Poland In Years Research Articles

Involvement and Trust in Poland and Bulgaria in Comparison with Other European Societies

A developmental analysis of the two waves: 2008 and 2016 ESS Indicators of social engagement (we mean here organisational engagement) are treated as a measure of the process of social modernisation (Herrmann, 1999, Matei, Apostu, 2012). It is assumed here that higher scores of indicators demonstrate the 'maturity of civil society, the quality of the functioning of democracy and the process of its evolution (Boulding, 2010). The concept of generalised trust and trust in political institutions have a somewhat similar status, and they are treated as indicators of collective capacity and a premise for conclusions about the effectiveness of the development processes (Putnam, 1993, Sonderskov, 2011). The proposed presentation will focus on the changes we were able to register over eight years in Poland and Bulgaria (2008 and 2018) to indicate the position of the societies of these post-communist countries in comparison to other European countries. The main hypotheses would be to verify the relationship between trust indicators and declared involvement in NGO sector organisations as well as basic sociodemographic variables in a temporal perspective. The quantitative analysis will be preceded by a form of qualitative description and interpretation of the existing state of knowledge. ESS data would be used for the analysis, and the basis for inference will be the indices of “generalised trust”, “trust in national political institutions”, and “involvement in NGO” using regression analysis.

Countering Disinformation Influences in the National Space of the Republic of Poland

The body of the article goes on to disclose the problem of the impact of digital technologies and media on democracy, its grounds and values. The author addresses the problem of the broad using of cutting-edge technology in Poland by those in power, serving their goals and posing a clear threat to democratic outcomes, in particular during the election campaigns. Furthermore, the author states that through advanced technological capacity and the use of highly targeted behavior modification techniques, different governmental institutions have been applying new and more-sophisticated forms of propaganda and disinformation enabling deepfakes, trolls, bots – artificial intelligence technology and other malicious software so that to refine and shape public opinion with an easy reach and power. In this context, the findings of the research, conducted in Poland and the EU, on the threats of hostile social manipulation and disinformation in the information space are significant, whereas the poll results testify to the Poles’ concerns about who is supposed to be in control of efficient debunking ‘fake news’ as well as their aspirations to be internet-literate in terms of deepfakes. The author concludes by arguing that well-informed societies are more resistant to being encroached and manipulated, and a quick and effective joint reply to potential threats requires strategic mass communication. The researcher emphasizes that recently in Poland Mass Communication have launched fact-checking services, in particular several Polish fact-checking projects set up designing websites that provide fact-checking. Regrettably, so far none of the Polish platforms has been involved in closer international cooperation in the framework of the European initiatives. Several landmark studies observed that Poland has also failed to create a common front in countering disinformation even during the elections. Each organization works according to its own vision of solving the problem. However, in recent years in Poland there has been a tendency of developing the government agencies’ capacity to strengthen their response to the threats of disinformation and manipulation: namely, the state key institutions for cyber security successfully implemented their cooperation and coordination initiatives.

Overall survival (OS) in patients after chemotherapy for cervical cancer in Poland in years 2008-2015.

To analyze cervical cancer prevalence as well as treatment methods, and its effects and assessment of overall survival of patients after chemotherapy for cervical cancer in Poland. Data were collected from the registry of the National Health Fund (the only public payer in Poland). The data of patients treated in 2008-2015, who were shown to the payer with the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of cervix (C53 according to the ICD-10 classification), were included in the analysis. The annual and eight-year prevalence rates were calculated. The overall survival was calculated for patients treated with chemotherapy. In the analyzed period (2008-2015), 83,100 women were diagnosed with C53, of which 33,300 (40%) were reported in the group of hospital treatment. The median age of patients was 59 years (58.8 ± 12.87). The highest prevalence rate was observed in 2008 (16.94 patients/100,000 inhabitants). The highest annual and period (2008-2015) prevalence rates patients per 100,000 inhabitants were observed in the Podlaskie (17.03 and 115.53 respectively) and Pomorskie (14.19 and 101.43 respectively) voivodeships and the lowest in Dolnośląskie voivodeship (10.47 and 78.87 respectively) and Podkarpackie voivodeship (10.79 and 71.29 respectively). Mean survival time was 55.12 months and its median 45.46 months. Annual survival time was observed in 76.79% of patients, 2-year in 60.61%; 3-year in 53.08% and 5-year in 46.65%. In the years 2008-2015 in Poland, the incidence of cervical cancer was even 4 times higher than the EU average, and the mortality was as much as 70% higher than the average for EU countries.

Work-related problems faced by coordinators of organ, cell, and tissue transplantations in Poland and possible ways of ameliorating them

In recent years in Poland, the numbers of reported potential cadaveric donors of organs, tissues, and cells, and the numbers of transplantations being carried out seem to be low in the context of the size of the country population and the presumed consent legal principle which rules transplantations. This research project was carried out on 109 Polish transplant coordinators by means of a questionnaire created specifically for this study. The goal of the project was to detect problems specific to transplant coordinators working in Poland which, when properly addressed, might improve the efficacy of transplantation network within the Polish health care system. The results suggest that Polish transplant coordinators face a variety of issues in their work. It appears that the most important interventions which could improve working conditions for in this population and—as a result—also improve the efficacy of transplantation network in Poland could include: (1) a variety of training programs for transplant coordinators; (2) a social campaign promoting transplantations and spreading awareness of the transplantation-related legislation; and (3) introduction of changes in the regulations pertaining to medical professions in Poland.

By-Plant Prediction of Dry Matter Yields at Various Growth Stages of Maize Plants (Zea mays L.) Using Leaf Greenness Indicator in Climatic Conditions of Poland

Predicting yield at an early growth stage allows one to optimize the amount and timing of nitrogen fertilization to maximize crop yield. The aim of the study was to determine how different nitrogen doses would affect the nutrition of two maize varieties (Zea mays L.) with this element and their yields, and to demonstrate the potential of using the SPAD index as an early-stage predictor of dry matter yield (DMY) of maize biomass. The field experiment, with different pre- and post-sown N fertilizer doses, was conducted for two years in Poland. The two-factor experiment was set up in a randomized block design with three field replicates. There were four mineral fertilization variants: (I) 120 kg N·ha−1 without P and K fertilization, (II) 120 kg N·ha−1 + PK, (III) 160 kg N·ha−1 + PK, and (IV) 200 kg N·ha−1 + PK. The second-order factor was two stay-green maize varieties: Delitop (FAO 240) and Magitop (FAO 270). The mean values of the SPAD index of maize depended on the nitrogen dose. When the dose was increased from 120 kg·ha−1 to 200 kg·ha−1 with constant P and K fertilization, the value of the leaf greenness index increased significantly. The plants of both maize varieties fertilized with nitrogen at a dose of 120 kg N·ha−1 without P and K were characterized by the lowest values of the SPAD index, regardless of the year of the experiment. When the nitrogen dose was supplemented with P and K, the plants’ nutrition with nitrogen improved significantly. The values of the SPAD index in the maize plants of the variety Magitop were significantly greater than in the plants of the variety Delitop. The coefficients of correlation calculated for both maize varieties were highly significant at all measurement dates. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the SPAD leaf greenness index can be used as an important, reliable, and non-invasive indicator for maize yield prediction. Nutrition of maize plants with nitrogen proved to be the main determinant of variability of the biomass yield. For this reason, it was the basis for the verification of individual mineral fertilization variants. The lack of phosphorus and potassium in the dose of mineral fertilizer limited the yield regardless of the variety, as compared to the variant that was optimally balanced with the nitrogen dose.

Gender distribution in patients treated with rotablation – analysis of 5,177 percutaneous coronary interventions based on a large national registry from between 2014 and 2020

Abstract Background Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures using rotational atherectomy (RA) are a special group of patients characterised by the presence of massive calcifications in the coronary arteries. Due to a significant increase regarding the frequency of these procedures in recent years and the distinctiveness of this narrow group of patients among all patients undergoing PCIs, we have characterised the group according to gender. Aims The aim of analysis was to assess the gender percentage share in following years and differences between both groups of Polish patients undergoing PCI with rotational RA between 2014 and 2020. Methods Based on the Polish National Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (ORPKI), we analysed 751,113 patients treated with PCI between 2014 and 2020. Then, we extracted 5,177 (0.7%) treated with PCI and RA, 3,552 of them (68.6%) were males. Selected indices among the two groups were compared using the t-test for continuous variables, the χ2 test or the likelihood-ratio test for nominal variables where appropriate. To compare means of samples in the following years, one-way ANOVA test was used. Results The results of the study indicate an upward RA tendency in successive years (p<0.001). Moreover, this tendency and its increase was greater between the years 2016–2019 (Fig. 1). Almost twice as many RA procedures pertain to men, while the percentage share did not undergo a significant change in following years (Fig. 2). The mean age was 72±9 years in the overall group. In the total group, there were 2,873 patients (55.49%) with chronic coronary syndrome, 1,033 (19.95%) with unstable angina, 654 (12.63%) with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 494 (9.54%) with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Females were significantly older in comparison to males [75.2±8.3 vs. 70.5±9.2, p<0.001], more often diabetics [613 (37.72%) vs. 1,068 (30.07%), p<0.001], less often smokers [173 (10.6%) vs. 635 (17.9%), p<0.001] and were significantly more often treated due to acute coronary syndrome [780 (48.8%) vs. 1,401 (40.5%), p<0.001]. Considering periprocedural complications among females, there were more cardiac arrests [13 (0.8%) vs. 10 (0.28%), p=0.01] and deaths [11 (0.68%) vs. 6 (0.17%), p=0.006] when compared to males. Conclusion The percentage of RA among overall PCIs has been still growing in recent years in Poland. The majority of patients treated with RA are men. Gender distribution did not change significantly among patients treated with PCI and RA during the analysed period of time. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Biomonitoring of Mercury Contamination in Poland Based on Its Concentration in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Foliage.

This work evaluates current mercury (Hg) contamination in Poland, represented by the Hg concentrations in Scots pine foliage. Samples were collected over 295 investigation plots in monitoring grids throughout Poland, from pines aged between 12 and 147 years. Analyses were conducted with consideration of bioclimatic factors and soil properties. Concentrations in the pine foliage did not exceed the values characteristic of an ecosystem unaffected by industrial pollution, ranging from 0.0032 to 0.0252 mg kg−1 dry mass. However, pine stands located in western and central Poland, and in the northwest near the Baltic Sea, exhibited higher Hg concentrations in foliage than in eastern regions. Hg content in foliage depends on the mean temperature of the driest quarter, as well as on Hg content in soils. This indicates that the periods of drought observed in recent years in Poland may affect Hg concentrations in pine foliage.

The role of monacolin in the treatment of dyslipidaemia

Dyslipidaemia is one of the major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. According to the current epidemiological data, excessively high serum cholesterol levels are found in 64% of women and 70% of men aged ≥20 years in Poland. Statins are the treatment of choice in patients with high-to-very high cardiovascular risk and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. At the other end of the spectrum, there is a group of patients with low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk and low or moderate LDL cholesterol levels, who should be put on well-planned and appropriately adjusted therapy involving lifestyle modification and, if needed, pharmacotherapy. In such cases, the current guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology make it possible to use monacolin, a nutraceutical which is a natural statin (chemically identical to lovastatin). Monacolin is found in red yeast rice and its action is based on the known mechanism of inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in endogenous cholesterol synthesis. Data on the efficacy and safety of monacolin come from many clinical trials showing a significant decrease in triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol, resulting in a reduced number of cardiovascular events in the absence of significant adverse effects. Monacolin is likely to become an effective pharmaceutical to combat dyslipidaemia in the growing group of (relatively young) patients with low-to-moderate baseline cardiovascular risk and lowto- moderate LDL cholesterol levels, without concomitant indications for statins. This paper summarises the current knowledge on the efficacy, safety and potential indications for the use of monacolin in the treatment of dyslipidaemia.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Polish orthopedics, in particular on the level of stress among orthopedic surgeons and the education process

The Coronovirus Disease 2019 –(COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on the health care system and medical staff around the world. The orthopedic units were also subject to new restrictions and regulations. Therefore, the aim of our research was to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected orthopedic wards in the last year in Poland. We created an online survey, which was sent to 273 members of the Polish Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology. The survey contained 51 questions and was divided into main sections: Preparedness, Training, Stress, Reduction, Awareness. A total of 80 responses to the survey were obtained. In Preparedness section the vast majority of respondents (90%) replied, that they used personal protective equipment during the pandemic, however only 50% of the respondents indicated that their facility received a sufficient amount of personal protective equipment. Most of the respondents indicated that the pandemic negatively affected the quality of training of future orthopedists (69.4%) and that pandemic has had a negative impact on their operating skills (66,7%). In Reduction section most of the doctors indicated that the number of patients hospitalized in their departments decreased by 20–60% (61,2% respondents), while the number of operations performed decreased by 60–100% (60% respondents). The negative impact of pandemic on education was noticeable especially in the group of young orthopedic surgeons: 0–5 years of work experience (p = 0,029). Among the respondents, the level of stress increased over the last year from 4.8 to 6.9 (p <0.001). The greatest increase in the level of stress was observed among orthopedists working in country hospitals (p = 0,03). In section Awareness 36,3% of respondents feel well or very well informed about the latest Covid-19 regulations. In addition, most doctors (82.6%) believe that the Polish health care system was not well prepared to fight the pandemic and that the regulations applied so far are not sufficient to effectively fight the pandemic (66.2%). The COVID-19 pandemic has impact on orthopedics departments in Poland and negatively affected the quality of training of orthopedic surgeons and the level of stress.

African Swine Fever in Wild Boar (Poland 2020): Passive and Active Surveillance Analysis and Further Perspectives.

African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal hemorrhagic disease of wild boar and domestic pigs which has been present in Poland since 2014. By 2020, the ASF virus (ASFV) spread across Central, Eastern and Western Europe (including Germany), and Asian countries (including China, Vietnam, and South Korea). The national ASF eradication and prevention program includes continuous passive (wild boar found dead and road-killed wild boar) and active (hunted wild boar) surveillance. The main goal of this study was to analyze the dynamic of the spread of ASF in the wild boar population across the territory of Poland in 2020. In that year in Poland, in total 6191 ASF-positive wild boar were declared. Most of them were confirmed in a group of animals found dead. The conducted statistical analysis indicates that the highest chance of obtaining an ASF-positive result in wild boar was during the winter months, from January to March, and in December 2020. Despite the biosecurity measures implemented by holdings of domestic pigs, the disease also occurred in 109 pig farms. The role of ASF surveillance in the wild boar population is crucial to apply more effective and tailored measures of disease control and eradication. The most essential measures to maintain sustainable production of domestic pigs in Poland include effective management of the wild boar population, along with strict implementation of biosecurity measures by domestic pig producers.

Tire pressure remote monitoring system reducing the rubber waste

• The presented monitoring system allows to reduce tire wear. • Continuous monitoring of tire pressure significantly affects their exploitation. • Reducing tire waste has a positive effect on the environment. The article presents the newly developed remote monitoring of tire pressure in the car fleet. The use of information from monitoring allows slowing down the tire wear process. The article presents the results of tests of tire pressure and friction wear of the tread made for the car fleet in which monitoring was used and for the fleet in which monitoring was not used. The research results show that the application of the decision-making process based on the results of monitoring allows reducing the amount of waste in the form of prematurely worn tires. The wear of monitored tires amounted to 7–13%, while the wear of unmonitored tires reached even 70%. Assuming that 50% of polish transport companies will effectively use the presented monitoring system, the reduction of generated rubber waste will amount to over 2000 tons less tire waste per year in Poland (Central Europe).

Equity Release Contracts with Varying Payments

Equity release contracts allow property owners to receive a financial benefit in exchange for surrendering their real estate to a company. The benefits depend on the life expectancy of owners, the real value of properties, and the rate of interest. These parameters are not the same throughout the years. The aim of the paper is to analyse varying payments of equity release contracts which have already been offered to customers for several years in Poland. A recalculation procedure year by year is proposed applying the actuarial and financial methods. This paper estimates the potential advantages of reverse annuity and reverse mortgage contracts in a changing economic environment. The calculations were made based on actual Polish market data, including the Svensson model of spot interest rate. It is shown that there is considerable scope for increasing retirement income; however, the exact amounts may be unknown. The advantages for customers resulting from changes in parameters and valorization are shown, as well as the risk associated with equity release.

Established and emerging fields of workers’ struggles in the care sector: the case of Poland

This article analyses the struggles of care sector workers in recent years in Poland, mapping the activities of trade unions and initiatives undertaken by non-unionised workers in care services. It considers the institutional setting and barriers specific to Poland and analyses the constraints on industrial action in the sector by looking at different cases: nurses and midwives, early education teachers, nursery teachers and carers of persons with disabilities. All those groups have in recent years organised militant actions. Using an institutional approach and Social Reproduction Theory, the article discusses how the social understanding of care work intersects with the institutional setting during industrial action and the consequences for the workers of this intersection. It introduces the typology of established and emerging fields of workers’ struggles and a concept of ‘bargaining power penalty’ to show that disputes in the care sector are a new form of industrial dispute, featuring, over and above the tripartite worker-employer-state constellation, the relationship between caregivers and care recipients (and their families) as well as the special position of caregivers in society. Care weakens bargaining power, while at the same time it inspires new agendas of struggles.

Not only scholarships

&#x0D; This paper deals with the Ford Foundation’s support for sociology in Poland, especially with its influence on the development of the social research in this country. It is based on materials from both American and local archives—sources which have never before been combined. The role of the Ford scholarships for Polish scholars is relatively well known, but this paper covers two less known aspects of the Foundation’s activity—funding American sociologists’ visits to Poland and the material support for local libraries and statistical laboratories. The American visitors were neither numerous, nor was their role particularly significant, except one: Herbert Menzel, who spent almost a year in Poland, helping to spread the know-how of quantitative social research. The Ford Foundation also supported libraries and helped to equip the statistical research lab of the Institute of Sociology of the Polish Academy of Science, tripling the technical base of quantitative social re­search in this country. Although Polish empirical sociology was successful and Poland became the center of empirical research in Eastern Europe for a while, Poles were hardly able to spread it all over the region on their own, as they were dependent on Western support. &#x0D;

Production losses due to mortality associated with modifiable health risk factors in Poland

BackgroundEpidemiological burden of modifiable mortality risk factors is recognized in literature; however, less is known on the economic losses due to a range of such risks.AimTo estimate production losses (indirect cost) of mortality associated with risk factors as classified in Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study in Poland in years 2000, 2010, and 2017.MethodsWe relied on the human capital method and societal perspective and used sex-, age-, region-, and risk-specific data on mortality due to modifiable risk factors and a set of socio-economic measures.ResultsThe production losses due to mortality attributable to all investigated risk factors accounted for 19.6–21.0 billion PLN (Polish zloty; 2017 exchange rate: 1€ = 4.26 PLN) and 1.44–2.45% of gross domestic product, depending on year. Behavioural factors were the most important contributor to overall burden (16.7–18.2 billion PLN), followed by metabolic factors (6.8–7.6 billion PLN) and environmental and occupational factors (3.0–3.5 billion PLN). Of disaggregated risks, alcohol and tobacco, high systolic blood pressure, and dietary risks proved to lead to the highest losses. Cost per death was greatest for child and maternal malnutrition, followed by intimate partner violence and childhood sexual abuse and bullying. Moreover, a notable regional variation of indirect cost was identified with losses ranging from 1.21 to 1.81% of regional gross domestic product in 2017.ConclusionOur findings provide economically hierarchised list of modifiable risk factors and they contribute to inform policy-makers in prioritizing programmes to improve health.

Tap Water Quality: Seasonal User Surveys in Poland

Security of supply of water, which meets the quality parameters specified in applicable standards, is now the basis for the functioning of most societies. In addition to climatic, biological, chemical, and physical hazards, it is worth paying attention to consumers’ subjective perception of the quality of tap water supplied in the area of Poland. The article discusses various activities related to water resources management and analyses the results of an evaluation of selected quality parameters of tap water in Poland. A novelty on a European scale here is an examination of the evaluation of these parameters based on potential seasonal differences (spring, summer, autumn, winter). For the first time in the world literature, PROFIT analysis was used to evaluate selected parameters of tap water quality. The aim of the article was to present a model for the evaluation of the parameters of tap water supplied in different seasons of the year in Poland. Due to the complexity of the research aspects, a mixed-methods research procedure was used in which a literature review was combined with a survey and statistical analysis. For the purpose of the survey, an original survey questionnaire called “Survey of customer opinions on selected parameters of tap water supplied in Poland” was developed especially for this study. The conducted research confirmed the adopted hypothesis that the results of evaluation of selected tap water parameters vary depending on the period (spring, summer, autumn, winter) in Poland. The model developed by means of PROFIT analysis makes it possible to highlight to water suppliers the specific quality parameters in particular seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter), which may improve the quality of water supplied in Poland and thus, in the long-term perspective, increase the level of satisfaction of water recipients and confidence in drinking tap water in Poland.

Air Pollution Increases the Incidence of Upper Respiratory Tract Symptoms among Polish Children.

A substantial proportion of airway disease’s global burden is attributable to exposure to air pollution. This study aimed to investigate the association between air pollution, assessed as concentrations of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 on the upper respiratory tract symptoms (URTS) in children. A nation-wide, questionnaire-based study was conducted in Poland in winter 2018/2019 in a population of 1475 children, comparing URTS throughout the study period with publicly available data on airborne particulate matter. A general regression model was used to evaluate the lag effects between daily changes in PM10 and PM2.5 and the number of children reporting URTS and their severity. PM10 and PM2.5 in the single-pollutant models had significant effects on the number of children reporting URTS. The prevalence of URTS: “runny nose”, “sneezing” and “cough” was positively associated with 12-week mean PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. In the locations with the highest average concentration of PM, the symptoms of runny nose, cough and sneezing were increased by 10%, 9% and 11%, respectively, compared to the cities with the lowest PM concentrations. This study showed that moderate-term exposure (12 week observation period) to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of URTS among children aged 3–12 years in Poland. These findings may influence public debate and future policy at the national and international levels to improve air quality in cities and improve children’s health.

Namowa lub pomoc w samobójstwie – aspekty prawnokarne, porównawcze i kryminalistyczne

Each year in Poland there are over 5,000 deaths as a result of suicide. Even more suicide attempts have been reported. Although suicide is not subject to criminal sanction, it is penalized to cause a person to take his own life through abetting or aiding (Article 151 of the Penal Code), physical or mental abuse (Article 207 § 3; Article 352 § 3) and stalking or impersonation (Article 190a § 3). From the point of view of investigative practice, detecting these cases and collecting evidence is problematic. The aim of the article is a criminal law analysis of the crime under Art. 151 of the Penal Code along with a reference to similar provisions in selected countries and discussion of forensic aspects. In Poland the number of instituted proceedings and established crimes, as well as convictions under Art. 151 of the Penal Code concerning the total number of suicides, is small. Due to detection and evidence problems, it is difficult to estimate the actual scale of the crime under Art. 151 of the Penal Code. Due to the significant and very dynamic development of the network, a possible amendment to Art. 151 of the Penal Code, covering new forms of persuasion or assistance in suicide – via the Internet.

The position of the polish bishops’ conference on LGBT+ – philosophical, theological, clinical and political aspects

IntroductionPracticing medicine cannot disregard cultural conditions. Philosophy and religion are elements of culture. For several years in Poland, various circles have discussed the extensive LGBT issues. A document of Polish Bishops on this subject appeared on 28.08.2020. In 2018, 91.8% of people over 16 years old in Poland declared affiliation to the Roman Catholic Church (Statistics Poland 2020).ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to present different perspectives of effects of that publication, including ethical evaluation and references to clinical practice.MethodsStatements of protagonists and antagonists of this document in Polish were analyzed. Collected arguments were divided into types: philosophical – by philosophy branches (e.g. ethics, philosophical anthropology), theological and clinical.ResultsAs of 29.09.2020 – 85,200 results in the Google Search after typing (in Polish) “Polish Episcopal Conference LGBT”. The use of philosophical arguments by both parties results from the adaptation of different systems, e.g. regarding philosophical anthropology, some assume the immutability of human nature, others – its variability and susceptibility to shaping, e.g. human sexuality. Some emphasize the importance of non-discrimination, while others indicate the need to consider human essence in determining directions of actions.ConclusionsProfessionals should help everyone, regardless of conditions, in accordance with conscience and contemporary medical knowledge [Polish Code of Medical Ethics]. They should try to understand patients and the context of symptoms. Familiarizing oneself with arguments of both sides helps in this. But polemical language makes dialogue difficult. What for one is a “venerable tradition”, for another is a “stereotype” or “discrimination”.

Three-year (2017-2019) activity report of the Replantation Service for hand amputations in Poland.

This article summarises activity of the Replantation Service for hand amputations in Poland in years 2017-2019. Over this period a total of 551 cases of total and subtotal amputations as well as other complex injuries to the hand were referred to the referenced centres. Of these, 330 referrals were accepted and 221 rejected, for various reasons. Among these accepted, there were 165 total (50%) and 131 subtotal (40%) amputations; 34 patients (10%) had other severe hand injuries. Vast majority of the patients constituted young and middle-age males. The most common was amputation of several digits and thumbs - a total of 251 cases (76%), followed by transmetacarpal - 30 (9%), forearm - 23 (7%) and wrist - 20 (6%) amputations. Replantation of amputated extremity was performed in 138 patients (42%), revascularization in 98 (30%) and in 45 (14%) primary repair of the complex injuries. In 26 cases (8%), coverage of tissue defects was performed, and in 23 (7%) primary terminalization. Survival rate was of a mean of 65% for replantations and 85% for revascularizations. Comparing to the previously reported period 2013-2017, the number of treated patients was similar, but structure of injuries differed: number of digital amputations increased (of 22 cases), whereas number of proximal amputations (hand, forearm and arm) significantly dropped (of 50 cases). The importance of Replantation Service, an informal structure, in saving limbs of severely mutilated patients was emphasised.