80 Years of the Medicine and Tropical Hygiene Center in Gdynia (1937-2017): The Pioneer Pre-War Years 1937-1939.

The present Interdepartmental Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia of the Medical University of Gdańsk was formally established in 1939 by the Order of June 5, 1939, of the Minister of Social Welfare, Marian Zyndram-Kościałkowski. However, the Branch of the National Institute of Hygiene in Gdynia was founded 2 years earlier, in 1937 (the first head was Dr. Med.

Work-related stress at sea. Possibilities of research and measures of stress.

The present concept of stress is related with the necessity of triangulation in research. Triangulation means collecting evidence of stress from at least three sources: (a) precursors--perception and feeling (moderating factors), (b) direct consequences, (c) state of health. Is it possible to implement triangulation in the investigations of work-related stress at sea? In the present paper, possibilities of collecting data on the work at sea are analyzed as regards individual aspects--stages of triangulation.

Strategies towards health protection in maritime work environment involving the role of health promotion--invitation to join in discussion.

The aim of the paper is to present problems, limitations and advantages of strategies adopted for health protection at sea, with particular regard to health promotion. The invitation is extended to IMH readers to join in discussion and to present suggestions how to improve the present practice of health services for seafarers.

Health promotion in the maritime work environment--training of leaders.

The essence of the project of pro-health attitudes promotion is the assumption that they contribute to a successful occupational career and reduce health and life hazards in the maritime work environment. The method chosen was to train students of the Maritime Academy in Gdynia, the future officers and potential health leaders among maritime employees.

Pretreatment of male guinea pigs by 17-beta-estradiol induces hypersensitivity of beta-adrenoceptors in electrically driven left atria.

Background: It is well known that estrogen can modulate distribution and function of adrenergic receptors in the heart of different species. We reported here gender differences in adrenergic responsiveness of electrically driven guinea pig left atria.

Methods: Experiments were performed on the guinea pigs divided in four groups: males control (MC), males treated by 17-beta-estradiol (MTE), females control (FC) and females treated by tamoxifen (FTT).

Usefulness of Toxoplasma gondii recombinant antigens (GRA1, GRA7 and SAG1) in an immunoglobulin G avidity test for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis.

The precise diagnosis of an acute and recent Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women and the newborn child is important before treatment. This study describes a new Toxoplasma gondii IgG avidity test based on a combination of recombinant GRA1, GRA7 and SAG1 antigens and shows that this test is useful for diagnostic purposes and may replace the lysed, whole-cell antigens. Although more sera need to be tested, the results obtained here suggest that the IgG avidity test performed with rec-antigens correlated more with the stage of a T.

Prevalence of anisakin nematodes in fish from Southern Baltic Sea.

Nematodes from the superfamily Ascaridoidea (families Anisakidae and Raphidascarididae) are worldwide distributed parasites. Their live cycles include many species of water invertebrates and teleostean fish as intermediate hosts, and fish, sea mammals or fish-eating birds being definitive hosts. Humans can be infected with some of these parasites after consumption of raw or wrongly processed fish.

Assessment of clinical course and outcome of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Angola diagnosed by microscopic and molecular methods.

Malaria still remains the main infectious cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. The majority of cases occur in tropical Africa, including Angola. The study was performed in Angola, in the Health Centre of St.

Malaria relapse and recrudescence among travellers to the tropics.

This study describes 14 cases of relapse and recrudescence of malaria, treated between 1991 and 2003. In that period, 146 patients were hospitalized in the Clinic of the Institute in Gdynia: 20 women and 126 men. In 103 cases the disease was caused by Plasmodium falciparum, in 31 cases by Plasmodium vivax, in 5 cases by Plasmodium malariae, and in 2 cases by Plasmodium ovale.

Psychological evaluation of seafarers.

The CIA Factor Assessment is a psychological testing and related research activities carried out under auspices of Wartsila Land and Sea Academy at WLSA Regional Training Centre in the Philippines in June 2003. The purpose was to evaluate seafarers against their mental and physical health and obtain their charachteristic as individuals and as a group. The CIA (Consciousness, Intuition.

Myocardial infarction (MI) at the work-site among Polish seafarers. The risk and the impact of occupational factors.

Objectives: To study the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) on board ship, the impact of conditions of work on the mortality and survival rate, to analyze the recommendations and possible preventive interventions to reduce the loss of life at the work-site among Polish seafarers and deep-sea fishermen.

Methods: To use various sources of information for the retrospective study of the MI incidence among 11,325 Polish seamen and deep-sea fishermen. To analyse the impact of the marine environment and work-related factors on the course, treatment and prognosis of MI.