Problem In Poland Research Articles

Burkholderia gladioli associated with soft rot of onion bulbs in Poland.

Bacterial diseases of onion (Allium cepa L.) are serious problems in Poland. In this study bacterial strains were isolated from onion bulbs with soft-rot symptoms. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on onion bulbs and also on tobacco leaves on whose basis twelve isolates were chosen to further characterization. These isolates were identified using physiological and biochemical tests, and confirmed by species-specific PCR, ERIC-PCR and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, gyrB, lepA, phaC, recA gene fragments. All examined isolates were identified as Burkholderia gladioli. It is the first report of the occurrence of B. gladioli on onion as the cause of onion disease in Poland.

Atopic dermatitis is a serious health problem in Poland. Epidemiology studies based on the ECAP study.

IntroductionGlobal epidemiological studies have revealed considerable geographical differences in prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD).AimTo present the epidemiology of AD, risk factors and co-occurrence of allergic diseases in the Polish population.Material and methodsThe present paper is a part of the Epidemiology of Allergic Disorders in Poland study. We studied 22 703 participants by ECRHS/ISAAC questionnaire; 18 617 (53.8% female, 24.2% 6–7 y.o., 25.4% 13–14 y.o., 50.4% 20–44 y.o.) completed questionnaires were accepted. Four thousand seven hundred and eighty-three participants (25.7%) have undergone a medical examination.ResultsAtopic dermatitis was diagnosed in 3.91% (6–7 y.o. 5.34%, 13–14 y.o. 4.3%, adults 3.02%), more often in females (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 0.56–0.77), in the cities (OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.61–3.09), in mothers (OR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.72–2.48) and fathers (OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.61–2.49) with atopy, higher education (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.11–2.32) and economic status (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.04–1.74). The highest prevalence was found in Katowice (4.89%) and lowest in rural areas (1.9%). Coexisting AD and allergic rhinitis (AR) was found in 26.17%, AR and asthma in 9.09% and AD, AR and asthma in 14.6%. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed by allergologists in 6.5% (6–7 y.o. 8.7%, 13–14 y.o. 9.0%, adults 3.6%). Most diagnoses were made in Poznan (16.76%) and smallest in rural area (3.67%). 78.8% of subjects were diagnosed with AD for the first time although they had earlier experienced its symptoms.ConclusionsAtopic dermatitis prevalence in Poland is below the mean rate for Europe, but the risk factor profile is similar to other countries. Atopic dermatitis is more frequent in well-educated females with atopic parents and high socioeconomic status and who live in a city.

Assessment of Pedestrian Risk at Crossings with Kinematic-Probabilistic Model

One of the primary road safety problems in Poland is accidents involving pedestrians. Accident statistics indicate a significant 26.5% share of pedestrians in accidents and their consequences; that is, the number of injured and killed pedestrians exceeds one-third of all accident fatalities. Many factors affect accidents involving pedestrians, such as those related to road characteristics, speed, and traffic volume. The authors used surrogate measures of road safety risk assessment that included speed change on the approach to a crossing. This assessment was carried out by applying a model taking into account fatality risk as a function of impact speed for pedestrians struck by the front of a passenger car and the initial vehicle speed. Initial speed was analyzed in relation to vehicle speeds recorded on the approach to various pedestrian crossings with different signs and locations. The presented model can support evaluation of road safety for various infrastructural measures at pedestrian crossings while taking into account a number of variables such as lighting and surface conditions as well as the distance at which pedestrians are noticed in the moment when braking begins. On the basis of research results, hazard levels caused by the sudden appearance of a pedestrian on the road, depending on the type of pedestrian crossing, were evaluated. Ratios of the probability of a road accident at compared types of pedestrian crossings were evaluated as well as the probability of fatalities caused by intrusion on the pedestrian crossing.

Terrestrial Laser Scanning 3D as a useful method for monitoring of urban areas endangered by landslides

Landslides are a serious problem in Poland in recent years. Starting from catastrophic landslide events in 1990s, systematically is increased risk of landslides hazard on urbanized areas. However, many of Polish landslides are slow-moving, so potential terrain instability is often difficult to observe or it is easy to neglect (Mrozek et al.). In the analysis of landslides (predicting, monitoring and alerting for early warning, monitoring for change detection, etc.) a variety of geomatic techniques can be used. One of the most innovative is Terrestrial Laser scanner 3D. Terrestrial Laser Scanning, usually adopted in industry, could be successfully applied for deformation monitoring of the landslide. This technique give a great contribution to the knowledge of both the surface shape and the kinematics of landslides by providing data which are used from geologists, geomorphologists and geotechnics for interpreting the phenomenon. Such a methodology offers the advantages typical of noncontact techniques, and moreover permits to collect in short time dense 3D point clouds over the surface of interest, to record a perspective image (intensity data and sometimes RGB data), it doesn’t requires necessarily deployment of reflectors, and it permits immediately and easily to take measurements between points (Bitelli et al. 2004). The acquired points clouds data have to be connected together in order to reconstruct the continuous surface of the landslide, so they are automatically aligned during the survey and merged by the software, which permits to create polygonal surfaces and to map the surface with textures using digital photos obtained during the scanning by a digital semi-metric camera placed over the laser instrument (Barbarella and Fiani 2012). The Terrestrial Laser Scanner allow us to survey in a very fast, efficient and precise way. It could be very useful because of their ability to describe in details the geometry of objects. In the analysis of the temporal evolution of landslides and of related hydrogeological hazards, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) seems to be a very suitable technique for morphological description and displacement analysis. Monitoring in general can be regarded as the regular observation and recording of activities taking place in a certain structure. It is a process of gathering information on all aspects of the object (Pilecka and Bazarnik 2015). Deformation monitoring and gathering measured values is a major component for further calculation of soil and rock stability, deformation analysis, prediction and alert.

Knowledge assessment of women living in the Wielkopolska region concerning risk factors for cervical cancer

IntroductionCervical cancer (CC) is a malignant tumor which for many years has been a serious epidemiological problem in Poland. This issue is important because CC is the second most common type of malignant tumor, after breast cancer, and the second most common cause of death among women. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and awareness of women living in the Wielkopolska region (Gniezno district) of risk factors for cervical cancer.Material and methodsThe study used the diagnostic poll method, based on a previously developed survey questionnaire. The study was carried out between March and April 2013. The study group consisted of 100 women, involving schoolgirls from the secondary school in Gniezno (Group I), workers (doctors, nurses and midwives) of two outpatient clinics in the Gniezno district (Group II) and patients of the same clinics (Group III).ResultsAccording to the respondents, the main cause of CC is human papillomavirus (Group II – 36%) and genetic predisposition (Group III – 35%). It is alarming that 26% of women did not know the risk factors for CC.ConclusionsIt is necessary to improve health education, especially concerning the main factors affecting the development of CC, in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates related to this cancer.

Evaluation of reactivity to Echinococcus spp. among rural inhabitants in Poland.

A group of 172 rural inhabitants from eastern Poland (68 males and 104 females, mean age 49.0 ± 12.0 years) was examined for the presence of antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis. A population of 38 healthy urban dwellers from the city of Lublin (17 males and 21 females, mean age 36.2 ± 9.6 years) were examined as a control group. Sera of 22 rural inhabitants (12.8%) reacted positively to Echinococcus granulosus hydatid fluid antigen in the screening test. A cross-reactivity was observed with two serum samples that tested positive in ELISA for E. granulosus. Three serum samples were tested positive for E. multilocularis using the Em2plus ELISA assay and also positive for Western blot. None of the members of control group showed the presence of a seropositive reaction to Echinococcus spp. The reactivity to Echinococcus spp. among rural inhabitants decreased with age and this correlation was statistically significant (R = -0.197151, p = 0.009535). The percentage of positive findings was the highest (50.0%) in the youngest age group (14-20). No significant correlations were found between responses to interview questions (possession of domestic and farm animals, contact with wild animals, eating unwashed berries, drinking unboiled water) and the presence of seropositive reactions to Echinococcus spp. The presented results seem to indicate that echinococcosis is still a current problem in Poland that should not be neglected and, moreover, indicates the need for improvement in the routine laboratory diagnostics of Echinococcus spp. by standardizing the ELISA and Western blot tests.

Ethics in fashion as a social problem: Ethical fashion in Poland

Abstract At the beginning of the twenty-first century the issues concerning natural environment protection began to be associated with the concepts of social responsibility and corporate social responsibility, and the idea of sustainability has become a criterion for operation assessment and a particular meta-narrative. For over two decades these issues have now been also associated with the garment industry. Although in other western countries, these subjects have long been recognized as important social problems worth seeking solutions to, in Poland discussions regarding ethical fashion are still obscure. The subject of interest in this article is the analysis of the presence of ethical fashion in Poland and the shape of public discourse regarding this topic. The first part defines the concept of ethical fashion. The second part is devoted to a presentation of the most important entities and practices associated with ethical fashion in Poland and the attempts to establish how important these issues are for contemporary Polish people. The third part presents the results of the study on ethical fashion and its role in Polish public discourse, especially in the manners of framing and interpreting in Polish opinion-forming media the problem of the garment factory catastrophe in Bangladesh. The principal aim of the presented analysis is the attempt to provide the answer to the following question: are the issues of ethics and fashion industry responsibility perceived as a significant problem in Poland?

Preventive program of early detection of chronic kidney disease. Action “Warning Kidney”- Bydgoszcz 2010.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant health problem in Poland and all over the world. It is estimated that in Poland CKD affects more than 4 million people (it is about 10-13% of the Polish population). Early detection of CKD is of great importance because of the possibility of an effective therapy to protect kidney function especially in patients with high risk of developing CKD. The aim of the study was to analyze the results of the program for early detection of kidney disease conducted in Bydgoszcz in 2010. 347 subjects took part in preventive action of early detection of kidney disease. They underwent free laboratory tests:urinalysis, serum creatinine level, eGFR calculation. Moreover, in each patient’s blood pressure was measured. Besides laboratory tests results, all patients were given comprehensive information concerning further nephrological management. 347 people were evaluated in this local Preventive Program of Early CKD detection. There were two fold more women than men. The largest group among the respondents were people aged between 50 and 70 years of age, in stage 2 (63.1%, GFR> 60 ml/min) and 3-stage kidney disease (31.4%, eGFR <60 ml /min).

Coal mining waste dumps as secondary deposits – examples from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin and the Lublin Coal Basin

Normal 0 21 false false false PL X-NONE X-NONE Polish coal mining industry generates approximately 30 million Mg of mining wastes per year, which represents the largest amount of industrial waste in Poland. This results in the disposal of a huge volume of wastes at waste dumps. The coal mining waste dumps are spread within the area of over 4,000 ha in more than 220 dumping sites, where over 760 million Mg of wastes from hard coal mining have been disposed.One of the most recent problems in Poland is the recovery of coal from mining waste. There is a possibility and necessity to recover coal from mining waste dumps, which should be linked with appropriate legal regulations. In this paper, distribution and dimensions of coal mining waste dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin and the Lublin Coal Basin are analyzed. Selected problems of negative environmental impacts of coal mining wastes – that may be reduced by the recovery of coal – are presented. Legal regulations referring to the mining waste management are analyzed. Some examples of a successful recovery of coal mining dumps as well as economic feasibility studies are given. The analysis of potential objects, which are the most valuable in terms of recovery processes, is presented. Coal mining waste dumps may be considered as important secondary deposits. Feasibility studies and past experiences in the coal recovery show a need for new recovery sites. Sustainable coal recovery is not only economically but also ecologically justified. The re-using and managing of reclaimed dumping sites for local communities is also of importance.

Combination therapy in the management of hypertension — current problem in Poland. Expert consensus statement of the Polish Society of Hypertension and Polish Cardiac Society Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy

1I Kliniczny Oddzial Kardiologii, Świetokrzyskie Centrum Kardiologii, Wydzial Nauk o Zdrowiu, Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego, Kielce 2I Katedra i Klinika Kardiologii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa 3I Klinika Kardiologii i Nadciśnienia Tetniczego, Collegium Medicum, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, Krakow 4Katedra i Klinika Chorob Wewnetrznych, Uniwersytet Medyczny, Lublin 5III Klinika Chorob Wewnetrznych i Kardiologii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa 6Katedra i Klinika Hipertensjologii, Angiologii i Chorob Wewnetrznych, Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Karola Marcinkowskiego, Poznan 7Klinika Hipertensjologii i Chorob Wewnetrznych, Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Szczecin 8Zaklad Nadciśnienia Tetniczego, Katedra Nadciśnienia Tetniczego i Diabetologii, Gdanski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Gdansk

Multi-criteria decision aid for the selection of open trenching technology for modernisation of municipal infrastructure systems

The paper deals with the possibility of application of multi-criteria decision aid methods to selecting best options for municipal infrastructure systems modernisation projects. The subjects of analysis are different open trenching sewage system construction technologies. The aim of the work was to build a mathematical model of the decision problem and apply an existing multi-criteria decision aid method to obtain an objective ranking of all decision options. The method has been applied to a real-life problem in Poland. The results obtained from the analysis demonstrate effectiveness of the adopted method. The presented method can be used by individual designers and managers to decide on selection of the most appropriate technology for modernisation of municipal infrastructure systems.

Campylobacteriosis – the epidemiological situation in Poland and other European countries

Food poisoning and infections are the most common disorders that now occur all over the world. One of the human epidemiologic factors of gastrointestinal tract disorders and diseases are Campylobacter spp. rods, among which Campylobacter coli and C. jejuni are the most significant. These bacteria are able to cause a contagious disease called the campylobacteriosis. Consumption, especially of poultry meat without an adequate heat treatment, became the greatest cause of an illness, and that was the reason why Campylobacter spp. were classified as a food-borne zoonotic pathogens. Nowadays, Campylobacter spp. and many other bacteria prove to be more and more resistant to antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. Drug resistance in this group of micro-organisms begins to emerge globally and due to this fact, the WHO described it as a serious problem. Most of the Campylobacter spp. strains are resistant to cephalothin and fluoroquinolones, but are sensitive to a nalidixic acid. Macrolides and tetracyclines are usually used with more complicated infection cases. However, the increasing C. coli and C. jejuni resistance to quinolones, tetracyclines and erythromycin, influences the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy. Disturbing is the fact that in the European Union over 10,000 cases of campylobacteriosis are reported – about 6 infections per 100,000 population, often with fatal end (in the period of 2006-2011, 266 people died). Because of signs of Campylobacter spp. infection, 1027 people in Poland were hospitalized between 2004-2011, and on the 15th December 2012 the campylobacteriosis incidence rate exceeded the threshold of 1.00 per 100,000 population. Epidemiologic data clearly indicate the significance of campylobacteriosis problem in Poland. The disease occupies higher and higher places in general classification of infectious diseases appearing in our country.

Management of familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia. Position paper of the Polish Lipid Expert Forum

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HFH) affects on average 1 in 500 individuals in European countries, and it is estimated that HeFH in Poland may affect more than 80,000 people. Cardiovascular mortality in individuals with FH between 20 and 39 years of age is 100 times higher than in the general population. HFH is a relatively common lipid disorder, but usually still remaining undiagnosed and untreated. A very high risk of cardiovascular diseases and a shortened lifespan in patients with this condition require early diagnosis and intensive treatment. The aim of the position paper was to present the importance and scale of this problem in Poland, which has not been raised enough so far, as well as the recommendations of diagnosis, treatment and prevention methods.

Management of familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia: Position Paper of the Polish Lipid Expert Forum

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HFH) affects on average 1 in 500 individuals in European countries, and it is estimated that HeFH in Poland may affect more than 80,000 people. Cardiovascular mortality in individuals with FH between 20 and 39 years of age is 100 times higher than in the general population. HFH is a relatively common lipid disorder, but usually still remaining undiagnosed and untreated. A very high risk of cardiovascular diseases and a shortened lifespan in patients with this condition require early diagnosis and intensive treatment. The aim of the position paper was to present the importance and scale of this problem in Poland, which has not been raised enough so far, as well as the recommendations of diagnosis, treatment and prevention methods.

Interferon gamma release assay for identification of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in HIV hospital staff – The association between occupational and non-occupational exposure

BackgroundTuberculosis remains an important healthcare problem in Poland. At the same time tuberculosis is the most common AIDS defining condition diagnosed in HIV-positive persons in Poland. Therefore, we have investigated the prevalence of latent TB infection among healthcare staff of HIV hospital. Material and methodsThe interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) was offered to all hospital staff. Participants filled in a self-report questionnaire on demographics, work position, time of employment, occupational and non-occupational contact with TB. In statistical analysis nonparametric tests were used for group comparison. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed including all variables with p<0.1 in univariable models. ResultsOverall 86 (20.9%) of 411 HCW participated in the study. Those with positive IGRA test (12.8%) were older, more likely to undergo TB treatment in the past or having a history of home TB contact. There was no statistical difference between the groups in duration of employment, occupational exposure or its frequency. Factors remaining statistically associated with positive IGRA test was age (OR 1.11, [95% CI: 1.00–1.22]) and home TB contact (OR 36.9, [95% CI: 1.97–688.8]), whereas duration of employment (OR 0.98, [95% CI: 0.89–1.09]) and active TB in the past (OR 0.99, [95% CI: 0.04–25.3]) revealed to be non-significant. ConclusionThe prevalence of latent TB infection among healthcare staff was slightly higher than the one reported in other high income countries. However the risk of acquiring tuberculosis among healthcare workers of HIV hospital was mainly linked to non-occupational exposures. IGRA screening may serve as an important tool in limiting tuberculosis transmission.

Ensuring safety of home-produced eggs to control salmonellosis in Poland: lessons from an outbreak in September 2011

Implementation of control measures in line with European Commission regulations has led to a decrease in salmonellosis in the European Union since 2004. However, control programmes do not address laying hens whose eggs are produced for personal consumption or local sale. This article reports an investigatxion of a salmonellosis outbreak linked to home-produced eggs following a family event held in a farm in September 2011 near Warsaw, Poland. In the outbreak, 34 people developed gastroenteritis symptoms. Results from a cohort study indicated a cake, prepared from raw home-produced eggs, as the vehicle of the outbreak. Laboratory analysis identified Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) in stool samples or rectal swabs from 18 of 24 people and in two egg samples. As no food items remained, we used phage typing to link the source of the outbreak with the isolated strains. Seven S. Enteritidis strains analysed (five from attendees and two from eggs) were phage type 21c. Our findings resulted in culling of the infected laying hens and symptomatic pigeons housed next to the hens. Salmonella poses as a public health problem in Poland: control measures should not forget home-produced eggs, as there is a risk of infection from their consumption.

Content of available Cu, Zn and Mn in soil amended with municipal sewage sludge

Municipal sewage sludge is an unavoidable byproduct of the contemporary live and business activities of people. Proper handling and utilization of sewage sludge continue to create serious problems in Poland although this waste product is a source of both organic carbon and macronutrients. The present study has been carried out in order to assess the influence of municipal sewage sludge on the content of available forms of Cu, Zn and Mn in soil. A microplot experiment set up according to the random sub-block method was conducted in 2005-2008. The experiment was established on anthropogenic, humic urban soil developed from loamy sand rich in phosphorus and magnesium, but poor in potassium, and alkaline in reaction. The design of the trials comprised 5 doses of municipal sewage sludge from the £yna Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant in Olsztyn: 0, 70, 140, 210 and 280 Mg ha –1 of fresh matter. The tests have demonstrated that a dose of sewage sludge had a significant effect on the content of available forms of Cu, Zn and Mn in soil. In alkaline soil, however, the observed increase in the content of available forms of Cu, Zn and Mn was not hazardous to the environment, but could improve the plant nutrition with these elements. It is highly probable that the availability of Cu may increase in the second and third year after the application of sewage sludge. The accumulation of soluble Zn in soil started to decrease in the second year, but did not become significantly limited until four years after sewage sludge application. Sewage sludge raised the amount of soluble manganese in soil during the first three years, but in the final year of the experiment the quantity of soluble Mn in soil did not undergo any significant fluctuations.

O-26 - Prevalence and clinical presentation of ADHD in first nationwide epidemiological survey in poland

Introduction ADHD is one of the most frequent developmental disorders in childhood. Adults also suffer from symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Prevalence estimates of ADHD in adult community samples (5%) are based on American and West-European studies. Most of research though is concentrated on early ADHD symptoms. There are no sufficient data on clinical manifestation and scale of this problem in Poland. Objectives To assess prevalence (life and 12-month), access to psychiatric care and other clinical and sociodemographic aspects of ADHD in adult population in Poland (both contemporary and retrospective). The first Polish nationwide survey, Epidemiology of Mental Disorders and Access to Care (EZOP, Poland)” was included in the WHO's WMH. Aims The aim of this paper is to present collected data on ADHD in community sample. Methods Composite International Diagnostic Interview (cidi capi v.3.1) was administered in random sample of Poles aged 18–65 (n = 10000). Data was collected from November 2010 to March 2011 by trained Millward Brown SMG/KRC interviewers. Results Response rate is 50.4%. Prevalence estimated on the basis of retrospective reports in Screening Section is 2.2% for attention-deficit symptoms (2.5% for men and 1.9% for women) and 2.8% for hyperactivity symptoms (respectively 3.2% and 2.8%). Further analysis are in progress and detailed results will be known till December 2011. Conclusions Presented study will allow to introduce data on relation between intensity of early ADHD symptoms and it's later clinical manifestation. The identification of demographic factors influencing the course of the disorder and patterns of treatment will be possible.

Problems of eurozone expansion to the East: Example of Poland

This article presents real and nominal convergence, which defines the conditions of expansion of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union; on the basis of an analysis of the financial and economic problems of Poland, the prospects of its accession to the eurozone are estimated.

P02-244 - Elder abuse in Poland

Poland is a country with a rate of demographic aging similar to other developed nations. The percentage of pesons 60 yrs and older is expected to rise dramatically to 20% by 2020.The complexity of elderly’s life situations in Poland increases the probability that they will be subject to neglect and abuse.It is difficult to estimate the extent of this problem in Poland.Polish gerontological literature has not defined abuse and neglect with regard to the elderly people. In this situation is difficult to estimate the extent of this problem in Poland. Individual studies only marginally suggest the existence of this phenomenon. According to this investigations, the following factors take part in elderly abuse:* the increased rate of aging of the ruled society (16,5%) compared to urban society(12,8%)- a result of intensive migration process* the influence of the residence on the creation, course on results of family conflicts* in cities neglect and abuse of the elderly are more frequently (a results of a shortage of flats, lack of specified social roles for old age, their dependency in terms of care and help, and alcohol abuse)difficult economic situation for retired peopleThe kind of elder abuse:1.psychological aggression occured more often than physical aggression2.emotional neglect3.economic neglect4.isolations from family5.neglecting the care of older people6.material abuseKnowledge about the problems of elder abuse in Poland as not satisfactory till now is currently under discussion and new concept of this phenomenon will be prepared.