Epidemiology of physical activity in adult Polish population in the second decade of the 21st century. Results of the NATPOL 2011 study

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess physical activity (PA) level in a representative sample of Polish adults.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed among 2413 randomly selected individuals (51.5% women) aged 18-79 years, who participated in the Nationwide Study of Occurrence of Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases NATPOL 2011 (March-July 2011). The study procedures consisted of a questionnaire as well as of anthropometric, blood pressure and biochemical measurements. Leisure-time, occupational and commuting PA were assessed by the use of a questionnaire interview. Results: About 48.2% of adults do exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of a week. About 11% of the respondents declare a sedentary lifestyle. About 26.5% of working population report hard physical work, while sedentary work is reported by 47.6% of the employed participants. Active commuting is declared by 27.3% of working/studying population. About 47.2%, 36.6%, and 15.3% spend 30 min per day, respectively, on this kind of PA. Conclusions: PA level of more than half of Polish adults is still not satisfactory. Promotion of an active lifestyle should concern mainly leisure-time and commuting PA with paying special attention to substantial differences in various socio-demographic groups

EQ-5D in Central and Eastern Europe : 2000-2015

Objective: Cost per quality-adjusted life year data are required for reimbursement decisions in many Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. EQ-5D is by far the most commonly used instrument to generate utility values in CEE. This study aims to systematically review the literature on EQ-5D from eight CEE countries. Methods: An electronic database search was performed up to July 1, 2015 to identify original EQ-5D studies from the countries of interest. We analysed the use of EQ-5D with respect to clinical areas, methodological rigor, population norms and value sets. Results: We identified 143 studies providing 152 country-specific results with a total sample size of 81,619: Austria (n=11), Bulgaria (n=6), Czech Republic (n=18), Hungary (n=47), Poland (n=51), Romania (n=2), Slovakia (n=3) and Slovenia (n=14). Cardiovascular (20%), neurologic (16%), musculoskeletal (15%) and endocrine/nutritional/metabolic diseases (14%) were the most frequently studied clinical areas. Overall 112 (78%) of the studies reported EQ VAS results and 86 (60%) EQ-5D index scores, of which 27 (31%) did not specify the applied tariff. Hungary, Poland and Slovenia have population norms. Poland and Slovenia also have a national value set. Conclusions: Increasing use of EQ-5D is observed throughout CEE. The spread of health technology assessment activities in countries seems to be reflected in the number of EQ-5D studies. However, improvement in informed use and methodological quality of reporting is needed. In jurisdictions where no national value set is available, in order to ensure comparability we recommend to apply the most frequently used UK tariff. Regional collaboration between CEE countries should be strengthened

THE CAPABILITY OF DISSOCIATION OF AMINOACIDS BY SELECTED STRAINS OF FUNGI

We have studied the capability of dissociation of 22 L-form aminoacids by 27 strains of fungi belonging to species: Candida, Cryptococcus, Geotrichum, Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, Trichosporon. Fungal strains were cultured on agar medium with phenyl red and studied aminoacid. Disamination of an aminoacid by a fungus resulted in alkalisation of the medium and change of its colour from yellow to pink. Strains from genus Trichosporon and Geotrichum decomposed the most aminoacids (15-16), while fungi from genus Candida decomposed less aminoacid (1-8). Strains form species Candida famata, C. kefyr, C. lambica. C. rugosa, C. neoformans, R. mucilaginosa and S. cerevisiae did not show any ability to desaminate any of the 22 aminoacids used in the study. Aminoacids most frequently disaminated by the studied strains of fungi included acidic aliphatic aminoacids and their amides: L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutaminic acid, L-glutamine and neutral aliphatic aminoacids: L-glycin, L-alanine, L-serine. Aromatic and sulphur aminoacids (L-cysteine, L-cystine) were not decomposed by the studied fungal strains

Susceptibility to miconazole and itraconazole of Candida strains isolated from hospitalized and outpatient clinic patients

It is known that fungi representing different genera and species can cause organ-limited or systemic infections after disrupting of the natural defense mechanisms in a human organism. The treatment of mycoses still encounters considerable difficulties. Therefore, in vitro assessment of the susceptibility of fungal strains to the antifungal agents now in use and to new drugs is needed more urgently than ever before. It should be emphasized that we treat the fungal susceptibility to antifungal drugs as a quantitative feature of the strain examined. The aim of the presently reported study was the evaluation of the antimycotic action of two azole compounds – miconazole and itraconazole (Janssen) against 205 Candida strains isolated from the various biological specimens of two groups of patients – hospitalized (group 1) and examined in outpatient clinic (group 2); differentiation of species and codes of these strains; analysis of dose-response curves and parameters of polygons of the azoles minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). The susceptibility to miconazole and itraconazole was estimated with the agar diffusion test on 3% Sabouraud’s agar – the method developed in our laboratory, using several different concentrations of the drug, which made the plotting of dose-response curves possible. The lowest concentration inhibiting the growth of fungal strain (MIC) was calculated using a transformed equation of rectilinear regression according to Kadłubowski. Species and fungal codes of isolated strains were evaluated according to the guidelines worked out in our department with the use of different media and biochemical tests (bioMérieux). Among 89 strains isolated from the hospitalized patients, six species of the genus Candida genus were found; one strain belonged to Trichosporon cutaneum species. The most frequently encountered species was Candida albicans (73%), which significantly dominated over C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. lipolytica and C. famata. All strains from the second group of patients belonged to C. albicans species. In all C. albicans strains from both groups of patients, the most frequent assimilation code (2576174) was found. The miconazole MIC values for Candida strains isolated from the group 1 were characterized by a wide range of variation, from 0.0247mg/l to 6.826 mg/l, from group 2 – 0.0277 to 0.719 mg/l. The itraconazole MIC values were 0.011 to 2.813 mg/l, and 0.0103 to 0.718 mg/l, respectively. The analysis of mean values (x) of miconazole and itraconazole MICs and other parameters allowed us to find that the strains isolated from the patients of group 1 were significantly less susceptible to both drugs in comparison with the strains of the group 2 patients. Also, C. albicans strains from this group of patients had a significantly lower (x) MIC in comparison to the mean values for the most of Candida species isolated from the hospitalized patients (P<0.001). In conclusion, we have found that the most Candida strains from both groups of patients were susceptible to the examined antifungal agents. The strains isolated from the outpatient clinic patients were generally more susceptible especially to itraconazole in comparison with strains from hospitalized patients

Thermal seasons in Hornsund (SW Spitsbergen)

In the studies on climate and its changes in the polar regions it is essential to determine climatic seasons which can be based on thermal, circular and phenological criteria but also according to different types of weather. The aim of this research is to determine thermal seasons, to characterize their structure and general regularities, which may make the more detailed environmental monitoring of these areas possible. According to many authors, a climatic characterization of a given area should be presented through defining its seasonal structure. This article attempts to find natural thermal periods in the polar climate, which differ from the conventional, fixed monthly or quarterly periods: spring III-V, summer VI-VIII, autumn IX-XI, winter XII-II; often accepted by many scientists in order to make the characterization of the course of selected meteorological elements easier. The analysis of the seasonal structure of the climate of Hornsund is based on the data from the period of 1990-1999. The indices that characterize the initial and final dates, the overall duration of the thermal seasons, and estimation of the seasons? changeability in thermal terms have been taken into consideration. Calendar boundaries have been set according to the method proposed by Kosiba (1958), in which the date that begins the period of the domination of days with the daily average air temperature (Ti) typical for a given season is accepted as the season?s boundary. As the quite significant changeability of the daily average air temperature complicates the choice of initial and final dates of seasons, additional criteria are used: the number of days proper for thermal season (w), days warmer than w?days, days colder than w-days, the average air temperature and other. This study provides a division into four seasons according to Baranowski?s criteria (1986) accepted on the basis of an analysis of the annual course of air temperature in Hornsund, the accepted thermal criteria are as follows: spring -2.5°C = 2.5°C, autumn -2,5°C <= Ti <= 2.5°C, winter Ti <= -2,5°C. The characteristics of a vegetative period are also defined. Its duration in the polar regions is difficult to estimate. If we accept the most commonly used criterion of the stabilization of the daily average air temperature over +5°C, we will face the situation in which the vegetative period in the polar regions is either very short or does not occur at all. Phenological observations of Sorkappland - S Spitsbergen (Dubiel, 1988) made it possible to estimate a natural thermal threshold 0?C which begins the vegetative period. The development of most plants and their first flower buds occurs in average air temperature of approximately 0?C. Blooming and producing seeds, on the other hand, occur when the air temperature exceeds 2.5°C. Seasons (fig. 17), determined on the basis of daily average air temperatures, characterize and emphasize the changeability of thermal conditions and the specifics of the polar climate very well, what results in the conclusions enumerated below: - in the researched decade the initial and final dates and the overall duration of the thermal seasons are characterized by great changeability, - the most stable, with regard to the initial date, are spring and summer, - the most changeable, with regard to duration, are autumn and summer, - the most thermally stable season is summer. The least thermally stable season is autumn, - transitional seasons have a tendency to prolong: mainly autumn (the effect is that winter becomes shorter) and to a lesser extent spring. Winter and summer shorten, - the analysis of the line of this trend reveals that summer gets slightly colder. Spring and winter do not show any significant changes, - the most visible tendency is a downward tendency of autumn temperatures - the effect of the prolonged duration towards winter, - a vegetative period shows a tendency to begin later and to finish slightly earlier. The final date, however, does not reveal any significant tendency for changes

Current possibilities of using antimycotic drugs in the treatment of various skin disorders.

The purpose of this article is to review the literature data on the therapeutic protocols and the results of using some antimycotics in different skin diseases. In addition to the antimycotic action, particular antifungal drugs such as itraconazole, ketoconazole and terbinafine exhibit anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the synthesis of 5-lipooxygenase metabolites. As these metabolites are involved in a number of inflammatory and immunoreactive processes the dual action of the drugs may be suitably exploited in the treatment of some skin diseases which are otherwise difficult to cure. Another rationale for the use of antimycotics in certain skin disorders is their action against Malassezia. It has been recently demonstrated that Malassezia, present as a commensal in the epidermis, may play an important role in inducing certain inflammatory processes by stimulating cytokine production by keratinocytes. The antimycotics proved to be useful in the therapy of the following skin conditions: seborrheic dermatitis, Malassezia folliculitis, perioral dermatitis and papulopustular rosacea, as well as adult atopic dermatitis. The use of antimycotic drugs in amicrobial palmoplantar pustulosis and sebopsoriasis remains controversial. These medications are also an alternative in the treatment of leishmaniosis

Fungi in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2: prevalence, species of isolated strains.

In 77 diabetic patients the detection of fungi was carried out in the oral cavity, digestive tract, genital organs and skin lesions. Patient age ranged from 39 to 82 years, with the Body Mass Index (BMI) from 22 to the highest values of 46.5. Diabetes control was assessed by determination of the glucose level in serum after overnight fasting and after lunch, as well as by determination of the НБА | с level. Fungi were diagnosed in 61 patients (79.6%). The total of 111 fungal strains were isolated in 319 cultures evaluated from 12 biological materials. Fungal strains were detected in the highest percentage in oral cavity (77.9%), in the lower percentage in anus (33.8%), vagina discharge (11.6%) and the region of vulva (14.3%). Fungi were observed in one focus — exclusively in the oral cavity — in 28 (36.4%) patients, whereas they occurred in multifocal infections in 33 (42.9%) patients. The isolated fungal strains were classified into 4 genera (Candida, Saccharomyces, Trichosporon, Aspergillus) and 12 species. The most frequently detected fungi were C. albicans (55.2%), followed by C. glabrata (12.4%), C parapsilosis (10.5%) and С. tropicalis (9.5%). Relatively low percentage of fungi identified in vagina was associated, among others, with the fact that most of the female patients with diabetes were at the postmenopausal period. In all the patients in whom fungi were isolated from the vagina contents, these fungi were also found in other ontocenoses. The increase in percentage of fungal strains from genera other than Candida in patients with a higher risk is of clinical importance, as some of them are resistant in vitro to azole derivatives e.g. fluconazole. The digestive tract is thought to be the most frequent fungal habitat. A considerable prevalence of fungi, multifocal infections, particularly related to oral cavity and anus, and occurrence of high percentage of strains different from C. albicans species of Candida genus in female patients with type 2 diabetes indicate the necessity of the special mode of diagnostic and therapeutic management

Big data significance in remote medical diagnostics based on deep learning techniques

In this paper we discuss the evaluation of neural networks in accordance with medical image classification and analysis. We also summarize the existing databases with images which could be used for training deep models that can be later utilized in remote home-based health care systems. In particular, we propose methods for remote video-based estimation of patient vital signs and other health-related parameters. Additionally, potential challenges of using, storing and transferring sensitive patient data are discussed