Intensity of COPD symptoms in comparison with spirometry parameters

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common illnesses which occurs globally. In 2018 it was the third cause of death. Growing incidence of COPD in Poland causes crucial social, economic and individual consequences. Spirometry is a test which allows detecting COPD on its early stage, states its severity and also predicting forthcoming course of this illness. Along with FEV1, FVC is a standard parameter to check airways obstruction. Early detection of the disease before the first symptoms leads to successful treatment. Nevertheless, patients usually arrive to be examined, when the symptoms intensity of COPD influence their normal existence. The aim of the study was to analyze intensity of symptoms of COPD in the correlation with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC spirometry parameters. Materials and methods The study was conducted in the specialist respiratory care clinic. The study group consisted of 68 patients over 50 year’s old suffering from moderate to severe COPD. Documentation analysis and diagnostic search was applied in the study. As far as the research tool is concerned CAT questionnaire has been used, which allows to estimate the intensity of the symptoms and how they affect everyday life of the patients and their state of well-being. Spirometry testing has been performed according to ERS standards with the use of MES Lung test 1000. Statistical analysis has been conducted with the use of ANOVA test. Results As far as the question in the CAT concerning sleeping disorders resulted from symptoms of COPD statistically significant differences were found in FEV1/FVC and FEV1 values. (anova, F3, 66 = 4,556 i 4,169 respectively, p<0,01). Regarding FEV1/FVC and FEV1 values, clinically significant differences have been shown among women who stated in the CAT questionnaire they had minor problems with sputum excretion. (test t-student, t16= 2,746 i 2,279 respectively, p<0,05). Conclusions Evaluating intensity of the symptoms in the course of COPD in the study group, most of the problems were caused by effort dyspnea, cough and difficulties in everyday activities. Men, among whom the symptoms of disease cause the sleeping disorders have lower values of FEV1 than women. Sputum excretion has crucial influence on lowering FEV1 and FEV1/FVC

The Morphometric Analysis of the Human Thyroid of the Endemic Region of Ukraine

Introduction. Since the thyroid gland (TG), like the rest of the human body, is characterised by wide variety in shape and size, the evaluation of its linear and volumetric parameters by ultrasound images is one of the most important and objective ways of quantitative characteristics of the organ. There are scarce studies into TG morphometry by ultrasound in the Precarpathian region, which is one of the oldest endemic places in Europe. Objective. The aim of the current research study is to conduct the morphometric analysis of TG in adolescents of different sex and constitution who are indigenous inhabitants of the Precarpathian regionMaterials and methods. Therefore, the morphometric analysis of TG linear and morphometric parameters has been conducted in 179 adolescents inhabiting the territory. Ultrasonography has been carried out in Lviv Regional Infectious Clinical Hospital by means of “CHISON” sonograph. Three longitudinal and three anteroposterior dimensions of TG right and left lobes at different levels were measured based on the sonograms taken UDC: 611. 641 ̶ 018.1:6at the angle of 20 - 30° to the median plane. The volume of each TG lateral lobe was measured by the following formula: AxBxCx0.52, where A is the lobe length, B is the lobe width, C is the lobe thickness, and 0.52 is the coefficient of allowance. Results. The ratio between the linear parameters of the lobes has been revealed to be determined rather by constitutional than by sex peculiarities of those under study. It is statistically probable that longitudinal dimensions of both lobes in dolichomorphic people of both sexes exceed the analogous ones in mesomorphs and brachymorphs of both sexes. TG lobes in brachymorphs, in particular, are wider compared with those in both mesomorphs and dolichomorphs, irrespective of sex. The analysis of TG volumetric parameters in different body types of both sexes has indicated that TG volume in brachymorphs dominates in volume over mesomorphs and dolichomorphs, irrespective of sex. Moreover, the volume of the right lobe is larger than the volume of the left one by 0.5 -1.0 cm3 in all of the body types of both sexes. The difference is especially marked in males of the brachymorphic body type. Although there is no statistically probable difference in male and female TG volumes of mesomorphs and dolichomorphs. TG volumes in male brachymorphs are markedly larger than in female ones. As for volume variations they are quite extensive from a minimal male TG volume of 4.85 cm3 to a maximal one of 17.52 cm3, and from a minimal female TG volume of 3.09 cm3 to a maximal one of 14.51 cm3. Conclusions. Thuse the results of TG morphometry by ultrasound demonstrate that there is a direct correlation between TG linear, volumetric parameters and sex or body types, which should be taken into consideration while making a diagnosis in order to avoid incorrect positive diagnoses of TG hypo- or hyperplasia

Domestic violence against women

Przemoc wobec kobiet jest ważnym problemem społecznym. Dotyka różnych środowisk i niestety nadal bywa w wielu przypadkach skrywana przed otoczeniem. Tym bardziej należy zabierać w tej kwestii głos. Przemoc wywołuje bolesne skutki zarówno w sferze fizycznej, jak i psychicznej ofiary. Osoby takie należy otoczyć pomocą, ale warto również zgłębiać wiedzę na temat przemocy. Artykuł ukazuje przyczyny, rodzaje i skutki przemocy wobec kobiet. Przy tej okazji zwrócono także uwagę na fazy przemocy, osobowość sprawcy i czynniki wywołujące przemoc. Wskazano również na formy pomocy kobietom.The violence against women is a vital social problem. It concerns various environments and, unfortunately, is in many cases hidden from the environment. That is one, it is crucial to speak about it. The violence brings painful results both in the physical and psychological spheres of the victim life. These people should be taken care of, however, the knowledge concerning this issue should be enlarged. The article shows the reasons, types and results of violence against women. Moreover, the phases of violence, the personality of the offender and the factors causing violence are discussed. Various forms of help for women are also presented

The style of life of people addicted to psychoactive substances

Celem pracy była ocena stylu życia osób uzależnionych od substancji psychoaktywnych. Badania przeprowadzono w 2013 roku. Objęto nimi 70 mężczyzn w wieku 18 – 30 lat, pacjentów Oddziału Detoksykacji i Terapii Uzależnień od Środków Psychoaktywnych Samodzielnego Wojewódzkiego Publicznego Zespołu Zakładów Psychiatrycznej Opieki Zdrowotnej im. dr Barbary Borzym w Radomiu. Zastosowano metodę sondażu diagnostycznego. Ciekawość (ponad 40%) i namowa kolegów (prawie39 %) to główne przyczyny sięgania po narkotyki przez badanych. Podjęcie leczenia było spowodowane wejściem w konflikt z prawem (24,88 %) oraz nacisk ze strony rodziny lub nakaz sądowy (jednakowo blisko 23%) Badani prowadzą antyzdrowotny styl życia (około 83 %). Ponad 74 % badanych nie podejmuje żadnej formy aktywności fizycznej. Słuchanie muzyki (prawie 30 %), oglądanie TV i gra w gry komputerowe (ponad 28 %) stanowią ulubioną formę spędzania wolnego czasu. 75% odżywia się niezdrowo. Zadowolenie z prowadzonego stylu życia potwierdziło 30 % badanych. Tylko niecałe 46% ma świadomość zagrożeń wynikających z antyzdrowotnego stylu życia. Istnieje pilna potrzeba zwiększenia świadomości wśród młodych ludzi o zagrożeniach jakie wynikają z zażywania substancji psychoaktywnych. Wskazane jest propagowanie aktywności fizycznej i zasad racjonalnego odżywiania. Konieczna jest ustawiczna edukacja na temat skutków antyzdrowego stylu życia.The aim of the project was the evaluation of the style of life of people addicted to psychoactive substances. The research was conducted in 2013. It covered 70 men aged 18-30, the patients of the Ward of Detoxification and Addiction to Psychoactive Substances Therapy of the Independent Provincial Public Mental Health Care of Dr. Barbara Borzym in Radom. The method of diagnostic survey was used. Couriosity (over 40%) and peer pressure (almost 39%) are the main causes of reaching for drugs by the surveyed. The treatment was caused by the conflicts with the law (24,88%) and the pressure from family or court order (similarly almost 23%). The surveyed conduct anti-health style of life (over 83%). Over 74% of the surveyed do not take up any form of physical activity. Listening to music (almost 30%), watching TV and computer games (over 28%) are favourite forms of spending free time. 75% eats unhealthily. Life satisfaction was confirmed by 30% of the surveyed. Only nearly 46% is aware of the dangers resulting from the anti-health style of life. There is an urgent need of rising the awareness of dangers concerning psychoactive substances among young people. Active forms of spending free time and healthy style of life are suggested. There is a need of constant education concerning the dangers of anti-health style of life

Quality of life in patients with COPD, depending on the presence of comorbidities

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the world among chronic diseases. The article discusses the relationship between the quality of life of patients with COPD and the presence of diseases associated mainly with hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The examination includes subjective and holistic assessment of the patient’s health condition, which allows to notice any disorders and deficits in the functioning of patients with this disease

CRISES IN OLD AGE – TEACHING APPROACH

Artykuł dotyczy sytuacji trudnych (kryzysów), które występują wśród ludzi starszych. Zależą one od warunków wewnętrznych, osobowościowych, indywidualnych dla każdego człowieka oraz zewnętrznych, związanych ze stylem życia, oddziaływań społecznych. Jako sytuacje trudne przedstawiono stan samotności i osamotnienia, lęk przed śmiercią, okres przejścia na emeryturę i wiążącą się z tym utratę dotychczasowej roli społecznej, przymusową bezczynność, utratę kondycji fizycznej, chorobę, socjoekonomiczne warunki życia.The article is regarding difficult situations (of crises) which are appearing among the elderly. They depend on internal, personality, individual conditions for every man and outside, associated with a lifestyle, of social influences. As difficult situations a condition of the solitude and lonelinesses, a fear of death, a period of the retirement and loss being connected with it were presented for current social role, compulsory inactivity, loss of the physical fitness, illness, socjoekonomiczne living conditions

Self-Efficacy and Control Location as the Resources Determining Health-Related Behaviors

Zasoby (potencjały) zdrowotne można określić jako specyficzne właściwości funkcjonalne człowieka i jego środowiska, które pełnią funkcję regulacyjną i prozdrowotną. Coraz częściej zwraca się uwagę na konieczność pomnażania zasobów zdrowia oraz ochronę ich przez całe życie. Powiązanie zdrowia ze stylem życia wymaga udzielenia pomocy jednostce w zakresie modyfikowania indywidualnych wzorów zachowań oraz kształtowania prozdrowotnego stylu życia, polegającego na świadomym podejmowaniu określonych działań, które zwiększają zasoby własnego zdrowia oraz eliminują zagrożenia. Kluczową rolę w tym procesie przypisuje się predyktorom poznawczym, takim jak poczucie umiejscowienia kontroli i przekonanie o własnej skuteczności.Health resources (potentials) can be defined as specific functional properties of a person and his/her environment, acting as the regulatory and health prevention. Increasingly, the attention is drawn to the need of multiplying health resources and protecting them for a lifetime. Linking health with lifestyle requires providing the individual with the help of modifying individual behavior patterns and shaping a pro-health lifestyle based on conscious undertaking of specific activities that increase the resources of one's own health and eliminate threats. The key role in this process is attributed to cognitive predictors, such as the sense of location of control and belief in self-efficacy

Nalbuphine: some aspects of the research and applications

Nalbuphine hydrochloride is a synthetic, non-scheduled opioid agonist/antagonist analgesic, widely used across different branches of medicine. Despite the fact that nalbuphine has been used in the clinical setting for more than 40 years, there is still a lot of controversy regarding its mechanism of action and side-effects, including the development of the addiction to the drug. Recent data demonstrated the increase of non-medical use of nalbuphine. Moreover, in some countries it was placed in list of psychotropic and addictive substances. The increasing popularity of nalbuphine led us to review and analyse the data regarding both clinical and non-clinical applications of the drug. Furthermore, we performed an extensive analysis regarding available experimental models and approaches used in the research of opioid substances. Despite a set of problems in clinical settings due to the opioid nature of nalbuphine, it belongs to an indispensable group of analgesics for pain control

Factors Predicting Post-Traumatic Positive and Negative Psychological Changes Experienced by Nurses during a Pandemic COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

It is common knowledge that COVID-19 affects physiopathological changes in all systems of the human body. On the other hand, events related to the COVID-19 pandemic also have a significant impact on the social and mental sphere of human functioning. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between selected sociodemographic variables and selected subjective cognitive resources, and the positive and negative perception of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in a group of nurses working in Poland. The computer-assisted web interviewing method was conducted between 1 and 15 May 2020. Participants were requested to complete the following questionnaires: The Changes in Outlook Questionnaire (CIOQ), The Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), The Safety Experience Questionnaire (SEQ), and The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Three-hundred and twenty fivenurses working all over Poland participated in the study. Their mean age was 39.18 &plusmn; 11.16 years. A higher average level was noted among the surveyed nurses in the Positive Change subscale (18.56 &plusmn; 4.04). In a multivariate model, taking into account both sociodemographic and cognitive variables, the level of perceived traumatic stress, the level of social support, a sense of security, reflection on safety and a sense of meaning and meaning in life were independent predictors of a positive perception of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those variables explained as much as 37% of the dependent variable, and the nature of the relationship was positive. While we are still a long way from understanding the full range of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and psychosocial well-being, it is possible that in this challenging context there are many individual resources available to perceive the effects of the current pandemic positively. Therefore, they should be strengthened through the development and implementation of intervention programs to improve the mental state of nurses

SOCIAL NEEDS IN AN AGING SOCIETY

Artykuł zwraca uwagę na potrzeby społeczne ludzi starzejących się, przede wszystkim na konieczność wspierania zdrowia i aktywności osób starszych, jak również na konieczność podnoszenia świadomości społeczeństw poprzez uruchamianie wszelkich inicjatyw związanych z kreowaniem potencjału tej grupy wiekowej.The article is paying attention to social needs of people growing old, above all to the need to support the health and activities of elderly people, as well as to the need to raise the awareness of societies by starting all initiatives associated with creating the potential of this age group