Coagulase-negative staphylococci, ubiquitous commensals of human skin, and mucous membranes represent important pathogens for immunocompromised patients and neonates. The increasing antibiotic ...resistance among
Staphylococcus epidermidis
is an emerging problem worldwide. In particular, the linezolid-resistant
S. epidermidis
(LRSE) strains are observed in Europe since 2014. The aim of our study was to genetically characterize 11 LRSE isolates, recovered mostly from blood in the University Children’s Hospital in Krakow, Poland, between 2015 and 2017. For identification of the isolates at the species level, we used 16S rRNA sequencing and RFLP of the
saoC
gene. Isolates were characterized phenotypically by determining their antimicrobial resistance patterns and using molecular methods such as PFGE, MLST, SCC
mec
typing, detection of the
ica
operon, and analysis of antimicrobial resistance determinants. All isolates were multidrug-resistant, including resistance to methicillin, and exhibited so-called PhLOPS
A
phenotype. In PFGE, all isolates (excluding one from a catheter) represented identical patterns, were identified as ST2, and harbored the
ica
operon, responsible for biofilm formation. Linezolid resistance was associated with acquisition of A157R mutation in the ribosomal protein L3 and the presence of
cfr
gene. All isolates revealed new SCC
mec
cassette element composition. Recently, pediatric patients with serious staphylococcal infections are often treated with linezolid. The increasing linezolid resistance in bacterial strains becomes a real threat for patients, and monitoring such infections combined with surveillance and infection prevention programs is very important to decrease number of linezolid-resistant staphylococcal strains.
In Poland there are still nearly 20 million individuals with hypercholesterolaemia, most of them are unaware of their condition; that is also why only ca. 5% of patients with familial ...hypercholesterolaemia have been diagnosed; that is why other rare cholesterol metabolism disorders are so rarely diagnosed in Poland. Let us hope that these guidelines, being an effect of work of experts representing 6 main scientific societies, as well as the network of PoLA lipid centers being a part of the EAS lipid centers, certification of lipidologists by PoLA, or the growing number of centers for rare diseases, with a network planned by the Ministry of Health, improvements in coordinated care for patients after myocardial infarction (KOS-Zawał), reimbursement of innovative agents, as well as introduction in Poland of an effective primary prevention program, will make improvement in relation to these unmet needs in diagnostics and treatment of lipid disorders possible.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a common condition affecting around 10–25% of the general adult population, 15% of children, and even > 50% of individuals who have type 2 diabetes ...mellitus. It is a major cause of liver-related morbidity, and cardiovascular (CV) mortality is a common cause of death. In addition to being the initial step of irreversible alterations of the liver parenchyma causing cirrhosis, about 1/6 of those who develop NASH are at risk also developing CV disease (CVD). More recently the acronym MAFLD (Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease) has been preferred by many European and US specialists, providing a clearer message on the metabolic etiology of the disease.
The suggestions for the management of NAFLD are like those recommended by guidelines for CVD prevention. In this context, the general approach is to prescribe physical activity and dietary changes the effect weight loss. Lifestyle change in the NAFLD patient has been supplemented in some by the use of nutraceuticals, but the evidence based for these remains uncertain. The aim of this Position Paper was to summarize the clinical evidence relating to the effect of nutraceuticals on NAFLD-related parameters. Our reading of the data is that whilst many nutraceuticals have been studied in relation to NAFLD, none have sufficient evidence to recommend their routine use; robust trials are required to appropriately address efficacy and safety.
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Our objectives were to critically appraise and summarise the current evidence for the effectiveness of using cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scoring (total risk assessment - TRA) in routine risk ...assessment in primary prevention of CVD compared with standard care with regards to patients outcomes, clinical risk factor levels, medication prescribing, and adverse effects.
We carried out an overview of existing systematic reviews (SRs). Presentation of the results aligned guidelines from the PRISMA statement. The data is presented as a narrative synthesis. We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, CENTRAL and SCOPUS databases from January 1990 to March 2017, reviewed the reference lists of all included SRs and searched for ongoing SRs in PROSPERO database. We encompassed SRs and meta-analyses which took into account RCTs, quasi-RCTs, and observational studies investigating the effect of using CVD risk scoring. Only studies performed in a primary care setting, with adult participants free of clinical CVD were eligible. Intervention was CVD risk assessment with use of the total CVD risk scoring compared with standard care with no use of TRA .
We identified 2157 records, we then recognised and analysed 10 relevant SRs. One SR reported statistically insignificant reduction of CVD death, when using TRA, the second SR presented meta-analysis which reported no effect on fatal and non-fatal CV events compared with conventional care (5.4% vs 5.3%; RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.08; I
= 25%). Three SRs have shown that using TRA causes no adverse events. The impact of TRA on global CVD risk as well as individual risk factors is ambiguous, but a tendency towards slight reduction of blood pressure, total cholesterol and smoking levels, especially in high risk patient groups was observed. TRA had no influence on lifestyle behaviour.
There is limited evidence, of low overall quality, suggesting a possible lack of effectiveness of TRA in reducing CVD events and mortality, as well as a clinically insignificant influence on individual risk factor levels. Using TRA does not cause harm to patients.
Systematic review protocol was registered with the International PROSPERO database - registration number CRD42016046898 .
Stress and insomnia are increasing problems in young people in highly developed countries. They influence both the physical and psychological aspects of life and seem to be related to each other. ...Various strategies to cope with stress exist and can be used to reduce its level. The main goal of our study was to find a relationship between insomnia, stress, stress-coping strategies and selected social and medical factors among students.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2017 among students of seven public Krakow universities, using the Perceived Stress Scale 10, an abbreviated version of the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced inventory (mini-COPE inventory) and the Athens Insomnia Scale. In the statistical analysis, the chi-square, Student's t test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used.
A total of 264 students aged 22.22±1.5 years were involved in the study. High stress levels occurred in 10% of the respondents. A statistically higher level of stress was revealed in people suffering from chronic diseases (p=0.006) and in cigarette smokers (p=0.004). The most common stress-coping strategies were active coping and planning. Insomnia was present in 19.7% of the students. Insomnia level was correlated with the intensity of perceived stress (p=0.00; r=0.44).
According to our study, one tenth of Krakow students perceive a high level of stress, and one fifth of the respondents suffer from insomnia. There is a strong positive correlation between level of insomnia and level of stress. To ensure high quality of life, problems such as stress and insomnia should be taken into consideration by every general practitioner.
Lipid disorders, primarily hypercholesterolemia, are the most common cardiovascular (CV) risk factor in Poland (this applies even 3/4 of people). The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) serum ...level is the basic lipid parameter that should be measured to determine CV risk and determines the aim and target of lipid-lowering treatment (LLT). Lipid-lowering treatment improves cardiovascular prognosis and prolongs life in both primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. Despite the availability of effective lipid-lowering drugs and solid data on their beneficial effects, the level of LDL-C control is highly insufficient. This is related, among other things, to physician inertia and patients' fear of side effects. The development of lipidology has made drugs available with a good safety profile and enabling personalisation of therapy. Pitavastatin, the third most potent lipid-lowering statin, is characterised by a lower risk of muscle complications and new cases of diabetes due to its being metabolised differently. Thus, pitavastatin is a very good therapeutic option in patients at high risk of diabetes or with existing diabetes, and in patients at cardiovascular risk. This expert opinion paper attempts at recommendation on the place and possibility of using pitavastatin in the treatment of lipid disorders.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is one of the most serious complications observed in premature infants. Thanks to microarray technique, expression of nearly all human genes can be reliably evaluated.
To ...compare whole genome expression in the first month of life in groups of infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
111 newborns were included in the study. The mean birth weight was 1029 g (SD:290), and the mean gestational age was 27.8 weeks (SD:2.5). Blood samples were drawn from the study participants on the 5th, 14th and 28th day of life. The mRNA samples were evaluated for gene expression with the use of GeneChip® Human Gene 1.0 ST microarrays. The infants were divided into two groups: bronchopulmonary dysplasia (n=68) and control (n=43).
Overall 2086 genes were differentially expressed on the day 5, only 324 on the day 14 and 3498 on the day 28. Based on pathway enrichment analysis we found that the cell cycle pathway was up-regulated in the bronchopulmonary dysplasia group. The activation of this pathway does not seem to be related with the maturity of the infant. Four pathways related to inflammatory response were continuously on the 5(th), 14(th) and 28(th) day of life down-regulated in the bronchopulmonary dysplasia group. However, the expression of genes depended on both factors: immaturity and disease severity. The most significantly down-regulated pathway was the T cell receptor signaling pathway.
The results of the whole genome expression study revealed alteration of the expression of nearly 10% of the genome in bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
An obesity paradox has been described in relation to adverse clinical outcomes (e.g., mortality) with lower body mass index (BMI).
We sought to evaluate the association between BMI and weight loss ...with long-term all-cause mortality in adult populations under the care of family physicians.
LIPIDOGRAM studies were conducted in primary care in Poland in 2004, 2006, and 2015 and enrolled a total of 45,615 patients. The LIPIDOGRAM Plus study included 1627 patients recruited in the LIPIDOGRAM 2004 and repeated measurements in 2006 edition. Patients were classified by BMI categories as underweight, normal weight, overweight and class I, II, or III (obesity). Follow-up data up to December 2021 were obtained from the Central Statistical Office. Differences in all-cause mortality were analyzed using Kaplan‒Meier and Cox regression analyses.
Of 45,615 patients, 10,987 (24.1%) were normal weight, 320 (0.7%) were underweight, 19,134 (41.9%) were overweight, and 15,174 (33.2%) lived with obesity. Follow-up was available for 44,620 patients (97.8%, median duration 15.3 years, 61.7% females). In the crude analysis, long-term all-cause mortality was lowest for the normal-weight group (14%) compared with other categories. After adjusting for comorbidities, the highest risk of death was observed for the class III obesity and underweight categories (hazard ratio, HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.55-2.05 and HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.22-2.04), respectively. The LIPIDOGRAM Plus analysis revealed that a decrease in body weight (by 5 and 10%) over 2 years was associated with a significantly increased risk of death during long-term follow-up-HR 1.45 (95% CI 1.05-2.02, p = 0.03) and HR 1.67 (95% CI 1.02-2.74, p < 0.001). Patients who experienced weight loss were older and more burdened with comorbidities.
Being underweight, overweight or obese is associated with a higher mortality risk in a population of patients in primary care. Patients who lost weight were older and more burdened with cardiometabolic diseases, which may suggest unintentional weight loss, and were at higher risk of death in the long-term follow-up. In nonsmoking patients without comorbidities, the lowest mortality was observed in those with a BMI < 25 kg/m
, and no U-curve relationship was observed.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Background
It seems that caregivers (CGs) may be a reliable source of information for determining health condition of seniors. This might be important for general practitioners (GPs) and ...facilitate them conducting comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). The objectives of our study were to: compare populations of older patients with and without CGs, characterise the group of CGs, establish whether CGs are aware of patients’ deficiencies in areas of CGA.
Methods
Patients aged at least 65 years underwent CGA using eight tools in GPs’ practices in and around Krakow, Poland. Seniors were divided into two groups: with and without CGs. CGs filled in an authors’ questionnaire on their data and assessed seniors in eight domains corresponding to the tests used in CGA. Patients with and without CGs were also compared in terms of CGA results and basic demographic and medical data. Subjective CGs’ responses were compared with objective CGA results.
Results
We conducted CGA on 438 senior patients. Two hundred fifty eight (59%) of them were classified as patients with CGs. Patients with CGs were older, less educated, more often lived in rural areas and were more frequently in a relationship (as all
p
< 0.05). In seniors with CGs, the results of frailty (
p
< 0.008) and insomnia scales (
p
= 0.049) were significantly worse. Mostly, CGs could properly assess seniors in basic and complex living activities and nutritional status. They were less precise in determining deficits like depressive tendency and insomnia.
Conclusions
CGs’ assessment of older patients can be a valuable source of information about seniors and can be helpful in diagnosing important health issues. CGs have difficulties when asked to properly assess depression and insomnia in the older adults they care for and their answers do not always correspond with the results of CGA. GPs should pay more attention to the needs of CGs themselves and provide them with the necessary knowledge about caring for older people.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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