Relationship of serum angiogenin, adiponectin and resistin levels with biochemical risk factors and the angiographic severity of three-vessel coronary disease

Background: Patients with advanced coronary artery disease (CAD) have an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, early identification of this high-risk group is important. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters supported by novel atherogenesis and angiogenesis markers in identifying patients with stable, three-vessel coronary artery disease. Methods: The study group comprised 107 patients suffering from three-vessel CAD and a control group of 15 patients presenting with typical angina, a positive exercise stress test and abnormal segmental contractility, but no hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis in their angiograms. In each patient, we characterized a biochemistry test panel including novel markers: angiogenin, resistin, adiponectin, IL-8 and a TNF-a. The angiographic severity of CAD was expressed as a Gensini score. Results: There were significant differences between three-vessel CAD patients and control groups with respect to the serum levels of: hsCRP (2.8 vs 1.4 mg/L, p = 0.01), HDL-cholesterol (45 vs 54 mg/dL, p = 0.04), LDL-cholesterol (102 vs 95 mg/dL, p = 0.04), NT-proBNP (392 vs 151 pg/mL, p = 0.008) and a marker of angiogenetic activity, angiogenin (414 vs 275 ng/mL, p = 0.02), However, no significant differences were found between three-vessel CAD and the control group with respect to the serum level of adiponectin (8.08 vs 7.82 μg/mL), resistin (17.5 vs 21 ng/mL), IL-8 (20.7 vs 26.8 pg/mL) and TNF-a (4.1 vs 4.3 pg/mL). Angiogenin tended to be higher in patients with higher Gensini scores (p = 0.06) but no influence of ejection fraction was noted. Conclusions: Angiogenin is a novel marker of three-vessel coronary disease showing a relationship with the angiographic severity of the disease. (Cardiol J 2010; 17, 6: 599-606

Facilitators and Barriers to Adaptive Implementation of the Meeting Centers Support Program (MCSP) in Three European Countries; the Process Evaluation Within the MEETINGDEM Study

Background: In the MEETINGDEM project, the Meeting Centers Support Program (MCSP) was adaptively implemented and evaluated in three European countries: Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to investigate overall and country-specific facilitators and barriers to the implementation of MCSP in these European countries. Methods: A qualitative multiple case study design was used. Based on the theoretical model of adaptive implementation, a checklist was composed of potential facilitators and barriers to the implementation of MCSP. This checklist was administered among stakeholders involved in the implementation of MCSP to trace the experienced facilitators and barriers. Twenty-eight checklists were completed. Results: Main similarities between countries were related to the presence of suitable staff, management, and a project manager, and the fact that the MCSP is attuned to needs and wishes of people with dementia and informal caregivers. Main differences between countries were related to: communication with potential referrers, setting up an inter-organizational collaboration network, receiving support of national organizations, having clear discharge criteria for the MCSP and continuous PR in the region. Conclusion: The results of this study provide insight into generic and country specific factors that can influence the implementation of MCSP in different European countries. This study informs further implementation and dissemination of MCSP in Europe and may also serve as an example for the dissemination and implementation of other effective psychosocial support interventions for people with dementia and their informal caregivers across and beyond Europe

Measurements, Models, Systems and Design

531 s.

The Impact of the Implementation of the Dutch Combined Meeting Centres Support Programme for Family Caregivers of People with Dementia in Italy, Poland and UK

Objectives: The MEETINGDEM research project aimed to implement the combined Dutch Meeting Centre Support Programme (MCSP) for community-dwelling people with dementia and caregivers within Italy, Poland and UK and to assess whether comparable benefits were found in these countries as in the Netherlands. Method: Nine pilot Meeting Centres (MCs) participated (Italy-5, Poland-2, UK-2). Effectiveness of MCSP was compared to usual care (UC) on caregiver outcomes measuring competence (SSCQ), mental health (GHQ-12), emotional distress (NPI-Q) and loneliness (UCLA) analysed by ANCOVAs in a 6-month pre-test/post-test controlled trial. Interviews using standardised measures were completed with caregivers. Results: Pre/post data were collected for 93 caregivers receiving MCSP and 74 receiving UC. No statistically significant differences on the outcome measures were found overall. At a country level MC caregivers in Italy showed significant better general mental health (p=0.04, d=0.55) and less caregiver distress (p=0.02, d=0.62) at post-test than the UC group. Caregiver satisfaction was rated on a sample at 3 months (n=81) and 6 months (n=84). The majority of caregivers reported feeling less burdened and more supported by participating in MCSP. Conclusion: The moderate positive effect on sense of competence and the greater mental health benefit for lonely caregivers using the MCSP compared to UC as found in the original Dutch studies were not replicated. However, subject to study limitations, caregivers in Italy using MCSP benefitted more regarding their mental health and emotional distress than caregivers using UC. Further evaluation of the benefits of MCSP within these countries in larger study samples is recommended

Safe management of wastes from the timber roof truss

The article presents characteristics of fuelling properties and elemental composition of the combustion mass of the wastes from post-consumed timber. Two wasted timber roof truss elements were tested. The wastes came from the works related to the repair of the roof of approximately 50 years old house (WD1) and the construction of a new detached house (WD2). These wastes belong to the group of dangerous wastes due to their charges with chemical substances, i.e. timber protection agents. For the products these substances fulfil the role of preservatives of wood against fungi, mould, moss and algae. Tests were performed in order to determine possibilities of safe management of the discussed wastes.W artykule przedstawiono charakterystykę właściwości paliwowych i składu elementarnego masy palnej odpadów drewna poużytkowego. Badaniami objęto dwa odpady więźby dachowej pochodzące z prac związanych z remontem dachu około 50cio letniego domu jednorodzinnego (WD1) oraz z budową nowego domu jednorodzinnego (WD2). Odpady te należą do grupy odpadów niebezpiecznych ze względu na obciążenia substancjami chemicznymi tj. środkami ochrony drewna. Substancje te w produktach pełnią funkcję impregnatów mających na celu ochronę drewna m.in. przed grzybami, pleśniami, mchami oraz glonami. Badania przeprowadzono w celu określenia możliwości bezpiecznego zagospodarowania omawianych odpadów. Odpady cechuje wartość opałowa mieszcząca się w przedziale od 17,38 MJ/kg dla odpadu WD2 do 18,95 MJ/kg dla odpadu WD1. Uzyskana wilgotność nie przekracza 9%, a zawartość popiołu odnotowano na poziomie poniżej 1% dla obu badanych odpadów

Application of the automatic water level monitoring system to determine the flood extent in the lower Biebrza Basin

W artykule przeanalizowano możliwość zastosowania danych, pochodzących z automatycznego systemu monitoringu położenia zwierciadła wody w Basenie Dolnej Biebrzy, do wyznaczenia zasięgów zalewów. W analizach wykorzystano dane zarejestrowane przez automatyczne czujniki typu Mini-Diver w latach 2006-2010. Dla sześciu położeń zwierciadła wody zarejestrowanych w czasie wezbrań w latach 2006-2010, opracowano przy użyciu programu ArcMap oraz narzędzia Topo to Raster należących do pakietu ArcGis Desktop 10, mapy przedstawiające zasięgi zalewów. Rezultaty porównano z modelami zasięgu zalewów opracowanymi na podstawie pomiarów wykonanych punktowo z łódki na odcinku Osowiec - Burzyn przy zastosowaniu techniki różnicowego GPS w trybie RTK. W celu poprawy jakości analiz dane pochodzące z Mini-Diverów oraz pomiarów punktowych GPS RTK zostały liniowo interpolowane do lokalizacji przekrojów obliczeniowych wykorzystywanych w jednowymiarowym modelu transformacji fal wezbraniowych na obszarze Basenu Dolnego Biebrzy.This article presents possibilities of application of the automatic water level monitoring system to determine the flood extent in the Lower Biebrza Basin. Flood extents were generated with the use of GIS techniques for six water levels measured with an automatic water level monitoring system during floods in the period 2006-2010. Results were compared with flood extents based on the water gauges and field measurements

Internalized stigma and its correlates among patients with severe mental illness

Dorota Szcześniak,1 Agnieszka Kobyłko,2 Irena Wojciechowska,2 Michał Kłapciński,3 Joanna Rymaszewska2 1Division of Consultation Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, 2Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 3Provincial Psychiatric Hospital in Zlotoryja, Zlotoryja, Poland Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the perceived level of internalized stigma among patients with severe mental illnesses and its relationship with demographic and clinical variables in Poland. Patients and methods: A study sample (n=114, mean age=42.46±14.1 years; 55% of females) consisting of patients with nonorganic psychotic disorders as well as unipolar and bipolar affective disorders was evaluated (58% of outpatients and 39% of inpatients). All patients filled in the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale (maximum severity=4). The demographic and clinical data were collected. Results: The study population demonstrated a mild level of internalized stigma (2.23±0.5). The highest score was observed in the alienation domain (2.63±0.8) and reflected moderate severity. The lowest score was noted in the stereotype endorsement domain (2.08±0.6). Moreover, the highest degree of internalized stigma was present in participants with unipolar affective disorder and was of moderate severity (2.46±0.6), while the level was moderate in the alienation domain (2.85±0.8). The level of vocational training education was the only variable associated with higher internalized stigma (P=0.02). There were no associations between gender, employment, and marital status and internalized stigma. The duration of the disease was the only clinical factor showing a significant positive correlation with stigma internalization (r=0.23; P=0.01). The number of hospital admissions and suicide attempts was not significantly correlated with internalized stigma. Conclusion: People with severe mental illnesses in Poland experience a mild level of self-reported internalized stigma. Internalized stigmatization was most strongly associated with alienation, which indicates the need for stigma assessment procedures followed by stigma intervention programs in daily clinical practice. This is in accordance with the trend of environmental “open door” psychiatry, which could be the first step to decrease the level of stigma and internalized stigma in psychiatric patients in Poland. Keywords: severe mental illness, stigma, ISMI scal

FIMA, the questionnaire for health-related resource use in the elderly population: validity, reliability, and usage of the Polish version in clinical practice

Justyna Mazurek,1 Edyta Sutkowska,1 Dorota Szcześniak,2 Katarzyna Małgorzata Urbańska,2 Joanna Rymaszewska3 1Department and Division of Medical Rehabilitation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 2Department of Psychiatry, Division of Consultation Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 3Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Polish version of the Questionnaire for Health-Related Resource Use in an Elderly Population [Fragebogen zur Inanspruchnahme medizinischer und nicht-medizinischer Versorgungsleistungen im Alter (FIMA)]. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a rehabilitation care unit in Poland between January and June of 2017. Sixty-one patients aged ≥65 years who had been admitted to the unit were enrolled into the study. Each participant was evaluated twice: once within 48 hours of admission (T1) and once after 2 weeks (T2). Results: The translated instrument was understood by most respondents in a selected population and it maintained a reading and comprehension level that was accessible by most respondents, even of a low education level. With the aid of the prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 100% test–retest reliability for 10 out of the 12 questions that were subjected to analysis was indicated. The most frequent health-related resource uses were appointments at the general practitioner (90.2%) and orthopedist (54.1%), medication (93.4%), and the necessity to have glasses as supportive equipment (70.5%). Conclusion: The Polish FIMA demonstrated very good test–retest reliability, good validity, and ease of use for elderly people. Further investigation is required. In the future, the routine use of this instrument could be encouraged to assess the use and demand for medical and nonmedical services among the elderly. Keywords: assessment, geriatrics, quality of care, care coordination, decision-makin

Wpływ kombinezonu saperskiego EOD na bezpieczeństwo pracy pirotechnika

The article presents a study on the influence of shock wave on a Hybrid III anthropomorphic test device (ATD HIII) equipped with an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) suit. The shock wave was generated by the detonation of SEMTEX 1A plastic explosive, formed in the shape of a 250 g, 500 g, and 840 g sphere, at a distance of 0.5 m, 1 m, and 2 m. The use of ATD allowed for determining parameters of damage to the human body as a result of the impact of overpressure wave. The experiments also included a measurement of such parameters as forces and moments on lower extremi-ties, acceleration of head and pelvis, and forces and moments on a neck simulator. Chest Wall Velocity Predictor (CWVP), calculated from the pressure measured on ADT’s chest, was adopted as the most critical parameter. It was revealed that the allowed distance of explosion of a 500 g pure explosive, which does not cause exceeding the allowed parameters, is 1 m.W artykule przedstawiono badania wpływu oddziaływania fali uderzeniowej na Antropomorficzne Urządzenie Testowe Hybrid III (ATD, HIII) wyposażone w kombinezon saperski EOD. Falę uderzeniową generowano poprzez detonację z odległości 0,5 m, 1 m, 1,5 m i 2 m plastycznego materiału wybuchowego SEMTEX 1A uformowanego w kule o masie 250 g, 500 g i 840 g. Zastosowanie ATD umożliwiło określenie parametrów uszkodzenia ludzkiego ciała w wyniku oddziaływania fali nadciśnienia. W trakcie eksperymentów mierzono takie parametry, jak siły i momenty na kończynach dolnych, przyspieszenia głowy, miednicy oraz siły, i momenty na symulatorze szyi. Za najbardziej krytyczny parametr przyjęto CWVP (Chest Wall Velocity Predictor – wskaźnik prędkości ugięcia ściany klatki piersiowej) wyliczany z ciśnienia zmierzonego na klatce piersiowej ATD. Wykazano, że dopuszczalna odległość eksplozji czystego ładunku wybuchowego o masie 500 g, który nie powoduje przekroczenia dopuszczalnych parametrów, to 1 m