Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “POLAND”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Some toxic and essential trace metals in swine from northern Poland.

The concentrations of mercury, cadmium, lead, copper, manganese, zinc and iron have been determined in muscle (meat), liver and kidneys of swine slaughtered in the northern part of Poland between 1987 and 1991. The method of measurement was cold vapour flameless AAS for mercury and flame AAS for other trace metals. The concentrations of such toxic metals as mercury, lead and cadmium were relatively low or very low. The arithmetic mean weighted concentrations obtained related to fresh weight for muscle, liver and kidneys of swine were 1.9, 3.7 and 7.0 micrograms kg-1 for mercury, 5, 41 and 240 micrograms kg-1 for cadmium, 20, 94 and 120 micrograms kg-1 for lead, 1.1, 8.5 and 8.4 mg kg-1 for copper, 0.11, 1.3 and 1.3 mg kg-1 for manganese, 26, 50 and 30 mg kg-1 for zinc and 13, 54 and 63 mg kg-1 for iron, respectively. No definite time trends of mercury, cadmium and lead concentrations in swine muscle and edible organ meats during the period studied were observed, while for an essential trace metals analysed the values obtained seem to be typical. The results noted are reviewed and discussed with the data reported for muscle, liver and kidneys of swine in Poland from other studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Congener-specific data of polychlorinated biphenyl residues in human adipose tissue in Poland.

Adipose tissue of inhabitants of the Gdańsk city located at the southern coast of the Baltic Sea and of the province of Skierniewice of inland Poland have been investigated for congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by the capillary GC-MS technique. PCB IUPAC No. 153 was a high contributor of the congener occupying 23% of the total PCB content, and together with No. 138 of 18% and No. 180 of 13% were the most prevalent members. Samples taken from Gdańsk citizens in 1990 contained 1.5 +/- 1.3 micrograms/g of total PCBs on a fat weight basis while the citizens from the province of Skierniewice, sampled in 1979, contained 1.2 +/- 0.4 micrograms/g, which seemed to indicate a persistent PCB exposure in Poland. Among Gdańsk citizens, randomly selected autopsy samples of liver cancer from dead persons contained 4.7 micrograms/g of PCBs, while in all other samples the level was between 0.75 and 1.9 micrograms/g of PCBs. TCDD TEQ of 13 detectable coplanar members of PCBs in adipose tissue of Gdańsk, and Skierniewice inhabitants, was 210 and 190 pg/g on a lipid weight basis, respectively, including 45 and 59 pg/g of non-ortho, 142 and 110 pg/g of mono-ortho and 24 and 16 pg/g of di-ortho chlorobiphenyls. A fingerprint of chlorobiphenyl composition in the samples examined was virtually the same for human adipose tissue taken in 1990 from the coastal city of Gdańsk and in 1979 from the inland province of Skierniewice, in spite of geographic variations and sampling intervals.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1995

TLD postal dose intercomparison for megavoltage units in Poland.

The aim of the TLD pilot study was to investigate and to reduce the uncertainties involved in the measurements of absorbed dose and to improve the consistency in dose determination in the regional radiotherapy centres in Poland. The intercomparison was organized by the SSDL. It covered absorbed dose measurements under reference conditions for Co-60, high energy X-rays and electron beams. LiF powder type MT-N was used for the irradiations and read with the Harshaw TLD reader model 2000B/2000C. The TLD system was set up and an analysis of the factors influencing the accuracy of absorbed dose measurements with TL-detectors was performed to evaluate and minimize the measurement uncertainty. A fading not exceeding 2% in 12 weeks was found. The relative energy correction factor did not exceed 3% for X-rays in the range 4-15 MV, and 4% for electron beams between 6 and 20 MeV. A total of 34 beams was checked. Deviation of +/- 3.5% stated and evaluated dose was considered acceptable for photons and +/- 5% for electron beams. The results for Co-60, high energy X-rays and electron beams showed that there were two, three and no centres, respectively, beyond acceptance levels. The sources of errors for all deviations out of this range were thoroughly investigated, discussed and corrected, however two deviations remained unexplained. The pilot study resulted in an improvement of the accuracy and consistency of dosimetry in Poland.

Cobalt Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1994

The epidemiological situation of Salmonella enteritidis in Poland.

The epidemiological situation connected with S. enteritidis in Poland, in the years 1961-1991, is described. During this period there were two increases in infections and food poisonings, which were of an epidemiological character. The first epidemic, in 1962-1976, affected primarily small children and spread by contact in a hospital environment. It caused serious diseases, or dangerous complications in already existing illnesses, with high mortality. A few foci of later food poisonings were caused by infected meat or meat by-products. The second epidemic, which began in 1980 or 1981 and still exists, has already affected about 500,000 persons. It has often concerned cases of sporadic infections, mainly in the case of small children, but it has not been of a hospital epidemic character. It has been far more frequently associated with food poisoning outbreaks caused by contaminated ice-cream, cream cakes, eggs, mayonnaise and, less frequently, by meat and meat by-products. Attention is drawn to the large number of humans transmitting S. enteritidis infections in Poland.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Disabled persons in Poland.

It is generally considered that disability is an important social problem. This was expressed for example by the decision of the United Nations Organisation to nominate 1981 as the International Year of the Disabled. The number of disabled is one of the main problems. For social planning, the proper allocation of goods and resources for changes in the attitudes of society towards disability it is necessary to identify the prevalence, distribution and composition of the disabled. Prior to the 1978 Census, in Poland there was no information available on disability except the number of disabled persons legally classified by the Medical Board for Disability and Employment receiving disability pension, as well as the average amount of such pension, the number of disability certificates issued annually, the number of employed and the number employed in co-operatives for the disabled. The social criterion--major social role associated with psycho-physical state--was the main concept of the investigation on the frequency of disability in 1978 Census. Methodology used in this study of disability was based on the U.S. experience gained from the 1970 NC, as well as on the NCHS Survey of psychophysical causes of permanent limitation of social role performance and locomotion, performed since 1957. It should be explained, however, that the scope of disability investigated in NCHS Survey and in Polish Census is exactly the same and much wider than in U.S. Censuses. The Polish National Census revealed that there are 2,485,001 disabled persons in Poland, i.e. 7.1% of the total population. The urban population constituted 57.7% and the inhabitants of rural areas 42.5% of the total population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Health sector structures: the case of Poland.

A 'portrait' of the health system in Poland is presented in the context of Polish historical, political, cultural and socio-economical developments. As a sensitive indicator of overall societal functioning, the health system suffers from the grave systemic pathologies which are reflected in petrified, rigid structures, a continuous underfinancing and underinvestment, and a lack of adequate information. It is argued that: several problems of the Polish health system are characteristic of industrialized countries; the National Health Care in Poland bears more responsibilities than the National Health Care in Britain; the Polish health system deserves special appreciation for its desperate coping in the most difficult situation.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Studies on drug utilization: bilateral case study in Poland and Sweden.

The utilization of drugs in Poland and Sweden was compared by two means: the defined daily doses (DDD) and the price-adjusted sales figures (PASF). Obtained results imply that the total pharmaceutical consumption in the countries under study is almost equal: in Poland-US $114.47 and in Sweden-US $109.77 per inhabitant. However, in particular groups and subgroups of drugs, significant differences in prescribing exist (Tables 1 and 2). Awareness of these may help doctors to improve their prescribing of drugs, and may prompt further studies on drug utilization where irrational use of drugs is not evident but suspected.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2004

Potency of pertussis component in the DTP vaccine--an overview of three decade study in Poland.

In Poland, similar to many highly immunized Western countries, a recent increase in cases of pertussis has been observed. This study aims to evaluate the level of potency fluctuations of the pertussis component of Polish-produced DTP vaccine due to the changes having occurred in production and potency testing procedures. We compared the potency of the pertussis component of DTP vaccine lots produced and evaluated in similar periods and with similar production and testing procedures. Records of Kendrick test results performed over a 30-year period were available for analysis. This study confirms the role of different manufacturers, changes in vaccine strain compositions, in-house reference preparations used as reference vaccines in the Kendrick tests, and in mice of single strain sources in the potency values obtained. In addition, the comparisons performed revealed a downtrend in potency levels since 1992. Potency decrease in vaccine lots produced during 1992-1997 has been positively correlated to the lowering of the number of IOU/dose. Strain compositions of the DTP vaccine pertussis component and in-house references have been found to be associated with the fluctuation in potency estimations, and confirmed their crucial role in ensuring vaccine efficacy. Our study reveals that relative efficacy of the DTP vaccine produced in 1992-1997 might be lower than that of vaccines produced in other periods. This might in turn explain the increase in pertussis cases among children aged 5-15 years which is presently being observed in Poland.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Adaptation of Biscutella laevigata L, a metal hyperaccumulator, to growth on a zinc-lead waste heap in southern Poland. I: Differences between waste-heap and mountain populations.

Biscutella laevigata is an herbal member of the Brasicacae family and a typical mountain species. It has recently been identified as a hyperaccumulator of lead, cadmium and thallium. Its northern reach runs through Poland, where it is found only in the west Tatra Mountains and on calamine waste heaps in the vicinity of Olkusz (Cracow--Silesian Highland). The peculiar distribution of this species in Poland prompted us to undertake studies to identify the traits that allow this typically mountain species to grow so robustly on industrial waste heaps near zinc and lead smelters in the vicinity of Olkusz. Populations of B. laevigata from waste heaps and the Tatra Mountains were compared both under field (natural) conditions and during cultivation of successive generations under laboratory conditions. It was found that the mountain and waste-heap populations of B. laevigata differed significantly. The plants in the mountain population had thicker leaves covered with cutin and a small number of hairs, whereas the plants from the waste-heap population had thin leaves covered with numerous hairs. The difference in leaf thickness between the two populations (0.15 mm on average) was due to increased dimensions of palisade mesophyl cells whereas the number of cells in their leaves remained similar. These traits were hereditary. This indicates that two geographically distant populations of plants followed two different evolutionary paths to adapt to xerothermic conditions. Moreover, it was shown that the waste-heap population of B. laevigata is more tolerant to heavy metals (lead, zinc and cadmium). In the presence of both zinc and lead, growth of the waste-heap plants was stimulated, while under the same conditions, growth of the mountain population was inhibited lower than 50%. This adaptation facilitates the growth of this population on industrial waste heaps. Our studies show that B. laevigata is a valuable species very well-suited for use in the recultivation of areas containing high levels of heavy metals--the waste-heap population of this species is particularly valuable.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of multiple genetic markers for typing drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Poland.

In the present study, 77 drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Poland in 2000 were characterized by the mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) typing and our novel method based on PCR amplification of DNA regions between IS6110 and 16-bp GC-rich frequent repeats (designated IS6110-Mtb1/Mtb2 PCR). The results were compared with previous data of the more commonly used methods, IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and spoligotyping. The discriminatory power of IS6110-Mtb1/Mtb2 method was only slightly lower than that of IS6110 RFLP, whereas MIRU-VNTR typing was the least discriminative among the 4 methods used. Clustering of strains by using results of IS6110-Mtb1/Mtb2 PCR correlated well with RFLP-defined clusters, further confirming epidemiologic relationships among patients. These results indicate that the novel genotyping method could be an attractive alternative for other PCR-based typing procedures, such as spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing. Also, it seems to be a valuable adjunct to the reference IS6110 RFLP method for studying the genetic diversity of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains in Poland.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed2005

Screening for alcohol problems in two emergency service samples in Poland: comparison of the RAPS4, CAGE and AUDIT.

Prior research on alcohol-related problems among emergency service patients in Poland found substantial alcohol involvement on the part of injured males, suggesting emergency services may be a productive venue for identifying patients who could benefit from a brief intervention or referral for treatment. Performance of the RAPS4, CAGE and AUDIT against ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence and for alcohol abuse/harmful drinking was compared in probability samples of emergency service patients from two regions of Poland. Sensitivity of the RAPS4 and AUDIT was significantly better than the CAGE for alcohol dependence among males in Warsaw, but specificity was poorer. Among females, although numbers were small, sensitivity for alcohol abuse/harmful drinking and for alcohol dependence or abuse/harmful drinking was significantly better for the RAPS4-QF than for the CAGE or AUDIT at a cut point of 8 across both sites. Performance of the AUDIT at a cut point of 3 was similar to the RAPS4-QF for females. Among males, sensitivity was higher but specificity considerably lower for the RAPS4-QF compared to the CAGE at a cut point of 1 or for the AUDIT at a cut point of 8. Alternate cut points for the AUDIT optimized performance. Findings suggest some regional and gender differences in performance of screening instruments in these Polish samples, but no instrument or cut point is optimal in identifying those with alcohol use disorders. Additional cross-cultural research is needed to evaluate the performance of instruments, especially among females with alcohol use disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Highly toxic thallium in plants from the vicinity of Olkusz (Poland).

Thallium is a highly toxic metal that plays no role in the metabolism of plants or animals. Recent studies using small mammals and bird feathers as bioindicators demonstrated for the first time that animals from the vicinity of the Bolesław metal works near Olkusz (southern Poland) had large amounts of thallium in their tissues. Because of concern over these reports, four plant species (Plantago lanceolata, Biscutella laevigata, Dianthus carthusianorum, Silene vulgaris) growing wildly in the same area on a 100-year-old calamine waste heap, as well as the waste heap soil, were examined. The average concentration of thallium in the waste heap soil was 43 mgTl/kg dry wt, with the highest value 78 mg Tl/kg dry wt. P. lanceolata accumulated extremely large amounts of thallium (average, 65 mg Tl/kg dry wt; maximum 321 mg Tl/kg dry wt in roots). S. vulgaris and D. carthusianorum accumulated much less (averages, 10 and 6.5 mg Tl/kg dry wt, respectively). On the other hand, B. leavigata accumulated negligible amounts of thallium in its tissues. The concentration of thallium in plants (shoots, roots) from the calamine waste heap was 100-1000 times the level normally found in plants (0.05 mg Tl/kg dry wt). Possible sources of thallium are discussed and the urgent need for large-scale studies on thallium contamination of soils and vegetation in Poland, especially its southern regions, which are the most industrialized, is pointed out.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2006

SLOS carrier frequency in Poland as determined by screening for Trp151X and Val326Leu DHCR7 mutations.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an autosomal recessive disorder of cholesterol biosynthesis caused by mutations in the DHCR7 gene. Previous studies estimated the prevalence of SLOS between 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 70,358 based on case frequency surveys. Although panethnic, SLOS appears to be most frequent in Central European populations (Czech Republic 1 in 10,000, Slovakia 1 in 15,000 - 1 in 20,000). In Polish individuals with SLOS two DHCR7 mutations, c.452G>A (p.Trp151X) and c.976G>T (p.Val326Leu), account for 65.2% of all observed DHCR7 mutations. We analyzed 2169 samples for the p.Trp151X mutation and 2087 for the p.Val326Leu mutation. The combined carrier frequency of these two mutations of was 2.40+/-0.32%, yielding a calculated incidence of SLOS in Poland of 2.5 4x10(-4)-4.3 5x10(-4) (1 in 2,300 to 1 in 3,937) placing SLOS among the most common recessive genetic disorders in Poland.

Alleles↗
PubMed2004

Intriguing diversity of Bacillus anthracis in eastern Poland--the molecular echoes of the past outbreaks.

The multiple locus VNTRs analysis (MLVA) revealed the presence of five genotypes in a group of 10 Bacillus anthracis isolates from epidemiologically unrelated cases of bovine-anthrax in eastern Poland. Eight tested isolates possessed the pagA and capB genes indicating the presence of both virulence plasmids, while two isolates revealed only pagA and lacked pXO2. The MLVA and DNA sequence analysis indicated that seven tested isolates represent four novel genotypes. Five tested strains revealed a unique 144 bp vrrB2 variant as well as 220 bp variant of vrrB1, implying the relatedness to the lineage B2. Consequently, we propose establishing of novel B2 strains sub-lineage. Multiple anthrax outbreaks, which took place in Poland several decades ago were proposed as a cause of intriguing diversity of B. anthracis observed in this study.

Anthrax↗
PubMed2004

STR data for the power plex-16 loci in a population from Central Poland.

The allele frequencies for the 13 CODIS core loci and two recently developed but not extensively validated in Central European populations pentanucleotide STRs (Penta E and D) were determined using the Power Plex-16 (Promega) kit in a sample of 430 unrelated individuals born in Central Poland. The calculated parameters of polymorphism showed Penta E to be the most valuable marker from the studied set. The obtained distribution of Penta E and D alleles was statistically significantly different from that previously reported for a population of Southern Poland. Analysis of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium revealed a deviation for the D5S818 locus which may reflect presence of a null allele.

DNA Fingerprinting↗
PubMed2005

Validation of nine non-CODIS STR loci for forensic use in a population from Central Poland.

The D7S1517, D3S1744, D12S391, D2S1360, D6S474, D8S1132, D5S2500, D10S2325 and D4S236613 are STR loci potentially useful for forensic purposes whose analysis has recently become facilitated by availability of a commercial kit. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of these loci for forensic identification in a population of Central Poland. The distribution of alleles of the nine STRs was determined in sample of 353 unrelated individuals born in Central Poland and indices of forensic informativeness were calculated. The studied loci were highly informative and did not show departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. For the loci located on the same chromosomes (D2S1360, D3S1744 D4S2366, D5S2500, D7S1517, D8S1132, D12S391) as other loci commonly used for identification purposes (TPOX, D2S1338, D3S1358, FGA, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179 and D12S391) appropriate pairwise analysis of linkage disequilibrium was performed. In all cases no statistically significant deviation from independence was found. We conclude that the studied STRs are informative and, when necessary, can be used to extend the results obtained with other STRs commonly analyzed for identification purposes, in particular the CODIS set.

DNA Fingerprinting↗
PubMed2004

The maturation rate of girls living in rich and poor rural regions of Poland before and after the transformation of 1989.

The aim of this study was to find out whether the political and economic system transformation in Poland in 1989 had an influence on the rate of maturation of girls from various categories of the rural population in two regions, differing in wealth. The stratification of the villagers was based on the source of the family income (farmers, farmer-workers and non-farmers), on parents' education, and on the number of children per family. The age at menarche (AM) was used as biological indicator of living conditions. Rural girls aged 9.5-18.5 years were studied in 1987 in Leszno (L), a rich region (n = 2049), and in 1989 in Suwałki (S), a poor region (n = 2077). The study was repeated in 2001 in the same villages, the numbers of subjects amounting to 2440 and 2122, respectively. In the 1980s, AM in regions L and S amounted to 13.18 and 13.88 years, respectively, and was strongly related to social stratification. The earliest AM was found in daughters of non-farmers and the latest in the girls from farmers' families. In 2001, the acceleration in AM amounted to 0.14 years in the rich region and to 0.46 years in the poor region. The percentage of families owning a car, freezer, colour TV and automatic washing machine markedly increased and the education of parents improved. Such results are indicative of an improvement in the living standard of the groups investigated, but the villagers regard themselves as the losers as a result of the system transformation in Poland. Since the Polish population is considered as ethnically homogenous, the great differences in AM within the rural population, as well as the differences between the inhabitants of villages and large cities should be regarded as biological effects of social inequalities. Such differences indicate that Polish rural girls are far below the genetic potential for menarcheal age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

40K, 137Cs, 90Sr, 238,239+240Pu and 241Am in mammals' skulls from owls' pellets and owl skeletons in Poland.

Skulls of small mammals belonging to two species of rodents and three species of insectivores collected in Eastern Poland were the subject of the present investigation. The skulls were separated from owl pellets. Activities of 40K, 137Cs, 90Sr, 238,239+240Pu and 241Am were determined by means of gamma spectrometry as well as liquid scintillation spectrometry or alpha spectrometry along with relevant radiochemical procedures. A detailed description of the procedures is provided. The research was supplied with the analysis of three skeletons of owls. No measurable difference between the skulls of rodents and insectivorous animals with regard to activity of any of the examined radionuclides was found. No accumulation effect in the owl skeletons was detected. Though measured activities of 137Cs and 40K for the skulls were of the same magnitude as those found previously for large wild herbivorous animals from typical locations in Poland, those for 90Sr were even lower than previously determined. A big difference was found for activities of plutonium and americium isotopes. Their mean activities were higher by an order of magnitude when compared to the examined previously values. The maximum 239+240Pu activity was equal to 97.5+/-7.7 mBq/kg, with 65% of it originating from global fallout. Relatively high content of transuranic elements found for rodents and insectivorous mammals seems to be unrelated to their feeding habits and should rather be attributed to the living conditions. It is suggested that small mammals, together with tiny soil particles present in mid-soil living tunnels, can inhale the transuranic elements.

Americium↗