Integrated Approach for Safety Culture Factor Evaluation from a Sustainability Perspective.

Traditionally, sustainable development has been seen as a combination of three pillars: economic, social and environmental development. In recent years, another one has been added to these three pillars, namely culture, as being indispensable in achieving sustainable development. This study proposes an integrated approach for the identification and classification of safety culture factors in the company in a sustainability context. The research design was based on the assumption that safety culture is part of organizational culture that should support the development of corporate sustainability. Firstly, the identification of the safety culture factors (SCFs) based on the literature review was presented. Then, the ISM method was used to identify the interaction between SCFs and to develop the hierarchical structure of these factors. In the next step, ISM was integrated with the MICMAC method to cluster the factors based on driving power and dependence power into four categories. Finally, safety culture factors with high driving power were rated using the fuzzy TOPSIS method from the sustainability dimension perspective. This approach was used in an automotive industry company to improve and develop the company's practices aimed at implementing a sustainable development strategy. A sensitivity analysis was also carried out to monitor the robustness of the approach.

Effect of continuous passive motion on the early recovery outcomes after total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Continuous passive motion (CPM) is a frequently used method in the early post-operative rehabilitation of patients after knee surgery. In this study, the effectiveness of the CPM method was evaluated after primary total knee arthroplasty during an early recovery period. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were assigned into two groups. The experimental group received CPM and active exercises, while the control group active exercises only. All subjects were evaluated once before the surgery and at a discharge, in terms of mean active range of motion (AROM), mean Knee Society Score (KSS), and Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). RESULTS: The mean AROM for the experimental group was 82.3° ± 14.3° and 76.1° ± 22.2° for the control. The mean KSS score was 136.4 ± 19.3 points for the experimental group, and 135.7 ± 15.1 for the control. There were no statistical differences between the two groups. The KSS functional score was 66.4 ± 8.1 points for the experimental group compared to 62.2 ± 7.3 points for the control, but there was a statistically significant difference between the groups at discharge from the hospital (p = 0.009). A subjective estimation of the pain level, joint stiffness and function also showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (38.6 ± 14.3 points for the CPM group and 21.2 ± 15.7 for the control). CONCLUSION: These findings show that there is no significant effect of CPM in terms of improving clinical measurements. However, there was a significant beneficial effect on the subjective assessment of pain level, joint stiffness, and functional ability.

Influence of d-Electron Divalent Metal Ions in Complex Formation with L-Tartaric and L-Malic Acids.

Binary complexes of α-hydroxy acids (L-Tartaric acid and L-Malic acid) with d-electron metal ions (copper, cobalt, nickel) were investigated. Potentiometric measurements have been performed in aqueous solution with computer analysis of the data for determination of the stability constants of complexes formed in the studied systems. The coordination mode of the complexes was defined using spectroscopic methods: electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), circular dichroism (CD), and infrared (IR). Results of the equilibrium studies have provided evidence for the formation of dimers with copper(II) ions and monomers with cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions.

New chemiluminescent method of levofloxacin and ofloxacin determination based on terbium (III)-sensitized fluoroquinolone-KBrO3 reaction.

Fluoroquinolones can be oxidized with some agents, in this study selected fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin and enrofloxacin) were oxidized with potassium bromate in the presence of terbium (III) ions. According to the kinetic and spectral analysis of chemiluminescence emitted by the above systems, the terbium (III) ions were the only emitter. The excitation of the lanthanide ion was a result of the process of energy transfer from the products of fluoroquinolones oxidation to Tb(III) ions. The highest intensity of chemiluminescence was obtained for levofloxacin and ofloxacin containing an alkoxy substituent at C-8 in the quinoline ring. The chemiluminescence intensity was correlated linearly (r = 0.9994) with the concentration of ofloxacin (or levofloxacin) in the range 1 × 10-6 to 4 × 10-5 mol L-1 ; the detection limit was 3 × 10-7 mol L-1 for both fluoroquinolones. In the optimized conditions, the chemiluminescence of the levofloxacin (or ofloxacin)-Tb(III)-KBrO3 -H2 SO4 systems was used to determine these compounds in a mixture of fluoroquinolones and in pharmaceuticals.

Fatigue Reliability Analysis Method of Reactor Structure Considering Cumulative Effect of Irradiation.

The influence of irradiation should be considered in fatigue reliability analyses of reactor structures under irradiation conditions. In this study, the effects of irradiation hardening and irradiation embrittlement on fatigue performance parameters were quantified and a fatigue life prediction model was developed. Based on this model, which takes into account the cumulative effect of a neutron dose, the total fatigue damage was calculated according to Miner's linear cumulative damage law, and the reliability analysis was carried out using the Monte Carlo simulation method. The case results show that the fatigue life acquired by taking into account the cumulative effect of irradiation was reduced by 24.3% compared with that acquired without considering the irradiation effect. Irradiation led to the increase of the fatigue life at low strains and its decrease at high strains, which is in accordance with the findings of an irradiation fatigue test. The rate of increase in the fatigue life decreased gradually with the increase of the neutron dose. The irradiation performance parameters had a small influence on fatigue reliability, while the fatigue strength coefficient and the elastic modulus had a great influence on the fatigue reliability. Compared with the current method, which uses a high safety factor to determine design parameters, a fatigue reliability analysis method taking into account the cumulative effect of irradiation could be more accurate in the reliability analysis and life prediction of reactor structures.

Thermodynamic and Spectroscopic Studies of the Complexes Formed in Tartaric Acid and Lanthanide(III) Ions Binary Systems.

Binary complexes of tartaric acid with lanthanide(III) ions were investigated. The studies have been performed in aqueous solution using the potentiometric method with computer analysis of the data for detection of the complexes set, determination of the stability constants of these compounds. The mode of the coordination of complexes found was determined using spectroscopy, which shows: Infrared, circular dichroism, ultraviolet, visible as well as luminescence spectroscopy. The overall stability constants of the complexes as well as the equilibrium constants of the reaction were determined. Analysis of the equilibrium constants of the reactions and spectroscopic data allowed the effectiveness of the carboxyl groups in the process of complex formation.

New coordination compounds of citric acid and polyamines with lanthanide ions - potential application in monitoring the treatment of cancer diseases.

Non-covalent interaction in the binary systems of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) with citric acid and complex formation in the binary as well as ternary systems of lanthanide(III) ions, citric acid and polyamine have been investigated. The studies were performed in aqueous solution. The overall stability constants of the complexes were determined using the potentiometric method with computer analysis of the data. Only mononuclear type of complexes were found in the ternary systems and polyamines were located in the outer as well as inner coordination sphere. Non-covalent interaction between biogenic amines and citric acid in the binary and ternary systems were confirmed on the basis of the equilibrium constants analysis and spectroscopic studies.

Carboxyl groups of citric acid in the process of complex formation with bivalent and trivalent metal ions in biological systems.

Binary complexes of citric acid (H3L - protonated form, H2L and HL - partly protonated forms, L - fully deprotonated) with d- and f-electron metal ions were investigated. The studies have been performed in aqueous solution using the potentiometric method with computer analysis of the data, electron paramagnetic resonance, infrared, visible as well as luminescence spectroscopies. The overall stability constants of the complexes were determined. Analysis of the equilibrium constants of the reactions and spectroscopic data has allowed determination of the type of coordination and effectiveness of the carboxyl groups in the process of complex formation. On the basis of potentiometric titration for d-electron were found dimeric and monomeric type of complexes and for f-electron four type of complexes: MHL, ML, ML(OH) and ML(OH)2.

Coordination properties of N,N'-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine with d- and f-electron ions: crystal structure, stability in solution, spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical studies.

Template reaction between 5-methylsalicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine in the presence of copper ion led to dinuclear and mononuclear copper(ii) complexes [Cu2L(CH3COO)(CH3OH)](CH3OH) (1) and [CuHL](CH3OH) (2), where H3L is N,N'-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine. The result of the reactions between 5-methylsalicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine in the presence of lanthanide ions and/or copper(ii) ion was N,N'-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine (H3L B) or [CuHL](CH3OH) (2), respectively. Structures of the compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and physicochemical methods. The microstructures and phase compositions of crystals were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In dinuclear complex [Cu2L(CH3COO)(CH3OH)](CH3OH) (1), two copper(ii) ions are bond to one H3L ligand and one acetate ion. Coordination modes of the two copper centers are different: the geometry of copper 1 is almost ideal square-planar, while that for copper 2 can be described as tetragonal pyramidal. In complex [CuHL](CH3OH) (2), the copper(ii) ion is four coordinated and the coordination, rather than square-planar, can be described as flattened tetrahedral. Formation of complexes between copper(ii) or lanthanide ions with N,N'-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine (H3L) was also studied in solution by pH potentiometry. It should be mentioned that the complexes of lanthanide ions exist only in solution. Additionally, the salen-type ligand H3L and its dinuclear and mononuclear copper(ii) complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry, and their spectroelectrochemical properties were examined.

Correlations between serum adipocytokine concentrations, disease stage, radiological status and total body fat content in the patients with primary knee osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: The study was designed to investigate whether serum concentrations of leptin, resistin and adiponectin in obese and normal-weight patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) correlate with clinical and radiological stages of the disease and percentage of total body fat. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with knee OA, divided into obese and normal-weight groups, were clinically evaluated according to the Knee Society Score (KSS), and radiologically assessed using Kellgren and Lawrence scale. The percentage of total body fat and some anthropometric data were also given. Serum leptin, resistin and adiponectin concentrations were measured by Elisa and were correlated with the clinical, radiological and anthropometric parameters. RESULTS: Leptin concentrations were significantly higher (p = 0.001) in the obese patients and positively correlated (R = 0.63) with radiologically assessed OA grade, but only in the normal-weight group. Resistin and adiponectin concentrations were identical in obese and normal-weight patients and negatively correlated (R = -0.41) with the clinical status of obese patients. In both groups, percentage of total body fat positively correlated (R = 0.29 and R = 0.53 for obese and normal-weight respectively) with radiologically assessed OA grade. However, no correlations were found with clinical status of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that in the obese patients with knee OA, increased percentage of total body fat and elevated serum leptin concentration might favour the advancement of clinical but not radiologically assessed changes in the joint structures, while in normal-weight patients it correlates only with radiologically assessed changes but does not affect to an appreciable extent the clinical status of the patients.

Genome-wide identification, characterisation and expression profiles of calcium-dependent protein kinase genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

In plant cells, calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are important sensors of Ca2+ flux resulting from various environmental stresses like cold, drought or salt stress. Previous genome sequence analysis and comparative studies in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) defined a multi-gene family of CDPKs. Here, we identified and characterised the CDPK gene complement of the model plant, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Comparative analysis encompassed phylogeny reconstruction based on newly available barley genome sequence, as well as established model genomes (e.g. O. sativa, A. thaliana, Brachypodium distachyon). Functional gene copies possessed characteristic CDPK domain architecture, including a serine/threonine kinase domain and four regulatory EF-hand motifs. In silico verification was followed by measurements of transcript abundance via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The relative expression of CDPK genes was determined in the vegetative growth stage under intensifying drought stress conditions. The majority of barley CDPK genes showed distinct changes in patterns of expression during exposure to stress. Our study constitutes evidence for involvement of the barley CDPK gene complement in signal transduction pathways relating to adaptation to drought. Our bioinformatics and transcriptomic analyses will provide an important foundation for further functional dissection of the barley CDPK gene family.

Acceptance of home support and integrated care among advanced COPD patients who live outside large medical centers.

BACKGROUND: Poor self-management constitutes a risk factor for COPD deterioration. Patients from rural areas located at a considerable distance from large medical centers frequently need home-support in advanced stages of the disease. Integrated care has been proposed as a comprehensive model for appropriate treatment, coordination and holistic support. The aim of the study was to assess whether home visits provided by trained assistants are needed and accepted by advanced COPD patients living in rural areas a to evaluate whether an individual short educational program can actually improve such patients' knowledge of COPD and inhaler use. METHODS: Thirty patients with severe or very severe but stable COPD participated in one-month home-assistance interventions twice a week. RESULTS: The total value ≥70 of SGRQ (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire) was recorded in 18 (60%) patients. At the beginning of the study, the patients' knowledge of COPD and inhalation techniques was highly unsatisfactory. Significant improvement in all items (p=0.00) was obtained after the intervention. The risk for poor self-management was high. All patients had at least one 'factor' that indicated the need for home-support. A total of 240 visits (100%) were completed. Patients expressed high acceptance for home-based support delivered by medical assistants twice a week for one month. No patients opposed this kind of care and most of them expressed interest in receiving it in the future. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a compelling need for home care and demonstrate full acceptance of this kind of support on the part of advanced COPD patients.

Immunogenicity of parenterally delivered plant-derived small and medium surface antigens of hepatitis B virus.

KEY MESSAGE: Intramuscularly delivered plant-derived M-HBsAg was compared to S-HBsAg, and as a result elicited specific anti-preS2 antibodies and significantly higher titre of anti-HBs antibodies, together with IgG isotype profile indicating some Th1 polarisation, apart from the main Th2 response. HBV prevalence is still threatening, regardless of prevention programmes using vaccines containing S-HBsAg, supplemented by third-generation vaccines, comprising also M- and L-HBsAg. Plant expression systems offer a cost-effective production option of the antigens. Plant-derived S- and M-HBsAg, intramuscularly delivered to mice, elicited anti-HBs antibodies several times higher than high responsiveness threshold titre. M-HBsAg induced stronger response of anti-HBs and also specific anti-preS2 antibodies. IgG isotype profiles indicated mainly Th2 response, yet Th1 polarisation was also pointed out, in some larger extent for M-HBsAg. These results correspond to research on CHO-derived M-HBsAg vs. commercial vaccines based on S-HBsAg and support potency of plant-derived antigens as alternative injection vaccines.

Hitting rock bottom? Resource loss as a predictor of alcoholism treatment completion.

Background Efforts to better understand the phenomenon of the 'bottom', the beginning of the process of turning away from alcohol, are important for both theoretical and practical goals. The conservation of resources theory by Hobfoll may represent a suitable framework to base these attempts around. Aim The aim of the study was to examine the role of resource loss in completing alcoholism treatment on the basis of Hobfoll's conservation of resources theory. Methods The study included 86 patients undergoing inpatient alcoholism treatment. An assessment of resource loss and gain during the previous year, as well as of the decisional balance regarding the pros and cons of drinking alcohol, took place at the beginning of therapy. Results The results of hierarchical binary logistic regression confirmed that resource loss was the only significant predictor of therapy completion, after adjustment for decisional balance, demographics and basic clinical data. Additionally, gender moderated the relationship between resource gain and therapy completion: while an increase in gain was related to a decreased chance of completing therapy in men, the opposite effect was noted in women. Conclusions Resource loss has more influence than decisional balance in predicting therapy completion, which can be translated into clinically valid recommendations based on gender differences.

Application of cell and biomaterial-based tissue engineering methods in the treatment of cartilage, menisci and ligament injuries.

Over 20 years ago it was realized that the traditional methods of the treatment of injuries to joint components: cartilage, menisci and ligaments, did not give satisfactory results and so there is a need of employing novel, more effective therapeutic techniques. Recent advances in molecular biology, biotechnology and polymer science have led to both the experimental and clinical application of various cell types, adapting their culture conditions in order to ensure a directed differentiation of the cells into a desired cell type, and employing non-toxic and non-immunogenic biomaterial in the treatment of knee joint injuries. In the present review the current state of knowledge regarding novel cell sources, in vitro conditions of cell culture and major important biomaterials, both natural and synthetic, used in cartilage, meniscus and ligament repair by tissue engineering techniques are described, and the assets and drawbacks of their clinical application are critically evaluated.

Effects of outpatient followed by home-based telemonitored cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to reduce the cardiovascular mortality of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and help people to return to professional work. Unfortunately, limited accessibility and low participation levels present persistent challenges in almost all countries where CR is available. Applying telerehabilitation provides an opportunity to improve the implementation of and adherence to CR, and it seems that the hybrid form of training may be the optimal approach due to its cost-effectiveness and feasibility for patients referred by a social insurance institution. AIM: To present the clinical characteristics and evaluate the effects of hybrid: outpatient followed by home-based cardiac telerehabilitation in patients with CAD in terms of exercise tolerance, safety, and adherence to the programme. METHODS: A total of 125 patients (112 men, 13 women) with CAD, aged 58.3 ± 4.5 years, underwent a five-week training programme (TP) consisting of 19-22 exercise training sessions. The first stage of TP was performed in the ambulatory form of CR in hospital; then, patients continued to be telemonitored TP at home (hybrid model of cardiac rehabilitation - HCR). Before and after completing CR, all patients underwent a symptom-limited treadmill exercise stress test. Adherence was reported by the number of dropouts from the TP. RESULTS: The number of days of absence in the HCR programme was 1.50 ± 4.07 days. There were significant improvements (p < 0.05) in some measured variables after HCR in the exercise test: max. workload: 7.86 ± 2.59 METs vs. 8.88 ± 2.67 METs; heart rate (HR) at rest: 77.59 ± 12.53 bpm vs. 73.01 ± 11.57 bpm; systolic blood pressure at rest: 136.69 ± 17.19 mm Hg vs. 130.92 ± 18.95 mm Hg; double product at rest: 10623.33 ± 2262.97 vs. 9567.50 ± 2116.81; HRR1: 97.46 ± 18.27 bpm vs. 91.07 ± 19.19 bpm; and, NYHA class: 1.18 ± 0.48 vs. 1.12 ± 0.35. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with documented CAD, HCR is feasible and safe, and adherence is good. Most patients were on social rehabilitation benefit, had a smoking history, and suffered from hypertension, obesity, or were overweight. A hybrid model of CR improved exercise tolerance.

Influence of a hybrid form of cardiac rehabilitation on exercise tolerance in coronary artery disease patients with and without diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of stationary and ambulatory cardiac rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes has been proven by some authors, but data concerning the effects of hybrid forms of cardiac rehabilitation (HCR) in this population are lacking. A home-based telerehabilitation is a promising form of secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in this group of patients. AIM: The objective of the study was to compare the effects of HCR in CAD patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). The secondary endpoint was the assessment of CAD risk factors like low exercise capacity and obesity, in both groups of patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, which comprised 125 patients with CAD aged 57.31 ± 5.61 years referred for HCR. They were assigned to Group D (with diabetes; n = 37) or Group C (without diabetes; n = 88). HCR was carried out as a comprehensive procedure that included all core components of cardiac rehabilitation according to guidelines. Before and after HCR all patients underwent a symptom-limited exercise test performed according to the Bruce protocol on a treadmill. RESULTS: Before HCR the maximal workload was higher in Group C than in Group D (8.13 ± 2.82 METs vs. 6.77 ± 1.88 METs; p = 0.023), but after HCR the difference was not significant. In both groups an increase in the maximal workload after HCR was observed (Group D: before HCR 6.81 ± 1.91 METs, after HCR 8.30 ± 2.04 METs; p < 0.001; Group C: before HCR 8.31 ± 2.71 METs, after HCR 9.13 ± 2.87 METs; p = 0.001). Resting heart rate, double product, and heart rate recovery 1 (HRR1) declined in both groups. No significant differences in changes in exercise test parameters between both groups' parameters were found. CONCLUSIONS: HCR was effective in patients with DM. The adherence was high. Patients with DM had higher rates of obesity and significantly lower exercise tolerance than patients without DM. Patients from both groups gained similar benefit from HCR in terms of physical capacity, resting heart rate, and heart rate recovery.

Energy transfer processes of chemiluminescence reaction systems with cerium(IV) ions and their analytical application: a review.

This review is devoted to a thorough discussion of chemiluminescence of the systems containing Ce(IV) ions as oxidising agents, with particular emphasis on the energy transfer processes in such systems. The influence of sensitisers such as: rhodamines, quinine, lanthanide ions and their complexes and quantum-dots has been analysed and the practical use of reaction systems for development of new chemiluminescence methods for determination of therapeutic drugs and substances of biological importance in different matrices such as human urine or serum is indicated. The types of emitters and excited reaction products taking part in energy transfer to sensitisers and processes taking place in the chemiluminescence reaction systems containing Ce(IV) ions are presented on the basis of recent literature.

The trimorphic structure of N,N'-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine.

The new Schiff base ligand, N,N'-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine (H2L), has been prepared by condensation of 5-methylsalicylaldehyde with 4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine. It was found that this ligand crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, with Z' = 1. Further studies showed that - as a result of the one-pot metal-promoted reactions - three different polymorphic forms of H2L were obtained, with different numbers (1, 3 or 4) of symmetry-independent molecules depending on the lanthanide metal ion present in the reaction media: La (Z' = 3), Nd (Z' = 4), Sm, Tb, Ho and Yb (all Z' = 1); the last form is identical with that obtained by crystallization of the ligand itself. The geometrical features of all eight independent molecules of H2L are very similar. The relatively strong intramolecular O-H...N hydrogen bonds stabilize almost co-planar conformations of terminal rings and C-C=N-C linkers, at the same time strong hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors involved in these interactions cannot take part in the determination of supramolecular architecture. Therefore, weak intermolecular interactions are important and this can be regarded as one of the reasons for packing conflicts that lead to the presence of polymorphic forms and multiple molecules. The pseudosymmetries are observed in both forms with Z' > 1 and the degree of pseudosymmetry is described by the values of appropriate combinations of the coordinates. In order to elucidate the differences in crystal structures the Hirshfeld surface method was applied. It shows that there are only small differences in the surface shape and in the fingerprint plots; however, the volumes of voids in three structures are significantly different.

[Variation in the course of human veins based on the anatomical and morphometric research]. / Zmiennosc przebiegu zyl w sercach ludzkich na podstawie badan anatomicznych i morfometrycznych.

INTRODUCTION: The cardiac veins have inspired numerous generations of researchers. From anatomists and pathologists to cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, the issue of the structure of heart and cardiovascular disorders- in spite of enormous progress of medicine - have not been completely discovered so far. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material of the research comes from the collection of the Chair and Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy of the Pomeranian Medical University and it includes 102 human hearts, of which 59 male and 43 female ones, aged from 12 and 70. Both coronary veins and arteries of the tested hearts were filled with the epoxy resin, which allowed for thorough exposing and differentiating between the venous vessels and the arterial vessels. The aim of this study was to assessing the interrelationships between the dimensions of the heart, the size of the coronary sinus, the length of the cardiac veins and a sex. Also determined the frequency and variability of cardiac veins run in the material, as well as the correlation between the topography of the course of the great cardiac vein, the middle cardiac vein, the branches of the left and right coronary arteries and the cardiac size and a gender. The measurements of the heart and the veins were made with the use of a pair of spherical compasses, an electronic caliper, a goniometer and a planimeter. RESULTS: It was found that the size of the male heart is statistically significantly greater than the female one. The dimensions of the heart correlated positively with the diameter and the length of the coronary sinus (CS) and the length of the great cardiac vein (GCV), the middle cardiac vein (MCV) and the small cardiac vein (SCV). The length of the CS positively correlated with its diameter and the length of the veins draining into it. The veins which were not always present in the tested material included: the SCV, the right marginal vein (RMV), the oblique vein of the left atrium (OVLA), the left marginal vein (LMV). It was found that the length of the GCV and the MCV in males were statistically significantly greater. The length of the MCV positively correlated with the length of the GCV, the SCV, the OVLA, the posterior vein of the left ventricle (PVLV), the LMV. The anastomoses between the GCV and the MCV were more often found in males and it was a statistically significant difference. It was found that there is a positive correlation between the venous arch connecting the GCV and the MCV and the length of the GCV. The anastomoses between the PVLV and the MCV and the LMV did not correlated with a sex, but it statistically significantly correlated with the length of the right and left PVLV and with the length of the MCV.