Evaluation of selected factors influencing sleep disorders in paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Sleep disorders can develop as a result of exposure to stressors. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was an additional source of stress for paramedics, due to the fear of the unknown nature of the new pathogen. The main aim of this study was to identify factors influencing the development of sleep disorders among paramedics working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional, anonymous, voluntary, online survey conducted on social networks among paramedics working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland from 10/11/2020 to 14/01/2021. The survey included 387 participants, the majority of whom were men (72.35%). A proprietary questionnaire and standardized scales were used to identify risk factors: Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Results: Among all participants, there were 107 (27.65%) women and 280 (72.35%) men. Significantly higher scores of the analyzed scales were observed in the female gender. Based on the AIS scale, mild sleep disorders were found in 3.6% of women and 2.9% of men. Excessive sleepiness on the Epworth scale was assessed in more than 70% of women and 58.8% of men working in Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs). Conclusions: The main factors influencing the development of sleep disorders were female gender, use of sleep aids and not having a life partner. In contrast, older age and longer job tenure, being married, and having good relationships with family members had a protective effect.

Evaluation of Parameters Affecting the Occurrence of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Patients Operated on Due to Kidney Tumors.

The application and prognostic nature of systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome (SIRS) is still being researched, as using SIRS parameters to predict patient status is cheap, efficient, fast, and easy. The study aimed to determine SIRS markers and postoperative complications occurrence in patients undergoing kidney tumor surgery, and to verify if SIRS occurrence depends on age, sex, BMI (body mass index), comorbidities, patients' general condition before the surgery, type of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, or intraoperative ischemia time. Body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and leukocyte count were measured in patients (n = 285) operated on due to a kidney tumor on the first (T0) and third (T3) postoperative day. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the factors affecting postoperative SIRS and complications occurrence. T0: SIRS developed in patients with higher BMI, >2 ASA points, and more substantial intraoperative blood loss. T3: SIRS developed in obese or overweight patients, with >2 ASA points, significantly higher relative HR change, lower relative body temperature change, respiratory rate, and leukocyte count. BMI values, preoperative general health status, and the amount of intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing surgery due to a kidney tumor can contribute to SIRS occurrence. Patient's sex, age, tumor size, type of surgery, operated side, and time of intraoperative ischemia do not affect SIRS occurrence.

Pre and Postoperative Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Leriche Syndrome-A Prospective Pilot Study.

Background: Recovery of normal arterial inflow in the lower limbs after Leriche's syndrome surgery does not always improve erection. This study assesses the effects of Leriche syndrome on erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction in patients awaiting surgical treatment and the impact of treatment used on sexual dysfunctions. Methods: 35 men with Leriche syndrome aged 61.3 years (SD = 7.74) were assessed for erectile dysfunction. The patients were classified into three groups: aortofemoral bypass (group 1); stenting of the iliac artery (group 2) and aortobifemoral bypass (group 3). The patients were qualified for surgery based on the TASC II guidelines. Follow-up was done 3 months after treatment. Results: The mean preoperative IIEF-5 score was 14. 69 (+/- 5.30), with better preoperative scores obtained by 54.3% of patients. A total of 51.4% and 48.6% of patients, respectively, reported normal erection enabling satisfactory penetration and normal ejaculation before treatment. After surgical treatment, satisfactory erection was reported by 60% of all surgically treated patients, whereas the presence of ejaculation was reported by only 14.2% of patients. Conclusions: The IIEF-5 score is a tool for careful assessment of vascular erectile dysfunctions, it allows for the evaluation of erectile dysfunctions in relation to atherosclerosis risk factors. The treatment strategy used allowed for slight improvement as evidenced to erection but decreasing normal ejaculation.

Changing patterns of urologic emergency visits and admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, multicenter, nationwide study.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to examine the change in the number and severity of visits to the emergency departments (EDs) and subsequent admissions for urgent urologic conditions in the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated data from 13 urologic centers in Poland and compared the number of visits to the EDs and subsequent admissions before and after the advent of COVID-19 in 2020, and before and after the escalating national restrictions. Furthermore, data on types of urologic complaints, crucial laboratory parameters, and post-admission procedures were analyzed. RESULTS: In total 1,696 and 2,187 urologic visits (22.45% decrease) and 387 and 439 urologic urgent admissions (11.85% decrease) were reported in given periods in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The year-over-year difference in daily mean visits was clear (36.1 vs. 46.5; p < 0.001). Declines were seen in all complaints but device malfunction. In 2020 daily mean visits and admissions decreased from 40.9 and 9.6 before lockdowns to 30.9 (p < 0.001) and 6.9 (p = 0.001) after severe restrictions, respectively. There was a trend towards more negative laboratory parameter profiles in 2020, with patients who visited the EDs after severe restrictions having twice as high median levels of C-reactive protein (15.39 vs. 7.84, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The observed declines in ED visits and admissions were apparent with the significant effect of national lockdowns. Our results indicate that some of the patients requiring urgent medical help did not appear at the ED or came later than they would have done before the pandemic, presenting with more severe complaints.

Iris-Claw Intraocular Lens Implantation in Various Clinical Indications: A 4-Year Study.

An iris-claw intraocular lens (IOL) has been widely used as a secondary implant in aphakic patients. The study presents the results of implanting the anterior chamber iris-claw Artisan IOL in cases of where an appropriate posterior capsular support is lacking. The study included 132 patients subjected to primary IOL implantation during complicated cataract surgery with damage to the posterior capsule (I), secondary implantation in aphakia (II), secondary implantation during penetrating keratoplasty (III), and secondary implantation during pars plana vitrectomy with luxated IOL extraction (IV). We analyzed the records of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent (SE), intraocular pressure (IOP), and corneal endothelial cell count (cECC), taken before and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after the surgery. BCVA depended on the time after IOL implantation and the primary indication. Four years post-surgery, the SE values were the lowest in group III. IOP was the same in all groups both before and after the surgery, but 4 years after the surgery IOP values in group IV were higher than in group III. The cECC decreased every year after the surgery in all groups, but four years after the IOL implantation, the lowest cECC values were observed in group IV. At the same time, all groups of patients showed improved BCVA, stable refraction, and a low percentage of postoperative complications.

Diabetic Macular Edema Treatment with Bevacizumab Does Not Depend on the Retinal Nonperfusion Presence.

This study evaluated the relationship between the retinal nonperfusion area (NPA) presence and the effectiveness of bevacizumab treatment (IVB) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). It also tested the prognostic usefulness of ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography (UWFFA) and OptosAdvance software for diabetic retinopathy monitoring. Eighty-nine patients with DME with a macular central subfield thickness (CST) ≥ 250 µm, with (N = 49 eyes) and without (N = 49 eyes) retinal NPA, underwent nine bevacizumab injections over 12 months. NPA distribution, leakage area distribution, microaneurysm (MA) count, macular CST, diabetic retinopathy severity, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were assessed. The results show that bevacizumab reduced the macular CST from 420 to 280 µm (p < 0.001) and improved BCVA (p < 0.001) by about 10 ETDRS letters in both groups of patients. Additionally, the therapy reduced total retinal NPA from 29 (14-36) mm2 to 12 (4-18) mm2 (Me (Q1-Q3); p < 0.001) in patients with diagnosed nonperfusion. The effect of the therapy measured with vascular leakage, MA count, BCVArelative, and CSTrelative strongly depended on the zone of the retina and the NPA distribution. We conclude that the bevacizumab treatment had a positive effect on DME and BCVA in both study groups and on the size of retinal NPA in patients with retinal nonperfusion.

Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Retroperitoneal Space.

A solitary fibrous tumor develops from mesenchymal cells as a pleural neoplasm, but it is also occasionally reported in extrapleural sites. Retroperitoneal tumors are a group of neoplasms located between muscles and the fascia of the posterior abdominal wall and the parietal peritoneum. Their cytology differs from that of urinary tract organs or adrenals. This case report presents a rare solitary fibrous tumor incidentally found during an ultrasound examination. A 54-year-old male underwent urgent surgery for a tumor located in the left retroperitoneal space. The histologic examination confirmed a solitary fibrous tumor with a 5% Ki67 proliferation index, a 1 MF/10 HPF mitotic activity, and CD34-positive immunostains. A solitary fibrous tumor is a rare retroperitoneal tumor. Its symptoms and signs might resemble those of the classical triad of renal cell carcinoma, although the tumor's growth phase is typically asymptomatic. Intraoperative diagnosis of a solitary fibrous tumor strongly recommends radical excision.