Microbiological effects in patients with leg ulcers and diabetic foot treated with Lucilia sericata larvae.

Lucilia sericata bottle fly worms can be used to heal infected, chronic, or necrotic wounds, including those associated with ulceration and diabetic foot. The study aimed to evaluate changes in the microflora in patients treated with L sericata larvae due to leg ulcers and diabetic foot. One hundred twenty-nine patients diagnosed with lower limb ulceration and diabetic foot were enrolled in the study, of which 80 of them met the eligibility criteria for maggot debridement therapy (MDT). On the contrary, 49 unqualified patients were offered ozone therapy (22 with leg ulcers; 27 with diabetic foot). In each of these patients, a microbiological swab was performed before and after the start of therapy. The group of 80 patients was further divided into four equal groups in terms of the treated area (lower leg vs foot) and the number of larvae/cm2 (5 vs 10). Twenty-three particular species of bacteria in the infected wound were studied microbiologically in terms of presence/absence within the wound environment before and after treatment of patients with diabetic foot and lower limb ulceration. It was noted that there was a more intensive bacterial accumulation in the feet of patients compared to legs; furthermore, this applies to almost all analysed species. Diabetes status is also a clinical factor that generates a lower chance of bacterial appearance in the wound environment. Densification of MDT larvae per wound area unit also reduced the chance of the presence of Corynebacterium species, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus MSSA, and Streptococcus coagulase negativa; however, it increased the likelihood of occurrence for Proteus mirabilis and the Proteus species. A microbiological analysis in this non-reference study shows the efficacy of larval therapy for leg and foot ulcers. Rearrangement of the microflora within the wound has been reported as a result of the therapy.

Recent Malignant Melanoma Epidemiology in Upper Silesia, Poland. A Decade-Long Study Focusing on the Agricultural Sector.

The aim of the present study was to create spatial and spatio-temporal patterns of cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM) incidence in Upper Silesia, Poland, using the largest MM database (<4K cases) in Central Europe, focusing on the agricultural sector. The data comprised all the registered cancer cases (C43, according to the International Classification of Diseases after the 10th Revision) between the years 2004-2013 by the Regional Cancer Registries (RCRs) in Opole and Gliwice. The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), spatio-temporal growth rates (GRs), and disease cluster relative risks (RRs) were estimated. Based on the regression coefficients, we have indicated irregularities of spatial variance in cutaneous malignant melanoma, especially in older women (≥60), and a possible age-migrating effect of agricultural population density on the risk of malignant melanoma in Upper Silesia. All the estimates were illustrated in choropleth thematic maps.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of physiotherapy in patients after oncological breast cancer treatment based on spirometric indicators.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of physiotherapy in patients who underwent oncological treatment including spirometric indicators: FEV1, VC, FVC, PEF, FEV1/FVC, FEF25, FEF50, FEF75. Moreover, the possible influence of duration of physiotherapy on ventilation activity of lungs was assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study considered 91 women after breast cancer therapy qualified for outpatient physiotherapy. All patients underwent radiation therapy, and more than half of the women received concurrent chemotherapy. To assess rates of respiratory disorders, the patients were subjected to spirometric tests. The clinical status of examined subjects was also taken into account. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that the duration of physiotherapy contributed to increased ventilation index FEV1% - with each treatment day corresponding to an average of 1.8 units. In contrast, the involvement of lymph nodes radically reduced the level of PEF by as much as 64 units. The results of linear modelling provided evidence of statistically significant effects of chemotherapy on spirometric indicators. What is more, a statistically significant impact of time of rehabilitation on FEV1 increase was estimated. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapy leads to improvement of lung functions in patients with breast cancer after oncological treatment; progress is more evident in patients with advanced cancer after radical treatment.