Factors affecting self-esteem and disease acceptance in patients from infertile couples.

Introduction: Infertility has been diagnosed in millions of people around the world and is described as a complex medical, mental, and social problem that affects many aspects of life. The aim of the study was to extract the determining factors and the level of self-esteem and the degree of acceptance of the disease in infertile patients and to find differences between women and men in this aspect. Methods: A total 456 patients (235 women and 221 men) from infertile couples participated in a cross-sectional study. To collect data a Personal Information Form (PIF), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) were used. Results: The overall self-esteem score for the whole sample was 30.50 (15 ± 30) points and for acceptance of the disease 32.4 (8 ± 40) points. In the study group, men obtained a slightly higher level of self-esteem than women (31.00 vs. 30.04 points). Additionally, men had a higher level of acceptance of the disease (33.12 vs. 31.80) than women. Socio-demographic factors such as age and level of education had impact on scores SES and AIS. Clinical factors did not determine the results of SES and AIS, both in the overall sample and in the female and male groups. Conclusion: Self-esteem in patients from infertile couples increases with age and level of education. There are also significant differences between women and men, i.e., positive correlations between the level of education and self-esteem in men and the degree of acceptance of the disease in women.

Risk Factors for the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in Poland: A Large-Scale, Population-Based Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadly malignant neoplasms. Currently, it is one of the main causes of cancer deaths worldwide. The study aimed to identify and evaluate patient characteristics, demographic and lifestyle factors that are associated with lung cancer at diagnosis. METHODS: The study included 400 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and 400 within the control group. The research was based on a clinical, direct, individual, structured, in-depth and focused interview. Assessment of activity and BMI was used according to WHO recommendations, as well as the expert system. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 74.53 ± 7.86 years, while in the control group 59.5 (7.93). There was a strong positive relationship between the incidence of tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the risk of lung cancer (p <0.001). The risk of lung cancer was significant in the case of smoking 20 or more than 20 cigarettes a day and smoking for more than 20 years (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Active and passive smoking, are a leading risk factor for lung cancer, which shows that understanding of the long-term and fatal effects of smoking is still very low in society.  No significant correlation has been found between lifestyle and risk of lung cancer. However, there was a strong positive correlation between tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the risk of lung cancer. Occupation is a predisposing factor for lung cancer occurrence.

Health Related Behaviors and Life Satisfaction in Patients Undergoing Infertility Treatment.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of life satisfaction and health behaviors presented by patients with diagnosed infertility. This cross-sectional study included 456 patients (235 women and 221 men) from infertile couples in southeastern Poland from June 2019 to February 2020. Participants completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, the Health Behaviors Inventory (HBI), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The average score of severity of health behaviors for the study group was 82.96 points. Satisfaction with life at a higher level was declared by 57.6% of respondents, at an average level was declared by 31.4%, and at a lower level was declared by 11%. The SWLS score for the entire study group was 24.11 points (6.82 points on the sten scale). Respondents who achieved a higher rate of life satisfaction also had a higher level of severity of health behaviors (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between male and female SWLS scores, although the women had significantly higher rates of severity of health behaviors than men. The level of health behavior is positively related to life satisfaction in infertile patients. Medical personnel should conduct health education on a healthy lifestyle that promotes the improvement of reproductive health.

Status of Oxidative Stress during Low-Risk Labour: Preliminary Data.

Pregnancy and childbirth are associated with the forming of reactive oxygen species that generate oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a factor that may adversely affect the development of the fetus and the course of labour. Monitoring the parameters of oxidative stress can be used to assess the risk of health issues in the course of pregnancy and the condition of the newborn. Therefore, the analysis of oxidative stress in the physiological course of labour is the basis for understanding the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of miscarriages and neonatal health circumstances. The study aimed to assess oxidative stress of mother-child pairs in the venous blood and umbilical cord blood at the time of physiological labour. One hundred and sixty-eight mother-child pairs were recruited to donate the mother's venous blood in the first stage of labour and the venous umbilical cord blood after the newborn's birth. Total antioxidant status (TAS), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) with cofactors (Zn, Cu, Mn) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were analysed in venous blood plasma and umbilical cord blood. TAS value (p = 0.034), GPx activity (p < 0.001) and Zn concentration (p = 0.007) were significantly lower in maternal blood plasma as compared to neonatal umbilical cord blood. However, the activity of SOD (p = 0.013) and the concentration of Cu (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the blood of mothers than of new-borns. The concentration of Mn in the plasma of the mother's blood and the umbilical cord blood of the newborns was similar. Our research indicates higher levels of antioxidant enzyme (GPx) and total antioxidant potential (TAS) in umbilical cord blood compared to maternal blood, which may suggest depletion of redox reserves in women's blood during labour.

Problems, Stressors and Needs of Children and Adolescents with Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer diseases in children and adolescents are considered to be one of the most serious health problems in the world. It is estimated that about 151,435 cases are diagnosed in children annually. Children with cancer experience many comorbid symptoms related to diagnosis and treatment that can profoundly affect their lives. They experience physical and emotional suffering, which affects their well-being and physical fitness, influencing the prognosis and deteriorating their physical, mental and social functioning. Given the limited data, an attempt was made to assess the problems of the biopsychosocial sphere of need and stressors among children and adolescents treated for cancer. Accurate symptom assessment is essential to ensure high-quality care and effective treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The qualitative study was conducted in pediatric oncology of hospitals in Poland. Children diagnosed with cancer were invited to participate in the study to assess their problems, stressors and needs. RESULTS: The study included 520 people, where female sex constituted 48% and male 52%. The mean age of the children is 13.2 SD = 2.5. Negative experiences related to the disease are experienced by 82% of children. Among the surveyed children, the most experienced were anxiety (61%). The conducted research shows that as many as 69% of all respondents experienced states that indicate severe depression. The most common somatic problems reported by children were pain (58%). The most dominant areas of life that had a negative impact was body image (85%). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents diagnosed with neoplastic disease experience many problems and stressors in every sphere of life, which undoubtedly affects a high level of unmet needs. The main category of needs concerning the challenges faced by children with cancer was psychological and care problems. In the youth group, the needs were mainly related to education and social support.

Perception of Stress and Styles of Coping with It in Parents Giving Kangaroo Mother Care to Their Children during Hospitalization in NICU.

The experience of hospitalization of a newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) may become distressing both for the baby and parent. The study aimed to assess the degree of parental stress and coping strategies in parents giving KMC to their babies hospitalized in NICU compared to the control group parents not giving KMC. The prospective observational study enrolled a cohort of 337 parents of premature babies hospitalized in NICU in 2016 in Eastern Poland. The Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations were used. The level of stress in parents giving KMC was defined as low or moderate. Analysis confirmed its greater presence in the group of parents initiating KMC late (2-3 weeks) compared to those starting this initiative in week 1 of a child's life. An additional predictor of a higher level of stress in parents initiating KMC "late" was the hospital environment of a premature baby. Task oriented coping was the most common coping strategy in the study group. KMC and direct skin-to-skin contact of the parent with the baby was associated with a higher level of parental stress only initially and decreased with time and KMC frequency.

Evaluation of the association between angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and the risk of endometrial cancer in and characteristics of Polish women.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm of the female reproductive organs. A dysfunctional endometrial renin-angiotensin system (RAS) might contribute to the growth and spread of endometrial cancer. The RAS-related gene polymorphisms, including the polymorphism of insertion/deletion (I/D) in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene, influence RAS activity. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we examined the association between the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and endometrial cancer risk in Polish women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Genotype analysis of the ACE I/D polymorphism was carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on 142 endometrial cancer type 1 patients and 68 cancer-free subjects. The results of the analyses were correlated with clinical data. RESULTS: The frequency of DD, DI and II ACE genotypes did not vary significantly between the experimental group and the control group (40 (28%), 61 (43%) and 41 (29%) vs 18 (26%), 31 (46%), and 19 (28%), respectively; p = 0.935). In addition, the incidence of the DD, DI and II polymorphisms in the ACE gene did not vary significantly between the experimental subgroups when stratified by cancer grade - G1, G2 and G3 endometrioid carcinoma - and the control group. Furthermore, the ACE polymorphism was not significantly associated with hypertension, diabetes or lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The ACE I/D gene polymorphism was not associated with endometrial cancer risk or the clinicopathological features in Polish women.

Diagnosis, classification and management of ankyloglossia including its influence on breastfeeding.

Ankyloglossia is defined as a congenital malformation that alters lingual mobility and function. It is listed as one of the possible reasons behind problems with breastfeeding. Due to current WHO recommendations that encourage mothers to breastfeed exclusively up to 6 months of age, quick recognition of any obstacles in the suction mechanism and determining the possible reasons for problems should be a priority. A review of the literature was conducted concerning the diagnosis of ankyloglossia, possible methods of treatment and their efficacy in improving breastfeeding quality. The authors of the research cited claim that any surgical intervention should be performed only in cases of symptomatic ankyloglossia interfering with sucking mechanisms. The most frequent surgical procedure performed in newborns with symptomatic ankyloglossia is frenulotomy. It is a simple procedure with a low risk of complications. The literature gives a great number of studies confirming both the short and long-term efficacy of tongue-tie release in improving breastfeeding quality, with emphasis on decreasing mothers' discomfort, nipple pain and trauma.

Multiple, supernumerary retained teeth in the course of cleido-cranial dysplasia. A case report.

Cleido-cranial dysplasia, often referred to as Scheuthauer-Marie-Sainton syndrome, is an autosomal dominant disorder of the musculo-skeletal system. Patients with cleido-cranial dysplasia are characterized by short stature, frequent varus or valgus hip, kyphoscoliosis, underdevelopment of the scapulas and the sternum, incorrect number of ribs. The most characteristic feature is unilateral or bilateral, partial or total underdevelopment of clavicles. Mental development is not affected in this syndrome. Malocclusion, occlusal irregularities, multiple supernumerary teeth, impacted teeth, and persistent milk teeth are found in the stomatognathic system. Teeth often have abnormal anatomy. Gothic palate, cleft hard and soft palate are diagnosed. The aim of this paper is to present a case of a 12-year-old boy diagnosed with irregularities in the masticatory system involving an additional number of retained teeth. The boy was referred by an orthodontist for surgical and orthodontic team therapy. The case presented confirms the observations of other authors that only the multi-specialty collaboration of a pediatrician, a geneticist, an orthopedist, an orthodontist, a maxillofacial surgeon, an implant prosthetic surgeon and a physiotherapist can provide proper diagnosis and treatment.

Prophylaxis of breast cancer among women over 35.

In recent years, the increase in incidence of malignant tumours of breast has been observed in Poland. Every year approximately 10 thousands of new cases of breast cancer are registered. 19 per cent of all women afflicted with malignant neoplasms suffer from breast cancer. According to considerable experience of the western countries, prophylaxis combined with screening examinations is the most effective and, also, the cheapest method of fighting against neoplasm. In the face of steadily growing danger, which affects more and more women, an attempt to assess the knowledge and behaviour towards prophylaxis of breast cancer among women over 35 was made. The researches, carried out between April and November 2002, were conducted with the use of our own questionnaire basing upon literature on the subject. The poll was intended for women aged between 35 and 60. The group of 300 women, who live in the south-east part of Poland, was surveyed. A detailed analysis of the data revealed that almost 50 per cent of women know the rules of preventive actions in the spheres of breast self-control and mammography. The level of knowledge of primary prophylaxis correlates with the level of education of women. The higher is education, the greater is knowledge about the risk factors of breast cancer. The highly educated women more often and more systematic take preventive actions leading to early detection of breast cancer. The women in the 35-45 age group more regularly and more often perform monthly breast self-control. Also the fact of the prevalence of breast cancer in the members of the polled women's families raises the discipline of performed examination.