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Unlabelled: The analysis from the early 1990s showed the iodine deficiency and endemic goitre in whole country. These studies contributed to introduce in 1997 the obligatory model of iodization the table salt. The risk connected with iodine deficiency causes that the monitoring of iodine balance became a very important thing. One of the most important indicators is thyreoglobulin serum concentration. Aim of the study was determination of thyreoglobulin serum concentration as an assessment the efficacy of current model of iodine prophylaxis in random selected group of children and adolescents in Szczecin region., Material and Methods: The study was undertaken in the years 2003-2004. In random selected group of children and adolescents in Szczecin region. The patients administered vitamins or minerals enriched with iodine were excluded from a study. The study included 151 persons aged 9 to 16 years, 80 boys (53%) and 71 girls (47%). Radioimmunometric and radioimmunological methods were used for the determination of thyreoglobulin (Tg) and thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (FTJ concentrations. Iodine excretion with urine was determined on the basis of catalytic Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. Collected data were then analyzed using sophisticated computer-based statistic program., Results: In whole study group mean Tg concentration was 11.97 +/- 7.57 ng/ml. In 69 persons (45%) they were normal, in 82 (55%) were increased: 67 (44%) of them has insignificant increase (low iodine deficiency) and in 15 (11%) were in a range 20-40 ng/ml, what is connected with a mean iodine deficiency. In whole study group mean FT4 concentration was 15.59 +/- 4.72 pmol/l. In a group with normal thyreoglobulin concentrations mean FT4 was 17.69 +/- 4.53 pmol/l and was significantly higher than in a group with insignificant and mean Tg increase and were 15.36 +/- 4.43 pmol/l and 13.72 +/- 4.63 pmol/l, respectively. Mean TSH concentration was 2.23 +/- 0.9 microU/ml and mean iodine concentration was 87.2 +/- 37.5 microg/l. Between TSH serum concentrations and ioduria were no significant differences between the groups. There was significant correlation between thyreoglobulin concentration and FT4 (r(s) = -0.24) and thyrotropin (r(s) = 0.21). No correlation was found between concentration of these hormones and ioduria. Similarly, there was no correlation between thyreoglobulin concentration and iodine urinary excretion., Conclusions: Thyreoglobulin serum concentrations evaluated during the study revealed iodine deficiency in Szczecin region. Correlations between thyreoglobulin concentrations, free thyroxine and thyrotropin make a Tg determination to be more helpful indicator of iodine balance than ioduria.

Unlabelled: The aim of the work was quality of life depending on sex and age. The study included 79 persons, at age 25-70 after first stroke. Examination was provided in home conditions in 3, 6, 12 month after stroke. For evaluation of quality of life used was the London Handicap Scale questionnaire. In the present study quality of life people in the first year after stroke is increasing systematically. Women and younger people have higher adaptation skills for new life situation., Conclusion: quality of life is better in the second part of the first year after stroke.

The study was done in 57 psychoactive drug addicts (18 females and 39 males) who entered a methadone maintenance program in Szczecin. The age of participants ranged from 21 to 49 years (mean 32.14 years) and the mean duration of drug abuse as determined during history-taking was 11.6 years. Some of the patients became addicted at the age of just 11 years. The objectives of this work were: a) to apply segmental analysis of hair for studying psychoactive agents and their derivatives in drug abusers during the acute intoxication phase and maintenance therapy; b) to determine if narcotics found in hair matched with findings during history-taking; c) to check the relevance of toxicological tests for psychoactive drug content in hair for monitoring abstinence in maintenance programs. The material consisted of hair sampled from 57 patients who were visited the Outpatient Department for Drug Abusers of the Regional Mental Care Center in Szczecin (Poland). Opioids (morphine, codeine, 6-mono-acetyl-morphine, methadone) were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS-ITD) and a Varian 3400 gas chromatography (USA) coupled to a mass spectrometer (Magnum ionic trapping system, Finnigan Mat, USA). Amphetamines (EP, MK, MA, AMP, MDA, MDMA, MDEA) were analyzed with a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) system (LC/MS HP-1100, Hewlett-Packard, USA), equipped with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) chamber and dedicated software. Statistical analysis of the results was done. The following conclusions were drawn: toxicological examination of narcotic content in hair is a useful method for studying the history of drug addiction during the period of time equivalent, to the length of hair. Psychoactive substances detected in hair were in most cases consistent with the history of drug abuse. Analysis of psychoactive substances in hair may be applied for identification of addicting drugs and for abstinence control in therapeutic and rehabilitation programs.

The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of lead and cadmium in blood of 83 pregnant women from Szczecin and in umbilical cord blood of their newborns. Mean concentration of lead in women was 2.56 micrograms/dl and in umbilical cord blood was 2.01 micrograms/dl. The mean concentration of cadmium in women was 0.056 microgram/dl and umbilical cord blood was 0.21 microgram/dl. A positive correlation was noted between lead concentration in maternal and umbilical cord blood (r = 0.59). The similar correlation between cadmium concentration in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood was observed. The transplacental gradient for lead was 78.52%, and for cadmium--37.5% respectively.

Hair analysis offers the possibility of revealing an individual's recent history of drug exposure beginning at sampling day and dating back over a period of weeks or months. This feature of hair analysis can be applied in clinical setting for monitoring drug use by addicted patients being rehabilitated. The aim of this study was to apply determination of major opiates and amphetamines in hair to confirm medical interview made by a physician in detoxification and methadone treatment patients. These assays used gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for opiates and liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/MS-APCI) for amphetamines. Most unconfirmed interview data were in the group of detoxification patients. Four methadone patients were negative for opiates.

Hair calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, and iron levels have been determined in 420 children and adolescents, aged between 5 and 18 years, and inhibiting Szczecin area. Levels of these bioelements have been assayed with atomic absorption spectroscopy. Mean magnesium and calcium levels in hair of children from Szczecin area are higher than those in other regions of the country. Magnesium, calcium and zinc levels have been the lowest in hair of children aged between 5 and 9 years, increased with the age, achieving the highest values in adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years. In a 5-year age groups, hair magnesium and calcium levels have been higher in girls than in boys.

A comparative analysis of single and recurrent infant morbidity according to type and course of delivery and to kind of drugs used was performed in this study. A total of 3676 infants born between 1983-1993 was examined. This group was divided into four groups according to date of delivery 1983-1984, 1985-1987, 1988-1990 and 1991-1993). A steady were in the number of spontaneous and cesearian deliveries was noticed. The number of forceps and vacuum extractor deliveries was significantly decreased. A higher morbidity was observed among infants from breech and vacuum deliveries and among those from families with numerous children. Upper respiratory tract infections and allergic dermatitis occurred most frequently. The greathy declining trend of usage for the use of antibiotics in upper respiratory tract and urinary tract infections was observed. The use of two or more antibiotics per therapy was the most common in brachial and lung infections.

The aim of this study was to assess hair magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc levels in breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Our findings showed that concentration of the assayed macro- and trace elements, except copper, were higher in breast-fed children and declined with age, faster in formula-fed children. The frequent occurrence of magnesium deficiency indicates that pregnant women should receive magnesium supplementation.

The magnesium, zinc, copper, iron and calcium level of plasma, erythrocytes, urine and hair in 50 children aged from 4 to 13 years with hyperactivity, were examined by AAS. The average concentration of all trace elements was lower compared with the control group--healthy children from Szczecin. The highest deficit was noted in hair. Our results show that it is necessary to supplement trace elements in children with hyperactivity.

By the method of atomic absorption spectroscopy 135 children living in Szczecin were studied for the content of lead and cadmium in the hair. The obtained results were compared with the levels of other bioelements determined in the hair in the same children. The level of lead in the hair of the studied children was from 0.2 mcg/g to 9.5 mcg/g and was significantly lower than that reported by other authors, while the level of cadmium was not differing significantly. The highest lead concentration in the hair was found in five- and six-year-old children. In children in whom magnesium and zinc deficit was found, high level of lead was present in the hair.

The existence and position of kidneys and suprarenal glands as well as the occurrence of the renal arteries were examined in 347 human fetuses between 3 and 9 months of age. The studies on the course and division variability of the right and left renal arteries were performed in 220 fetuses. The investigations consisted in filling arteries with resin, X-raying and preparing. No absence of a kidney, suprarenal body and renal artery was disclosed. In 2 cases an abnormal position of the right kidney was stated. The renal arteries, both right and left, were most frequently running off from the aorta as single branches, the right one in 190 (86.4%) cases, the left in 152 (69%) cases. Two branches on the right side were recorded in 24 (10.9%) fetuses, and on the left side in 56 (25.5%) fetuses. Three renal branches were stated in 6 (2.7%) on the right side and in 12 (5.5%) fetuses on the left side. In 50.9% of cases the renal arteries were leaving the aorta symmetrically on the same level. In 32.7% the right renal artery was higher and in 2.7%, it was lower than the left one. The horizontal course from the aorta to the kidney hilus of the right renal artery was observed in 83 (37.7%) and of the left one in 99 (45%) of fetuses. In others the renal arteries were running less or more obliquely and downwards. The way, in which the right and left renal arteries are divided into branches, and also the departure places of renal suprarenal ramifications were so different that it is not possible to work out their classifications.

The blood serum of 420 children and young people between 5 and 18 years of age was examined to appoint the content of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper in it. The examination was realized by AAS method. The calcium level was from 54.16 mg/l to 594.28 mg/l; an average was 148.66 +/- 64.61 mg/l. The magnesium level was from 7.78 mg/l to 66.26 mg/l; an average was 21.84 +/- 6.36 and was higher than data in literary output for children from other regions of Poland. The zinc level was from 0.19 mg/l to 2.94 mg/l, on an average 0.92 +/- 0.30 mg/l. The copper level was from 0.23 mg/l to 2.56 mg/l; average was 1.03 +/- 0.34 mg/l. The almost shortages in these bioelements were in children between 10 and 14, the least shortages were in children between 5 and 9. There were most of all children with high zinc level in blood serum in 10-14 years old group.

The authors analysed an incidence of performed exchange blood transfusions at the newborn babies ward prior to and after introduction of phototherapy into practice. This analysis included the causes of jaundice in newborn. The study included the causes of jaundice in newborn. The study involved 8,937 newborn babies delivered between 1981 and 1985. Prior to phototherapy (period between January, 1981 and July, 1980), 45 blood transfusions and 9 retransfusions were performed. During the period II (between July, 1983 and December, 1985), i.e. phototherapy, 30 blood transfusions and 1 retransfusion were effected despite of the higher number of delivered babies. The obtained results have shown favourable effect of the phototherapy in jaundice of perinatal period, especially in jaundice unconnected with blood Rh factor conflict and in premature babies. Phototherapy decreased the number of performed transfusions and retransfusions.