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Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of multimorbidity and co-existed diseases in hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) in relation to age and gender., Methods: The nationwide cross-sectional survey had been conducted in Poland (April-November 2013), in 260 randomly selected hospital wards. A trained nurse contacted with one physician, drawn from the list of all doctors working in the selected hospital's wards, who completed the study questionnaires regarding to clinical characteristics of the last five HF patients, who were discharged from an internal or cardiology ward., Results: Mean age ± SD of the patients was 72.1 ± 10.1 years, 50% were female but the women were significantly older than men. Criterion of multimorbidity met almost 100% of the HF patients. There were no significant differences in the number of co-existed cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV diseases according to gender, but different clinical profile of HF men and women was observed. Women more frequently had thyroid disease, peripheral artery disease and cognitive impairment, whereas men was characterized by higher prevalence of cardiac, pulmonary and hepatic diseases. The co-morbidity significantly increased with age, notably due to increasing prevalence of non-CV diseases. Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypercholesterolemia and anemia were the most common non-CV diseases. Among HF patients, 83% suffered from three or more co-morbidities., Conclusions: The study confirms, that multimorbidity is a considerable problem in patients with HF. Besides age, multimorbidity pattern is strongly dependent on gender. The multidisciplinary approach is warranted in particular in elderly subjects who su er from HF.

Exposure to artificial radio frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has increased significantly in recent decades. Therefore, there is a growing scientific and social interest in its influence on health, even upon exposure significantly below the applicable standards. The intensity of electromagnetic radiation in human environment is increasing and currently reaches astronomical levels that had never before experienced on our planet. The most influential process of EMF impact on living organisms, is its direct tissue penetration. The current established standards of exposure to EMFs in Poland and in the rest of the world are based on the thermal effect. It is well known that weak EMF could cause all sorts of dramatic non-thermal effects in body cells, tissues and organs. The observed symptoms are hardly to assign to other environmental factors occurring simultaneously in the human environment. Although, there are still ongoing discussions on non-thermal effects of EMF influence, on May 31, 2011--International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)--Agenda of World Health Organization (WHO) has classified radio electromagnetic fields, to a category 2B as potentially carcinogenic. Electromagnetic fields can be dangerous not only because of the risk of cancer, but also other health problems, including electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is a phenomenon characterized by the appearance of symptoms after exposure of people to electromagnetic fields, generated by EHS is characterized as a syndrome with a broad spectrum of non-specific multiple organ symptoms including both acute and chronic inflammatory processes located mainly in the skin and nervous systems, as well as in respiratory, cardiovascular systems, and musculoskeletal system. WHO does not consider the EHS as a disease-- defined on the basis of medical diagnosis and symptoms associated with any known syndrome. The symptoms may be associated with a single source of EMF or be derived from a combination of many sources. Reported symptoms associated with electromagnetic fields are characterized by the overlapping effect with other individuals with these symptoms exhibited a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, related to exposure to a single or multiple sources of EMF. The phenomenon of electromagnetic hypersensitivity in the form of dermatological disease is associated with mastocytosis. The biopsies taken from skin lesions of patients with EHS indicated on infiltration of the skin layers of the epidermis with mastocytes and their degranulation, as well as on release anaphylactic reaction mediators such as histamine, chymase and tryptase. The number of people suffering from EHS in the world is growing describing themselves as severely dysfunctional, showing multi organ non-specific symptoms upon exposure to low doses of electromagnetic radiation, often associated with hypersensitivity to many chemical agents (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity-MCS) and/or other environmental intolerances (Sensitivity Related Illness-SRI).

Presented studies were conducted to assess the influence of alternating (AC) and/or static (DC) magnetic fields (MF) or combined with puromycin (PMC) on U937 cell line viability. The magnitude of DC MF was enclosed in the range (2 ÷ 6) mT. In case of AC MF, four frequencies were set: 12 Hz, 25 Hz, 35 Hz, 50 Hz and magnetic induction value was adjusted to 6.5(rms) mT. The reaction of samples exposed to MF and/or PMC was presented as cell viability coefficient S defined as a ratio of viable cells in the sample to viable cells in the relevant control sample, analyzed by flow cytometry. For PMC treated sample the percentage of viable cells decreased about factor 3. MF alone did not influence cell viability regardless of the type of exposure while simultaneous action of ACDC MF mode and PMC significantly influenced viability of U937 cells. The viability coefficient S was in the range of (0.13 ∓ 0.07 ÷ 0.64 ∓ 0.20) and exerted a non-linear relation with frequency of the AC MF component. The maximal lethal influence (S = 0.13 ∓ 0.07) was observed for DC MF = 6 mT and frequency of AC MF equal to 35 Hz. Observed bio-effects were confronted with the physical models assuming the Ca2+ ions transport disturbance and/or protein complexes dysfunction in cells due to MF action.

The aim of this study is to present a case of delirium -the state occurring frequently in elderly patients. A 80-year-old woman was hospitalized in the department of internal diseases for internal medical examinations before scheduled operation of femoral osteosynthesis. In ward, she was given analgesic medicines from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), paracetamole and opioids influencing central nervous system. On the second day after modifying the painkilling treatment (single doses of paracetamole were increased and oral opioid medication was introduced) a quickly progressing (within a few hours) delirium was observed. Its occurrence was ascribed to the application of strong medicines influencing central nervous system. Treatment was modified then; the opioid medicine was replaced with NSAID, which had already been used before, applied intravenously. Subsidence of delirium clinical symptoms and cognitive functions' improvement was observed.

The article presents the clinical picture of delirium characterized with acute, fluctuating altered levels of consciousness, inattention and cognitive function disorders. The article is comprised the most popular assessment scales for detecting (CAM - Confusion Assessment Method) and monitoring the course of delirium (DRS-R-98: Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98; DOM: Delirium-O-Meter). The scales mentioned above contain unequivocally defined rating criteria of the patient's clinical state. The article mentions scientific studies concerning predisposing and precipitating factors for delirium such as age, severity of illnesses, cognitive impairment, metabolic and electrolyte disturbances, grouped according to the recommendation grades based on scientific evidence and the opinion of experts. Categories of recommendation of possible therapeutic intervention are presented with special emphasis being put on interventions that are always beneficial, useful, successful and safe. Moreover, recommendable pharmacological treatment methods (haloperidol, new antipsychotic drugs) as well as non-pharmacological ones (comprising routine screening of cognitive functions, comprehensive medical and nursing care) are described.