Heteroptera Poloniae - Acta Faunistica

[A contribution to the distribution of true-bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in Poland – II]. This paper presents over 3000 new faunistic records for 315 species of true-bugs in Poland. The distribution data of very rarely collected species, having less than 10 known localities in the country: Aradus bimaculatus Reuter, 1872, A. signaticornis Sahlberg R.F., 1848, Arocatus melanocephalus (Fabricius, 1798), Charagochilus spiralifer Kerzhner, 1988, Dichrooscytus gustavi Josifov, 1981, Dicyphus annu-latus (Wolff, 1804), Dictyla rotundata (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835), Emblethis denticollis Horvath, 1878, Heterogaster cathariae Geoffroy, 1785, Leptopus marmoratus (Goeze, 1778), Megalonotus praetextatus (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835), Philomyrmex insignis R.F. Sahlberg, 1848, Prostemma guttula guttula (Fabricius, 1787), Temnostethus reduvinus reduvinus (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1850), Tropidothorax leucopterus (Goeze, 1778), and alien species expanding their distribution range in Poland, i.e. Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heidemann, 1910), Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758), Orsillus depressus (Mulsant & Rey, 1852), Oxycarenus lavaterae (Fabricius, 1787) are summarized and visualized on the maps. A list of species reported for the first time from each zoogeographical regions of Poland is also provided

Przyczynek do rozmieszczenia pluskwiaków różnoskrzydłych (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) w Polsce - III

[A contribution to the distribution of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in Poland – III]. This paper is a continuation of a series of publications on the distribution of true bugs in Poland and includes new faunistic data for 306 species of true bugs. In total, data on 62 species previously unreported in 21 zoogeographical regions of Poland is presented, including some rarely collected: Brachyarthrum limitatum, Eurydema fieberi, Peritrechus gracilicornis, Stephanitis pyri, Tingis crispata. It is also noteworthy that this paper was largely prepared using citizen science, where many people (non-specialists in Heteroptera) collected data constituting almost 25% of the presented records. Importantly, the true bugs recorded in this way include species very rarely collected in Poland, and species alien to Polish fauna (e.g. Oxycarenus lavaterae, Nezara viridula and Halyomorpha halys). Due to the lack of funding being a significant obstacle to biodiversity studies in Poland, citizen science seems to be the only way to effectively monitor all the dynamic changes taking place in national entomofauna

Regional Strain Pattern Index—A Novel Technique to Predict CRT Response

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves outcome in patients with heart failure (HF) however approximately 30% of patients still remain non-responsive. We propose a novel index—Regional Strain Pattern Index (RSPI)—to prospectively evaluate response to CRT. Methods: Echocardiography was performed in 49 patients with HF (66.5 ± 10 years, LVEF 24.9 ± 6.4%, QRS width 173.1 ± 19.1 ms) two times: before CRT implantation and 15 ± 7 months after. At baseline, dyssynchrony was assessed including RSPI and strain pattern. RSPI was calculated from all three apical views across 12 segments as the sum of dyssynchronous components. From every apical view, presence of four components were assessed: (1) contraction of the early-activated wall; (2) prestretching of the late activated wall; (3) contraction of the early-activated wall in the first 70% of the systolic ejection phase; (4) peak contraction of the late-activated wall after aortic valve closure. Each component scored 1 point, thus the maximum was 12 points. Results: Responders reached higher mean RSPI values than non-responders (5.86 ± 2.9 vs. 4.08 ± 2.4; p = 0.044). In logistic regression analysis value of RSPI ≥ 7 points was a predictor of favorable CRT effect (OR: 12; 95% CI = 1.33–108.17; p = 0.004). Conclusions: RSPI could be a valuable predictor of positive outcome in HF patients treated with CRT

Management of valvular and structural heart diseases during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: an expert opinion of the Working Group on Valvular Heart Diseases, the Working Group on Cardiac Surgery, and the Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Cardiac Society

ABSTRACT The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), represents a major challenge for healthcare. The involvement of cardiovascular system in COVID‑19 has been proven and increased healthcare system resources are redirected towards handling infected patients, which induces major changes in access to services and prioritization in the management of patients with chronic cardiovascular disease unrelated to COVID‑19. In this expert opinion, conceived by the task force involving the Working Groups on Valvular Heart Diseases and Cardiac Surgery as well as the Association of Cardiovascular Intervention of the Polish Cardiac Society, modification of diagnostic pathways, principles of healthcare personnel protection, and treatment guidelines regarding triage and prioritization are suggested. Heart Teams responsible for the treatment of valvular heart disease should continue their work using telemedicine and digital technology. Diagnostic tests must be simplified or deferred to minimize the number of potentially dangerous aerosol‑generating procedures, such as transesophageal echocardiography or exercise imaging. The treatment of aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation has to be offered particularly due to urgent indications and in patients with advanced disease and poor prognosis. Expert risk stratification is essential for triage and setting the priority lists. In each case, an appropriate level of personal protection must be ensured for the healthcare personnel to prevent spreading infection and preserve specialized manpower, who will supply the continuing need for handling serious chronic cardiovascular disease. Importantly, as soon as the local epidemic situation improves, efforts must be made to restore standard opportunities for elective treatment of valvular heart disease and occluder‑based therapies according to existing guidelines, thus rebuilding the state ‑of ‑the ‑art cardiovascular services

Postępowanie w wadach zastawkowych serca i chorobach strukturalnych w czasie pandemii COVID‑19 w Polsce

Trwająca pandemia COVID‑19 stanowi poważne wyzwanie dla opieki zdrowotnej. W związku z udowodnionym objęciem układu krążenia przez infekcję COVID‑19 zwiększone zasoby systemu opieki zdrowotnej są przekierowywane na pacjentów zakażonych, co zaburza dostęp do leczenia pacjentów z niepowiązaną przewlekłą chorobą układu krążenia. W dokumencie stworzonym przez Sekcję Wad Zastawkowych, Sekcję Kardiochirurgii oraz Asocjację Interwencji Sercowo‑Naczyniowych Polskiego Towarzystwa Kardiologicznego (PTK) zaproponowano dostosowane do sytuacji pandemii modyfikacje ścieżek diagnostyki i wytycznychpostępowania leczniczego, a także zasady ochrony pracowników medycznych przed zakażeniem. Kardiogrupy dedykowane leczeniu wad zastawkowych powinny funkcjonować nadal z wykorzystaniem telemedycyny i technologii cyfrowych. Badania diagnostyczne powinny być upraszczane lub odraczane w celu zminimalizowania liczby przeprowadzanych potencjalnie niebezpiecznych procedur generującychaerozole, takich jak echokardiografia przezprzełykowa lub badania obciążeniowe. Leczenie zabiegowe zwężenia zastawki aortalnej i niedomykalności mitralnej  powinno być wykonywane w razie zaistnienia wskazań pilnych oraz u pacjentów z zaawansowaną chorobą i złym rokowaniem. Ekspercka ocena rokowania ma zasadnicze znaczenie w ustalaniu list pacjentów o wysokim priorytecie leczenia zabiegowego. W każdym scenariuszu personel medyczny musi mieć zapewnione odpowiednie środki ochrony osobistej, aby można było zapobiegać rozprzestrzenianiu się zakażeń i chronić specjalistów w celu zagwarantowania ciągłości leczenia pacjentów z poważnymi chorobami układu krążenia. Co ważne, w przypadku poprawy sytuacji epidemicznej należy podjąć wysiłki zmierzające do odtworzenia możliwości leczenia zastawkowych chorób serca i prowadzenia terapii związanych z implantacjami okluderów zgodnie z aktualnymi wytycznymi towarzystw naukowych, przywracając adekwatny standard opieki kardiologicznej