Search Results (8)

Objectives: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a life-threatening cause of heart failure in late pregnancy or postpartum, often difficult to distinguish from other types of cardiomyopathies, such as influenza-induced inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM). This case report highlights the diagnostic challenges of differentiating PPCM from ICM and the management of this condition. Methods: A retrospective case analysis was conducted based on medical records from a tertiary centre in Warsaw, Poland, with a follow-up via phone consultations. A literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, incorporating relevant European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Results: A 34-year-old woman with a twin pregnancy at 36 + 5 weeks underwent a caesarean section and later experienced a syncopal episode. Elevated cardiac biomarkers and inflammatory markers suggested myocardial injury. Echocardiography showed reduced left ventricular function, raising concerns for PPCM or ICM. Cardiac magnetic resonance revealed left ventricular dysfunction without myocardial inflammation, supporting a PPCM diagnosis. Despite LVEF recovery to 65%, a Holter ECG at seven months postpartum showed persistent arrhythmias, necessitating referral for ablation. Conclusions: This case emphasizes the need for a thorough diagnostic approach to differentiate PPCM from conditions like ICM. Long-term monitoring, pre-conception counselling, and preventive strategies, such as influenza vaccination, are crucial for managing PPCM and preventing future complications. Full article

Background: Dyspnea commonly stems from combined myocardial and pulmonary dysfunction, posing challenges for accurate pre-hospital diagnosis. Limited diagnostic capabilities hinder the differentiation of cardiac and pulmonary issues. This study assesses the efficacy of combined cardiac and pulmonary ultrasound using the BLUE, eFAST, and FATE protocols. Methods: Participants were consecutively enrolled from dyspnea-related emergency calls in Warsaw, Poland, from 4 April 2022, to 15 June 2023. Patients with pleural effusion were identified through pre-hospital and in-hospital radiological assessments. Pre-hospital thoracic ultrasonography followed the BLUE, eFAST, and FATE protocols, alongside comprehensive clinical assessments. The pre-hospital diagnoses were juxtaposed with the with hospital discharge diagnoses. Results: Sixteen patients (8 men, 8 women; median age: 76 years) were enrolled. Inter-rater agreement for the BLUE protocol was substantial (κ = 0.78), as was agreement for eFAST (κ = 0.75), with almost perfect agreement for combined protocol assessment (κ = 0.83). Left ventricle hypokinesis, identified via the FATE protocol, significantly correlated with hospital-diagnosed decompensated heart failure as the primary cause of dyspnea. Sensitivity and specificity were 1.0 (95%CI: 0.62–1.0) and 0.6 (95%CI: 0.15–0.95), respectively. Positive predictive value was 0.85 (95%CI: 0.55–0.98), and diagnostic accuracy was 0.86 (95%CI: 0.62–0.98). Conclusions: Integrating the FATE protocol into BLUE and eFAST enhances pre-hospital differential diagnosis accuracy of pleural effusion in adults. This synergistic approach streamlines diagnostic processes and facilitates informed clinical decision-making. Larger-scale validation studies are needed for broader applicability. Full article

The aim of this study was to check the effects of sugar type on the in vitro shoot multiplication of the tulip cultivar ‘Heart of Warsaw’ and the effects of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) on the bulbing of previously multiplied shoots. In addition, the subsequent effects of previously used sugars on the in vitro bulb formation of this cultivar were checked. First, the optimum supplementation of Murashige and Skoog medium with plant growth regulators (PGRs) was selected for shoot multiplication. Of the six tested, the best results were obtained using a combination of 2iP 0.1 mg·L⁻¹, NAA 0.1 mg·L⁻¹, and mT 5.0 mg·L⁻¹. The effects of different carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose, and fructose at 30 g·L⁻¹ and a mixture of glucose and fructose at 15 g·L⁻¹ each) on multiplication efficiency was then tested on this medium. The microbulb-forming experiment was carried out taking into consideration the effects of previously applied sugars, and at week 6, the agar medium was flooded with liquid medium containing NAA 2 mg·L⁻¹, PBZ 1 mg·L⁻¹, or medium without PGRs; in the first combination, the cultures were left on a single-phase medium, solidified with agar, as a control. After 2 months of treatment at 5 °C, the total number of microbulbs formed and the number and weights of mature microbulbs were assessed. The results obtained indicate the ability of using meta-topolin (mT) in tulip micropropagation and point to sucrose and glucose as the optimal carbohydrates for intensive shoot multiplication. The results lead to the conclusion that it is most advantageous to multiply tulip shoots on glucose medium and then to carry out cultures on a two-phase medium with PBZ, which results in a higher number of microbulbs and their faster maturation. Full article

Mercury is a toxic element widely distributed in the natural environment, affecting animals’ health. It is released into the environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The present study analyzed the mercury concentrations in liver, kidney, heart and muscle tissue in two species of birds from the Warsaw area, which were used as bioindicators of local environmental pollution with this metal. The mercury content in the examined samples was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) utilizing automatic mercury analyzer type AMA 254. The highest mercury content was found in the body of Eurasian magpies, in which it was 0.025; 0.021; 0.006; 0.0037 and 0.029 mg kg⁻¹ of tissue wet weight for kidney, liver, heart, thigh muscles and pectoral muscles, respectively. In the case of common woodpigeons, the content of this metal was significantly lower, amounting to 0.007; 0.005; 0.002; 0.001 and 0.001 mg∙kg⁻¹ wet weight for kidney, liver, heart, thigh muscles and pectoral muscles, respectively. In light of data from the available literature, the values obtained should be considered low, not causing a risk to animal health. The results obtained indicate low environmental exposure to this element. Full article

The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic has affected all aspects of social life and brought massive changes to the healthcare sector. The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting the mortality of COVID-19 patients at a temporary hospital in Warsaw (Poland). The present study was conducted based on a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients hospitalised at the temporary hospital located at the National Stadium in Warsaw between 1 March 2020 and 30 April 2021. The study included all cases of patients who were brought directly or transferred to the National Hospital from other hospitals for further treatment. With regard to comorbidities, the analysis found that five comorbidities—namely, diabetes (OR = 1.750, 95% CI: 1.009–2.444, p < 0.05), stroke history (OR = 2.408, 95% CI: 1.208–4.801, p < 0.05), renal failure (OR = 2.141, 95% CI: 1.052–4.356, p < 0.05), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 2.044, 95% CI: 1.133–3.690, p < 0.05) and heart failure (OR = 1.930, 95% CI: 1.154–3.227, p < 0.05)—had a significant impact on the survival of COVID-19 patients. The analysis identified 14 factors that had a significant impact on the prognosis and mortality of the COVID-19 patients studied. Full article

DDX11/ChlR1 is a super-family two iron–sulfur cluster containing DNA helicase with roles in DNA replication and sister chromatid cohesion establishment, and general chromosome architecture. Bi-allelic mutations of the DDX11 gene cause a rare hereditary disease, named Warsaw breakage syndrome, characterized by a complex spectrum of clinical manifestations (pre- and post-natal growth defects, microcephaly, intellectual disability, heart anomalies and sister chromatid cohesion loss at cellular level) in accordance with the multifaceted, not yet fully understood, physiological functions of this DNA helicase. In the last few years, a possible role of DDX11 in the onset and progression of many cancers is emerging. Herein we summarize the results of recent studies, carried out either in tumoral cell lines or in xenograft cancer mouse models, suggesting that DDX11 may have an oncogenic role. The potential of DDX11 DNA helicase as a pharmacological target for novel anti-cancer therapeutic interventions, as inferred from these latest developments, is also discussed. Full article

Background and Objectives: Physical activity, recreation and walks successfully counteract negative symptoms of stress in people, especially in large cities, and have many positive psychological and physiological effects. There are many studies showing that contact with nature plays an important role in the regeneration of the human body. The city is not without green enclaves such as forests, parks or greenery along the streets. However, it is not entirely clear how the different physical characteristics of the urban space affect mood improvement, increase of positive feelings, vitality level, etc. Materials and Methods: In the study, two urban environments (apartment and green suburbs) were used, as well as two forests (coniferous and deciduous) to measure the impact of these environments on human physiological and psychological relaxation during a walk in a randomized experiment. The participants of the experiment were 75 young adult Poles studying in the largest Polish agglomeration, Warsaw. Before each experiment, the physiological and psychological state of the participant was measured indoors (pre-test). Four psychological questionnaires were used in the project (Profile of Mood States; Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; Restorative Outcome Scale; Subjective Vitality Scale), and physiological measurements (heart rate, blood pressure) before and after the short walking program were evaluated. Results: As a result of the analyses, it was shown that both staying in an urban environment with greenery and staying in a forest environment have a positive effect on the physiological and psychological relaxation of the subjects. A short walk in the suburbs was no less attractive than a walk in the forest in fall. The above indicates that various places with urban vegetation can be successfully used for recreation, just as in a forest where forest bathing is practiced. This indicates that different places with urban greenery can be successfully used for recreation, as can the forests where forest bathing is carried out. Full article

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Patients with COPD often suffer from various co-morbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cachexia and anaemia, which are a consequence of systemic inflammation. The co-morbidities of COPD are believed to be associated with a more severe course of the underlying disease and with a poorer prognosis. It is being disputed whether extrapulmonary co-morbidities or respiratory complications are the main cause of mortality in patients with COPD. The aim of the study was to analyse the causes of death and co-morbidities in COPD patients who had died during hospitalisation at the Department of Internal Medicine, Pneumonology and Allergy, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland, between 2004 and 2008. Material and methods: We analysed 266 consecutive medical records of COPD patients who had died during hospitalisation. They included 179 men (67%) and 87 women (33%). The mean age at death was 73 ± 8 years (women: 74 ± 9 years). Results: The causes of death in the analysed group of patients included: acute exacerbation of COPD (n = 81 [81%]; 49 men and 32 women), pneumonia (n = 67 [25%]; 50 men and 17 women), lung cancer (n = 50 [19%]; 32 men and 18 women), ischaemic heart disease (n = 20 [7%]; 15 men and 5 women), heart failure (n = 14 [5%]; 8 men and 6 women) and other causes (n = 34 [14%]). Most of the deaths from lung cancer were observed among younger patients (p = 0.002), while most of the deaths from pneumonia among older patients (p = 0.02). The most common co-morbidities in the study population included: chronic heart failure (n = 169), hypertension (n = 103), ischaemic heart disease (n = 102), type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 55), renal failure (n = 43), benign prostatic hyperplasia (n = 36), lower limb atherosclerosis (n = 28), osteoporosis (n = 19) and anaemia (n = 14). Conclusions: Respiratory tract pathologies, such as acute exacerbation of COPD, pneumonia and lung cancer, were the most common causes of death in the study population, while cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus were the most common co-morbidities seen in these patients. Full article