Lechosław Putowski

Body image is a multidimensional, subjective, and dynamically changing concept that includes personal perceptions and feelings towards one's body. Menopause is associated with significant changes in external appearance and physical functioning. Aim: The study aimed to determine how women of postmenopausal age assess their bodies and what factors influence this evaluation. Material and methods: The research was conducted in six randomly selected gynaecological and primary health care clinics in Lublin. A total of 510 women were included in the study. A diagnostic survey was used as the research method. The research tool was a questionnaire consisting of a self-constructed part (socio-demographic data) and a standardized Body Esteem Scale questionnaire (BES). Results: In all subscales (sexual attractiveness, body control, and physical fitness), average results were obtained, although the highest was about body weight control (M = 5.85±2.00) and the lowest was related to sexual attractiveness (M = 4.78±2.17). The values of all subscales were significantly differentiated by the subjective assessment of the participant's health status (p<0.05). The values of sexual attractiveness were significantly related to the place of residence (p = 0.021) and the employment status of the participants (p = 0.030). The values of self-assessment of physical fitness were significant with the place of residence (p = 0.012) and the marital status of the participants (p<0.001). Conclusion: Women in postmenopausal age perceive their bodies in all categories (sexual attractiveness, body weight control/body strength, physical fitness) at an average level, indicating the need for psychosocial support. Providing them with support with their self-acceptance, and perhaps lifestyle changes, may improve their self-esteem to their body image.

Introduction: Stress is described as feelings of worry, unease and mild anxiety. Subjective emotions and mood during pregnancy affect the psychological state of pregnant women. Aim of the work: To investigate the emotional state that characterises women during pregnancy and what determines it. Material and method: The study group consisted of 588 pregnant women. The study was conducted between November 2023 and January 2024 in women’s counselling centres and birthing schools in the Lublin Province. A diagnostic survey method was used, with the author’s survey questionnaire, the General Mood Scale (authors Wojciszke, Baryła) and the Emotions Questionnaire (authors Wojciszke, Baryła). Results of the study: Women between 26 and 35 years of age constituted the largest group (n = 417; 71%; 70.92%). One in five subjects (n = 118; 20.07%) was between 18 and 25 years of age, while pregnant women over 40 years of age accounted for approximately 1% of the subjects (n = 6). The subjects were divided into three groups, depending on the trimester of pregnancy: 1st trimester of pregnancy accounted for 8.33% of the subjects, 2nd trimester of pregnancy 48.64% (n = 286) and 3rd trimester of pregnancy 43.03% (n = 253). Statistical analysis showed no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in the negative and positive mood scores of women in the different trimesters of pregnancy. High levels of negative emotions were found among women who felt a lack of support from relatives (M = 58) and among women who felt insufficient support from relatives (M = 51). In contrast, low levels of negative emotions were found among subjects who declared that they were coping well on their own (M = 39), as well as those who had high support from their partner/relatives (M = 39). The highest intensity of positive emotions was observed among women who had lost one pregnancy (M = 40), while the rate of positive emotions was slightly lower in subjects who had been pregnant for the first time or had no obstetric failures (M = 38). Conclusions: The stage of pregnancy does not significantly affect women’s mood, but a slight increase in the intensity of positive mood is observed in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and a higher intensity of negative mood in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. In addition, a higher intensity of negative emotions is observed for women of low material status, less educated, under 25 years of age and living in rural areas. Support from a partner/relative has a significant impact on the emotions felt and expressed during pregnancy. Negative emotions during pregnancy are mainly experienced by women who have lost three or more babies due to miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth. It seems reasonable to conduct further research to identify stressors in pregnant women, which will allow to individualise professional care for this group of women.

It has been suggested that ovulation may constitute a cyclic inflammatory-like process and that gonadotropin-inducible intraovarian interleukin (IL)-1, an established mediator of inflammation, may play a central role in this regard. In support of this hypothesis, our group has been able to document the ability of IL-1 to potently stimulate prostaglandin biosynthesis by cultured rat ovarian cells. Herein we explore the possibility that the prostaglandin-stimulating action of IL-1 is due, in part, to the enhanced expression of ovarian secretory phospholipase-A₂ (sPLA₂). A single sPLA₂ transcript of 1.4 kilobases was noted in all extraovarian tissues of immature rat origin subjected to Northern blot analysis. However, only a barely detectable signal was apparent in ovarian tissue. In contrast, the more sensitive RNase protection assay revealed the unequivocal presence of ovarian sPLA₂ transcripts. Cellular localization studies by way of in situ hybridization documented sPLA₂ transcripts primarily in the granulosa cell of the periovulatory ovary. Molecular probing of untreated cultured whole ovarian dispersates disclosed spontaneous elaboration of sPLA₂ transcripts as early as 20 h after the introduction of cells into culture. Treatment of cultured whole ovarian dispersates with IL-1beta for 48 h produced a 1.7-fold increase (over the value in untreated controls) in the relative expression of sPLA₂ transcripts (p < 0.01) along with a 1.7-fold increase in media PLA₂ activity (p < 0.01). A more marked increase was documented for IL-1beta-treated cultured isolated granulosa cells (12.5-fold increase, p < 0.001). Treatment of whole ovarian dispersates with an IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) produced a reduction in the basal expression of sPLA₂ transcripts (55% at the 5 microg/ml dose level; p < 0.01) and PLA₂ activity (40%; p < 0.01), thereby suggesting basal endogenous IL-1-like bioactivity. Treatment of cultured whole ovarian dispersates with either hCG or FSH led to 2.6-fold (p = 0.056) and 3-fold (p = 0.029) increases in the abundance of sPLA₂ transcripts, respectively, effects blocked by the concurrent presence of IL-1RA. These observations 1) document the immature rat ovary as a site of sPLA₂ gene expression, 2) localize the relevant transcripts to the postovulatory granulosa cell, 3) confirm the presence of functional secreted ovarian PLA₂ activity, 4) reveal PLA₂ expression to be IL-1- and gonadotropin-dependent, and 5) suggest the existence of endogenous PLA₂-stimulating IL-1-like activity. These findings also suggest that the ability of hCG or FSH to up-regulate ovarian sPLA₂ transcripts may be due, in part, to the endogenous elaboration of IL-like activity.