Strength of Religious Faith and Attitude Towards Euthanasia Among Medical Professionals and Opinion Makers.

The aim of the research was to examine whether the strength of religious faith among health professionals, politicians, journalists and religious leaders in Poland influences their knowledge and attitudes towards the withdrawal of futile care, and euthanasia. The study was carried out using a group of 449 respondents employed in medical professions (nurses, midwives and paramedics), and 142 respondents of non-medical professions (politicians, journalists and clergymen). The method used was a diagnostic survey with an original, anonymous Internet survey, as well as the standardised Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF). It has been demonstrated that the greater the influence of religion on a person's life, the lesser their tolerance for the refusal of life-saving/life support procedures.

Anxiety and Health Concerns among Healthcare Personnel Working with COVID-19 Patients: A Self-Assessment Study.

BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are currently among the most common psychiatric diagnoses. This study aimed to analyze self-assessment of anxiety disorders, depression, and quality of life among healthcare personnel working during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on sociodemographic sources and psychological indicators. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study covered a group of 318 healthcare professionals from Poland. The study used a self-created questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, WHOQOL-BREF, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale. RESULTS In the study group, 71.1% of the respondents had coronavirus infection, and only 3.5% were not vaccinated. Almost half (45.6%) of the respondents in this group made independent decisions about performing work (45.6%), and 93.4% were satisfied with their work. Less than half of respondents (46.5%) felt work-related anxiety during the pandemic, 54.7% of respondents reported symptoms of depression, and 57% had a good quality of life. Nearly half (47.2%) of the respondents rated their health as good, but 53.1% feared deterioration after performing the aforementioned work, while 87.1% constantly or periodically felt anxious about their work. CONCLUSIONS Although the respondents usually made their own decisions about working with coronavirus-infected patients, most of them experienced anxiety related to their work during the pandemic and were afraid of damaging their health and contracting COVID-19. In self-assessment using standardized questionnaires, most respondents did not show an increase in generalized or social anxiety, but to a greater or lesser extent were diagnosed with a depressive episode. The majority of respondents had a good quality of life: the highest aspect regarded physical functioning and the lowest regarded social functioning.

Cholinesterases Inhibition, Anticancer and Antioxidant Activity of Novel Benzoxazole and Naphthoxazole Analogs.

Benzoxazole and naphthoxazole fused systems are found in many biologically active molecules. Novel benzoxazole and naphthoxazole analogs functionalized by the 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl moiety were designed, obtained and evaluated as a broad spectrum of biological potency compounds. Sulfinylbis[(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methanethione] or its analogs and 2-aminophenols or 1-amino-2-naphthol were used as starting reagents. 4-(Naphtho[1,2-d][1,3]oxazol-2-yl)benzene-1,3-diol was identified as the most promising compound of the nanomolar activity against AChE (IC50 = 58 nM) of the mixed-type inhibition and of the moderate activity against BChE (IC50 = 981 nM). The higher antiproliferative potency against a panel of human cancer cell lines for naphtho[1,2-d][1,3]oxazoles than for benzoxazoles was found. The activity of the analog with chlorine atom was in the range of 2.18-2.89 µM (IC50) against all studied cells and it is similar to that of cisplatin studied comparatively. Moreover, this compound was not toxic at this concentration to human normal breast cells and keratinocytes. For some compounds it also has proved antioxidant properties at the level of IC50 = 0.214 µM, for the most active compound. The lipophilicity of all compounds, expressed as log p values, is within the range recommended for potential drugs. The biological activity profile of the considered analogs and their lipophilic level justify the search for agents used in AD or in anticancer therapy in this group of compounds.

Analysis of the Increase of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) Expression and the Effect of Exposure in a Hyperbaric Chamber on VCAM-1 in Human Blood Serum: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was identified as a cell adhesion molecule that helps to regulate inflammation-associated vascular adhesion and the transendothelial migration of leukocytes, such as macrophages and T cells. VCAM-1 is expressed by the vascular system and can be induced by reactive oxygen species, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), which are produced by many cell types. The newest data suggest that VCAM-1 is associated with the progression of numerous immunological disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, transplant rejection and cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the increase in VCAM-1 expression and the impact of exposure in a hyperbaric chamber to VCAM-1 levels in human blood serum. Materials and Methods: The study included 92 volunteers. Blood for the tests was taken in the morning, from the basilic vein of fasting individuals, in accordance with the applicable procedure for blood collection for morphological tests. In both groups of volunteers, blood was collected before and after exposure, in heparinized tubes to obtain plasma and hemolysate, and in clot tubes to obtain serum. The level of VCAM-1 was determined using the immunoenzymatic ELISA method. Results: The study showed that the difference between the distribution of VCAM-1 before and after exposure corresponding to diving at a depth of 30 m was at the limit of statistical significance in the divers group and that, in most people, VCAM-1 was higher after exposure. Diving to a greater depth had a much more pronounced impact on changes in VCAM-1 values, as the changes observed in the VCAM-1 level as a result of diving to a depth of 60 m were statistically highly significant (p = 0.0002). The study showed an increase in VCAM-1 in relation to the baseline value, which reached as much as 80%, i.e., VCAM-1 after diving was almost twice as high in some people. There were statistically significant differences between the results obtained after exposure to diving conditions at a depth of 60 m and the values measured for the non-divers group. The leukocyte level increased statistically after exposure to 60 m. In contrast, hemoglobin levels decreased in most divers after exposure to diving at a depth of 30 m (p = 0.0098). Conclusions: Exposure in the hyperbaric chamber had an effect on serum VCAM-1 in the divers group and non-divers group. There is a correlation between the tested morphological parameters and the VCAM-1 level before and after exposure in the divers group and the non-divers group. Exposure may result in activation of the endothelium.

The Sense of Stigmatization in Patients with Plaque Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease capable of creating stigmatization in the form of social exclusion and decrement of psychological conditions. AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the level of stigmatization in patients with plaque psoriasis. METHODS: The study included 166 patients with plaque psoriasis (55.6% women and 44.3% men) with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores ≤10. The age of the study patients ranged between 18 and 72 years (arithmetic mean = 37.4; median = 38; standard deviation [SD] = 11.0). The mean age at the diagnosis of psoriasis was 21.5 years (median = 20; SD = 9.1) and disease duration varied from 2 to 59 years (arithmetic mean = 15.8; median = 15; SD = 11.3). The study patients completed the Polish version of the 6-item Stigmatization Scale and the 33-item Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire and a survey developed by the authors of this study, containing questions about the participants' sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, place of residence, marital status, education, employment status) and information about their disease (location of psoriatic lesions, time elapsed since the diagnosis of psoriasis). RESULTS: The mean score for the 6-item Stigmatization Scale for the whole study group was 7.6 out of 18 points (median = 7; SD = 3.8; minimum = 0; maximum = 17). The average score for the 33-item Stigma Feelings Questionnaire in our series was 84.5 out of 165 points (median = 88; SD = 20.9; minimum = 30; maximum = 136). A statistically significant sex-related difference was observed in the 6-item Stigmatization Scale scores, with higher stigmatization levels found in men than in women (p = 0.0082). Moreover, significantly higher levels of stigmatization were observed in countryside dwellers (p = 0.0311) and unmarried persons (p = 0.0321). Patients with a longer history of the disease (≥15 years) scored significantly higher on the 6-item Stigmatization Scale (p = 0.0217) than those in whom psoriasis lasted less long, and presented with higher, at the threshold of statistical significance, scores for the 33-item Feelings of Stigmatization Questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Stigmatization awareness should be promoted among physicians and psoriatic patients to improve psoriasis management.

Life satisfaction and depressive symptoms of mentally active older adults in Poland: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: For older adults, life satisfaction and depressive symptoms are related to quality of life. In this group of society, life satisfaction is particularly associated with the emotional area. The notion of life satisfaction is related to many factors, such as personality traits, moods and various life events, and poses challenges in various aspects of everyday life. Given that mental health is one of the determinants of the quality of life of older adults, it is reasonable to conduct research among this growing group of the population. The aim of this study was to assess life satisfaction and depressive symptoms in mentally active older adults in Poland. METHODS: The study covered 125 attendees at the University of Healthy Senior (UHS) and 125 auditing students at the University of Psychogeriatric Prophylaxis (UPP), organised by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Medical University of Bialystok, of whom 78.3% were female and 21.7% male. The study was conducted using four standardised scales: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Beck Depression Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Seniors who participated in the study were satisfied with their lives; the average SWLS score was 23 points. Men rated their level of satisfaction higher than women: the median score on the SWLS was 26 points for men and 23 points for women. Life satisfaction and mental disorders did not differ on the basis of sex, age, or education (the type of place of education attended). As the level of depression increased, life satisfaction decreased. Statistically significant correlations of average strength were found between the point values of the four measures of depression under consideration and were evenly distributed from 0.57 to 0.69. CONCLUSIONS: The high level of life satisfaction and a low level of mental disorders should be maintained in this population, and additional educational activities should be organised among seniors on a large scale. There were no differences in the distribution of psychometric measure scores among the three compared age groups of respondents in this study. Each of the questionnaires used measured of different aspects of depressive conditions, and it is worth using them in parallel rather than interchangeably.

Analysis of lead, arsenic and calcium content in the hair of children with autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Explanation of the pathogenesis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is one of the most significant challenges for scientists today. It is believed that a major pathogenetic factor of this condition is epigenetic changes caused by environmental factors, including toxic metals (cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), aluminium (Al), and arsenic (As)). The nervous system may also be affected by deficiencies of both micro- and macroelements (e.g. calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn)). The aim of the study was to analyze the concentrations of Pb, As, and Ca in the hair of children with ASD and a control group. METHODS: The materials for the study comprised hair samples collected from 30 children diagnosed with ASD (case group) and 30 children randomly selected from the general population of Bialystok and surrounding region (control group). Concentrations of Pb, As, and Ca were tested with electron microscopy scanning method. Next, the content of the analyzed elements in the hair was assessed as well as their impact on autism development in the children and the mutual interactions between them. The obtained results were statistically analyzed with Statistica PL 12.5., using the Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Mean Ca level in the hair of the case group was lower than the mean level of this element in the control group. Mean As and Pb concentration in the hair of children with ASD was statistically significantly higher than the mean concentration of this element in the hair of children without neurological disorders. Statistically insignificant weak positive correlations between Ca and As content and negative between Ca and Pb in the hair of children from the case group were noted. Also, statistically significant mean positive correlations between Pb and As were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, according to the observations, children diagnosed with ASD suffer from Ca deficiency and toxic metal overload (As and Pb). These abnormalities may play the main role, as an environmental factor, in the pathogenesis of the analyzed disorder.

The impact of parents' health behaviours on their preferences regarding vaccinations in Bialystok, Poland.

BACKGROUND: Currently, as the number of vaccinated children in Poland and throughout Europe is decreasing. Many factors impact on the rate vaccination and parents' health behaviours may affect the frequency of vaccinations. The aim of the study was to assess the association of parents' health behaviors with children's vaccinations. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 2015 to June 2016 to assess to assess the association of parents' health behaviors with children's vaccinations in Bialystok city, Poland. We used the the Inventory of Health Behaviours and an original questionnaire including demographic data and questions about vaccination. Three hundred parents were recruited from the Pro Medica Family Medica Center in Bialystok, Poland. RESULTS: Only 3.7% of respondents did not vaccinate their children. The level of health behaviours was average in 42.3% of the respondents, low in 33%, and high in 24.7%. Significant differences in health behaviours, mainly the level of normal eating habits (p = 0.038) and positive mental attitude (p = 0.022), were found in relation to views on the toxicity of vaccines. Participants who reported that vaccines can cause autism engaged in a higher level of prophylactic behaviours. Respondents who vaccinated their children with combined vaccines had a significantly higher level of health practices. CONCLUSIONS: Parents preferred health behaviours did not effect on children vaccination. Parents who believed in the toxicity of vaccines were more concerned about proper nutrition, had a positive mental attitude, and engaged in a higher level of preventive behaviours and health practices. Parents who did not vaccinate their children had lower levels of normal eating habits. Parents who vaccinated their children with combined vaccines had a higher level of health behaviours, especially in terms of health practices.

Occurrence of mood disorders among educationally active older adults in Bialystok, Poland: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Mood disorders in older people are an increasingly serious health and social problem, and their prevalence increases with age. The most common mood disorders are bipolar disorder, which is the occurrence of mania and hypomania, and depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of mood disorders in a group of educationally active elderly people living in Bialystok, Poland. METHODS: The study included a total of 162 people-residents of Bialystok-aged 60 or older; 135 women (83.33%) and 27 men (16.67%). The study used five standardized psychometric scales: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), Hypomania Check List (HCL-32), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (Zung SDS). RESULTS: Nearly 90.00% of the respondents obtained GDS scores indicating the presence of mild depressive symptoms; however, on the Zung SDS, which also evaluates depression symptom levels, the result obtained in almost the same number of respondents showed an absence of these symptoms. A similar percentage of respondents also obtained values on the MDQ that allow to determine a lack of bipolar disorder characteristics in the studied population. Over half of the respondents (58.02%) did not show symptoms of hypomania using the HCL-32. There was a significant correlation between the results of the GDS and Zung SDS, the HCL-32 and MDQ, as well as the HCL-32 and Zung SDS in the total studied group. CONCLUSIONS: Mood disorders, particularly depression, constitute a significant social and health problem in the group of educationally active older adults living in Bialystok. In light of the obtained research results, it is recommended to conduct and improve already realized health education programs for the elderly on the subject of mood disorder prevention and their impact on quality of life. There is a need for further research on mood disorders in the elderly to determine their prevalence on a national scale.

Quality of life in skin diseases as perceived by patients and nurses.

INTRODUCTION: The appearance of the skin and its appendages not only reflects the general body condition, but also exerts an effect on one's self-esteem and self-image, and the way he/she is perceived by the others. AIM: To analyse the quality of life (QOL) in dermatological diseases, assessed by the patients themselves and the nurses being their caregivers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey was completed by 300 patients diagnosed with various dermatological conditions; however, only the data from 281 surveys were considered during the analysis. All patients completed an anonymous questionnaire designed specifically for the purpose of the study. The survey included 32 questions. Moreover, the study patients were surveyed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Moreover, the study included 1713 nurses employed in various healthcare institutions and providing care to patients with dermatological diseases. The survey for the nurses consisted of 32 questions. RESULTS: Mean DLQI score for the study patients was 12.4 ±8.1 points. Based on the median, lower and upper quartile values, every fourth person presented with DLQI scores > 18 points, half of the respondents had DLQI scores no greater than 12 points, and every fourth respondent experienced good QOL (DLQI score no higher than 5 points). CONCLUSIONS: According to the majority of patients and nurses, individuals with skin conditions are not fully able to cope with their disease and show a negative attitude towards it. The QOL of patients with skin diseases is determined by the type of the dermatological condition.

Relationship between self-esteem and stigmatization in psoriasis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is classified as a psychosomatic disease since its development and outcome may be modulated by various psychological factors. Due to the presence of clinical signs visible to others and poor social awareness of the disease, psoriasis patients are not infrequently classified as different or stigmatized, and their value as human beings tends to decrease. AIM: To analyse the relationship between self-esteem and stigmatization in psoriasis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 120 patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The study participants completed Polish versions of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the 6-Item Stigmatization Scale developed by Evers et al., as well as an original survey containing questions about their sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Mean RSES score of the study participants was 24.1 points. Mean RSES score for female patients was nearly 2 points lower than the mean score for men. Analysis of Spearman's rho coefficients showed that the higher the self-esteem in the study participants the less often they considered themselves unattractive to others (0.23), less often believed that people gaze at their skin lesions (0.23) or avoid them because of their condition (0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate clearly that both self-esteem and stigmatization are significant components of psoriasis' influence on the patient life. Psoriasis should not be considered merely as a somatic problem, but also as a significant psychological and social burden.

Relationships between the acceptance of illness, quality of life and satisfaction with life in psoriasis.

INTRODUCTION: Since the skin plays a pivotal role in interpersonal relationships, a chronic dermatological condition (psoriasis), may have a profound effect on the psychological status of patients. AIM: To analyse the effects of skin lesions on satisfaction with life, acceptance of illness and quality of life in psoriasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included psoriatics recruited at the Dermatology Outpatient Unit of the Regional Hospital in Lomza, Dermatology Outpatient Clinic in Siemiatycze and Dermatology and Medical Cosmetology Centre in Bialystok. The study patients were examined with a demographic survey prepared by the authors, as well as with three validated scales: AIS, SWLS and DLQI. A total of 263 questionnaire sets were handed out to the participants of the study; this pool included 200 questionnaires with complete data that were eventually included in the analysis. RESULTS: Acceptance of Illness Scale scores of the study participants ranged between 8 and 40 pts. Mean AIS scores for female and male psoriatics were similar, 23 and 25 pts, respectively. Based on the distribution of Satisfaction with Life Scale scores, 42 of the study patients presented with high levels of satisfaction with life, whereas 37 and 21 showed moderate and low satisfaction levels, respectively. Quality of life turned out to be the best among 20- to 30-year-old respondents as up to 74.19 of them had Dermatology Life Quality Index scores no greater than 10 pts. CONCLUSIONS: Psoriatics with higher levels of illness acceptance also presented with greater satisfaction with life.

Sleep disorders among educationally active elderly people in Bialystok, Poland: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders in an ageing society constitute a significant public health problem. It is estimated that approximately 50% of people aged 55 years and older have trouble sleeping, including initiating and maintaining sleep. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in a group of educationally active elderly people living in Bialystok, Poland. METHODS: The study included a total of 182 people - residents of Bialystok - aged 60 or older; 146 women (80.22%) and 36 men (19.78%). The study used three standardized psychometric scales: The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). RESULTS: More than half of the respondents scored 6 or more points on the AIS, which is considered a value that indicates a high probability of insomnia symptom occurrence. A similar percentage of respondents obtained a point value on the ISI indicating the presence of insomnia. The vast majority of respondents scored below 11 points on the ESS, which means no symptoms of excessive sleepiness. There was a significant correlation between the results of the above scales in the examined group in total and also by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, constitute a significant social and health problem in the group of educationally active elderly people living in Bialystok. In light of the obtained study results, it is recommended to conduct and improve existing health education programs aimed at the elderly regarding sleep disorders to improve the quality of their sleep, and thus quality of life, and raise the awareness of the elderly about the importance of sleep in everyday life. There is a need for further research in the field of sleep disorders in the elderly to determine the prevalence of these disorders on a national scale.

Pain, fatigue and functional disability are associated with higher educational needs in systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional study.

In the process of the planned and systematic education of patients/families, it is extremely important to identify patients' health problems as well as their needs and expectations. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between functional disability, health problems and perceived educational needs in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This was a cross-sectional analytic study conducted in six rheumatology centers in Poland. Functional disability was measured using HAQ-DI, and the magnitude of other health problems (pain, fatigue, intestinal problems, breathing problems, Raynaud's phenomenon, finger ulcerations) was measured using 0-100 mm visual analogue scales. The educational needs were measured using the Polish version of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool (Pol-ENAT). Spearman's correlation coefficient (rs) was used to report associations. The sample comprised 140 patients, 125 (89.28%) were women. They had a mean (SD) age of 54 (14.23) and disease duration of 11 (10.27) years. The median (IQR) HAQ-DI was 1.12 (0.62-1.62) and mean ENAT score was 71.54 (SD 27.72). Patients needed to know more about the disease process, self-help measures and managing pain. All health problems had significant correlations with the overall educational needs, pain, functional disability and fatigue having the highest rs = 0.359, p < 0.0001; rs = 0.314, p < 0.001 and rs = 0.270, p = 0.001, respectively. Health problems in people with SSc are associated with considerable educational needs; therefore, health professionals should take this into account when planning patient education. Group interventions should consider providing patient education related to disease process as a minimum.

Epidemiological characteristics of patients with syphilis in Gdansk and Warsaw in 2016

INTRODUCTION: Syphilis is a systemic disease with a complex natural history and a diversified clinical symptomology, taking various forms. It is characterized by a long-term course, often asymptomatic. The Global Estimates indicate that Treponema pallidum caused 5.6 million infections per year. AIM: Epidemiological characteristics of patients with syphilis in selected Polish urban agglomerations (Warsaw and Gdansk) in 2016. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cases of syphilis reported by doctors to The Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations in Gdansk (50 cases) and in Warsaw (520 cases) in 2016 were analysed. RESULTS: The average age of patients with syphilis was 35.2 years (Me=32 years). Men were more likely to suffer from syphilis - 493 cases (ie. 86.5%). The probable transmission route of the infection was indicated in 45% of cases and in 7.9% (45 people) it was undetermined sexual contact, in 11.6% (66 people) - heterosexual contact, and in 24.4% (139 people) - homosexual contact. In 7 cases (ie 1.2%), the infection was transferred vertically. A statistically significant relationship was found between the route of infection and the sex of the infected person (p<0.01). The incidence of individual syphilis forms was significantly different between the examined cities (p<0.01). DISCUSSION: The group of people suffering from syphilis described in the study reflects the population of young people, especially men, living in urban agglomerations, characterized by mobility, considered the group most at risk of STI/ STD. The male-to-female rate among the respondents was 6.4:1 and was similar to the overall rate in Europe in 2014, ie 6.2:1. Number of cases of early syphilis (39.5% of all reports in Warsaw and 80% in Gdansk) may suggest insufficient detection of infections in Gdansk and the need to intensify syphilis screening. In 2014, there were 69 cases of congenital syphilisn in the EU / EEA, of which every fourth newborn was born in Poland (n = 17). CONCLUSION: The latent syphilis form acquired mainly through heterosexual contacts has dominated among women suffering from syphilis. Amidst men syphilis was diagnosed mainly in the primary stage of infection and was most commonly acquired as a result of homosexual relationships. The epidemiological situation in Poland of syphilis, has been influenced by infections among MSM.

Evaluation of coping with chronic rheumatic disease, in the context of socio-demographic factors and disease duration, based on the example of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) impairs patients' functioning, reducing their quality of life. The author of salutogenesis, Antonovsky, claims that maintaining an inner balance in a chronic disease is possible through a high sense of coherence. The aim of the current study was to identify socio-demographic factors and disease duration related to the feeling of coherence of patients with AS, acceptance of disease and risk of depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 82 patients with diagnosed AS. The research method was a diagnostic survey using the Life Orientation Questionnaire (SOC-29), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). RESULTS: In the study, the majority of the patients were male (89%), aged 42 (±11.3). The average duration of AS is 13 (±7.8) years. It was reported that with age, illness acceptance got worse (rp = -0.567, p < 0.0001), and the risk of depressive disorders increased (rp = 0.648, p < 0.0001). The longer the patient suffered from AS, the weaker was their illness acceptance (rp = -0.446, p < 0.0001) and sense of coherence (rp = -0.448, p < 0.001) whereas the risk of depressive disorder increased (rp = 0.479, p < 0.0001). A high linear correlation between illness acceptance and sense of coherence (rp = 0.638, p < 0.0001) and a very high negative correlation between overall sense of coherence and risk of depression (rp = -0.857, p < 0.0001) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with low sense of coherence demonstrated poorer adaptation to the illness and a greater risk of depressive disorders. Factors lowering the sense of coherence and illness acceptance and increasing risk of depression in the studied patients with AS were progressing illness, older age and lower education level.

Self-assessment of the mental health status in older adults in Poland: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Demographic aging of society poses numerous challenges, including the provision of health care to the elderly population. According to World Health Organization data, the most frequent mental disorders in the senior population are: dementia, depression, and drug and alcohol addiction. The aim of this study was to subjectively assess mental health status (the severity of non-psychotic symptoms of mental functions and depressive symptoms) in older adults of Bialystok (Poland). METHODS: The study included 300 people - inhabitants of Bialystok and its surrounding areas - aged over 60: 100 residents of a nursing home, 100 senior students of the University of the Third Age in Bialystok, and 100 senior students of the University of a Healthy Senior. Two standardized psychometric scales were used in the study: the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: The median GHQ total point value equaled 26 points, which indicated possible non-psychotic mental disorders. The overall BDI score showed that respondents had a subjective feeling of depressive symptom intensification at the level of 11 points out of 63 points, which indicated minor depressive disorders. Positive and statistically significant correlations were observed between suspicion of non-psychotic mental disorders and the occurrence of depressive symptoms both without distribution into groups and with distribution into sex, group affiliation, and age. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective assessment of mental health status in older adults, inhabitants of Bialystok, was negative. Social and demographic characteristics (sex, group affiliation, age) analyzed in the study, played no significant role in the assessment of depressive and non-psychotic mental symptom occurrence. Residents of the nursing home were characterized negatively in terms of subjective assessment mental health status from the other two study groups.

Illness acceptance, pain perception and expectations for physicians of the elderly in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Ageing of society is a significant challenge to public health, both socially and health wise. Adaptation to illness and its acceptance play an important role in control and patients' self-control in many diseases of old age. The right attitude of doctors to patients, especially, geriatric patients determines, among others, a patient's quality of life and acceptance of illness. Recently, there has been observed the rapid development of research on interactions between pain as a physiological process and its perception by an individual. The aim of the study was to evaluate the acceptance of illness, perception of pain and expectations of geriatric patients for physicians among the inhabitants of Bialystok (Poland) over the age of 60. METHODS: The study included 300 people, inhabitants of Bialystok and the surrounding area - aged over 60: 100 elderly residents of a nursing home, 100 students of the University of the Third Age in Bialystok and 100 students of the University of Healthy Senior. The study used three standardised psychometric scales: Patient Request Form (PRF), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and The Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire (BPCQ). RESULTS: The median of the overall score of AIS was 26 points, which is considered average in terms of acceptance of illness. The median value of the influence of internal factors on the control of pain in case of BPCQ scale was generally16 of 30 points, the influence of physicians - 15 of 24 points, while random events - 14 of 24 points. The overall result for PRF scale proved that the respondents were the least expected to look for emotional support (5 of 12 points). It was established that the group affiliation significantly affected the result of AIS (p < 0.001). There was also noted a negative relation between AIS and the search for emotional support (PRF) depending on the group. The higher the AIS value, the lower the score in case of search for emotional support (PRF). CONCLUSIONS: Neither gender nor age played a significant role in acceptance of illness, control of pain or expectations for physicians. The key variable determining the occurrence of dependencies between the studied features was being a part of a group. The elderly residents of the nursing home were negatively distinguished from the other two studied groups. The respondents, in regard to other groups described in the literature, were characterised by relatively high values in illness acceptance, pain control and expectations for physicians.

Exposure to Psychoactive Compounds amongst Students of Medical University.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of exposure to psychoactive compounds amongst students of the Medical University of Bialystok. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 504 students selected by means of stratified sampling based on the university faculty, study discipline and year, and participant's gender. RESULTS: Nearly three fourths of our respondents have contact with their student colleagues who use psychoactive compounds, or have heard that such individuals exist. Approximately one fourth of the students declared that they considered using psychoactive compounds at least once. Marijuana and hashish were the psychoactive compounds our respondents used most frequently. Median age of the first contact with these substances was 18 years. Alarmingly high fraction of respondents declared that most of psychoactive compounds included in the study is easily available and obtaining them would not take them longer than one day. Furthermore, 15% of respondents admitted to being involved in the distribution of psychoactive compounds. CONCLUSION: The exposure of medical university students to psychoactive compounds represents similar problem as in their peers studying other disciplines. However, in view of its specific consequences (including potential threat to patients' health and life), the problem should not be underestimated.

Isolation frequency of Candida present on the surfaces of mobile phones and handsx.

BACKGROUND: It is known that mobile phones may play a role in microorganism transmission. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the number of Candida genera/species isolated from samples collected from the surfaces of mobile phones and the hands of the staff as well as the preferred health-related behavior. METHODS: The mycological evaluation included 175 mobile telephones and the hands of staff members at the University Hospital in Bialystok, Poland. We used the Count-Tact(TM) applicator, with CandiSelect (Bio-Rad). Self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data on mobile phones disinfection practices. Assessment of the preferred health-related behavior was based on The Multidemensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC). RESULTS: Out of 175 mobile phones, 131 (74.9 %) were colonized. Candida glabrata, C. albicans and C.krusei were isolated more frequently from the hand as well as phone surface. The mean number of Candida colonies was higher in samples collected from hand surfaces than mobile phone surfaces. No significant correlation was found between the preferred health-related behavior and the frequency of washing hands, the way of using a mobile phone, the number of colonies or the isolation frequency for the fungi collected from the surface of the phones and hands of their owners. Only 19.4 % of the participants cleaned the surface of their phones. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mobile phone contamination by Candida is high in the University Hospital in Bialystok, Poland. Candida albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei were the dominant species in the samples collected from mobile phones and hands. These results pose the need to develop guidelines for mobile phone disinfection.