Viper envenomation in Central and Southeastern Europe: a multicentre study.

Introduction: Snakebite incidence varies across Europe. However, there is limited research from Central and Southeastern Europe. These regions are notable for the presence of the common European adder () and the more venomous nose-horned viper ().

Lithium batteries safety, wider perspective.

Energy production and storage has become a pressing issue in recent decades and its solutions bring new problems. This paper reviews the literature on the human and environmental risks associated with the production, use, and disposal of increasingly common lithium-ion batteries. Popular electronic databases were used for this purpose focused on the period since 2000.

YouTube as a source of information on carbon monoxide poisoning: a content-quality analysis.

Objectives: The variety of clinical presentation on the topic of carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication ranges from slight headache to coma or death. YouTube allows patients to search not only for entertainment but also medical advice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the content and quality of YouTube videos concerning CO poisoning as a source of knowledge for non-medical audience.

OBESITY AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION - BARIATRIC SURGERY AS A METHOD OF AF RISK DECREASE.

The prevalence of obesity is growing at alarming rate worldwide. Obesity has reached the proportion of a global epidemic in both developed and developing countries. Growing number of obese patients with atrial fibrillation requires a closer look at how excessive body fat leads to AF.

Predictors of stress among emergency medical personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced emergency services to implement new standards of practice around the world. The dynamic and unpredictable nature of many clinical situations has placed emergency service personnel in direct danger of contracting the disease. This work uses a validated survey developed for the study to assess the predictors of stress that paramedics, nurses and doctors experience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinical pattern of poisoning among patients declared as taking novel recreational drugs.

Objectives: Intoxication with novel psychoactive drugs poses a significant challenge for medicine due to diagnostic difficulties, complex clinical patterns resulting from the polyethiology of poisoning, and the risk of fatal complications.

Material And Methods: The authors of the present work have made a retrospective review of medical records of the patients hospitalized at the Toxicology Unit (TU), diagnosed with poisoning by novel recreational drugs.

Results: In 2008-2013, 576 patients diagnosed with that type of poisoning were admitted to the TU.

Acute intentional poisonings within an urban agglomeration in Poland in 2004-2013.

Objectives: The aim of the research was to analyze the nature of changes and tendencies observed in the frequency, circumstances and causes of acute intentional poisonings within the agglomeration of Łódź, Poland. The study related to adults.

Material And Methods: As the research material, medical records of patients hospitalized due to an acute poisoning in the Department of Toxicology in Łódź were used.

Pesticide poisonings in 2004-2014 in Łódź, Poland - an analysis of selected clinical and sociodemographic parameters.

Background: Acute pesticide poisonings constitute an important toxicological problem in numerous countries. This report refers to patients treated for poisonings at the Toxicology Unit, Łódź, Poland, in the period 2004-2014.

Material And Methods: Data to be analyzed were obtained from medical records of hospitalized people.

[The health effects of environmental and occupational exposure to aluminum].

This work features a review of literature discussing the health effects of environmental and occupational exposure to aluminum (Al) and its compounds. The sources of exposure, absorption routes and metabolism are discussed in detail. The role of Al and its compounds in the etiology of some diseases, related to both environmental exposure and exposure in the work environment, is also presented.

Straight and crosier‑shaped catheter techniques for phrenic nerve stimulation during cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Cryoablation is an effective and safe method of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, monitoring of phrenic nerve function during cryoballoon PVI remains an important issue.

Aims: We aimed to compare 2 techniques of phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) with the use of either a straight or a crosier‑shaped decapolar deflectable catheter.

[The right of a doctor to inform an employer of contraindications to perform a certain type of work by an employee].

Background: The aim of this study is to analyze the legal regulations that pertain to the duty of doctor-patient privilege and the possibility of its repeal on the plane to provide information about the patient’s health status to his employer.

Material And Methods: The material constitutes the current Polish law regulations relating to the medical duty of doctor–patient privilege as well as provisions defining the scope of information on the patient’s health status that may be transferred to a patient’s employer.

Results: The doctor has no right to provide the employer with information on contraindications to perform a specific job, if the information was obtained in the mode of providing health services that are not eligible for the catalogue of preliminary/preventive/control examinations.

Poisonings in Poland reported to the Polish National Health Fund in the years 2009-2011.

Background: Poisonings constitute a significant medical, social and economic problem worldwide. In Poland there is no nationwide registry of poisonings, which results in a lack of accurate epidemiological data. Few publications dealing with the problem are based on data obtained from toxicology units and therefore do not include information about cases treated at emergency departments and other non-toxicology units.

Legal grounds for 'extending the scope or type of procedure'.

Introduction: The development of patient rights and increasing number of lawsuits based on medical malpractice make medical doctors constantly improve knowledge regarding the acceptability of changing the scope of operation. This is particularly important when patients have expressed their refusal to changing the scope and type of procedure (ESTP) or no informed consent (IC) has been obtained from the patient prior to the procedure.

Material And Methods: The method of study comprised content analysis of existing legislation.

[Accidental severe poisoning with methemoglobinogenic substance: A case report].

A 45-year-old male patient was admitted to the Regional Poison Center because of poisoning with dimethyloaniline contained in a toxic resin-curing dimethyl aniline-based formulation ingested inadvertently. Intoxication happened at workplace. The patient was then transferred to the Toxicology Clinic, where he stayed for 3 weeks.

Poisoning deaths in Poland: Types and frequencies reported in Łódź, Kraków, Sosnowiec, Gdańsk, Wrocław and Poznań during 2009-2013.

Objectives: The aim of this study has been to assess the characteristics of acute poisoning deaths in Poland over a period of time 2009-2013.

Material And Methods: The analysis was based on the data obtained from the patient records stored in toxicology departments in 6 cities - Łódź, Kraków, Sosnowiec, Gdańsk, Wrocław and Poznań. Toxicological analyses were routinely performed in blood and/or urine.

Intentional poisoning among elderly people-residents of a large urban agglomeration in Poland.

Poisoning is considered a significant health problem among elderly people in Poland. This report refers to patients treated for poisonings at the Toxicology Unit, Lodz, Poland, during the period 2008-2012. The data to be analyzed were obtained from medical records of elderly people.

Cardiotoxic effect due to accidental ingestion of an organic solvent.

Toxic myocardial injury can be misdiagnosed as a myocardial infarction, resulting in the patient undergoing standard treatment for cardiac rehabilitation. However, such inadequate therapeutic strategies can lead to cardiovascular complications including dilated cardiomyopathy. This study presents a case of a 65-year-old man after accidental ingestion of organic solvents (toluene and xylene), whose condition demonstrated all the criteria for diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

High-mobility group box 1 protein levels in serum of subjects after exposure to fire smoke--short communication.

Introduction: Fire smoke inhalation a recognized etiologic factor of airway injuries. The objective of this study was evaluation of serum high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein concentration in subjects exposed to fire smoke (SEFS).

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 40 consecutive patients admitted to the Toxicology Unit, Lodz, Poland after exposure to fire smoke.

[Acute alcohol poisonings among patients in Toxicology Unit, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in the period of time 2007-2012].

Unlabelled: The purpose of the research was to present the analysis of acute alcohol poisonings (ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol) in Toxicology Unit (TU), Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (NIOM), Lódź, Poland.

Materials And Methods: To further analysis were chosen all cases, whose were coded according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision.

Results: There were 10,936 acute poisonings in the analyzed period of time 2007-2012 years, 3,088 of them referred to alcohol poisonings (28%).

[Pulmonary tuberculosis of occupational origin in a funeral director: a case report].

In Poland the incidence rate of tuberculosis is higher than the average for countries of the European Union, Norway or Iceland. On the other hand, occupational tuberculosis is still rarely recognized in our country. In this paper we present the first in Poland--to our best knowledge--case of pulmonary manifestation of this disease acquired at work in a funeral director.

[Epidemiology of acute poisonings during 2002-2011 in Toxicology Unit; Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland].

Introduction: Intoxication poses significant challenge for medical staff due to diagnostic difficulties, complex clinical pattern, resulting from polyethiology of poisoning and potential risk of life threatening complications.

Objectives: the epidemiology of acute poisonings, observed in Toxicology Unit (TU) in Lodz during the period 2002-201--is the main objective of the study. Authors present their frequency and associated mortality and discuss the structure of poisonings with regard to type and causative agents.

[Intoxication or false-positive acetaminophen result of toxicological determinations? Two case reports].

The aim of this study was to show the diagnostic procedure used in the two cases with false-positive serum acetaminophen results in suspected acetaminophen poisoning. The determination of serum acetaminophen were carried out using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (Specord 40 Analytik Jena), coupled with an analytic computer station WinASPECT. The employed method of determination was based on the acetaminophen reaction with sodium nitrite, which yields yellow colour of solution in the presence of sodium hydrate.