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PubMed1997

Intake of 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po with food in Poland.

Intake with food and water of 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po was determined for an adult population in regions of central, northern and northeastern Poland. The content of radionuclides was determined in the daily diet and, in the central region, also in foodstuffs and drinking water. The annual intake with foodstuffs was estimated on the basis of their average annual consumption. The 226Ra intake in northeastern Poland was approximately 17% higher than the overall average, correlating well with the higher concentration of this radionuclide in the soil. The 210Po/210Pb ratio was close to unity in the continental regions, whereas at the Baltic Sea coast it was approximately 1.5. The latter value can be ascribed to a larger consumption of fish for which the 210Po/210Pb ratio was found to be approximately 10. In central Poland the largest intake of 226Ra was with flour and vegetables (contribution approx. 60%), the largest intake of 210Pb was with flour and meat (approx. 50%) and the largest intake of 210Po was with fish (approx. 34%). From the intake and dose coefficient, annual effective doses were calculated. The dose from 210Pb and 210Po was approx. 54 mu Sv year-1, and the dose from 226Ra was approx. 4 mu Sv year-1.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed2006

Social inequalities in male mortality, and in male mortality from smoking: indirect estimation from national death rates in England and Wales, Poland, and North America.

BACKGROUND: There are substantial social inequalities in adult male mortality in many countries. Smoking is often more prevalent among men of lower social class, education, or income. The contribution of smoking to these social inequalities in mortality remains uncertain. METHODS: The contribution of smoking to adult mortality in a population can be estimated indirectly from disease-specific death rates in that population (using absolute lung cancer rates to indicate proportions due to smoking of mortality from certain other diseases). We applied these methods to 1996 death rates at ages 35-69 years in men in three different social strata in four countries, based on a total of 0.6 million deaths. The highest and lowest social strata were based on social class (professional vs unskilled manual) in England and Wales, neighbourhood income (top vs bottom quintile) in urban Canada, and completed years of education (more than vs less than 12 years) in the USA and Poland. RESULTS: In each country, there was about a two-fold difference between the highest and the lowest social strata in overall risks of dying among men aged 35-69 years (England and Wales 21%vs 43%, USA 20%vs 37%, Canada 21%vs 34%, Poland 26%vs 50%: four-country mean 22%vs 41%, four-country mean absolute difference 19%). More than half of this difference in mortality between the top and bottom social strata involved differences in risks of being killed at age 35-69 years by smoking (England and Wales 4%vs 19%, USA 4%vs 15%, Canada 6%vs 13%, Poland 5%vs 22%: four-country mean 5%vs 17%, four-country mean absolute difference 12%). Smoking-attributed mortality accounted for nearly half of total male mortality in the lowest social stratum of each country. CONCLUSION: In these populations, most, but not all, of the substantial social inequalities in adult male mortality during the 1990s were due to the effects of smoking. Widespread cessation of smoking could eventually halve the absolute differences between these social strata in the risk of premature death.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Occurrence of Salmonella spp. in consumption eggs in Poland.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonellae on egg shells in markets in Olsztyn, Poland. An investigation carried out by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station into cases of food poisoning caused in Poland by Salmonella spp. in recent years showed that the largest number of outbreaks is connected with consuming foods containing hens eggs which had not undergone heat treatment, such as mayonnaise, creams, ice-cream and other products. The world egg production amounts to 400 billion, in Poland it reaches the level of around 8 billion per year. A total of 1200 eggs were purchased in 40 local markets in Olsztyn were examined for the presence of Salmonella between June 1997 and December 1998. Salmonella was not found on the shell or inside the eggs. From this study it would appear that the incidence of Salmonellae on eggs from Olsztyn shops is very low.

Eggs↗
PubMed1997

International assistance and health care reform in Poland: barriers to project development and implementation.

The restoration of democracy in Poland initiated a major system transformation including reform of the health sector. The international community were quick to respond to the need for assistance. Polish proposals were supported by international experts and projects were developed together with international development agencies and donors. Donors had no experience of central and eastern Europe, these countries had never been beneficiaries of aid and neither side had experience working together. Progress and absorption of funds was slow. Comparative experience from developing countries was used to analyze the barriers encountered in project development and implementation in Poland. The conditions necessary for implementation were not satisfied. Insufficient attention was paid to the project process. Barriers originate on the side of both donors and recipients and additionally from programme characteristics. The most serious problems experience in Poland were lack of government commitment to health care reform leading to failure to provide counterpart funds and low capacity for absorption of aid. Rent seeking attitudes were important. Donor paternalistic attitudes, complex procedures and lack of innovative approach were also present. Poor coordination was a problem on both sides. Multi-lateral projects were too complex and it was not always possible to integrate project activities with routine ones. External consultants played an excessive role in project development and implementation, absorbing a large portion of funds. The barriers have been operationalised to create a checklist which requires validation elsewhere and may be useful for those working in this field.

Financing, Organized↗
PubMed2000

The expanded programme on immunization calendar in Poland.

Poland has a long history of prophylactic vaccination against infectious diseases. Hepatitis B vaccination was introduced in Poland between 1989 and 1996 as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). All newborns and those at high risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection currently receive hepatitis B vaccine free of charge. For many years Poland has reached or exceeded the indicators required by the World Health Organization for vaccination programmes, and about 10% of the population has now been vaccinated against hepatitis B. The incidence of hepatitis B has decreased from about 40 per 100,000 in the early 1990s to 12.7 per 100,000 in 1997. It is hoped to modify the EPI in the future to improve vaccination against mumps, rubella and poliomyelitis. The possible benefit of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b is currently being evaluated. Financial constraints, however, mean that not all of the approved vaccinations can be implemented. The EPI is supported by recommended vaccinations in certain groups, who pay for the vaccines. For hepatitis B, these include children, teenagers, those between 20 and 40 years of age, and those at high risk because of lifestyle or occupation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Comparative studies of health hazard from radon (Rn-222) in two selected lithologic formations in the Suwałki region (in Poland).

The aim of this work was to make a comparison of indoor radon concentrations in dwellings and in soil air in the area of two geological formations in the Suwałki region (Poland). The mean arithmetic airborne concentration was found to be the highest (301 Bq m (-3)) in the basements of buildings in the gravel and sand areas, whereas in the boulder clay areas it reached 587 Bq m (-3). Out of 54 measurements of radon concentrations performed at the ground floor, in eight cases concentrations were found to exceed 200 Bq m (-3) - permissible radon level in new-built houses in Poland and in three cases these values were even higher than 400 Bq m (-3). The highest radon levels were noted in houses with earthen basement floors and with direct entrance from the basement to rooms or kitchens. The mean arithmetic radon concentration in the soil air in the sandy and gravel formations was 39.7 kBq m (-3) and in clay formation it was 26.5 kBq m (-3). Higher radon levels were also found in the water obtained from household wells reaching 8367 Bq m (-3) as compared with tap water (2690 Bqm (-3)). The mean indoor concentration for the whole area under study was found to be 169.4 Bq m (-3), which is higher than the mean value for Poland (49.1 Bq m (-3)) by a factor of 3.5.

Construction Materials↗
PubMedDate not supplied

DNA fingerprinting as an indicator of active transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Poland.

OBJECTIVES: To use genetic fingerprinting to investigate the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Poland, a country with a relatively high incidence of tuberculosis, to improve TB control. DESIGN: One hundred M. tuberculosis isolates from 98 patients in the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Warsaw from 1993 to 1995 and 85 isolates obtained from 50 patients in the Hospital of Lung Diseases in Lodz in 1996 were subjected to DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, using the insertion sequence IS6110 as a probe. RESULTS: IS6110-associated banding patterns of the M. tuberculosis isolates originating from different localities varied considerably, but isolates from Lodz had a higher degree of similarity. Strains with identical RFLP types were identified in patients of the same family or patients living in the same area, indicating active transmission. Of strains isolated in Warsaw, 45% were resistant to at least one drug, and 35% were resistant to two or more drugs and were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). Some drug-resistant isolates were found to have identical banding patterns and originated from epidemiologically linked cases. CONCLUSIONS: Active transmission of TB, including MDR TB, is occurring in Poland. Active measures must be taken to prevent the spread of drug-resistant TB in Poland and potentially, the rest of Europe.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The prevalence of diphtheria immunity in healthy population in Poland.

The degree of seroprotection against diphtheria in Poland was evaluated by determination of IgG antibodies to Corymebacterium diphtheriae toxin (IgG-DTAb). The study population consisted of 4,829 healthy subjects aged from 1 day to 85 years from 7 regions of Poland. Serum samples collected between 1996 and 1998 were assayed for IgG-DTAb antibodies using a toxoid enzyme immunoassay. Neutralization of toxin in Vero cells was performed as a reference method with the WHO standard for human diphtheria antitoxin. The study revealed a lack of seroprotection (IgG-DTAb < 0.1 IU/ml) in 23% of individuals, basic seroprotection (0.1-1.0 IU/ml) in 64%, and effective seroprotection (> 1.0 IU/ml) in 13%. The non-protected group consisted of non-vaccinated children below 2 months of age (10%), individuals between 2 months and 18 years old (20%) and greater than 19 years old (70%). Of the adults, 32% were seronegative, 63% had basic seroprotection and only 5% were fully protected; 43% of adults between 30 and 64 years, who had not been vaccinated at least during the previous 10 years were not protected against diphtheria. The geometric mean titre (GMT) of IgG-DTAb was 0.25 IU/ml in the total population. Age-related GMTs differed significantly from each other and were higher (0.44 IU/ml) in individuals from 2 months to 18 years old, compared with 014 IU/ml and 0.17 lU/ml in children under 2 months and adults, respectively. No significant difference was found in the GMTs of men and women in all age groups. We conclude that the currently used vaccination programme in Poland is highly effective and assures protection against diphtheria in the majority of the population in the 10-year period following the last booster. However, a significant proportion of adults between 30 and 64 years lack protection and this indicates a need for booster immunization for this group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The epidemiology of measles in Poland: prevalence of measles virus antibodies in the population.

WHO has adopted a goal of eliminating indigenous measles from the European Region by the year 2007. The strategy focuses on reducing the proportion of susceptible individuals in the population to low levels and maintaining these low levels of susceptibility. Routine vaccination against measles for children aged 13-15 months was introduced in Poland in 1975, and a second dose added in 1991. High coverage (> 95%) is achieved with both doses. In order to assess progress towards measles elimination in Poland, a serological survey was performed to evaluate the impact of vaccination on the susceptibility profile of population. Three thousand residual serum samples from individuals aged 1-30 years were collected from hospitals in six selected voivodeships (administration units) in Poland. These were tested for measles-specific IgG using a commercial ELISA. Overall 4% (120/3000) were negative for measles virus antibody. The highest proportion of negatives (8.2%) occurred among cohorts born 1977-81--the only cohorts in which susceptibility exceeded the WHO targets. 'Catch-up' vaccination strategies should target these cohorts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Occurrence of serologically verified Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in Poland in 1970-1995.

This study analyses the numbers of serologically verified Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in Poland in 1970-1995. The investigations were performed using the complement fixation test (CFT) with sonicated antigen in National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw and since 1985 in 33 laboratories throughout the country. The result was accepted as positive when antibody titre was 60 or higher, or at least a four-fold increase in titre occurred during the illness. During these studies five epidemics of mycoplasmosis were noted in Poland. They occurred regularly every 5 years during the autumn-winter season in 1970/1971, 1975/1976, 1980/1981 and 1985/1986. The last epidemic, which started in 1991 and culminated in 1992-1993, seems to have inaugurated a change from epidemic to endemic occurrence of M. pneumoniae infection in Poland. At the peak of the epidemic, depending on the region of country, in 20-38% of patients with respiratory tract infection serological confirmation of mycoplasmosis was obtained.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Factor analytic study of two questionnaires measuring oral health-related quality of life among children and adults in New Zealand, Germany and Poland.

A questionnaire designed to measure oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in adults and children was assessed for its factorial structure and reliability using data from the Second International Collaborative Study on Oral Health Outcomes in New Zealand, Poland and Germany. Principal component analysis with orthogonal and oblique rotation was applied. The three-factor structure hypothesized for the children's questionnaire (self-reported oral disease symptoms, perceived oral well-being, social and physical functioning) was confirmed in New Zealand and Poland, and two self-reported oral disease symptom dimensions emerged in Germany. Five factors instead of the three hypothesized were identified for adults: two dimensions of symptoms were identified, and social and physical functioning appeared to be independent dimensions of OHRQOL. Similarity between the factors was demonstrated in all three countries. The reliability of the questionnaire ranged from moderate to excellent depending on the dimension and the country. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the cross-cultural stability of the OHRQOL questionnaire in New Zealand, Poland and Germany, for both children and adults. Further investigations by the present authors of the properties of the instrument in other samples will focus on demonstrating the stability and replicability of the factor structure identified here.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Characterization of Tula virus from common voles (microtus arvalis) in Poland: evidence for geographic-specific phylogenetic clustering.

Tula virus (TULV), a recently identified arvicolid rodent-borne hantavirus, is harbored by the European common vole (Microtus arvalis) in Central Russia and the Czech and Slovak Republics. We report the isolation and characterization of this hantavirus from M. arvalis captured in Poland, a country where human disease caused by hantaviruses has not been recognized. Of 34 arvicolid rodents (24 Clethrionomys glareolus, 9 M. arvalis, 1 Pitymys sp.) captured in Lodz and Tuszyn, Poland, during June to September 1995, sera from 3 M. arvalis and 3 C. glareolus contained IgG antibodies to Puumala virus (PUUV), as determined by an indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay. Alignment and comparison of the 1852-nucleotide S segment and a 1676-nucleotide region of the G2 glycoprotein-encoding M segment, amplified from lung tissues of two hantavirus-seropositive M. arvalis, revealed 83.9-85.2% and 82.3-83.5% sequence similarity, respectively, with TULV strains from Central Russia and the Czech and Slovak Republics. A > 98% sequence conservation was found at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the newly found TULV strains from Poland were closely related to, but distinct from, TULV from elsewhere in Europe.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

The causes, sequelae and attempts at prevention of cervical spine injuries in Poland.

There are certain differences between the causes of spinal injuries in Poland and in the developed countries of the West. The most common causes of injuries to the cervical spine in Poland are: falls from a horse-cart, diving into shallow water and automobile accidents. This paper presents an analysis of the causes of cervical spine injuries in a series of 1937 patients treated at the Spinal Cord Injury Department of the Metropolitan Rehabilitation Center in Konstancin, Poland, in the years between 1965 and 1991, admitted to hospital within the first hours or days after spinal injury. The relations between the mechanism of injury and the cause of injury, as well as the neurological sequelae of the injuries, are analysed.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2002

The evolutionary history of the two karyotypic groups of the common shrew, Sorex araneus, in Poland.

Genetic variability within and among two karyotypic groups and five chromosome races of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) in Poland was assayed by sequencing a 1023 bp part of the cytochrome b gene (mtDNA) from 28 individuals. Thirty-four variable positions defined 21 distinct haplotypes with a maximum sequence divergence of 0.88%. No significant differentiation in the cytochrome b gene between Western and Eastern Karyotypic groups was found. Haplotype diversity estimates within the races and groups sampled were high (h = 0.800-0.928), while nucleotide diversity estimates were low (pi = 0.0034-0.0053). The distribution of pairwise nucleotide differences fits well with expectations of a "sudden expansion" model. High haplotype diversity was accompanied by relatively high expected heterozygosity (H(E)) values in nuclear genes (calculated over 47 enzyme loci: H(E) = 0.031 - 0.049), giving no evidence for a recent bottleneck after the process of post-Pleistocene recolonization of Poland by the shrews. Thus, for S. araneus chromosome races in Poland, the data on the cytochrome b gene variability support the hypothesis assuming the Robertsonian fusions having spread into an ancestral acrocentric distribution.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Arterial hypertension in Poland in 2002.

Arterial hypertension represents a serious medical, social and economic problem in Poland. Owing to a small number of studies concerning HT epidemiology in Poland and large differences in methodology, it is difficult to make an objective verification of the changes regarding principal parameters in our country within the last decade. Important programme for the assessment of the situation in our country is NATPOL PLUS, carried out in the year 2002 on a representative sample of 3051 adult Polish residents aged between 18 and 93 years, using the current diagnostic criteria for arterial hypertension (blood pressure readings obtained at three separate visits in cases of newly detected HT, different cuff sizes for different arm circumference, age range 18-93 years, rejection of first measurement during initial screening visit). Prevalence of HT in Poland is 29%, awareness-67%, and effectiveness of treatment-12%. This means that while HT affects about 8.4 million adult Poles, only 1 million of them get effective treatment. Moreover, as much as 8.7 million Poles have high normal blood pressure and they should apply active prevention. The awareness, detection and control of hypertension is much worse in men than in women. A series of NATPOL studies indicated over the period 1994-2002 a significant and rapid decrease in the awareness of one's own blood pressure among the adult Polish population, especially in small towns and villages, among less educated people, and in males.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed2000

Poland's syndrome and recessive X-linked ichthyosis in two brothers.

Poland's syndrome consists of unilateral congenital absence of the pectoralis major muscle with a variable degree of ipsilateral upper limb deformity. The aetiology of Poland's syndrome is unknown, although an inherited tendency to develop a compromised embryonic vascular supply in the affected areas has been suggested. The majority of reported cases are sporadic, and in only a few instances is there a familial incidence. We describe the occurrence of Poland's syndrome in two brothers who also had recessive X-linked ichthyosis. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of such an association.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

New epidemiological problem in Poland: vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.

New diagnostic, prophylactic and treatment perspectives in HIV infection of the fetus and newborn is a challenge for health services in Poland. In view of these advances, the ascertainment of HIV status of all pregnant women is important both for individuals and for the health services. By law, laboratory HIV testing in Poland can be performed only on a voluntary basis. All newly diagnosed cases of AIDS and HIV infections are anonymously reported to the National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw. There are no clear data about vertical transmission of HIV infection in Poland mostly because of the unknown number of women who are positive at delivery. Almost all our data were collected from Polish Regional AIDS/HIV Diagnostic and Therapeutic Centres. During the period 1986-95, 88 children were delivered by HIV-positive women and vertical transmission occurred in 15 cases.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Poland's syndrome and carcinoma of the breast: a case report.

Poland's syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly that may include mammary hypoplasia and has been described in association with various malignancies. We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with unilateral Poland's syndrome who developed carcinoma in the hypoplastic breast. A review of the literature reveals no previous report of carcinoma of the hypoplastic breast with Poland's syndrome.

Adult↗