Analysis of the impact of sex and age on the variation in the prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in Polish population: a nationwide observational, cross-sectional study

The detection of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) is dependent on many factors and varies between the populations. The aim of the study was first to assess the prevalence of ANA in the Polish adult population depending on age, sex and the cutoff threshold used for the results obtained. Second, we estimated the occurrence of individual types of ANA-staining patterns. We tested 1731 patient samples using commercially available IIFA using two cutoff thresholds of 1:100 and 1:160. We found ANA in 260 participants (15.0%), but the percentage of positive results strongly depended on the cutoff level. For a cutoff threshold 1:100, the positive population was 19.5% and for the 1:160 cutoff threshold, it was 11.7%. The most prevalent ANA-staining pattern was AC-2 Dense Fine speckled (50%), followed by AC-21 Reticular/AMA (14.38%) ANA more common in women (72%); 64% of ANA-positive patients were over 50 years of age. ANA prevalence in the Polish population is at a level observed in other highly developed countries and is more prevalent in women and elderly individuals. To reduce the number of positive results released, we suggest that Polish laboratories should set 1:160 as the cutoff threshold

Jabłka czy pomarańcze? Tendencje spożycia owoców w gospodarstwach domowych

The study examines the recent changes in per capita consumption of apples and exotic fruits focusing on the competition between the two fruit categories. In particular, the per capita consumption of apples declined from about 21 kg in 2004 to about 15 kg in 2012, while the consumption of exotic fruit increased from about 9 kg to kg in 2005 to 12.5 kg in 2012. The examination stresses the inadequacy to analyze consumption using the concept of “an average household” because the concept does not reflect the potential differences in households with inadequate fresh fruit consumption such as families with a large number of children. Using GUS data for the period 2008-2012, the paper illustrates the differences in the consumption of both fruit categories according to households classified applying demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Graphic presentation of per capita consumption volume and statistical test results show the large differences in the consumption of apples, the primary domestic fruit, and imported fruits. Poland’s apple growers, fruit importers, distributors and retailers as well as public health agencies are offered insights useful in making decisions about apple promotion, marketing strategies and consumer education programs.Celem badań było porównanie konsumpcji jabłek i owoców południowych w latach 2008-2012 przez mieszkańców Polski. Podkreślono nieadekwatność pojęcia „przeciętnego gospodarstwa domowego”, które nie odzwierciedla potencjalnych różnic pomiędzy przeciętnymi gospodarstwami a takimi, które cechuje niewystarczająca konsumpcja świeżych owoców, np. gospodarstw wielodzietnych. Analizy dokonano na podstawie danych GUS za lata 2008-2012. Zilustrowano różnice w konsumpcji obu kategorii owoców oceniając cechy demograficzne i socjoekonomiczne. Wyniki badań potwierdziły duże różnice pomiędzy konsumpcją jabłek, najważniejszego owocu krajowego a importowanymi owocami południowymi. Wyniki mogą być przydatne polskim sadownikom, importerom owoców, dystrybutorom i detalistom, a także agencjom odpowiedzialnym za zdrowie publiczne do podejmowania decyzji o promocji jabłek, strategii marketingowych i programów edukacji konsumenta

Migration to Rural Counties: An Example from the North-Eastern Poland

The paper examines factors influencing migration to rural counties in Poland's underdeveloped regions using county data level and linear regression equation with exponential heteroscedastic errors. Quality of life factors, including the availability of various utility services positively influence the number of migrants, while real estate taxes have a negative effect

Current situation and characteristics of the agricultural biogas sector in Poland as compared to the European Union member countries

The article presents key issues pertaining to the current situation in the national agricultural biogas sector as compared to the European Union. Poland's electric energy generating sector faces the difficult challenge of implementing the EU guidelines regarding the use of energy from renewable resources. Despite the advanced preparation of regulations in that area, the implementation of the Renewable Energy Sources Act has been delayed. The absence of clear legal and financial regulations regarding the support of investors leads to a slow development of the national biogas sector and the loss of its attractiveness. The agricultural biogas sector has a chance of development given the accessible feedstock and is supported by the doubling of agricultural biogas production between 2011-2012