Quality of life and rural place of residence in Polish women : population based study

Objective: The purpose of this population-based study was to analyse the association between the health-related quality of life and rural residence among Polish females, including variables related to social environment and clinical characteristics. Methods: The snowball recruitment method was used to invite 1,560 women aged 45-60 to participate in the study. Participants received a questionnaire about demographic characteristics, environmental and work stress, use of anxiolytichypnotic medications and self-reported quality of life based on the SF-36 form. Univariate and multivariate analysis was carried out by means of a logistic regression model. Results: We found worse physical health and better mental health among women living in rural areas compared to those from urban settings. The rural residence was an independent predictor for poor physical health (below 25 percentile) odds ratio [OR] 1.6 95%, confi dence interval [CI] 1.17-2.2). Living in rural areas was also associated at the borderline level of statistical signifi cance, with reduction of risk of low quality of life in mental health (OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.55-1.02). According to other results from multivariate analysis, being retired, receiving social pension, long duration of illness symptoms, and consulting a medical specialist were the risk factors of reported bad physical health. Higher education and access to medical specialist protects against having a bad quality of life related to mental health. Being given the sack, stress at work, feeling anger, and long duration of symptoms are the risk factors of poor mental health. Conclusion: The rural residence is strongly associated with environmental and psychosocial factors in women aged 40-65

Melatonin and cortisol profiles in patients with pituitary tumors

The optic tract section at the optic chiasm is expected to disturb the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) rhythm, circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion rhythms in humans, although detailed studies have never been conducted. The aim of this paper was to describe melatonin and cortisol profiles in patients with a pituitary tumor exerting optic chiasm compression. Six patients with pituitary tumors of different size, four of whom had significant optic chiasm compression, were examined. In each brain, MRI, an ophthalmological examination including the vision field and laboratory tests were performed. Melatonin and cortisol concentrations were measured at 22:00h, 02:00h, 06:00h, and 10:00h in patients lying in a dark, isolated room. One of the four cases with significant optic chiasm compression presented a flattened melatonin rhythm. The melatonin rhythm was also disturbed in one patient without optic chiasm compression. Larger tumors may play a role in the destruction of neurons connecting the retina with the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and breaking of basic way for inhibiting effect to the SCN from the retina

Comparative studies on promotion of health and life style of hospital staff in Sweden and Poland

Introduction. Recently, an increase has been observed in the number of patients suffering from diseases which are the consequence of an anti-health life style; therefore it is necessary to undertake proper actions in this area, including those addressed to hospital staff. Objectives. 1) Comparison of self-reported state of health and life style between hospital staff in Sweden and Poland, and the motivation of these employees to change the to-date life style for one that is more health promoting. 2) Presentation, based on Swedish experiences in the field of health promotion in hospitals, of the possibilities to implement these changes in Polish conditions. Material and method. The study covered the staff from the following hospitals: 1) hospitals in Ostergotland County, Sweden, and 2) the Ludwik Perzyna Regional Polyclinical Hospital in Kalisz, Poland. The studies were conducted in parallel in Sweden and in Poland during the fourth quarter 2010. The research instrument was a questionnaire form. Results. The following measures should be undertaken by the staff of Polish hospitals: an increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetables, physical activity, organization of workshops aimed at the shaping of skills of coping with stress and relieving stress, assistance in reducing body weight and increasing physical activity. Obligatory breaks at work should be introduced for the consumption of meals and intake of beverages, including water, promotion of fluid replacement would reduce fatigue. An obligatory lunchtime would allow each employee to consume a decent meal, and consequently have respite away from one's own work activities. In order to have a well-functioning staff an employer should, in his/her own interest, decrease potential sick absenteeism, provide incentives for motor activity, e.g. by the organization of groups, reduction of weekly working time on behalf of documented physical activity, or financial support for the purchase of tickets for various forms of physical exercises. Promotion of collective exercise, e.g. common nordic walking for 30 min. during lunch, competition in the largest number of steps made. Promotion of healthy nutrition by the preparation of recipes for meals, several exemplary healthy meals in the form of a healthy alternative breakfast. During this event, a basket of fruit is provided, instead of cakes and sweets. Conclusions. 1) The life style of the staff of health care facilities is more health promoting in Sweden than in Poland. 2) It is possible to change the life style of employees of health care facilities into one that is more health promoting. Changes in this area have been made in Sweden with a great success; therefore, it is worthwhile implementing in Poland these Swedish experiences which may function also in Polish conditions. 3) The foundations of health promotion in enterprises have been known for a long time; however, considering the fact that the comparative studies show that these foundations are more advanced in Sweden, it is necessary that Polish employers devote more attention to this problem, and become interested in Swedish experiences in this area

Identification of genetic variants associated with Huntington's disease progression: a genome-wide association study

Background Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, HTT. Age at onset has been used as a quantitative phenotype in genetic analysis looking for Huntington's disease modifiers, but is hard to define and not always available. Therefore, we aimed to generate a novel measure of disease progression and to identify genetic markers associated with this progression measure. Methods We generated a progression score on the basis of principal component analysis of prospectively acquired longitudinal changes in motor, cognitive, and imaging measures in the 218 indivduals in the TRACK-HD cohort of Huntington's disease gene mutation carriers (data collected 2008–11). We generated a parallel progression score using data from 1773 previously genotyped participants from the European Huntington's Disease Network REGISTRY study of Huntington's disease mutation carriers (data collected 2003–13). We did a genome-wide association analyses in terms of progression for 216 TRACK-HD participants and 1773 REGISTRY participants, then a meta-analysis of these results was undertaken. Findings Longitudinal motor, cognitive, and imaging scores were correlated with each other in TRACK-HD participants, justifying use of a single, cross-domain measure of disease progression in both studies. The TRACK-HD and REGISTRY progression measures were correlated with each other (r=0·674), and with age at onset (TRACK-HD, r=0·315; REGISTRY, r=0·234). The meta-analysis of progression in TRACK-HD and REGISTRY gave a genome-wide significant signal (p=1·12 × 10−10) on chromosome 5 spanning three genes: MSH3, DHFR, and MTRNR2L2. The genes in this locus were associated with progression in TRACK-HD (MSH3 p=2·94 × 10−8 DHFR p=8·37 × 10−7 MTRNR2L2 p=2·15 × 10−9) and to a lesser extent in REGISTRY (MSH3 p=9·36 × 10−4 DHFR p=8·45 × 10−4 MTRNR2L2 p=1·20 × 10−3). The lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TRACK-HD (rs557874766) was genome-wide significant in the meta-analysis (p=1·58 × 10−8), and encodes an aminoacid change (Pro67Ala) in MSH3. In TRACK-HD, each copy of the minor allele at this SNP was associated with a 0·4 units per year (95% CI 0·16–0·66) reduction in the rate of change of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Motor Score, and a reduction of 0·12 units per year (95% CI 0·06–0·18) in the rate of change of UHDRS Total Functional Capacity score. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age of onset. Interpretation The multidomain progression measure in TRACK-HD was associated with a functional variant that was genome-wide significant in our meta-analysis. The association in only 216 participants implies that the progression measure is a sensitive reflection of disease burden, that the effect size at this locus is large, or both. Knockout of Msh3 reduces somatic expansion in Huntington's disease mouse models, suggesting this mechanism as an area for future therapeutic investigation

Relationship between facets of religiosity and religious values among students of rehabilitation and physiotherapy

The main aim of this study was to examine whether many facets of religiosity are related to religious values. The sample consisted of 75 students of rehabilitation and physiotherapy from the School of Bydgoszcz. The following tools were used: Scheller’s Values Scale, Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES ), Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF SCSORF ), Religious Coping Scale (RCOPE ), Religious Support Scale (RSS ) as well as one-item scales regarding frequency of prayer and frequency of church attendance. Student’s religiosity are reflected in their values structure. Many aspects of religiosity are directly and indirectly related to religious values like faith, God, life eternity and salvation. According to results students are very religious faith or non religious in all aspect of their religiosity

The Role of Cosmetic Gynecology Treatments in Women in Perimenopausal Period

The conditions in which we live nowadays contribute to exposure of our bodies to harmful factors such as UV radiation, pollution, smoking, poor eating habits, low physical activity, stress, which thereafter lead to the acceleration of skin aging process. In women, the process is additionally de-pendent on the menopause, as a result of the disappearance of hormones, the process is faster. Physiological changes that occur in women’s body during perimenopausal and menopausal period affect their sexual function: pain during an intercourse, decreased libido, lack of agitation. Defi-ciency of hormones, besides skin changes, leads to vaginal dryness, accompanied by inflammation, often correlated with discharge and burning. As a result of the loss of hyaluronic acid labia become slack and less moisturized. In addition, there has been observed: a gradual loss of pigment and hair, involution of the clitoris, and involution and sticking of labia minora, lipoatrophy of labia majora with subsequent reduction in their volume and thinning the lining around the vaginal opening. This article presents processes of skin aging. It describes mechanisms of intrinsic and extrinsic aging. It also presents the mechanisms of accelerated aging in women in perimenopausal period—accelerated skin aging dependent on hormonal factors associated with the loss of ovaria

Bioethical dilemmas in the research on suicide among persons with Huntington’s disease and their families

W niniejszym komentarzu autorzy skupiają się nad odpowiedzią na bardzo ważne pytanie z zakresu bioetyki: w jakim stopniu etyczne jest prowadzenie badań nad samobójstwami osób z chorobą Huntingtona i członków ich rodzin? Można stwierdzić, że w świecie naukowym istnieje obecnie podział na dwie grupy: entuzjastów i kontestatorów powyższych badań. Poniżej zostaną przedstawione oba stanowiska.In the commentary an answer was sought to a very important bioethical question: how ethical is conducting research into suicide of patients with Huntington’s disease and their family members at risk for HD? In the scientific world there seem to be at present two groups, of "enthusiasts" and "opponents" of the above-mentioned research. Standpoints of both these groups are presented in the paper