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Biomedical subjects

Leszek Satora

Publications and source records attributed to Leszek Satora.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) poisoning, case report and review.

Gathering and eating mushrooms and other plants containing psychoactive substances has become increasingly popular among young people experimenting with drugs. Dried fly agaric Amanita muscaria fruiting bodies were eaten by five young persons (18-21 years of age) at a party in order to evoke hallucinations. Visual and auditory hallucinations occurred in four of them, whereas a 18-year-old girl lost consciousness. The following morning, she went to the Clinic of Toxicology. Due to the fact that not all the active substances present in the fly agaric have been identified, and some of them have an effect after a period of latency, the patient was admitted for several days of observation during which check-up examinations were performed. After four days without any problems, she was discharged. The poisoning regressed with no organ complications. The remaining persons who had eaten the fly agaric were free from any complaints.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Contradiction model to prevent addictions in university students from Kraków].

Students' community is a peculiar environment where the problems of psychoactive substance using has been raised for many years, whereas the real scale and extent of the phenomenon has not been appreciated enough so far. Results of the preliminary research carried on in 2000 and 2004 indicate a considerable degree of the popularity both of alcohol and drugs among students. Therefore both the continuation and widening of the activity of Polish Anti Drug Action "University Free from Abuse" is necessary. In October 2004 the Council of the Rectors of Krakow Universities came to a decision about the necessity of the beginning of an action which aims at the diagnosis and counteraction of the problems in question. In December the outpatient clinic was established with the help of the Clinic of Toxicology. It aims at the prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of the addiction. As to prophylaxis, lectures for the first year students have been provided. Their role is to inform about the ethanol, psychoactive substance impact as well as the action of addiction. Lectures have been connected with a public-opinion poll which led to the estimation of the scale of the problem. At the same time the Clinic has rendered both diagnostic and therapeutic service for drug users and alcoholics and their relatives from the above-mentioned environment. There are plants to spread the prophylaxis among more students. Among others the secondary prophylaxis and the creation of consulting points is our aim.

Alcohol-Related Disorders↗
PubMed2005

Drug free universities--trends in illicit drugs use among Kraków university students.

Social survey by questioning people is a significant source of information, valuable for planning and developing of prophylactic strategies. An illicit drugs use among a first-year students of Kraków's universities and factors determining the usage were analysed. The research by completing the questionnaire designed by National Bureau for Drug Prevention, Poland was performed in 725 a first-year students of six Kraków's universities. The students were asked to complete the questionnaire confidentially, while the lecture on psychoactive substances. 83.6% of those polled know some students who use a drugs, 38.3% already initiated into drugs, 61.9% reported that they needed at least one day to get drugs. The male students reach for drugs more often then females, and those first-year students being already 20 years old compared to the younger. The greater risk was also noted among students who rent apartments or when a parents earned together more than 3500 PLN. The medical students reached for drugs more rarely than the others. Our survey is one of the first source of information about trends in the drugs usage by Kraków's students. The results will help to develop a preventive standards and creation of effective anti-drugs campaign to be accomplished by college authorities and the Kraków Environmental Diseases Out-patient Clinic for students and academic teachers. The clinic was organised in 2004.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Assessment of legal awareness regarding illicit drug use among Kraków university students].

Social survey is a very important source of information concerned with planing the preventive strategy and protecting against problems relevant to the use of psychoactive substances. The survey covered a group of 211 first-year students from five colleges in Kraków. The students showed weak awareness of law. The respondents are of the opinion that the rules dealing with the addiction issue have been too liberal thus far. The emphasis should be put on enforcing the anti-drug law. Otherwise it will not became a powerful weapon to counteract the drug addiction. According to the opinion of respondents the trade and delivery of drugs are highly disapproving and they require inflicting stringent punishments. The results of our analysis are the integral part of Kraków model to help addicted to psychoactive substances and of prevention activities referred to the students of colleges.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Poisonings resulting from the ingestion of magic mushrooms in Kraków.

Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also called "magic mushrooms", are becoming a more frequent cause of abuse, especially among young people, who use them experimentally for recreational purposes. In the autumn of 2004, several people were admitted to and observed in the Department of Clinical Toxicology in Krakòw after they had used magic mushrooms to experience hallucinatory sensations. Three of them had visual hallucinations, and the fourth experienced both visual and auditory hallucinations followed by the exogenous psychosis after use of Psilocybe semilanceata. One person was hospitalised for several days while the others were observed in the emergency department. The main source of information for patients about hallucinogenic mushrooms was the internet. In the cases discussed the mushroom poisoning caused no organ damage and the symptoms disappeared in about 6 hours.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Suicide and the selfish gene.

The application of an evolutionary perspective to human behaviour generates philosophical, political and scientific controversy. Modern human symbolic consciousness is not the cumulation of the long trend that natural selection would predict. The new archaeological data suggested the anatomical and behavioural innovation has been episodic and rare separated by long periods of stagnate. New behavioural mode and the new skeletal structure of modem human arose as an incidental exaptation. Additionally the genetic basis dysfunction connected with suicide behaviour and growing statistic suicide among teenager is contradictory to the theory that our behaviour are programmed in any detail by selfish genes. In this cases genetically determined suicidal behaviour should be rapidly eliminated by natural selection.

Evolution, Molecular↗
PubMed2005

[The role of poison information center in the health service structures].

Poison information centres (PIC) provide telephone advice on the treatment of poisonings to the lay public and medical professionals. The number of inquiries increases every year. Poison Information Centre of Collegium Medicum of Jagiellonian University in Krakow provided 1611 items of advice in 1999 and 2263--five years later--in 2004. Each incoming call is recorded and documented by standardized protocol. Another aspect of PIC activity of is prevention and education. Inquiries protocols' analysis shows the most frequent reasons and circumstances of poisonings. Thus, it is possible to conduct appropriate prophylactic campaigns. The above aspects of activity of PIC do not bring direct financial benefit. There is one index which shows that PIC saves the money. There were 335 cases in 2004 (above 50% consulted lay public) when unnecessary hospital admissions were prevent. It should be noted that the others were refer to proper specialist. This aspect of PIC's activity significantly decreases the costs which should be paid in any medical intervention.

Health Education↗
PubMed2005

Toxic exposure of children in 2004--telephone service of toxicology.

509 toxicological telephone inquiries concerning children under 15 years have been provided by Kraków Poison Information Centre (PIC) in the year 2004. Medication drugs were involved in almost one half (n=208) the cases noted. 63.7% of calls concerned children under 4 years with a two-year-old group predominance. The main reason for poisoning in children under 4 were pharmaceuticals (42.6%), followed by pesticides (9.8%), corrosives (8.8%), hydrocarbons (8.1%), plants (5.5%) and detergents (3.7%); all exposure were accidental. Suicide attempts reached 32.3% in the 12-14 age group. In that group also a cases of psychoactive substances overdosing were noted. Most exposures in children reported to poison centre were accidental (87.2%). Thus, it is absolutely necessary to intensify prevention and education activity both for parents and primary school children to avoid the poisoning.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

[Dangerous aquaria].

World trends for a home breeding of exotic freshwater and marine fishes did not miss Poland. There are almost all species of aquarium fishes available in Polish pet shops, but there is not enough information about threat given to customers. In some fish, there are masses of one-cell glands, mainly serous, in the proximity of the spines. In others, those one-cell glands may be grouped in larger aggregates of cells called venom glands, that may form organs resembling multicellular glands of terrestrial animals. They are usually located around the spines or hard rays of the fins. Even if covered with a connective tissue sheath, the aggregates of the venom cells do not have any common outlet; they are not, therefore, proper multicellular glands. The venom glands of the catfish are covered with a thin sheath and they release their contents when the fin ray is pressed. Spines are derived from fin rays. When the spine penetrates the body of its prey, it presses its base against the cells, squashes them and squeezes the venomous contents into the wound. Catfish, lionfish and stonefish have the venom glands producing secretion which could be dangerous. The eels and morays blood is also dangerous, as well as slime of reduced squamae. Poison information centers noted several cases of fishes' stings in Poland.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Poisonous animals registration in Poland].

The Act on Nature Conservation of 16.04.2004 (Official Journal, 2004, No 92, item 880) imposes on private individuals the duty to register some animals. The data collected by Kraków municipal authorities and delivered to the Poison Information Centre (Colleglum Medicum, Jagiellonian University) indicate that there are following species in private hands in the city and its surroundings: 11 individuals of Naja naja, 2--Hydrodynates gigas and 55-- Dendrobates spp. According to these information the employees of the PIC elaborated the advice on the treatment of specific animals' poisoning. In the period May 2003 - May 2004 (before the above Act came into force) there were 143 individuals from Brachypelma genus and 3 scorpions (Pandinus imperator) registered in Krakow. These species produce venoms which take local effect. According to art. 64 (1) of the above Act it is compulsory to register amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. However, it would be desirable to introduce the duty to register also dangerous species of invertebrates and fishes. It would provide the complete list of poisonous animals kept in private hands. Thus, it would be possible to estimate any possible threats and to elaborate adequate treatment in case of specific animals' poisoning.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2005

[Cardiotoxic plants].

In statistics from Poison Information Center in Kraków plant poisonings comprise 2% of the total registered poisonings. In toxicology cardiac glycosides poisonings existing in common foxglove plant, lilies of the valley, oleander are essential. Species of cardiotoxic plants which may cause a danger in Poland are presented in the research. The toxic mechanisms of cardiac glycosides are specified.

Cardiac Glycosides↗
PubMed2004

[Assessment of the legal awareness regarding drug consumption].

The latest legislation against drug addiction has changed the approach of Pursuing Organs in Poland to the problem of taking and distribution of drugs. Many tests have been carried out in order to evaluate the extent of legal regulations as the appropriate instrument in the struggle against drug addiction. The survey and interview were introduced during the research. The results make it possible to form the following conclusions. Law, only as a supplementary means supporting other methods may help prevent and counteract the addictions. Legal regulation on drug addiction which are based on compulsion and punishment should be widely taken into account.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Animal model of addiction].

Animal models are a valuable tool in the investigation of the nervous system. Many similarities between animal and human dependency behaviours have been observed. Animal model based on the self-administration response has contributed to understanding of the neurobiological basis of particular stages of the dependence process. Animals are used also to study the mechanism of alcohol dependence. Working out an animals model of addiction should include references to the clinically important phenomena related to psychological dependence which has not been displayed. This situation get us to consider the latest findings and theories about evolution of the wise human.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Bites by the grass snake Natrix natrix.

The non life-threatening results of a bite from a grass snake in a 17-y-old patient are described, their significance evaluated, and the hazard of such bites discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Cardiotoxicity of vertebrates venoms].

Vertebrate species (fish, amphibians and reptiles) with cardiotoxic venoms properties are described in the paper. A regulatory problems related to breeding of venomous animals are also included.

Amphibian Venoms↗
PubMed2003

[Cobra bites].

The growing trend toward the collection of exotic snakes by private collectors increases the danger to health and life. The analysis of the cases which have occurred in USA, England, Germany and Poland shows that only quick and united effort of experts from the different fields and antivenoms can save the life.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Vaccine, methadone and zebrafish].

Substances of abuse have been known since antiquity till now. Current trends in neurobiological and genetical study related to drug dependency were presented in the study. The trial of preparation a cocaine vaccine and the new hope for dependent people coming from investigation of Zebrafish were also described.

Animals↗