The landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland emerging from epidemiological and genomic data.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected all aspects of our lives. Through real-time monitoring and rapid vaccine implementation, we succeeded in suppressing the spread of the disease and mitigating its consequences. Finally, conclusions can be summarized and drawn. Here, we use the example of Poland, which was seriously affected by the pandemic. Compared to other countries, Poland has not achieved impressive results in either testing or vaccination, which may explain its high mortality (case fatality rate, CFR 1.94%). Through retrospective analysis of data collected by the COVID-19 Data Portal Poland, we found significant regional differences in the number of tests performed, number of cases detected, number of COVID-19-related deaths, and vaccination rates. The Masovian, Greater Poland, and Pomeranian voivodeships, the country's leaders in vaccination, reported high case numbers but low death rates. In contrast, the voivodeships in the eastern and southern parts of Poland (Subcarpathian, Podlaskie, Lublin, Opole), which documented low vaccination levels and low case numbers, had higher COVID-19-related mortality rates. The strong negative correlation between the CFR and the percentage of the population that was vaccinated in Poland supports the validity of vaccination. To gain insight into virus evolution, we sequenced more than 500 genomes and analyzed nearly 80 thousand SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences deposited in GISAID by Polish diagnostic centers. We showed that the SARS-CoV-2 variant distribution over time in Poland reflected that in Europe. Haplotype network analysis allowed us to follow the virus transmission routes and identify potential superspreaders in each pandemic wave.

Utilidad y versatilidad del titanio para la reconstrucción de la pared torácica / Use and versatility of titanium for the reconstruction of the thoracic wall

INTRODUCCIÓN: La resección y las deformidades/defectos de la pared torácica así como las fracturas costales complejas requieren de reconstrucción con diversos materiales protésicos para garantizar las funciones básicas de dicha pared. El titanio aporta múltiples características que lo hacen un material idóneo para esta cirugía. El objetivo es presentar nuestros resultados iniciales con este material en diversas afecciones. Material y métodos De 2008 a 2012 se ha intervenido a 14 pacientes en los que se ha empleado el titanio para la reconstrucción de la pared torácica. Un total de 7 pacientes presentaban tumores de pared torácica, 2 de ellos con resección esternal, 4 con deformidades/defectos de la pared torácica y 3 pacientes con traumatismo costal severo por accidente de tráfico. Resultados La reconstrucción fue satisfactoria en todos los casos, con extubación temprana y sin detectar problemas en la funcionalidad de la pared torácica a nivel respiratorio. Los pacientes con tumores de pared torácica, incluyendo las resecciones esternales, se extubaron en quirófano, así como las deformidades de pared torácica. Los casos de traumatismo torácico se extubaron en menos de 24 h desde la fijación costal interna. No hubo complicaciones en relación con el material utilizado ni con el método de implantación. Conclusiones El titanio es un material ideal para la reconstrucción de la pared torácica en diversas situaciones clínicas, al permitir una gran versatilidad y adaptabilidad en las diferentes reconstrucciones de pared torácica en que se quiera emplear

INTRODUCTION: Chest wall deformities/defects and chest wall resections, as well as complex rib fractures require reconstruction with various prosthetic materials to ensure the basic functions of the chest wall. Titanium provides many features that make it an ideal material for this surgery. The aim is to present our initial results with this material in several diseases. Material and methods From 2008 to 2012, 14 patients were operated on and titanium was used for reconstruction of the chest wall. A total of 7 patients had chest wall tumors, 2 with sternal resection, 4 patients with chest wall deformities/defects and 3 patients with severe rib injury due to traffic accident. Results The reconstruction was successful in all cases, with early extubation without detecting problems in the functionality of the chest wall at a respiratory level. Patients with chest wall tumors including sternal resections were extubated in the operating room as well as the chest wall deformities. Chest trauma cases were extubated within 24 h from internal rib fixation. There were no complications related to the material used and the method of implementation. Conclusions Titanium is an ideal material for reconstruction of the chest wall in several clinical situations allowing for great versatility and adaptability in different chest wall reconstructions

[Use and versatility of titanium for the reconstruction of the thoracic wall]. / Utilidad y versatilidad del titanio para la reconstrucción de la pared torácica.

INTRODUCTION: Chest wall deformities/defects and chest wall resections, as well as complex rib fractures require reconstruction with various prosthetic materials to ensure the basic functions of the chest wall. Titanium provides many features that make it an ideal material for this surgery. The aim is to present our initial results with this material in several diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2008 to 2012, 14 patients were operated on and titanium was used for reconstruction of the chest wall. A total of 7 patients had chest wall tumors, 2 with sternal resection, 4 patients with chest wall deformities/defects and 3 patients with severe rib injury due to traffic accident. RESULTS: The reconstruction was successful in all cases, with early extubation without detecting problems in the functionality of the chest wall at a respiratory level. Patients with chest wall tumors including sternal resections were extubated in the operating room as well as the chest wall deformities. Chest trauma cases were extubated within 24h from internal rib fixation. There were no complications related to the material used and the method of implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Titanium is an ideal material for reconstruction of the chest wall in several clinical situations allowing for great versatility and adaptability in different chest wall reconstructions.

Development of hyperglycemia and diabetes in captive Polish bank voles.

Diabetes has been detected in Danish and Swedish bank voles (Myodes glareolus). There are no data, however, concerning the prevalence of diabetes in populations from other geographic regions. We investigated the frequency and physiological effects of glucose metabolism disorders in captive bank voles from Poland. Single measurement of fasting blood glucose concentration performed in the 3-4month old captive-born bank Polish voles without any disease symptoms showed that 8% of individuals (22/284) displayed an impaired fasting glucose (IFG, blood glucose (BG) ≥100mg/dL) and 1% (4/284) showed hyperglycemia (BG ≥126mg/dL) which could suggest diabetes. Next, we analyzed blood glucose in samples taken once a month from an additional cohort of bank voles with (FHD), or without (H), a family history of diabetes. The prevalence of IFG at age six months was 26% (16/62) among bank voles from the H group. In the FHD group the prevalence increased to 49% (43/88), and additional 12% (11/88) became diabetic (DB, BG ≥126mg/dL at two time points). Postnatal stress (three maternal deprivations before weaning) did not affect the risk of developing IFG or DB in H voles, but significantly reduced the frequency of glucose metabolism disorders (IFG and DB combined) in FHD voles. IFG was associated with hyperinsulinemia, but not with other biochemical disturbances. Diabetic animals displayed a progressive malformation and vacuolization of ß-cells in the pancreas, without visible leukocytic infiltrations. In summary, our results indicate that Polish captive bank voles can develop diabetes, which shows features of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in humans. Risk of diabetes is higher in animal with FHD.

Successful outcome of descending necrotizing mediastinitis due to neck trauma.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is an uncommon form of mediastinitis that can rapidly progress to septicemia. The optimal surgical approach still remains controversial. In this paper we would like to present a case of descending necrotizing mediastinitis that was treated successfully by means of thoracic drainage through trans-thoracic approach. In our case DNM occurred as a complication of oropharyngeal abscesses and a complication of cervical spine trauma.

Migration of Kirschner wire into the spinal canal as complication of inveterate shoulder luxation treatment - case study.

We report a case of intrathoracic migration of a Kirschner wire used for inveterate anterior right shoulder luxation penetrating the spinal canal through the right Th8 nerve root foramen. The migration was asymptomatic. The treatment involved removing the pin via posterolateral thoracotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. Intrathoracic migration of Kirschner wires should be expected in patients so treated for shoulder problems. This complication can be avoided through using a threaded pin for the shoulder surgery, bending the external end of the pin and choosing a correct diameter of the Kirschner wire.

Unusual simultaneous multifocal rupture of oesophagus, stomach and diaphragm after blunt trauma.

An unusual case of simultaneous multifocal rupture of the oesophagus, stomach and diaphragm after blunt trauma is described. The characteristic computed tomography scans (with intraluminal contrast application) of the ruptured oesophagus are shown, and successful management is presented.

Heme oxygenase-1 accelerates cutaneous wound healing in mice.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a cytoprotective, pro-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory enzyme, is strongly induced in injured tissues. Our aim was to clarify its role in cutaneous wound healing. In wild type mice, maximal expression of HO-1 in the skin was observed on the 2(nd) and 3(rd) days after wounding. Inhibition of HO-1 by tin protoporphyrin-IX resulted in retardation of wound closure. Healing was also delayed in HO-1 deficient mice, where lack of HO-1 could lead to complete suppression of reepithelialization and to formation of extensive skin lesions, accompanied by impaired neovascularization. Experiments performed in transgenic mice bearing HO-1 under control of keratin 14 promoter showed that increased level of HO-1 in keratinocytes is enough to improve the neovascularization and hasten the closure of wounds. Importantly, induction of HO-1 in wounded skin was relatively weak and delayed in diabetic (db/db) mice, in which also angiogenesis and wound closure were impaired. In such animals local delivery of HO-1 transgene using adenoviral vectors accelerated the wound healing and increased the vascularization. In summary, induction of HO-1 is necessary for efficient wound closure and neovascularization. Impaired wound healing in diabetic mice may be associated with delayed HO-1 upregulation and can be improved by HO-1 gene transfer.

A retrospective comparative study of surgery followed by chemotherapy vs. non-surgical management in limited-disease small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The role of surgery in limited SCLC is still a matter of controversy. Even though the response rates to chemotherapy are very high, prognosis of SCLC patients has remained poor with a median survival of only 12-14 months for limited disease. High incidence of local relapses after chemotherapy in limited-stage SCLC led to reassessment of the role of local treatment in the multimodality management of this tumor. METHODS: We performed retrospective comparative analysis of survival in a series of 134 limited-stage SCLC patients treated between 1984 and 1996 with either complete resection followed by chemotherapy (67 patients), or with conventional non-surgical management (67 patients). In all patients who underwent resection, the diagnosis of SCLC was established only postoperatively. The control (non-surgical) group was selected using 'pair-matched case-control' methodology, out of 176 limited-stage patients potentially suitable for surgery (i.e. with no pleural effusion or other local advancement, no supraclavicular lymph node involvement and good performance status), but treated without resection. The major prognostic factors were well balanced between these two groups. Total series included 109 males and 25 females, 20 patients with T1 and 114 patients with T2 disease, 51 N0, 43 N1 and 40 N2 disease. RESULTS: Median survival in patients treated with and without surgery was 22 months and 11 months, respectively, (P < 0.001). The two-year and five-year survival probabilities were 43 and 27%, respectively, in the surgical group, and 17 and 4%, respectively, in the non-surgical group. Subset analysis confirmed significantly longer survival with surgery in all T and N categories, except for N2 disease. Local relapse occurred in 15 and 55% of patients treated with and without surgery, respectively, (P < 0.001). Distant relapse probabilities were similar in both groups (36 and 40%, respectively). The most common site of metastases in the entire series was brain, followed by liver, lymph nodes, bone, lung and skin. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a possible role of surgery in limited-stage SCLC. Thus, a randomised study addressing this issue seems to be justified.

One step removal of dumb-bell tumors by postero-lateral thoracotomy and extended foraminectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic dumb-bell tumors are rare, usually benign tumors in the posterior mediastinum, consisting of intrathoracic and intraspinal parts. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice, performed by two teams - neurosurgeons and thoracic surgeons operating in a prescribed order. METHODS: Between 1994 and 1997 five patients had dumb-bell tumors removed in a one-step operation involving postero-lateral thoracotomy and extended foraminectomy. This operating method, rarely described in the medical literature, consists of intrathoracic and intraspinal parts being performed by a thoracic team independently or with the assistance of a neurosurgeon. Initially the intrathoracic part is resected, followed by an extensive widening of the intervertebral foramen to an appropriate extension and the removal of the remaining intraspinal part of the tumor. RESULTS: Four postero-lateral thoracotomies and one incision over a huge tumor in the thoraco-lumbal region, without entering the pleural cavity, were performed. In one patient postoperative, transient leakage of the cerebral fluid was observed. No form of late complications or neurologic sequelae have been reported within a 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: One-step removal of a dumb-bell tumor by postero-lateral thoracotomy and extended foraminectomy is a safe surgical procedure that can be performed by the thoracic team alone. Early and late surgical results confirm the appropriateness and usefulness of the method.

[Results of treatment for chronic pleural empyema]. / Wyniki leczenia przewleklego ropniaka oplucnej.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to assess the results of the treatment in 97 patients with chronic pleural empyema treated in the department of thoracic surgery between 1988 and 1997. The majority of patients were between 30 and 50 years old. Most of the group were men and more than a half had a concomitant disease, which may predispose to empyema development. Nevertheless all the empyemas were in the chronic phase 1/3 of patients were successfully treated only with closed chest tube drainage and the remaining group with lung decortication. The Gram-negative bacterial flora dominated in the culture from empyema sac. Spirometric values and blood gas analysis showed significant reduction of lung function before the treatment. We found the relation between an early institution of closed tube drainage and the shorter stay at the hospital. Moreover in a significant proportion of patients pleural drainage was a sufficient way of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Drainage of the empyema should be performed at early phase of the disease. It should be recommended that pleural drainage precede the surgical management of empyema. Delate of surgical intervention is the main cause of the high mortality rate in empyema following esophageal perforation.