Perception and degree of acceptance of menopause-related changes in various spheres of life by postmenopausal women

[b]Objective[/b]. The objective of the study was retrospective analysis of self-reported perception and acceptance of changes related to menopause among women 1–10 years after the occurrence of their last menstrual period. The selected aspects covered social contacts with the family level (social wellbeing), perception of own physicality and inner feelings concerning sex life (psychological wellbeing). [b]Materials and methods[/b]. The study covered 204 postmenopausal women 1–10 years after the last menstrual period. Analysis was performed based on a self-designed questionnaire and the data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Relationships were detected using the χ [sup]2[/sup] test. The p values p<0.05 were considered statistically significant (5% level of error probability). [b]Results[/b]. Women who coped with the menopausal transition easier more rarely perceived unfavourable changes in their family life. In the group of women with a high or very high level of difficulties in adaptation to menopause, the women twice less frequently declared positive sexual sensations or lack of changes. No significant differences were observed in the perception of own physicality and degree of experiencing the transition through menopause. [b]Conclusions[/b]. The perimenopausal period exerts a great effect on the psychological and social wellbeing of women. The degree of difficulties in experiencing the menopausal transition is important. Women who adapt to changes associated with menopause with more ease have fewer difficulties in their family life, and statistically less frequently report negative experiences in sexual contacts

Effect of excessive body weight and emotional disorders on the course of pregnancy and well-being of a newborn before and during COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to evaluate whether excessive body weight and the COVID-19 pandemic affect depression, and subsequently whether depression, excessive body weight, and the COVID-19 pandemic affect the course of pregnancy, as well as the well-being of a newborn. The research material included data retrieved from the medical records of 280 pregnant women who were provided with care by medical facilities in Lublin (100 women with normal weight, 100 overweight women, 50 with Class I and 30 with Class II obesity). They completed a Beck depression inventory (BDI) in pregnancy twice, in order to assess the risk of occurrence of postpartum depression. Pre-pregnancy BMI positively correlated with the severity of depression, both at 10–13 weeks of pregnancy (p < 0.001), and at 32 weeks of pregnancy (p < 0.001). The higher the pre-pregnancy BMI, on average the higher the severity of depression. The severity of depression was significantly higher during the pandemic than before it in women with normal body weight before pregnancy (p < 0.001), as well as in those overweight (p < 0.001) and with Class II obesity (p = 0.015). Excessive body weight before pregnancy leads to depressive disorders during pregnancy, increases the risk of preterm delivery, and exerts a negative effect on the state of a newborn. Depressive symptoms among pregnant, overweight and obese women intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic

An exploration of perceived stress, burnout syndrome, and self-efficacy in a group of Polish air traffic controllers and maritime navigators : similarities and differences

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the level of perceived stress and occupational burnout in groups of Polish maritime navigators and air traffic controllers. The study was part of research into occupational groups regarded as equally emotionally burdened. We tested the usability of a model linking occupational burnout, perceived stress, and seniority. Methods: The set of questionnaires, including the link burnout questionnaire, perceived stress scale&mdash;10, and generalized self-efficacy scale were distributed to 54 maritime navigators and 88 air traffic controllers (rate of return: 18&ndash;56%). Spearman&rsquo;s rho, &chi;2 test, the Mann&ndash;Whitney U test, Cohen&rsquo;s d and Hedge&rsquo;s g coefficients, linear regression, and F statistic were used. Results: The assumption that persons employed in occupations with the special professional requirements as air traffic controllers and maritime navigator with a risk of strong, chronic emotional overload evaluate their life situation as less stressful than other employees was confirmed. A higher level of occupational burnout was observed in groups of controllers and navigators compared to an equally emotionally burdening occupational group of Polish firefighters, but not Polish psychiatrists. The research groups differed regarding the source of stress: fear of helplessness in the air traffic controller group and inefficacy in overcoming adversities in the maritime navigators. Maritime navigators reported a higher level of occupational burnout, deterioration of relations with coworkers, and disappointment with their work compared to the air traffic controllers. Conclusions: The results showed differences in factors linked to workplace demands and the personal predispositions of employees, and the role these may play in mutual relations between occupational burnout, life situation evaluation, and personal resources. We postulate that the level of perceived stress should be taken into account in the studies of occupational burnout syndrome

Interactions of cortisol and prolactin with other selected menstrual cycle hormones affecting the chances of conception in infertile women

One of the major problems of success in infertility treatment could depend on the understanding how the potential factors may affect the conception. The aim of this study was to evaluate present understanding of such factors or hormonal causes that may induce infertility. We studied the interactions between the two menstrual cycle hormones i.e., cortisol (COR) and prolactin (PRL), along with the ultrasonographic ovulation parameters in a group of N = 205 women with diagnosed infertility. The control group consisted of N = 100 women with confirmed fertility. In both groups, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), PRL, COR were examined on the third day of the cycle, and estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and COR were examined during ovulation and 7-days afterwards. In the infertile group, higher levels of PRL and COR were observed than that of in the control group. Cortisol levels at all phases of the menstrual cycle and PRL negatively correlated with E2 secretion during and after ovulation, thus contributed to the attenuation of the ovulatory LH surge. Infertile women who conceived presented with higher levels of E2 during and after ovulation, higher P after ovulation, and thicker endometrium than that of the women who failed to conceive. In conclusion, elevated secretion of COR and PRL in infertile women impairs the menstrual cycle by decreasing the pre-ovulatory LH peak and E2 and postovulatory E2 levels that affect the endometrial growth, and consequently reduce the chances to conceive

The incidence of cardiovascular and other major complications after open abdominal aortic surgery

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and peripheral artery disease significantly increase the risk of perioperative complications. Aim: To determine the incidence, association with 30-day mortality and predictors of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), postoperative acute kidney injury (pAKI) and bleeding independently associated with mortality (BIMS) in patients undergoing open vascular surgeries involving abdominal aorta. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using a sample of consecutive patients who underwent open abdominal aortic surgery due to infrarenal AAA and/or aortoiliac occlusive disease in a single tertiary center. In each patient at least two postoperative troponin measurements were performed (on the first and the second postoperative day). Creatinine and hemoglobin levels were measured preoperatively and at least twice postoperatively. The outcomes included MINS (primary outcome), pAKI, and BIMS (secondary outcomes). We assessed the association between them and 30-day mortality and performed multivariable analysis to identify risk factors for these outcomes. Results: The study group comprised 553 patients. The mean age was 67.6 years and 82.5% of patients were male. The incidence of MINS, pAKI, and BIMS was 43.8%, 17.2%, and 45.8% respectively. The 30-day mortality was higher in patients who developed MINS (12.0% vs. 2.3%, p&lt;0.001), pAKI (32.6% vs. 1.1%, p&lt;0.001), or BIMS (12.3% vs. 1.7%, p&lt;0.001) compared to patients who did not develop these complications.  Conclusion: This study demonstrated that MINS, pAKI and BIMS are common complications after open aortic surgeries and are related to a substantial increase in the 30-day mortality rate

"Cladonia uncialis" as a valuable raw material of biosynthetic compounds against clinical strains of bacteria and fungi

Cladonia uncialis is a lichen species with confirmed antibacterial activity and whose genome has been recently sequenced, enabling first attempts in its functional characterization. In this work, we investigated activity of the C. uncialis acetone extract (CUE) and usnic acid (UA) enantiomers against ten clinical microbial strains causing skin infections. The results showed that CUE, containing (–)-UA and squamatic acid, assayed at the same concentrations as UA, was noticeably more active than (–)-UA alone, in its pure form. The studied CUE displayed an activity that was comparable to that of (+)-UA observed for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecium (18–24 mm zone of growth inhibition), but did not display any activity against fungal strains. The CUE demonstrated low cytotoxicity against HaCaT cells, in comparison to UA enantiomers, which is important for its therapeutic use. Results of the antioxidant assay (DPPH) indicated low antioxidant activity (IC50>200 µg/mL) of CUE, while the total phenolic content was 70.36 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent/g of the dry extrac

Ocena związku poziomu wiremii HCMV u matki z przebiegiem ciąży i stanem urodzeniowym noworodków

Congenital cytomegaly is caused by intrauterine mother-to-fetus HCMV transmission and constitutes the most common vertical infection. Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the viremia level in maternal blood and its influence on the course and duration of pregnancy, as well as newborn condition. Material and methods: The material included blood samples collected from 117 pregnant women with serological features of HCMV infection and from 29 neonates hospitalized at DFMMG in Lodz between 1999 and 2009. The presence of HCMV DNA in the maternal and fetal blood was tested using real-time PCR. Results: Prevalence of maternal viremia was observed to increase the risk of viremia in neonates, as compared to children born to mothers with no viremia. However, lack of HCMV DNA in maternal blood does not exclude fetal infection in utero. Newborn condition assessed by Apgar scores was significantly lower in the group of infants born to mothers with serological features of acute cytomegaly (pWrodzona cytomegalia wywołana transmisją wirusa cytomegalii (HCMV) od matki do płodu, jest najczęstszym zakażeniem wertykalnym. Cel pracy: Celem pracy była ocena poziomu wiremii u kobiet ciężarnych i jej wpływu na przebieg i czas trwania ciąży oraz stan urodzeniowy noworodków. Materiał i metody: Materiałem do badań była krew pobrana od 117 ciężarnych z serologicznymi cechami zakażenia HCMV oraz 29 noworodków hospitalizowanych w Klinice Medycyny Matczyno-Płodowej i Ginekologii Instytutu Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki w latach 1999-2009. Liczba kopii DNA HCMV we krwi matek i dzieci oznaczana była metodą PCR w czasie rzeczywistym (real-time PCR). Wyniki: Stwierdzono, że występowanie wiremii HCMV u matki zwiększa ryzyko występowania wiremii u noworodków w porównaniu z ryzykiem u dzieci matek bez wiremii, jednakże brak DNA HCMV we krwi matki nie wyklucza zakażenia płodu in utero. Stan urodzeniowy noworodków oceniany w skali Apgar był istotnie niższy w grupie noworodków urodzonych przez matki z serologicznymi cechami ostrej cytomegalii (