The aim of the study was to investigate relationships between the concentrations of macroelements (Ca), microelements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sn, Sr, V, Zn) and heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Pb) in the placenta, fetal membrane and umbilical cord. ‪Furthermore, we examined relationships between the concentrations of these metals in the studied afterbirths and maternal age, gestational age, placenta parameters (breadth, length, weight) and newborn parameters (length, weight and Apgar score). This study confirms previously reported Zn-Cd, Pb-Cd and Ni-Pb interactions in the placenta. New types of interactions in the placenta, fetal membrane and umbilical cord were also noted. Analysis of the correlations between metal elements in the afterbirths (placenta, fetal membrane and umbilical cord) and biological parameters showed the following relationships: maternal age and Mn (in the fetal membrane); gestational age and Cr, Fe, Zn (in the fetal membrane), Ag and Cu (in the umbilical cord); newborn’s length and Sr (in the placenta), Ag (in the umbilical cord); newborn’s weight and Sr (in the placenta), Cu (in the fetal membrane), Ag (in the umbilical cord); Apgar score and Ca, Cr and Ni (in the umbilical cord); placenta’s length and Cr and Sn (in the fetal membrane), Cu (in the umbilical cord); placenta’s width and Mo, Pb (in the placenta) and placenta weight and Sr (in the placenta), Ag, Fe, Mn (in the fetal membrane). The results show the influence of metals on the placenta, mother and newborn parameters, and the same point indicates the essential trace elements during the course of pregnancy.

Introduction: Pressure ulcers and their consequences can occur in any patient regardless of the underlying disease, so the knowledge of their prevention and treatment is extremely important. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the state of students' knowledge on pressure ulcers. Material and methods: The research was carried out in the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin among students of nursing. The study involved 203 full-time students. Data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of 27 questions. The questions addressed the issues of the formation, prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. The Kolmogorow-Smirnow, Fisher-Snedecor test, (ANOVA) with Spearman's correlation and Student's t-test were applied for statistical analysis. The statistical significance was assumed to be p = 0.05. Results: Over half of the respondents (57.64%) had a sufficient level of knowledge on pressure ulcers prevention and treatment. The level increased with the duration of the study, the highest was in the last few years, both I and II cycle of studies. The better (the higher) subjects assessed their knowledge about prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, they were characterized by a higher level of knowledge. Conclusions: The knowledge of nursing students on pressure ulcers increases with subsequent years of study. The self-assessment of students' knowledge about pressure ulcers, their prevention and treatment is accurate. Students of the consecutive years are better prepared to carry out anti-bedsore prevention. Students are aware of the need to have knowledge, as well as practice in the field of prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.

Aim. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive perinatal antibiotic therapy on the occurrence of an earlysymptomatic infections in newborns. Material and Methods. The studied material consisted of data obtained from medical records of 1,328 born alive infants and their mothers. Advanced parameters were described with appropriate numbers, arithmetic means, standard deviation, median as well as minimum and maximum values. The level of statistical significance was p<0.05. Results. When it comes to 6.62% of newborns, they demonstrated the presence of early signs of infection. The Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection was found in 14 cases, but only in 5 of them pure GBS strains were isolated. E. coli bacteria was reported in 33 neonates, while the other bacteria naming: Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacteriaceae, taphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 42 newborns. Among 24 newborns showing clinical signs of infection and positive indicators of inflammation in laboratory tests, simultaneously negative results of bacteriological cultures were reported. Conclusions. In connection with the introduction of an obligation to perform tests for GBS, amount of used antibiotics is increasing. However, the effectiveness of intrapartum antibiotic therapy and its prevalence appear to be unsatisfactory. The color of amniotic fluid may have an impact on the occurrence of intrauterine infection, including early symptoms of the GBS infection.

Introduction: A significant decline in the proportion of perinatal mortality of foetuses and newborns have been reported in recent years. Despite the tremendous progress made in the field of perinatal care, there is still a risk of infection of the foetus during pregnancy or its birth....