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Background: Sleep bruxism (SB) is a common sleep-related movement behavior with a multifaceted etiology and a deficiently understood pathophysiology. A recent hypothesis suggests a link between SB and systemic inflammation. The scope of the study was to determine whether bruxers have altered sleep structure and different levels of inflammatory parameters compared to nonbruxers. Methods: A total of 83 adults underwent full-night polysomnography. The polysomnograms were evaluated using the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) guidelines. Then, the blood samples were obtained from the participants by venipuncture and the analyses were performed. The study group was divided based on bruxism episode index (BEI) into two groups: BEI ≤ 4 and BEI > 4. Results: In comparison with nonbruxers, the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was significantly higher in severe bruxers (7.5 ± 11.08 vs. 3.33 ± 5.75, p < 0.005), as well as the arousal parameters (7.77 ± 4.68 vs. 4.03 ± 2.97, p < 0.001), and the mean oxygen desaturation (3.49 ± 0.69 vs. 3.01 ± 0.67, p < 0.05). Moreover, the differences in sleep architecture and deprivation of the deep sleep phase were observed, the non-REM sleep stage 3 was significantly shorter in severe bruxers (p < 0.03). Differences were also noted in non-REM sleep stage 1 and REM sleep phase. In the investigated group, there were no statistical differences in inflammatory cytokines levels between bruxers and nonbruxers. Conclusions: Sleep bruxism is associated with sleep structure alterations and may be associated with deep sleep phase deprivation. The inflammatory markers are not linearly correlated with the severity of sleep bruxism expressed as BEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Lymphangiomas, also known as cystic hygromas or cystic lymphangiomas, are cystic abnormalities of the lymph vessels and they are rare benign tumors. Tracheal bronchus (Bronchus suis or “pig bronchus”) is a very rare congenital anomaly. The aim of this work is to present а very rare case of а lymphangioma with tracheal bronchus. Case outline. The article presents the rare case of a 35-year-old otherwise healthy man, who was admitted to our thoracic surgery department with a mediastinal tumor. On performing bronchoscopy a tracheal bronchus was found. A thoracic CT scan revealed a well-circumscribed mass in the superior and anterior mediastinum measuring 37 x 39 x 59 mm. First a Carlens mediastinoscopy, and then a right parasternal Chamberlain mediastinotomy were performed. The final pathological diagnosis of lymphangioma was made. In this case, surgery was not performed because the patient was asymptomatic and the tumor did not grow larger during follow-up. Conclusion. The lymphangioma of the mediastinum in an adult is a rare and benign condition with a good prognosis, but it should be considered in a differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors. We recommend only a minimally invasive diagnostic approach (parasternal mediastinotomy) when the patient is asymptomatic.

Introduction. Meckel’s diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastro intestinal tract, present in about 2% of population. Case Outline. The article presents the case of a 44-year-old otherwise healthy man with anemia, who was diagnosed lower gastrointestinal bleeding. An abdominal CT scan revealed a clearly demarcated solid tumor in hypogastric region, measuring 65 Ч 45 mm. A laparotomy through lower midline incision was performed. A surgical resection of a lesion of a Meckel’s diverticulum was carried out and a final diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor was made. The patient made an uneventful recovery. Conclusion. The preoperative diagnosis of a complicated Meckel’s diverticulum may be challenging. CT is usually an adequate method to diagnose tumors arising from Meckel’s diverticulum.

Sleep bruxism (SB) is a sleep-related behavior characterized as rhythmic (phasic) or non-rhythmic (tonic) masticatory muscle activity. SB is a common sleep behavior with a predominantly central origin. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the relationship between inflammatory status and SB according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 (PRISMA 2020). The research was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023395985). We performed a systematic literature analysis using five different databases. Furthermore, the backward snowballing technique was applied to identify additional papers. Initially, 28 papers were screened from the database search, and 162 papers were revealed in the backward snowballing process. Eventually, five articles were included. Data concerning the inflammatory status of patients experiencing SB were investigated and summarized. Due to the heterogeneity of the compared studies, only a qualitative comparison and narrative summary were performed. The results suggest that SB could be associated with systemic inflammation. In fact, this systematic review revealed that there are no papers conclusively showing that the inflammatory status in bruxers is comparable to non-bruxers. However, each of the examined studies utilized different methods of assessing systemic inflammation, which makes the results dubious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma sodium plays a major role in regulating blood pressure (BP). An augmented variability of BP is considered a risk factor for the development of arterial hypertension, which is prevalent among patients with suspected sleep bruxism (SB). The aims of this study were to assess the plasma concentration of electrolytes and their effect on the intensity of SB and BP variability among sleep bruxers. A total of 51 patients were enrolled in this prospective, observational study. A single full-night polysomnographic examination was conducted in the Wroclaw Medical University Sleep Laboratory, Poland, and based on the guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the results were analyzed. The monitoring of ambulatory BP was performed the next day, and the plasma levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium were measured. The mean age of the studied group was 33.9 ± 11.2 years, and the mean bruxism episode index (BEI) was 4.94 ± 3.53. The study revealed statistically significant differences in the plasma concentrations of sodium in the SB group. A decreased sodium concentration was observed in the group of mild bruxers (2 ≤ BEI < 4) (139.7 ± 1.4 vs. 142.8 ± 3.2, p = 0.002) and severe bruxers (BEI ≥ 4) (140.5 ± 2.0 vs. 142.8 ± 3.2, p = 0.016) compared to nonbruxers (BEI < 2). A statistically significant positive linear correlation was found between plasma sodium concentration and daytime systolic BP variability (r = 0.32, p < 0.05) as well as between plasma sodium concentration and nighttime diastolic BP variability (r = 0.31, p < 0.05). The preliminary results suggest the probable relationship between the lower plasma concentration of sodium and increased intensity of SB and BP variability among suspected sleep bruxers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep bruxism (SB) is a repetitive jaw muscle activity characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth, which is classified under sleep-related movement disorders in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders—Third Edition. Because the potential common pathomechanism of SB and arterial hypertension is the activation of the sympathetic system as well as an increase in inflammatory factors, we aimed to examine the intensity of SB and the sleep architecture among patients with arterial hypertension. The study included a total of 91 Caucasian adult patients, among whom 31 had arterial hypertension diagnosed according to the current European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension (ESC/EHS) hypertension guidelines. The control group consisted of 61 normotensive patients. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea were excluded. A single full-night polysomnographic examination was conducted in the Sleep Laboratory, and then the results were analyzed based on the guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Bruxism episode index (BEI) was higher in the hypertensive group compared to normotensives. The groups also showed statistically significant differences in polysomnographic sleep indexes. Similar to BEI, arousal index, apnea–hypopnea index, and snoring were higher in hypertensives compared to normotensives. On the other hand, the mean and minimal oxygen saturation were lower in hypertensives compared to normotensives. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between oxygen desaturation index and BEI in the hypertensive group, whereas this correlation was not statistically significant in the case of normotensives. In summary, nonapneic hypertensives had higher SB intensity, altered sleep architecture, decreased mean oxygen saturation, and increased snoring compared to normotensives. The results suggest that dental screening is necessary for patients with arterial hypertension, especially those presenting with the symptoms of SB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with pulmonary diseases often experience fatigue. Severe fatigue is associated with a worse health status and worse physical and social functioning. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between fatigue and quality of life in patients with nonmalignant pulmonary diseases. Methods: The St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was used to assess health status and the Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) to measure the level of fatigue. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to test for normal distribution. Correlations were described as Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results: The study included 200 consecutive patients (mean age, 57.7) with the following diagnoses: COPD (26%), asthma (36%), obstructive sleep apnoea (19%), pneumonia or bronchitis of various aetiologies (8.5%), bronchiectasis (2.5%), interstitial lung disease (3%). The mean score in the SGRQ was 44.62 ± 24.94. The mean score in the MFIS was 28.64 ± 15.8. The strongest correlations appeared between quality-of-life scales and fatigue as measured by physical functioning (symptoms r = 0.622; activity r = 0.632; impact r = 0.692; p < 0.001 for all subscales); however, all the correlations between SGRQ and MFIS were significant. Conclusions: Patients with chronic pulmonary diseases were revealed to have a reduced level of quality of life and an increased level of fatigue. The negative influence of fatigue on quality of life highlights the need for careful and routine assessment of this symptom in pulmonary patients. Treating fatigue may improve quality of life and increase the ability of patients with chronic pulmonary diseases to perform activities in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension affects about 80% of people older than 80 years; however, diagnosis and treatment are difficult because about 55% of them do not adhere to treatment recommendations due to low socioeconomic status, comorbidities, age, physical limitations, and frailty syndrome. Aims: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the influence of frailty on medication adherence among elderly hypertensive patients and to assess whether other factors influence adherence in this group of patients. Methods and results: The study included 296 patients (mean age 68.8±8.0) divided into frail (n=198) and non-frail (n=98) groups. The Polish versions of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) for frailty assessment and 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale for adherence assessment were used. The frail patients had lower medication adherence in comparison to the non-frail subjects (6.60±1.89 vs 7.11±1.42; P=0.028). Spearman's rank correlation coefficients showed that significant determinants with negative influence on the level of adherence were physical (rho =-0.117), psychological (rho =-0.183), and social domain (rho =-0.163) of TFI as well as the total score of the questionnaire (rho =-0.183). However, multiple regression analysis revealed that only knowledge about complications of untreated hypertension (β=0.395) and satisfaction with the home environment (β=0.897) were found to be independent stimulants of adherence level. Conclusion: Frailty is highly prevalent among elderly hypertensive patients. Higher level of frailty among elderly patients can be considered as a determinant of lower adherence. However, social support and knowledge about complications of untreated hypertension are the most important independent determinants of adherence to pharmacological treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low adherence to pharmacological treatment is often associated with poor blood pressure control, but identification of nonadherent patients in outpatient settings is difficult. The aim of the study was to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the structured self-report eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) among patients with hypertension. The study was conducted in a family doctor practice between January and July 2015. After a standard "forward-backward" procedure to translate MMAS-8 into Polish, the questionnaire was administered to 160 patients with hypertension. Reliability was tested using a measure of internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test-retest reliability. Validity was confirmed using known group validity. Three levels of adherence were considered based on the following scores: 0 to <6 (low); 6 to <8 (medium); and 8 (high). Complete questionnaires were returned by 110 respondents (mean age: 60.7 years ±12.6; 54.6% were female). The mean number of pills taken daily was 3.61±4.31. The mean adherence score was 6.42± 2.0. Moderate internal consistency was found (Cronbach's α=0.81), and test-retest reliability was satisfactory (r=0.461-0.905; P<0.001). Reproducibility expressed by Cohen's ? coefficient =0.61 was good. In high-adherent patients, the percentage of well-controlled blood pressure was higher than in low-adherent patients (33.3% vs 19.1%, χ²=0.87, P=0.648). Psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of the MMAS-8 indicates that it is a reliable and valid measure tool to detect nonadherent patients. The MMAS-8 may be routinely used to support communication about the medication-taking behavior in hypertensive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is the major cause of oncologic-related death worldwide. Due to delayed diagnosis, 5-year survival rate accounts for only 15%. Treatment includes surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy; however, it is burdened by many side effects. Progress of the disease, severity of its symptoms, and side effects decrease significantly the quality of life (QoL) in those patients. The level of self-assessed QoL helps in predicting survival, which is especially important among patients receiving palliative care. Patients assess their functioning in five dimensions (physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and life roles), severity of symptoms, financial problems, and overall QoL. The QoL in lung cancer patients is lower than in healthy population and patients suffering from other malignancies. It is affected by the severity and the number of symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, dyspnea, cough, pain, and blood in sputum, which are specific for lung tumors. Fatigue and respiratory problems reduce psychological dimension of QoL, while sleep problems reduce cognitive functioning. Physical dimension (related to growing disability) decreases in most of the patients. Also, most of them are unable to play their family and social roles. The disease is a frequent reason of irritation, distress, and depression. Management of the disease symptoms may improve QoL. Controlling the level of fatigue, pulmonary rehabilitation, and social and spiritual support are recommended. Early introduction of tailored palliative treatment is a strategy of choice for improvement of QoL in lung cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gathers data on the most current aspects of arsenic action, especially its influence on the cardiovascular system, blood and bone marrow. A potential carcinogenic mechanism of arsenic is also discussed. Arsenic is a potent toxicant that may exist in several valencies and in a number of inorganic and organic forms. Most cases of arsenic-induced toxicity in humans are due to exposure to inorganic arsenic, and there is an extensive database on the human health effects of common arsenic oxides and oxyacids. Exposure of humans living near hazardous waste sites may involve inhalation of arsenic dusts in the air, ingestion of arsenic in water, food or soil, or dermal contact with contaminated soil or water. The exposure to arsenic via the inhalation route is responsible for the increased risk of lung cancer, although respiratory irritation, nausea and skin effects may also occur. The oral route of exposure to arsenic predominates in the general population. The most common effects of arsenic ingestion are gastrointestinal irritation, peripheral neuropathy, vascular lesions, anemia, skin diseases, including skin cancer and other cancers of the internal organs like bladder, kidney, liver or lung. Relatively little information is available on the effects of direct dermal contact with inorganic arsenicals, but several studies indicate local irritation and dermatitis as the major ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and arterial hypertension (AH) are closely linked disorders with common pathophysiological features., Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between AH and OSA by examining sleep architecture, vitamin D concentration and electrolyte levels in patients with these coexisting conditions., Material and Methods: A total of 133 patients suspected of having OSA were recruited for examination. The participants were divided into 2 groups: hypertensives (n = 52); and normotensives (n = 81). One full-night polysomnographic examinations were conducted, followed by the statistical analysis of the collected data., Results: Hypertensive individuals displayed increased apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), respiratory arousal index (RAI), and periodic limb movement index (PLMI) as compared to non-hypertensive individuals. Moreover, sleep efficiency (SE), the bruxism arousal index (BAI) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) level were decreased in the hypertensive group. In terms of biochemical parameters, hypertensive individuals exhibited a lower magnesium (Mg) level, and higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid (UA) and glucose. Notably, there were no statistical differences in vitamin D concentration between hypertensive and normotensive individuals., Conclusions: The study explored the potential influence of calcium (Ca), Mg, vitamin D, and UA concentrations on the sleep architecture of patients with comorbid AH and OSA. The findings revealed several notable associations. Firstly, sleep fragmentation correlated with Ca level, suggesting a potential role for both Ca and vitamin D in sleep arousals. Secondly, a higher UA concentration was linked to a higher AHI and increased sleep fragmentation. Additionally, alterations in Mg concentration were observed among hypertensive individuals with OSA. However, further research is needed to fully comprehend the potential impact of these factors on the sleep architecture of hypertensive individuals with apnea.