Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Apr 2006
Historical ArticleOutlined history of the development of the world and Polish cardiac surgery.
It was the dream of humanity to perform surgery on an open non-beating heart. Scientific and medical discoveries five thousand years ago in China, partially adopted by the Western civilization, laid, through ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and, later on in the Renaissance, the foundations for the development of empirical medicine. The 19th and the 20th centuries shoved dynamic scientific and technical development in various fields including medicine and surgery whose importance grew with the necessity to help the patients wounded in the wars. ⋯ The Department of Heart, Vascular and Transplantology Surgery of Cracow, the role and the share of Fundacja Rozwoju Kardiochirurgii COR AEGRUM in Cracow (COR AEGRUM Foundation for the Development of Cardiac Surgery in Cracow) in the construction of the new facilities for the Department of Cardiac Surgery of Cracow consecrated on June 9, 1997 by pope John Paul II, have been discussed. The contribution of the Club of Polish Cardiac Surgeons to the integration of surgical community and to development of the Polish cardiac surgery has been emphasized. In summary, it has been outlined that the contemporary standards of the Polish cardiac surgery do not differ from cardiac and vascular surgery and transplantology in developed countries.
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Morbid obesity, caused by fat tissue accumulation, is a serial multi-factorial chronic disease, with rapidly increasing prevalence in most countries in the world including Poland. Conservative treatment of morbid obesity is almost always unsatisfactory and that is why several surgical methods have been developed. There are four kind of methods: malabsorbtive procedures; restrictive procedures; malabsorbtive/restrictive procedures and experimental procedures. ⋯ Presently the introduction of minimally invasive surgical techniques seems to be very safe, efficient and cost-effective in treatment for morbid obesity. New methods are also being evaluated, such as gastric myo-electrical stimulation. Bariatric surgery will still be developing until we understand all the factors responsible for it is origin.
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In the contemporary bioethics, patient's autonomy is often recognized as the most important issue. This autonomy is interpreted as the right to self-determination regarding all medical-related decisions. An essential condition of autonomous decisions is the adequate knowledge of the issues involved. ⋯ The results clearly show the multiplicity and variety of meanings that assume breathing-related linguistic expressions. All of them are classified in four main groups. In conclusion, the author submits that an improvement in the understanding of different meanings of words used in the doctor-patient relationship can contribute to maintaining ethical standards in medical practice.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Sep 2005
Review Historical ArticleEssentials in the diagnosis of acid-base disorders and their high altitude application.
This report describes the historical development in the clinical application of chemical variables for the interpretation of acid-base disturbances. The pH concept was already introduced in 1909. Following World War II, disagreements concerning the definition of acids and bases occurred, and since then two strategies have been competing. ⋯ Three charts modified from the Siggaard-Andersen Acid-Base Chart are presented for use at low, medium and high altitudes of 2500 m, 3500 m, and 4000 m, respectively. In this context, the authors suggest the use of Titratable Hydrogen Ion concentration Difference (THID) in the extended extracellular fluid volume, finding it efficient and better than any other determination of the metabolic component in acid-base disturbances. The essential variable is the hydrogen ion.
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J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyPulmonary function between 40 and 80 years of age.
Spirometry is the most frequently performed lung function test. To determine a normal range of spirometry results, reference formulas are used. Predicted values play an important role in establishing whether the volumes measured in an individual fall within a range to be expected in a healthy person of the same gender, height, and age. ⋯ In conclusion, the analysis of the lung function data showed that there were significant difficulties in determining the appropriate reference values of FEV(1) and FVC. The predicted FEV(1) and FVC values derived from equations based on the ECSC (1) reference populations are considerably lower than those calculated in the present study, re-emphasizing the need to be cautious when applying the ECSC reference values for the local Lublin population. There seems to be a need for a constant refinement of spirometric standards.