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Relationship satisfaction is one of the key elements affecting overall life satisfaction. This study aimed to identify significant predictors of relationship satisfaction in young adults in a romantic relationship. The study was questionnaire-based, involving 237 young adults who were currently in a relationship. Three self-rating scales were used: CSI-32 Relationship Satisfaction Scale, Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale. Sexual satisfaction proved to be a main predictor of relationship satisfaction in both sexes. For women, interpersonal closeness was additionally important, with a sense of closeness found to be even more important than sexual satisfaction for women cohabiting with their partners. Cohabiting people are generally more satisfied with their relationship, and a higher level of closeness and applied caresses can additionally be observed in them. In contrast, the relationship length appeared to matter only for men living with their partner: they were more satisfied with the relationship at the beginning of the relationship, and then their level of satisfaction declined. Relationship satisfaction in young adults appears to be determined by other factors depending on gender and cohabitation status. Nevertheless, at this age, sexual satisfaction proves to be one of the most critical factors for a sense of relationship satisfaction., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

People's opinions on immunization are diverse. Despite the constant improvement of vaccine formulas, the number of people reluctant to immunize is not decreasing. The purpose of our study is to assess the psychological determinants of immunization reluctance in depth. We measured levels of anxiety (death-related and general), fear of COVID-19, self-esteem and resilience among 342 adults. We found that the level of COVID-19 related fear is higher among the vaccinated population, despite general anxiety levels being lower. Surprisingly we didn't find significant differences in resilience and self-esteem levels. Findings are concurrent with previous research-COVID-19 related fear level is higher among vaccinated people. Resilience and self-esteem are defined as stable, trait-like constructs, and thus may not manifest higher levels in very specific pandemic situations, although they may lower the levels of general anxiety.

Introduction: Shoulder pain and alterations in the range of motion are common disorders in tennis players. However, the relation between shoulder structures and these conditions is unknown., Aim: To evaluate whether, using ultrasonography, one can identify tennis players with shoulder pain and those having specific changes of the range of rotation of the glenohumeral joint., Material and Methods: A total of 66 subjects were assessed through examination of the range of rotation of the glenohumeral joint and ultrasonography., Results: The study group consisted of 37 people with shoulder pain (24.2 ±8.6 years) and the control group included 29 subjects without shoulder pain (21.9 ±10.8 years). The prevalence of pathologies of the supraspinatus (SSP), infraspinatus (ISP) or subscapularis (SSC) was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p = 0.044) but solely for the combined pathologies. The incidence rate of pathological shoulder changes (the SSP, ISP, SSC and the subacromial bursa) was not correlated with the ranges of rotations or intensity of pain. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD), total rotational motion (TROM) deficit and external rotation deficiency (ERD) were independent of pathological shoulder changes, except the significantly higher prevalence of SSP pathologies among subjects with ERD., Conclusions: Ultrasonography could be helpful in identifying tennis players with painful shoulder having rotator cuff pathologies. However, the ability of the method to identify players having specific changes of the range of rotation of the glenohumeral joint is limited, with the exception of tennis players with ERD having SSP pathologies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

On the basis of a study of 218 control subjects in 10-year age groups the authors determined the mean levels and critical values of certain serum lipid components (cholesterol, triglycerides, beta-lipoproteins, esterified fatty acids and total lipids). Forty-two subjects were isolated (11.2%) with hyperlipoproteinaemia. Other atherosclerosis risk factors were determined in them as well. Hypertension was found in 19%, diabetes in 7%, obesity in 14%, smoking in 43%. The authors discuss the criteria qualifying the patients to the control group in the studies on lipid metabolism.

The authors observed a case with favourable outcome in which besides the axial signs of Opalski syndrome crossed paresis of extremities and bladder disturbances were present. The substrate of clinical manifestations was a submedullary focus spreading to invole pyramid decussation.

In 195 patients with strokes the authors determined in the fourth week of the disease the levels of cholesterol, total lipids, beta-lipoproteins, esterified fatty acids and triglycerides. This study demonstrated that the group of strokes was not homogeneous. Lipid metabolism disturbances were found in 52% of the patients, and in 48% the values of lipids were normal, that is below the critical level. The greatest lipid metabolism changes were observed in 65 patients (33%), and in this group the level of at least one of the determined lipids exceeded greatly the critical value. The authors believe that this group comprised subjects with primary or secondary hyperlipidaemia (according to the criteria of Fredricksen). Analysing the group of strokes as a whole (patients with and without lipid metabolism disturbances) it was demonstrated that the greatest number of patients had raised cholesterol level - 34%, followed by total lipid level - 31%, triglyceride level - 27%, esterified fatty acids - 24%, beta-lipoproteins - 21%.

The examination of patients with Myasthenia gravis revealed that before thymectomy the number of T and B cells in the peripheral blood did not deviate from the norm. It was also observed that their sera contained factor stimulating T lymphocytes to the spontaneous rosette formation, theta antigen generation in xynogeneic system and hydrocortisone-resistant thymocytes. No factor inhibiting the spontaneous rosette formation by T lymphocytes or causing the transmission from Thy-1.2+ cells to Thy-1.2-cells was detected in these sera. Thymectomy resulted in the immediate fall of T lymphocytes number in the peripheral blood of the patients examined. Besides, serum of most patients almost totally lost the stimulating factor. The fall of T cells number did not involve the appearance of the inhibitory factor in the patients' serum. Different than in others results gave blood and serum analysis in the patient tymectomized 10 years earlier. Her blood contained the normal number of T and B lymphocytes and the stimulatory factor of a "limited" activity. It displayed only the ability of generating hydrocortisone-resistant cells, it appeared nonactive in generating theta antigen or restoring the ability of rosette formation by T cells.

In 27 patients with myasthenia thyroid function tests were done using radioassay methods. The levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine-binding protein (BT4) and thyrotrophic hormone (TSH) were determined simultaneously in the serum. In 4 myasthenics the levels of T3 and T4 were determined after administration of exogenous TSH (Ambinon). The control group comprised 13 subjects without thyroid function disturbances. The investigations demonstrated a statistically significant decrease of T4 (at p less than 0.05) and T3 (at p less than 0.01) in myasthenia as compared with the control group. Administration of TSH raised the T3 level by 40% and that of T4 by 6%. The results obtained by the authors indicate presence of secondary hypothyroidism in myasthenia possibly due, to failure of the hypophyseo-hypothalamic system.

Fifty patients with myasthenia were followed up, including 26 surgically treated cases (thymectomy) and 24 conservatively treated ones. Improvement was obtained after thymectomy in 10 cases (73%) and in 12 (50%) conservatively treated cases. Sixteen patients died, including 6 (23%) treated surgically and 10 (41.6%) treated conservatively. Good results of surgical and conservative treatment were observed in cases with mild or moderately severe course. In severe cases of myasthenia (with respiratory disturbances) surgical and conservative treatment was ineffective. Thymectomy should be carried out early before appearance of respratory failure.

In a 48-year-old female patient with hyperthyroid nodular goitre the syndrome of acute thyreotoxic encephalopathy of Waldenström was observed. The syndrome comprised quantitative disturbances of consciousness, psychosis, pyramidal and bulbar sings as well as presence of generalized myopathy. The EEG was pathological, corresponding to the state of consciousness disturbances. Treatment of hyperthyroidism led to complete remission of CNS disturbances and considerable decrease in the intensity of myopathy.

In 2 daughters of healthy parents severe myasthenia with involvement of the eye muscles, bulbar muscles and extremities developed at the age of 20 and 28 years. In both patients persistent thymus was demonstrated. The authors suggest that familial occurrence of myasthenia does not seem to be coincidental; there may be a relationship with genetically determined HL-A system.

Risk factors were compared in 300 patients with brain stroke and 120 patients with neurosis or sciatic pains. It was found that arterial hypertension (p = 0.001) and diabetes (p = 0.01) were significantly more frequent in cases of brain stroke. Disturbances of lipid metabolism, tobacco smoking and obesity showed no significant difference. Extracerebral atherosclerosis (p = 0.001) increased the risk of stroke. Coronary arterial disease was most frequent (48.8%), myocardial infarction (8.3%) and calcifications in the aorta (32%) were second and third in frequency. Presence of at least two risk factors may be an indication to prophylactic treatment.