Patients with vetricular tachycardia are usually treated with antiarrhythmic drugs and ablation if the arrhythmia substrate is available for invasive treatment. Despite high efficiency of this treatment there is a significant group of patients who do not benefit from available treatment methods, either because they cannot be applied or do not allow for durable control of the disease. For that reason a novel treatment method, STereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation (STAR) has been proposed and its safety and efficiency is extensively studied throughout the world. The method is based on irradiation of the arrhythmia substrate identified with electrophysiological examination with high-precision image-guided radiosurgical methods usually used for ablation of malignant tumors. Here we present the protocol of the first Polish study on STAR in patients with intractable ventricular tachycardia (STARVT, NCT04642963), designed to test the safety of the method. Secondary endpoints include measures of the treatment efficiency.

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the severity of polypharmacy (concurrent use of multiple prescriptions and/or over-the-counter medications) among people aged 60–89 years with multimorbidity. Subject and methods The study sample included 341 older people aged 60–89 years. Information was collected using the authors’ survey questionnaire concerning health status and use of medications and/or supplements. These medications were then grouped into over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. Results Among participants, 86.2% used medications prescribed by a doctor, while 59.8% reported the use of OTC drugs. Only 11% did not take any drugs. In contrast, 19% used more than five drugs (range 5–9). The most commonly used OTC drugs were vitamins A, B, C, and D (44%), liver support drugs (18%), and cardiovascular support drugs (16%). Conclusion Multimorbidity was a health challenge for three quarters of the respondents, while polypharmacy was found for one fifth. Therefore, being chronically ill is not necessarily correlated with taking medication.

The diet of women in the preconception period and during pregnancy has a crucial impact on the development of the fetus and the health and metabolism of the baby. The energy requirements of a pregnant woman are higher, in addition, she should ensure an appropriate intake of particular nutrients and fluids. Folic acid supplementation is the most effective intervention in reducing congenital neural coil defects, as is stopping the consumption of alcohol and minimizing the intake of caffeinated beverages. The aim of the study was to assess the dietary habits, including caffeine and alcohol consumption, of women who are pregnant or preparing to conceive a child. The study population comprised (n=539) Polish women. An original questionnaire was used, including a metric and questions about preparation for pregnancy and dietary habits. Responses were collected via the Internet in forums for pregnant women. Of the total of the women surveyed, 73% said they were preparing for pregnancy. 64% of the respondents began taking folic acid supplements and 49% had started vitamin and mineral supplementation. Only 21% of women said they had changed their diet in preparation for conceiving offspring. As many as 34% of women said they themselves had adequate knowledge about nutrition during pregnancy, while 43% searched for information on this topic on the Internet. The factor that differentiated the practiced eating habits to the greatest extent was the level of education. Despite numerous recommendations, there are still many women who do not prepare for pregnancy and do not follow preconception recommendations. A large number of Polish women with lower education still do not take folic acid. It is necessary to educate the society also about harmful effects of alcohol on the developing fetus. Knowledge should be spread with the use of social media, because women often look for information about nutritional rules on the Internet.

Zwyrodnienie plamki związane z wiekiem (AMD, age-related macular degeneration) to obecnie główna przyczyna obniżenia ostrości wzroku, a nawet ślepoty w populacji osób powyżej 45. r.ż. Postępowanie lecznicze w wysiękowej postaci AMD polega na jak najszybszym włączeniu terapii anty-VEGF w postaci iniekcji doszklistkowych. Od 2015 r. w Polsce jest dostępny program lekowy dla pacjentów z wysiękową postacią AMD. W ramach programu zatwierdzono preparaty ranibizumab oraz aflibercept. Celem badań była ocena skuteczności stosowania programu lekowego wśród pacjentów z wysiękową postacią AMD. Z zastosowaniem badań diagnostycznych oraz sondażu diagnostycznego przebadano 98 pacjentów biorących udział w programie lekowym.

Background: Cancer is a health problem both in Poland and around the world due to its incidence and potential mortality. Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor that originates from melanocytes. It is the most important risk associated with UV radiation. An important topic is the promotion of knowledge of it among young people from an early age to prevent skin lesions. Skin disease prevention should be discussed at subsequent stages of school education. Children and adolescents should be aware of the negative effects of UV radiation. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and use of protection by primary and secondary school students regarding the occurrence and prevention of skin cancer, with particular emphasis on melanoma. Material and methods: As many as 224 young people took part in the study. An original questionnaire was used, consisting of sociodemographic questions and questions checking young people’s knowledge about skin cancer risk factors and skin disease prevention. The survey was voluntary and anonymous. To check the statistical significance of the obtained results, the significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted. Results: Skin problems occurred in 38.84% (N = 87) of respondents. Most of the respondents (80.36%, N = 180) do not use solariums and are aware that solariums are the main factor causing melanoma (81.70%, N = 183). As many as 78.57% (N = 176) of respondents claim that skin disease prevention has never been discussed at school and most young people (60.27%, N = 135) do not know about dermatoscopic examination. Most students (70.54%, N = 158) expressed their desire to expand their knowledge about skin diseases and their prevention. Conclusions: Due to the limited knowledge of children and adolescents about skin cancers, including melanoma, as well as the common disregard among this group of preventive measures related to the broadly understood prevention of their development, further theoretical education and promotion of healthy behaviors that reduce the risk of the disease are necessary.

Some healthcare professionals, particularly in acute and emergency settings, encounter situations involving death and dying, which can cause intense emotional reactions and challenge their communication skills. However, little is known about how personal and professional support affects their self-assessed competence in end-of-life care. This study aimed to examine the relationships between attitudes toward death and perceived communication competence among 614 healthcare workers from hospitals, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, hospices, and nursing homes. Results showed that personnel who discussed death-related topics openly with their relatives reported higher competence in communication and emotional support towards dying patients. Conversely, a lack of family or professional support was associated with lower perceived preparedness. These findings highlight the critical role of social and organizational support in fostering emotional resilience and competence, emphasizing the importance of targeted education and institutional programs that promote openness, confidence, and effective end-of-life communication.