Newborn Hospitalizations Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland: A Comparative Study Based on a National Hospital Registry.

Objectives: There are limited data on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Poland on newborn health. The aim of the study is to show recent information on hospitalizations of newborns in Poland in the pre-pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic era. Methods: A retrospective, population-based study was conducted using data from hospital discharge records of patients hospitalized in 2017-2021. Results: The data on which the study was based consisted of a substantial number of 104,450 hospitalization records. Annual hospitalization rate was estimated to be 50.3-51.9 per 1,000 in 2017-2019, 56 per 1,000 in 2020 and it rose to 77.7 per 1,000 in 2021. In comparison to the pre-pandemic period, in the COVID-19 era, we observed significantly more hospitalization cases of newborns affected by maternal renal and urinary tract diseases (p < 0.001), syndrome of infant of mother with gestational diabetes (p < 0.001), maternal complications of pregnancy (p < 0.001). In the COVID-19 era, the prevalence of COVID-19 among newborns was 4.5 cases per 1,000 newborn hospitalizations. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak could significantly contribute to qualitative and quantitative changes in hospitalizations among newborns.

Hospitalizations of Ukrainian Migrants and Refugees in Poland in the Time of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

BACKGROUND: In the face of a sudden influx of several million migrants and war refugees from Ukraine to other European countries, knowledge about the health of Ukrainian citizens becomes increasingly important. The aim of the study is to identify the main health problems of hospitalized Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland in the period from 2014 to June 2022. METHODS: This study is based on hospitalization data of Ukrainian patients in Poland taken from the Nationwide General Hospital Morbidity Study. RESULTS: The study group covered 8591 hospitalization records. We observed two hospitalization peaks, one in patients aged 0-5 and the other one in those aged 20-35. After the official outbreak of the war, 2231 Ukrainian citizens were hospitalized in Poland. At this time, the most often reported principal reasons for the hospitalizations of adult women were diseases related to pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, whereas in groups of adult men diseases were related to injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes, and in children and adolescents diseases were infectious and parasitic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may have implications for healthcare policies and service provision to newly arrived migrants and war refugees in target European countries.

Pretreatment with Salvadora persica L. (Miswak) aqueous extract alleviates paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hematological toxicity in male mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Paracetamol (PCM) ingestion is one of the most frequent global causes of toxicity. Salvadora persica L. is a plant that among many other effects exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. In this study, we investigated the possible protective effect of S. persica aqueous extract in the PCM overdose-induced liver and kidney injury and hematological changes in a mice model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were given PCM with and without S. persica pretreatment. Blood cell counts and liver and kidney function biomarkers were measured. Liver and kidney samples were histologically examined. RESULTS: A single overdose of PCM caused significant elevations of alanine and aspartate transaminases, alkaline phosphate, bilirubin, urea, uric acid, and creatinine compared with the control group. In addition, PCM toxicity significantly lowered red blood cell count but insignificantly increased both white blood cell and platelet counts in comparison to the control mice. Pretreatment with S. persica significantly prevented PCM-induced changes in hepatic and renal biomarkers. S. persica also caused marked reversal of hematological changes. Histologically, the liver and kidney showed inflammation and necrosis after PCM treatment, which were significantly reduced in mice pretreated with S. persica. CONCLUSION: Taken together, S. persica significantly inhibited PCM-induced renal, hepatic, and hematological toxicity, pointing to its possible use in the treatment of liver and renal disorders.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Poland: a study based on data from a national hospital register.

INTRODUCTION COVID­19 has been identified by the World Health Organization as a pandemic. Poland introduced extensive antiepidemic measures relatively early in order to slow down the spread of the disease. OBJECTIVES The study aims to present recent data on COVID­19 hospitalizations during the first months of the disease outbreak in Poland. PATIENTS AND METHODS This is a retrospective, population­based study conducted using hospital discharge records that included a diagnosis of COVID-19. Data were obtained from the National Institute of Public Health, where they had been originally collected for a Polish hospital morbidity study. They included 8840 hospitalization records from the period between February and September 2020. RESULTS Overall, there were 8252 records of patients hospitalized for COVID­19 for the first time, which accounted for 93% of all hospitalizations. The study group consisted of 4161 men (50.4%) and 4091 women (49.6%). Significantly more patients from urban than rural areas were hospitalized (21.8 per 100 000 vs 20.5 per 100 000; P <0.02). In the period subject to analysis, 1073 in­hospital deaths were observed (13% of all patients), 965 of which occurred during first­time hospitalizations (11.7% of all patients). In the study group, patients who died during hospitalization compared with those who survived hospitalization were significantly older, more frequently lived in urban areas, and had more comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS The findings of our study, especially the differences between survivors and nonsurvivors with COVID-19, may be helpful in recognizing patients requiring special medical care and preventive measures during hospitalization.

[Benzo(a)pyrene in atmospheric and indoor air, health hazards and possibilities of limitation]. / Benzo(a)piren w powietrzu atmosferycznym i wewnetrznym, zagrozenia zdrowotne i mozliwosci ograniczenia.

The work discusses the occurrence of benzo (a) pyrene in atmospheric air and indoor air, as well as health threats caused by this environmental pollution. The results of research conducted worldwide and in Poland were referred to. Poland belongs to the European Union country, where high levels of benzo(a)pyrene are recorded in both atmospheric air and indoor air (residential houses) exceeding 1ng/m3. Considering the fact that this pollution is highly carcinogenic one should strive to reduce the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in the air in Poland, recognizing and eliminating its sources. Installation of dedusting equipment in residential areas is possible but expensive. This creates an inequality in the access to fresh air in the rooms. The World Health Organization strongly promotes measures to reduce emissions of benzo(a)pyrene. On the other hand, extensive information campaigns should be carried out to make the public aware of the exposure, its sources and options of prevention.

Asbestosis hospitalizations in Poland (2006-2016): results from the National Hospital Discharge Registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Occupational asbestos exposure is one of the major public health issues. Although asbestos use in Poland has decreased, asbestosis continues to remain an important health concern in the area of occupational medicine. The aim of the study is to perform a descriptive analysis of hospitalization cases in patients suffering from asbestosis in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors used hospital discharge records to conduct a retrospective, population-based study. To estimate the asbestosis hospitalization rate, data from the Nationwide General Hospital Morbidity Study conducted by the National Institute of Public Health were used. Events were defined as in-patient hospital discharges during 2006-2016. 1,101 hospitalization records of 764 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: In the study group of first-time hospitalized patients, the mean and median ages were 68.1 and 69 years, respectively; CI: 67.3-68.9; SD: 11.1, min-max:16-99 years. In this group, significant gender differences were observed (560 males vs. 204 female; P<0.001). No statistical differences were observed regarding the place of residence. During the observation period, 61 in-hospital deaths were reported (8% of all patients), 40 of whom (5.2 % of all patients) took place during the first-time hospitalizations. Asbestosis hospitalizations were mainly clustered in the south-western region, whereas the highest hospitalization rates were clustered in several areas of Poland. CONCLUSIONS: The authors believe this study to be the first evaluation of asbestosis in Poland made on the basis of the hospital morbidity database. The data presented may be helpful in comparative studies on the epidemiology of asbestosis across European countries.

Effects of continuous use of probiotics before liver transplantation: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although there is increasing evidence for the benefits of probiotics in patients with liver diseases, data on the benefits of pre-LT administration of probiotics are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous administration of probiotics before liver transplantation (LT) on pre- and post-transplant patient outcomes. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial adult cirrhotic patients listed for LT received a 4-strain probiotic preparation or placebo daily from enrollment until LT. The primary outcome measures were postoperative mortality and infection rates. The secondary outcome measures were 5-day post-transplant aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities, bilirubin concentration, and international normalized ratio; waiting-list mortality; pre-transplant Model for End-stage Liver Disease score and Child-Turcotte-Pugh class changes; and pre-transplant infections. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were randomized. The 90-day postoperative mortality rates were 0% and 4.3% in the probiotic and placebo groups, respectively (p > 0.99). Patients receiving probiotics had significantly reduced 30-day (4.8% versus 34.8%, p = 0.02) and 90-day (4.8% versus 47.8%, p = 0.002) infection rates, lower post-LT bilirubin concentration (p = 0.02), and more rapid decrease of aspartate (p = 0.03) and alanine (p = 0.03) aminotransferase activities. Probiotics did not have significant effects on other secondary outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Although continuous administration of probiotics before LT does not appear to affect postoperative mortality, it effectively prevents postoperative infections and improves early biochemical parameters of allograft function. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01735591.

Gut microbiota in cirrhotic liver transplant candidates.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gut microflora of liver transplant candidates. METHODOLOGY: Fecal microflora of 20 cirrhotic liver transplant candidates was analyzed basing on prospectively collected stool samples. The results were compared with those of 20 non-cirrhotic patients with liver disease and/or abnormal liver function tests, 20 patients with Crohn's disease, and 20 patients without any gastrointestinal disease. Moreover, correlations between particular counts of microbiota, as well as between microbial counts and stool pH were examined. RESULTS: The pattern of fecal microbiota of liver transplant candidates was characterized by increased counts of lactobacilli (p=0.001), including hydrogen peroxide producing strains (p=0.008). In these patients, lactobacilli were positively correlated to enterococci (p=0.006) and bifidobacteria (p=0.004). No correlations other than those observed for lactobacilli in general were observed between hydrogen peroxide producing lactobacilli and the remaining microbiota. Increased yeast and Escherichia coli counts were associated with a tendency towards lower (p=0.095) and higher (p=0.072) stool pH, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Surprisingly, gut microflora of liver transplant candidates with cirrhosis is particularly enriched with lactobacilli, including hydrogen peroxide producing strains. Thus, the use of other potentially beneficial microorganisms, such as particular yeast strains, might be more appropriate for these patients.