Access to public sports infrastructure in Poland as a preventive factor for cardiovascular diseases

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant health concern globally, including in Poland. Physical activity has been identified as a crucial preventive factor for CVDs, and access to public sports infrastructure plays a vital role in promoting physical activity. However, the relationship between access to such infrastructure and its impact on cardiovascular health outcomes in Poland remains understudied. Aim of the study: This study aims to investigate the impact of access to public sports infrastructure on the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and mortality rates in Poland. Materials and methods: Publicly available data were obtained regarding sports facilities, population structure, hospitalizations, and deaths. Results: There is a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.3096; p < 0.001) between hospitalization rates for cardiovascular diseases and the stadiums and playing fields available in the studied countries. The correlation between cardiovascular hospitalizations and indoor and outdoor arenas and gyms was also negative, but its effect was moderately weak (r = -0.2068, p < 0.001; r = -0.2597, p < 0.001, respectively). The average hospitalization rate for cardiovascular diseases in subjects over 65 years of age (M = 12117.24) was significantly higher compared to the group of all subjects (M = 3082.18) and subjects under 65 years of age (M = 1260.96). There is a negative correlation between the death rate and the availability of selected sports facilities, with a moderately weak effect for all sports infrastructure subgroups (r = -0.215 - -0.233). Conclusion: The effect of accessibility to public sport infrastructure on CVDs prevalence and related deaths is moderate to weak. The studied positive effect particularly affects people under 65 years of age. Further studies of other sport-connected predictors may be beneficial

Monkeypox in humans – the review

Monkeypox is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus with a presentation similar to smallpox. Being previously endemic to Africa, now the disease is spreading across the world, causing fear of a potential next pandemic. Smallpox vaccine, previously providing cross-immunity to monkeypox virus, due to cessation of vaccinations, caused the decline in immunity against these viruses. Defined ways of transmission are animal-to-human through consumption or attack by an affected animal, human-to-human through close contact, or via respiratory droplets. Currently, there are no specific antiviral drugs and vaccine specific to monkeypox, and for symptomatic care, there are no determined guidelines

Primary Membranous Nephropathy - what do we know today?

Introduction: Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, characterized by the deposition of immune complexes in the glomerular basement membrane. Aim of this study: evaluate the features of PMN such as incidence, pathology, clinical features and assess the effectiveness of immunosuppressive therapy. Materials and Methods: The review was based on articles found in PubMed database, using keyword „primary membranous nephropathy” with appropriate sufixes. Results: PMN is a challenging disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management. Laboratory tests, including assessment of autoantibodies and complement levels, are essential for the diagnosis of PMN. Immunosuppressive therapy can be effective in inducing remission in a significant proportion of patients. Conclusions: Further research is needed to optimize the duration and intensity of immunosuppressive therapy, and to evaluate the role of newer therapies such as rituximab and belimumab

New Opportunities and Challenges for Health Professionals in the era of Artificial Intelligence – Review

Introduction and purpose: Modern medical knowledge has grown to a vastness incomprehensible for a single health professional to learn and accommodate. The usage of modern information technologies comes to help, one of them being artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science aimed at developing solutions to perform tasks similar to the human brain, but more efficient and complex, without actual human intervention.  The goal of this review is to provide reader with the knowledge how artificial intelligence is applied in various branches of medicine. Brief description of the state of knowledge: In the fields of infectious diseases, including COVID-19 diagnostics, radiology, dermatology and surgery, works lean toward the statement, which suspect application of AI is beneficial for medical practitioners. Programs help to develop statistical models for virus spreading and the creation of antiviral solutions. The radiological application involves the analysis of images to aid radiologists in diagnosing certain features, similarly to dermatology, where eg. AI can identify malignancy of skin nevi. In the department of surgery, predictive algorithms can help in choosing operation methods and improve outcomes. Conclusions: Usage of AI assistance in the medical field has proven to be successful, but it is yet to be commonly encountered in everyday work. Programs need to be further developed and made more approachable to users without expertise in the IT field. AI may also prove useful in the process of education of health professionals

Breast cancer screening programmes in selected European countries and Poland

Breast neoplasms are the most common malignant tumors among women. In recent years breast cancer incidence rate has increased. Due to this fact the European Union presents evidence-based guidelines on breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Recommended and commonly used screening test is mammography. The effectiveness of prophylaxis is measured by a decrease in breast cancer mortality rate. Detailed recommendations in EU member countries differ from those presented by the EU institutions. This paper compares the screening programme in Poland to screening programmes in other EU members. The evaluation considers compliance with European screening guidelines and changes in mortality rates since the introduction of the screening programs. General guidelines in Poland are close to European ones. However, some Polish health centers still use analog mammography instead of recommended digital mammography. Furthermore, mortality rate changes in Poland maintain on a constant level due to women’s reluctant participation in screening tests

Access to public sports infrastructure in Poland as a preventive factor for cardiovascular diseases

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant health concern globally, including in Poland. Physical activity has been identified as a crucial preventive factor for CVDs, and access to public sports infrastructure plays a vital role in promoting physical activity. However, the relationship between access to such infrastructure and its impact on cardiovascular health outcomes in Poland remains understudied. Aim of the study: This study aims to investigate the impact of access to public sports infrastructure on the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and mortality rates in Poland. Materials and methods: Publicly available data were obtained regarding sports facilities, population structure, hospitalizations, and deaths. Results: There is a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.3096; p < 0.001) between hospitalization rates for cardiovascular diseases and the stadiums and playing fields available in the studied countries. The correlation between cardiovascular hospitalizations and indoor and outdoor arenas and gyms was also negative, but its effect was moderately weak (r = -0.2068, p < 0.001; r = -0.2597, p < 0.001, respectively). The average hospitalization rate for cardiovascular diseases in subjects over 65 years of age (M = 12117.24) was significantly higher compared to the group of all subjects (M = 3082.18) and subjects under 65 years of age (M = 1260.96). There is a negative correlation between the death rate and the availability of selected sports facilities, with a moderately weak effect for all sports infrastructure subgroups (r = -0.215 - -0.233). Conclusion: The effect of accessibility to public sport infrastructure on CVDs prevalence and related deaths is moderate to weak. The studied positive effect particularly affects people under 65 years of age. Further studies of other sport-connected predictors may be beneficial

Primary Membranous Nephropathy - what do we know today?

Introduction: Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, characterized by the deposition of immune complexes in the glomerular basement membrane. Aim of this study: evaluate the features of PMN such as incidence, pathology, clinical features and assess the effectiveness of immunosuppressive therapy. Materials and Methods: The review was based on articles found in PubMed database, using keyword „primary membranous nephropathy” with appropriate sufixes. Results: PMN is a challenging disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management. Laboratory tests, including assessment of autoantibodies and complement levels, are essential for the diagnosis of PMN. Immunosuppressive therapy can be effective in inducing remission in a significant proportion of patients. Conclusions: Further research is needed to optimize the duration and intensity of immunosuppressive therapy, and to evaluate the role of newer therapies such as rituximab and belimumab

Schematic description of the test stand for exposure of <i>C</i>. <i>albicans</i> cells to AMF.

a) side view: the base [1] with electromagnet [2], on which 8-well LAB-TEK chambers [3] were located; b) view from above 8-well LAB-TEK chambers located on the electromagnet [2] with simultaneous exposure of 4 biological replicates (labelled as a, b, c and d) to AMF. S and N indicate a polarity.</p

Effect of AMF on the growth of <i>C</i>. <i>albicans</i> strains.

The viability expressed as optical density (OD600) of C. albicans’ cells exposed to AMF in comparison with cells cultured in control conditions (without AMF). Statistical analysis was performed by the t-Student test.</p

The influence of the simultaneous action of the AMF and antifungals on <i>C</i>. <i>albicans</i>.

The influence of the simultaneous action of the AMF and antifungals on C. albicans.</p