4 research outputs found
The use of sensory perception of blind and visually impaired masseurs for the purpose of early-stage breast cancer screening by palpation (the “Breast-POL” project)
Introduction. Methodological assumptions as well as the initial stage of the execution of the project entitled “Breast-POL” — the use of sensory perception of blind and visually impaired masseurs for the purpose of breast cancer screening by palpation were presented.
Materials and methods. A list of incentives to conduct this methodologically adequate study includes: 1. Encouraging and widely disseminated German reports (these reports, however, were of high generality and they did not provide the adequate methodology); 2. Theoretical data on the hypercompensation of other senses than vision in the blind; 3. Preliminary information on the involvement of the blind in breast cancer screening by palpation in developing countries.
Results. Compared to people with normal vision, a statistically significant higher sensitivity (63.0 vs 47.5%) and lower specificity (89.6 vs 93.7%) in the detection of pathological lesions, using a phantom, was reported in the blind.
Conclusion. Our study confirms that the detection of pathological breast lesions by the blind is highly effective, however, the ability to exclude such lesions was not of clinical significance
Wykorzystanie zdolności sensorycznych niewidomych i niedowidzących masażystów do badań przesiewowych wczesnego raka piersi metodą palpacyjną (projekt „Breast-POL”)
Wstęp. Przedstawiono założenia metodyczne oraz wstępny etap realizacji własnego projektu „Breast-POL” — wykorzystania zdolności sensorycznych niewidomych i niedowidzących masażystów do przesiewowych badań palpacyjnych w diagnostyce raka piersi.
Materiały i metody. Motywacją podjęcia poprawnych metodycznie badań w tym kierunku były: 1. Zachęcające i szeroko reklamowane doniesienia niemieckie (jednak o dużym stopniu ogólności i bez podania adekwatnej metodyki), 2. Dane teoretyczne o hiperkompensacji innych zmysłów niż wzrok u niewidomych, 3. Wstępne informacje o wdrożeniu niewidomych do palpacyjnych diagnostycznych badań przesiewowych w krajach rozwijających się.
Wyniki. W badaniu na modelu stwierdzono istotnie wyższą czułość (63,0% vs 47,5%) i istotnie niższą swoistość (89,6% vs 93,7%) w rozpoznawaniu zmian patologicznych w grupie osób niewidzących w porównaniu z widzącymi.
Wnioski. Badanie osób niewidzących wykazało istotnie wyższą skuteczność w wykrywaniu zamian patologicznych w piersiach, natomiast nieistotną w sensie klinicznym różnicę pod względem zdolności do wykluczania takich zmian
<i>Bacillus anthracis</i> infections – new possibilities of treatment
Introduction and objective
Bacillus anthracis is one of biological agents which may be used in bioterrorism attacks. The aim of this study a review of the new treatment possibilities of anthrax, with particular emphasis on the treatment of pulmonary anthrax.
Abbreviated description of the state of knowledge
Pulmonary anthrax, as the most dangerous clinical form of the disease, is also extremely difficult to treat. Recently, considerable progress in finding new drugs and suitable therapy for anthrax has been achieved, for example, new antibiotics worth to mentioning, levofloxacin, daptomycin, gatifloxacin and dalbavancin. However, alternative therapeutic options should also be considered, among them the antimicrobial peptides, characterized by lack of inducible mechanisms of pathogen resistance. Very promising research considers bacteriophages lytic enzymes against selected bacteria species, including antibiotic-resistant strains.
Results
Interesting results were obtained using monoclonal antibodies: raxibacumab, cAb29 or cocktails of antibodies. The application of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides to boost the immune response elicited by Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed and CMG2 protein complexes, also produced satisfying therapy results. Furthermore, the IFN-α and IFN-β, PA-dominant negative mutant, human inter-alpha inhibitor proteins and LF inhibitors in combination with ciprofloxacin, also showed very promising results.
Conclusions
Recently, progress has been achieved in inhalation anthrax treatment. The most promising new possibilities include: new antibiotics, peptides and bacteriophages enzymes, monoclonal antibodies, antigen PA mutants, and inter alpha inhibitors applications. In the case of the possibility of bioterrorist attacks, the examination of inhalation anthrax treatment should be intensively continued