Assessment of physicians' career satisfaction in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To assess the career satisfaction of physician's in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, in relation to selected factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted among 701 physicians and dentists from the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, in the period from January to December 2018, using the PAPI (Paper and Pencil Interview) method. Physicians' Career Satisfaction was measured and basic socio-demographic, economic and occupational data, concerning lifestyle and health, and also the level of life satisfaction according to the SWLS (Satisfaction with Life Scale) were collected. Moreover, the occurrence of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms according to the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Results: The career satisfaction of the surveyed Silesian physicians and dentists was moderate. Wages and combining personal life with work were rated the lowest, while interpersonal opportunities were rated the highest. The predictors: age, economic status and body mass index (BMI) were significant; in addition, in younger age group (25-49 years) - practicing sports and chronic fatigue, and in older age group (50-80 years) - the presence of a chronic disease. A moderate correlation between the level of career satisfaction and life satisfaction was revealed, as well as a lower score in people with the occurrence of anxiety and/or depression symptoms. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The diversified level of career satisfaction of physicians in separated aspects makes it necessary to verify them both at the level of health care units and at higher levels.

Fertility Preservation in Children and Adolescents during Oncological Treatment-A Review of Healthcare System Factors and Attitudes of Patients and Their Caregivers.

Oncofertility is any therapeutic intervention to safeguard the fertility of cancer patients. Anti-cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc.) entail the risk of reproductive disorders through cytotoxic effects on gamete-building cells, especially those not yet fully developed. This literature review analyzes the available data on securing fertility in pediatric and adolescent populations to identify the methods used and describe aspects related to financing, ethics, and the perspective of patients and their parents. Topics related to oncofertility in this age group are relatively niche, with few peer-reviewed articles available and published studies mostly on adults. Compared to pubertal individuals, a limited number of fertility preservation methods are used for prepubertal patients. Funding for the procedures described varies from country to country, but only a few governments choose to reimburse them. Oncofertility of pediatric and adolescent patients raises many controversies related to the decision, parents' beliefs, having a partner, ethics, as well as the knowledge and experience of healthcare professionals. As the fertility of young cancer patients is at risk, healthcare professionals should make every effort to provide them with an opportunity to fulfill their future reproductive plans and to have a family and offspring. Systemic solutions should form the basis for the development of oncofertility in pediatric and adolescent populations.

The Critical Exploration into Current Evidence behind the Role of the Nutritional Support in Adult Patients Who Undergo Haematogenic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a treatment option for many haematological conditions in patients of all ages. Nutritional support is important at each stage of treatment, but particular nutritional needs and dictated support occur during the preparatory (conditioning regimen) and post-transplant periods. Patients may require nutritional treatment by the enteral or parenteral route. The quantitative and qualitative composition of meals may change. Vitamin requirements, including vitamin D and vitamin C, might also be different. An adequately composed diet, adapted to the needs of the patient, may influence the occurrence of complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), gastrointestinal disorders, infections, and reduced survival time. Haematological diseases as well as transplantation can negatively affect the intestinal flora, with negative consequences in the form of mucosal inflammation and disorders of a functional nature. Currently, aspects related to nutrition are crucial in the care of patients after HSCT, and numerous studies, including randomized trials on these aspects, are being conducted. This study serves the critical analysis of current scientific evidence regarding nutritional support for patients after HSCT.

Suitableness of SLM Manufactured Turbine Blade for Aerodynamical Tests.

This paper describes some insights on applicability of a Selective Laser Melting and Direct Metal Laser Sintering technology-manufactured turbine blade models for aerodynamic tests in a wind tunnel. The principal idea behind this research was to assess the possibilities of using 'raw' DLMS printed turbine blade models for gas-flow experiments. The actual blade, manufactured using the DLMS technology, is assessed in terms of surface quality (roughness), geometrical shape and size (outline), quality of counterbores and quality of small diameter holes. The results are evaluated for the experimental aerodynamics standpoint. This field of application imposes requirements that have not yet been described in the literature. The experimental outcomes prove the surface quality does not suffice to conduct quantitative experiments. The holes that are necessary for pressure measurements in wind tunnel experiments cannot be reduced below 1 mm in diameter. The dimensional discrepancies are on the level beyond acceptable. Additionally, the problem of 'reversed tolerance', with the material building up and distorting the design, is visible in elements printed with the DLMS technology. The results indicate the necessity of post-machining of the printed elements prior their experimental usage, as their features in the 'as fabricated' state significantly disturb the flow conditions.

Assessment of Life Satisfaction of the Physicians of the Silesian Province, Poland.

BACKGROUND: The medical profession is associated with a heavy psychological and physical burden. Specific working conditions can negatively affect the assessment of physicians' quality of life. The lack of current studies prompted us to evaluate the life satisfaction of the physicians in the Silesian Province in relation to the selected factors (health status, professional preferences, family and material status). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 701 physicians and dentists from the Silesian Province aged between 25 and 80 years. It was conducted in 2018 using the Paper and Pencil Interview technique by obtaining non-personalized demographic, anthropometric, socioeconomic, occupational, health and lifestyle data. The following measures were used: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Occupational Satisfaction and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Considering the environmental conditions, the total SWLS scores were analysed in terms of the significance of differences in the groups. Moreover, the SWLS scores underwent multivariate analysis of variance and the correlation analysis of job satisfaction and the presence of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Life satisfaction among the physicians and dentists from the Silesian Province was at an average level. Significant predictors included age and economic status. Additionally, significant predictors in the younger subjects (25-50 years) included the Body Mass Index and practising sports. In turn, in the older subjects (50-80 years), these predictors were related to hospital work and being on sick leave. The study found a significant moderate association between life satisfaction and professional satisfaction. Additionally, a significantly lower level of life satisfaction was reported in the subjects who presented with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Due to its association with the profession, the mean level of life satisfaction among physicians and dentists prompts verification of crucial spheres related to the physical, emotional, social and material well-being and the activity of the professional group.

The Impact of Chronic Stress Related to COVID-19 on Eating Behaviors and the Risk of Obesity in Children and Adolescents.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in the incidence of overweight and obesity in children was observed. It appears that unhealthy food choices, an unbalanced diet, and a sedentary lifestyle, as well as experiencing stress related to the pandemic, may be contributing to this disturbing trend. Chronic stress is a significant factor contributing to eating disorders and obesity in youngsters, involving medical, molecular, and psychological elements. Individuals under chronic stress often focus on appearance and weight, leading to negative body image and disrupted relationships with food, resulting in unhealthy eating behaviors. Chronic stress also impacts hormonal balance, reducing the satiety hormone leptin and elevating the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, fostering increased hunger and uncontrolled snacking. Two systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic system with the adrenal medulla, are activated in response to stress, causing impaired secretion of noradrenaline and cortisol. Stress-related obesity mechanisms encompass oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, insulin resistance, and neurohormonal and neurotransmission disorders. Stress induces insulin resistance, elevating obesity risk by disrupting blood sugar regulation and fat storage. Stress also affects the gut microbiome, potentially influencing chronic inflammation and metabolic processes linked to obesity. In conclusion, chronic stress is a multifaceted risk factor for eating disorders and obesity in children, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of effective preventive and intervention strategies amid the escalating prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity.

The Physical and Mental Well-Being of Medical Doctors in the Silesian Voivodeship.

Physical and mental well-being are important determinants of medical doctors' lives, including their professional activity, which has a direct impact on the health and lives of patients. The aim of the study was to assess the health condition of medical doctors from the Silesian Voivodeship. The physical health condition, including the prevalence of chronic diseases, drug therapy, and pro-health activities, was assessed. Data on mental health according to the HADS scale (hospital anxiety and depression scale) referred to the selected socio-economic and professional aspects of life, as well as life and job satisfaction. The doctors most often reported diseases of the circulatory system and diseases of endocrine system, nutritional status and metabolic changes, allergies, and degenerative changes in the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. Chronic diseases and anxiety or depressive disorders affected doctors aged 50-80 years more frequently, and those doctors undertook preventive pro-health activities more often. The higher risks of anxiety and depression were related to their social and professional roles, lower economic status, overweight or obesity, chronic diseases, pharmacotherapy, diets, and chronic fatigue. On the other hand, frequent physical activity, a longer sleep duration, smaller weekly workload, type of rest, a higher sense of job satisfaction, and a higher level of life satisfaction reduced the risk of disorders. The health condition of medical doctors in the Silesian Voivodeship requires decisive remedial actions in the professional and non-professional spheres.

Additional Positive Electric Residues in the Crucial Spike Glycoprotein S Regions of the New SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

The change in the formal charge of 34 SARS-CoV-2 lineages from September 2020 to June 2021 was analyzed according to the monthly evidence of the European agency. The reported point mutations and small insertions are electrically neutral (17), positive (12), or negative (3). They had been found in the spike glycoprotein S,  in the RBD and S1/S2 regions, crucial for initiation of viral infection. The most often observed were positive mutations, especially D614G and E484K, located in the region of S1/S2 junction, and in the receptor-binding domain (RBD), respectively. They are related to G and A switching. Positive mutations are stretching equally in both areas, but in the RBD region, they are more dispersed. In the set of analyzed virus variants, the increasing tendency in the number of positively charged residues in spike protein was observed. Furthermore, the well-documented WHO classes show an increase in the COVID-19 percentage case fatality with the positive increase in the spike crucial region's total charge. The data mining, applying classifier algorithm based on the artificial neuronal network, confirms that the value and the distribution of additional positive charge in S may be important factors enabling virus impact to immunity. This may be promoted by the stronger long-range electrostatic attraction of the virus particle to the host cell, preceding the infection. The estimation of the potential energy for the RBD approaching the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) was presented.

SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron (B.1.1.529) is in a rising trend of mutations increasing the positive electric charge in crucial regions of the spike protein S.

An increase in the positive electric charge of SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron (B.1.1.529) was reported and the electrostatic interaction between the spike protein S and ACE2 receptor was estimated. The results presented here suggest that electrogenic mutations in specific regions of the S protein and the electrostatic force may facilitate viral infection of the host cell.

The Codon Usage in the Minimal Natural Cell.

A statistical analysis of the variation in contents with the size of the current known smallest genomes, N. deltocephalinicola, C. ruddii, N. equitans, and M. genitalium, enabled the indication of a minimal set of codons capable of naturally building a modern-type free-living unicellular organism in an early stage of evolution. Using a linear regression model, the potential codon distribution in the minimal natural cell was predicted and compared to the composition of the smallest synthetic, JCVI-Syn3.0. The distribution of the molecular weight of potentially coded amino acids was also calculated. The main differences in the features of the minimal natural cell and H. Sapiens genome were analyzed. In this regard, the content percentage of respective amino acids and their polarization charge properties were reported and compared. The fractions of occurring nucleotides were calculated, too. Then, the estimated numbers of codons in a minimal natural cell were related to the expected numbers for random distribution. Shown increase, or decrease in the contents, relative to the calculated random filling was related to the evolutionary preferences, varying with the subsequent eras of the evolution of genetic code.

Lifestyle Practices, Satisfaction with Life and the Level of Perceived Stress of Polish and Foreign Medical Students Studying in Poland.

The adaptation of foreign students to a new country can be complicated due to different cultural values, language barriers and the way university courses are structured. The aim of the study was to analyze the lifestyle practices, satisfaction with life and the level of perceived stress of Polish and foreign students studying various medical disciplines in Poland with regard to chosen sociodemographic characteristics. The study included 231 foreign and 213 Polish students (n = 444) taking different medical disciplines at the medical university in eastern Poland. Three research tools were used: Fantastic Lifestyle Questionnaire (FLQ), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Additionally, students' sociodemographic data was collected. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed and correlations between variables were also examined. Our research indicated that Polish students obtained higher results in FLQ than foreign students. It also demonstrated a significantly higher level of stress among Polish students in comparison to foreign students. The self-assessment of their health condition, lifestyle, and rank associated to being healthy correlated with FLQ, SWLS and PSS-10. The present research can aid the development of support programs for foreign students so that the cultural adaptation processes would more positively influence their lifestyle and an education environment.

Combined in silico and 19F NMR analysis of 5-fluorouracil metabolism in yeast at low ATP conditions.

The cytotoxic effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on yeast cells is thought to be mainly via a misincorporation of fluoropyrimidines into both RNA and DNA, not only DNA damage via inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TYMS) by fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP). However, some studies on Saccharomyces cerevisiae show a drastic decrease in ATP concentration under oxidative stress, together with a decrease in concentration of other tri- and diphosphates. This raises a question if hydrolysis of 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine diphosphate (FdUDP) under oxidative stress could not lead to the presence of FdUMP and the activation of so-called 'thymine-less death' route. We attempted to answer this question with in silico modeling of 5-FU metabolic pathways, based on new experimental results, where the stages of intracellular metabolism of 5-FU in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were tracked by a combination of 19F and 31P NMR spectroscopic study. We have identified 5-FU, its nucleosides and nucleotides, and subsequent di- and/or triphosphates. Additionally, another wide 19F signal, assigned to fluorinated unstructured short RNA, has been also identified in the spectra. The concentration of individual metabolites was found to vary substantially within hours, however, the initial steady-state was preserved only for an hour, until the ATP concentration dropped by a half, which was monitored independently via 31P NMR spectra. After that, the catabolic process leading from triphosphates through monophosphates and nucleosides back to 5-FU was observed. These results imply careful design and interpretation of studies in 5-FU metabolism in yeast.

Ethanol extracts of Allium sp. regulate cyclooxygenase-2 and E-cadherin expression in gastric cancer MKN74 cell line and enhance doxorubicin toxicity.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Its aetiology is multifactorial, but the major risk factor is a high in salt diet. During gastric carcinogenesis, cadherin-1 (CDH1) down-expression and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) overexpression may be observed. The intensity of these alterations contributes to the GC invasion, its metastases and poor prognosis. As the diet plays a significant role in the aetiology of GC, it is reasonable to include the nutritional chemoprevention agents. One of the plant genus demonstrating chemoprotective properties is Allium genus, which includes garlic. The relationship between CDH1 and COX2 in GC cells treated with Allium species extract has never been evaluated. METHODS: In this study, the MKN28 and MKN74 GC cell lines were treated with ethanol extracts of Allium angulosum L., Allium lusitanicum Lam., Allium sativum L. (from Malaysia and Poland), Allium tibeticum Rendle and Allium ursinum L. The cytotoxicity of the extracts and their influence on COX2 and CDH1 mRNA and protein expression were evaluated as well as their influence on doxorubicin's (DOX) efficacy - a drug that has been used in GC treatment. RESULTS: Among the tested species, ethanol extracts of A. sativum L. (Poland and Malaysia), A. tibeticum Rendle and A. ursinum L. influenced the levels of CDH1 and COX2, but only in the MKN74 cell line. Thus, it is possible that tumours with increased COX2 expression will be more susceptible to garlic treatment. Observed phenomenon was independent of Allium extract's toxicity. In comparison to DOX, tested extracts were more toxic. Moreover, A. sativum revealed synergistic effect with the drug. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results indicate the potential application of Allium genus to GC chemoprevention and treatment support through CDH restoration and COX2 downregulation. This issue needs further investigations as it might be used in clinics.

Theoretical model explaining the relationship between the molecular mass and the activation energy of the enzyme revealed by a large-scale analysis of bioinformatics data.

A general dependence of the enzyme catalytic rate on its mass was revealed when a statistical analysis of 17065 records from the EMP database was performed. The estimated activation energy of the catalytic process decreases asymptotically with the enzyme molecular mass increase. The proposed theoretical model postulates the existence of an intermediate complex of the enzyme and the departing product. It allows for the explanation of the discovered mass-energy relationship, as an effect of the global enzyme-product interactions during complex dissociation. Fitted parameters of the model seem to be in agreement with those widely accepted for the van der Waals energy of molecular interactions. Their values also agree with the picture of the hydrogen bonding in the catalytic process and suggest that surface walk can be the favorable way of the product departure.

The quantum casimir effect may be a universal force organizing the bilayer structure of the cell membrane.

A mathematic-physical model of the interaction between cell membrane bilayer leaflets is proposed based on the Casimir effect in dielectrics. This model explains why the layers of a lipid membrane gently slide one past another rather than penetrate each other. The presented model reveals the dependence of variations in the free energy of the system on the membrane thickness. This function is characterized by the two close minima corresponding to the different levels of interdigitation of the lipids from neighbor layers. The energy barrier of the compressing transition between the predicted minima is estimated to be 5.7 kT/lipid, and the return energy is estimated to be 3.1 kT/lipid. The proposed model enables estimation of the value of the membrane elastic thickness modulus of compressibility, which is 1.7 × 109 N/m², and the value of the interlayer friction coefficient, which is 1.9 × 108 Ns/m³.

A kinetic model of the evolution of a protein interaction network.

BACKGROUND: Known protein interaction networks have very particular properties. Old proteins tend to have more interactions than new ones. One of the best statistical representatives of this property is the node degree distribution (distribution of proteins having a given number of interactions). It has previously been shown that this distribution is very close to the sum of two distinct exponential components. In this paper, we asked: What are the possible mechanisms of evolution for such types of networks? To answer this question, we tested a kinetic model for simplified evolution of a protein interactome. Our proposed model considers the emergence of new genes and interactions and the loss of old ones. We assumed that there are generally two coexisting classes of proteins. Proteins constituting the first class are essential only for ecological adaptations and are easily lost when ecological conditions change. Proteins of the second class are essential for basic life processes and, hence, are always effectively protected against deletion. All proteins can transit between the above classes in both directions. We also assumed that the phenomenon of gene duplication is always related to ecological adaptation and that a new copy of a duplicated gene is not essential. According to this model, all proteins gain new interactions with a rate that preferentially increases with the number of interactions (the rich get richer). Proteins can also gain interactions because of duplication. Proteins lose their interactions both with and without the loss of partner genes. RESULTS: The proposed model reproduces the main properties of protein-protein interaction networks very well. The connectivity of the oldest part of the interaction network is densest, and the node degree distribution follows the sum of two shifted power-law functions, which is a theoretical generalization of the previous finding. The above distribution covers the wide range of values of node degrees very well, much better than a power law or generalized power law supplemented with an exponential cut-off. The presented model also relates the total number of interactome links to the total number of interacting proteins. The theoretical results were for the interactomes of A. thaliana, B. taurus, C. elegans, D. melanogaster, E. coli, H. pylori, H. sapiens, M. musculus, R. norvegicus and S. cerevisiae. CONCLUSIONS: Using these approaches, the kinetic parameters could be estimated. Finally, the model revealed the evolutionary kinetics of proteome formation, the phenomenon of protein differentiation and the process of gaining new interactions.

Penile cancer brachytherapy HDR mould technique used at the Holycross Cancer Center.

The aim of this pictorial essay is to present the mould based HDR brachytherapy technique used at the Holycross Cancer Center for penile cancer patients. We use images to describe this method step by step.

Mechanosensitivity of cell membrane may govern creep-strain recovery, osmotic expansion and lysis.

A simple theoretical model considering cell membrane mechanosensitivity can accurately describe published experimental data on membrane area creeping and recovery, and on osmotic expansion and rupture. The model to data fit reveals real values of membrane tension and elasticity modulus, and the parameters describing membrane organization and kinetics of mechanosensitive membrane traffic, including small solute transport, water permeability, endocytosis, exocytosis, and caveolae formation. This estimation allows for separation and quantitative analysis of the participation of different processes constituting the response of plasmalemma to short time-scale membrane load. The predicted properties of the model were verified for membrane stretching at different osmotic pressures. Finally, a simple hypothesis concerning stressed cell membrane breakdown is postulated.

Impact of injury on changes in biomechanical loads in human lumbar spine.

Implementation of new spine stabilisation systems should be preceded by the analysis of the behaviour of healthy and damaged spine under laboratory conditions. Research was performed on two-part and three-part segments without damage and with disc damage in the two-part segment, and with a wedge cut in the vertebra in the three-part segment. In the two-part segment, a relative power necessary for inducing extension-compression in the damaged segment is twice as high as in the damaged three-part segment. In the damaged two-part segment, the motion in the sagittal plane needs a relative power being more than twice as high as in the damaged three-part segment. Yet absolute average values of powers examined in the two-part and three-part segment systems in the undamaged spine for all types of motion were similar, with slight advantage of the two-part segment system. Basic two-part segment of the spine motion system is its most stable functional part.

Theoretical model of thalassemic erythrocyte shape transformation.

Our earlier model of reticulocyte shape transformation [Pawlowski, P.H., Burzynska, B., Zielenkiewicz, P., 2006. Theoretical model of reticulocyte to erythrocyte shape transformation. J. Theor. Biol. 243, 24-38] was applied to explain the morphological properties of thalassemic erythrocytes. Modification of the standard set of parameters of the model, describing minimal cell volume, membrane bending rigidity, and membrane tension, allowed for simulation of development of alpha- and beta-thalassemic cells from splenectomized and nonsplenectomized individuals. This resulted in observation of thin rim discocytes, tailed erythrocytes and oval forms, as well as in differentiation of time of the cell shape metamorphosis. A comparative analysis of the susceptibility of thalassemic and normal erythrocytes to undergo deformation as well of their stability was performed.