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Previous community research has shown a relationship between the incidence of depression and demographic and socio-economic factors in various countries, however, data on Polish population are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the severity of depressive symptoms and their relationship with selected demographic and economic variables among adult residents of Poland. Determinants of prevalence of depressive symptoms were based on the results of a cross-sectional study of a random sample of the Polish population (647 women and 579 men). The presence of depressive symptoms was assessed based on the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire. The relationship between presence and severity of depression and demographic and socioeconomic parameters (such as marital status, education, income level, economic activity, self-declared health status) was assessed. Symptoms of depression were found in nearly 40% of respondents, more often among women (47.76%) than men (31.78%). High scores on depressive tendencies were associated with low level of education, low personal income, precarious job situation, low health self-evaluation. The lowest rates of depression were among the unmarried and the highest among the widowed and divorced. Depressive episodes were highly prevalent in the studied group. The study showed the association between depressive tendencies and demographic and socioeconomic variables, thus identifying predictors which might be used to identify individuals at higher risk of developing depression, e.g. women with low socioeconomic status.

Introduction: Poland is a country which is characterized by the process of population aging resulting in a dynamic growth of the old-age dependency ratio. Thus, along with the aging process, we can expect, both at the individual and at the societal level, the intensification of the problems related to coping with worsening health and social dependency of the growing number of the elderly. One of the most necessary action contributing to the prevention of the above-mentioned threats is the development of health literacy. Study aim: The aim of the study is to describe and analyze, in the context of the process of aging, the status, the structure and the role of health literacy among the elderly in Poland. Material and methods: The analyzed data come from the Polish part of the European Health Literacy population-based, cross-sectional survey (HLS-EU). Field work was carried out by the TNS OBOP Research Institute in July 2011. Data were collected in Polish by a standardized questionnaire, using a Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI). Results and conclusions: Almost every second person in the Polish adult population aged 15+ (44,6%) had low health literacy(inadequate + problematic). First of all the oldest people aged 65+ were at risk of low health literacy. 61,3% of Poles aged 65+ had low levels of general health literacy and only 12% of excellent, in contrast to people aged 50 years and below where these percentages were 39.9% and 21.5% respectively. In the context of this unsatisfactory level of health literacy, particularly in the elderly and the intensifying process of aging in the Polish population, health literacy development should occupy a very high position on the political agenda.

Depressive disorders are common among young people and can decrease social competences and thus the quality of life. There is a relationship between the occurrence of depressive disorders and insomnia. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia and depressive behavior and assess the relationship between these among participants of the Pol&rsquo, and&rsquo, Rock Festival, Kostrzyn, Poland 2019. The study used the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and the Beck Inventory II Scale (BDI-II). The study group consisted of 923 people, with the majority of women (n = 500, 54.2%). A total of 297 persons (32.2%) reported varying severity of depressive symptoms. Insomnia was observed in 261 (28.28%) respondents. Sleeping disturbances were observed more frequently in females. Persons with insomnia had a significantly higher BDI-II score. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.65) between the number of points obtained on the Beck and AIS scales was observed. Insomnia and depressive behavior are prevalent in the Polish population. Due to long-term social and economic consequences, special attention should be paid to the prevention, early detection and treatment of both disorders.

The paper is devoted to the problem of preserving the national identity of Poles in exile in the Russian Arctic (Arkhangelsk province) during the second half of the XIX century. The research is based on modern Russian and Polish historiography, as well as on published memoirs of Poles in exile. Analysis of sources has shown that the basis for preserving the national identity of Poles in exile was their Catholic faith and national traditions.

The article is devoted to the problem of analysis of saving the national identity of the ethnic Polish group on the territory of the Olonets province (modern Republic of Karelia, Arkhangelsk and Leningrad Oblast) in the historical perspective. Basing on the analysis of the resources of personal nature (memoirs), as well as the Russian and Polish historiography the main distinguishing characteristics of the national Polish identity on the hostile social-cultural environment were studied. Due to the research the authors concluded that the driving force of preserving the national identity was the religious factor, opening itself in the activity of the exiled priests and such traditional Polish leisure activities such as: choral singing, reading of religious and secular national literature, organization is the educational process.

BACKGROUND Dental age is less affected than the bone age by nutritional and hormonal factors. The assessment of dental age in children is of value in clinical and forensic practice. The aims of this study were to compare the Demirjian method and the Willems method in the assessment of dental age in children in Poland and to consider the need to standardize dental age assessment. MATERIAL AND METHODS Polish children of Caucasian ethnicity (n=1,002) who were treated at a single orthodontic center between 1994-2016 included girls (n-540) and boys (n=462) aged between 4-17 years, and 1,002 panoramic radiographs were reviewed. Dental age was assessed using the Demirjian method and the Willems method, the findings of the two methods were compared with the chronological age of the study participants. RESULTS Following statistical analysis, both the Demirjian method and the Willems method overestimated the dental age of the younger study participants, and underestimated the dental age of the older study participants. Both the Demirjian method and the Willems method had similar accuracy in estimating the chronological and dental age in the Polish population. CONCLUSIONS In the assessment of dental age in Polish children from panoramic radiographs, both the Demirjian method and the Willems method were accurate and should still be used as a method of choice. However, it seems reasonable to create international standards for the assessment of dentition maturity for this population to obtain a more acceptable range of error values between the dental age and chronological age.

The etiology of common complex diseases is multifactorial, involving both genetic, and environmental factors. A role for mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation has been suggested in the pathogenesis of common complex traits. The aim of this study was to investigate a potential role of mtDNA variants in the development of obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis in the Polish population. Whole mtDNA sequences from 415 Polish individuals representing three disease cohorts and a control group were obtained using high-throughput sequencing. Two approaches for the assessment of mtDNA variation were applied, traditional mitochondrial haplogroup association analysis and the mutational or variant load model using the MutPred pathogenicity prediction algorithm for amino acid substitutions in humans. We present a possible association between mildly deleterious mtDNA variant load and atherosclerosis that might be due to having more than one likely mildly deleterious non-synonymous substitution. Moreover, it seems largely dependent upon a few common haplogroup associated variants with MutPred score above 0.5.

Objective: According to the EEA exposure to concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 above the limit values in EU cities concerns 7-20% of the population (50-85% above WHO recommended values). As mentioned by Badyda et al. (10.1007/5584_2016_55) in Polish cities PM2.5 is responsible for 10-33% of cardiopulmonary mortality. Materials and methods: Data on PM2.5 concentrations in 11 urban areas (with over 250,000 inhabitants) from a 10 year period (2006-2015) and data on mortality due to lung cancer (from National Register of Cancers) and cardiopulmonary diseases (from Central Statistical Office Local Data Bank) has been used. Environmental burden of diseases attributable to exposure to PM2.5 has been assessed using the exposure-response functions defined by Pope et al., JAMA 2002; 287:1132-1141 and Krewski et al., HEI 2009. Results: Annual mean PM2.5 concentration exceeded the EU limit value in 9 (out of 11) cities in at least 1 monitoring station and WHO recommended value was exceeded in all cities and also all monitoring stations during the whole period (Poland has the highest PM2.5 concentration in the EU). Average population attributable fraction (PAF) depending on year and city varied from 0.10 to 0.53 for mortality due to lung cancer (LC), 0.15-0.68 for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and 0.07-0.39 for all cardiopulmonary diseases (CPD). The number of yearly mortality that could be attributed to PM2.5 varied from 24 to 438 for lung cancer and from 116 to 2093 for cardiopulmonary diseases (including 51 to 1186 cases of IHD). Conclusion: High mortality factor from LC and CPD results partially from the significant exposure of Polish population to PM above permissible concentrations.

Introduction The Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a non-inflammatory, heritable connective tissue disorder divided into 13 types according to the 2017 International Classification of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. One of the subtypes of EDS, classical (cEDS), is characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility and atrophic scars, which are major criteria of cEDS. Aim In this study, the first in Central Eastern Europe, 44 patients were investigated. All of them were tested for COL5A1 mutations with direct DNA sequencing. Material and methods The study group included 44 patients of Polish origin, all of whom fulfilled criteria for the classical type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Direct sequencing of the COL5A1, COL5A2 and COL1A1 c.934C>T genes was performed for all of them. Evaluation of potential pathogenicity of detected missense mutation was conducted using SIFT (Sorting Intolerant from Tolerant), PolyPhen-2, AlignGVGD (Align Grantham Variance/Grantham Difference). The effect of the splice site mutations was predicted by Human Splicing Finder and NetGene2 tools. Results Among all tested patients, nine mutations of COL5A1 gene were detected (8 missense mutations and 1 splice site). The alterations identified by us are new, hitherto not described in other reports. Evaluation of the mutations by in silico tools indicate their pathogenicity. Conclusions Our study is the first COL5A1 gene molecular investigation conducted among cEDS patients from Central Eastern Europe. Besides new COL5A1 variant findings, we gained molecular confirmation of clinical diagnosis of cEDS. In some cases, specific and adequate evaluation and classification of EDS patients based only on clinical features, may be difficult.

Celem artykułu było przedstawienie charakterystyki mediów społecznościowych i wynikających z ich użytkowania zagrożeń, dokonanej przez studentów cywilnych i wojskowych Lotniczej Akademii Wojskowej w Dęblinie. Autorzy zaprezentowali wyniki autorskiej ankiety, w której główny akcent został położony na charakterystykę relacji w sieci oraz zagadnienia cyberbezpieczeństwa. W badaniu wzięło udział 80 studentów. Wyniki badań przedstawiono w kontekście danych statystycznych polskiej populacji przedstawiających ogólne tendencje w pierwszym kwartale 2019 r.

BACKGROUND In Poland, as in most other European countries, diseases of the respiratory system are the 4th leading cause of mortality; they are responsible for about 8% of all deaths in the European Union (EU) annually. To assess the socio-economic aspects of mortality, it has become increasingly common to apply potential measures rather than conventionally used ratios. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to analyze years of life lost due to premature deaths caused by diseases of the respiratory system in Poland from 1999 to 2013. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was based on a dataset of 5,606,516 records, obtained from the death certificates of Polish residents who died between 1999 and 2013. The information on deaths caused by diseases of the respiratory system, i.e., coded as J00-J99 according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10), was analyzed. The Standard Expected Years of Life Lost (SEYLL) indicator was used in the study. RESULTS In the years 1999-2013, the Polish population suffered 280,519 deaths caused by diseases of the respiratory system (4.69% of all deaths). In the period analyzed, a gradual decrease in the standardized death rate was observed - from 46.31 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1999 to 41.02 in 2013. The dominant causes of death were influenza and pneumonia (J09-J18) and chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J47). Diseases of the respiratory system were the cause of 4,474,548.92 lost life years. The Standard Expected Years of Life Lost per person (SEYLLp) was 104.72 per 10,000 males and 52.85 per 10,000 females. The Standard Expected Years of Life Lost per death (SEYLLd) for people who died due to diseases of the respiratory system was 17.54 years of life on average for men and 13.65 years on average for women. CONCLUSIONS The use of the SEYLL indicator provided significant information on premature mortality due to diseases of the respiratory system, indicating the fact that they play a large role in the health status of the Polish population.

Introduction. In 2016, 5-, 7- and 12-year-old children from the Małopolskie region were included in the study of oral health as part of the Nationwide Monitoring of Oral Health programme, which has been periodically implemented in selected index groups of the Polish population since 1997. Aim. To evaluate the prevalence and level of dental caries in 5-, 7- and 12-year-old children from the Małopolskie region and to observe the dental caries trend in this region in recent years in relation to the Polish population. Material and methods. The study covered 673 children from the Małopolskie region, including 223 aged 5, 225 aged 7 and 225 aged 12 years. Dental condition/state of dentition was examined according to the WHO recommendations and criteria. The prevalence and level of dental caries in children from the Małopolskie region were evaluated and compared with the results of earlier studies from this province. The obtained results were also compared with the results for the entire Polish population from the current and previous nationwide monitoring studies. The studies were conducted upon the consent of the Medical University of Warsaw Ethics Committee no. KB 190/2016. Results. Dental caries prevalence in 5-, 7- and 12-year-old children from the Małopolskie region that were covered by the study was 74.9, 84.9 and 81.8%, respectively. The average values of dmft were 4.55 (in the age group of 5) and 5.38 (in the age group of 7), while DMFT for particular age groups was 0.03, 0.56 and 3.54, respectively. Slight decrease in the value of these indications of caries is noticed for 5- and 7-year-old children from the Małopolskie region (decrease in prevalence by 2.5 and 6.7%, respectively, as well as a fall in the value of dmft by 0.71 in the age group of 5, relative to 2011). The group of 12-year-old children from our region, as the only one from the entire Polish population of children of this age, have kept a downward trend of caries prevalence (a fall by 12.7% relative to the monitoring study from 2010). This reduction needs to be confirmed in the next monitoring studies. Conclusions. The presented results indicate stable high prevalence of dental caries in children of the Małopolskie region and in the whole country. It is therefore necessary to enhance actions intended to improve this situation through education of both children and their parents, widespread prophylaxis, and greater health-oriented awareness of patients.

Background Polymorphism within the miR-499 has been reported to be associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in various populations. Objectives Our study aimed to find out whether similar association could be observed also in Polish population in both RA and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. Methods For this purpose 359 individuals were studied, including 111 RA patients, 86 patients with PsA and 162 healthy blood donors that served as a control group. Genotyping for miR-499 rs3746444 T/C was performed using a LightSNiP assay. Results Distribution of the miRNA-499 alleles and genotypes was similar in RA patients and controls. Among RA patients those carrying the CC homozygous genotype presented with lower DAS28 at diagnosis (0.027) but higher CRP levels after 12 weeks of anti-TNF treatment (p=0.042). Interestingly, the TT genotype (rs3746444) was overexpressed in patients with PsA as compared to controls (OR=1.85, p=0.034) but its frequency was not significantly different when compared to RA cases. This polymorphism was also not found to be associated with clinical parameters in PsA patients. Conclusions These results show that miR-499 rs3746444 T/C polymorphism may constitute a risk factor for psoriatic arthritis development. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the NCN 2016/21/B/NZ5/01901 project. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Precise age determination of unidentified bodies and human remains is one of the essential tasks of forensic science. The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of using the enantiomeric composition of aspartic acid racemization in root and crown dentin for dental age estimation using a Polish population sample. Coronal and root dentin from four teeth groups from the mandible were studied using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The results demonstrated a very high correlation between the chronological age and enantiomeric composition in both of the dentin samples. Individual linear equations of root dentin with correlation coefficients between 0.96 and 0.98 and a standard estimation error of ±2.95–4.84 years validated the application of aspartic acid racemization as a significant practical contribution to everyday forensic medical practice. Discrepancies in methodological aspects and modifications that simplify the protocol are presented.

Introduction: Vegetables and fruit are an essential part of a healthy and balanced diet. It has been shown that regular consumption of fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, in the past ͜8 years fruit and vegetable consumption among Polish youth has significantly decreased.Materials and methods: Patients involved in the project were participants of the Woodstock Festival Poland 2014 During three days of the festival, 615 young adults (18–35 years) were enrolled in the study. The study participants had to fill in a questionnaire that included questions about the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption, portion sizes, and knowledge of the recommended daily intake. We also measured basic anthropometric parameters.Results: The data from our study showed that 97,6% of respondents consumed fewer than ͘ servings of vegetables and fruit. In addition 39% of them ate 2 or fewer vegetable servings per day. We found that men ate significantly less fruit and fewer vegetables than women (p < 0.05). Additionally, almost 75 % of men responded that proper consumption of fruit and vegetables should be at the level of 4–5 servings, and only 22,3% of them said that the proper level is ͘4–5servings.Conclusions: We need to keep in mind that only clear information about vegetables and fruit, as well as highlighting the importance of the principles of nutrition, can give effective results in the future. It also appears that nutritional education should be conducted not only at the early stages of development but also in adolescents.

The article presents a multi-faceted problem of energy or fuel poverty. This issue is still poorly recognised in Poland, although it is estimated to affect at least 17% of the Polish population, who find it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature at home or to pay bills for heating their households. Besides the thermo-modernisation of residential buildings and the promotion of appropriate attitudes to energy consumption, another approach to combating energy povertyinvolves economic support in the form of energy allowances awarded to households identified as “vulnerable energy consumers”. This paper presents the extent of support given to households in Olsztyn in 2014-2015.

Summary: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of renal venous system congenital anomalies in the Polish population. Material and method: Vascular kidney samples were investigated by means of preparations and X-ray contrasting. The study the group comprised 281 male and 269 female specimens. Results: Congenital anomalies were diagnosed in 186 patients (33 8% of all cases), and they were more frequent in men than in women, albeit that difference was non-significant. The following anomalies were most commonly observed: multiple venous variations on the right side (20.4%), retroaortic course of the left renal vein (4.2%), and circumaortic venous ring of the left renal vein (3.8%). Other anomalies were diagnosed in 1%-2% of cases. Conclusions: Awareness and preoperative assessment of the venous system before abdominal aortic surgery, isolated collection of renal venous blood samples, and urological or kidney transplantation procedures is essential.

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the gene pool of a dog population during the period of its formation. Pedigree and mtDNA analyses were performed on the Polish population of Hovawart dogs. A total of 192 litters of 93 dams and 115 sires were born between 1988 and 2008. Breeding began using Hovawarts imported mainly from the Czech Republic and Slovakia; however, the role of Western European dogs increased continually throughout the period analysed. No unfavourable effects caused by the limited size of the population were identified because of the constant inflow of new genes from abroad. The continual increase in the gene pool was indicated by all of the pedigree parameters analysed. Two different mtDNA haplotypes were found, and complete agreement between pedigree and molecular data was noted. The results of the analyses permit concluding that the process of formation of the new Hovawart population was also impacted by non-genetic factors that directly influenced the composition of gene pool.

Background: To investigate the distribution of refractive errors and their characteristics in older adults. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional study. A total of 1107 men and women were interviewed and underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations, 998 subjects underwent refraction. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent (SER) refraction ≤ −0.5 dioptres (D) and hyperopia was defined as SER ≥ +0.5 dioptres (D). Results: Among those who were refracted the distribution of myopia and hyperopia was 24.1% (95% CI 21.4–26.7) and 37.5% (95% CI 34.5–40.5), respectively. Myopia decreased from 28.7% in subjects aged 35-59 years to 19.3% in those aged 60 years or older and hyperopia increased from 21.8% at 35–59 years of age to 53.3% in subjects aged ≥60 years. Multiple regression analysis showed decreasing age (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–1.00), female gender (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.18–2.95) and presence of cataract (OR 2.40 , 95% CI 1.24–4.63) were independent risk factors associated with myopia. Conclusions: The distribution of refractive errors found in our study is similar to those reported in other Caucasian populations and differs from Asian populations. Myopia was positively associated with younger age, female gender and presence of cataract.

Study background: Dysphagia is a problem with which patients increasingly seek medical care. Early involvement of specialists (gastroenterologist, ENT surgeons, nutritionists) aid in symptomatic treatment, and offer a good prognosis for the management of swallowing disorders. Symptoms generally arise periodically and on occasion may eradicate on their own. Although elderly patients are inherently predisposed to dysphagia, there is an increased prevalence in the younger population.Aim: The aim of the project is to develop comprehensive guidelines for dysphagia amongst the Polish population for various age groups. The research will determine the predisposition to dysphagia and the different etiologies that are attributed in the phases of the diseas non-neurological-GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), chronic laryngitis.Method: Analysis was conducted on a group of 92 patientes. We performed FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) with simultaneous superficial electromyography (sEMG) and registration of respiratory patterns in every patient.Results: During swallowing, biomechanical phenomena occurs-carrying out the plan of the study we can prove the strong correlation between the biomechanical phenomena in the process of swallowing and the corresponding changes in the sEMG recording, correlated with respiratory patterns.Conclusions: The preliminary results using the algorithm that studies the process of swallowing is a useful starting point for creating broad-based guidelines within the Polish population. The correlation of the results obtained from the sEMG in comparison with FEES examination is very promising.

This study aimed to assess the application of Cameriere’s third molar maturity index (I3M) to select an individual of 18 years or older (adult) from younger than 18 years (minor) in a sample of Polish individuals. The final sample of 982 panoramic images aged between 15 to 24 years was analyzed. The specific cut-off value of I3M < 0.08 was analyzed. The specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se) for males were 91.2% and 86.2% respectively. The Sp and Se for females were 93% and 82.6% respectively. The probabilities of correctly classified individuals were 87.6% and 85.3%, and Bayes post-test probability was 96.3% and 97% in males and females respectively. Further analysis indicated the alternative cut-off value of I3M < 0.07, which improved the specificity, 95.3%, and 94.7%, and worsen correct classification, 86.5%, and 84.4%, in males and females, respectively. Our results showed that the specific cut-off point of I3M < 0.08 may be a useful tool for discriminating adults from minors in Poland.

ObjectiveNumerous studies have reported an association between vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D; 25(OH)D) deficiency and low economic status, lower educational level, drugs exposure, smoking and reduced physical activity. Our study analysed the association between sociodemographic factors and 25(OH)D status in Polish (Caucasian) seniors.DesignCross-sectional study (part of the PolSenior study). Serum 25(OH)D concentration was measured by a solid-phase ELISA method; a standardized questionnaire evaluated educational level, economic status, alcohol consumption, current or past cigarette smoking, physical activity, activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living.SettingCommunity-dwelling randomly selected individuals aged 65 years or older, selected using three-stage stratified, proportional draw.SubjectsSeniors (n 3472; 1658 women and 1814 men).ResultsMean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 20·5 (sd 9·6) ng/ml. Values below the recommended level (30 ng/ml) were detected in 82·8 % of men and 90·4 % of women. Regression analysis revealed that the difference between sexes was associated with decreased walking activity in women, probably resulting in less sunlight exposure. There was a positive association between any disability in ADL and the presence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. In the sex-adjusted analysis, older age, alcohol abstinence and lack of cycling and long-distance walking were explanatory variables for vitamin D deficiency.ConclusionsVitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is frequent in the older Polish population and associated with functional disability and impaired mobility of seniors.

Masurians in the East Podolia: Memory, Identity and HeritageThe theme of this article is specific identity and memory of the Polish population in the selected villages of Khmelnytskyi Raion of Ukraine, with the second most numerous Polish population in Ukraine. The specificity of this Polish population results from a long habitation in the same territory. From the moment they arrived on Podolia until their deportations to Kazakhstan and Siberia in the 1930s, this group did not migrate at all. The article is based on research conducted in three the so-called “Masurian” villages. The inhabitants of these areas are defined as Masurians – they are descendants of Polish peasants who settled therein the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The text shows the identity of the ethnic community of “Masurian” villages and the memory of their Polish peasant roots. Hundreds years of living together in one region and endogamy rules in force since the Second World War have contributed to the fact that these local communities have preserved memory of their Polish and peasant origin, as well as their specific dialect and religion. Mazurzy na Podolu Wschodnim: pamięć, tożsamość i dziedzictwoTematem artykułu jest specyfika tożsamości i pamięci ludności polskiej w wybranych wsiach obwodu chmielnickiego na Ukrainie, który jest drugim co do liczebności polskiej ludności obwodem Ukrainy. Specyfika ludności polskiej na terenie prawobrzeżnej Ukrainy opiera się na jej długim trwaniu na jednym terytorium. Od chwili przybycia na teren Podola aż do momentu zsyłek do Kazachstanu i na Syberię w latach 30. XX wieku tej grupy nie dotykały ruchy migracyjne. Artykuł opiera się na badaniach prowadzonych w trzech wsiach zwanych „mazurskimi”: Hreczanach, Szaraweczce i Maćkowcach. Ludność zamieszkująca te tereny określa się mianem Mazurów – potomków polskich chłopów, osadników z XVII i XVIII wieku. W tekście przedstawiono charakter tożsamości ludności wsi mazurskich, pamięć wspólnotową dotyczącą polskich i zarazem chłopskich korzeni grupy. Kilkusetletnie życie w jednym regionie, jak i obowiązująca do czasów II wojny światowej zasada endogamii spowodowały, że wspólnoty wsi mazurskich zachowały pamięć o swoim polskim i zarazem chłopskim pochodzeniu, gwarę i wyznanie.

Introduction: Studies of coping with stress of parents of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are relatively rare and their results are inconsistent. The aim of the work was to determine the strategies of coping with stress of Polish mothers of children and adolescents with CF. Material and methods: The research was conducted in the group of 89 Polish mothers of children with CF (0–18) and used the Brief COPE by Carver in the Polish adaptation by Juczyński and Ogińska-Bulik (2009). The data were compared with the normative results obtained from Polish adults. Results: The strategies of coping most often used by mothers of children with CF are as follows: active coping, planning and acceptance. A comparison of mean results obtained in the research group and mean results of adults in Polish population revealed that mothers of ill children significantly more often use: active coping, planning, positive reframing, acceptance, religion, seeking of instrumental support and venting. They less often use sense of humour and take psychoactive substance. Use of problem--oriented strategies dominated over use of coping strategies focusing on emotions. Conclusion: Social support provided to mothers of children with CF should be oriented on strengthening cognitive strategies of coping with stress.

Położone w północno-zachodniej Polsce przy granicy z Niemcami miasto Szczecin wraz z otaczającymi je gminami i miastami tworzy obszar funkcjonalny liczący, wg danych GUS z 2016 r., ponad 560 tys. mieszkańców. W jego obszernych granicach, a także w jego obszarze funkcjonalnym obejmującym otaczające miasto jednostki administracyjne, zachodzą procesy suburbanizacji, obserwowane od kilkunastu lat w całej w Polsce, mające wymiar przestrzenny i ludnościowy. Obszar funkcjonalny Szczecina wyznaczony przez Śleszyńskiego i Komornickiego w 2009 r. czy też inne obecne w dokumentach planistycznych delimitacje nie uwzględnia rosnącego oddziaływania tego miasta na obszary położone po niemieckiej stronie granicy. Zaryzykować można tezę, że miasto powoli i w niedookreślony jeszcze sposób odzyskuje zasięg oddziaływania utracony po historycznych ustaleniach granic Polski i NRD po konferencjach poczdamskiej i jałtańskiej. Po wejściu Polski do Unii Europejskiej oraz przystąpieniu do strefy Schengen w 2007 r., a także otwarciu niemieckiego rynku pracy rozpoczął się stopniowy proces osiedlania się ludności polskiej po stronie niemieckiej, na terenach w bezpośredniej bliskości miasta, będących w relatywnie trudnej sytuacji demograficznej i gospodarczej. W niniejszym artykule dokonana zostanie charakterystyka społeczno-gospodarcza tych obszarów, a dokładniej – przyległej do granicy z Polską jednostki administracyjnej Landkreis Vorpommern-Greifswald i Uecker-Randow, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem miejscowości Löcknitz. Charakterystyka stanowić będzie wprowadzenie do głównego celu artykułu, którym jest rozpoznanie i opisanie czynników motywujących ludność polską do osiedlania się na terenach przygranicznych. Dla osiągnięcia postawionych założeń posłużono się danymi statystycznymi, wcześniejszym piśmiennictwem oraz wywiadami i badaniami prasowymi.

The contribution of low-frequency and damaging genetic variants associated with platelet function to ischemic stroke (IS) susceptibility remains unknown. We employed a deep re-sequencing approach in Polish patients in order to investigate the contribution of rare variants (minor allele frequency, MAF < 1%) to the IS genetic susceptibility in this population. The genes selected for re-sequencing consisted of 26 genes coding for proteins associated with the surface membrane of platelets. Targeted pooled re-sequencing (Illumina HiSeq 2500) was performed on genomic DNA of 500 cases (patients with history of clinically proven diagnosis of large-vessel IS) and 500 controls. After quality control and prioritization based on allele frequency and damaging probability, follow-up individual genotyping of deleterious rare variants was performed in patients from the original cohort. Gene-based analyses identified an association between IS and 6 rare functional and damaging variants in the purinergic genes (P2RY1 and P2RY12 locus). The predicted properties of the most damaging rare variants in P2RY1 and P2RY12 were confirmed by using mouse fibroblast cell cultures transfected with plasmid constructs containing cDNA of mutated variants (FLIPR on FlexStation3). This study identified a putative role for rare variants in P2RY1 and P2RY12 genes involved in platelet reactivity on large-vessel IS susceptibility in a Polish population.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) was detected in wild boar in eastern Poland in early 2014. So far, 65 cases of ASFV infection in wild boar have been recognised. The methods used for ASFV detection included highly specific real-time PCR with a universal probe library (UPL), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and an immunoperoxidase test (IPT) for identification of anti-ASFV antibodies. The positive ASF cases were located near the border with Belarus in Sokółka and Białystok counties. Some of the countermeasures for disease prevention include early ASF diagnosis by ASFV DNA identification as well as detection of specific antibodies by systematic screening. The aim of this study was to assess the current ASF status in a Polish population of wild boar during the last two years (2014-2015).

Alstrom syndrome (AS) is a rare syndromic form of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children coexisting with retinal dystrophy and disorders of many organs caused by the mutations in ALMS1 gene. Aim of this study was to identify the causative mutations in ALMS1 in a group of 12 patients of Polish origin with clinical symptoms of AS, and their 21 first-degree relatives. Using DNA sequencing, nine different mutations including three novel were identified. These mutations were not present in 212 Polish individuals with no symptoms of AS, subjected to whole-exome sequencing and collected in a national registry. Looking for genotype-phenotype relationships, we confirmed a severe phenotype in a boy with homozygous mutation in exon 16, and a relationship between a presence of T2D and mutations in exon 19. Evaluation of the type of mutation and its clinical effects gives hope for earlier diagnosis of AS in future patients and more advanced therapeutic approaches for patients with already diagnosed AS.

Introduction Alcohol dependence is one of the most rarely recognised and treated psychiatric disorders in the Polish population. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of alcohol dependence (AD) as well as the characteristics of alcohol dependent patients presenting themselves to general practitioners (GPs) on an average day. Methods A total of 2396 patients were assessed by their GPs within an AD diagnosis. In the next step, 1197 patients from the primary group were assessed by independent interviewers using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview questionnaire (CIDI) based on the DSM-IV criteria of alcohol dependence. Results General practitioners recognised AD during the last 12 months in 4.9% of their patients, whereas CIDI assessment revealed prevalence of AD at 6.3%. The overlap between these two groups was only 12.5%. Patients identified by GPs turned out to be significantly older, more frequently males and with comorbid liver disease than those diagnosed with CIDI. The compiled population of AD patients was characterised by more frequent sleep problems, liver diseases and nicotine dependence in comparison to non-alcoholic subjects. Discussion The prevalence of alcohol dependence among GP patients is significantly higher than in the general population. Conclusion General practitioners should be more sensitive to alcohol use problems in females and younger patients who are yet to develop any somatic consequences of drinking. Smoking patients and those suffering from sleep problems should be also considered at risk for alcohol dependence.

Sociolinguistic situation of Poles in Bukovina In the present article the author presented the sociolinguistic situation of Poles in Bukovina. She paid attention to the group of Bukovina mountaineers who stayed in Bukovina after the repatriation in 1945 and those who currently inhabit the so called Western Lands. The Poles in Bukovina were not a homogenous group. The Polish population settling in Bukovina since the 18th century was of a different place of origin. We need to distinguish three basic groups: newcomers from Galicia, Lesser Poland and from the region of Cadca in Slovakia. This resulted in using three variations of the Polish language in this area. The following domains of language usage have been distinguished for the description of the Polish mountaineers in Bukovina and so called Western Lands: family , neighbourhood , church , school , offices . The author highlights that there should be a sociolinguistic research of all the Bukovina mountaineers in Poland in comparison with studies which have discussed this group in Bukovina so far. Apart from problems regarding linguistic interference, shifting codes, the theory of bilingualism and diglossia such research should include extralinguistic conditions, e.g. origin, age, education, profession, departures. Cоциолингвистическая ситуация поляков в Буковине В статье представлена социолингвистическая ситуация поляков, проживающих в Буковине. Особое внимание обращено на группу граждан не эвакуирующуюся в Польшу в 1945 году и оставшуюся на постоянное жительство вне родины. Те, кто покинул Буковину и переехал в Польшу, поселились на западных польских территориях. Буковинские поляки–горцы не составляли однородной группы. Польские поселенцы, прибывающие в Буковину, начиная с XVIII столетия, были выходцами из разных районов Польши: прибыли из Галиции, Малой Польши, и чадецкого района Словакии. Cледовательнo они разговаривали на разных диалектах. Oбcyждалось употребление данной разновидности языка в следующих областях: семья, соседи, церковь, школа, правительственные организации. Автор статьи обращает внимание на необходимость сравнительных социолингвистических исследований всех групп польских буковинских горцев с группой, проживающей с 1945 года в Польше.

Background The locus on chromosome 15q13.3 containing GREM1 is correlated with the risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P). The aim of the present study was to find the GREM1 functional variants implicated in the aetiology of this common developmental anomaly in the Polish population. Methods Eight polymorphisms were genotyped in 334 NSCL/P patients and 955 controls. In addition, the GREM1 protein-coding region was sequenced in 96 NSCL/P patients. Results Significant association with a risk of oral clefts was found for 5 tested polymorphisms. The lowest ptrend values were identified for rs16969681, rs16969816, and rs1258763 (ptrend 4.09E-05, 3.35E-05, and 0.0002, respectively). The putative functional variant rs16969681, located in a region that has enhancer activity, was associated with a 2.6-fold lower risk for NSCL/P (odds ratio [OR] = 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24–0.61, p = 2.37E-05). The previously reported association of rs1258763 with NSCL/P was replicated (OR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44–0.73; p = 1.10E-05). For all tested GREM1 variants, no significant sex-by-genotype interaction effects were observed. The sequencing analysis did not detect any rare variants implicated in the development of oral clefts. Conclusion Our results might suggest that variants influencing GREM1 expression levels, rather than variants affecting the function of the encoded protein, are significant factors in NSCL/P etiology. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The connection between the rate of height loss in older people and their general health status has been well documented in the medical literature. Our study was aimed at furthering the characterization of this interrelationship in the context of health indices and mortality in a hospitalized population of Polish adults. Data were collated from a literature review and from a longitudinal study of aging carried out in the Polish population which followed 142 physically healthy inmates, including 68 men and 74 women, for at least 25 years from the age of 45 onwards. Moreover, cross-sectional data were available from 225 inmates, including 113 men and 112 women. These subjects were confined at the same hospital. ANOVA, t-test, and regression analysis were employed. The results indicate that the onset of height loss emerges in the fourth and five decade of life and there is a gradual acceleration of reduction of height at later stages of ontogeny in both sexes. Postmenopausal women experience a more rapid loss of height compared with men. The individuals who had higher rate of loss of height (≥3 cm/decade) tend to be at greater risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. In conclusion, our findings suggest that a systematic assessment of the rate of loss of height can be useful for clinicians caring for elderly people because of its prognostic value in terms of morbidity and mortality.

Background: False tendon (FT) is described in a wide range (40% to 62%) of the examined hearts depending on age and additional heart abnormalities. On echocardiography, the range is even wider (1.6–78%), depending on study design and inclusion criteria. Ultrasonographic characteristics of left ventricular FTs in the Polish population are not well known. Materials and methods: Echocardiographic examinations of 1,679 consecutive patients were evaluated. All cases were classified according to American Society of Echocardiography Committee of Nomenclature and Standards Document on Identification of the Segments of the Heart Muscle. Results: In our study, fibrous structures in the lumen of the left ventricle were detected in 100 (6%) subjects of the study group. The age of the subjects ranged from 16 to 87 years (mean age 47.9), 50 were males and 50 were females. In 94% of the subjects, FT was a single structure. No patient had clinically evident arrhythmia. Conclusions: In the Polish population, FT can be identified in all age groups, and the prevalence is similar to that reported in the literature.

Objective. Although trace elements are regarded crucial and their content has been determined in number of tissue there are only few papers addressing this problem in intervertebral disc in humans. Most of the trace elements are important substrates of enzymes influencing metabolism and senescence process. Others are markers of environmental pollution. Therefore the aim of the research was to analyzed of the trace element content in the intervertebral disc, which may be a vital argument recognizing the background of degenerative changes to be the effect of the environment or metabolic factors. Materials and methods. Material consist of 18 intervertebral disc from 15 patients, acquired in surgical procedure of due to the degenerative disease with Atomic Absorption Spectrometry content of Al, Cd, Co, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mo, Mg, Zn was evaluated. Results. Only 4 of the trace elements were detected in all samples. The correlation analysis showed significant positive age correlation with Al and negative in case of Co. Among elements significant positive correlation was observed between Al/Pb, Co/Mo, Al/Mg, Al/Zn Pb/Zn and Mg/Zn. Negative correlation was observed in Al/Co, Cd/Mg, Co/Mg, Mo/Mg, Co/Zn and Mo/Zn. Conclusions. This study is the first to our knowledge that profiles the elements in intervertebral disc in patients with degenerative changes. We have confirmed significant differences between the trace element contents in intervertebral disc and other tissue. It can be ground for further investigation.

Bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) is the most abundant aphid species on cereals in Poland. It represents approximately 80% of all cereal aphids. Its anholocyclic forms are the most important vectors of Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). These forms are new among the Polish population of R. padi. Their changes in development are the result of higher temperatures. High spring and summer temperatures initiate a change in the run of R. padi’s life cycle, which begins to reproduce by means of permanent parthenogenesis. In autumn, this aphid does not fly back to the primary host but inhabits wild grasses. It is in autumn that winter cereals emerge. This results in what appears to be a new problem because this viral infection spreads in warmer environmental conditions.

The aim of the research was to analyse the prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Poland and to assess the costs generated by AS patients in the system of public health care. The database of national payer-National Health Fund (NHF)-has been analysed. For the analysis, the information has been extracted from IT system about each treated patient with ICD-10 = M45 code as main or coexisting diagnosis included in the mandatory reports from entities of public healthcare service. In the years 2008-2013, from 28,800 to 32,800 persons diagnosed with AS as main or coexisting diagnosis have been registered in NHF database. In 2013, the prevalence amounted to 7.48 for 10,000 persons of general population-the highest in Kujawy-Pomerania province (10.92 per 10,000 inhabitants), Silesia (10.04) and Świętokrzyskie province (9.81). In male patients, this coefficient amounted to 8.91 per 10,000 inhabitants, whereas in female-to 6.15. In 2013, the prevalence for men was the highest in the age group of 60-64 years and for women in the group of 65-69 years. The healthcare expenses related to AS financed by the NHF increased from 13,200 million PLN (6.3 million USD) in 2008 to 72,600 million PLN (21,900 million USD) in 2013. The increase in healthcare expenses related to AS patients in the public healthcare system is significant and noticeable. High regional diversity is also a vital issue. It is necessary to carry out further research on the incidence rate of AS in Polish population.

Objectives The aim was to determine whether an intergenerational trend toward increased stature is slowing down, and whether body weight has recently increased among young men in Poland, as it has in Western European countries. Methods Data were taken from six national surveys of 19-year-old Polish male conscripts from cohorts 1965, 1976, 1986, 1995, 2001, and 2010. Results The mean stature of this population increased throughout the last 45 years from 170.5 cm in 1965 to 178.3 in 2010. However, the average gain in stature per decade declined from 2.4 cm in the period 1965 to 1976 to 0.8 cm per decade in 1995 to 2001, but increased to 1.0 cm in the last period. The average of body weight increased from 63.2 kg in 1965 to 73.1 in 2010 and body mass index (BMI) rose from 21.73 to 22.94 in the same period. The tempo of increase varied in different periods; between 1965 and 1986 an insignificant increase was observed (of circa 0.12); in 1986 to 1995 there was no increase, whereas the period of 2001 to 2010 witnessed a significant increase (of circa 0.76). Conclusions The trend of body size and stature increase within the Polish population, although decelerating, remained positive and steady during the last 45 years. No significant impact of the past half-century's socioeconomic crises was observed in these measures of growth. We concluded that during the economic crises some effective mechanism protecting the living conditions of the children and youth were operating within the population. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:704–709, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Summary Polymorphisms within genes coding innate immune response proteins are involved in genetic susceptibility to various conditions. We investigated the frequency of P2RX7 A1513C and TLR2 −196 to −174 ins/del polymorphisms in healthy Polish population. Frequency of minor alleles was relatively similar to the pattern presented by Caucasian populations while it differed significantly when compared to non-European populations, which could be a result of variable selection pressure put upon studied alleles or hindered gene flow between populations.

Around 40% of diabetic men have lowered testosterone and symptoms of hypogonadism but the prevalence of hypogonadism among prediabetic men is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in population of Polish men with prediabetes.This study was performed in 196 prediabetic men and in 184 normoglycemic, control group. Prediabetes was defined as impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and/or HbA1c 5.7-6.4%. LOH was defined as low libido, diminished frequency of morning erections and erectile dysfunctions in men with total testosterone12 nmol/l.Total testosterone (TT) level in prediabetes group was 11.78 ± 1.76 and 16.37 ± 1.6 nmol/l in control group (p 0.001). LOH was diagnosed in 30% prediabetic men and in 13.6% control men. There were negative relationships between calculated free testosterone (cFT) and HbA1c (r = -0.3856; p 0.005). In prediabetic group, TT and cFT levels were lower in patients with impaired glucose tolerance than impaired fasting glucose (p 0.05 and p 0.02, respectively). We showed inverse relationships between IIEF-5 score and cFT (r = -0.414, p 0.005) and between IIEF-5 and HbA1c (r = -0.395, p 0.002).In population of Polish men with prediabetes we observed high prevalence of LOH. Routine testosterone screening should be performed in all prediabetic men.

Introduction The pathogenesis of acne is complex, multifactorial and not well understood. The genetic background of this dermatosis is well documented. Aim To assess the frequency of –34 T > C single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of the CYP17 gene as well as m1 (+6,235 T > C) and m2 (+4,889 A > G) mutation in the coding region CYP1A1 gene acne patients from the Northern Polish population. Material and methods The study included 115 acne patients and 94 healthy controls (aged over 20) without acne in anamnesis. The CYP1A1 polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to analyze m1 mutation and allele-specific PCR in the case of m2 mutation. The CYP17 polymorphism was analyzed by RFLP. The results were evaluated by the Pearson's χ2 test. Results There were no statistically significant associations between allele and genotype frequencies between the acne and the control group. Conclusions We did not confirm the role of the CYP1A1 and CYP17 gene as predictor factors for acne development in the Polish population.

INTRODUCTION: There is an increasing interest in comorbidities in heart failure patients. Data about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Polish population of heart failure (HF) patients are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment differences and outcome according to COPD occurrence in the Polish population of patients participating in the ESC-HF Pilot Survey Registry. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the data of 891 patients with HF recruited in 2009-2011 in Poland: 648 (72.7%) hospitalized patients and 243 (27.3%) patients included as outpatients. RESULTS: The COPD was documented in 110 (12.3%) patients with HF in the analyzed population. Patients with - compared to those without COPD were older, more often smokers, had higher NYHA class, and higher prevalence of hypertension. Ejection fraction (EF) was higher in hospitalized patients with COPD compared to patients without COPD (40.5 ±14.6% vs. 37.2 ±13.7%, p < 0.04), without a significant difference in the outpatient group. There was a significant difference in β-blocker use between patients with and without COPD (81.8% vs. 94.7%, p < 0.0001). Most patients received them below target doses. At the end of the 12-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in mortality between COPD and no-COPD patients (10.9% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.66). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from the Polish part of the ESC-HF registry indicate that COPD in patients with HF is associated with older age, smoker status, hypertension and higher NYHA class. The use of β-blockers was significantly lower in patients with than without COPD. There were no significant differences in mortality between groups.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D, known for its role in calcium-phosphorus homeostasis, is also a significant immunomodulatory factor. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported in some autoimmune disorders. Recently, vitamin D level in autoimmune thyroiditis (HT - Hashimoto's thyroiditis) has become the subject of researchers' interest. OBJECTIVES This study aims to assess vitamin 25-OH-D3 levels in HT patients in comparison to a control group in the Polish population. This would be the first attempt conducted in this region with such poor sunlight exposure. MATERIAL AND METHODS The group we studied consisted of 62 subjects diagnosed with HT (mean age 49.15±15.51) and 32 healthy controls matched with age and sex (mean age 46.09±14.32). All blood samples were collected in the first quarter of the year to minimize the impact of seasonal fluctuations of vitamin D concentrations. RESULTS In the HT group the mean vitamin D level was 20.09 nmol/L (SD±12.66), compared to 30.31 nmol/L (SD±19.49) in the controls, p=0.014. None of the patients and the controls was vitamin D sufficient (75-125 nmol/L). The deficiency (

The aim of the article is to examine the impact of a job seeker’s gender, education, age on their employment odds in Poland in 2011. The research includes Polish population which was economically active and aged 15 and more in 2011 (17,951 thousand people). The research tool was a logit model. The starting point for the analysis was the construction of a model that related employment to gender only. Then other models with many explanatory variables were constructed. Since the gender related odds ratios that have been determined for the sake of those models are interpreted under the assumption that the other variables are constant, it indicates that the women’s and men’s odds ratio remains the same in urban and rural areas, on every education level and in every age group. But in reality it is not true. This is why we estimated the models that contained only one explanatory variable (gender) for individual subgroups and models with the interactions.

Introduction: Twenty-five – fifty percent of skin melanomas arise from nevi. Melanocyte proliferation is activated by BRAF V600E , then is arrested, but single nevi transform to melanomas. p16 controls arrest, and p16 loss may promote transformation. Aim : To analyze BRAF V600E , p16 expression and melanocyte proliferation in dermal, compound and dysplastic nevi, cells of primary and metastatic melanoma in the Polish population. Material and methods : One hundred and thirty-two nevi (dermal, compound, dysplastic) and 41 melanomas (in situ, primary, metastatic) were studied. BRAF was assessed by cobas® 4800 BRAFV600 Mutation Test, High Resolution Melting Assay validated with: pyrosequencing and immunohistochemistry. p16 and Ki67 expression was analyzed by IHC. Results : Eighty-two percent of nevi and 57% of melanomas display BRAF V600E expression. Most dermal and compound nevi had > 50% of p16(+) cells. BRAF V600E dysplastic nevi had a low number of p16(+) cells. Nevi without BRAF V600E (WT), had 90% of cells p16(+). In 60% of in situ and primary melanomas, there was a low number of cells of p16(+). Fifty percent of WT metastatic melanoma and 33% of BRAF V600E showed a high level of p16. The number of Ki67(+) cells in dysplastic nevi was very low. In 25% of BRAF V600E melanomas in situ and 55% of WT, > 10% cells were Ki67(+). All BRAF V600E primary melanomas and 66% of WT had > 10% Ki67(+) cells. Twenty percent of BRAF V600E and WT metastases had > 10% of Ki67(+), however, 62% of BRAF V600E and 32% of WT samples had > 50% of Ki67(+) cells. Conclusions : BRAF V600E and p16 are more frequent in nevi than in melanoma in vivo. A significantly higher p16 expression was observed in mutated nevi than in WT, while in melanoma it was just the opposite. The proliferation rate of melanoma cells negatively correlated with p16 expression.