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Introduction. E-Health tools allow a medical facility to set a given patient’s data in order using ICT techniques, and the patient to use those techniques when contacting a given organisation. Materials and method. Secondary statistical data was used in the research. The study was carried out among primary health care patients. Mining for affinity rules was done in the R programme. The apriori and inspect functions from the arules package were used. Moreover, any redundant rules were removed from thoseobtained using the afero-mentioned method. Applying the general description of the affinity analysis method onto the survey described herein, it should be stressed that the aim of using affinity analysis was to discover the rules which contain the sub-transaction B={V_6=1} as a consequent. This was determined by the intention to discover associations regarding the knowledge about a uniform information system that the patients under study might have. Results. In the discovered rules, the antecedent most often contained an indication of the need for introducing a uniform solution as regards telemedicine. Moreover, according to the opinions of ‚conscious‘patients, a uniform IT system should improve the work at primary health care institutions, introducing an on-line booking system for visits should improve the productivity and comfort of doctors, and an IT system should provide unambiguous identification of a patient. Conclusions. There is potential in using affinity analysis within e-Health. The example of affinity analysis described in his study led to the discovery of interesting and important (from the point of view of a medical facility) regularities regarding the knowledge and expectations of patients as regards e-Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective. Pain is an integral element of the pathogenic process and sometimes determines its course. Disorders in pain sensation, as well as its lack, the pain threshold, and variability in sensation of the same pain stimuli as more or less intensive by different persons, may be genetically conditioned. The aim of the study is to examine genes in pathogenesis of chronic pain. Materials and method. The study was conducted in a specially selected group of 31 persons: study group – 20 patients with chronic pain, and control group – 11 healthy individuals who did not experience pain. The control group of 11 healthy persons, compared with the study group, was the catalyst for determining the relative quantification (RQ) of gene expression. Biological material in the form of venous blood was collected from the study participants into the tubes containing anticoagulant EDTA KE/2.7 ml (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), preventing extracorporeal blood clotting. Results. Analysis of expression of the examined genes showed over-expression of the DRD1 gene in patients experiencing chronic pain, which means that in these patients an increased number of dopamine D1 receptors encoded by this gene should be expected. The dopamine D1 receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor which regulates (stimulates or inhibits) adenyl cyclase – the enzyme responsible for synthesis of cyclic AMP (cAMP). An increase in the concentration of cAMP in neurons enhances the sensation of pain. Conclusions. The genes (DRD1, COMT, OPRK1, HCN2) have a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic pain in various diseases; they can also influence the perception of pain. Knowledge of these genes can contribute to the development of effective methods of combating pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fundamental condition for proper functioning of the diagnostic and therapeutic process is effective doctor -- patient communication which is based on respect for patient's autonomy and his/her rights. It is essential to point to the important role of transferring medical information to the patient and the influence of the doctor -- patient relations on the whole process of treatment, convalescence and rehabilitation. The aim of the paper is to recognise and assess the demand for medical information among patients suffering from breast cancer. Material and methodology: The research was conducted among 120 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the Oncological Surgery Clinic of the Independent Public Research Hospital No. 1 in Lublin, the Oncological Clinic of the Independent Public Research Hospital No. 1 in Lublin and the Rehabilitation Centre with the Rehabilitation Clinic at the Lublin Oncology Centre. The research included women from the "Amazons" Lublin Club of Women after Mastectomy, the "Amazons" Club at the Complex of Specialist Clinics in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and the "Amazons" Club in Radom. The research method was the diagnostic survey, the research technique was the authors' questionnaire and the standardised questionnaire of the Patient's List of Expectations -- PRF created by Peter Salmon and John Quine and adapted by Z. Juczyński. Results of the research were subject to statistical analysis with the use of χ² test for independence. The relevance of differences among the research results was stated at the level of p≤0.05. Results: The research shows that the demand for medical information among women diagnosed with breast cancer is very high. Respondents want to know all the information concerning the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis (93%). They also expect that the doctor will give them medical information concerning further consequences of cancer and its influence on future health and life (78%). Most of the respondents expect to receive information concerning drugs which should be taken (77%) and the essence of the conducted treatment (93%). Conclusions: The research analysis shows that women diagnosed with breast cancer expect that the doctor will give them reliable and real medical information. Patients want the doctor to present them the probable course of cancer (85%) and all the possible side effects connected with it (89%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]