Biochemical and hematological changes following the 120-km open-water marathon swim

Data on physiological effects and potential risks of a ultraendurance swimming are scarce. This report presents the unique case of a 61-year old athlete who completed a non-stop open-water 120-km ultramarathon swim on the Warta River, Poland. Pre-swimming examinations revealed favorable conditions (blood pressure, 110/70 mmHg; rest heart rate, 54 beats/minute, ejection fraction, 60%, 20.2 metabolic equivalents in a maximal exercise test). The swimming time and distance covered were 27 h 33 min and 120 km, respectively. Blood samples for hematological and biochemical parameters were collected 30 min, 4 hrs, 10 hrs and 8 days after the swim. The body temperature of the swimmer was 36.7°C before and 35.1°C after the swim. The hematological parameters remained within the reference range in the postexercise period except for leucocytes (17.5 and 10.6 x G/l noted 30 minutes and 4 hours after the swim, respectively). Serum urea, aspartate aminotransferase and C-reactive protein increased above the reference range reaching 11.3 mmol/l, 1054 nmol/l/s and 25.9 mg/l, respectively. Symptomatic hyponatremia was not observed. Although the results demonstrate that an experienced athlete is able to complete an ultra-marathon swim without negative health consequences, further studies addressing the potential risks of marathon swimming are required.

A need to implement new tools for diagnosing tobacco-addition syndrome and readiness/motivation to quit smoking in the working-age population in Poland

High rates of tobacco use is still observed in working-age population in Poland. The present level of the state tobacco control has been achieved through adopting legal regulations and population-based interventions. In Poland a sufficient contribution of health professionals to the diagnosis of the tobacco-addition syndrome (TAS) and the application of the 5A’s (ask, advice, assess, assist, arrange follow-up) brief intervention, has not been confirmed by explicit research results. Systemic solutions of the health care system of the professional control, specialist health care, health professional trainings and reference centres have not as yet been elaborated. The tools for diagnosing tobacco dependence and motivation to quit smoking, developed over 30 years ago and recommended by experts to be used in clinical and research practice, have not met the current addiction criteria. In this paper other tools than those previously recommended − tests developed in the first decade of the 21st century (including Cigarette Dependence Scale and Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale), reflecting modern concepts of nicotine dependence are presented. In the literature on the readiness/motivation to change health behaviors, a new approach dominates. The motivational interviewing (MI) by Miller and Rollnick concentrates on a smoking person and his or her internal motivation. Motivational interviewing is recommended by the World Health Organization as a 5R’s (relevance, risks, rewards, roadblocks, repetition) brief motivational advice, addressed to tobacco users who are unwilling to make a quit attempt. In Poland new research studies on the implementation of new diagnostic tools and updating of binding guidelines should be undertaken, to strengthen primary health care in treating tobacco dependence, and to incorporate MI and 5R’s into trainings in TAS diagnosing and treating addressed to health professionals. Med Pr 2016;67(1):97–10

Biblioteka Muzeum Farmacji Apteki „Pod Łabędziem” w Bydgoszczy

On 27th December 2003, at the back of the “Under the Swan” Pharmacy in Bydgoszcz, a private “Under the Swan” Pharmacy Museum was opened. The important part of the museum is a library with about 5000 books which include many rare and valuable items. The most interesting feature of the library is a collection of books in the field of medicine and pharmacy. Some of them were used in medical practice, some are modern works in the field of historiography. There are also more than thirty old prints (the oldest from 16th century). The collection has been partially catalogued and made available to all interested. The books can only be read on site. Until now they have been used to complete several master’s theses and two doctoral dissertations in the field of history of medicine and pharmacy. A real nuisance is the library’s lack of space, with books crammed disorderly on shelves. The Pharmacy Museum in Bydgoszcz with its library has been established as a result of its founder’s dream and is only supported by the “Under the Swan” Pharmacy.W powstałym w dniu 27 grudnia 2003 r. prywatnym Muzeum Farmacji Apteki „Pod Łabędziem” w Bydgoszczy (na zapleczu Apteki „Pod Łabędziem”) mieści się bogata biblioteka. Znajduje się w niej około 5 tys. książek. Są to często rzadkie i cenne pozycje. Najważniejszą część zbiorów bibliotecznych stanowią woluminy poświęcone medycynie i farmacji. W grupie tej można wyróżnić zarówno książki używane w dawnej praktyce medycznej i farmaceutycznej, mające dziś walor źródeł historycznych, jak i opracowania o charakterze historiograficznym. Biblioteka posiada ponad 30 starodruków (najstarszy z XVI w.). Księgozbiór został częściowo skatalogowany i jest udostępniany zainteresowanym osobom. Z książek można korzystać wyłącznie na miejscu. Do tej pory jej zasoby zostały użyte do stworzenia kilkunastu prac magisterskich oraz dwóch rozpraw doktorskich z zakresu historii medycyny i farmacji. Wadą muzealnej biblioteki jest ciasnota pomieszczeń, powodująca nieład na półkach. Bydgoskie muzeum farmacji wraz z biblioteką powstało w wyniku realizacji marzeń jej założyciela. Jest finansowane wyłącznie z dochodów uzyskiwanych przez aptekę

Chronic kidney disease in Polish elderly population aged 75+: results of the WOBASZ Senior Survey

PURPOSE: Kidney filtration decreases with age, which results in an increased frequency of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the elderly population. The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence and epidemiology of CKD in the Polish elderly population. METHODS: A representative sample of the Polish elderly population, composed of 918 people (F 452, M 466) in the age of ≥75 years, was chosen. All participants had their history, anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters (creatinine, fasting glucose, complete cholesterol) evaluated. CKD was diagnosed when eGFR was <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2). The comorbidities, anthropometric and social factors connected with the onset of CKD were also analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of CKD in the analyzed population was 26.9% (F 32.0%, M 15.8%), which gives an estimated number of 495,590 (95% CI 396,363–594,817) patients in the study subpopulation. The majority of these people were in the G3A category—70.1%, while the remaining fell under the G3B—25.7%, G4—3.1% and G5—1.1% categories. Disease awareness among the participants was found to be at 17%. Arterial hypertension (AH) was more frequent in people with CKD (91.0 vs. 80.3%, P < 0.001), whereas diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence was comparable in both CKD and non-CKD groups (11.7 vs. 11.4%, ns). In the examined group, DM had no influence on the frequency of CKD. In contrast, the presence of cardiovascular diseases substantially increased the chances of developing CKD (OR 1.87, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: 1. The prevalence of CKD in the Polish elderly population was 26.9%. 2. Awareness of CKD is low. 3. DM, increasing age and AH did not increase the risk of CKD. 4. Coexistence of cardiovascular diseases increased the risk of having CKD

Sports Heart Monitors as Reliable Diagnostic Tools for Training Control and Detecting Arrhythmias in Professional and Leisure-Time Endurance Athletes: An Expert Consensus Statement

There are countless types of portable heart rate monitoring medical devices used variously by leisure-time exercisers, professional athletes, and chronically ill patients. Almost all the currently used heart rate monitors are capable of detecting arrhythmias, but this feature is not widely known or used among their millions of consumers. The aims of this paper were as follows: (1) to analyze the currently available sports heart rate monitors and assess their advantages and disadvantage in terms of heart rate and rhythm monitoring in endurance athletes; (2) to discuss what types of currently available commercial heart rate monitors are most convenient/adjustable to the needs of different consumers (including occasionally physically active adults and cardiac patients), bearing in mind the potential health risks, especially heart rhythm disturbances connected with endurance training; (3) to suggest a set of "optimal" design features for next-generation smart wearable devices based on the consensus opinion of an expert panel of athletes, coaches, and sports medicine doctors. Ninety-two experts aged 20 years and over, involved in endurance sports on a daily basis, were invited to participate in consensus-building discussions, including 56 long-distance runners, 18 cyclists, nine coaches, and nine physicians (sports medicine specialists, cardiologists, and family medicine doctors). The overall consensus endorsed by these experts indicates that the "optimal" sports heart rate monitor should be a one-piece device of the smartwatch type (with two or more electrodes), with integrated smartphone features, and able to collect and continually transmit data without exhibiting artifacts. It should continuously record at least a single-lead electrocardiography, send an alert after an unexpected fall, be of reasonable weight, come at an affordable price, and be user friendly

Rozpowszechnienie palenia tytoniu oraz palenie bierne w populacyjnych badaniach polskiego programu cindi w latach 1991–2007 – analiza porównawcza

Prevalence of tobacco use and environmental tobacco smoke in polish population research. WHO-CINDI Programme in 1991–2007This article is a report from comparison surveys, carried out in connection with WHO-CINDI Programme during the years 1991–2007. The analysis was based on random sampling tests concerning big Polish cities’ inhabitants, all in all almost 11.5 thousand respondents. Taking everything into consideration, it has been established, that:1. Regular smoking frequency becomes smaller (the effect of implemented prophylactic programmes, a so-called ‘intervention variable’).2. Still, propagation of environmental smoking is an alarming   phenomenon, however it is definitely improving. Despite the fact, that more and more respondents are living in a free-smoking zone, each 5-6 adult city inhabitant spends over 5 hours a day in a room full of smoke.3. Within time passing, as a result of quitting an addiction, a belief concerning harmful smoking consequences grows. This tendency is not yet sufficiently justified. Becoming alarmed with the concerning phenomenon is definitely not enough when making an opinion in this matter

The relationship between physical activity level and selected cardiovascular risk factors and mortality of males ≥ 50 years in Poland – The results of follow-up of participants of National Multicenter Health Survey WOBASZ

Objectives: The role of leisure-time physical activity in reducing all-cause and cardiovascular mortality is well explored. The knowledge on occupational and commuting physical activity continues to be ambiguous and misleading. The aim of the study is to assess the influence of different kinds of physical activity on cardiovascular mortality risk in men. Material and Methods: Data analysis on physical activity level and other selected cardiovascular risk factors acquired from 3577 men in the age between 50–80 years who participated in the National Multicenter Health Survey WOBASZ (Wieloośrodkowe Ogólnopolskie Badanie Stanu Zdrowia), Poland (2003–2005) was linked with male mortality in 2004–2009. Data about causes of deaths were obtained from the Central Statistical Office and the Population Electronic Register. Results: Among males aged 50–59 years, the strongest risk factor was living in large settlements and provincial capitals as a place of residence and the most protective factor was occupational physical activity. In the age group 60–69 years and 70–80 years, the strongest protective effect was observed for leisure-time physical activity. In men aged between 70–80 years (unlike in the 50–59 years age group), the protective effect of large settlements and provincial capitals as a place of residence was noted. Conclusions: Occupational physical activity significantly reduced cardiovascular mortality in men aged 50–69 years, while for leisure-time activity the positive effect was observed in age group 60–69 years and 70–80 years. On the other hand, for the inhabitants of large settlements and provincial capitals, significantly higher risk of cardiovascular mortality in the age group 50–69 years and lower risk in the age group ≥ 70 years was noted, both in comparison with smaller places of residence