Satisfaction with the life of Polish women experiencing domestic violence.

Introduction: Domestic violence against a woman, inflicted by her husband/partner, disrupts the socially recognized model of partnership and family life and endangers the health and life of the victim. The aim of the study was to assess the level of satisfaction with the life of Polish women experiencing domestic violence and compare it to results of women not experiencing domestic violence. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 610 Polish women divided in two groups: victims of domestic violence (Group 1, n = 305) and women not experiencing domestic violence (Group 2, n = 305). Results and Conclusions: Most Polish women experiencing domestic violence are characterized by low life satisfaction. The mean value of life satisfaction in Group 1 was 13.78, SD = 4.88, significantly lower when compared to Group 2 (M = 21.04, SD = 5.61). Their satisfaction with life is related, among other things, to the form of violence inflicted upon them by their husband/partner. Abused women with low life satisfaction are most often victims of psychological violence. The most common cause is the perpetrator's addiction to alcohol and/or drugs. Assessment of their life satisfaction is unrelated to help-seeking and to the occurrence of violence in their family home in the past.

Effect of Diosmin Administration in Patients with Chronic Venous Disorders on Selected Factors Affecting Angiogenesis.

Diosmin is a natural compound with a wide range of biological activity, e.g., it improves lymphatic drainage, supports microcirculation, and increases venous tone, and venous elasticity, hence, it is applied in the pharmacotherapy of chronic venous disorders (CVD). The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between diosmin administration (2 × 600 mg daily) in patients suffering from CVD and the levels of selected factors influencing angiogenesis, which are involved in CVD pathophysiology. Thirty-five CVD patients were examined. Levels of plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A and VEGF-C); angiostatin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2); and plasminogen (PLG) were measured with an Elisa assay before and after three months of diosmin administration. The clinical symptoms of CVD were monitored using ultrasound images, echo Doppler assay, visual analogue scale (VAS), and measurement of the leg circumference. The average content of TNF alpha, VEGF-C, VEGF-A IL-6, and FGF2 decreased after the therapy with diosmin in a significant manner; with p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.01, respectively, and a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the plasma angiostatin level after the three-month treatment was found. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in edema and the average leg circumference of the patients was observed after the therapy. Diosmin influences the angiogenic and inflammatory mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of edema presented in patients with a different class of CVD.

Replacement of infected aortoiliac vascular grafts with bifurcated BioIntegral Surgical No-React® bovine pericardial xenografts.

The infection of a vascular prosthesis is potentially fatal, and its effective treatment still remains the greatest challenge for vascular surgeons. We present our initial experience using bovine pericardial vascular prostheses to replace infected aortoiliac vascular grafts. Six consecutive patients with infection of the graft were prospectively included in this study. Infection of the vascular graft was confirmed by clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and the results of computed tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography. In all cases, the infected aortoiliac graft was surgically removed and replaced by the bovine-pericardial BioIntegral aortic-bifemoral prosthesis. Technical success was achieved in every case with no in-hospital or 30 days mortality. One patient required revision of distal anastomosis due to recurrent bleeding at day four after surgery. One patient presented with upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding during the postoperative period, which was managed endoscopically. The mean hospital stay was 14 days (range 9-19). The control CT scan performed 2 months after surgery showed significant regression of abscesses and periprosthetic inflammation. Two patients died within 32 months of follow-up: one due to heart attack, the other due to generalized sepsis, which was correlated with the previous infection. Four patients are still in follow-up. The BioIntegral prosthesis is patent in all four cases, with no clinical or ultrasonographic signs of infection. Our brief investigation shows that a bovine pericardial prosthesis may be a valuable option in the treatment of vascular grafts infections.

CIDE-A gene expression in patients with obesity qualified for endovascular treatment of abdominal aorta aneurysm.

UNLABELLED: CIDE-A gene and the genes of LRP group play a key role in the regulation of the body weight and lipid metabolism in mammals. CIDE-A is defined as a potential human obesity gene and the LRP1 gene is associated with the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aim of the study was to define the role of CIDE-A gene in patients with dyslipidemia and asymptomatic AAA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 38 subjects, including 27 men and 11 women qualified for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The subjects with abdominal aortic aneurysm were enrolled in the study group, depending on the body mass index (BMI); in obese patients (BMI > 30). The control group (n = 16) included subjects without lipid disorders. One-step isolation of RNA from lymphocytes and adipose tissue cells was performed using the modified TRI method by Chomc-zynski and Sacchi, and then the gene expression was tested by real-time PCR. RESULTS: The highest mean relative of the gene expression for CIDE-A was reported in subjects with the normal body weight. The lowest mean relative of the gene expression for CIDE-A was observed in the group of obese patients with aortic aneurysm and lipid disorders. A high negative correlation (r = -0.7101) in the gene expression for CIDE-A was observed in the group of obese patients with aortic aneurysm, depending on the BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the important role of the CIDE-A gene and Cide-A protein in the development of metabolic syndrome, obesity and the accompanying vascular lesions such as abdominal aortic an-eurysm, seen in this context, the tested gene and protein Cide-A represent a potential therapeutic target in these diseases.

Efficacy evaluation of bio trombina ® 400 in mini mall y invasive treatment of complications (pseudoaneurysms), after venipuncture for diagnostic purposes. Authors' own experience - case study of 38 patients.

UNLABELLED: Common use of venipuncture on upper and lower limbs for diagnostic purposes (such as coronarography or arteriography), and also during the course of treatment (angioplasty), very often bares a complication in the form of pseudoaneurysms. According to various reports, the incidence of pseudoaneurysms ranges from 0.005% to 0.5% of all vascular procedures requiring arterial cannulation (Common Femoral Artery, Brachial Artery, Radial Artery). The use of Bio Trombina® 400 in the embolization of pseudoaneurysms allows minimally invasive and effective treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of pseudoaneurysm embolization with the use of Trombina 400, authors' own experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the years 2011 - 2013, the authors of this study performed 38 vascular interventional procedures involving pseudoaneurysms as complications of venipuncture in upper and lower limbs for diagnostic and treatment purposes. All procedures involved the direct injection of thrombin into the chamber of the pseudoaneurysm under the guidance of USG Doppler (6.2 MHz linear head). 34 cases presented single chamber pseudoaneurysms while 4 cases involved multi- chamber pseudoaneurysms, which required several thrombin reinjections (Bio Trombina® 400) into each of the chambers. Pseudoaneurysm maximum size of 4 cm was set as an inclusion criterion for the embolization procedure. Furthermore, all pseudoaneurysms with a significantly wide tract in transverse dimensions were treated as an exclusion criterion because of high risk of the peripheral arteries embolization. RESULTS: Initial success was observed in 36 patients (94.73%) in the first day after the procedure, 1 patient (2.63%) underwent thrombin reinjection procedure in the second day after the first embolization. Another patient (2.63%) underwent an open procedure in which the Common Femoral Artery was accessed, the clot evacuated, and CFA was sutured with continuous suture Prolene 6-0. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Embolization of pseudoaneurysms with USG Doppler-guided thrombin injection is an effective course of treatment for complications of cannulation. 2. The safety of pseudoaneurysm embolization depends on a surgeon's experience. It is also crucial to keep in mind the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this type of procedure (the size of a pseudoaneurysm, the width of its base). 3. Furthermore, its cost effectiveness and short hospitalization period make pseudoaneurysm embolization an effective and valuable alternative to the classic approach.

Selected factors of fibrinolysis in the Buerger's disease.

UNLABELLED: Thrombangiitis obliterans (TAO marked by coexistence of thrombotic and inflammatory changes of neurovascular tract has evoked a considerable dispute concerning pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of the study was to define the level of activation of fibirinolitic system in course of TAO disease by means of determination its basic constituents as well as to examine the essence of level of fibrinolysis disorders in pathogenesis and development of this disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty patients with thrombangiitis obliterans (TAO), 30 patients with peripheral occlusive disease - PAOD (ASO) and 20 healthy volunteers (K) have been subjected to the examination. We determined the activity some factors of fibrinolysis: t-PA, PAI-1, PAP, plasminogen, α2-antiplasminogen, D-dimmer as well as euglobulin lysis time. The analysis comprised 7 features and 8 factors of variability: a membership to a group of patients, sex, age, smoking, aggravation of the disease within last 3 months, occurrence of Raynaud's symptom, a degree of ischemia according to Fontaine, time the disease lasted. RESULTS: The significant differences between the average were checked by means of t-Student test or variance analysis (ANOVA) and co-relation rate r (Pearson). We concluded that the average value of PAI-1 in the group TAO was significantly higher than in comparison with ASO group. The increased values were revealed in case of 76 % of patients. The euglobulin lysis time was vitally extended in case of 60% of patients in ASO group. In all three groups higher levels of α2-antiplasmin were detected in case of elderly patients compared to the younger ones. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results allow us to ascertain the state of potentially weakened fibrinolysis in case of patients with Buerger's disease as well as with PAOD.

The changes of plasma thrombin-antithrombin complex in the patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing surgical revascularization.

UNLABELLED: In patients with severe lower limb ischemia the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems have been found to be activated preoperatively. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes of TAT level as a selected coagulation factor, before, during and after surgical revascularization and the analysis of the impact of coexisting diseases on the coagulation during the procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 patients with PAOD, in Fontaine stages IIb to IV (29 men and 21 women; median age 65.8 years, ASA II/III) undergoing elective surgical revascularization were studied. Two groups of patients were compared: 20 undergoing reconstruction on aorto-femoral and 30 on femoropopliteal level. Blood samples were collected 5 times: 24 hours before the operation; intraoperatively after artery exposure; after heparin administration and clamping; after reperfusion and -24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Elevated values of TAT (10.5 g/l ±7.1) were found before the operation. The elevated value of TAT increased intraoperatively (25.1 g/l ±44.58; p<0.001) (norm 1-4.1 g/l) and maintaining higher levels after the surgery. The significant correlations between plasma level of TAT and ischemia degree were found. Also the correlation between intraoperative increase of TAT and the duration of surgery was noticed. No significant differences between two analysed groups were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the activation of coagulation and prothrombotic state in the patients with advanced arteriosclerosis. During the surgical revascularisation permanent increase of activation of blood coagulation was observed. This activation depends on duration of the procedure and maintains increased one-day after the operation. Our findings may explain the unexpected occurrence of early thrombotic complications after technically successful vascular reconstructions.

CIDE--A gene expression in patients with abdominal obesity and LDL hyperlipoproteinemia qualified for surgical revascularization in chronic limb ischemia.

UNLABELLED: According to the latest data, CIDE -A gene plays a key role in the regulation of body weight in both humans and mice, and therefore it is regarded a potential candidate gene for human obesity. The aim of the study was to define the role of CIDEA gene in patients with dyslipidemia and symptomatic limb ischemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group contained 28 patients, including 17 men and 11 women. Patients were enrolled in the study group, depending on the value of body mass index (BMI); there was BMI>30 for obese patients. The group included untreated patients (n=14) and patients (n=14) receiving atorvastatin 20 mg/day for at least three months prior to the initiation of the study. The control group (n=16) contained patients with no lipid disorders. A one-step isolation of RNA from lymphocytes and adipose tissue cells was carried out using the TRI method modified by Chomczynski and Sacchi. Next, gene expression was tested using real-time PCR. RESULTS: The highest mean relative expression of CIDE -A gene occurred in patients with normal body weight. The lowest mean relative expression of CIDE-A gene was observed in obese patients with lipid disorders. A high negative correlation (r=-0.7919) of CIDE -A gene expression, depending on BMI, was reported in the group of obese patients with lipid disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Due to an important role of Cide-A protein demonstrated in the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and their vascular complications, CIDE -A gene and protein are potential therapeutic targets in the case of these diseases.

Limitations in ultrasonographic evaluation of the abdominal aortic aneurysms.

The frequency of the abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) increases in older population, especially in men older than 50 years. In most cases the AAAs are revealed occasionally in routine ultrasound examination or in CT performed due to other reasons. The aim of the study was the assessment of the diagnostic value and limitations of ultrasound examination in the evaluation of the abdominal aortic aneurysms. The ultrasound examination is a quick, cheap diagnostic modality in revealing the abdominal aortic aneurysm. It may be useful in mass screening, and control of patients with small aneurysm. But ultrasonographic assessment is not accurate enough in the evaluation of all critical features of the aneurysm and preoperative evaluation. In emergency and obese patients the ultrasound examination may fail in visualizing the abdominal aorta. In long aneurysm in ultrasonography the assessment of the involvement of the thoracic aorta is impossible.