Patients\u27 genetic data protection in Polish law and EU law

The article entitled "Patients\u27 genetic data protection in Polish law and EU law - selected issues" presents issues related to the protection of patients\u27 rights and focuses on the legal basis for genetic testing and genetic data protection. Based on a comparison of regulations of international law and regulations on genetic tests introduced in foreign legal systems, the text analyzes the assumptions for the draft of the Polish act on genetic tests performed for health purposes. It presents the patient\u27s consent to testing, the scope of information provided to the patient, the right to disclose research results to related persons and the protection of genetic data. In reference to the regulations set out in other acts, it was noted that they do not guarantee the protection of information obtained as a result of research. Due to the particular nature of genetic data, they require increased protection, which can be guaranteed through implementation of the Act on Genetic Research. In the final part, authors presented the most important achievements of the judicature of European Court of Human Rights in the field of genetic data protection

Proteção do cliente e consumidor de serviços financeiros na União Europeia e lei polaca

Article presents main assumptions of the Act on the processing of complaints by financial market participants as well as the Financial Commissioner (Journal of Laws from 2016, item 892), regarding the means of protection of financial services clients. In the first part, the author analyzes the circumstances of entry into force of the Act. Then performs a comparison of the Act to normative acts regulating analyzed matter before the entry into force of the Act. At the end the author assesses the scope, importance and legal nature of solutions introduced in the Act to protect the interests of clients of financial services.O artigo apresenta os principais pressupostos da Lei sobre o processamento de reclamações por participantes do mercado financeiro, bem como o Comissário Financeiro (Journal of Laws de 2016, item 892), sobre os meios de proteção dos clientes de serviços financeiros. Na primeira parte, o autor analisa as circunstâncias da entrada em vigor da lei. Em seguida, realiza uma comparação da Lei aos atos normativos que regulam a matéria analisada antes da entrada em vigor da lei. No final, o autor avalia o escopo, importância e natureza jurídica das soluções introduzidas na Lei para proteger os interesses dos clientes de serviços financeiros

Diastolic dyssynchrony and its exercise-induced changes affect exercise capacity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Background: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dyssynchrony is common in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF). Little is known however, about its pathophysiology and clinical effects. Herein is hypothesized that presence of diastolic dyssynchrony at rest or at exercise may importantly contribute to HF symptoms. The aim was to investigate the influence of diastolic dyssynchrony and its exercise-induced changes on exercise capacity in HFREF patients. Methods: Patients with stable, chronic HF, LV ejection fraction < 35%, sinus rhythm and QRS ≥ 120ms were eligible for the study. Rest and cyclo-ergometer exercise echocardiography were performed. Diastolic dyssynchrony was defined as opposing-wall-diastolic-delay ≥ 55 ms measured in tissue-Doppler imaging. Exercise capacity was assessed by peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). Association between diastolic dyssynchrony and VO2peak was assessed in univariate regression analysis and further adjusted for possible confounders. Results: 48 patients were included (aged 63.7 ± 12.2). Twenty-seven (56.25%) had diastolic dyssynchrony at rest and 13 (27%) at exercise. Twenty-two (46%) experienced a change in diastolic dyssynchrony status during exercise. In univariate models diastolic dyssynchrony at rest or at exercise were associated with lower VO2peak (beta coefficient = –3.8, p = 0.004; beta coefficient = –3.6, p = 0.02, respectively). However, the ability to restore diastolic synchronicity during exercise was associated with higher VO2peak (beta coefficient = 3.4, p = 0.04) and remained an important predictor of exercise capacity after adjustment for age and HF etiology. Conclusions: The ability to restore diastolic synchronicity at exercise predicts exercise capacity in patients with HFREF

Ischaemic aetiology predicts exercise dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Background: Left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony is common in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF). However, various conditions including exercise may alter its presence. LV dyssynchrony at exercise (ExDYS) has been associated with lower cardiac performance and exercise capacity but with higher cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response. Therefore, understanding mechanisms underlying ExDYS may improve patient selection for CRT. Aims: To investigate for predictors of ExDYS among patients with HFREF and prolonged QRS duration. Methods: Consecutive patients with stable, chronic HF, LVEF<35%, sinus rhythm and QRS≥120ms were eligible. 2D echocardiography and tissue-Doppler were performed at rest and peak cyclo-ergometer exercise to assess LV systolic (LVEF) and diastolic function [mitral E-to-e’-wave velocities (E/e’)] and dyssynchrony. Dyssynchrony was defined as a maximal difference between time-to-peak systolic velocities of≥65ms from opposing basal segments. Results: We included 48 patients (aged 63.7±12.2, 81.3% male). Ischaemic aetiology (ICM) was present in 23 (47.9%). Dyssynchrony at rest (rDYS) was present in 32 (66.6%) patients, while ExDYS in 23 (47.9%). ExDYS correlated with ICM, lower LVEF and higher E/e’ ratio. ICM remained significant predictor of ExDYS in multiple regression model (OR:4.3, 95%CI:1.2–15.7, p=003). On exercise, 19 (39.5%) patients changed the rDYS status. While, exercise-induced dyssynchronization was observed only in ICM patients, exercise-induced resynchronization was more likely in patients with lower rest E/e’ ratio (OR:0.85, 95%CI:0.75–0.97, p=0.02). Conclusions: Ischaemic aetiology of HFREF is an important predictor of ExDYS. Restoration of LV synchronicity during exercise is more likely in patients with less advanced LV diastolic dysfunction

Analysis of consistency between temporospatial gait parameters and gait assessment with the use of Wisconsin Gait Scale in post-stroke patients

Introduction Due to the increasing incidence and social effects of stroke there is a growing interest in finding methods enabling gait analysis in this group of patients. Observational techniques are predominantly applied in clinical practice; on the other hand advanced quantitative methods allow in-depth multidimensional gait assessment. The present study was designed to assess the consistency between temporospatial gait parameters acquired through 3-dimensional gait analysis and the results of gait assessment with the use of observational WGS in post stroke hemiparetic patients. Material and method The study was performed in a group of 30 post-stroke patients, over 6 months from the onset of ischaemic stroke, who were able to walk unassisted. Gait assessment based on WGS was performed by an experienced physiotherapist, with the use of video recordings. Assessment of temporospatial parameters was based on gait analysis performed with BTS Smart system. Results The findings show moderate correlation between WGS based gait assessment and gait velocity (r=−0.39; p=0.0316). Similar relationship was identified between gait cycle duration and score in WGS for both unaffected (r=−0.36; p=0.0477) and affected side (r=−0.37; p=0.0426). Higher correlation level was demonstrated for stance phase on the unaffected side and gait assessment based on WGS (r=0.58; p=0.0009). Conclusions Gait assessments with the use of temporospatial parameters and with observational WGS were found to produce moderate and good consistent results. WSG is a useful, simple tool for assessing gait in post stroke hemiparetic patients

Challenges for the self-assembly of poly(Ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) into polymersomes : beyond the theoretical paradigms

We acknowledge support from the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP-Brazil, projects 2013/08617-7 (Thematic project) and 2014/10456-4 (Apolinário, A.C. PhD fellowship) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq- Brazil, project 303334/2014-2).Polymersomes (PL), vesicles formed by self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers, have been described as promising nanosystems for drug delivery, especially of biomolecules. The film hydration method (FH) is widely used for PL preparation, however, it often requires long hydration times and commonly results in broad size distribution. In this work, we describe the challenges of the self-assembly of poly (ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) into PL by FH exploring different hydrophilic volume fraction (f) values of this copolymer, stirring times, temperatures and post-FH steps in an attempt to reduce broad size distribution of the nanostructures. We demonstrate that, alongside f value, the methods employed for hydration and post-film steps influence the PEG-PLA self-assembly into PL. With initial FH, we found high PDI values (>0.4). However, post-hydration centrifugation significantly reduced PDI to 0.280. Moreover, extrusion at higher concentrations resulted in further improvement of the monodispersity of the samples and narrow size distribution. For PL prepared at concentration of 0.1% (m/v), extrusion resulted in the narrower size distributions corresponding to PDI values of 0.345, 0.144 and 0.081 for PEG45-PLA69, PEG114-PLA153 and PEG114-PLA180, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrated that copolymers with smaller f resulted in larger PL and, therefore, higher encapsulation efficiency (EE%) for proteins, since larger vesicles enclose larger aqueous volumes.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe