BACKGROUND Spinal pain affects approximately 45-56% of pregnant women. Kinesio taping (KT) involves application of flexible water-resistant elastic bands on the patient's body, resulting in painless ...and non-invasive stimulation. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of KT on reduction of low back pain in pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS Kinesio Tex Gold tapes were applied using the muscular-ligament technique and Polovis Plus textile cladding blinded the sample. The starting position for the KT and placebo with lumbar spine flexion with rotation was in the opposite direction to the application. An "I"-shaped application was used. The material included 106 women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, with low back pain. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Polish version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ-2004) were used for pain assessment. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups. KT and placebo were used alternately in 2 groups. RESULTS Mean pain intensity on the 2nd and 7th post-application days was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. Mean scores for the RMDQ differed significantly before and after KT (p<0.0001), and after KT and placebo (p<0.0057), but there are no differences before and after placebo (p<0.67) and before KT and placebo (p<0.59). CONCLUSIONS Low back pain in pregnant women decreased significantly after KT when compared to placebo. The therapeutic effect appeared on day 2 and continued after removal of the tape. The few side effects did not affect the course of the study.
Motor abilities, such as endurance and the optimal level of physical activity, play a fundamental role in football as they are necessary to maintain the high effectiveness of the training process. ...The aim of this study was the observation of the trend of changes in the level of cardiorespiratory endurance of young football players in a one-year cycle overlapping with the COVID-19 lockdown and an assessment of the impact of the training intervention during home confinement. The participants of the study were 24 young football players. We analysed the results of the study in a one-year training cycle (lockdown from 11 March 2020 to 6 May 2020). The cardiorespiratory endurance was measured using the Multistage 20 m Shuttle Run test—Beep Test. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used in the study. Detailed comparisons were made using Tukey’s HSD test. Statistically significant differences were noted in endurance in a one year cycle: F(5.115) = 22.65; p < 0.001; partial Eta-squared = 0.50. An increase in the level of endurance by mean = 179.17 m, SD ± 189.87 m was noted between T1 and T6. After the break caused by the COVID-19 restrictions, a decrease in the level of cardiorespiratory endurance was noted. Only after two training mesocycles was a significant increase in the mean value noted compared to the period before the pandemic (p < 0.05). With the negative impact of restrictions in mind, coaches and physiotherapists should exercise caution when planning training, taking into consideration the level of physical activity during the pandemic.
The increasing environmental contamination forces the need to design reliable devices for detecting of the volatile compounds present in the air. For this purpose semiconductor gas sensors, which ...have been widely used for years, are often utilized. Although they have many advantages such as low price and quite long life time, they still lack of long term stability and selectivity. Namely, environmental conditions have significant effect on the sensing accuracy. That is caused by the fact that sensors also respond to interfering molecules coexisting in ambient gas (e.g. humidity) and their response is highly dependent on the temperature and the gas delivery rate. Among the different strategies used to overcome those shortcomings, the modulation of the sensors' operating temperature has been reported. To perform the interpretation and extraction of useful information from dynamic nonlinear response of temperature modulated sensor, the feature extraction and data processing methods are required. In this article the method of determination the concentration of ammonia in the presence of relative humidity is presented. For this purpose the operating temperature of a single commercial SnO2 gas sensor is modulated using sinusoidal voltage applied to the heater. The measurements are performed for different concentrations of ammonia at specified levels of relative humidity. The validation data set was obtained 100 days after the set used for the calibration data. Several features from the dynamic measurements are extracted. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the selection of the signal features containing useful and relevant information for prediction of target gas are performed. The assessment of the impact of the input vector length of the Fast Fourier Transform method on the resulting signal features is examined. The selected features are utilized as an input for Partial Least Squared regression. The calibration is performed and the prediction error of the ammonia concentration is calculated based on the validation data.
•Single commercial SnO2 gas sensor was temperature-modulated.•The features were extracted from the dynamic sensor response using the FFT method.•The analysis and selection of the features were proposed.•The prediction of the gas concentration using PLS regression was performed.•The influence of the relativity humidity was mitigated.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The appropriate level of coordination motor skills (CMS) in a football player is one of the factors determining the effectiveness of their actions. Adaptability and complex reaction time are of ...particular importance in models of coordination requirements in football. The lead aim of this study is to determine the relationship between two selected coordination motor skills and the offensive, defensive and comprehensive effectiveness of an individual player's actions. The study was conducted on a group of 91 Polish male football players aged 20 to 31 years, all in the senior age category. The research tools included: a test assessing motor adaptation (research by dribbling the ball with the dominant leg), psychomotor test of complex reaction time (tested with an S-10.2 measuring device) and a test of the effectiveness of an individual player's actions (one-on-one simulation game). The conducted research indicated that adaptability and complex reaction time are both important abilities for success when attacking in an individual game, and in the assessment of a comprehensive index of individual competences in a one-on-one football game. However, the most significant factor influencing the effectiveness of a player's defensive action is solely the complex reaction time.
Purpose
The causal link between chemotherapy and cognitive impairment is unclear. We studied testicular cancer patients’ objective and subjective cognitive function longitudinally, comparing a ...surgery group with a surgery + chemotherapy group, addressing prior methodological issues using a computerized test to limit assessment issues, and controlling for confounding variables.
Methods
Prospectively, of 145 patients from 16 centres with sufficient data,
n
= 61 receiving surgery + chemotherapy (etoposide and cisplatin ± bleomycin, BEP/EP; or single agent carboplatin) were compared to
n
= 41 receiving surgery alone. CogHealth assessed six objective cognitive tasks. The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire assessed self-perceived cognitive dysfunction. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale assessed psychological influences. Linear mixed models compared changes from baseline (
<
6 months post-surgery/pre-chemotherapy) to follow-up (12–18 months post-baseline), controlling covariates.
Results
There were no significant interaction effects for five objective cognitive function tasks suggesting that changes over time were not due to group membership. However, psychomotor function (controlling for age) and physical well-being were significantly worse for the chemotherapy versus the surgery group at baseline, with groups converging by follow-up. Groups showed no differences in subjective cognitive dysfunction. The chemotherapy group showed higher anxiety, poorer functional well-being and worse fatigue compared to the surgery-only group at baseline, but not by follow-up. For both groups, emotional well-being, functional well-being and anxiety significantly improved over time.
Conclusion
No substantive differences in objective or subjective cognitive dysfunction in either group persisted 12–18 months post-baseline. Patients undergoing chemotherapy for testicular cancer differ from findings in breast cancer populations.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov
Identifier: ACTRN12609000545268
This study aimed to assess the application of Cameriere's third molar maturity index (I
) to select an individual of 18years or older (adult) from younger than 18years (minor) in a sample of Polish ...individuals. The final sample of 982 panoramic images aged between 15 to 24years was analyzed. The specific cut-off value of I
<0.08 was analyzed. The specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se) for males were 91.2% and 86.2% respectively. The Sp and Se for females were 93% and 82.6% respectively. The probabilities of correctly classified individuals were 87.6% and 85.3%, and Bayes post-test probability was 96.3% and 97% in males and females respectively. Further analysis indicated the alternative cut-off value of I
<0.07, which improved the specificity, 95.3%, and 94.7%, and worsen correct classification, 86.5%, and 84.4%, in males and females, respectively. Our results showed that the specific cut-off point of I
<0.08 may be a useful tool for discriminating adults from minors in Poland.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The general public influenza vaccination coverage in Poland is one of the lowest in the EU (3.7% in 2017/2018). Teachers have the potential to be a target group for immunization programs against ...influenza infection, however, there is yet to be a study in Poland, or even in the EU that has assessed influenza vaccine uptake among this group. The study objective was to evaluate influenza vaccination coverage and to assess influencing determinants amongst Polish teachers.
A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 277 teachers from 9 primary schools of two regional capitals of two Polish regions: Szczecin and Lublin.
A quarter of teachers have ever received influenza vaccine; 4.5% reported receiving vaccination in the 2018/2019 season. The main reasons for not being vaccinated were a lack of confidence in its effectiveness (56.9%) and concerns related to adverse effects (30.6%). Forty four percent (43.8%) of teachers believed that they are at risk of influenza infection, only 62.5% indicated vaccination as an effective method of preventing influenza. Previous information about influenza (OR = 15.70), high knowledge level about influenza (OR = 2.56), family physician recommendation (OR = 2.39), belief that influenza vaccination should be mandatory for teachers (OR = 3.29), and having a vaccinated family member (OR = 2.68) were each associated with higher odds of immunization. Willingness to be vaccinated against influenza in the next season was strongly associated with current vaccination status (OR = 7.16).
Influenza vaccination coverage among Polish teachers is alarmingly low; vaccine receipt was associated with teacher attitudes and beliefs. Future interventions related to maximizing vaccination coverage in this group should take advantage of the involvement of family physicians and specifically focus on teachers who have never been vaccinated before. As knowledge about influenza positively influences vaccination decisions, education strategies should focus on reducing knowledge gaps to alter attitudes and increase uptake.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The occurrence of bacteria of the genus Legionella sp. in hot water supply systems in buildings is a real threat to human health, especially for patients in hospitals and residents of nursing homes. ...The aim of the study was determination of the degree of colonization of hot water systems in hospitals and nursing homes in the Świętokrzyskie Province in south-east Poland.
Between 2014 - 2018, samples were collected from hot water systems in 30 hospitals and 32 nursing homes in order to determine the degree of contamination. 631 samples collected of the bacteria Legionella sp were analyzed.
Excessive contamination (≥ 100CFU/100 ml) with the bacteria Legionella sp. was detected in 12.12% (n=71) of samples. Contamination was significantly more frequently detected in samples from hot water systems in nursing homes, compared to hospitals (16.48% vs. 10.37%). Above-standard contamination of hot water systems with Legionella sp. bacteria occurred in 34.43% of the facilities, and was more frequent in hospitals (41.38%) than in the nursing homes (28.13%). In 21.3% of the facilities, contamination was detected many times during the study period.
Excessive contamination of hot water systems with Legionella sp. bacteria in the examined facilities was a common phenomenon. The presence of the pathogen in the installations of these facilities may constitute a considerable health hazard for patients and residents.
In the years 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Poland's health care system and caused a high number of excess deaths. After nearly 30 years of continuous dynamic increase in the life ...expectancy of the Polish population and a decrease in premature mortality that led to a reduction in the health gap between Poland and Western European countries, regrettably, a decline in life expectancy was recorded. For males, the decline amounted to 2.3 years and, for females, to 2.1 years.
The aim of this study was to assess changes in the level of premature mortality due to selected cardiovascular diseases in Poland before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Time trends of deaths of patients under the age of 65 due to ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and aortic aneurysm were analyzed by gender and age groups. The joinpoint model was used in determining time trends.
Premature mortality due to all of the cardiovascular diseases analyzed had been declining steadily by about 5% per year since 2008. However, at the end of the second decade of the 21st century, a significant change in the dynamics of the trend was observed, particularly with regard to deaths from ischemic heart disease, which since 2018 caused premature mortality increases of 10% per year in the female population. In the male population, an increase of nearly 20% per year has been observed since 2019. The changes also affected premature mortality due to cerebrovascular disease.
After nearly three decades of significant decline in premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Poland, there was a reversal in the trend, in particular as regards ischemic heart disease. The unfavorable changes intensified in the subsequent two years. The simultaneous increase in the number of cardiovascular incidents ending in death and the decline in access to prompt diagnosis and effective treatment may explain the unfavorable changes in the deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and the increase in premature mortality due to cardiovascular disease.
Background: Athletes should be distinguished by their capacity to deal with stress effectively. Motivated soccer players will employ stress-coping strategies that are linked to their ability to ...perform at a high level. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between a player’s specific goal orientation, coping in sports, and the effectiveness of play during competition. Methods: The study enrolled 122 male elite soccer players at the championship level who were between the ages of 16 and 19. All participants completed the Polish version of the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, the Polish version of the Coping Inventory for Competitive Sport Questionnaire, the CISS questionnaire, and Szwarc’s observation sheet for evaluating soccer performance. Results: The results showed that the task-based stress-coping mode partially mediated the relationship between task motivation and the observed effectiveness of players in soccer. Conclusion: From an applied perspective, the data on the relationship between selected mental factors and soccer performance point to a possible direction of work for players aspiring to the highest level of performance.
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