Ageing of complex networks.

Many real-world complex networks arise as a result of a competition between growth and rewiring processes. Usually the initial part of the evolution is dominated by growth while the later one rather by rewiring. The initial growth allows the network to reach a certain size while rewiring to optimize its function and topology.

[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.

Epidemiology of acute poisonings during 2003-2007 in Toxicology Unit, Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland.

Objectives: The epidemiology of acute poisonings, observed in Toxicology Unit in Łódź, is the main objective of the study. The authors present frequency of respective kinds of poisoning cases and associated mortality. They discuss also the structure of poisonings with regard to type and causative agents over a period between 2003 and 2007.

Poisonings with street drugs:a review of 1993-2008 data from the toxicology unit in Poland.

Objective: Drugs of abuse have been known in many cultures and geographical zones, and also in Poland the extent of substance abuse has been increasing.

Material And Methods: This report refers to patients treated for poisonings with street drugs at the Toxicology Unit (TU), Łódź, Poland during the period 1993-2008. The data to be analyzed was obtained from medical files of all patients treated for street drugs or hallucinogens abuse.

Acute poisonings registered since 1970: trends and characteristics. Analysis of the files collected in the National Poison Information Centre, Łódź, Poland.

Objectives: The aim of the presented study was to trace the trends and characteristics of acute poisonings in Poland, including the rate, type, and causal agents, over a long period of time (1970-2000) to define the dynamics of changes and major causes of poisoning-related mortality.

Materials And Methods: The analysis was based on the data obtained from the patients' records submitted by all poison centers in Poland (Gdańsk, Kraków, Lublin, Łódź, Poznań, Sosnowiec, Rzeszów, Warszawa, and Wroclaw).

Results: Drugs were the most frequent group of chemical substances, responsible for more than 50% of all admissions because of acute poisonings.

[Acute poisonings in Poland during the period 1997-1999. An analysis of files from the Krakow Poison Information Center].

This work analyses the 1997-1999 data received from Polish poison units at Gdańsk, Kraków, Lublin, Łódź, Poznań, Rzeszów, Tarnów, Sosnowiec, Warszawa, Wrocław on patients hospitalised there and patients treated at other hospitals but consulted by specialists of those centres. The analysis shows that drugs constituted the most frequent cause of the poisonings (over 45% all poisonings). Poisonings with: alcohols accounted for 17.

Intentional poisonings in children below 15 years of age in the city of Lodz.

Data on self poisonings in children < l5 y of age from all over Poland are not available. An analysis of intentional poisonings among juveniles < 15 y of age in the city of Lodz in 1991-1995 was done. Intentional poisonings accounted for over 14% of total poisonings in children < 15 y of age.

The pattern of poisonings with substance of abuse in Poland (1997-1998).

Substances of abuse have been known in many cultures and geographic zones, and they were used for different reasons, from religions up to hedonistic ones. Central Europe, a region of Poland has never been an area of religious use of narcotics, but lately a number of drug abusers is still growing up. The extent of the drug abuse problem in Poland is difficult to assess, because there is no monitoring system, which registers drug abusers.

Acute poisonings with drugs. A review of the data collected at the National Poison Information Centre during the period 1991-1995.

An analysis of the files collected in the National Poison Information Centre reveals that drugs are the most frequent causes of acute poisonings (followed by pesticides and other chemical substances) not only in big cities but also in rural areas. Within the drug poisoning category, about 59% of the toxicological advice related to poisonings in children up to 14 years of age. The most frequent poisonings with drugs related to poisonings with sedative and psychotropic drugs, particularly those containing benzodiazepines, phenothiazine derivatives and tricyclic antidepressants.

Telephone toxicological information service on pesticide poisonings.

The problem of pesticide poisonings has been discussed with reference to the records of the toxicological information provided in 1993-1995 by the staff of the National Poison Information Centre and the physicians of the Clinic of Acute Poisonings in Lódź. Based on those data, pesticide poisonings occupy second place among the categories of chemical most frequently responsible for acute poisonings, while the first place is occupied by drugs. In the pesticide category, most of the information related to poisonings with pyrethroids, followed by organophosphorous compounds, coumarine derivatives, carbamates.

[Poisoning with narcotics and hallucinogens in material from the Clinic of Acute Poisoning in Lodz (1993-1996)].

Our material consists of the patients treated for poisonings with street-drugs in Clinic of Acute Poisonings, Lódź, Poland during the period 1993-1996. During the time of 4 years, the number of hospitalised patients have grown up 4.5 times.

Sources of poisoning exposures in children during 1990-1995. An analysis of the National Poison Information Centre files.

Information protocols on the causes of acute poisoning exposures with chemicals in children up to 14 years old collected during 1990-95 at the National Poison Information Centre have been analyzed. Approximately 96% of intoxication were accidental, 44% of patients were poisoned with drugs, 22% with household products and 14% with pesticides. Almost 25% of drug poisonings were due to sedative and to psychotropic drugs, and 17% to drug mixtures.

Poison Information Service of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź. Types of toxicological inquiries 1991-1994.

The National Poison Information Centre and the physicians of the Clinic of Acute Poisonings, the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź, provide telephone toxicological information to the medical professions and the general public. The most frequently offered advice was for drugs, pesticides, solvents, corrosives and mixtures. The most frequent drug inquiries concerned tranquillizers, hypnotic and psychotropic drugs.

[Analysis of toxicological information rendered by the staff of the National Poison Information Center and physicians at the Clinic of Acute Poisoning of the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź].

The article presents structure of toxicological information given by phone to the physicians involved in treatment of acute poisonings, private persons the services monitoring the working environment. The information comprises data on toxic effect on human organism, chemical composition, therapeutic procedure in acute poisonings as well as the data on hazards occurring in every day life. The consultations chiefly regarded poisonings with drugs, pesticides, alcohols, organic solvents and corrosive substances.

The National Poison Information Center in Poland.

Objective: To describe the national poison information program in Poland.

Results: There are nine regional poison information centers in Poland associated with acute poisoning wards or diagnostic laboratories. The National Poison Information Center in Lodz prepares information materials (ITOX database, books, periodicals, leaflets, posters) on treatment and prevention to regional and other health care units treating acute poisoning cases and to the general public.

Causes of poisoning in children during the period 1990-1993.

We retrospectively analysed the files from our Centre concerning intoxication in children younger than 14 years. About 96% of intoxication were accidental, 43% of patients were poisoned with drugs, 22% with house-hold products and 15% with pesticides. Almost 25% of drug poisonings were due to sedative and to psychotropic drugs, the 20% to drug mixtures.