New Limits on Bosonic Dark Matter, Solar Axions, Pauli Exclusion Principle Violation, and Electron Decay from the Majorana Demonstrator.

We present new limits on exotic keV-scale physics based on 478 kg d of Majorana Demonstrator commissioning data. Constraints at the 90% confidence level are derived on bosonic dark matter (DM) and solar axion couplings, Pauli exclusion principle violating (PEPV) decay, and electron decay using monoenergetic peak signal limits above our background. Our most stringent DM constraints are set for 11.8 keV mass particles, limiting g_{Ae}<4.5×10^{-13} for pseudoscalars and (α^{'}/α)<9.7×10^{-28} for vectors. We also report a 14.4 keV solar axion coupling limit of g_{AN}^{eff}×g_{Ae}<3.8×10^{-17}, a 1/2ß^{2}<8.5×10^{-48} limit on the strength of PEPV electron transitions, and a lower limit on the electron lifetime of τ_{e}>1.2×10^{24} yr for e^{-}→ invisible.

[Total serum cholesterol and cholesterol lipoprotein fractions in random sample of Warsaw population]. / Cholesterol calkowity i cholesterol frakcji lipoproteinowych w surowicy krwi mieszkanców Warszawy.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of lipid risk factors in a random sample of Warsaw population aged 35-64 years, 764 men and 775 women, were screened within framework of the Pol-MONICA Warsaw Study. The lipids were determined by enzymatic methods in laboratory controlled by CDC Lipid Standardization Program in Atlanta. In the screened sample the observed levels of total cholesterol (5.76 +/- 1.01 and 5.68 +/- 1.03 mmol/l respectively in men and in women) and LDL cholesterol (3.67 +/- 0.90 and 3.56 +/- 0.94 mmol/l respectively) were rather high what can indicate on rather high coronary risk of Warsaw population. On the other hand the high mean level of HDL cholesterol (1.36 +/- 0.36 and 1.53 +/- 0.35 mmol/l respectively) and its subfractions HDL2 (0.24 in men and 0.39 mmol/l in women) as well as HDL3 (1.12 and 1.14 mmol/l respectively) observed in this sample can decrease this global risk. The compared mean level of cholesterol in lipoprotein fractions in the group of investigated persons with and without clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease confirm the observed in the other studies the higher mean levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in persons with coronary heart disease.

Opposing national stroke mortality trends in Poland and for African Americans and whites in the United States, 1968 to 1994.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The United States (US) has experienced declines in stroke mortality in contrast to the increases reported for Poland. As part of the Poland and US Agreement on Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Research, stroke mortality trends in Polish and US subpopulations were compared in the context of cross-population differences in competing causes of death and determinants of stroke. METHODS: Age-adjusted annual stroke, cardiovascular disease (CVD), non-CVD, and all-cause mortality rates were determined for men and women aged 35 to 64 and 65 to 74 years from 1968 to 1994 for African Americans and US whites and in Poland. Mean annual percent changes of mortality rates were estimated during 1968 to 1980 and 1981 to 1994 with the use of piecewise log-linear regression. RESULTS: US stroke mortality rates declined 3.7% to 4.8% annually during 1968 to 1980 and 2.0% to 3.1% during 1981 to 1994, with similar declines in each ethnic, gender, and age group. Polish rates increased 3.3% to 5.5% annually for all age-gender groups in Poland during 1968 to 1980. Polish men aged 35 to 64 experienced increasing rates during 1981 to 1994 (1.6% annually), while Polish women and older men experienced slight declines or little change. Only Polish men aged 35 to 64 years exhibited increases in stroke, CVD, and non-CVD mortality rates during both time intervals. CONCLUSIONS: Poland and the US experienced opposing stroke mortality rate trends between 1968 and 1994. These national and ethnic trends occurring in just one generation suggest major effects of lifestyle, socioenvironmental, and/or medical care determinants.

Stroke mortality rates in Poland did not decline between 1984 and 1992.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke mortality has decreased in most industrialized countries in recent decades. In Poland, as in other eastern European countries, mortality rates for stroke remain high. METHODS: The Warsaw Stroke Registry (WSR) registered patients in the Mokotów district of Warsaw from 1991 through 1992. The Warsaw Pol-MONICA study registered stroke patients in the North and South Praga regions of Warsaw from 1984 through 1992. Stroke incidence rates, case-fatality rates, and stroke mortality rates were computed based on both studies and compared with published mortality rates based on death certificates. Eight-year trends of stroke incidence, case-fatality rate, and mortality were derived from the Warsaw Pol-MONICA study. RESULTS: The WSR and Warsaw Pol-MONICA studies showed similar incidence rates, mortality rates, and 28-day case-fatality rates for stroke. Mortality rates from the WSR and the Warsaw Pol-MONICA study were similar to rates from death certificate data. Mortality rates in the group aged 35 to 64 years were higher in men (47.5 to 50/100000 per year) than in women (30/100000 per year). CONCLUSIONS: Two different population-based studies suggest that stroke mortality is high in Poland because of high 28-day case-fatality rates. Stroke mortality failed to decline in Poland in the period 1984 through 1992 because neither case fatality nor stroke incidence declined in this period.

[Lipid risk factors of coronary heart disease during longterm observation of a Warsaw Pol-Monica population-based cohort]. / Lipidowe czynniki ryzyka choroby niedokrwiennej serca w dlugofalowej obserwacji kohorty populacji warszawskiej Pol-MONICA.

The aim of the study was searching for explanatory variables of high mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) observed in Poland, with special regards to lipid risk factors, which were determined in a population of Warsaw Pol-MONICA Project. From the randomly selected cohort of Warsaw population, consisted of 348 men and 351 women, aged 35-64 at baseline, the fasting lipid levels were determined three times in 270 men and 266 women. The first study was performed in 1984 year, second in 1988 and third in 1993. The plasma level of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CH) and HDL cholesterol (HDL), after VLDL and LDL precipitation, were measured by standardized enzymatic methods. LDL cholesterol (LDL) was calculated according to Friedewald's formula. Our laboratory was systematically controlled by WHO Lipid Reference Laboratory in Prague and CDC NHLBI Lipid Standardization Program in Atlanta. After ten years of following up total plasma CH increased significantly by 5% in women (from 5.66 to 5.94 mmol/l i.e. 219 to 230 mg/dl) and did not increase significantly in men (increase by 2%, from 5.63 to 5.75 mmol/l i.e. 218 to 222 mg/dl. LDL fraction increased significantly in both sex groups: by 11% in women (from 3.43 to 3.79 mmol/l i.e. 133 to 147 mg/dl) and by 9% in men (from 3.42 to 3.73 mmol/l i.e. 132 to 144 mg/dl). HDL fraction level changed only within the limits of the accuracy of method. Plasma TG decreased significantly in both sex groups; by 12% in women (from 1.58 to 1.39 mmol/l i.e. 140 to 123 mg/dl) and by 19% in men (from 1.93 to 1.57 mmol/l i.e. 171 to 139 mg/dl). The significant increase in percentage of subjects with elevated atherogenic lipoprotein fraction LDL (LDL >or= 4.1 mmol/l i.e. 160 mg/dl) in both gender groups and prevalence of hypercholestrolemia (CH >or= 6.5 mmol/l i.e. 250 mg/dl) in women only was observed during ten years. Simultaneously the significant decrease in the percentage of subjects with elevated level of triglycerides (TG > or = 2.3 mmol/l i.e. 200 mg/dl) in both gender groups was noticed. The relationship between lipid risk factors and age and relative body mass in all subjects was analyzed. In Polish population the levels of lipids and of atherogenic lipoproteins fractions were very high and during ten years of follow up almost all lipid risk factors, except TG, showed disadventage direction of change.

[Highly differentiated cancer or adenoma of the liver: diagnostic approach in highly differentiated epithelial tumors of the liver]. / Wysokozróznicowany rak czy gruczolak watroby: taktyka postepowania diagnostycznego w wysokozróznicowanych guzach nablonkowych watroby.

High-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (h-d HCC) is a not frequent hepatic tumour but its outcome may be beneficial when treated properly. Two cases of h-d HCC recognized on the basis of postoperative histopathology are reported. We have discussed the role of fine needle biopsy in distinguishing h-d HCC from liver adenoma, and we have attempted to outline the diagnostic approach in clinically silent hepatic tumours which are not associated with cirrhosis or elevated alfa-fetoprotein plasma level.

[Recurrent benign intrahepatic cholestasis syndrome]. / Zespól nawracajçej lagodnej cholestazy wewnatrzwatrobowej.

Up to now about 100 cases of benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis have been reported. In this case we give a description of familial form of this disease, in which cholestasis was associated with inflammatory liver response. A brief review of this rare condition and differential diagnosis have been presented.

[12-year trends in cardiovascular disease mortality]. / Dwunastoletnie trendy umieralnosci z powodu chorób ukladu krazenia.

The coefficients and trends of mortality in years 1976-1987, based on data of Central Statistical Office, has been estimated in population of men and women aged 25 to 64 years, inhabitants of the Warsaw city region or the county region of Tarnobrzeg province . The trend of decrease of general mortality due to diseases of circulatory system has been statistically significant one similarly as that of mortality due to other heart diseases or ischaemic heart disease in men (group aged 25-34 or 35-44 years) in the Tarnobrzeg province . The analogously significant trend of mortality due to diseases of circulatory system or ischemic heart diseases in men aged 35-44 years has been stated in the Warsaw inhabitants. In the group of women an increase of general mortality has been noted in the youngest age group in Warsaw. In Warsaw and the Tarnobrzeg province in 1987 deaths due to diseases of circulatory system represented 33.2% and 39.9%, respectively, of total death pool among subjects aged 25 to 64 years. The respective percentages in the group of women were 29.1% and 39.4%.