Ekoinwentyka (Poland)

Candida fungi are among the most common human fungal pathogens and invasive candidiasis is one of the predominant invasive mycoses that mainly affects hospitalized patients with suppression of the immunological system and breaches in skin or mucosal barriers. Rapid diagnosis and implementation of appropriate antifungal treatment are key to achieving recovery. In recent years, attention has been drawn to the increasing significance of Candida species other than C. albicans, in particular C. auris and fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis. The aim of this work was to present the species spectrum and drug susceptibility of 570 Candida strains isolated from candidemia cases diagnosed in patients hospitalized in southern Poland in the period 2017-2022. The results of Candida-positive blood cultures obtained from five hospitals were analyzed. C. albicans was the most common species, accounting for 42.6% of all strains, followed by Nakaseomyces glabratus (formerly C. glabrata) and C. parapsilosis complex-22.1% and 18.8%, respectively. No C. auris was found. Fluconazole resistance was found in 4.9% of C. albicans strains, 34.7% of N. glabratus strains, and 8.7% of C. parapsilosis complex strains.

The paper presents the results of FEM computer simulations of the drawing process on a cylindrical journal of thin-walled CuSn8 alloy tubes. This study demonstrates through FEM simulations that the drawing angle significantly affects the state of stress, strain and tool wear. Regardless of the geometry of the drawing die, greater wear was noted for the cylindrical plug. Increasing the angle of drawing die 2α from 6° to 38° contributed to a slight 5% increase in wear of the drawing dies and more than 80% increase in plug wear. Accelerated tool wear at high angles is to be associated with higher pipe pressures on the drawing die and plug. Inadequate selection of drawing geometry can cause additional material deformation effort and material fracture in the industrial drawing process of thin-walled tubes. After the drawing process, these tubes may also show non-uniform wall thickness. The optimum drawing angle for thin-walled tubes is 2α = 22°, for which about a 10% decrease in the drawing force was recorded.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) in change in hemoglobin levels and need of red blood cell (RCB) transfusion following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TNA) when compared with non-tranexamic acid treatment. Material and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 33 hips and 44 knees between January 2023 and December 2023. Outcome measures were hemoglobin drop (among postoperative first day), need of RBC transfusion, number of RBC units, hemoglobin levels among preoperative, and postoperative 1, 2, and 5 day. Results: Among THA patients, use of TXA compared to the non-TXA group was associated with a reduced need for RBC transfusion (12.5% vs. 32.0%; p = 0.496). Drop in hemoglobin levels within the first postoperative day was significantly greater in the non-TXA group (2.4 ± 1.12) compared to the TXA group (1.48 ± 0.53; p = 0.032). Among TKA patients, drop in hemoglobin levels on the first postoperative day was significantly smaller in the TXA group (1.05) than in the non-TXA group (2.31), with a significant p-value of < 0.001, with the need of RBC transfusion at 20% vs. 83.3%, respectively (p < 0.001). Our study supports the use of TXA as an effective measure to reduce the need for RBC transfusion in patients undergoing THA and TKA. The findings suggest that TXA may contribute to better postoperative outcomes by maintaining higher hemoglobin levels and reducing the need for transfusion.

Introduction and aims: Dental procedures are often difficult for patients causing anxiety/fear. Hypnosis is a state of consciousness, in which a patient’s attention is detached from immediate environment by focusing or involvement to create a hypnotic reality. Virtual Reality is an artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli provide by a computer. Aim of this case report is to use hypnosis during gingivoplasty. Materials and methods: Machine Elf 27 360o Virtual Reality projection in Meta Quest 2 Head-Mounted Display Set with headphones was used during anaesthesia-free laser gingivoplasty in order to optimize the hypnosis effect in general healthy adult patient. Results: Patient felt no pain, did not hear environment sounds around, confirmed, that “smelled something burning”, and felt the entire headset uncomfortable. HMD was a physical obstacle so it did not make the procedure any easier itself for the operator. Conclusion: Machine Elf 27 optimizes VR hypnosis during dental procedure. Clinical relevance: Virtual Reality hypnosis helps in patient’s premedication.

B a c k g r o u n d: Due to current increased life expectancy, the quality of life (QoL) of senior patients is gaining in importance. The aims of this study were: to estimate QoL in a group of patients, aged above 64 years, that is cared for by general practitioners (GPs) in Krakow, Poland, and to find relation- ships between elements of QoL and the results of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and other important medical and social factors. M e t h o d s: We designed a cross-sectional, questionnaire study among patients who attended GPs' surgeries from April 2018 to April 2019. To examine the patients, we used the Euro-Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) and eight scales forming CGA: the Activities of Daily Living, the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Clinical Frailty Scale and Athens Insomnia Scale. R e s u l t s: The lowest QoL was observed in dimensions of pain/discomfort and mobility, where 70% and 52% of patients, respectively, reported problems in these areas. Only 91 (21%) respondents had highest results in all five dimensions of QoL. The average score in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of the EQ-5D-5L (representing self-rated health on a given day) was 62.36 ± 18.98 points. Statistically significant relationships were observed between QoL and age, physical activity and multimorbidity (in all cases p <0.001). The results of QoL were correlated with every aspect of CGA, while the strongest relationship was noticed between scores in the EQ-5D-5L VAS scale and scales assessing depression and frailty (p <0.001; r = -0.57 both).

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This paper presents a tannery industry's water and wastewater management problem. Information has been collected on the volume of water demand and, consequently, wastewater generation in these plants. This made it possible to relate them to the values generated by one of the smaller tanning plants located in Poland. The concentration of the pollutants contained in this wastewater, mainly chromium, was also determined from the study. Management of wastewater is a financial nuisance for small plants. The need to conclude contracts with specialized treatment plants, storage and long-distance transport of sewage, also by the respective companies, generates considerable costs, which may be a limiting factor of the willingness to invest in production. Wort reuse reduces the cost of purchasing chromium as a bath ingredient, reduces the frequency of waste disposal and significantly reduces company costs.

This paper presents the possibility of managing plastic post-production waste, i.e. ordinary and heat-shrinkable film, in the construction sector. For this purpose, two types of lightweight 16 mm aggregate were produced from plastics, using proprietary technology (i.e. polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PET/PVC/OPS (MIX) mixtures). The raw material was sourced from post-production waste, generated during the production of film labels. The results of the experimental testing of aggregate properties (bulk density, grain density, absorbability, compressive strength) are presented, the aggregate being sourced from recycled plastics. This paper presents the physical and mechanical properties of the plastic, as well as other popular lightweight aggregates (Certyd and Kermazyt) used in construction. In addition, the financial efficiency of the production of lightweight aggregate from the by-products of plastic label production was analysed. The economic analysis has shown that the use of plastic waste for the production of lightweight aggregate is rational, not only in terms of environmental protection, but also the financial benefits to companies that generate significant amounts of plastic waste.

Massive bleedings, both internal and external, are among the leading causes of preventable deaths. The research for the appropriate treatment focuses not only on looking for the new drugs but also relies on finding the new indications for the drugs already known in the pharmacotherapy of different disease. However, such an approach requires new protocols in order to be effective. One of the substances in question is tranexamic acid, which uses due to its antifibrinolytic effect is raising both in prehospital and hospital settings.