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Ensuring food security has become an issue of key importance to countries with different degrees of economic development, while the agricultural sector plays a strategic role in improving food availability. The aim of this paper is to identify relationships between the undernourishment scale and selected characteristics describing the agricultural sector within identified clusters of developing countries. Typological groups of countries were separated using Ward’s method. It results from the analyses that the greatest problems with maintaining food security are observed in the developing countries with a high share of agriculture in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adverse conditions hindering agricultural production and deficient infrastructure. Based on research results desirable and tailored strategies for food security improvement in individual clusters were developed. Promoting investments in agricultural infrastructure and extension services along with adopting measures aimed at increasing the households’ purchasing power, especially those in rural areas, appear to be key drivers for improving both food availability and food access. The paper focuses not only on identifying the reasons of undernourishment, but also contributes to recognition of the most effective ways to solve the hunger problem under a country’s unique conditions. It offers a comprehensive perspective for the policy formulation in various areas world-wide, which may be of interest to scholars and policy makers.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the degree of servitization of the economies of European Union countries and to assess the importance of servitization for sustainable development. This study used Eurostat data from the years 2000 and 2023. Using Hellwig’s synthetic measure of development, four groups of countries differing in the degree of servitization in each of the years studied were created and then compared in the context of the differences between them, including population density, the share of the service sector in employment and gross value-added creation, and the level of gross value added created by the service sector per capita. The results showed that a high degree of servitization characterizes mainly the rich countries of the EU-15, while a lower one applies mainly to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The service sector increased its share in employment, structure, and gross value-added creation during the period under review. High population density was also a factor conducive to the development of services, but its increase did not always coexist with an increase in the degree of servitization of the economy. Servitization drives development and facilitates optimal use of resources. However, high levels of servitization are not always reflected in good values of sustainable development. Servitization processes can be stimulated by adequate economic development policies, but the methods and actions taken in this regard should be adapted to the level of economic development and the specifics of each country.

Agricultural services, understood as the rental of machinery and equipment with appropriate labor, are one of the three types of production services in agriculture distinguished by European Union legislation. The aim of this paper is to identify clusters of regions in the European Union that differ in the level of use of agricultural services on farms and in selected characteristics related to production potential, labor input, and type of agricultural production. For this purpose, Ward’s method, from the group of hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis methods, was used. Based on data on farms using agricultural services in 124 regions of the European Union, six clusters were formed. The study showed that agricultural services substitute for labor inputs in intensive agricultural production conditions, but in a situation with good technical equipment, farms may more often choose to employ hired workers. Such substitution does not occur in regions that are moderately and less well-equipped with machinery and equipment, because hired labor cannot completely replace the scarcity of machinery. The level of use of agricultural services is also related to the profile of the production carried out and the area of agricultural land, followed by the resources of land, capital, and labor. The level of economic development and historical background are also important.

This article discusses an extremely signifi cant issue of using ultrasonography in the delivery room. The authors discuss the role of ultrasonography in assessing the course of labor. Although the fi rst reports on this subject appeared approximately 20 years ago, the mass use of such examinations has started only recently(2–4). In some of these reports, the 2D and 3D imaging is compared(3) whereas some of them compare a physical anorectal examination with ultrasound assessment of labor(5,6). Nearly all authors agree that ultrasonography in the delivery room is useful and, currently, the more information is available to the obstetrician, the safer the delivery is both for the mother and child. Each article on the use of ultrasonography in the delivery room is therefore valuable. The authors of this paper preset a concise historical review as well as indications for and practical aspects of US examinations during labor, referring to 30 recent publications. One should hope that this article will resolve any doubts of obstetricians and gynecologists concerning the utility of ultrasonography during labor.

The aim of this article is to present the process of the development of horizontal integration in the agricultural sector in Poland in relation to the increase in its competitiveness. The article uses the data of the National Cooperative Council in Poland, The Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture, as well as Central Statistical Office in Poland. The process of formation of agricultural producer groups accelerated considerably when Poland joined the EU, especially due to the possibility to receive support from public funds. In 2013, at the end of the first full financial framework 2007–2013, there were almost 1300 agricultural producer groups in Poland. The most of them functioned in central, western and north-western regions, where larger and specialised farms are prevalent and where farmers understand the need for joint activity and want to gain a possibility to generate both technological and cost and price advantages and to increase the profitability of production. So far Polish producers of cereals, oilseeds, pigs and poultry have been relatively best organised. In 2017 about 45% of all registered groups of agricultural producers had the status of cooperatives. In pigs and beef cattle production the share of cooperatives in the total number of registered groups was even higher and amounted to 70% and 83%, respectively. Such groups are capable of helping farmers to solve the problems of how to sell their products, to ensure the appropriate quality of those products and to increase the cost-effectiveness of production. Cooperatives are often involved in social, educational and cultural activities provided to their members and rural community. Therefore, it can be said that very presence of cooperatives favours the development of agriculture in a particular region and in the entire country.

Anorectal fistula surgery is associated with risks of recurrence and/or faecal incontinence due to anal sphincter injuries. In order to minimise these complications, preoperative evaluation of the anatomy of the fistula tract and morphology of the anal sphincters is mandatory. Anal endosonography (AES) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), due to high resolution of images and ability to identify a number of fistula elements which are important for surgeons in treatment planning, are the methods of choice in the diagnosis of anorectal fistulas.In this paper, a new template for endosonographic and MRI report, systematically describing all anorectal fistula’s characteristics, is presented. This template provides practical information for the surgeon, useful in preoperative assessment and postoperative follow-up.

One of the most serious complications of vaginal delivery is 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear and its incorrect management results in anal incontinence. Animal-based anatomical models of childbirth-induced perineal tear are an important element of the physicians' practical training [1]. The proposed new model, prepared using porcine tongue and intestine, closely mimics all the tissues and organs subjected to injury during complicated deliveries and constitutes an educational opportunity for the reconstruction of the injuries. The objective of this paper was to present a new porcine model of the perineum and to evaluate the utility of this model in the training of physicians on the reconstruction of the 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear during childbirth. We presented a preparation method of the proposed model and a calculation of the amount of time and costs required for its preparation. The utility of the model was assessed using a questionnaire completed by the participants of a workshop conducted with the model. We found that 95% of the respondents had never practiced perineal reconstruction on any model. According to 85% of the respondents, our model was very similar to natural tissues. According to 95% of the respondents, the simulated model of the perineal tear satisfactorily mimicked the real-life situation. The presented model is cheap and easy to prepare. It satisfactorily mimics the tissues and tissue injuries caused by the tear, making it helpful in training physicians on the reconstruction of 3rd and 4th degree perineal tear.

Malformations of the rectum and urinary tract frequently coexist, and the prevalence of urogenital defects in patients with a rectal defect ranges from 20 to 54%. In most patients, anorectal malformations are diagnosed and treated surgically in early childhood. In this report, we present a case of a 52-year-old male with a history of urological operations in infancy due to a congenital urethral malformation and multiple recurrent episodes of perineal abscesses with urinary retention. Anorectal endosonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of a large cystic lesion adjacent to the rectal wall which became smaller at the level of the puborectalis. The walls of the lesion had a layered structure identical to the wall of the rectum. In addition, the examinations showed hypotrophy of the left lobe of the prostate and lack of left semnal vesicles. Thus, the lesion was diagnosed as duplication of the rectum or rectal diverticulum. Surgery was performed by an interdisciplinary team of colorectal surgeons and urologist. The lesion was removed laparoscopically. The pathological report revealed that the cystic wall was typical of the intestinal wall, consistent with a diagnosis of rectal duplication.

Occurrence of giant inguinal hernias is not frequent because of growing medical awareness in the community as well as progress in surgical treatment in this field. To evaluate the effectiveness of repairs using the Lichtenstein technique in scheduled treatment of giant inguinal hernias. Between 2006 and 2010 in the Department of Surgery with the Subdepartment of Proctology, Hospital at Solec in Warsaw, 909 repairs of inguinal hernia were performed, including 15 patients (1.65%) with the diagnosis of giant hernia. In 3 cases it was direct inguinal hernia and in 12 cases indirect inguinal hernia. All giant hernias occurred in male patients between 33 and 87 years of age (mean age 65 years old) and developed for many years, median of 14.2 years. All patients underwent scheduled repairs using the tension-free Lichtenstein technique. A non-absorbable polypropylene mesh was used for hernioplasty. Exact Fisher's test (p < 0.01) was used for statistical analysis. In all cases contents of the hernial sac consisted of loops of small intestine, colon and omentum. Early complications occurred in 11 patients (73%) in the group of patients with giant hernias, whereas in the remaining group of patients early complications occurred in 53 patients (5.9%). The difference was statistically significant. In the group of patients with giant hernias no recurrence was observed over the observation period ranging from 6 months to 4.5 years. In the remaining group of patients recurrences occurred in 23 patients (2.6%). The Lichtenstein technique of repair is effective in management of giant inguinal hernias. A statistically significantly higher percentage of complications was observed in the group of patients with giant hernias as compared to the remaining group of patients with inguinal hernias. Patients with giant hernias require proper preparation for surgery, especially in relation to their respiratory efficiency.

Background: This paper reports a case of an 87-year-old female patient who was admitted for an emergency operation due to massive hemorrhage of an ulceration localized on a huge neck tumor. Post-interventional diagnosis indicated hidradenocarcinoma. Hidradenocarcinoma is a rare skin neoplasm. It can coincide with adenoma, may develop through its malignant transformation or develop as a malignant tumor from the beginning. It may be found in all dermal localizations. It may develop metastases or appear in the diffuse form. Material and methods: Surgical excision of the tumor was performed obtaining a surgical margin, completed with excision of local lymph nodes and multiple layer suturing. Due to lack of the patient's consent, she has not been qualified for adjuvant therapy. Results: Control examination 6 and 12 months later showed no signs of local recurrence or lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Surgical excision of apocrine hidradenocarcinoma with a surgical margin could present a good therapeutic effect in spite of lack of adjuvant therapy.