Prevalence of antibodies against selected zoonotic agents in forestry workers from eastern and southern Poland

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Due to the nature of their work, foresters are exposed to many infectious pathogens from the wildlife reservoir. The primary aim of this study was to assess their contact with these pathogens.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sera and antibodies, mainly of IgG class against selected infectious factors, collected from a group of 216 employees of National Forests from eastern and southern Poland, were investigated.

RESULTS

Antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum were detected in 64 sera (29.6%), to Bartonella spp. in 133 sera (61.6%), to Babesia microti in 50 sera (23.1%), and to Coxiella burnetii in 14 sera (6.4%); 7 sera (3.2%) were positive to Francisella tularensis. In studies of diseases not carried by ticks positive results were found in 28 sera (12.9%) to Toxocara canis, 13 sera (6.0 %) to Trichinella spiralis, and in 7 sera (3.2%) to Echinococcus granulosus. Antibodies to Hanta viruses were detected with antigens from Puumala and Dobrava/Hantaan strains in both IgM and IgG class. In 9 foresters, positive results were found, including one positive result to 2 antigens, 5 to Dobrava/Hantaan antigen and 3 to Puumala antigen.

CONCLUSION

Frequently higher percentages of positive results were found in people working utdoors, and in men when compared with women.

Obesity and poverty paradox in developed countries

Obesity is a civilization disease and the proportion of people suffering from it continues to grow, especially in the developed countries. Number of obese people in Europe has increased threefold over the last 20 years. The paradox of obesity and poverty relationship is observed especially in the developed and developing countries. In developing countries, along with economic development and income growth, the number of people with overweight and obesity is increasing. This paradox has a relationship with both the easy availability and low cost of highly processed foods containing 'empty calories' and no nutritional value. To date, this paradox has been described in the United States and the United Kingdom, although many European countries are also experiencing high percentages of obese people. Among the reasons for the growing obesity in the population of poor people are: higher unemployment, lower education level, and irregular meals. Another cause of obesity is low physical activity, which among the poor is associated with a lack of money for sports equipment. Due to the large rate of deaths caused by diseases directly linked to obesity, the governments of many countries implement prevention programmes of overweight and obesity. These programmes are based primarily on educating the public about a healthy lifestyle based on healthy eating, daily physical activity and avoiding alcohol and cigarettes.

Allergy to selected cosmetic ingredients

In an era in which cosmetics are commonly used, their often prolonged contact with the human body should determine the safety of their use. Often cosmetics are the cause of many side effects, mainly hypersensitivity reactions. Common groups of cosmetic components responsible for side effects are fragrances, preservatives and dyes. This paper focuses on the most allergenic components.

Allergenic potential of moulds isolated from buildings

INTRODUCTION

Moulds are the one of the known biological factors that have a negative impact on human health. Moulds are commonly present in residential and work environments. Materials plentiful in organic compounds, such as building materials or paints, are a splendid substrate for the development of moulds. The first documented mention of a study describing the harmful effects caused by moulds in buildings emerged in the early nineteenth century. In Copenhagen and then in Padua, moulds of the genus Penicillium, Cladosporium and Mucor were found in buildings.

OBJECTIVE

To present the current state of the allergic properties and other negative health effects caused by moulds isolated from buildings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: The literature and own research clearly shows that moulds and their secondary metabolites can evoke toxic effects on human and animal health, and cause symptoms similar to allergic diseases. These allergens have been noted in spores as well as other fungal fragments; however, most allergens are located in germinating spores, in the hyphal tips and in mycelia. Fungal allergy can express in different ways: asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, urticaria and atopic dermatitis. Fungal allergy antigen is bound to IgE-dependent reactions but also to reactions independent of IgE.

CONCLUSIONS

Moulds are a significant but difficult to detect etiologic agent of different allergic diseases. Prevention of this diseases is important for patients with suspected connection between common allergic symptoms and affinity with moulds.

Analysis of psychoactive and intoxicating substances in legal highs

"Legal highs" known also as "smarts", "legal drugs" or "boosters" contain in their composition psychoactive substances the production, sale and possession of which are not prohibited in legislation. They are offered for sale under the cover of collectors' items, a salt bath, aroma sticks, or plant fertilizer. Marketing was the reason for such high sales of these "highs" in Poland. The phenomenon became of concern when information became available about the first cases of tragic health consequences. Raising the awareness of youth about the level of imminent danger and serious consequences associated with the use of legal highs may be a very effective way to develop appropriate attitudes of young people, and in the light of their own health can help them take proper life decisions."Legal highs" are substances of natural or synthetic origin having psychostimulating properties. These compounds may differ in chemical structure, potency, half-life, metabolism and severity of side effects. Their pharmacological activity is associated with changes in the neurotransmitter system. After higher doses of "legal highs" psychotic symptoms may occur: visual and auditory hallucinations resembling schizophrenic endogenous psychoses. An alarming fact is the underestimation of the adverse effect of these substances on human health. Any actions aimed at improving this situation are extremely important; therefore, in one of the key projects undertaken at the Institute of Rural Health in Lublin, in cooperation with other scientific institutes, concerned the analysis of a selected series of "legal highs". This research was meant top serve as a source of information for science and medicine, and for popularizing knowledge about legal highs.