indirect treatment cost of patient with ischaemic heart disease]. / Bezposrednie i posrednie koszty leczenia pacjenta z niestabilna choroba niedokrwienna serca.

Authors of this paper attempted to evaluate the cost of treatment of hypothetical patient with ischaemic heart disease during the period 16 years. The medical costs (costs of medicines, diagnostic procedures, coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery) and indirect costs of lost productivity have been estimated.

[Needs of schizophrenic's patients in perspective economical consequences of incapacity for work]. / Szacowanie kosztów utraconych zarobków osób chorych na schizofrenie.

The main goal of the study was to analyze the indirect costs of schizophrenia. There was explained economic consequences of the disability and also the lost of the income of schizophrenia's patients. The aim of that research was to highlight: the social aspects of schizophrenia and the dyleme of the suitable for patients treatment and its indirect costs. In this research was proposed the variants for indirect costs analysis based on human capital approach. It was taken into account these problems linked to social costs assessment in psychiatry. It was introduced information's upon methods of costs estimation income lost in consequence diseases.

[Attempt to exclude invasive cardiology services in Poland--rationing, national sovereignty and European Union law]. / Próba wylaczenia swiadczen kardiologii inwazyjnej z finansowaniaze srodków publicznych--racjonowanie w swietle suwerennosci panstwowej i prawa Europejskiego.

One of the guiding principles of health policy in many European countries is equitable access to health care services. One of the life saving procedures is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) performed after coronary angiography. Introducing payment for these procedures would limit access for low-income patients. Fortunately, despite political debate, invasive cardiology develops well in Poland. It is important to notice that within the European Union Polish citizens would be able to receive this treatment in other member states and, according to a European Court of Justice ruling, the costs would have to be reimbursed by the National Health Fund. The wider implication is that the 10 new EU member states now have to realise that health care is no longer a matter of national sovereignty - a fact legislators and health care managers in the 15 member states of the pre-accession EU are still struggling with.

[Cost estimation of the treatment of acute venous syndromes with use of antiplatelet inhibitors]. / Ocena kosztów leczenia przeciwplytkowego w ostrych zespolach wiencowych.

The aim of research was to estimate treatment costs of platelet inhibitors and application the medicals as: salicylic acid, ticlopidynum, clopidogrel and abciximab. The analysis was based on multicenter prospective, costs study in the group of 140 patients in three varying in respect of reference degree. We conclude that the A highest costs of antiplotelet treatment associated with dicoproteins inhibitor - abciximab. Relatively low costs of antiplatelet treatment were generated in first and second reference level hospitals which do not perform PCI. In higher reference level hospitals the antiplatelet treatment costs connected with the intervention constituted 94% of total costs of pharmacotherapy.