Background: Life-quality tests are the basis for assessing the condition of oncological patients. They allow for obtaining valuable information from the patients regarding not only the symptoms of disease and adverse effects of the treatment but also assessment of the psychological, social and spiritual aspects. Taking into account assessment of the quality of life made by the patient in the course of disease has a positive effect on the well-being of patients, their families and their caregivers as well as on satisfaction with the interdisciplinary and holistic oncological care. Methods: A population-based, multi-area cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with cancer in the study in order to assess their life quality. The method used in the study was a clinical interview. Quality of life was measured using the EQ-5D-5L Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Karnofsky Performance Status, our own symptom checklist, Edmonton Symptom Assessment and Visual Analogue Scale. Results: In the subjective assessment of fitness, after using the Karnofsky fitness index, it was shown that 28% (95% CI (confidence interval): 27–30) of patients declared the ability to perform normal physical activity. In the assessment the profile, quality of life and psychometric properties of EQ-5D-5L, it was shown that patients had the most severe problems in terms of self-care (81%, 95% CI: 76–89) and feeling anxious and depressed (63%, 95% CI: 60–68). Conclusions: Cancer undoubtedly has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients, which is related to the disease process itself, the treatment used and the duration of the disease.

Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder without a fully elucidated etiology and mechanisms. One likely explanation for the development of schizophrenia is low-grade inflammation, possibly caused by processes in the gastrointestinal tract related to gluten sensitivity. The aims of this study were to: (1) compare levels of markers of gluten sensitivity, inflammation and gut permeability, and (2) determine associations between gluten sensitivity, inflammation, and intestinal permeability in patients with first-episode/chronic (FS/CS) schizophrenia and healthy individuals (HC). The total sample comprised 162 individuals (52 FS; 50 CS, and 60 HC). The examination included clinical variables, nutritional assessment, and serum concentrations of: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble CD14 (sCD14), anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA), antigliadin antibodies (AGA) IgA/IgG, antibodies against tissue transglutaminase 2 (anti-tTG) IgA, anti-deamidated gliadin peptides (anti-DGP) IgG. A significant difference between groups was found in sCD14, ASCA, hs-CRP, IL-6 and AGA IgA levels. AGA IgG/IgA levels were higher in the FS (11.54%; 30.77%) and CS (26%; 20%) groups compared to HC. The association between intestinal permeability and inflammation in the schizophrenic patients only was noted. The risk for developing schizophrenia was odds ratio (OR) = 4.35 (95% confidence interval (CI 1.23–15.39) for AGA IgA and 3.08 (95% CI 1.19–7.99) for positive AGA IgG. Inflammation and food hypersensitivity reactions initiated by increased intestinal permeability may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The immune response to gluten in FS differs from that found in CS.

Introduction: Academic burnout is emerging as an essential obstacle in education process. Students of the most challenging fields of study with high degrees of stress are thought to be at the highest risk. Medical studies are considered one of them. The aim of the study was to measure the levels of academic burnout, stress and gratitude among Polish medical students of Medical University of Lublin, and determine their styles of coping with stress. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire comprised of the following: Maslach Burnout Inventory – Student Survey (MBI-SS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), a Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and a Gratitude Questionnaire Six-Item form (GQ-6). The data was obtained from 773 medical students. Results: Total number of 169 students (21.86%) met criteria for academic burnout. When it comes to 354 participants, they displayed signs of low self-esteem (45.8%). The number of 18 students showed low level of gratitude, while gratitude level of the majority of them – 496 (64.17%) was high. The most common style of coping with stress was emotions-oriented style – 354 students (48.29%), followed by task-oriented style – 345 students (47.07%). Burnout subscales turned out to be associated with age, year of study, self-esteem, gratitude and different styles of coping with stress to the various extent. Conclusions: The prevalence of academic burnout among Polish medical students is high compared with general population across various occupations. Utilisation of protective characteristics of high self-esteem, gratitude and healthy coping methods can result in development of efficient anti-burnout prevention strategies and intervention tools.

Background: The pandemic has proven to be a particular challenge for healthcare workers, not only in the professional but also individual sense. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively influenced their well-being and caused psychological distress. Undoubtedly, direct contact with sick patients, the fight against the pandemic, and observing the epidemiological situation influenced the attitudes of this group towards COVID-19 and vaccinations. The aim of the study was to analyse the level of anxiety among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess attitudes towards vaccinations against COVID-19. Methods: The cross-sectional study followed the recommendations of STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology). A convenience purposive sampling method was used and the study was led among nurses and doctors employed in healthcare facilities. The study used a survey and the Trait Anxiety Scale SL-C. Results: The study included 385 participants, with an average age of 48.41 ± 6.76 years. The nurses constituted 55% of the study group and the doctors 45%. A total of 70% of healthcare workers had over 10 years of work experience. Over half of the subjects (57%) became infected with COVID-19. A total of 85% of respondents have received vaccination. A total of 71% of respondents believe vaccinations are harmless. Frequently, the participants assessed their level of anxiety as moderate. Conclusions: Almost all surveyed doctors chose to be vaccinated, while the percentage of vaccinated nurses was significantly lower. As a result, it is possible to conclude that the employment position has a significant influence on the decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In self-assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic, most healthcare professionals experienced a moderate level of anxiety. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccination reduced the level of anxiety.

Introduction: Since implementation, electroconvulsive therapy has remained very effective treatment in psychiatry. The aim of this study is to present the differences in its use in medical practice around the world. The range of diseases in which ECT is most commonly used and the frequency of its use in different countries were compared with special attention to the differences between highly and poorly developed countries. Material and method: Review of literature by searching PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the keywords: indications of ECT, frequency of ECT use for papers published from 1991 to 2021. Results: Among the diseases for which electroconvulsive therapy is used worldwide, major depression dominates, while in Asia and Africa this therapy is used in schizophrenia. In Latin America it is used primarily for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In Poland, it is used for depression, bipolar disorder, and fewer for schizophrenia. The highest rate of people treated with therapy per 100,000 population is found in countries such as the USA (51), Canada (23.2-25.6), Australia (37.85), Sweden (41), Finland (23), Slovakia (29.2), Estonia (27.8) and Belgium (47). Conclusions: There is a relationship between the range of diseases most frequently treated with ECT, the frequency of use and the level of country development. In the high developed countries, ECT is used mainly in major depression, in less developed countries more frequent treatment of schizophrenia may be determined by the high cost of medications and limited availability of hospital beds. The highest rates of use of this therapy are found in more developed countries.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment method used in psychiatry; however, its cardiac safety has not been clearly demonstrated. The aim of the study was evaluation of the ECT effects on the myocardium based on troponin T concentrations and the following ECG parameters: the spatial QRS-T angle (QRS-TA), QRS duration (QRSd) and the corrected QT interval (QTc). In the study 44 patients (12 female and 32 male) were enrolled diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 21) and major depressive disorders (n = 23), according to the DSM-IVR criteria. All cases were undergoing ECT procedures. The mean age of the patients was 36.9±16 years (range: 18–74). Resting ECG was recorded before performing ECG and 1 hour after. The spatial QRS-TA was reconstructed from 12-lead ECG using the inverse Dower method. Troponin T concentration was assessed before the procedure and 6 hours after ECT. No significant changes to troponin T concentrations were observed during the ECT series. The pre-ECT value of the spatial QRS-TA was 41.1±18.9°. The follow-up examinations did not reveal any significant increase of this parameter (p = 0.09) in any of the consecutive measurements. There were no significant changes in the QTc interval duration or the QRS complex duration demonstrated before the third, fifth and last procedure in the cycle (p>0.05). No significant changes to troponin T concentrations were observed during the ECT series. Our findings indicate a lack of negative ECT effects on the risk of adverse cardiovascular events measured by the spatial QRS-T angle and cardiac troponin T concentration.