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PubMed1996

Fluoride in drinking water and human urine in northern and central Poland.

The fluoride concentration in drinking water and in urine of the inhabitants of 94 localities in Northern and Central Poland was determined. The analyses were performed potentiometrically using a fluoride-specific electrode. In most of the localities the fluoride concentration in water was < 0.3 mg/l, which is far below the recommended level for caries control. In these communities fluoridation of water is advised. In six localities the water fluoride concentration was 1.2 mg/l. The elevated water fluoride is of natural (Malbork) as well as of anthropogenic (Wiślinka) origin. The mean fluoride level in the urine in the investigated localities was 1.10 mg/l (range 0.10-2.67 mg/l). No significant correlation between the concentration of fluoride in drinking water and human urine was found in this study. This suggests that the elevated fluoride level in urine may be caused not only by the water fluoride, but also by the inhalation of dust particles containing fluoride, and by the diet.

Child↗

PubMed1991

Health services reform in Poland: issues in recent developments.

After ten years of debate and discussion, the political situation within Poland finally allows the possibility to implement basic reforms in the health care system. Parallel development of the political and technical aspects of the reform has now lead to a final proposal for fundamental reforms in health system responsibility, financing and management. This article describes the current conceptual developments and the political and social context for these final reform proposals at the time of their submission to the government. The primary changes suggested are aimed at increasing the awareness of local, regional and national administrations, health care professionals and the general public that health care has a cost, and that resources must be used carefully if they are to cover health needs. In addition, 'health care' as a term must be extended to include factors and activities besides direct medical services. Such factors as air and water quality, diet, smoking and alcohol consumptions are examples of matters which will also be included in the focus of health system planners. A key element of the organisational reforms is decentralisation of responsibility for health care planning and administration within the framework of nationally set standards and priorities. Based on local decisions, the current basic organisation unit of health care delivery, the ZOZ or integrated health care units, will be redefined and either decomposed into their component services or receive newly defined responsibilities more adapted to the local realities of available manpower and medical facilities. In addition, the development of a private health care sector complementing and even competing with the public services sector will be actively encouraged.

Government↗

PubMed1993

Regional integration of health services in Poland--an ambitious pilot project.

A new and very important feature of the health care reform in Poland is a set of initiatives emerging locally and striving for decentralisation of the management structure. The most promising manifestation of this process consists in the ambition to set up regional systems of integrated health services, guaranteeing provision of comprehensive care and run efficiently by competent managers. The direction of reform has been strongly encouraged by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, but still faces many barriers, mainly because of the misuse of the concept of integration by former health politicians. In the seventies and eighties integration was implemented in a very formal way, neglecting both medical professional attitudes and managerial abilities of decision makers. A major mistake was the resignation of inclusion of the rich 'parallel systems' within the services available to the general public. In the new political circumstances regionalised services, or health consortia as they are called, are a deliberate response to the need for decentralisation and efficient use of scarce resources. Three regions which volunteered to start an extensive experiment were selected through a formal competitive process. They include more than six million inhabitants and almost one quarter of the territory of the country. New organisational arrangements, networks of contracts and agreements, channels of financing and quality control programmes will be monitored in pilot areas to make them applicable all over the country.

Comprehensive Health Care↗

PubMed1992

Problems of depopulation of rural areas in Poland after 1950.

"This paper considers the course of rural-to-urban migration processes in Poland from 1950 to 1988 against the background of the general demographic transformations in the country. It also considers changes in the population of particular voivodships (provinces) and [gminas] (communes) over the period 1970-1985, with an indication of the spatial concentration of the phenomenon. It concludes with a forecast of trends to the year 2000, based on these observed changes."

Demography↗

PubMed1990

Parry-Romberg syndrome in association with contralateral Poland syndrome.

A 35-year-old woman had a 4-year history of skin depression on the right side of both the forehead and chin. A biopsy specimen showed a normal dermis and an absence of subcutaneous tissue. She also had Poland syndrome on the left side of the body, with loss of the sternocostal portion of the greater pectoral muscle. Significant cosmetic improvement was achieved with dermal fat grafts and silicone implants.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1983

Psychiatric hospitalization in Poland.

An overview of psychiatric hospitalization in Poland is presented in the context of Polish political and socio-cultural developments. The areas addressed include: the characteristics of the patient population; the organization of Polish mental health service; the nature of psychiatric treatment; psychiatric legislation; patients' rights; and the training and social status of the various mental health professionals. In spite of the meager resources allocated to mental health services, and the consequent staff shortages and overcrowded, drab living conditions in psychiatric facilities, the care afforded patients is generally humane and nonoppressive. Polish psychiatry has succeeded in maintaining its professional autonomy and has assumed a leadership role in the modernization of its service delivery system.

Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Euthanasia--Polish scientistś viewpoint and in the light of the laws of the people's Republic of Poland].

Euthanasia has for a long time been the object of very lively discussions in Poland. This article contains the views of scientists from various fields of science, especially medical doctors of different specialities. All of them have very serious objections to euthanasia and are against its practical application not only from the medical point of view but first of all for purely humanitarian reasons. Polish penal law regards murder on request as delictum sui generis, i.e., as a kind of privileged crime as compared with common murder. Article No. 150 of the Polish penal law demands two features to characterise euthanasia: (1) the delinquent must act on grounds of compassion towards his victim, and (2) on the victim's request. The patient must be in such a state that gives reason for compassion. The request to shorten somebody's life must be very distinct, direct, firm, conscious and convincing. Perosns under age, mentally defective or unconscious cannot express such a wich. Polish penal law punishes with utmost severtity perpetrators of active euthanasia even in such cases in which the delinquent was moved by the most noble feelings. Only when it comes to penalty is distinction made between such a delinquent and a common murderer.

Ethics, Medical↗

PubMed1988

Poland's syndrome: variable expression and associated anomalies.

Poland's syndrome is a well-known constellation of congenital anomalies that includes varying degrees of hypoplasia involving the thoracic cage in association with anomalies of the hand. Although the latter are most frequently described as syndactyly with short or absent middle phalanges, many forms of expression were seen in a series of 20 patients. Thirty-one other anomalies were seen in this group in addition to those usually considered as part of the syndrome. Of special interest are those involving the spine and genitourinary tract that require special studies for early detection.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1989

Cadmium and metallothionein levels in the liver of humans exposed to environmental cadmium in Upper Silesia, Poland.

The area of Upper Silesia is the most industrialized region in Poland. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and metallothionein (MT) in autopsy samples (n = 29) of liver from the inhabitants of that area were determined. The metal levels varied in the ranges of 0.5-11.9 micrograms Cd/g, 45.3-221.6 micrograms Zn/g, 1.4-10.3 micrograms Cu/g. The concentration of MT determined by the Hg-method was high: 0.38-2.86 mumol Hg/g. A positive linear relationship was observed between Zn and MT levels.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Drug addiction in Poland and criminalistic traces.

The authors describe the most popular drugs and their substitutes being used in Poland. The paper also presents the problem of developing and examining criminalistic traces in biological and some non-organic materials.

Forensic Medicine↗

PubMed1995

D1S80 VNTR locus genotypes in population of south Poland; meta-analysis pointer to genetic disequilibrium of human populations.

A highly variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) in a human locus D1S80 can prove to be useful for forensic science purposes. As with other genetic polymorphisms, a database of a local population allelic frequencies is needed to ensure that no departure from genetic equilibrium exists. DNA from the locus D1S80 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed by horizontal PAGE followed by silver staining. Samples from 133 unrelated inhabitants of Southern Poland were examined. The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AMP-FLP) analysis of the D1S80 locus demonstrated 21 alleles and heterozygosity of 0.85%. Out of the 231 possible genotypes, 47 were observed. The results were compared to the published D1S80 population studies and a meta-analysis of the genotype frequencies was performed. The G statistics revealed a deviation from genetic equilibrium in the Spanish population. Replicated goodness of fit tests showed highly significant heterogeneity of genotype distribution between tested populations. Therefore, interpretation of the casework on the basis of D1S80 locus typing may be biased by interpopulation differences.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Lipidoses detected in Poland through 1993.

It is estimated that 70-100 children suffering from a lysosomal storage disease are born in Poland every year. From 1975 to 1993, the activity of various lysosomal enzymes was determined in the leukocytes, cultured skin fibroblasts, or hair roots from 5,594 patients, mainly children, in whom the diagnosis of a lipidosis was suspected. In that material 162 cases of a lipidosis were diagnosed. Metachromatic leukodystrophy seems to be the most frequent of the lipidoses; GM1 gangliosidosis is more frequent than GM2 gangliosidosis and Gaucher and Niemann-Pick diseases appear to be almost as frequent as the former.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Seasonal variations of cerebral palsy births in northeastern Poland.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this report was to examine the seasonal variations on the incidence of cerebral palsy (CP) in Podlasie province, Poland in a retrospective case-control study. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Department of Pediatric Neurology and Rehabilitation. Selected babies were all born between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1999; 212 children (116 boys, 96 girls) with CP were included in the study. We applied Cosinor analysis to examine the seasonality of CP births. RESULTS: The highest number of CP births occurred in spring and the lowest in winter, with intermediate values in summer and autumn. This seasonal pattern was significant for spring vs. winter. The peaks in CP births occurred in May and August. The lowest number of CP births occurred in February and December. We also demonstrated seasonal variation in CP births in girls and boys and Apgar score. Peaks in CP births in boys were noted in May and October and Apgar score in May and December, respectively. No significant relationship between mean temperature and Apgar score, low birthweight and asphyxia was found. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest the seasonal patterns of CP births. Further studies should be performed with larger numbers of patients.

Birth Rate↗

PubMed2006

Exposure to specific polychlorinated biphenyls and some chlorinated pesticides via breast milk in Poland.

The aim of our study was to obtain the data on the exposure of breast-fed infants to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Wielkopolska province (Poland). The levels of indicator PCBs, and selected OCPs, including two DDT metabolites (HCB, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE and alpha,beta,gamma-HCH) were determined in 27 human milk samples, collected in 2000-2001, according to WHO protocol. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of all analytes were calculated. Our results were compared with those obtained by an analysis of human milk samples from other European and non-European countries, collected in the same period time. We have stated that median exposure of Wielkopolska first breast-fed infants to OCPs is comparable (EDI(HCB) = 0.086 microg/kgbw/day; EDI(beta-HCH)=0.063 microg/kgbw/day) or higher (EDI(p,p'-DDE) = 3.495 microg/kgbw/day) than in other European countries, while exposure to PCBs (EDI(Sigma7PCB) = 0.364 microg/kgbw/day) is situated at the low end of the intake of these xenobiotics by breast-fed infants from different regions of Europe.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Distribution patterns of PAHs and trace elements in mosses Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) B.S.G. and Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. from different forest communities: a case study, south-central Poland.

Twenty samples of the moss species Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi were collected at 10 sites of the Holy Cross Mountains (south-central Poland) and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 33 elements. The ring sequence of PAHs in the moss samples is: 4 (92-1040 ng x g(-1))>3 and 5 (21-272 ng x g(-1))>6 (<5-131 ng x g(-1)). H. splendens accumulates PAHs more effectively than P. schreberi, and therefore the former may be regarded as a better bioindicator of PAHs. No correlation was found between concentrations of PAHs and elements. However, both H. splendens and P. schreberi shows different bioaccumulative capabilities depending on the plant communities. The mosses growing in the dry pine forest Cladonio-Pinetum reveal higher levels of Fe, Na, Sr, Ti, Cr, Mo, Ni, V and higher mean concentrations of summation operator16 PAHs, whereas those from the continental coniferous forest Querco roboris-Pinetum are highlighted by elevated levels of B, Ca, K, Mg, Mn, P, Rb and Sb and lower mean concentrations of summation operator16 PAHs. These differences seem to be brought about by a higher biodiversity of the second forest type and its higher productivity that favors more effective cycling of elements.

Bryophyta↗

PubMed2006

Self-organizing feature map (neural networks) as a tool in classification of the relations between chemical composition of aquatic bryophytes and types of streambeds in the Tatra national park in Poland.

Concentrations of the elements Al, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in the aquatic bryophytes Fontinalis antipyretica, Platyhypnidium riparioides and Scapania undulata. These bryophytes were sampled from streams flowing through granites/gneisses, limestones/dolomites and sandstones in the Tatra national park in Poland. The Self-organizing feature map (SOFM) or Kohonen network was used to classify the bryophytes according to the concentrations of the elements. This method was verified using principal component analysis (PCA) to check whether this well-known technique would give similar results. Both the self-organizing map and ordination by PCA yielded distinct groups of aquatic bryophytes growing in streams flowing through different types of rock, groups which differed significantly in the concentrations of certain elements. Bryophytes from granites/gneisses were distinguished by higher concentrations of Cd and Pb, while those from sandstones had a higher concentration of Cr and those from limestones/dolomites had higher concentrations of Ca and Mg. The SOFM and PCA ordinations thus yield identical classifications of bryophytes from the Tatra mountains streams.

Bryopsida↗

PubMed2004

Metal content in femoral head spongious bone of people living in regions of different degrees of environmental pollution in Southern and Middle Poland.

The content of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and silver was evaluated in femoral head spongious bone of inhabitants of southern (Silesia, n = 13; Cracow, n = 13) and middle Poland (Lodz, n = 12). A total of 38 persons (29 females and 9 males) were included in the study. The average age in the Silesian group was 68 +/- 9.9 years old, in the group from Cracow 69.2 +/- 9.6 years old, and 68.3 +/- 7.3 years old for the inhabitants of Lodz. The AAS method was used to determine the femoral heads metal content after microwave mineralization. A similar content of calcium (av 18.4% dry weight), phosphorus (av 6.8%), magnesium (av 1883.5 microg/g), potassium (av 598.1 microg/g), iron (av 59.5 microg/g), zinc (av 90.1 microg/g), copper (av 90.1 microg/g), arsenic (av 0.3 microg/g), and silver (av 0.03 microg/g) was found in every group. Specimens from different regions differed in lead and cadmium content, illustrating the differences in environmental pollution exposure.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Comparison of the moss Pleurozium schreberi with needles and bark of Pinus sylvestris as biomonitors of pollution by industry in Stalowa Wola (southeast Poland).

Concentrations of heavy metals were determined in the terrestrial bryophyte Pleurozium schreberi and in samples of bark and current and previous year needles of Pinus sylvestris collected along transects around the Stalowa Wola industry center (southeast Poland) and compared with material of the same species from a control site. The suitability of bark and pine needles for use in monitoring of serious heavy metal pollution was investigated. In the examined area current and previous year pine needles can be considered suitable biomonitors for atmospheric pollution for Cu and Zn and bark for only Cu. Bioaccumulation abilities of Cd and Cu in P. schreberi and P. sylvestris current and previous year needles were similar. Current and previous year needles were better accumulators of Mn, Ni, and Zn compared to the moss P. schreberi. Bark was a better accumulator of Cd, Cu, and Ni and an inferior accumulator of Mn compared to P. schreberi in the examined area.

Analysis of Variance↗