A Rare Case of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Pregnancy: Successful Treatment Strategies.

BACKGROUND Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy is rare, but is associated with a high mortality rate, particularly during labor and delivery. This article concerns a 23-year-old woman with a history of insulin-treated gestational diabetes and hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine presenting at 32 weeks of pregnancy with acute chest pain and coronary artery occlusion requiring angioplasty followed by cesarean delivery. The aim of this report is to outline the diagnostic difficulties of acute coronary syndromes during pregnancy and to present their treatment. CASE REPORT A 23-year-old female patient at 32 weeks' gestation treated for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism was admitted to the hospital due to acute chest pain. The ECG showed ST-segment elevation in leads I, aVL, and V4-V6 and elevated troponin T. Based on this, the patient was diagnosed with myocardial infarction and given low-molecular heparin, followed by primary coronary angioplasty with revascularization. After the procedure, she received dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel. The pregnancy was terminated at 38 weeks by cesarean section, delivering a healthy baby. CONCLUSIONS This report shows the importance of rapid and accurate diagnosis and management of acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy, and delivery by cesarean section, to ensure survival of the mother and the child.

[Assessment of the effectiveness and predictive value of lung ultrasound in the COVID-19 diagnostic process and its correlation with computed tomography]. / Ocena skutecznosci oraz wartosci predykcyjnej ultrasonografii pluc w procesie diagnostycznym COVID-19 oraz korelacji tego badania z tomografia komputerowa.

The spreading pandemic, successive waves and increasingly inefficient hospital care system contributed to the analysis and inclusion of lung ultrasonography (LUS) in the COVID-19 diagnostic process, which is faster, cheaper, more available and safer method for patients. It is also the method of choice for pregnant women and children. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of lung ultrasound in the diagnostic process, its predictive value and its comparison with computed tomography (CT) of the chest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review was conducted with keyword in the title and abstracts in the Pubmed National Library of Medicine database. RESULTS: Twenty papers were reviewed which showed a high consistency in CT and ultrasound image evaluation, particularly in the inferolateral and posterior lung areas. The association between LUS and CT images with disease severity has also been demonstrated, which translates into the predictive value of these studies related to hospitalization, use of invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, and mortality in COVID-19 patients. An association between the stage of disease severity assessed by LUS and elevated levels of inflammatory markers were revealed. In addition, lung ultrasound showed high sensitivity in the early stages of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound performed by appropriately trained staff is a good diagnostic and prognostic tool in the Hospital Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit. Nevertheless, due to the subjectivity and technical limitations of this study, this method needs further research.

Hemoglobin Levels and Platelet Counts after Hysteroscopy Due to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a condition defined as all uterine bleeding that differs from physiological menstruation. The etiology of AUB has been classified by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). It includes structural categories, such as endometrial polyps, adenomyosis, leiomyomas, hyperplasia, and malignant neoplasms, and non-structural categories, i.e., hemorrhages due to congenital and acquired coagulopathies, ovarian dysfunction, disorders of the local endometrial hemostasis mechanism with normal organ structure, iatrogenic causes, and due to other poorly defined causes. This is a retrospective study based on the medical data of a group of 543 women aged 21−88 years (52.81 ± 11.79) (p < 0.01) hospitalized at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department in Biala Podlaska, Poland. These patients underwent an hysteroscopy procedure due to excessive uterine bleeding of varied, FIGO-divided etiology. The results show the dependence of postoperative hemoglobin and platelet count on the etiology of bleeding and the age of the women. The majority of patients had normal hemoglobin and platelet counts after the procedure, while moderate anemia was the most common disorder. It occurred most frequently in patients undergoing hysteroscopy due to heavy menstrual bleeding.

The Chaotic Behavior of the Spread of Infection During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States and Globally.

In December 2019, China announced the breakout of a new virus identified as coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), which soon grew exponentially and resulted in a global pandemic. Despite strict actions to mitigate the spread of the virus in various countries, COVID-19 resulted in a significant loss of human life in 2020 and early 2021. To better understand the dynamics of the spread of COVID-19, evidence of its chaotic behavior in the US and globally was evaluated. A 0-1 test was used to analyze the time-series data of confirmed daily COVID-19 cases from 1/22/2020 to 12/13/2020. The results show that the behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic was chaotic in 55% of the investigated countries. Although the time-series data for the entire US was not chaotic, 39% of individual states displayed chaotic infection spread behavior based on the reported daily cases. Overall, there is evidence of chaotic behavior of the spread of COVID-19 infection worldwide, which adds to the difficulty in controlling and preventing the current pandemic.

Distribution and neurochemical characteristic of the cardiac nerve structures in the heart of chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger Molina).

INTRODUCTION: The heart innervation is made up of plexo-ganglionic formation containing sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory components. We examined the distribution and neurochemical coding of the ganglia and nerve fibers in the chinchilla's heart. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The heart sections of 10 male and 10 female adult chinchillas were processed in accordance with the thiocholine method for acetylcholine esterase (AChE), and the SPG method for detecting the presence of adrenergic fibers was applied. The routine technique of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with primary antibodies directed against ChAT, VAChT, DbH, TH, CART, NPY, VIP, GAL and SOM was used. The secondary antibodies were conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 and Alexa Fluor 555 fluorophores. RESULTS: The epicardium contained ganglia and nerve fibers, the myocardium had a few ganglion neurocytes and nerve fibers, and the endocardium contained only nerve fibers. In the epicardium, AChE-positive fibers were more prevalent than SPG-positive fibers. All the ganglion cells were immunopositive for ChAT and VAChT. Some cells also had a positive reaction to DbH and TH. Fibers containing cholinergic and adrenergic markers were numerous, while many of them were ChAT/DbH- and VAChT/TH-positive. CART/NPY and CART/VIP, as well as CART and GAL, were observed to be colocalized in ganglion neurocytes, as well as in individual cells. The nerve fibers were found to contain all the neurotransmitters we tested for, as well as the following co-occurrences: ChAT/DbH, VAChT/TH, CART/NPY, CART/VIP, CART/GAL, and CART/SOM. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of the neurochemical profile of the nerve structures in chinchilla's heart showed that, despite interspecies differences, the general pattern of the distribution of autonomic nervous system structures is similar to that of other mammals' species, including humans.

Pathogenic Factors Correlate With Antimicrobial Resistance Among Clinical Proteus mirabilis Strains.

Proteus mirabilis is the third most common etiological factor of urinary tract infection. It produces urease, which contributes to the formation of a crystalline biofilm, considered to be one of the most important virulence factors of P. mirabilis strains, along with their ability to swarm on a solid surface. The aim of this study was to analyze the pathogenic properties of two selected groups of clinical P. mirabilis isolates, antimicrobial susceptible and multidrug resistant (MDR), collected from hospitals in different regions in Poland. The strains were examined based on virulence gene profiles, urease and hemolysin production, biofilm formation, and swarming properties. Additionally, the strains were characterized based on the Dienes test and antibiotic susceptibility patterns. It turned out that the MDR strains exhibited kinship more often than the susceptible ones. The strains which were able to form a stronger biofilm had broader antimicrobial resistance profiles. It was also found that the strongest swarming motility correlated with susceptibility to most antibiotics. The correlations described in this work encourage further investigation of the mechanisms of pathogenicity of P. mirabilis.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Relationships between Work-Related Affective Feelings Expressed by Workers in Turkey.

Understanding employees' feelings at work plays a significant role in developing practical and effective organizational and human resource management policies and practices. Furthermore, work-related emotions may have a considerable effect on workers' health and wellbeing and affect work effectiveness and work performance. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the relationships among four work-related (WOR) affective feelings (WORAF) and to validate the WORAF questionnaire in a Turkish sample. A survey was performed including four constructs: (1) WOR feelings of happiness, (2) WOR feelings of anxiety, (3) WOR feelings of anger, and (4) WOR feelings of dejection. A total of 322 workers from various companies in Turkey completed a paper-based survey. A research model was developed, and its main components were estimated with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that dejection and anger at work play a critical role in experienced anxiety in occupational settings. Similarly, dejection, anger, and anxiety at work play a crucial role in perceived happiness at work.

Toxicity of parasites and their unconventional use in medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Over 300 species of parasites can possibly be passed on humans. Most of the parasitic infections are defined based on their pathogenicity; however, some positive effects of a parasite existence within the human body have recently been suggested. Beneficial outcomes of parasite infections might result from the production and release of metabolites, modification of host immune response or products uptake of the host. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was a comprehensive analysis of a wide range of effects of parasites on the human body, including an overview of the toxic and positive effects. STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: In the light of the latest research presenting the unconventional use of parasites in medicine, the widely understood of their impact on the human body can also be considered in a positive context. Clinical cases from diseases caused by the toxic effects of parasites, as described in recent years, indicate that the problem of parasitic infections still persists. Despite a great deal of knowledge about the toxic effects of parasites on the human organism and, above all, despite the improvement in sanitary conditions, there is a resurgence of parasitic infections, as evidenced, e.g. by the examples presented in this review. CONCLUSIONS: The examples of positive effects of parasites presented so far give hope for the future in terms of fighting many diseases for which pharmacological treatment has not yet brought a positive effect. A better understanding of those processes might lead to the development of new methods of unconventional medical treatment.

The role of selected environmental factors and the type of work performed on the development of urolithiasis - a review paper.

Urolithiasis is a disease of the genitourinary system, which is defined as the presence of urinary stones at any place in the urinary tract, resulting from the precipitation reaction of chemical compounds. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the important role of selected environmental factors (climate, ambient temperature) and the type of profession performed in the development of urolithiasis. In this field, the literature including original and review papers related to the epidemiology, pathogenesis and risk factors of urolithiasis was analyzed. The study used electronic databases such as Medline, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The prevalence of urolithiasis has increased in recent decades in both developed and developing countries. It is believed that this growing trend is associated with lifestyle changes such as the lack of physical activity, poor eating habits and global warming. Many factors are responsible for the formation of urinary stones. In literature, there is a division into individual and environmental factors. Today, external factors in the form of climate changes (global warming), geographical conditions and seasonal fluctuations, and the type of profession performed are becoming more and more important in the context of the occurrence of urinary stones. Currently, the presence of urolithiasis is becoming a significant problem all over the world and searching for causes is not easy, but particular attention should be paid to certain predispositions resulting from environmental factors, such as ambient temperature and the type of work performed. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(6):761-75.

Double Posterior Descending Artery Arising from a Right Coronary Artery.

This paper presents two cases of human hearts (a 75-year-old woman and an 88-year-old man) with double posterior descending arteries (PDA) of various sizes originating from the right coronary artery, mainly supplying the interventricular septum as well as the posterior walls of both heart ventricles in a different scope. In the analysis of the arterial vasculature, a range of aspects were considered, such as the point of exit of the right coronary artery, the course of the vessel, the range of the blood supply of the interventricular septum and both ventricles, as well as selected morphometric parameters that were simultaneously compared with one another. These atypical changes presented based on the example of the analyzed cases will certainly constitute a valuable source of information for cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists in planning operations.