Rapid oncological diagnosis of lung cancer patients — specific facility experience

Introduction: In order to improve diagnosis procedure by public health service, an organizational solution called Rapid Oncological Therapy has been introduced. The introduction of this program caused criticism of the medical community, and state control authorities showed irregularities in its functioning in medical clinics. Its aim was to assess this process among lung cancer patients hospitalized in the Clinic for 9 months. Material and methods: After the analysis of imaging tests, the patients were qualified for invasive tests (bronchoscopy, EBUS). Patients with histopathological diagnosis of NSCLC were subjected to molecular diagnostics. After completing the diagnosis and establishing the final diagnosis, the patient's forfeiture was presented at the clinical meeting. Results: The analysis involved 209 patients who had a DILO card issued. 156 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer and qualified for the consulate. Among the histopathological types, NSCLC dominated — 80%. SCLC was 17% of the types. By the decision made on medical case conference, 135 patients have been qualified for casual treatment, among others 12% surgical treatment; 47% chemotherapy, 18% radiotherapy; 8% chemo-radiotherapy. An average waiting time for diagnosis process to begin, after DILO card has been issued was 16.33 (± 18.78) days, an average hospitalization and diagnosis time was 9.16 (± 6.61) days. Around 31.3 (± 14.93) days on average have passed from the start of diagnostical hospitalization until beginning of the causal treatment. Conclusions: In a multi-specialist center, it is possible to develop a care model for lung cancer patients, consistent with Rapid Oncological Diagnosis

Potential benefits and hazards associated with the use of e-cigarettes — a guide for practitioners and current status in Poland

The use of electronic cigarettes has dynamically increased over the last few years. Meanwhile, the knowledge regarding their safety has been rapidly changing, which could be a challenge for a medical practitioner. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest reports and to verify statements on e-cigarettes’ influence on health, including in the context of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Awareness of the benefits of e-cigarettes can provide vital support for doctors caring for patients who smoke tra-ditional cigarettes. Nevertheless, attention should be paid to the dangers of the medically unjustified use of electronic cigarettes. Despite the idea of releasing e-cigarettes into the market as a harmless alternative to traditional cigarettes, this product also has a negative impact on health. Replacing traditional cigarettes with e-cigarettes provides well-documented benefits to patients with certain indications such as hypertension and asthma, as well as to smokers who intend to minimize the negative effects of passive smoking on their environment. Moreover, it could be valuable for patients who are willing to permanently overcome a nicotine addiction, especially when previous attempts to quit smoking with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) monotherapy were unsuccessful. Electronic cigarettes are a rapidly developing technology and an innovative form of a well-known addiction, so it is essential for practitioners to stay informed

Potential Benefits and Hazards Associated with the Use of E-Cigarettes—A Guide for Practitioners and Current Status in Poland

The use of electronic cigarettes has dynamically increased over the last few years. Meanwhile, the knowledge regarding their safety has been rapidly changing, which could be a challenge for a medical practitioner. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest reports and to verify statements on e-cigarettes’ influence on health, including in the context of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Awareness of the benefits of e-cigarettes can provide vital support for doctors caring for patients who smoke tra-ditional cigarettes. Nevertheless, attention should be paid to the dangers of the medically unjustified use of electronic cigarettes. Despite the idea of releasing e-cigarettes into the market as a harmless alternative to traditional cigarettes, this product also has a negative impact on health. Replacing traditional cigarettes with e-cigarettes provides well-documented benefits to patients with certain indications such as hypertension and asthma, as well as to smokers who intend to minimize the negative effects of passive smoking on their environment. Moreover, it could be valuable for patients who are willing to permanently overcome a nicotine addiction, especially when previous attempts to quit smoking with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) monotherapy were unsuccessful. Electronic cigarettes are a rapidly developing technology and an innovative form of a well-known addiction, so it is essential for practitioners to stay informed

Rapid Oncological Diagnosis of Lung Cancer: Specific Facility Experience

Introduction: In order to improve diagnosis procedure by public health service, an organizational solution called Rapid Oncological Therapy has been introduced. The introduction of this program caused criticism of the medical community, and state control authorities showed irregularities in its functioning in medical clinics. Its aim was to assess this process among lung cancer patients hospitalized in the Clinic for 9 months. Material and methods: After the analysis of imaging tests, the patients were qualified for invasive tests (bronchoscopy, EBUS). Patients with histopathological diagnosis of NSCLC were subjected to molecular diagnostics. After completing the diagnosis and establishing the final diagnosis, the patient\u27s forfeiture was presented at the clinical meeting. Results: The analysis involved 209 patients who had a DILO card issued. 156 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer and qualified for the consulate. Among the histopathological types, NSCLC dominated—80%. SCLC was 17% of the types. By the decision made on medical case conference, 135 patients have been qualified for casual treatment, among others 12% surgical treatment; 47% chemotherapy, 18% radiotherapy; 8% chemo-radiotherapy. An average waiting time for diagnosis process to begin, after DILO card has been issued was 16.33 (±18.78) days, an average hospitalization and diagnosis time was 9.16 (±6.61) days. Around 31.3 (±14.93) days on average have passed from the start of diagnostical hospitalization until beginning of the causal treatment. Conclusions: In a multi-specialist center, it is possible to develop a care model for lung cancer patients, consistent with Rapid Oncological Diagnosis

The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a long-lasting effect on both physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of ACEs and experienced stress on depression and the role of biological disturbances in this relationship in a student population. Potential participants filled out a screening questionnaire; 60 of 126 students met the inclusion criteria and were tested for the severity of stress and depressive symptoms, ACEs, dietary habits, and serum concentrations of biological markers. Depressive symptoms were related to a younger age (p = 0.012), a higher severity of stress (p = 0.001), ACEs (p = 0.007), and lower triglyceride (p = 0.01) and cortisol concentrations (p = 0.01). An inverse relationship between the triglyceride concentration and emotional abuse (R = −0.38) and emotional neglect (R = −0.33) was found. Occludin was positively associated with physical abuse (R = 0.31). Cortisol was inversely associated with emotional abuse (R = −0.35). Emotional neglect was associated with lipopolysaccharide binding protein (R = 0.38) and insulin levels (R = −0.31). The most promising multi-panel of biomarkers for recognizing mood symptoms included triglycerides, tight junction protein 1, and cortisol (cut-offs of ≤ 95.5 mg/dL, 0.72 ng/mL, and 134.63 ng/mL, respectively). This study confirmed the association between ACEs and depressive symptoms and the importance of psychological stress in developing mood disorders. ACEs could affect biological dysregulation. Some of the biological markers could be helpful in early detection of depression

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections among Hospitalized Children in Poland during 2010–2020: Study Based on the National Hospital Registry

Background: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for infections mainly affecting the lower respiratory tract in infants and young children after the first exposure. The aim of the study is to show up-to-date information on RSV hospitalization cases in Poland in children aged p p < 0.0001) during the analyzed period. The seasonal pattern was found with the highest rates of hospitalizations in the January–March period. Conclusions: The increasing RSV hospitalization rate requires further research and may be the basis for urgent healthcare measures. The results may be helpful in comparative analyses in the European and global context

Hospitalization of Children Aged &lt;5 Years Due to Influenza: Study Based on the National Hospitalization Registry

Background: Influenza constitutes a significant health care burden that can be related to an increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study is to show up-to-date information on influenza hospitalization cases in Poland in children aged &lt;5 years. Methods: The data used in the study were hospitalization records from 2015&ndash;2019, which had been gathered in a Nationwide General Hospital Morbidity Study and made available by the National Institute of Public Health. Results: 8565 records of patients with influenza were subject to analysis. The mean and median age of the patients were 2.2 and 2.1 years, respectively. Influenza hospitalization incidence was estimated at 90 per 100,000 person-years (PY) in children aged &lt;5 years. The number of hospitalization cases was significantly higher in patients living in urban regions than in those living in rural regions (97 vs. 77 per 100,000 PY; p &lt; 0.001). The age of patients living in urban regions was significantly lower than the age of patients living in rural regions (2.2 vs. 2.3 years; p &lt; 0.001). A statistically significant increase in hospitalization was observed. Conclusions: The reported increasing trend in hospitalizations indicates the need to take focused measures. Presented data may be useful in comparative analyses in a European context

Congenital toxoplasmosis among hospitalized infants in Poland in the years 2007–2021: study based on the national hospital registry

Abstract Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) is a rare entity and it may pose a life-threatening risk for the newborns. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence and other selected factors of CT in Poland. Our study is a population-based study on CT patients in 2007–2021. The study was based on 1504 hospitalization records of first-time diagnosis of CT in newborns. In the study group, we observed 763 males (50.7%) and 741 females (49.3%). The mean and median age was 31 days and 10 days, respectively. Based on the hospital registry, the mean annual CT incidence was estimated to be 2.6 per 10,000 live births (95% CI 2.0–3.2 per 10,000 live births). The incidence of CT cases fluctuated over the years 2007–2021, with the highest incidence in 2010 and the lowest one in 2014. There were no statistically significant differences between the incidence of CT in relation to sex or place of residence. The periodic fluctuations in the number of cases of congenital toxoplasmosis indicates the need to develop effective prevention programs to effectively counteract the disease and its consequences

Hospitalizations of Ukrainian Migrants and Refugees in Poland in the Time of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Background: In the face of a sudden influx of several million migrants and war refugees from Ukraine to other European countries, knowledge about the health of Ukrainian citizens becomes increasingly important. The aim of the study is to identify the main health problems of hospitalized Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland in the period from 2014 to June 2022. Methods: This study is based on hospitalization data of Ukrainian patients in Poland taken from the Nationwide General Hospital Morbidity Study. Results: The study group covered 8591 hospitalization records. We observed two hospitalization peaks, one in patients aged 0&ndash;5 and the other one in those aged 20&ndash;35. After the official outbreak of the war, 2231 Ukrainian citizens were hospitalized in Poland. At this time, the most often reported principal reasons for the hospitalizations of adult women were diseases related to pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, whereas in groups of adult men diseases were related to injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes, and in children and adolescents diseases were infectious and parasitic diseases. Conclusions: Our findings may have implications for healthcare policies and service provision to newly arrived migrants and war refugees in target European countries

Micronized Powder of Raspberry Pomace as a Source of Bioactive Compounds

Red raspberries, which contain a variety of nutrients and phytochemicals that are beneficial for human health, can be utilized as a raw material in the creation of several supplements. This research suggests micronized powder of raspberry pomace production. The molecular characteristics (FTIR), sugar, and biological potential (phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity) of micronized raspberry powders were investigated. FTIR spectroscopy results revealed spectral changes in the ranges with maxima at ~1720, 1635, and 1326, as well as intensity changes in practically the entire spectral range analyzed. The discrepancies clearly indicate that the micronization of the raspberry byproduct samples cleaved the intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the polysaccharides present in the samples, thus increasing the respective content of simple saccharides. In comparison to the control powders, more glucose and fructose were recovered from the micronized samples of the raspberry powders. The study’s micronized powders were found to contain nine different types of phenolic compounds, including rutin, elagic acid derivatives, cyanidin-3-sophoroside, cyanidin-3-(2-glucosylrutinoside), cyanidin-3-rutinoside, pelargonidin-3-rutinoside, and elagic acid derivatives. Significantly higher concentrations of ellagic acid and ellagic acid derivatives and rutin were found in the micronized samples than in the control sample. The antioxidant potential assessed by ABTS and FRAP significantly increased following the micronization procedure