Evaluation of Knowledge and Self-Awareness of Polish Soldiers Regarding Exposure to Chemical and Physical Factors in Their Place of Service/Work

INTRODUCTION

Soldiers constitute a professional group carrying out their duties in variable, often challenging environmental conditions, including harmful and burdensome ones.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted on a nationwide sample of 1331 soldiers. The research tool was an anonymous questionnaire comprising 48 questions. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the studied group. The chi-square test was employed to examine the relationship between variables. A 95% confidence interval was adopted, with a significance level of p = 0.05.

RESULTS

One in four soldiers work with low and one in five with moderate exposure to harmful chemical factors. Almost 10% of respondents lack knowledge about the types of chemical factors present during their service. One in five soldiers work with low and one in eight with moderate exposure to ionizing radiation. Approximately 5% of survey participants lack knowledge about the types of physical factors. One in three soldiers are unaware of the carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of the aforementioned factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The systematic enhancement of knowledge and awareness among army members will help minimize the consequences of exposure to harmful conditions.

Application of the appropriate molecular biology-based method significantly increases the sensitivity of group B streptococcus detection results

BACKGROUND

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus: GBS) is a leading cause of early- and late-onset diseases in neonates. Reliable results of GBS carriage investigation among pregnant women may decrease the incidence of neonatal infection and mortality.

AIM

To compare the results of conventional culture investigation with those of the US Food and Drug Administration-approved nucleic acid amplification test (BD Max GBS (Becton Dickinson)), and to establish our own protocols of standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

METHODS

A total of 250 vaginal-rectal swabs from three different hospitals in Bydgoszcz, Poland, were used to evaluate GBS carriage. Standard laboratory technique (overnight culture in broth enrichment media) results were compared with those of BD Max GBS assay (Becton Dickinson) and two standard PCR protocols, established to detect the cfb and 16S rRNA S. agalactiae genes, from the overnight cultures of the samples in the liquid enrichment media.

FINDINGS

The overall GBS carriage was estimated as 16.4-23.2%, depending on the applied detection method. The highest percentage of positive results, from each lab-oratory was obtained with the application of BD Max GBS assay. The differences in the number of positive results obtained with this particular method were statistically significant. Overall, 27 discrepancies were noted for the results obtained with the application of the methods compared.

CONCLUSIONS

The methods applied for GBS detection differ in sensitivity. A culture technique, though very specific, appears to be less sensitive at detecting S. agalactiae compared with the commercially available BD Max GBS assay or in-house PCR protocols established for this purpose.

Influence of nifedipine, nitrendipine and verapamil at low concentration on antipyrine metabolism examined by extracorporeal rat liver perfusion

An increase in calcium ion concentration in the cytoplasm due to the influence of various toxic agents causes disturbances in the structure and function of hepatocytes, leading to their damage and even death. Calcium ions enter the cell mostly through calcium channels, therefore, it has been suggested that calcium channel inhibitors (CCI) could protect hepatocytes from the action of toxic substances. The present study investigated the effect of the selected CCI (nifedipine, nitrendipine and verapamil) on liver function, measured by the efficiency of oxidation reaction, in this case by determination of the rate of antipyrine metabolism. The experiment was carried out using the method of extracorporeal liver perfusion (ELP). None of the studied CCI applied at a concentration of 50 micromol/l increased the rate of antipyrine metabolism over the whole period of ELP. However, supplementation of perfusion fluid with nifedipine, nitrendipine or verapamil at a concentration of 20 micromol/l considerably improved metabolic liver efficiency during the second hour of perfusion, i.e. at the time, when large number of hepatocytes started to perish, which could indicate protective action of the tested CCI. However, the CCI-induced acceleration of antipyrine metabolism was not a result of their influence on calcium channels, since these drugs block calcium channels, when given at the concentrations as high as 100-400 micromol/l. Moreover, it seems that facilitation of antipyrine metabolism during ELP was not due to their action on microsomal enzymes because CCI were administered at very low concentrations, besides, they are metabolic inhibitors, and not inducers. The present experiment suggests that low concentrations of CCI can exert hepatoprotective effect. However, confirmation of this conclusion requires further studies using other experimental methods.

[Problems with treatment in patients with tongue and/or floor of the mouth neoplasms]

From 1974 to 1993 in Otolaryngology Department of County Hospital No 1 in Rzeszów, Poland in 98 patients cancers of the oral tongue and/or floor of the mouth have been diagnosed. Pathology examinations revealed squamous cell carcinoma in 98% of the total number of patients. Based on the hospital data and control examinations authors have analyzed retrospectively 42 patients (35 male and 7 female, aged 32-90). Because of the advanced stage of the disease as many as 17 patients have applied only palliative treatment. 13 patients were treated surgically followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, 9 patients were treated with radiation and 3 patients have radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 3, 5, and 10 years survivals have been estimated.

[Tumor of the neck as the primary sign of thyroid cancer]

From 1974 to 1994 in Otolaryngology Department of County Hospital No 1 in Rezszów, Poland in 35 patients tumor of neck derived from thyroid gland has been revealed. There were 22 females and 13 males, aged 16 to 78 (mean age 48), among the patients. Pathology examination of surgery removed tumors has revealed malignancy in 19/35 (54%) cases, non-neoplastic tumors in 11/35 (32%) cases and non-malignant tumors in 5/35 (14%) cases. Among malignant tumors metastasis of papillare adenocarcinoma was the most frequent pathology (37%). Authors analyze feature of the thyroid gland derived tumors based on their size, consistency, localization, mobility, towards surroundings and the picture during surgery. Because of the presence of thyroid gland malignant tumor metastasis without clinical symptoms, author emphasised the necessity of its consideration in differential diagnosis.

[Tracheotomy in inoperable thyroid cancer]

Based on own material of 7 patients and the references authors have presented difficulties of tracheotomy in case of advanced thyroid cancer. Influence of general condition and difficulties connected with local state have been discussed. Authors have described suggestions which facilitate surgery and let to avoid complications.