Physical activity among Polish and English residents of nursing homes

Physical activity is one of the indicators of a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity after the age of 65 gives the ability to maintain physical capacity at a much higher level than people who live inactive lifestyle. The aim of this study was to assess the physical activity of older people living in Polish and English nursing homes. The study was conducted in February and March 2013. The research material consisted of 59 people. 29 respondents are residents in Chislehurst and 30 respondents are residents in Krakow. The research method was a diagnostic survey and the research tool was a questionnaire of own authorship.CDS and Barthel scale were used also. The vast majority of respondents assessed their lifestyle which led in the past as active. In both groups, the most common response to the current fitness was moderate fitness. 76.3% of the respondents received Low levels depending on the care by CDS scale and the vast majority of people - 61 % was placed in Group I in accordance with the Barthel scale. It can be concluded that in the group of English respondents, lifestyle, fitness assessment were significantly associated with the results of the CDS scale and Barthel scale. The more active lifestyle in the past and higher subjective evaluation of the efficiency of the English residents, the favorable results of the CDS scale and Bartel scale. In the group of Polish residents such a relationship is not found

Health behaviors and nutritional status disorders in patients with kidney cancer

Wstęp. Główne czynniki ryzyka wielu chorób wynikają z nieprawidłowych zachowań zdrowotnych i są przyczyną m. in. rozwoju nowotworów złośliwych, w tym raka nerki. Jednym z elementów zachowań zdrowotnych jest określenie stanu odżywienia, celem wczesnego wykrycia zaburzeń i podjęcia interwencji. Cel pracy. Określenie i porównanie zachowań zdrowotnych ze stanem odżywienia pacjentów z rozpoznanym rakiem nerki. Materiał i metody. Badanie przeprowadzono wśród 100 osób, u których wykonany był zabieg operacyjny z powodu raka nerki. W badaniach zastosowano metodę analizy dokumentacji medycznej oraz sondaż diagnostyczny z wykorzystaniem narzędzia standaryzowanego – Inwentarza Zachowań Zdrowotnych. Wyniki. Wskaźnik zachowań zdrowotnych dla ogółu badanych wyniósł średnio 75,56 pkt. Najwyższe wyniki uzyskano w kategorii zachowań profi laktycznych (średnia 3,89), następnie w kategorii pozytywnych nastawień psychicznych (średnia 3,34) oraz w kategorii praktyk zdrowotnych (średnia 2,91). Najniższy wynik uzyskano w kategorii prawidłowych nawyków żywieniowych (średnia 2,49). Stwierdzono zależność pomiędzy wiekiem, BMI, a kategorią prawidłowe nawyki żywieniowe (p ≤ 0,001) oraz pomiędzy wiekiem, BMI, a kategorią praktyki zdrowotne (p < 0,001). Wnioski. W całej badanej grupie najniższe wyniki uzyskano w kategorii prawidłowych nawyków żywieniowych. Pomimo stwierdzenia w całej grupie najniższych wyników w kategorii prawidłowych nawyków żywieniowych, pacjenci w starszym wieku i z wyższym BMI uzyskali wyższe wyniki, ale w zakresie praktyk zdrowotnych uzyskali wyniki niskie.Introduction. The main risk factors of numerous diseases result from abnormal health behaviors and among others are causing development of malignant tumors, including kidney cancer. One of the elements of health behaviors is to determine the state of nutrition, in order to early detect disorders and to undertake interventions. Aim of the study. Determination and comparison of health behaviors with the nutritional status of patients with diagnosed kidney cancer. Material and methods. The study was conducted among 100 people who underwent surgery because of kidney cancer. The research used the method of analysis of medical documentation and a diagnostic survey with a tool – Health Behavior Inventory. Results. The average index of health behaviors for all respondents was 75.56 points. The highest results were obtained in the category of preventive behaviors (mean 3.89), then in the category of positive mental attitudes (mean 3.34) and in the category of health practices (mean 2.91). The lowest result was obtained in the category of proper eating habits (mean 2.49). The relationship between age, BMI, and the category of normal eating habits (p ≤.001) was observed as well as between age, BMI, and the category of a health practice (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The lowest results were obtained in the category of proper eating habits. Despite obtaining the lowest results in the category of normal eating habits in the whole group, among patients with a higher BMI and in the elderly patients, normal eating habits were found at a higher level, but their health practices remain at a low level

The AB0 blood group system v. types of diseases diagnosed in patients admitted to surgical clinics

The distribution of human blood groups varies around the world. Many researchers have been trying to establish whether there are relationships between blood groups and diseases, personality, lifestyle, and nutrition. For some types of illnesses these relations were confirmed whereas for others no significant correlations were proven. There is also a group of studies where data are not yet complete. Describing relations between AB0 blood groups and diseases diagnosed in patients hospitalised in surgical clinics. The study group comprised 1144 adult patients hospitalised in surgical clinics in a hospital in Cracow. The authors used the methodology of diagnostic survey and analysed medical records from the hospital archives. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2007 software. A blood group was the most common blood type among patients included in this study. Cholelithiasis was the most frequent diagnosis recorded in surgical clinics i.e. 32% of all patients suffered from this disease. We found correlations between the AB0 blood groups and the following morbidities: cholelithiasis and blood type A (p = 0.046), colorectal cancer and B group (p = 0.013), and pancreatic cancer and blood type B (p = 0.039). Individuals with blood type B presented the greatest risk of developing cancer (p < 0.003) and the odds ratio was 1.47. The lowest risk was observed for blood type 0

The development of a concept of nursing process : a review of articles published by Stefania Poznanska in "Nurse and Midwife"

With her life and work, Stefania Poznanska promoted the development of modern nursing in Poland. The concept of nursing process was formed in the course of many years. At first, nursing care was understood as an active process of cooperation between nurses and patients. This concept was followed by another one defining nursing as interpersonal interactions with behavioural and therapeutic significance. The next definition of nursing care assumed it delivered assistance to individuals requiring help and it met their basic health and biopsychosocial needs. From the beginning special attention was paid to the fact that patients' needs must be noticed and adequate actions should be taken referring to an individual plan of care. At first, the concept of "a plan" was often used as well as the idea of nursing process. Finally, they were defined as a plan and a process of nursing. With time the stages of nursing process evolved. Currently the following five concepts are used most frequently: data collection, nursing diagnosis, planning, nursing interventions, and evaluation

From focal epilepsy to Dravet syndrome – Heterogeneity of the phenotype due to SCN1A mutations of the p.Arg1596 amino acid residue in the Nav1.1 subunit

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the intra-/interfamilial phenotypic heterogeneity due to variants at the highly evolutionary conservative p.Arg1596 residue in the Nav1.1 subunit. Materials/participants Among patients referred for analysis of the SCN1A gene one recurrent, heritable mutation was found in families enrolled into the study. Probands from those families even clinically diagnosed with atypical Dravet syndrome (DS), generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+), and focal epilepsy, had heterozygous p.Arg1596 His/Cys missense substitutions, c.4787G&gt;T and c.4786C&gt;T in the SCN1A gene. Method Full clinical evaluation, including cognitive development, neurological examination, EEGs, MRI was performed in probands and affected family members in developmental age. The whole SCN1A gene sequencing was performed for all probands. The exon 25, where the identified missense substitutions are localized, was directly analyzed for the other family members. Results Mutation of the SCN1A p.1596Arg was identified in three families, in one case substitution p.Arg1596Cys and in two cases p.Arg1596His. Both mutations were previously described as pathogenic and causative for DS, GEFS+ and focal epilepsy. Spectrum of phenotypes among presented families with p.Arg1596 mutations shows heterogeneity ranged from asymptomatic cases, through FS and FS+ to GEFS+/Panayiotopoulos syndrome and epilepsies with and without febrile seizures, and epileptic encephalopathy such as DS. Phenotypes differ among patients displaying both focal and generalized epilepsies. Some patients demonstrated additionally Asperger syndrome and ataxia. Conclusion Clinical picture heterogeneity of the patients carrying mutation of the same residue indicates the involvement of the other factors influencing the SCN1A gene mutations’ penetrance

Young men's knowledge on testicular cancer

Malignant neoplasms of the testis are fairly uncommon, they constitute circa 0.5-1.5% of all malignant neoplasms, and they apply to young men. Detection in early stages guarantees recovery. The research aimed to assess young men's knowledge on testicular cancer. The acquired results may constitute basis for undertaking educational activities among young people. The research was carried out among 300 men within the city limits of Kraków. The age of the subjects ranged from 18 to 35 years of age. Mean age was 23 years old. The method applied was diagnostic survey and the research tool of choice was the author's survey questionnaire. The outcome of the research was analysed by means of quantitive and qualitative analysis methods. Statistical calculations were performed by means of the Statistica 10,0 program. About 40% of subjects heard about testicular self-examination, around 13 % of the respondents declared the knowledge of the method and only 16% of men had ever performed testicular self-examination. Older men more often declared knowledge of the self-examination method. Testicular enlargement is considered an alarming symptom only to 59% of the men. The level of knowledge on cancer as well as on self-examination among young men is low. Preventive and educational activities should be undertaken in order to promote healthy behaviour among the youth of high school age

Regresja zmian torbielowatych w obrazie MR mózgu u dziecka z noworodkową encefalopatią niedotlenieniowo-niedokrwienną, poddanego hipotermii leczniczej

The authors present the first case of regression of cystic lesions on brain MRI in a newborn after therapeutic hypothermia in Poland. Multicystic encephalopathy is the most severe form of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and its regression is described very rarely in the literature. Magnetic resonance imaging is an accepted, optimal method of evaluation of the brain and establishing prognosis in children with HIE. After normal pregnancy an emergency cesarean section was performed at 37 weeks gestation due to the markers of intrauterine hypoxia on CTG. The condition of the newborn was serious: 3 ,5, 7, 8 points according to Apgar score in 1st, 3nd, 5th and 10th minute of life, respectively. The infant required resuscitation. The cooling procedure lasted 72 hours. The first MRI study was performed at the age of 3 weeks and revealed cavities in the frontal and parietal lobed. The Evans index was 0.33. The second MRI investigation was carried out at the age of 5 weeks. The cavitary appearance did not change, the Evans index decreased to 0.32. The child underwent third MRI at the age of 2 years 4 months. No cystic lesions were found. There were signs of gliosis in their place and focal corticalsubcortical atrophy. The Evans index was 0.28 (within the normal limits). The neuropsychological status of the child at the age of 2.5 years is normal and brain MRI reveals strikingly mild lesions as compared to cavitary injury reported at the age of 3 and 5 weeks. The presented case shows that severe hypoxic-ischemic lesions such as cavities in an infant after cooling procedure do not necessarily mean poor prognosis, as with time even such lesions may regress. Therefore, even after the MRI diagnosis of multicystic encephalopathy the prognosis should be made with care.Autorki przedstawiają pierwszy w Polsce przypadek regresji zmian torbielowatych w obrazie MR mózgu u noworodka poddanego hipotermii leczniczej. Encefalopatia wielotorbielowata jest najcięższą postacią zmian niedotlenieniowo-niedokrwiennych i ustąpienie zmian jest opisywane niezwykle rzadko. Rezonans magnetyczny jest uznaną, optymalną metodą oceny stanu mózgowia, prognozowania dalszego rozwoju dziecka z ENN i określania rokowania. Noworodek z prawidłowej ciąży I został urodzony cięciem cesarskim w 37 tygodniu ciąży ze wskazań nagłych wobec wykładników kardiotokograficznych niedotlenienia wewnątrzmacicznego. Stan dziecka był ciężki, punktacja wg Apgar 3 ,5, 7, 8 odpowiednio w 1., 3., 5. i 10. minucie życia. Noworodek wymagał resuscytacji. Był poddany procedurze chłodzenia przez 72 godz. Pierwsze badanie MR wykonano w 3. tygodniu życia i uwidoczniono jamy wypełnione płynem w płatach czołowych i ciemieniowych. Wskaźnik Evansa wynosił 0,33. Drugie badanie MR wykonano w wieku 5 tygodni. Obraz jam nie uległ zmianie, wskaźnik Evansa zmniejszył się do 0,32. Trzecie badanie MR wykonano w wieku 2 lat i 4/12 i nie uwidoczniono jam. W ich miejscu widoczna była glioza i odcinkowy zanik korowo-podkorowy. Wskaźnik Evansa wyniósł 0,28 (w granicach normy). Stan neuropsychologiczny dziecka w wieku 2,5 lat nie odbiega od normy, a obraz MR mózgu wykazuje uderzająco niewielkie zmiany w stosunku do stwierdzanych w wieku noworodkowym. Prezentowany przypadek pokazuje, że ciężkie zmiany niedotlenieniowo-niedokrwienne w postaci jam u dziecka po leczeniu hipotermią nie muszą rokować źle, ponieważ z upływem czasu nawet zmiany jamiste mogą ulec regresji. Zatem nawet po stwierdzeniu w obrazie MR cech encefalopatii wielotorbielowatej rokowanie odnośnie przeżycia i dalszego stanu neurorozwojowego dziecka powinno być stawiane ostrożnie

Assessment of immunological response to nutritional status in patients with stomach cancer qualified to the surgery

Malnutrition is a frequent result of cancerous disease, especially upper digestive cancer, including stomach cancer. The consequences of malnutrition and a surgical injury are disorder of immune system and consequently the increased risk of occurrence of postoperative complications which extend the time of treatment and increase treatment expenses and may also lead to death in some cases. Therefore, recognition of malnutrition in patients complied with nutrition disorders in the perioperative period in malnourished patients has got significant influence on decreasing complications in the postoperative period. The assessment of immunological response to nutritional status in patients with stomach cancer qualified to a surgery. The study included 99 patients with stomach cancer before the planned surgery. Nutritional status was evaluated with the screening method developed by Szczygieł on the basis of Thorsdottir. This test assesses percentage body mass loss, serum albumin concentration, the total count of peripheral blood lymphocytes, and measurement of fat mass and fat-free body mass. To assess immunological system’s parameters the concentration of selected cytokines: IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18 was examined as well as the concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha - TNF-alpha - was marked. In patients with stomach cancer occurs percentage loss of body weight, reduction of serum albumin concentration, reduction of the total number of leukocytes and malnutrition on the basis of nutrition interview. Well nourished patients had higher average values of IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-alpha, however lower average values of IL-10 and IL-18. Malnutrition in slight or moderate degree has been recognized in 30% of patients classified to a surgery due to stomach cancer. Changes of examined cytokines concentration in postoperative period indicate to immunological system’s reaction to malnutrition and surgical trauma