BackgroundApplication of adequate numeric scales is essential for assessment of a patient’s condition. The scales most commonly used by the therapeutic team for assessment of a patient with traumatic brain injury (TBI) include deficit scales, functional scales, and scales assessing quality of life. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationships between the particular scales used for assessment of patients with TBI.MethodsThis multicenter study included 159 patients with TBI. The direct observation technique was used. Two measurements were made (at hospital admission and discharge) using standardized assessment scales, ie, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the Functional Capacity Scale (FCS), the Functional Index “Repty” (FIR), and the Glasgow Outcome Scale.ResultsPatients with mild impairment of consciousness were most numerous in the examined group at both admission and discharge, ie, 118 (78.8%) and 134 patients (89.3%), respectively. The mean score for functional capacity measured with the FCS was 34.41 points (71.7%) on the day of admission and 41.87 points (87.2%) on the day of discharge from hospital. A significant correlation was found between results obtained using the GCS and results on the FIR, on both the day of admission [R t(n-2) =7.612=0.530; P=0.00] and the day of discharge [R t(n-2) =8.998=0.595; P=0.00]. Further, a high correlation was found between the FCS and the FIR (rs= −0.854 on day of admission and rs= −0.840 on day of discharge).ConclusionThe majority of examined patients had mild impairment of consciousness. A moderate correlation was found between the GCS and the scales assessing activities of daily living. A high correlation was found between FCS and FIR, which may result from the similarities between the analyzed tools in the scope of their construction and application.

β-blockers is a vast group of antiarrhythmic drugs which differ in their pharmacokinetic and chemical properties. Some of them block β-adrenergic receptors selectively while the others work non-selectively. Consequently, they reduce the influence of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart, acting negatively inotropic, chronotropic, bathmotropic and dromotropic. Although they have been present in medicine since the beginning of the 1960s, they still play a crucial role in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. They are also first-line group of drugs used to control the ventricular rate in patients with the most common arrhythmia–atrial fibrillation. Previous reports indicate that infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus may constitute an additional risk factor for arrhythmia. Due to the aging of the population in developed countries and the increase in the number of patients with cardiac burden, the number of people suffering from cardiac arrhythmias will increase in the upcoming years. As a result the role of above-mentioned beta-blockers will remain significant. Particularly noteworthy is propranolol–the oldest beta adrenergic antagonist, which in recent years has found additional applications due to its unique properties. In this article, we reviewed the accessible literature and summarized the current guidelines on the use of beta-blockers in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Glucocorticoids (GCs), which are secreted by the adrenal cortex, are important regulators in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. For the proper functioning of the body, strict control of their release is necessary, as increased GCs levels may contribute to the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and other pathological conditions contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I (11β-HSD1) locally controls the availability of the active glucocorticoid, namely cortisol and corticosterone, for the glucocorticoid receptor. Therefore, the participation of 11β-HSD1 in the development of metabolic diseases makes both this enzyme and its inhibitors attractive targets in the pharmacotherapy of the above-mentioned diseases.

BackgroundOne of the elements influencing the assessment of nursing care quality is the assessment of the nurse’s functions that determine the nurse’s particular tasks. The aim of this work was to assess selected tasks involved in the nurse’s caring function, which influence nursing care quality on neurosurgical wards, on the basis of patients’ and nursing staff’s opinions.Materials and methodsThe research was carried out on neurosurgical wards in Poland on a group of 455 patients and 75 nurses. In order to assess nursing care quality, an author’s original questionnaire (Questionnaire – Patient Satisfaction) was used.ResultsStatistically significant differences concerned particular groups (both patients and nurses) in the assessment of selected issues: providing information about performed activities and operations (P=0.000 and P=0.040), respecting personal dignity and assuring discretion during the operations (P=0.000 and P=0.001), speed of response to patient’s requests (P=0.000 and P=0.000), time availability of nurses for the patient (P=0.000 and P=0.000), providing information about further self-care at home (P=0.032, P=0.008), and nurses’ attitude (kindness, courtesy, tenderness, care) to patients (patient’s assessment only P=0.000).ConclusionSelected tasks in the field of the caring function of nurses were assessed differently by particular groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the assessment of particular tasks in the opinions of patients and nurses, which means that both examined groups similarly assessed tasks involved in the nurse’s caring function, which influence nursing care quality.

Introduction.In order to achieve a learning success by a nurse during the pre-and post-graduate education, it is useful to apply the method of case studies using the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) or the traditional model of the nursing process. Case Report. The patient in good general condition, with overweight. Nourished orally, the patient shows a standard swallowing reflex. There are appetite disorders. Periodically, there occur constipation and urine retention. The patient shows increased risk of urinary tract infections due to self catheterization. Physical fitness limited because of the paresis of the right lower limb. Body balance impaired. The patient moves with the assistance from one person. She uses auxiliary means to move. On the Barthel Scale the patient scored 50 points, which indicates that she needs assistance in the performance of daily activities. Discussion. In the patient with multiple sclerosis there occurred nursing problems, in particular: reduction of capacity in terms of self-care and self-nursing, difficulty in performing daily activities, difficulty with communicating, urine residual in the bladder, constipation, the possibility of contractures, the possibility of eating disorders, discomfort caused by increased sweating, depressed mood, pain in bones and joints. Conclusions. Referring to diagnoses and ICNP interventions in the process of nursing it has been confirmed that the nursing care of the patient with MS is based on a holistic approach to the patient. All spheres of patient's life regarding biological, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual aspects were included in it. (JNNN 2015;4(2): 76-84) Key Words: ICNP, nursing process, individual case, MS Streszczenie Wstęp. W osiąganiu efektów kształcenia przez pielęgniarkę, w trakcie kształcenia przed-i podyplomowego, przydatne jest stosowanie metody analizy przypadków z wykorzystaniem Międzynarodowej Klasyfikacji Praktyki Pielęgniarskiej (ICNP -International Classification for Nursing Practice) lub tradycyjnego modelu procesu pielęgnowania. Opis przypadku. Pacjentka w stanie ogólnym dobrym, z nadwagą. Odżywiana drogą doustną, wykazuje prawidłowy odruch połykania. Występują zaburzenia łaknienia. Okresowo występują zaparcia oraz zaleganie moczu. Pacjentka wykazuje zwiększone ryzyko zakażenia dróg moczowych ze względu na samocewnikowanie. Sprawność fizyczna ograniczona z powodu niedowładu kończyny dolnej prawej. Równowaga ciała zaburzona. Pacjentka porusza się z pomocą jednej osoby. Korzysta ze środków pomocniczych w celu przemieszczania się. W skali Barthel pacjentka uzyskała 50 pkt. co wykazuje, że potrzebuje pomocy w wykonywaniu codziennych czynności.Dyskusja. U pacjentki ze stwardnieniem rozsianym wystąpiły problemy pielęgnacyjne, a w szczególności: ograniczenie wydolności w zakresie samoopieki i samopielęgnacji, trudności w wykonywaniu codziennych czynności, trudności w komunikowaniu się, zaleganie moczu w pęcherzu moczowym, zaparcia, możliwość wystąpienia przykurczów, możliwość wystąpienia zaburzeń ...