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In Poland, teleconsultations (TCs) were not legally regulated or even conducted until the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated their abrupt implementation and posed a challenge to patients and doctors. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of TCs and the satisfaction with this mode of consultation among nephrology and kidney transplant outpatients with a high risk of severe courses of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A self-designed questionnaire regarding patients' demographics; digital fluency; and participation in, satisfaction with, and attitude towards TCs was distributed among patients in the nephrology and posttransplant outpatient clinics at two hospitals in central Poland. The questionnaires were completed by 294 adult patients, of whom 72.1% (n = 212) had participated in TCs at one of the abovementioned clinics. Almost all (96.7%) of the TCs were conducted via phone, and in 94.8% of cases, they fulfilled the purpose of the consultation. The most commonly reported advantages were not having to leave home and the reduced risk of infection. Only a few patients felt that TCs offer no advantages. The patients' profiles and demographic data had no significant effect on their assessments of teleconsultations. Despite the overall positive rating given to TCs, patients unhesitatingly indicated that a face-to-face visit would be a preferable way to contact a specialist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a paucity of epidemiological data on biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis (GN) in Poland. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology of renal diseases based on histological diagnosis in the region of Central Poland over the last two decades. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the results of 746 consecutive native kidney biopsies performed in the Caucasian adults from 1990 to 2010 in a single tertiary nephrology center serving an area of Central Poland. Results: Primary GN was found in 81.4% of all biopsies. The mesangioproliferative GN including IgA nephropathy was the most frequent type of primary GN (51.2%). Membranoproliferative GN was diagnosed between 1990 and 2000 more frequently than in the following decade (26.7 vs. 7.3%, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the incidence of FSGS (4.8 vs. 17.3%, p < 0.001) and MCD (5.1 vs. 11.2%, p < 0.001) over time. Secondary GN was documented in 18.6% of biopsies and lupus nephritis was the most frequent cause (34.5%). Conclusion: Our analysis showed the decrease in the incidence of membranoproliferative GN with the parallel increase of FSGS and MCD over the last twenty years. Mesangioproliferative GN including IgA nephropathy remains the most frequent type of GN observed in our region. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Decreased salivation (sialopenia, hyposialia, hyposalivation) causes drying of the oral cavity mucosa (xerostomia) and makes it prone to fungal infections. Aim of the study: 1. To determine the prevalence of fungi in the oral cavity in patients with xerostomia with or without objective hyposalivation. 2. To determine the susceptibility of isolated fungi strains to antifungal drugs. Material and methods: The material was obtained from 42 individuals with xerostomia who reported to the Department of Periodontology and Diseases of the Oral Mucosa at the Medical University of Lodz. The amount of stimulated and unstimulated saliva was measured; the material collected for mycological examination consisted of mouth rinses, with a simultaneous application of Sabouraud liquid medium. Strain differentiating methods developed at the Department of Biology and Parasitology, the Medical University of Lodz were adopted in this examination. Then in vitro sensitivity of the obtained strains to nystatin, miconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole was evaluated using a disc method. Results: The most frequently reported symptoms were: burning tongue, 24-hour dryness, and idiopathic pain of the oral mucosa. The mycological examination revealed the presence of fungi in the oral cavity in 92.9% of patients with objective xerostomia and in 85.7% of patients with subjective xerostomia; a statistically significant differences were found between the groups (p<0.05). C. albicans (81.1%) was the most frequently detected species; other species were observed only in individual cases. The greatest number of isolated strains of all species were sensitive to miconazole and nystatin, and the least number – to fluconazole (statistically significant differences; p<0.05). Conclusions:1. Hyposecretion of saliva causes an increase in the prevalence of Candida species in the oral cavity and the development of the pseudomembranous candidosis. 2. These cases should be primarily treated with locally acting antifungal drugs (miconazole, nystatin) to which fungal strains are highly sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate condition of the periodontium in pregnant women with pathological progress of the pregnancy, clinically and to compare it to periodontium in pregnant women in good health., Design: Over the last years, the studies have described that periodontitis caused by dental plaque, could be the risk factor for preterm birth and low birth weight., Materials and Methods: This study was performed in 80 pregnant women, 40 with pathologic pregnancy and 40 with normal pregnancy in it. Periodontal Indexes were used to evaluate periodontium., Results: In the searching group gingivitis gravidarum haemorrhagica diffusa and hyperplastica generalisata were dominating. In the control group gingivitis gravidatum simplex and hyperplastica localisata were observed., Conclusions: More severe manifestation of gingivitis gravidarum was noticed in pregnant women with risk of preterm low birth. We did not prove correlation between amount of bacterial dental plaque in pregnant women and risk of preterm low birth weight.

Analyse of fungi prevalence and their species in the digestive tract of adult persons and children. 1081 faecal sample were examined, 723 from adult persons and 358 from children. Fungal strains were recovered in 67.9% samples from adult persons and in 69.8% from children. There were found 8 species of fungi: Candida albicans, C. famata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. kefyr, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The aim of study was to analyse fungi prevalence in three ontocenoses (vagina, oral cavity and anus) in women during procreation period, which should be helpful in developing prophylactic programmes for pregnant womem, newborns and infants infected with fungi. In 716 examined women (age 20-45 years), 1411 samples of appropriate biological materials were taken and inoculated in the fluid Sabouraud medium and then axenic fungi strains were isolated in Sabouraud agar. High fungi prevalence in three ontocenoses of examined women was noted. Mean percentage for ontocenosis was: 39% +/- 1.8% for vagina, 42.18% +/- 1.8% for oral cavity and 25.03 +/- 1.6% for anus. These data indicate the necessity for further examinations of multifocal fungal infection in women during procreation period.

Pregnancy is considered a factor of vulvovaginal mycosis. Secretion of hydrolases is an important determinant of Candida virulence. Thus, the aim of the study was to found the relationship between activity of 19 hydrolases in fungi isolated from vagina of pregnant women and symptoms of mycosis. 251 pregnant women were examined. Samples were collected from vagina and cultured on Sabouraud media. Activity of hydrolytic enzymes was evaluated using API ZYM (bioMerieux) test Fungi were found in 20.1% of vaginal samples. Symptoms were detected in 45.8% of women. Only 32.1% of women with discharge and 26.4% with pruritus had mycosis. Out of the 19 examined hydrolazes, 13 active enzymes were detected in fungal strains. We found for the first time the relationship between activity of fungal esterase lipase and the presence of vaginal discharge in pregnant women.

The aim of the study, from 1996 to 1999, was to investigate the serological course of prevalence Toxoplasma gondii in 985 women of procreation period. In non - pregnant women the incidence of Toxoplasma gondii specific IgG was significantly higher (59.0 +/- 1.9%) than in pregnant women (43.4 +/- 2.8%). Specific IgM was less frequent (from 1.47 +/- 1.02% to 1.76 +/- 0.66%).

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of fungi in monofocal and multifocal infections in pregnant women. 251 pregnant women were examined for presence of fungi in vagina, oral cavity and rectum. Fungal strains were recovered in 259 out of 753 samples (49.2% of all pregnant women). Presence of fungi in vagina was associated with the invasion of oral cavity and/or rectum in 98% of all women. Monofocal vulvovaginal mycosis was found only in 1.9% of the cases. Bifocal infections depended on the ontocenoses: vagina - oral cavity (32.1%); vagina--rectum (7.5%); oral cavity--rectum (13.2%). Trifocal infections (vagina - oral cavity--rectum) occurred in 58.5% of all examined women.

Search for Trichomonas vaginalis was carried out in direct (in 0.85% NaCl and 0.1% safranine) and fixed stained microscopical preparations ( Wright or Giemsa methods, after fixation with 70% methyl alcohol) and cultures ( Pavlova, Johanson-Trussel-John, Roiron-Ratner, Simic media), from materials of the vagina, urethra and cervix uteri. In the years 1955-1999 a total of about 12000 women were examined. The prevalence of T. vaginalis in women population of Lódź region was high (from 26.6% still 78.0%); on the last ten years in about half of the sample examined women were infected of T. vaginalis.

Protozoa and fungi of the oral cavity, although frequently occuring and connected with considerable clinical adverse effects, are as yet insufficiently known. The aims of the study were to estimate the prevalence of common invasions of Trichomonas tenax and fungi, to associate the symptoms with the diagnosis of trichomonosis complicated by mycosis and to determine trichomonacidal properties of ornidazole, tinidazole and metronidazole. 936 dentist patients with different diagnoses were included into the study. The collected material consisted of rinsings, with simultaneous application of selective media, different for protozoa and for fungi 6ultures. Among the examined patients T. tenax was found in 90 cases including 85 cases where it occurred together with fungi (11 species), on the basis of which the diagnosis of trichomonosomycosis of the oral cavity was established. It was the most often in patients with leukoplakia and Lichen Wilsoni. We received a statistically significant association (0.001

Protozoa and fungi of the oral cavity, although frequently occurring and connected to considerable clinical adverse effects, are as yet insufficiently known. The aims of the study were (i) to estimate the prevalence of common invasions of Trichomonas tenax and fungi, (ii) to associate the symptoms with the diagnosis of trichomonosis complicated by mycosis, and (iii) to determine trichomonacidal properties of ornidazole, tinidazole and metronidazole. A sample of 936 dentist patients with different diagnoses were included in the study. The collected material consisted of rinsings, with simultaneous application of selective media, different for protozoa or fungi cultures. Using ornidazole, tinidazole and metronidazole, we examined in vitro their influence on 30 strains of T. tenax. Among the examined patients T. tenax was found in 90 cases including 85 cases where it occurred together with fungi, on the basis of which diagnosis of trichomonosis complicated by mycosis of the oral cavity was established. It was the most frequent in patients with leukoplakia and lichen Wilsoni. We recorded a statistically significant association for T. tenax with fungi and xerostomia, burning sensation, periodontal pockets and denuded teeth. T. tenax was never found in patients with caries and with aphtha recidivans. The curves of ornidazole activity were obtained within the solution range of 130-4350 micrograms/ml; the curves of tinidazole activity within the concentration range of 500-16870 micrograms/ml; metronidazole in the highest concentration killed from 5 to 100% of the population of all strains.

19,024 girls (aged: from 0 to 18) attending the Pediatric Gynaecology Outpatient Department and the Center for Treatment of Parasitic and Mycotic Diseases were examined. The diagnosis of infection with T. vaginalis was based on preparations using various methods and cultures on specific media, from vaginal content and urine. It was found that the frequency of T. vaginalis invasions in girls had lessened 2-6 times in different groups from 1960 till 1985 and the higher percent of T. vaginalis in girls over 10 years old had been observed than in younger ones. There exists the statistically significant correlation (P less than less than 0.02) between T. vaginalis invasions in girls and other persons from their environment (families).

In patients with periodontium lesions infected and not infected with Trichomonas tenax the following indices were analysed: caries index, Russell's index (+periodontal diseases), Greene-Vermillions index (oral hygiene). No statistically significant differences were found between infected and non-infected groups as regards caries and oral hygiene. Russell's index showed considerable differences between the groups of subjects.