Quality of life assessment after minimally invasive operative treatment in children with pectus excavatum: A single-center study and literature review.

Background: Most patients with chest wall deformities have a negative body image, which affects their self-esteem and quality of life (QoL).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in patients' QoL after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE).

Material And Methods: A prospective, single-center study was conducted between 2019 and 2023.

Metabolomic and Lipidomic Profiling for Pre-Transplant Assessment of Delayed Graft Function Risk Using Chemical Biopsy with Microextraction Probes.

Organ shortage remains a significant challenge in transplantology, prompting efforts to maximize the use of available organs and expand the donor pool, including through extended criteria donors (ECDs). However, ECD kidney recipients often face poorer outcomes, including a higher incidence of delayed graft function (DGF), which is linked to worse graft performance, reduced long-term survival, and an increased need for interventions like dialysis. This underscores the urgent need for strategies to improve early DGF risk assessment and optimize post-transplant management for high-risk patients.

The Use of Gel Electrophoresis to Separate Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplicons Allows for the Easy Identification and Assessment of the Spread of Toxigenic Strains.

is a common etiological factor of hospital infections, which, in extreme cases, can lead to the death of patients. Most strains belonging to this bacterium species synthesize very dangerous toxins: toxin A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) and binary toxin (CDT). The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of agarose gel electrophoresis separation of multiplex PCR amplicons to investigate the toxinogenic potential of strains.

High-Resolution Melting PCR as a Fast and Simple Molecular Biology-Based Method for the Identification of Hypervirulent Strains Directly in Stool Samples.

became one of the main causes of nosocomial infections in all clinical settings worldwide, especially among patients undergoing antibiotic therapy. The incidence and severity of infections, from mild diarrhea to life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis, correlate with the spread of the hypervirulent binary toxin (CDT)-producing strains. The use of the real-time HRM-PCR method enables the identification of hypervirulent strains directly in the diarrheal stool samples of patients suspected of being infected with this bacterium.

Insertion Sequences within Oxacillinases Genes as Molecular Determinants of Resistance to Carbapenems-A Pilot Study.

Carbapenem-resistant is one of the major problems among hospitalized patients. The presence of multiple virulence factors results in bacteria persistence in the hospital environment. It facilitates bacterial transmission between patients, causing various types of infections, mostly ventilator-associated pneumonia and wound and bloodstream infections.

Automatic detection of CO rebreathing during BiPAP ventilation.

Carbon dioxide rebreathing (CO rebreathing) significantly influences respiratory drive and the work of breathing during BiPAP ventilation. We analyzed CO movement during BiPAP ventilation to find a method of real time detection of CO rebreathing without the need of CO concentration measurement sampled from the circuit (method expensive and not routinely used). Observational study during routine care in 15 bed university hospital ICU.

Prelude to malignancy: A gene expression signature in normal mammary gland from breast cancer patients suggests pre-tumorous alterations and is associated with adverse outcomes.

Despite advances in early detection and treatment strategies, breast cancer recurrence and mortality remain a significant health issue. Recent insights suggest the prognostic potential of microscopically healthy mammary gland, in the vicinity of the breast lesion. Nonetheless, a comprehensive understanding of the gene expression profiles in these tissues and their relationship to patient outcomes remain missing.

Usefulness of Capillary Gel Electrophoresis-Based PCR for Detection of Strains with Hypervirulent Ribotypes.

is a complex of anaerobic bacteria responsible for the epidemics of post-antibiotic diarrhea as one of the examples of CDI ( infection). As many as 70% of cases concern hospitalized patients, particularly those in intensive care units. Ribotyping is one of the most common methods for differentiating bacterial strains.

How xylitol, gluten, and lactose change human gut microbiota Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG biofilm.

Objective: The human gut microbiota is composed of many viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Escherichia coli representatives are facultative anaerobic bacteria in the colon that play a crucial role in the metabolism of lactose, vitamin synthesis, and immune system modulation. E.

Regional antibiotic delivery for sternal wound infection prophylaxis a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Despite evidence suggesting the benefit of prophylactic regional antibiotic delivery (RAD) to sternal edges during cardiac surgery, it is seldom performed in clinical practice. The value of topical vancomycin and gentamicin for sternal wound infections (SWI) prophylaxis was further questioned by recent studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to comprehensively assess the safety and effectiveness of RAD to reduce the risk of SWI.

Surgical Coronary Revascularization in Patients With Underlying Atrial Fibrillation: State-of-the-Art Review.

The number of individuals referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) is reported to be 8% to 20%. Atrial fibrillation is a known marker of high-risk patients as it was repeatedly found to negatively influence survival. Therefore, when performing surgical revascularization, consideration should be given to the concomitant treatment of the arrhythmia, the clinical consequences of the arrhythmia itself, and the selection of adequate surgical techniques.

Enterobacterales carrying chromosomal AmpC β-lactamases in Europe (EuESCPM): Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance burden from a cohort of 27 hospitals, 2020-2022.

Introduction: The ESCPM group (Enterobacter species including Klebsiella aerogenes - formerly Enterobacter aerogenes, Serratia species, Citrobacter freundii complex, Providencia species and Morganella morganii) has not yet been incorporated into systematic surveillance programs.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational study analysing all ESCPM strains isolated from blood cultures in 27 European hospitals over a 3-year period (2020-2022). Diagnostic approach, epidemiology, and antimicrobial susceptibility were investigated.

Impact of Levosimendan and Its Metabolites on Platelet Activation Mechanisms in Patients during Antiplatelet Therapy-Pilot Study.

Levosimendan is used for the short-term treatment of severe heart failure or other cardiac conditions. The area of existing clinical applications for levosimendan has increased significantly. This study aimed to assess whether levosimendan and its metabolites impact the mechanisms related to platelet activation.

Evaluation of factors affecting the healing process of venous ulcers: A 12-week longitudinal study.

The process of healing venous ulcers is complex and influenced by many factors. By identifying the risk factors that influence a slower healing process, it is possible to predict impending delays and plan an individualised care plan. We analysed our database of patients with venous ulcers and identified clinical and demographic factors that delay the healing process.

Prognostic impact of preoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing heart surgery in cardiogenic shock.

Surgical intervention in the setting of cardiogenic shock (CS) is burdened with high mortality. Due to acute condition, detailed diagnoses and risk assessment is often precluded. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for perioperative complications and worse survival but little is known about AF patients operated in CS.

Enhancing Functional Efficiency and Quality of Life through Revascularization Surgery in Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Comparative Analysis of Objective and Subjective Indicators.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare the ankle-brachial index (ABI), maximal claudication distance (MCD), pain-free walking distance (PFWD), claudication pain, and quality of life (intermittent claudication questionnaire [ICQ]) before and 3 months after revascularization surgery in 98 patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) at a single center in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety-eight patients were examined (77% men, 23% women, 65.65±7.

Associations between affective temperament, perceived stress, and helping among Ukrainians and Poles in the context of the war in Ukraine.

The Russian aggression of Ukraine has put millions of civilians under immense stress and forced many of them to leave their homes for safety and help. Poland became one of the leading destinations for waves of Ukrainians fleeing this war. The level of perceived stress in people who experienced war depends on various factors, including individual psychological variables.