Bone Metabolism Markers and Bone Mineral Density in Patients on Long-Term Acenocoumarol Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of osteocalcin (OC), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and total soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients on long-term acenocoumarol (AC) treatment. The cross-sectional study was carried out in 42 patients treated long-term with AC and 28 control subjects. Serum concentrations of OC, OPG, and sRANKL were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, and BMD at the femoral neck and lumbar spine were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Quality control of oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists in primary care patients in Poland: a multi-centre study.

Background: Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) remain the mainstay of anticoagulation therapy, which requires monitoring of international normalised ratio (INR). Quality of oral anticoagulation, clinical benefits, and the risk related to VKA use are determined by the time in therapeutic range (TTR).

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic quality of oral anticoagulation and to determine the factors that affect the incidence of INR outside the recommended range in primary care patients undergoing long-term VKA therapy in Poland.

[Patterns of drinking alcohol tobacco smoking among 6th year students of the faculty of medicine in Białstok].

Introduction: Alcohol and tobacco are legal, easily available addictive substances. There are no universal criteria of safe alcohol consumption but some scientific studies have allowed for determination of consumption levels helpful in evaluation of the pattern of drinking and evoking readiness to limit the amount of consumed alcohol.

The Aim: The aim of the work was to evaluate and compare the knowledge of 6th year students of the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Biatystok in the academic years 2011/12 and 2012/13 concerning the effects of alcohol abuse, as well as to determine their drinking patterns and tobacco smoking structure.

[Knowledge of patients from the rural environment on the risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular diseases].

Unlabelled: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in Poland. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of patients from the rural environment on the risk factors and prevention CVDs.

Material And Methods: In the period from January to February 2006.

[Educational role of community nurse in care of patients treated with oral anticoagulation therapy].

Unlabelled: Different methods allowing for assessment of anticoagulation effects in patients receiving oral anticoagulants (OAC) are applied. Among them estimation of total time of international normalized ratio (INR) within the therapeutic range (time in therapeutic range--TTR) is used. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of patients about safety measures when on acenocumarol (AC) therapy as well as to measure TTR and potential impact of education provided by community nurse on TTR.

[Haemorrhagic complications among patients on life-long acenocumarol therapy].

The aim of our study was to determine factors influencing occurrence of haemorrhagic events during acenocumarol therapy. A total of one hundred and forty patients were interviewed using a questionnaire. From one hundred forty (100%) of interviewed patients, forty one (29.

[Use of oral anticoagulants in outpatient setting].

Oral anticoagulants (OAC) have been used for more than 60 years and are being prescribed to a steadily increasing number of patients as a life-long therapy The Intenational Normalized Ratio (INR) is used to evaluate the efficacy of anti-coagulant therapy. The risk of thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications increases when the INR is above the therapeutic range. The aim of our study was to provide information about oral anticoagulant therapy and how to treat patients on OAC therapy in specific situations such as: pregnancy, intramuscular injection, tooth extraction and small invasive procedures performed in outpatient setting.

[Factors influencing activity of oral anticoagulants. Interactions with drugs and food].

Oral anticoagulants (OAC) are commonly used as a life-long therapy in prevention of systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease and prosthetic hart valves and in the primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism. They are also used for the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with acute myocardial infarction and with angina pectoris, in patients with biological hart valves and after some types of orthopaedics surgery. The International Normalized Ratio (INR) is used to evaluate the efficacy of anti-coagulant therapy.

[Knowledge of patients undergoing long-term acenocumarol treatment about the safety of anticoagulant therapy].

Unlabelled: Oral anticoagulation with coumarin derivatives (OAC) has been used for more than 50 years and is being prescribed to a steadily increasing number of patients as a long-term therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate patients' knowledge about the safety of acenocumarol treatment, the therapeutic range of International Normalized Ratio (INR) and its interactions with other medications and food.

Material And Methods: One hundred and forty patients on long-term acenocumarol treatment were included in the study.

Management of sore throat by family physicians in northeastern Poland: possible benefits of applying clinical algorithm.

Background: The objective of this study was to describe current sore throat management practices among family physicians and to estimate potential benefits of applying clinical algorithm - Centor's scale (presence of tonsillar exudates, fever, lymphadenopathy and absence of cough) in decision-making process.

Methods: Each of 44 participating family physicians was asked to fill in questionnaires for 30 consecutive patients with respiratory tract infection.

Results: Almost all decisions were made on clinical grounds.

Perception of risk information. Similarities and differences between Danish and Polish general practitioners.

Objective: The objective of the study was to gain better insight into how general practitioners (GPs) perceive risk reduction and the way this perception may be influenced by healthcare environment.

Design: Questionnaires with clinical episodes were sent to Danish and Polish GPs, who were randomised into four groups, each receiving the same case story with differently phrased information about risk reduction achieved through medical treatment. The GPs were asked whether they would recommend medical treatment, knowing the case story and expected risk reduction.