Mycological and palynological studies of early medieval cultural layers from strongholds in Pszczew and Santok (western Poland)

Cultural layers from early medieval strongholds in Pszczew and Santok have been examined for the presence of pollen grains and spores as well as residues of fungi. The presence of the following remains has been recorded: fossil hyphopodia of Gaeumannomyces, teliospores of Puccinia, spores of Bipolaris, Thecaphora and Tilletia, teliospores of the genus Urocystis, Ustilago and Uromyces, ascocarps (perithecium) of the Ascomycota or the pycnidium of Sphaeropsidales. A greater diversity and abundance of fungi spores sensu lato was recorded in Santok, as compared to Pszczew. Both early medieval sites recorded a significant proportion of cereal pollen, including Secale cereale. It remains an undisputed fact that the grains and other plants collected in both strongholds were strongly infected with fungi. The analysis of the cultural layers for the presence of fungi remains provides significant data on the presence of certain species of plants and their growth conditions in natural environments and in agriculture

Diagnostyka i leczenie padaczki u osób dorosłych — rekomendacje Polskiego Towarzystwa Neurologicznego

W ostatnich latach zmieniły się w Polsce zasady refundacji leków stosowanych w padaczce. Umożliwiają one wybór terapii zgodnie z regułami opracowanymi przez międzynarodowe grupy ekspertów. Skuteczne leczenie padaczki zależy od prawidłowego zdefiniowania typu napadów padaczkowych lub określonego zespołu padaczkowego. W artykule przedstawiono aktualne zalecenia diagnostyczne i terapeutyczne w leczeniu padaczki. Dokonano również adaptacji rekomendacji międzynarodowych do warunków systemu opieki medycznej w Polsce

High prevalence of electroencephalographic frontal intermittent rhythmic delta activity in patients with moderately severe COVID-19

Introduction. The aim of our study was to analyse EEG findings in patients with COVID-19 not requiring respiratory support. Material and methods. We reviewed EEGs performed in patients with COVID-19 between April 2020 and May 2021 at the University Hospital in Kraków, Poland. Demographic and clinical data, including comorbid conditions, discharge disposition, survival, neuroimaging findings, laboratory results, and treatment was collected. Results. The study included 44 EEGs performed in 35 patients (51.4% females), aged 65.5 ± 13.9 years. Almost all patients had at least one comorbidity, and one-third had one or more preexisting neurological conditions. Three quarters of EEGs were abnormal. The most frequent EEG finding was background slowing (16 patients; 45.7%). Frontal findings included frontally predominant rhythmic delta (FIRDA) in 10 (28.6%) patients and focal slowing in the left frontal lobe. Patients with abnormal EEG significantly more often required oxygen supplementation (p = 0.003) and were less likely to recover (p = 0.048). Conclusions and clinical implications. Patients with COVID-19 infection may frequently manifest with an abnormal EEG. FIRDA seems to be a frequent EEG pattern in less severe cases of COVID-19 infection. Future studies are needed to establish whether COVID-19 infection increases the risk for FIRDA, and to investigate its pathogenesis

Course of fatigue among patients previously hospitalised due to COVID-19

Introduction. Discrepancies exist regarding the clinical course and prognostic factors for post-COVID fatigue. Therefore, our aim was to assess the timely course of fatigue and its possible predictors in patients previously hospitalised due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Material and methods. Patients and employees of the University Hospital in Krakow were assessed with the use of a validated neuropsychological questionnaire. Included were participants aged 18 or more, previously hospitalised due to COVID-19, who completed questionnaires only once > 3 months after the onset of infection. Individuals were retrospectively asked about the presence of eight symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome at four timepoints: before COVID-19, within 0–4 weeks, 4–12 weeks, and > 12 weeks post-infection. Results. We enrolled 204 patients [40.2% women, median age 58 (46–66) years] evaluated after a median of 187 (156–220) days from the first positive nasal swab test for SARS-CoV-2. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (44.61%), obesity (36.27%), smoking (28.43%), and hypercholesterolemia (21.08%); none of the patients required mechanical ventilation during hospitalisation. Before COVID-19, 43.62% of patients reported at least one symptom of chronic fatigue. Within 4, 4–12, and > 12 weeks after COVID-19, the prevalence of chronic fatigue was 76.96%, 75.49%, and 66.17%, respectively (all p < 0.001). The frequency of chronic fatigue symptoms decreased within > 12 weeks following the onset of infection but did not return to baseline values, except for self-reported lymph node enlargement. In a multivariable linear regression model, the number of fatigue symptoms was predicted by female sex [β 0.25 (0.12; 0.39), p < 0.001 and 0.26 (0.13; 0.39), p < 0.001 for weeks 0–12 and > 12, respectively], and age [for < 4 weeks, β –0.12 (–0.28; –0.01), p = 0.029]. Conclusions. Most patients previously hospitalised due to COVID-19 suffer from fatigue > 12 weeks after infection onset. The presence of fatigue is predicted by female sex and – only for the acute phase — age

Sex-related patient-reported brain fog symptoms in non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients

Introduction. Previous studies on the prognostic role of sex in post-COVID-associated brain fog have yielded divergent results. Moreover, limited evidence exists regarding the evolution of brain fog symptoms over time, especially in ambulatory patients and separately for women and men. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess brain fog symptoms in nonhospitalised patients with COVID-19, according to their sex. Material and methods. We created a neuropsychological questionnaire including eight questions on the presence of brain fog symptoms in the following four time periods: before COVID-19, and 0–4, 4–12, and > 12 weeks post-infection. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were assessed. In this cross-sectional study, questionnaires were filled out anonymously and retrospectively once only by patients or through a survey link posted online. Included were patients ≥ 18 years, with > 3 months since the SARS-CoV-2 infection onset confirmed by RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab. Results. The study included 303 patients (79.53% women, 47.52% medical personnel). Median time between COVID-19 onset and questionnaire completion was 208 (IQR 161–248) days. Women, compared to men, reported a higher prevalence of problems with writing, reading, and counting (< 4 weeks, OR 3.05, 95% CI: 1.38–6.72; 4–12 weeks, OR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.02–6.14; > 12 weeks, OR 3.74, 95% CI: 1.12–12.56) and thoughts communication (< 4 weeks, OR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.41–4.54; 4–12 weeks, OR 3.74, 95% CI: 1.93–7.24; > 12 weeks, OR 2.00, 95% CI: 1.01–3.99). The difference between the two sexes in answering questions in an understandable/unambiguous manner was statistically significant between four and 12 weeks after infection (OR 2.63, 95% CI: 1.36–5.10), while a sex difference in recalling new information was found below 12 weeks (OR 2.54, 95% CI: 1.44–4.48 and OR 2.43, 95% CI: 1.37–4.31 for < 4 and 4–12 weeks, respectively). No sex differences in reporting problems with multitasking, remembering information from the past, determining the current date, or field orientation were noted. Conclusions. Non-hospitalised women and men retrospectively report a different course of COVID-19-associated brain fog

Zalecenia dotyczące postępowania diagnostyczno-terapeutycznego u chorych na pierwotne nowotwory złośliwe kości

Mięsaki kości u dorosłych stanowią heterogenną grupę bardzo rzadkich nowotworów pochodzenia mezenchymalnego (poniżej 0,5% nowotworów złośliwych u dorosłych). Prawidłowe rozpoznanie i skuteczne leczenie skojarzone pierwotnych nowotworów kości są sumą współpracy radiologów, chirurgów onkologów i chirurgów ortopedów, onkologów klinicznych, radioterapeutów, rehabilitantów, patologów, specjalistów medycyny nuklearnej i biologów molekularnych. Bezwzględnym warunkiem w diagnostyce i leczeniu pierwotnych nowotworów złośliwych kości jest wielodyscyplinarna współpraca wielospecjalistyczna w doświadczonych ośrodkach. Polepszenie diagnostyki mięsaków kości, wprowadzenie zasad terapii skojarzonej i postęp technologiczny spowodowały rozszerzenie wskazań do stosowania operacji oszczędzających kończynę oraz poprawiły odległe wyniki leczenia

Neurological symptoms in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and their association with in-hospital mortality

Objectives. To evaluate the spectrum of neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19 during the first 14 days of hospitalisation and its association with in-hospital mortality. Material and methods. We included 200 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to University Hospital in Krakow, Poland. In 164 patients, a detailed questionnaire concerning neurological symptoms and signs was performed prospectively within 14 days of hospitalisation. In the remaining 36 patients, such questionnaires were completed retrospectively based on daily observations in the Department of Neurology. Results. During hospitalisation, 169 patients (84.5%) experienced neurological symptoms; the most common were: fatigue (62.5%), decreased mood (45.5%), myalgia (43.5%), and muscle weakness (42.5%). Patients who died during hospitalisation compared to the remainder were older (79 [70.5–88.5] vs. 63.5 [51–77] years, p = 0.001), and more often had decreased level of consciousness (50.0% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001), delirium (33.3% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001), arterial hypotension (50.0% vs. 19.6%, p = 0.005) or stroke during (18.8% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.026) or before hospitalisation (50.0% vs. 7.1, p < 0.001), whereas those who survived more often suffered from headache (42.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.012) or decreased mood (51.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). Conclusions. Most hospitalised patients with COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms. Decreased level of consciousness, delirium, arterial hypotension, and stroke during or before hospitalisation increase the risk of in-hospital mortality

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION – REACTIVATION

Passenger quantity histogram was used to measure the character of passengers’ migration, pick commuter times, equal intensity and minimal commuter numbers. The measurement was done pre and post changes introduced to the train timetable for both working days and weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). The small numbers of passengers made this connection unsustainable without substantial financial support from the government. The changes introduced to the timetable failed to generate increased demand for the service. The Pareto chart clearly illustrates the changes introduced to the timetable over the period of this research. Other disadvantages of the new timetable were also pointed out in this paper