Manifestations of the pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally related with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS) in the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory systems.

Introduction and objective: The course of the pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS) is not fully understood. In most cases, complications are so severe that the patients require hospitalization. The aim of this study is to discuss the most common symptoms in the course of PIMS in the individual systems. Review methods: The Medline database (Pubmed) was searched in March 2022 using the keywords: PIMS symptoms, MIS-C manifestations, hyperinflammation, post-COVID. English and Polish language papers published between 2020 and 2022 were selected. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Studies show that the most frequently occuring symptoms are fever, followed by gastrointestinal manifestations. However, the most serious complications have been reported in thecardiovascular system. It is estimated that up to half of the patients develop left ventricular failure or shock, and a quarter may develop coronary artery aneurysms. A large percentage of patients diagnosed with PIMS also manifest nervous system symptoms. In addition to symptoms, organic brain lesions have been described in imaging studies. In contrast to COVID-19 disease, respiratory complications are rare in PIMS. Respiratory failure, if present, usually develops secondary to cardiovascular failure. Summary: The current reports allow to state that PIMS is a rare, but serious disease affecting children most often in school age. Symptoms are not specific and may be different for each patient. Since the disease is difficult to diagnose, criteria have been developed that include the most common symptoms as well as a link to SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Key words: PIMS symptoms; MIS-C manifestations; hyperinflammation; post-COVIDWprowadzenie i cel pracy: Przebieg wieloukładowego zespołu zapalnego związanego z SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS) nie jest do końca poznany. W większości przypadków powikłania są na tyle poważne, że pacjenci wymagają hospitalizacji. Celem pracy jest omówienie najczęściej występujących objawów w przebiegu PIMS w poszczególnych układach. Materiał i metoda: W marcu 2022 roku została przeszukana baza danych Medline (Pubmed) przy użyciu słów kluczowych: PIMS symptoms, MIS-C manifestations, hyperinflammation, post-COVID. Wybrane zostały prace w języku angielskim i polskim, opublikowane w latach 2020-2022. Opis stanu wiedzy: Badania pokazują, że najczęściej, zaraz po gorące, występują dolegliwości ze strony układu pokarmowego. Najpoważniejsze powikłania odnotowano jednak w układzie sercowo-naczyniowym. Szacuje się, że nawet u połowy pacjentów dochodzi do niewydolności lewokomorowej lub wstrząsu, a u jednej czwartej mogą rozwinąć się tętniaki tętnic wieńcowych. Duży odsetek chorych z rozpoznanym PIMS manifestuje również objawy ze strony układu nerwowego. Poza objawami podmiotowymi opisywano również zmiany organiczne mózgu. W przeciwieństwie do choroby COVID-19 powikłania w układzie oddechowym występują rzadko. Niewydolność oddechowa, jeżeli występuje, najczęściej rozwija się wtórnie do niewydolności układu krążenia. Podsumowanie: Dotychczasowe doniesienia pozwalają stwierdzić, że PIMS jest rzadką, aczkolwiek poważną chorobą dotykającą dzieci najczęściej w wieku szkolnym. Objawy występujące w jej przebiegu nie są swoiste i mogą być różne u każdego pacjenta. Rozpoznanie choroby jest trudne, dlatego opracowano kryteria obejmujące najczęściej występujące objawy, a także powiązanie z ekspozycja na wirusa SARS-CoV-2. Słowa klucz: PIMS symptoms; MIS-C manifestations; hyperinflammation; post-COVID &nbsp

Complications after SARS-CoV2 virus infection in the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous systems and in the kidneys.

Introduction and objective: The mechanism by which the sars-cov-2 virus attacks organs and causes their long-term complications is not yet fully understood. Many patients who have had COVID-19 complain of various ailments more and more often, and some of them are admitted to hospitals as an emergency. The aim of the study is to present the most common complications after sars-cov-2  infection in selected systems and organs, as well as their consequences. Review methods: In February 2022, the Medline (PubMed) and Google Scholar databases were searched using the following keywords: after COVID-19 complications, long-term sequelae of covid-19, mortality after covid-19, post-covid, long covid . Works in English, French and German published in 2020-2022 were selected. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Accumulated statistics show that COVID-19 very often leaves fibrotic changes in the lungs and nonspecific symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent headache and loss of taste and smell. Symptoms of right ventricular failure and heart attacks of various etiologies are often observed, and vascular endothelium activated by infection can lead to thrombotic disorders in the lungs, brain and peripheral vascular systems. There was also an increase in the incidence of acute kidney injury during the pandemic. Summary: The reports so far allow to state that the disease process associated with covid-19 does not stop once the main symptoms resolve.Inflammatory changes in the body can continue for a long time and can lead to irreversible complications, sometimes with catastrophic consequences.Wprowadzenie i cel pracy: Mechanizm w jaki wirus sars-cov-2 atakuje narządy i powoduje ich długotrwałe powikłania nie jest do końca poznany. Wielu pacjentów, którzy przebyli COVID-19 coraz częściej skarży się na różne dolegliwości, a część z nich przyjmowana jest do szpitali trybie pilnym. Celem pracy jest przybliżenie najczęściej występujących komplikacji po infekcji sars-cov-2  w wybranych układach i narządach, a także ich następstw. Materiał i metoda: W lutym 2022 roku przeszukano bazy danych Medline (PubMed) oraz Google Scholar przy użyciu słów kluczowych: after COVID-19 complications, long-term sequelae of covid-19, mortality after covid-19, post-covid, long covid . Zostały wybrane prace w językach angielskim, francuskim i niemieckim opublikowane w latach 2020-2022. Opis stanu wiedzy: Zgromadzone statystyki pokazują, że COVID-19 bardzo często pozostawia zmiany zwłóknieniowe w płucach oraz niespecyficzne objawy takie jak duszność, utrzymujący się ból głowy czy utrata smaku i węchu. Często obserwuje się symptomy niewydolności prawej komory serca i zawały serca różnej etiologii, a aktywowany zakażeniem śródbłonek naczyń może prowadzić do zaburzeń zakrzepowych w płucach, mózgu i w obwodowym układzie naczyniowym. Podczas pandemii zanotowano także wzrost ilości przypadków ostrego uszkodzenia nerek. Podsumowanie: Dotychczasowe doniesienia pozwalają stwierdzić, że proces chorobowy związany z covid-19 nie kończy się w momencie ustąpienia głównych objawów. W organizmie zmiany zapalne mogą toczyć się jeszcze długi czas i prowadzić do nieodwracalnych powikłań, niekiedy katastrofalnych w skutkach. Słowa klucz: after covid complications; long-term sequelae of covid-19; mortality after covid-19; post-covid; long covi

Selected effects of combined oral contraceptives use

Introduction and objective:: Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are one of the most popular methods of contraception worldwide. The universality of this method leads to the constant analysis of its influence on the female body. The purpose of this study is to discuss selected side effects of COC use. Review methods: In July 2022, articles found in the Medline (Pubmed) and Google Scholar databases were selected by using the following keywords: oral contraceptive use; risk of cancer; depression; side effects of hormonal contraception; venous thrombosis. Brief description of the state of knowledge: COC use has been shown to be associated with a 2-6 fold increase in the risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). The component responsible for this side effect was initially thought to be synthetic estrogen - ethinylestradiol. It is now recognized as having the greatest influence on mood disorders. An increased risk of cancer has been reported in women taking COCs in case of breast cancer and liver cancer. Inverse relationship was observed in colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Summary: COC use can have side effects, but it also has many health benefits. Therefore, it is important to constantly learn about this topic and minimize the risk of adverse side effects

Measles: A disease that’s making a comeback

Introduction: Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that occurs around the world, featured by fever and the characteristic maculopapular rash, which can also be associated with cough, conjunctivitis or coryza. In recent years, there has been an alarming increase in the amount of measles cases in many countries around the world. The aim of this study is to review the literature and systematize knowledge about measles.Brief description of the state of knowledge: The disease is caused by the measles virus, which is highly infectious, and its only reservoir is humans. The infection occurs via droplets, and the disease is a three-phase course. Unfortunately, measles is behind multiple complications, which may lead to death. In view of no specific antiviral therapies available for the treatment of measles, controlling the spread of the disease depends on prophylaxis, that is the use of widely available and effective vaccination against measles. Despite the presence of vaccines, there is still a substantial risk of further endemic outbreaks.  Conclusions: Nowadays, the elimination of measles is a major challenge due to increasing population density, ongoing wars, pandemics and other social and political factors. Hence, it remains paramount to make every effort to increase the quantity of people vaccinated against measles and to control its spread globally

Advanced Image Analysis of the Surface Pattern Emerging in Ni3Al Intermetallic Alloys on Anodization

Anodization of Ni3Al alloy is of interest in the field of industrial manufacturing, thanks to the formation of protective oxide layer on the materials working in corrosive environments and high temperatures. However, homogeneous surface treatment is paramount for technological applications of this material. The anodization conditions have to be set outside the ranges of corrosion and burning, which is the electric field enhanced anodic dissolution of the metal. In order to check against occurrence of these events, proper quantitative means for assessing the surface quality have to be developed and established. We approached this task by advanced analysis of scanning electron microscope images of anodized Ni3Al plates. The anodization was carried out in 0.3 M citric acid at two temperatures of 0 and 30°C and at voltages in the range of 2 12 V. Different figures can be used to characterize the quality of the surface, in terms of uniformity. Here, the concept of regularity ratio spread is used for the first time on surfaces of technological interest. Additionally, the Minkowski parameters have been calculated and their meaning is discussed

The analysis of Oak pollen count in selected Polish cities in 2008

Praca przedstawia przebieg sezonu pylenia dębu w wybranych miastach Polski w 2008 r. Pomiary wykonano w Białymstoku, Bydgoszczy, Krakowie, Lublinie, Łodzi, Olsztynie, Sosnowcu, Szczecinie, Warszawie i we Wrocławiu. Badania prowadzono metodą objętościową przy wykorzystaniu aparatów firmy Burkard i Lanzoni 2000. Sezon pyłkowy wyznaczono jako okres, w którym w powietrzu wystąpiło 95% rocznej sumy ziaren pyłku. Początek sezonu pyłkowego wyznaczono również metodą 30 ziaren. Indeks SPI obliczono jako sumę średnich dobowych stężeń pyłku w danym sezonie. Najwcześniej sezon pylenia dębu rozpoczął się we Wrocławiu (25 kwietnia). Najwyższe wartości średniodobowych stężeń pyłku dębu odnotowano w Lublinie, gdzie 5 maja stężenie wyniosło 212 z/m3 powietrza.This paper presents the course of oak pollination season in selected cities of Poland in 2007. The measurements were performed in Bialystok, Bydgoszcz, Krakow, Lublin, Lodz, Olsztyn, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Warsaw and Wroclaw. Volumetric method with the use of Volumetric Spore Trap (Burkard, Lanzoni 2000) was implemented. Pollen season was defined as the period in which 95% of the annual total catch occurred. The start of the season was also determined by the 30 grains method. Seasonal Pollen Index (SPI) was estimated as the annual sum of daily average pollen concentrations. Pollen season of oak in 2008 started first in Lublin (25 April). The highest 24-hour average pollen count was recorded in Lublin on 5 May (212 oak pollen grains/m3)

Late-onset bloodstream infections of Very-Low-Birth-Weight infants: data from the Polish Neonatology Surveillance Network in 2009–2011

BACKGROUND: Late-Onset Bloodstream Infections (LO-BSI) continue to be one of the most important complications associated with hospitalization of infants born with very low birth weight (VLBW). The aims of this study were to assess the epidemiology of LO-BSI together with the risk factors and the distribution of causative pathogens at six Polish neonatal intensive care units that participated in the Polish Neonatology Surveillance Network from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011. METHODS: The surveillance covered 1,695 infants whose birth weights were <1501 grams (VLBW) in whom LO-BSI was diagnosed >72 hours after delivery. Case LO-BSI patients were defined according to NeoKISS. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty seven episodes of LO-BSI were diagnosed with a frequency of 25.3% and an incidence density of 6.7/1000 patient-days (pds). Results of our multivariate analysis demonstrated that surgical procedures and lower gestational age were significantly associated with the risk of LO-BSI. Intravascular catheters were used in infants with LO-BSI significantly more frequently and/or for longer duration: Central venous cathters (CVC) (OR 1.29) and Peripheral venous catheters (PVC) (OR 2.8), as well as, the total duration of total parenteral nutrition (13 vs. 29 days; OR 1.81). Occurrence of LO-BSI was significantly associated with increased the length of mechanical ventilation (MV) (OR 2.65) or the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (OR 2.51), as well as, the duration of antibiotic use (OR 2.98). The occurrence of more than one infection was observed frequently (OR 9.2) with VLBW with LO-BSI. Microorganisms isolated in infants with LO-BSI were dominated by Gram-positive cocci, and predominantly by coagulase-negative staphylococci (62.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Independent risk factor for LO-BSI in VLBV infants are: low gestational age and requirement for surgery. The incidence rates of LO-BSI especially CVC-BSI were higher in the Polish NICUs surveillance than those of other national networks, similar to the central- and peripheral utilization ratio