Impact of spinal pain on daily living activities in postmenopausal women working in agriculture

Introduction and objective Postmenopausal women working in agriculture suffer from spinal pain for two overlapping reasons, the first is related to the menopause and the second to the specificity of rural work, which includes lifting heavy objects and changing weather conditions. Spinal pain affects the daily life of women as well as their ability to work. The objective of the study was to analyse the impact of spinal pain on activities of daily life in Polish postmenopausal women performing agricultural work. Material and Methods The study was conducted in 2016 in Poland and included 1,119 post-menopausal women living in rural areas and working in agriculture. The women assessed the severity of spinal pain in 3 sections: neck, thorax and lumbar. Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Oswestry Low Back Disability Index (ODI) questionnaires were used to assess the impact of spinal pain on daily life activities. Generalized linear models were estimated in statistical analyses. Results Postmenopausal women working in agriculture suffered most often from pain in the lumbar spine, less frequently in the neck, and the least in the thoracic. The most common was an isolated pain in only one section of the spine. Spinal pain disturbed the most the women’s rest, standing, lifting objects, while sleep, concentration, and walking the least. The impact of spinal pain on the activities of daily life, on average, was moderate, and increased with greater pain severity, the earlier the age the pain started, the higher the body weight, the lower education level and if there was a co-existing pain in any of the other spine sections. The impact of spinal pain on daily life activities did not depend on age between 45–65, WHR, age at last menstruation, parity, and number and types of births. Conclusions The impact of spinal pain on daily life activities in postmenopausal women working in agriculture was assessed as moderate, on average, and depended mainly on spinal pain-related characteristics, such as severity, age at onset and co-existence of pain in any other spinal section

Poziom prolaktyny i polimorfizm genu apolipoproteiny E a funkcje poznawcze kobiet po menopauzie

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze a possible association between cognitive functions and level of prolactin in menopausal women with different polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). The examined population included women from the south-eastern part of Poland; aged 50-65 years; at least 2 years after their last menstruation; in good health; with at least primary education, FSH>30 mlU/ml. The MoCA test (Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test) allowed us to exclude women with signs of dementia. The cognitive functions assessment was conducted with the CNS-VitalSigns diagnostic equipment (Polish version). The prolactin designations were conducted by SYNEVO – an accredited laboratory. The examination of APOE polymorphism was performed using the multiplex-PCR method. The results were statistically analyzed. Results and conclusion: Higher level of prolactin turned out to be associated with better test results in the following areas: NCI, memory, verbal memory, psychomotor speed and concentration. Women with higher level of prolactin had better results in NCI, psychomotor speed and verbal memory tests. The test results of other cognitive function were not unequivocally related to higher levels of prolactin. Thus, it was not possible to conclude that the presence of APOE polymorphism is related to the effect of prolactin on cognitive functions of the examined menopausal women.Cel pracy: Celem pracy było zbadanie związku między funkcjami poznawczymi a poziomem prolaktyny u kobiet po menopauzie, będących nosicielkami poszczególnych polimorfizmów genu apolipoproteiny E (APOE). Materiał i metoda: Grupę badaną stanowiły kobiety, pochodzące z terenu Polski południowo-wschodniej minimum 2 lata od ostatniej miesiączki, w wieku 50-65 lat; z ogólnie dobrym stanem zdrowia; wykształceniem co najmniej pełnym podstawowym oraz FSH>30 mlU/ml. Za pomocą testu MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test) wykluczono z badania kobiety z cechami demencji. Ocena funkcji poznawczych została przeprowadzona w oparciu o aparaturę diagnostyczną CNS–VitalSigns (wersja polska). Oznaczenia prolaktyny zostały wykonane w akredytowanym laboratorium SYNEVO. Badanie polimorfizmu APOE zostało wykonane przy użyciu metody multiplet PCR. Wyniki badań poddano analizie statystycznej. Wyniki i wnioski: Na podstawie przeprowadzonych analiz można stwierdzić, iż wyższy poziom prolaktyny był związany z lepszymi wynikami w zakresie NCI (Indeks Neurokognitywny), pamięci, pamięci werbalnej, szybkości psychomotorycznej i skupiania uwagi badanych kobiet po menopauzie. Lepsze oceny NCI, szybkości psychomotorycznej oraz pamięci werbalnej uzyskały badane z wyższymi wartościami prolaktyny. Oceny pozostałych funkcji poznawczych nie były jednoznacznie związane z wartościami prolaktyny. Nie można stwierdzić, iż posiadanie poszczególnych polimorfizmów APOE ma związek z wpływem prolaktyny na funkcje poznawcze badanej grupie kobiet po menopauzie

Pain involving the motor system and serum vitamin D concentration in postmenopausal women working in agriculture

Introduction and objective Since the role of vitamin D is essential in numerous biological processes its deficiency was suggested to be a risk factor for e.g. osteoporosis, musculoskeletal pain and spine pain. The purpose of the study was to analyse whether serum vitamin D concentration is related to pain involving the motor system in Polish postmenopausal women working in agriculture. Material and Methods The study group consisted of 1,751 post-menopausal women, aged 45–65, at least 12 months from the last menstrual period, living in rural areas and working in agriculture. The research method was self-assessment of pain involving the motor system using VAS, laboratory test of serum vitamin D concentration and a medical interview. Statistical methods included generalized linear models, analysis of variance, t test for two means in two independents, χ2 test of stochastic independence. Results Postmenopausal women working in agriculture and suffering from pain in at least one part of the motor system were younger and lower educated, they also had higher abdominal obesity and lower serum vitamin D, compared to those without pain in any part of the motor system. Decreased serum vitamin D concentration in postmenopausal women working in agriculture is important from the aspect of a higher prevalence of pain in the thoracic spine and more severe pain in the neck spine, but not for severity of pain in the lumbar spine; higher occurrence of pain in both hands or wrists; higher prevalence and more severe pain in at least one knee; and no prevalence or severity of pain in the shoulders and elbows. Conclusions Serum vitamin D concentration is important for the prevalence and severity of pain in the neck and thoracic spine, knees and hands or wrists, but not for the lumbar spine, shoulders and elbows

Interactions of cortisol and prolactin with other selected menstrual cycle hormones affecting the chances of conception in infertile women

One of the major problems of success in infertility treatment could depend on the understanding how the potential factors may affect the conception. The aim of this study was to evaluate present understanding of such factors or hormonal causes that may induce infertility. We studied the interactions between the two menstrual cycle hormones i.e., cortisol (COR) and prolactin (PRL), along with the ultrasonographic ovulation parameters in a group of N = 205 women with diagnosed infertility. The control group consisted of N = 100 women with confirmed fertility. In both groups, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), PRL, COR were examined on the third day of the cycle, and estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and COR were examined during ovulation and 7-days afterwards. In the infertile group, higher levels of PRL and COR were observed than that of in the control group. Cortisol levels at all phases of the menstrual cycle and PRL negatively correlated with E2 secretion during and after ovulation, thus contributed to the attenuation of the ovulatory LH surge. Infertile women who conceived presented with higher levels of E2 during and after ovulation, higher P after ovulation, and thicker endometrium than that of the women who failed to conceive. In conclusion, elevated secretion of COR and PRL in infertile women impairs the menstrual cycle by decreasing the pre-ovulatory LH peak and E2 and postovulatory E2 levels that affect the endometrial growth, and consequently reduce the chances to conceive

Aktywność zawodowa i rodzinna kobiet w wieku produkcyjnym niemobilnym

The aim of this article is to carry out analyses of professional and family activities of women, based on the results of the study “Psychophysical health of women during and after menopause in terms of preserving their ability to work”. This study was conducted in the years 2014–2016 on a sample of 300 women, in the Institute of Rural Health in Lublin on behalf of the Central Institute for Labour Protection in Warsaw. Menopausal and postmenopausal period corresponds to non-mobility working age in economics – that is 45–60 years old. Professional and family activities are the most important in a woman’s life, but they are competing against each other. Professional and family activities of the surveyed women can be assessed positively.Celem artykułu jest przeprowadzenie analizy aktywności zawodowej i rodzinnej kobiet na podstawie wyników badania pt. „Zdrowie psychofizyczne kobiet w okresie około- i pomenopauzalnym w aspekcie zachowania ich zdolności do pracy”. Badanie to zostało przeprowadzone w latach 2014–2016 na próbie 300 kobiet w Instytucie Medycyny Wsi w Lublinie na zlecenie Centralnego Instytutu Ochrony Pracy w Warszawie. Okres około- i pomenopauzalny odpowiada w ekonomii wiekowi produkcyjnemu niemobilnemu, czyli 45–60 lat. Aktywność zawodowa i rodzinna jest najważniejsza w życiu kobiety, jednak są one konkurencyjne wobec siebie. Aktywność zawodową i rodzinną badanych kobiet można ocenić pozytywnie

Effect of excessive body weight and emotional disorders on the course of pregnancy and well-being of a newborn before and during COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to evaluate whether excessive body weight and the COVID-19 pandemic affect depression, and subsequently whether depression, excessive body weight, and the COVID-19 pandemic affect the course of pregnancy, as well as the well-being of a newborn. The research material included data retrieved from the medical records of 280 pregnant women who were provided with care by medical facilities in Lublin (100 women with normal weight, 100 overweight women, 50 with Class I and 30 with Class II obesity). They completed a Beck depression inventory (BDI) in pregnancy twice, in order to assess the risk of occurrence of postpartum depression. Pre-pregnancy BMI positively correlated with the severity of depression, both at 10–13 weeks of pregnancy (p < 0.001), and at 32 weeks of pregnancy (p < 0.001). The higher the pre-pregnancy BMI, on average the higher the severity of depression. The severity of depression was significantly higher during the pandemic than before it in women with normal body weight before pregnancy (p < 0.001), as well as in those overweight (p < 0.001) and with Class II obesity (p = 0.015). Excessive body weight before pregnancy leads to depressive disorders during pregnancy, increases the risk of preterm delivery, and exerts a negative effect on the state of a newborn. Depressive symptoms among pregnant, overweight and obese women intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 – Infection prevention in prisons and jails in Poland

Introduction and objective. Due to the specificity of conditions in penitentiary establishments, there is an increased risk of rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus infections. In addition, there is a high prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases among inmates, which increases the risk of the severe course of COVID-19. The objectives of the study are to present the number and percentage of officers and employees of the Prison Service (PS), and inmates quarantined and infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the period from March to the end of December 2020, as well as to present solutions aimed at limiting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Materials and method. Information on the number of PS officers, employees and inmates quarantined and infected, as well as information on the solutions introduced by the Prison Service Management Bard,was obtained from the Ministry of Justice pursuant to the provisions of the Act on Access to Public Information. Results. From1 March 2020 – 31 December 2020, the number of cases of infection detected among PS officers and employees was 3,666, and among inmates – 599. 97.7% of all cases among PS officers and employees and 93.8% among inmates were reported in the last 3 months of the year. Conclusions. The rapid introduction of solutions aimed at limiting the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and proper monitoring of the epidemic in penitentiary establishments resulted in a low number of infections in the period from March to the end of December 2020. Infections among PS officers and employees, as well as inmates, seem to be parallel to the epidemiological situation in the population of the entire country. Further analysis of the epidemic will confirm the impact of the measures taken on the incidence of COVID-19 among PS officers, employees and inmates

Intensification of menopausal symptoms among female inhabitants of East European countries

The objective of the study was analysis of the occurrence and intensity of menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women from Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. The study was conducted during the period 2014–2015 among postmenopausal women living in the areas of Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The degree of menopausal complaints was assessed using the Kupperman Menopausal Index and Greene Climacteric Scale. The respondents were additionally asked about age, educational level, place of residence, marital status and age at last menstrual period. Into the study were enrolled women aged 50–65, minimum 2 years after the last menstrual period, who had a generally good state of health and did not use hormone replacement therapy. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. The intensity of all menopausal symptoms measured by the Kupperman Menopausal Index and Greene Climacteric Scale was similar in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. In these countries, severe, moderate and mild menopausal symptoms measured by Kupperman Menopausal Index occurred with a similar frequency. Similar results were also obtained in the subscales of psychological, somatic and vasomotor symptoms according to the Greene Climacteric Scale. Nearly a half of the women from Belarus did not report symptoms measured by Kupperman Menopausal Index. They obtained significantly lower menopausal complaints in the subscales of psychological and somatic symptoms according to the Greene Climacteric Scale, compared to the inhabitants of the remaining countries. The majority of women from the Ukraine had mild menopausal symptoms as measured by the Kupperman Menopausal Index. They had significantly more severe complaints in the subscales of psychological, somatic and vasomotor symptoms according to the Greene Climacteric Scale, compared to the inhabitants of the remaining countries in the study. The intensity of menopausal symptoms in women from Ukraine and Belarus was related with educational level, place of residence, and marital status, whereas in women from Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, only with marital status