Coping with cancer and a history of health-related events

Background: Cancer is a source of stress related to the resulting change in lifestyle. The processes which take place when a patient is coping with a disease may be explained in terms of the transactional concept of psychological stress (Lazarus, Folkman) and the critical life events model (Filipp). These two complementary theoretical approaches set the direction and aim of the study which was to determine the role played by earlier events responsible for health loss due to a chronic, serious disease in the course of a stress transaction in cancer patients. Materials and methods: The study involved 121 patients with either breast or colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy as part of their treatment. They were asked to complete a purpose-designed set of questionnaires which included Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC) questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). The interdependencies between variables were determined using difference significance tests (Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis) and the Dunn’s correction test. The significance level (alpha) of 0.05 was assumed appropriate for the study. Results: Patients with previous health-related events were found to expect the struggle with cancer to be a greater and more serious challenge. Those patients had suffered loss of health prior to getting cancer and their emotional reactions were heightened. This finding allowed the identification of patients more prone to creating a negative view of their disease. Conclusions: When planning a psychological treatment of patients with cancer, an account must be taken of their past life events and earlier experiences of being ill, in order to implement appropriate psychological intervention aimed at reducing their emotional stress

Czy nieprawidłowe rozpoznanie zespołu Wolframa jako cukrzycy typu 1 i jej powikłań może być przyczyną rzadkiego rozpoznawania tego zespołu?

Wolfram syndrome (WS), also known as DIDMOAD (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy and Deafness), is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome (1/770,000 in the United Kingdom), characterised by juvenile onset of diabetes mellitus, optic nerve atrophy, diabetes insipidus, sensorineural deafness, renal tract and neurological abnormalities, and primary gonadal atrophy. WS is caused mainly by biallelic mutations in the WFS1 gene, which encodes wolframin. Wide tissue distribution of wolframin and many mutations in the wolframin gene resulting in Wolfram syndrome may contribute to different phenotypes and the unusual combinations of clinical features. We describe a female patient with Wolfram syndrome diagnosed at the age of 25, with a previous false diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus and misdiagnosed diabetic complications. The patient was found to be a compound heterozygote for two novel mutations in exon 8 of WFS1 gene: a 2-bp deletion AT at nt 1539 leading to a frameshift (Y513fs) and a single-base substitution 1174C > T resulting in a stop codon (Q392X). A detailed analysis of the patient’s medical history and a review of the literature suggest that many cases of Wolfram syndrome may remain undiagnosed due to misdiagnosis as type 1 diabetes mellitus and incorrect interpretation of clinical symptoms of neurodegenerative abnormalities, especially in their early stages. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (5): 398–400)Zespół Wolframa (WS), znany również jako DIDMOAD (moczówka prosta, cukrzyca, atrofia nerwu wzrokowego i głuchota), jest rzadkim zespołem dziedziczonym autosomalnie recesywnie (1/770000 w Wielkiej Brytanii), charakteryzującym się wystąpieniem cukrzycy w wieku młodzieńczym, zanikiem nerwu wzrokowego, moczówką prostą, głuchotą, niewydolnością oddechową i zaburzeniami neurologicznymi oraz pierwotną atrofią gonad. WS jest spowodowany głównie mutacją w genie WFS1, który koduje wolframinę. Obecność wolframiny w wielu tkankach organizmu oraz wiele różnych mutacji w genie wolframiny, których skutkiem jest wystąpienie zespołu Wolframa, może stanowić przyczynę różnych fenotypów tego zespołu oraz różnych kombinacji cech klinicznych. W poniższej publikacji opisano przypadek pacjentki z zespołem Wolframa, której choroba początkowo była błędnie zdiagnozowana jako cukrzyca typu 1 i jej powikłania. W badaniach genetycznych wykazano, że pacjentka była heterozygotą w zakresie dwóch nowych mutacji w egzonie 8 genu WFS1: 2-bp delecji AT w regionie nt 1539, prowadzącej do mutacji zmiany ramki odczytu (Y513fs) oraz substytucji pojedynczej zasady 1174 C > T, czego skutkiem był stop kodon (Q392X). Ze szczegółowej analizy historii medycznej pacjentki oraz przeglądu piśmiennictwa wynika, że duża liczba przypadków zespołu Wolframa może zostać niewłaściwie rozpoznana jako cukrzyca typu 1 lub zaburzenia neurodegeneracyjne, zwłaszcza w początkowej fazie ich rozwoju. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (5): 398–400

Verifi cation of myths on diabetic diet

Wstęp. W środowisku pacjentów chorych na cukrzycękrąży wiele mitów dotyczących produktów spożywczych,które mają obniżać stężenie glukozy we krwilub przynajmniej go nie podnosić, mimo że zawierająwęglowodany. Celem badania było określenie stanuwiedzy na temat wpływu popularnych i często stosowanych produktów spożywczych na wartość glikemiiwśród chorych na cukrzycę oraz wśród średniegopersonelu medycznego.Materiał i metody. Grupa badana obejmowała 162 chorych na cukrzycę, członków Polskiego StowarzyszeniaDiabetyków, oraz grupę kontrolną 89 zdrowych pielęgniarek z dwóch szczecińskich szpitali. Badanychpoproszono o wypełnienie ankiety weryfi kującej ichwiedzę na temat wpływu na glikemię takich produktów,jak: grejpfrut, miód, kawa zbożowa, czekolada dladiabetyków, zupa mleczna z płatkami oraz karkówka.Wyniki. Najwięcej błędnych odpowiedzi zarównowśród chorych, jak i personelu zostało zaznaczonychw przypadku grejpfruta (49% chorych i 72% personelu,p < 0,01) oraz karkówki (67% chorych i 71% personelu,NS). Najwięcej prawidłowych odpowiedzi pojawiło sięw przypadku miodu (73% chorych i 78% personelu, NS)oraz zupy mlecznej (71% chorych oraz 63% personelu, NS). Wiek, płeć, czas trwania cukrzycy nie mają wpływu na poziom wiedzy pacjentów z zakresu oddziaływania wybranych produktów spożywczych na wartość glikemii.Poziom wiedzy chorych leczonych insuliną stosowanąw monoterapii lub w leczeniu skojarzonym z lekami doustnymi jest wyższy niż osób stosujących leki doustne. Wśród personelu medycznego stwierdzono, że osoby młodsze charakteryzują się większą wiedzą z zakresu diety cukrzycowej niż osoby starsze.Wnioski. 1. Poziom edukacji pacjentów oraz średniegopersonelu szpitala z zakresu wpływu popularnychproduktów na glikemię chorego jest niezadowalający.2. Na poziom wyedukowania pacjentów nie wpływawiek, płeć oraz czas trwania cukrzycy, natomiast jest onnieco lepszy u chorych leczonych insuliną. 3. Młodszywiek personelu szpitalnego wiąże się z nieco lepszympoziomem wiedzy na temat diety cukrzycowej.Background. Among diabetic patients, there are many myths concerning food products which are believed tolower or — at least — not infl uence the glucose level,even though they contain carbohydrates. The aim ofthis study was to assess the knowledge of diabeticpatients and hospital nurses concerning popular foodproducts and their impact on blood glucose levels.Material and methods. The study group consistedof 162 patients with diabetes (DM), members of thePolish Diabetes Association; the control group (C) consisted of 89 healthy nurses from two hospitals inSzczecin, Poland. Participants were asked to completea questionnaire on products common in diabetic dietand their infl uence on blood glucose levels. The products were: grapefruit, honey, wheat coffee, diabeticchocolate, milk soup with fl akes and pork chuck steak.Results. The highest percentage of wrong answers wasgiven for pork (DM 67%; C 71%, ns) and grapefruit (DM49%; C 72%, p < 0.01), while the most correct answerswere for honey (DM 73%; C 78%, ns) and milk soup (DM 71%; C 63%, ns). There was no relationship between the level of knowledge of diabetic diet and age, sex or duration of DM. Patients on insulin monotherapy or combinations of insulin with oral agents are more educated than patients treated with drugs. Negative correlation between age and the level of knowledge was observed in the group of nurses.Conclusions. 1. The level of knowledge concerningproducts commonly used in diabetic diet among patientswith diabetes and hospital nurses is low. 2. Thelevel of patient’s education is not related to sex, age,or duration of diabetes but it is little higher in subjectstreated with insulin. 3. Younger age of medical staffcorrelates with their higher level of knowledge

Ancient goat genomes reveal mosaic domestication in the Fertile Crescent.

Current genetic data are equivocal as to whether goat domestication occurred multiple times or was a singular process. We generated genomic data from 83 ancient goats (51 with genome-wide coverage) from Paleolithic to Medieval contexts throughout the Near East. Our findings demonstrate that multiple divergent ancient wild goat sources were domesticated in a dispersed process that resulted in genetically and geographically distinct Neolithic goat populations, echoing contemporaneous human divergence across the region. These early goat populations contributed differently to modern goats in Asia, Africa, and Europe. We also detect early selection for pigmentation, stature, reproduction, milking, and response to dietary change, providing 8000-year-old evidence for human agency in molding genome variation within a partner species

Adverse maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes among pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION Despite a growing body of research on the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, there is continued controversy given heterogeneity in the quality and design of published studies. METHODS We screened ongoing studies in our sequential, prospective meta-analysis. We pooled individual participant data to estimate the absolute and relative risk (RR) of adverse outcomes among pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared with confirmed negative pregnancies. We evaluated the risk of bias using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS We screened 137 studies and included 12 studies in 12 countries involving 13 136 pregnant women.Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection-as compared with uninfected pregnant women-were at significantly increased risk of maternal mortality (10 studies; n=1490; RR 7.68, 95% CI 1.70 to 34.61); admission to intensive care unit (8 studies; n=6660; RR 3.81, 95% CI 2.03 to 7.17); receiving mechanical ventilation (7 studies; n=4887; RR 15.23, 95% CI 4.32 to 53.71); receiving any critical care (7 studies; n=4735; RR 5.48, 95% CI 2.57 to 11.72); and being diagnosed with pneumonia (6 studies; n=4573; RR 23.46, 95% CI 3.03 to 181.39) and thromboembolic disease (8 studies; n=5146; RR 5.50, 95% CI 1.12 to 27.12).Neonates born to women with SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to be admitted to a neonatal care unit after birth (7 studies; n=7637; RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.08); be born preterm (7 studies; n=6233; RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.29) or moderately preterm (7 studies; n=6071; RR 2.92, 95% CI 1.88 to 4.54); and to be born low birth weight (12 studies; n=11 930; RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.40). Infection was not linked to stillbirth. Studies were generally at low or moderate risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS This analysis indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection at any time during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal death, severe maternal morbidities and neonatal morbidity, but not stillbirth or intrauterine growth restriction. As more data become available, we will update these findings per the published protocol

Mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke – Five years of experience in Poland

Objectives Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is not reimbursed by the Polish public health system. We present a description of 5 years of experience with MT in acute stroke in Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSCs) in Poland. Methods and results We retrospectively analyzed the results of a structured questionnaire from 23 out of 25 identified CSCs and 22 data sets that include 61 clinical, radiological and outcome measures. Results Most of the CSCs (74%) were founded at University Hospitals and most (65.2%) work round the clock. In 78.3% of them, the working teams are composed of neurologists and neuro-radiologists. All CSCs perform CT and angio-CT before MT. In total 586 patients were subjected to MT and data from 531 of them were analyzed. Mean time laps from stroke onset to groin puncture was 250±99min. 90.3% of the studied patients had MT within 6h from stroke onset; 59.3% of them were treated with IV rt-PA prior to MT; 15.1% had IA rt-PA during MT and 4.7% – emergent stenting of a large vessel. M1 of MCA was occluded in 47.8% of cases. The Solitaire device was used in 53% of cases. Successful recanalization (TICI2b–TICI3) was achieved in 64.6% of cases and 53.4% of patients did not experience hemorrhagic transformation. Clinical improvement on discharge was noticed in 53.7% of cases, futile recanalization – in 30.7%, mRS of 0–2 – in 31.4% and mRS of 6 in 22% of cases. Conclusion Our results can help harmonize standards for MT in Poland according to international guidelines

Application of thermal analysis to study composite materials

The results of corrosion studies of composite materials obtained by two state-of-the –art methods of powder metallurgy are presented in the article. The main goal of the studies was determination of high-temperature corrosion resistance of steel-matrix composites reinforced with 8 vol.% TiB2. Thermogravimetric analyses were conducted at 1100ºC in air in 24 h cycle. Microstructure of the composited after thermogravimetric studies was observed at scanning electron microscope

Wettability Of Two-Dimensional Mos2 Layer By Liquid Tin

No-wetting behaviour has been observed for Sn/2D-MoS2/Si100 couple during wetting experiments under conditions used in this study. Nevertheless, the degradation of MoS2 due to its interaction with molten Sn drop took place as evidenced by local EDS analysis and Raman spectroscopy. These findings should be taken into consideration in the design of innovative composite materials and new concept electronic devices using 2D-MoS2 types of materials for liquid-assisted processes