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Exposure to particulate matter is an important risk factor for mental health disturbances and overall mortality. However, the knowledge on relationship between long-term particulate matter level and suicide rate is limited and requires in-depth study. Population and air pollution data were obtained from the Polish Central Statistics Office and Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection for the period 2014–2015. Aspatial multivariate and one factor regression analysis were performed and followed by spatial global regression analysis for district reference units in geographic information system (GIS). At the district level of aggregation, data showed spatial stationarity. The best-fitting spatial global model was based on number of disorders caused by the use of psychoactive substances, number of people treated in psychiatric hospitals, population density, unemployment rate and per capita income. Global spatial model with PM2.5 level parameter was an improvement over the one without it (adj. R2 = 0.87 compared to adj. R2 = 0.83). There is a positive relationship between particular matter concentrations and suicides in Poland. Application of Geographic Information Science analytical functions in medicine can be viewed as a new efficient methodological approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Childhood overweight and obesity have become a global problem in the past three decades. There are very few studies which examine the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the development of otorhinolaryngological diseases in children. The objective of the study was to determine the association between overweight or obesity in children and the occurrence of otorhinolaryngological diseases.Material and methods: The survey study was based on a parent-reported multidisciplinary questionnaire on children's medical status among elementary and junior high school children in the city of Wroclaw, the capital city of Poland's Lower Silesia region. The children were taking part in the pro-health campaign "Let's Get the Kids Moving".Results: The study was conducted among 2,913 children. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the assessment of the children's BMI and the occurrence of adenoid hypertrophy. Adenoid hypertrophy was more common in the overweight and obese children. The children with adenoid hypertrophy had higher BMI than the children without adenoid hypertrophy. There was a statistically significant correlation between BMI and the incidence of adenoidectomy. There was a statistically significant correlation between BMI and the incidence of tonsillectomy.Conclusions: The development and introduction of preventive programs like "Let's Get the Kids Moving" in the future will contribute to building a healthier society. The study findings suggest that primal prevention may lead to a decrease in the development of otorhinolaryngological diseases. We also showed that higher body mass correlates with higher prevalence of otorhinolaryngological diseases. Further studies are needed to establish the etiopathology of this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the PICTURE project is to conduct a comprehensive survey study and laboratory analyses in children and their parents concerning their health status with observation of environmental and social factors influencing lifestyle and occurrence of risk factors. The randomly selected participants (1250 children aged 7-14 years and 1250 parents) were invited to enroll in the study, which started in 2019. Every participant of the study undergoes a questionnaire study, including nutritional and physical activity assessment, and medical examination: anthropometric measurements, ECG, spirometry, audiometry, tympanometry, blood pressure measurement, hand grip strength and body composition. Children are also examined for posture defects using a Podoscan and a scoliometer. Data are obtained in the standardized way, periodically once every two years with annual phone contact. For the purpose of future analyses, the specimens (blood, urine, feces and saliva) are stored in the first integrated biobank in Poland with an ISO 9001:2015 certificate and positive quality assessment in BBMRI-ERIC. Our study aims to create a Wroclaw cohort, which gives an opportunity of longitudinal observation of the impact of societal, behavioral and familial factors and environmental exposure on health outcomes, which will be the basis for targeted preventive programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This review focuses on the frequency of symptoms in COVID-19 in comparison to SARS, influenza and common cold. Objectives. To evaluate and compare the knowledge about the clinical features, symptoms and differences between patients with COVID-19, SARS, influenza, and common cold. The research can help ear, nose and throat specialists and other health practitioners manage patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods. The biomedical databases used in the study included PubMed and MEDLINE. Statistical analysis using the Z-score test assessed which symptoms were more characteristic of COVID-19 than other viral diseases. Results. Among individuals with COVID-19, the most frequently reported symptoms were cough (70%), fever (45%), muscular pain (29%), and headache (21%), whereas sore throat (12%), and rhinorrhea (4%) were observed at lower rates. Fever was identified as most frequent in COVID-19 (74%), appearing at a higher rate in those cases than in influenza (68%) or the common cold (40%) (p < 0.05). In comparison to other viral diseases, sore throat was rarely reported in COVID-19 and SARS (12% and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). In influenza and common cold, a cough was identified in 93% and 80% of cases (p < 0.05). Headache, rhinorrhea, muscular pain, and sore throat were more common in influenza (91%, 91%, 94%, and 84%, respectively) and common cold (89%, 81%, 94%, and 84%, respectively) than in COVID-19 (21%, 4%, 29%, and 12%, respectively) and SARS (45%, 12%, 55%, and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The results of the analysis show that a greater number of general symptoms should lead to a diagnosis of influenza or common cold rather than COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The proximity of the internal carotid artery to the pharyngeal wall poses a risk of injury during nasopharyngeal surgery. Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the distances between the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and the pharyngeal wall. Material and methods. Measurements were taken on certain levels of the pharynx using computed tomography angiography (angio-CT) scans of 97 patients. One-tailed Student's t-test for independent variables and a comparison of expected values for dependent pairs of observations were applied. Results. The shortest distance between the ICA and the pharyngeal wall was 1.1 mm. The ICA is closer to the pharyngeal wall at the epiglottis apex level (16.46 ±0.89 mm) than to the Eustachian tube (ET) (19.8 ±0.62 mm) (p < 0.0005). In women, the ICA is closer to the ET (19.44 ±0.78 mm) than in men (20.17 ±0.96 mm) (p = 0.04). In women, the right ICA is closer to the pharyngeal wall than the left ICA at the level of the lower margin of the 2nd cervical corpus vertebra (C2) (right: 17.6 ±1.8 mm; left: 20.7 ±1.7 mm) (p = 0.002) and at the level of the epiglottis apex (right: 15.2 ±1.7 mm; left: 17.4 ±1.4 mm) (p = 0.028). The bifurcation of the common carotid artery (CCA) is higher in men (19.48 ±2.19 mm below the C2) than in women (21.82 ±1.02 mm) (p < 0.001). When the bifurcation is at the level of the epiglottis apex, the ICA is closer to the pharyngeal wall (12.3 ±1.69 mm) than in other cases (16.46 ±0.89 mm) (p = 0.005). In men, the higher the bifurcation is, the closer the ICA is to the pharyngeal wall at the level of the lower margin of the C2 (p = 0.003). Conclusions. The risk of ICA incision during surgery differs between the pharyngeal levels, genders and sides of the neck. The ICA may be much closer to the pharyngeal wall than described in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility were studied for rapidly cooled 3 mm rods of Zr40Ti15Cu10Ni10Be25, Zr50Ti5Cu10Ni10Be25, and Zr40Ti15Cu10Ni5Si5Be25 (at.%) alloys, as well as for the reference 316L stainless steel and Ti-based Ti6Al4V alloy. Microstructure investigations confirm that Zr-based bulk metallic samples exhibit a glassy structure with minor fractions of crystalline phases. The nanoindentation tests carried out for all investigated composite materials allowed us to determine the mechanical parameters of individual phases observed in the samples. The instrumental hardness and elastic to total deformation energy ratio for every single phase observed in the manufactured Zr-based materials are higher than for the reference materials (316L stainless steel and Ti6Al4V alloy). A scratch tester used to determine the wear behavior of manufactured samples and reference materials revealed the effect of microstructure on mechanical parameters such as residual depth, friction force, and coefficient of friction. Electrochemical investigations in simulated body fluid performed up to 120 h show better or comparable corrosion resistance of Zr-based bulk metallic glasses in comparison with 316L stainless steel and Ti6Al4V alloy. The fibroblasts viability studies confirm the good biocompatibility of the produced materials. All obtained results show that fabricated biocompatible Zr-based materials are promising candidates for biomedical implants that require enhanced mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anomalies of the internal carotid artery (ICA) can increase the risk of haemorrhage during common surgical procedures. The aim of this literature review was to summarize the current state of knowledge on the course of the internal carotid artery in the parapharyngeal space, including the impact of the patient characteristics on the distances between the artery and other anatomical structures, as well as symptoms accompanying the aberrations. Pathologies related to the course of ICA in the parapharyngeal space are common (10%-60% in the general population and up to 84.4% in the elderly). In women, the distances in the oropharynx area are shorter than in men. Although the number of morphological studies is growing, providing more information on this topic, the identified studies differ in the methods and results. Knowledge on the variability in the course of ICA can help identify patients at high risk for the ICA trauma during pharyngeal procedures.

Background: The aim was to collate and contrast patient concerns from a range of different head and neck cancer follow-up clinics around the world. Also, we sought to explore the relationship, if any, between responses to the patient concerns inventory (PCI) and overall quality of life (QOL)., Methods: Nineteen units participated with intention of including 100 patients per site as close to a consecutive series as possible in order to minimize selection bias., Results: There were 2136 patients with a median total number of PCI items selected of 5 (2-10). "Fear of the cancer returning" (39%) and "dry mouth" (37%) were most common. Twenty-five percent (524) reported less than good QOL., Conclusion: There was considerable variation between units in the number of items selected and in overall QOL, even after allowing for case-mix variables. There was a strong progressive association between the number of PCI items and QOL., (© 2019 The Authors. Head & Neck published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Inverted papilloma is a rare, benign sinonasal tumor. Its etiology is the most likely related to HPV infection. Inverted papilloma originates from the ciliated respiratory epithelium, typically from the lateral nasal wall. The tumor is characterized by endophytic growth inwards the stroma with adjacent tissues destruction. The clinical symptoms are non-specific, such as: unilateral obstruction of the nasal duct, rhinorrhoea, epistaxis and anosmia. The treatment consists in a complete surgical excision of the tumor. Inverted papilloma has a tendency to recurrence with incomplete resection and a potential to malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma. This manuscript presents a case of a young woman who suffered from recurrent epistaxis from ulceration of the mucous of the anterior part of the nasal septum. The patient in the interview had indicated the symptoms since six months and unsuccessful treatment with cetirizine. The woman was qualified to a surgical removal of the lesion with a transnasal approach. The histopahtological examination of the sample revealed Papilloma inversum. One-year follow up did not disclose the recurrence of the tumor.

Background: Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors, representing 0.03% of all tumors. Half of them develop in the head and neck, and among these 50% are sporadic cervical tumors., Objectives: The aim of the study was to carry out an epidemiological and clinical analysis of paraganglioma patients diagnosed and treated at the authors' clinics between 1985 and 2014., Material and Methods: The medical data of 47 patients were analyzed. All the patients were qualified for surgery. In 43 cases (88%), simple resection of the tumor was performed, including 11 cases (22%) that additionally required vascular suturing, and 5 (10%) that required reconstruction of the internal carotid artery. Carotid vessel repair was performed by shortening the internal carotid artery in 3 cases (6%), using a saphenous vein graft in 2 cases (4%), and by creating an anastomosis between the external carotid artery and the distal portion of the internal carotid artery in one case (2%)., Results: In 40 cases (82%), the course of treatment was uneventful. Three patients (6%) were reoperated because of symptoms of cerebral stroke. Palsy of the hypoglossal nerve occurred in 3 cases (6%), and facial nerve palsy in 2 patients (4%). Six patients (12%) developed postoperative hematomas in the wound. In all the cases, histopathological examinations confirmed carotid paraganglioma., Conclusions: Cooperation with an otolaryngologist and vascular surgeon during surgery is recommended due to frequent damage to carotid vessels by carotid paragangliomas. Detection of the tumor in the early stages improves surgical treatment outcomes and reduces the number of complications. Regular postoperative check-ups are necessary due to possible occurrences of multiple tumors.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal is a very rare and unusual malignancy, representing less than 0.2% of all head and neck cancers. The authors present a case of 78-year-old patient with bilateral squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal-cT4N0M0 G2, pT4N2bM0, initially treated as a chronic otitis external. The patient was qualifies for the one-step removal of cancer of the earlobe and the external auditory canal. Because of complications during the operation, the plan of treatment was changed. The patient is under oncological control for 13 months., (© 2015 MEDPRESS.)