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PubMed1988

Treatment of defective newborns--a survey of paediatricians in Poland.

We report the results of a survey of the attitudes and practices of paediatricians in Warsaw, Poland, with respect to the treatment of infants born with severe handicaps. The results are compared with a similar survey conducted by Australian researchers (1). In the Polish medical community surveyed, unconditional respect for life is a dominant attitude. Our study has revealed a deeply-entrenched paternalistic attitude among Polish doctors and a strong unwillingness to distinguish between 'ordinary and extraordinary means' of prolonging life, as well as an ambivalent attitude towards legal regulations binding in Poland.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

Poland's syndrome associated with growth hormone deficiency.

A 9 year old boy with Poland's syndrome (absence of the left pectoralis major muscle associated with an ipsilateral malformation of the hand) and isolated growth hormone deficiency, owing to anatomical abnormalities of the pituitary gland, is described. MRI brain scan showed severe hypoplasia of both the sella and anterior lobe of the pituitary gland with absence of the pituitary stalk and ectopia of the posterior lobe. Association of Poland's syndrome and growth hormone deficiency has not been described previously.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Poland's syndrome and military personnel.

We describe three cases of undiagnosed Poland's syndrome in Army personnel and discuss their fitness according to the PULHHEEMS system. This syndrome has variable clinical features that include unilateral chest wall and upper limb abnormalities. The syndrome is not hereditary and is of unknown origin. If the syndrome was diagnosed prior to enlistment the potential recruit would normally be graded P8, and unfit to enlist. However, these individuals had managed to pass routine medical examination as well as successfully complete basic training. The suitability of continuation in the army of personnel with Poland's syndrome is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Occupation and risk of stomach cancer in Poland.

BACKGROUND: In spite of the dramatic decline in the incidence of stomach cancer in the twentieth century, Poland has one of the highest rates in the world. AIMS: To evaluate the risk of stomach cancer by grouped occupations and industries, as well as by some specific occupational exposures. METHODS: Cases (n = 443) were newly diagnosed with stomach adenocarcinomas between 1994 and 1996. Controls (n = 479) were randomly selected from the general population in Warsaw. RESULTS: Only a few occupations and industries were associated with significantly increased risks of stomach cancer. The most suggestive finding was for work in the leather goods industry. Risk was also significantly increased among men working in fabricated metal production and among women ever employed as managers and governmental officials. Men ever employed as teaching professionals and women employed as technical and science professionals had significantly decreased risks of stomach cancer. Among men, a significant positive trend in risk with duration of employment was observed for work in the leather industry and special trade construction. No significantly increased risks were observed for specific exposures assessed by a job-exposure matrix or by self-reports. However among men there were non-significantly increased risks with 10 or more years exposure to asbestos, metal dust, and nitrosamines assessed by a job-exposure matrix. CONCLUSIONS: Employment in the leather goods industry, special trade construction, and metal fabrication was associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer among men. However, there were only weak associations with specific exposures. Occupational exposures do not contribute substantially to the high rates of stomach cancer in Poland.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Benzo(a)pyrene-albumin adducts in humans exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an industrial area of Poland.

OBJECTIVES: The interaction of benzo(a)pyrene with serum albumin was measured in an attempt to identify the actual exposure and to evaluate albumin adduct measurements as biomarkers for exposure monitoring. METHODS: Benzo(a)pyrene-diol-epoxide (BPDE)-albumin adducts were measured by competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in plasma of coke oven plant workers from three plants and from people living in a highly industrialised area of Silesia in Poland. Due to the high air concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in this area, a control group was selected from a rural non-industrialised area in Poland. Breathing zone air measurements of PAHs were collected from some of the participants. RESULTS: Coke oven plant workers and non-occupationally exposed people had similar concentrations of albumin adducts whereas the rural controls were significantly lower (2.74 fmol adducts/microgram albumin (SEM 0.124)). The mean concentration of BPDE-albumin adduct in plasma of both the occupational and the environmental groups were significantly higher in the summer samples (4.34 fmol adducts/microgram albumin (SEM 0.335) and 4.55 fmol adducts/microgram albumin (SEM 0.296), respectively) than in the winter samples (3.06 fmol adducts/microgram albumin (SEM 0.187) and 3.04 fmol adducts/microgram albumin (SEM 0.184), respectively) even though the air measurements showed higher concentrations of PAHs in the winter. The statistical analysis did not show any effects of air exposures on concentrations of BPDE-albumin adduct. CONCLUSIONS: A multiple regression analysis of the measured concentrations of BPDE-albumin adducts for all the groups, during both seasons, indicates that occupational exposures do not contribute significantly to the formation of adducts. In general, the concentrations of albumin adducts found vary within relatively small limits for the two seasons and between the various groups of participants. No extreme differences were found.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors determining the efficiency of logopaedic care of children in Poland.

The purpose of this article is to establish factors which determine the efficiency of the system of care provided to children with speech disorders attending regular schools and kindergartens. The analysis was made using Poland as an example, which, similar to other countries, has made some achievements in this matter. Although Poland has had an institutionalised care system for children with speech development anomalies for 30 years, the problem of speech disorders is still very difficult to solve. Due to the large scale of the phenomenon among Polish children, this problem can be defined as a social problem in this country. The above-described situation makes it necessary to search for methods of fighting this adverse phenomenon. One of the means of solving this problem is following examples and learning from the experience of countries in which efficient systems of disabled children's care have already been worked out. By giving examples from other countries the author attempts to establish factors determining the efficiency of logopaedic care.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Do microbiological factors account for poor pregnancy outcome among unmarried pregnant women in Poland?

OBJECTIVE: Being unmarried is a well-known risk factor for poor pregnancy outcome such as preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the prevalence and risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and selected bacteria isolated from the lower genital tract and to determine the socioeconomic and microbiological characteristics that might be responsible for poor pregnancy outcome observed among unmarried pregnant women. METHODS: The study population comprised 196 pregnant women attending 10 randomly selected outpatient maternity units in the Lodz region, central Poland. Cervicovaginal samples were obtained between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation. Based on Spiegel's criteria, gram-stained vaginal smears were examined for BV and the BV-associated flora was sought by culture. To evaluate the risk factors, relative risk ratios were calculated using EPI INFO software. RESULTS: Among 196 pregnant women, 40 (20.4%) were unmarried. BV was diagnosed among 55 (28.1%) women studied. In the univariate analysis, unmarried pregnant women were characterized by younger age, primary educational level, poor economic situation and excessive smoking during pregnancy, as compared to married women. The unmarried status was a borderline risk factor for BV (OR = 1.83, 95% CI 0.94-4.9) after adjustment for age, smoking and education. An analysis of the microbiological culture from the lower genital tract revealed that unmarried pregnant women had a higher risk for several types of pathological microflora, as compared to married women. However, this finding was significant only for Mycoplasma hominis. The independent risk factors of M. hominis were the young age of the subject and a low concentration of Lactobacillus spp. CONCLUSIONS: The observed socioeconomic, demographic and microbiological differences between unmarried and married women could be responsible for the poor pregnancy outcome among unmarried pregnant women in Poland. Unmarried pregnant women should be covered by comprehensive medical care even before pregnancy. Further studies taking into account the role of psychological stress, patterns of sexual behavior and substance abuse during pregnancy could help identify the factors responsible for adverse pregnancy outcome among unmarried pregnant women.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The relation between education, knowledge and action for better waste management in Poland.

In recent years a significant increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) amount has been noted in Poland, and yet there is no fully efficient system for its treatment. Undertaking projects for rational MSW management requires considering both technical facilities and social barriers (waste reduction, re-use and segregation in households). In Poland, attempts to educate and mobilise society to segregate recyclables have not yet produced satisfactory results. Society's awareness in this field needs to be raised. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and understanding about MSW management and the relationship between knowledge possessed and actions undertaken for various residential age groups in two Polish provinces. In all groups, 30% of the respondents showed a satisfactory level of knowledge, whilst an equally small number of individuals had undertaken actions for MSW management at home; people with a higher level of knowledge undertook such actions slightly more often. No significant differences between the provinces were found, but residents of town, where waste segregation has been introduced simultaneously with an information campaign, showed a higher level of knowledge. The study points to the need to further educate people about MSW, and to encourage the teaching of pro-environmental attitudes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Survival rates among Seventh Day Adventists compared with the general population in Poland.

The purpose of the work was to test the hypothesis that the survival rate is higher among the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) than in the general population of Poland, because of the strictly respected customs adhered to by members of this church community, such as abstinence from smoking and from alcohol. The data on life expectancy in the SDA community covered a total of 236 members of this denomination in Kraków (86 males and 150 females). The survival probability rates were estimated by the life table method, for both men and women separately, and were subsequently compared with the corresponding parameters of the Polish Life Tables. Over a period of 10 years, in which these data were studied, there were 11 deaths in males and 24 deaths in females. Mean age at death was 71.9 years among men and 75.1 among women. The survival curves traced over the age groups of both sexes of SDA members were fairly similar, but they were markedly higher than in the general population of Poland. In the general population the survival rates for people over 40 years old were higher in females than in males, whereas no corresponding sex differences in rates concerning SDA members were observed. The greater benefit in life expectancy is gained in the SDA group in comparison with men in the general population. This is attributable to their abstinence from very harmful habits, otherwise more widespread in this sex group.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The occurrence of Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsiae in Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in northern Poland.

Ixodes ricinus, the most commonly observed tick species in Poland, is known vector of microorganisms pathogenic for humans as TBE virus, Borrelia burgdorferi s.1., Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia sp. in this country. Our study aimed to find out whether this tick can also transmit also rickettsiae of the spotted fever group (SFG). DNA extracts from 560 ticks (28 females, 34 males, and 488 nymphs) collected in different wooded areas in northern Poland were examined by PCR for the detection of Rickettsia sp., using a primer set RpCS.877p and RpCS.1258n designated to amplify a 381-bp fragment of gltA gene. A total of 2.9% ticks was found to be positive. The percentage of infected females and males was comparable (10.5% and 11.8%, respectively) and 6.6-7.6 times higher than in nymphs (1.6%). Sequences of four PCR-derived DNA fragments (acc. no. DQ672603) demonstrated 99% similarity with the sequence of Rickettsia helvetica deposited in GenBank. The results obtained suggest the possible role of I. ricinus as a source of a microorganism, which recently has been identified as an agent of human rickettsioses in Europe.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Diet and stomach cancer risk in Warsaw, Poland.

Some of the world's highest rates of stomach cancer are found in Poland. Reasons for the increased incidence are not known, but high intake of sausages and other preserved foods and low intake of fresh fruits and vegetables may be involved. A case-control study comprising residents newly diagnosed with stomach cancer during 1994-96 and controls randomly selected from the general population was conducted in Warsaw, Poland. Standardized interviews were conducted to ascertain usual consumption of 118 common foods and beverages and other exposures. Using data from direct interviews with 274 cases and 463 controls, odds ratios of stomach cancer were calculated as estimates of risks associated with dietary factors, adjusting for age, sex, education, smoking, and caloric intake. Risk of stomach cancer was inversely related to intake of total fruits and dark green-yellow vegetables and to indices of vitamins C and E and alpha- and beta-carotenes. However, risk was not significantly increased among those with high intake of pickled/salted vegetables and sausages. Risks were positively associated with increased intake of breads/cereals/rice/pasta and other refined grains, as well as a high carbohydrate index. Our findings add to the evidence of a protective effect of fruits and certain vegetables on stomach cancer risk, but do not indicate that high intake of sausage and other preserved foods typical in the Polish diet has contributed to the country's elevated stomach cancer incidence. Our data also suggest that high carbohydrate consumption may influence risk, but further confirmation is needed.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Biological monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in a highly polluted area of Poland.

Air pollution in Poland and particularly in Silesia is among the worst in Europe. Many coal mines and coke oven plants are located in this area, representing a major source of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We quantitated the PAH exposure level in air samples using personal sampling devices, collected urine samples from the same individuals, and measured 1-hydroxypyrene with high performance liquid chromatography. Samples were collected twice, once in February and once in September. Mean PAH level of samples collected at three different coke oven plants varied from 2.3 micrograms/m3 to 12.3 micrograms/m3; the lowest mean was in September. Mean levels of 0.15 micrograms/m3 (September) and 0.44 micrograms/m3 (February) were noted for the environmentally exposed group. Mean urinary 1-hydroxypyrene varied from 2.45 to 13.48 mumol/mol creatinine at the three coke oven plants. The corresponding variation between the three different environmentally exposed groups in Silesia was 0.41-1.54 mumol/mol creatinine. In the nonindustrialized area, the mean varied from 0.20 to 0.14 mumol/mol creatinine. Seasonal variation was found both at the coke oven plants and in the environmental exposed groups in Silesia. Both PAH levels and 1-hydroxypyrene varied seasonally among coke oven workers and the environmentally exposed group. Our study shows that PAH exposure in the industrialized area of Silesia is high compared to levels in Western Europe. 1-Hydroxypyrene excretion in environmentally exposed individuals in Poland is among the highest in Europe.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Hair copper concentration in healthy children, teenagers, and adults living in Szczecin, Poland.

The aim of this study was to assess the hair copper concentration in a population of healthy children, teenagers, and adults living in a specific region of Poland. For this purpose, 840 healthy individuals aged 1-50 yr living in Szczecin, Poland were selected for the study. They were divided into subgroups according to age and sex and the hair was analyzed for copper using a standard atomic absorption spectrometric technique. The level of copper was highest for the group including 11-15 yr old. In the other subgroups, the concentration of copper was lower than the values considered normal, suggesting the possibility of endemic copper deficiency in the inhabitants of this region.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children in three cities in Poland, 1987-1999.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the trends in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in children aged 0-14 years between 1987 and 1999 in three cities in Poland. The study area comprised the provinces of Cracow and Wroclaw and the city of Warsaw. The data were collected prospectively on the basis of the register within the framework of the EURODIAB study up till 1997 and then within the project of the Ministry of Health. During the 13 years of the study period, 766 children (380 girls, 386 boys) with newly diagnosed type 1 DM were identified. The overall age-standardized incidence rates were 8.4/100,000 standardized population/year (95% CI 7.4-9.3) for Cracow province, 6.5/100,000/year (95% CI 5.6-7.4) for Wroclaw province and 7.9/100,000/year (95% CI 6.9-8.8) for Warsaw. A significant trend of increase for children aged 0-14 years was found in the three cities. The analysis of the trend in age subgroups showed a significant increase in incidence in all three age subgroups in Warsaw and Cracow province (0-4 year-old children, p <0.05; 5-9 year-olds, p <0.001 in Cracow province, p <0.05 in Warsaw, and in 10-14 year-olds, p <0.05 in Cracow province, p <0.005 in Warsaw). In the Wroclaw province a significant increase was observed in children aged 0-4 years (p <0.05) and 5-9 years (p <0.001). In children aged 10-14 years the increase was not statistically significant. The results of our study showed that the incidence of type 1 DM in children is rising. A similar phenomenon is occurring in many other countries. The greatest increase of incidence was observed in the 5-9 year-old subgroup of children in Cracow and Wroclaw provinces and in children aged 10-14 years in Warsaw. The incidence rates in excess of 9.0/100,000 per year observed since 1996 have placed Poland in the group of countries with low to medium incidence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

A programme of iodine supplementation using only iodised household salt is efficient--the case of Poland.

BACKGROUND: Iodine prophylaxis in Poland started in 1935 and has been interrupted twice: by World War II and in 1980 for economic reasons. Epidemiological surveys carried out after the Chernobyl accident in 1989 as well as in 1992/1993 and in 1994 as a 'ThyroMobil' study, revealed increased prevalence of goitre in children and adults. Ninety per cent of Poland was classified as an area of moderate iodine deficiency, and 10%, in the seaside area, as mild iodine deficiency territory. Iodine prophylaxis based on iodisation of household salt was introduced again in 1986 as a voluntary model and in 1997 as a mandatory model with 30+/-10 mg KI/kg salt. OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of the obligatory model of iodine prophylaxis in schoolchildren from the same schools in 1994 and 1999. METHODS: Thyroid volume was determined by ultrasonography. Ioduria in casual morning urine samples was measured using Sandell-Kolthoff's method, within the framework of the ThyroMobil study. RESULTS: Goitre prevalence decreased from 38.4 to 7% and urinary iodine concentration increased from 60.4 to 96.2 microg/l mean values between 1994 and 1999. In four schools the prevalence of goitre diminished below 5%. In 1999, 70% of children excreted over 60 microg I/l, and 36% over 100 microg I/l, whereas in 1994 the values were 44 and 13% respectively. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that iodine prophylaxis based only on iodised household salt is highly effective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Identification of Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies inducing Lyme disease in dogs from Western Poland.

Canine Lyme borreliosis may be caused by three Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies. The prevalence of infection by Borrelia species was determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with the enzyme Fsp4H I in the blood of dogs naturally infested by ticks in an endemic region of Poland. Blood samples were collected from 98 dogs of various breeds, delivered to the Veterinary Clinic in Szczecin (northwestern Poland) for various reasons. Nested PCR revealed the presence of DNA characteristic of only 1 genospecies, i.e. B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), in all PCR-positive samples. Digestion of PCR products from a fragment of the fla gene amplified with primers FLA1 and FLA2 gave only one band pattern consistent with the pattern obtained from sequence analysis of the fla gene from a reference isolate of B. burgdorferi s.s. GeHo (X15660) from GenBank.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Control of viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits in Poland.

The authors present an epizootiological analysis of viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits in Poland. The biological, physical and chemical properties of virus isolates used for the production and control of the vaccine 'Cunivac' (produced in Poland) are also presented. The safety and efficacy of this vaccine are demonstrated. Laboratory experiments and large-scale field observations yielded satisfactory results.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Cost-effectiveness analysis of enoxaparin versus unfractionated heparin in patients with acute coronary syndrome in Poland: modelling study from the hospital perspective.

UNLABELLED: AIM AND PERSPECTIVE: To estimate the cost effectiveness of enoxaparin versus unfractionated heparin (UFH) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) from a Polish hospital perspective. This was intended to facilitate the decisionmaking process in selecting the most cost-effective treatment for ACS. METHOD: A decision model was used to quantify costs and effectiveness of alternative treatments. Published results from the Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Enoxaparin in Non-Q-Wave Coronary Events (ESSENCE) study were used to estimate the probability for clinical endpoints (death, myocardial infarction or recurrent angina) at 30 days. Probabilities of patients undergoing revascularisation procedures were obtained from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) which included data from 961 patients at six centres in Poland. The analysis assessed only direct medical costs, determined from actual resource consumption on a patient-specific basis (6-month observational study) and estimated using Polish data on unit costs. One- and two-way sensitivity analyses and threshold analysis were performed. RESULTS: At 30 days, 19.8% of patients receiving enoxaparin compared with 23.3% of those receiving UFH reached a composite endpoint consisting of death, myocardial infarction and recurrent angina (p = 0.02). The average costs (in zloty ; 1 US dollar = 4 zloty [2000 values]) were 1,085 per patient receiving enoxaparin compared with 1,097 per patient receiving UFH. Therefore, for every 29 patients treated, not only would enoxaparin therapy avoid one event of the composite endpoint, it would also save 348 zloty. The threshold analysis suggests that enoxaparin would lose dominance when the cost of enoxaparin increased by 10%, the cost of monitoring UFH therapy decreased by 12%, the probability of reaching the composite endpoint in the enoxaparin arm increased to 0.22 or decreased to 0.21 in the UFH arm. CONCLUSION: According to our model enoxaparin was more effective at a lower cost than UFH, therefore this treatment was shown to be dominant for patients with ACS in Poland.

Acute Disease↗