BackgroundPsychological stress is an important factor of acne pathogenesis. Stress related production of hormones, cytokines and neuropeptides may result in the chronic course and exacerbations of the disease.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between acne severity, intensity of emotional stress and serum concentration of substance P (scSP), to compare the intensity of adversities, psychological stress and scSP in acne patients with healthy controls and to compare coping techniques for stress.MethodsThe study consisted of 80 patients. Emotional stress was analyzed with the use of social readjustment rating scale, whereas the methods of coping with stress were assessed with the coping inventory for stressful situation questionnaire. The blood concentration of substance P was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in a group of 40 patients with acne vulgaris and in control subjects.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between the severity of acne and the intensity of stress. Acne patients presented a higher average scSP than the controls. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the severity of acne and scSP; however, the intensity of stress correlated with scSP in the control group. The evaluation of methods of coping with stress showed significantly higher rate for the avoidance-oriented coping among acne patients.ConclusionThe number of stressful events is not a factor that determines the severity of acne. The course of the disease may depend on tolerance to stress and methods of coping with stress.

Our research indicates that a preoperative past-negative time perspective is a significant predictor of acute postsurgical pain intensity and the strongest predictor of pain catastrophizing.

Wstęp: Zjawisko choroby symulatorowej jest mierzalne pod względem objawów fizjologicznych. Artykuł prezentuje praktyczne wykorzystanie Kwestionariusza choroby symulatorowej (Simulator Sickness Questionnaire-SSQ) w badaniach poekspozycyjnych wraz z oceną samego narzędzia przez osoby badane. Materiał i metody: Badania przeprowadzono na symulatorze szkoleniowym pojazdów ciężarowych i autobusów AutoSim AS 1600. Przebadano 130 kierowców uczestniczących w kursach kwalifikacji wstępnej i okresowej dla kierowców w transporcie drogowym. Do badań wykorzystano kwestionariusz SSQ autorstwa Kennedy' ego i wsp. w polskim tłumaczeniu Biernackiego i wsp. (symptomy: mdłości, dezorientacji, zaburzeń okulomotorycznych i wynik ogólny) oraz ankietę oceniającą kwestionariusz SSQ (zrozumiałość i czasochłonność na skali 1-6). Wyniki: W grupie badanej (N = 130) stwierdzono istotne statystycznie różnice w wynikach SSQ. Wśród kierowców młodszych (<29,5 roku) zarejestrowano zwiększone nasilenie symptomów choroby symulatorowej po symulacji (objawy mdłości oraz wynik ogólny), u kierowców starszych (>29,5 roku) − objawów dezorientacji po symulacji. Długość snu i ocena jakości wykonania zadania były istotnie wyższe w grupach bezobjawowych. Wyniki wskazują również na pozytywny odbiór narzędzia przez osoby badane (N = 113)-oceniono czasochłonność jako niską (M = 2,44 na skali 1-6), a zrozumiałość jako wysoką (M = 5,62 na skali 1-6). Wnioski: Uzyskane wyniki wskazują na występowanie objawów choroby symulatorowej nawet w symulatorach wiernie odzwierciedlających ruch kabiny pojazdu. Oceny narzędzia przez osoby badane i poziom zaangażowania w pracę z kwestionariuszem wskazują na jego pozytywny odbiór.

Introduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate two measures in a cognitive examination: psychomotor function and the perception of time (PT) in patients after intravenous anesthesia for endoscopic procedures. Material and Methods. We tested 23 anesthetized patients (Anesthesia Group, AG) and 17 not anesthetized patients (Control Group, CG). The Dufour Cross-Shaped Apparatus (DA) was used to assess quick reactions. Perception of time (PT) was measured for 1-, 2-, 5-, and 7-second intervals. The tests were performed before the anesthesia was administered and 1.5, 3, and 6 hours after the procedure was completed. Results. The intervals that were generated and the reproduced visual stimuli were shorter than the patterns. The reproduced 1- and 2-second auditory stimuli were longer than the patterns. The remaining reproduced auditory impulses were shorter than the patterns. Conclusions. In anesthetized patients, quick psychomotor reactions and the ability to time intervals are preserved 1.5 h and later after intravenous anesthesia for endoscopy.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the phonological functioning (reading speed and accuracy) of hospital patients under general anaesthesia administered during colonoscopy. Methods: In this study the 'Łatysz' non-word reading test was used to measure the impact of selected anaesthetics on the phonological aspect of language processing (defined as decoding without referring to the meaning) in a group of 22 anaesthetised patients compared to 23 non-anaesthetised patients from university clinics. Results: Compared to the preoperative performance, a decrease in reading accuracy and reading speed was observed only in the Anaesthesia Group -AG (in the subjects aged ≥ 35 years) 1.5 h after the administration of anaesthetics. Postoperatively, the AG were significantly slower and less accurate than the Control Group -CG -after 1.5 h. After 3 h, the AG had regained their baseline values both in reading accuracy and reading speed. During the last assessment session, the AG pronounced 82% of the words correctly, while the CG pronounced 74% correctly. Moreover, subjects aged ≥ 35 years performed worse than younger subjects in their reading accuracy and speed. Conclusions: The patients who underwent colonoscopy under general anaesthesia manifested impaired phonological functioning shortly after the procedure, both in the speed and accuracy of reading non-words. However, the accuracy problems subsided relatively quickly.