Changes in body weight in various population groups in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic - a comparison of two cross-sectional studies.

Introduction And Objective: The disruption of daily activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had health consequences, especially during peak lockdown periods. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on the process of weight change among Polish adults.

Material And Methods: Two representative studies involving Polish adults aged 18-65 years were conducted, the first in June 2020 (N = 2527, from the perspective of the last 2-3 months), and the second a year later, in June 2021 (N = 2087, covering the last 12 months).

Body weight and assessment of sexual life - a cross-sectional study.

Introduction And Objective: Body weight can be one of the health effects affecting people's well-being in its many aspects. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between body weight and sexual life.

Material And Methods: In June 2020 a survey was conducted online on a nationwide representative group of 3,000 Poles.

Prevalence of estrogen receptor alpha PvuII and XbaI polymorphism in population of Polish postmenopausal women.

Numerous data indicate that polymorphism of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) may predict lipid levels, lipid response to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), myocardial infarction risk, bone fracture risk, bone mineral density (BMD) and changes in BMD over time. In this study we aimed to evaluate distribution of ERalpha PvuII and XbaI genotypes in population of Polish postmenopausal women qualified to different protocols of HRT. Subject of the study were 64 consecutive postmenopausal women aged from 45 to 65 years (mean 56.

Relationship between estrogen receptor-alpha polymorphism and serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, C-reactive protein and homocysteine in postmenopausal women.

Background And Aim: Genetic variation in the estrogen receptor-gene (ERalpha) may influence the risk of cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. This effect, at least in part, may be dependent on the decrease in expression of injury and inflammatory markers in the vascular wall. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between ERalpha PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms and serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), C-reactive protein (CRP) and homocysteine in postmenopausal women.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men visiting outpatient clinics.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men visiting outpatient clinics was analyzed using data reported by 1352 randomly chosen physicians who were requested to interview five to 20 consecutive patients aged >or=40 years about the presence of ED. A total of 25.12% of the physicians returned the questionnaires, containing data on 3552 patients, of whom 42.

Effect of estradiol and raloxifene on MUC1 expression and adhesive properties of Ishikawa cells.

The MUC1 is a transmembrane protein with a large mucin-like extracellular domain protruding high above the cell surface. Steroid regulation of MUC1 gene expression is essential, since overexpression of MUC1 may influence the metastatic potential of cancer cells. Our earlier results demonstrated that tamoxifen, alone and combined with estradiol, inhibits MUC1 biosynthesis in endometrial adenocarcinoma cells, in contrast to estradiol.

Estrogen receptor alpha and beta expression in uterine leiomyomas from premenopausal women.

Objective: To measure messenger RNA levels of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta in uterine leiomyomas, normal myometrium, and endometrium.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University hospital.

Differential effects of raloxifene and tamoxifen on the expression of estrogen receptors and antigen Ki-67 in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line.

Tamoxifen and raloxifene are widely used in clinical practice. It has been found that tamoxifen treatment increases the risk of development of endometrial cancer. The effects of tamoxifen and raloxifene on endometrium might be caused by different estrogen receptor expression.

Differential effects of estradiol, raloxifene and tamoxifen on estrogen receptor expression in cultured human skin fibroblasts.

The balance between ER-alpha and ER-beta in fibroblasts may be crucial in the physiological response to ligands. Up- or down-regulation of the ERs in response to different compounds could mediate the reversal of certain age-related changes in skin and connective tissue. The time-dependent effects of 17-beta estradiol, raloxifene and tamoxifen on ER-alpha and ER-beta mRNA expression in the skin fibroblast cultures were performed.

Retrospective analysis of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after the first acute myocardial infarction.

We retrospectively analyzed survival in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) after first acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study was conducted in 5 sites in Poland and involved 521 patients who survived more than 30 days after AMI. In the 5-year period after the acute event, we investigated the following cardiovascular (CV) outcomes: death (overall mortality), next MI, stroke, hospitalization due to acute coronary symptoms (HACS), and composite outcomes (whichever occurred first).

Differential effects of estradiol and raloxifene on collagen biosynthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts.

The dose-dependent effect of a 24 h treatment with estradiol (E(2)) (1, 2, 5, 10 nM) and raloxifene (Rx) (1, 5, 10, 20 microM) on ER alpha and ER beta mRNA expression, collagen bio-synthesis, prolidase activity, MMP-2, MMP-9, insulin-like growth factor I receptor expression (IGF-1R) and beta1-integrin expressions in cultured fibroblasts obtained from postmenopausal women were examined. Both ligands increased mRNA expression of ER compared to control. Rx at 5 and 10 microM concentrations had greater stimulative effect on collagen biosynthesis, prolidase activity and IGF-1R expression compared to E(2) at 2 and 5 nM concentration.

Leptin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) content in the human placenta at term: relationship to levels of leptin in cord blood and placental weight.

During fetal life, placental tissue represents an additional source of leptin for the mother and conceptus. It has been suggested that feto-placental production of leptin may be involved in placental and fetal growth regulation. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between leptin mRNA expression in the placenta and the concentrations of leptin in cord blood.

A comparative study of cefaclor vs amoxicillin/clavulanate in pediatric pharyngotonsillitis.

Background: Pharyngotonsillitis (PT) caused by group A beta hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) is one of the most common infections of childhood. Two antibiotic suspensions, cefaclor (CEF) and amoxicillin/clavulanate (AMC), are commonly used in Poland for the treatment of PT caused by GABHS in children.

Material/methods: This multi-center, randomized, single-blinded study was undertaken in order to compare the efficacy and safety of CEF (20 mg/kg/d) and AMC (25 mg/kg/d) in 10 days treatment of GABHS-related PT.

Human cultured skin fibroblasts express estrogen receptor alpha and beta.

Human skin fibroblasts may be the target cells for estrogens. The aim of present study was to confirm the presence of both isoforms of estrogen receptors (ER) in these cells. Experiments were carried out in primary cultures of human skin fibroblasts.

[Luteal and follicular phase inhibin A and B in regularly cycling women].

Objective: To investigate the level of inhibin A nad B in luteal and follicular phase in women of reproductive age.

Patients: Seventy women 39-52 years of age with regular menstrual cycle.

Interventions: Blood samples obtained on days 3-8 and on days 22-25 of menstrual cycle were assayed for FSH, estradiol, inhibin A, inhibin B.

Comparative study of cefaclor AF vs. cefuroxime axetil in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) are the most common complication of chronic bronchitis. The majority of AECB are caused by infection. The choice of appropriate antibacterial therapy for AECB is becoming more difficult and is usually empirically.

Vertebral fractures: a hidden problem of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a progressive skeletal disease, which in many cases remains silent and asymptomatic until a fracture occurs. Vertebral fractures are the earliest and most common osteoporotic fractures. The prevalence of vertebral fractures increases steadily with age, ranging between 20% for 50-year-old postmenopausal women to 64.

A comparative study of cefaclor vs. amoxicillin/clavulanate in tonsillopharyngitis.

Background: Acute pharyngotonsillitis (APT) is one of the most common inflammatory processes of adults and children in an outpatient setting. Increasing failure rates, hypersensitivity to penicillin, the required multiple daily doses and common side effects lead to poor patients compliance and thus inadequate treatment duration, providing therefore ground for considering alternative antimicrobial agents.

Material And Methods: This multicenter, randomized, single blind study was undertaken in order to compare efficacy and safety of cefaclor (375 mg BID) and amoxicillin/clavulanate (625 mg BID) in 10 days treatment regiment of ambulatory patients with APT.

[Barlow's syndrome--personal studies].

Symptoms of Barlow's syndrome were analysed in 60 patients. The diagnosis is described as a plenty of disturbances in the circulatory system. Observed arrhythmias were often one of the important symptoms.

[The effect of hypotensive drugs on left ventricular mass and diastolic function].

Chronic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with depressed contractile performance, abnormal compliance of the chamber, and ultimately, the development of a left ventricular failure. Thus the presence of LVH carries a particularly ominous prognosis in patients with essential hypertension. Finally, regression of LVH appears to be a worthwhile goal of an antihypertensive therapy along with blood pressure control.

[Propafenone, flecainide, procainamide in the treatment of a fresh attack of atrial fibrillation].

The purpose of the present work was an assessment of the effectiveness of intravenously administered propafenone, flecainide and procainamide in restoration of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation attack lasting not more than 48 hours, The studies were carried out in 95 patients, including 30 treated with propafenone, 27 with flecainide, and 38 with procainamide. Propafenone turned out to be effective in 23 patients (76.7%), flecainide in 19 patients (70.

[Interaction of captopril and digoxin].

Interaction of digoxin and captopril was studied in 28 men with congestive heart failure of II class NYHA. Blood serum digoxin level was about 30% higher following the administration of captopril.

[Tests concerning the usefulness of serum myoglobin levels for the diagnosis of reperfusion in patients with imminent myocardial infarction].

Blood myoglobin, CPK and CK-MB activities were assayed in 32 patients with the acute myocardial infarction up to 360 minutes following the start of thrombolytic therapy. Plasma myoglobin, CPK and CK-MB activities increased significantly less in 18 patients in whom reperfusion of the coronary artery has been noted. Maximum increase in myoglobin levels preceded an increase in CPK and CK-MB activities and it may be an early marker of reperfusion.

[Effect of treatment with propranolol or pindolol on the left ventricular myocardium mass in patients with slight essential arterial hypertension].

The effect was studied of 8 weeks of treatment with propranolol and pindolol on the left-ventricular myocardium mass, left-ventricular myocardium mass index, plasma renin activity, and serum aldosterone and total catecholamine concentrations. The studies were carried out in 72 patients with essential arterial hypertension of slight degree. A statistically significant decrease was shown of the left-ventricular myocardium mass, left-ventricular myocardium mass index, plasma renin activity, and aldosterone concentration in all studied patients.

[Echocardiographic test of dipyridamole in recognition of coronary artery disease].

To assess the feasibility, safety and usefulness of dipyridamole stress echocardiography for the detection of coronary artery disease we evaluated 194 patients (124 men, 70 women) with effort chest pain. All patients underwent electrocardiographic submaximal bicycle exercise testing and 2-dimensional echocardiography after dipyridamole injection. Echocardiographic test was considered positive when new wall motion abnormalities were observed after dipyridamole i.