Review Content
a. Introduction and comments
b. Scientific activity following graduation from medical studies
c. Scientific activity after obtaining a Ph.D.
d. Activity after receiving the title of Professor
e. Activity at the onset of the Internet era
f. Activity following the transfer of my Department to the Faculty of Public Health (SMU) in 2001 and the commencement of teaching at the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa
g. Scientific activity after employment as an independent researcher at the Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health in 2011
h. Scientific activity during tenure as Head of the Institute of Nursing and Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa
i. Participation in scientific societies
j. Supporting the development of research staff
k. Participation in the education and training of postgraduate students
l. Organizational activities
m. Information regarding visits to foreign universities (listing only those associated with accessible websites)
a. Introduction and Comments
I am the author of approximately 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers (see above) and about 80 articles popularizing science and supporting patients in their search for solutions to medical and personal problems. My published popular texts are usually related to the concept of "behavioral and holistic medicine." A major part of my scientific output is indexed by PubMed (Medline) and can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
The impact of my popular texts and websites can be estimated using the Google search engine; a search for "Andrzej Brodziak" currently yields many results. I will begin the presentation of my scientific achievements by outlining the primary motives and intentions that have guided my efforts over many years.
After the first few years of my scientific activity, I concluded that the development of personal scientific endeavors should not be characterized by the repetition of very similar experiments, and that such development should take into account a changing "worldview."
As a practicing physician, I also realized that while clinicians may not be able to surpass molecular biologists or professional biochemists in their respective fields, they should instead concentrate on advancing methods of communication with and understanding of suffering people. In my opinion, clinicians are uniquely responsible for providing meaningful support to individuals who are depressed, stressed, elderly, or terminally ill. Unlike researchers in departments of anatomy, biochemistry, or pharmacology, the clinician should view the human being holistically, perceiving not only anatomical features but also "electromagnetic, psychic, and even spiritual components."
The preliminary remarks above will facilitate an explanation of the development of my scientific activity. In presenting my achievements, I include numbers in square brackets [ .. ] referring to my published papers listed above, which substantiate specific points in the discussion of my scientific work.
b. Scientific Activity Following Graduation from Medical Studies
Although I completed my medical education as a physician, my personal predispositions led me to initially explore the application of mathematics in medicine [1, 2]. This was the subject of my three-year postgraduate studies (1966–1970). During that time, I also sought to improve the structure and format of medical records, particularly for the documentation of physical examinations [9, 32]. The impact of our proposals can still be found in many Polish hospitals.
As I became more familiar with clinical practice, I began to consider the nature of medical diagnostic reasoning [11, 20]. I decided to apply mathematical methods to differential diagnostics. My first published paper was entitled: "The use of elements of set theory in differential diagnostics" [1]. The proposed methods also involved "abstract multidimensional spaces," facilitating synthetic conclusions based on both measurable and descriptive features of the human organism and psyche. This led to my first algorithms for supporting diagnostic decisions.
Around 1967, the first computers—then called "electronic digital machines"—became accessible to me in Poland. I performed experiments on a UMC-1 machine installed at the Silesian Technical University in Gliwice [2, 6]. Other experiments on hybrid analog-digital machines concerned the automatic interpretation of ECG signals [10]. Part of this work was based on "pattern recognition theory" and "pattern classification algorithms," which are currently implemented in Holter ambulatory 24-hour monitoring equipment [13, 16].
After several years of experimentation, I presented a trial of the algorithmic reproduction of natural medical inference in 1970 [7, 11]. The resulting algorithm and computer program, written in ALGOL, along with computer-simulated experiments, were the subject of my Ph.D. thesis. While few people remember the ALGOL autocode today, many contemporary articles relate to "clinical algorithms"—a concept I postulated the usefulness of as early as 1968 [4]. Despite their frequent presence in medical literature, the algorithmic reproduction of natural medical inference remains a significant challenge.
c. Scientific Activities After Obtaining a Ph.D.
When I realized that the algorithmic reconstruction of medical diagnostic inference is usually only a simplified scheme, I decided to explore the brain's natural processes for finding solutions. Simply put, I wanted to understand how the human brain works. Consequently, I spent the next three years studying neurophysiology (neural sciences) and cognitive science.
Following three years of reviewing hundreds of papers and integrating my own thoughts, I published my theoretical model of the structure and function of the human brain. The book was titled: Psychonics – Theory of Structures and Information Processing of the Human Brain and Its Application to Computer Science [22]. The first part of the book presents a synthesis of current knowledge, while the second part presents an extrapolation necessary to understand the brain's "processing and cognitive activity." This 500-page book was published in 1974, though unfortunately only in Polish. It is available via http://katalog.nukat.edu.pl/lib/item?id=chamo:3222665 and a summary can be found at https://arc.pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/mozg.htm. The core essence is also accessible in English through my peer-reviewed papers [157, 219, 293].
As mentioned earlier, from September 1, 1975, to June 1, 1976, I completed a scientific internship at the University Department of Psychiatry (Clinique des Maladies Mentales et de l'Encéphale – l'Hôpital Saint Anne, Paris).
In addition to gaining experience in general psychiatry, I had the opportunity to work in a psychometrics laboratory established by Professor Pierre Pichot, an outstanding expert in the field. Around 1975, the first computers equipped with monitors and keyboards enabled the creation of software for patient dialogue based on a doctor's guidelines. I developed such software in FORTRAN, a language that has since largely fallen out of use. One result of this internship was the publication: Dreyfus JF, Brodziak A, Pichot P. New statistical and Computer techniques to measure psychopathological changes (1978) [https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-4832-8322-7.50025-X].
The utility of this software was also described in an article presented at one of the first conferences dedicated to medical informatics [Brodziak, A. (1978). Software of Dialogues: Physician - Computer - Patient] [28]. The field of medical interviewing concerned general psychiatry and clinical psychology relevant to general medicine. The software was highly regarded, leading me to present these achievements as my Sc.D. (Habilitation) thesis [23, 24, 28]. The most significant outcome of my work in Paris, however, was a deeper understanding of the psyche, which later proved vital in developing a "holistic clinical approach."
Upon returning from France, I organized a prototype "computerized hospital information system" for the Department of Gastroenterology at the Central Hospital of the Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice-Ligota [14, 15, 21, 25]. The software for standardized medical interviews I developed in France was integrated into this system. It also served as an important tool for the Outpatient Clinic for Behavioral and Psychosomatic Diseases, which I established at the hospital. I defended my Sc.D. (doktor habilitowany) thesis in February 1978, which led to my appointment as an Associate Professor (then referred to as "Docent").
I later returned to the application of computers in clinical medicine, utilizing new possibilities offered by "computer expert systems" based on artificial intelligence. I developed expert systems for the treatment of hypertension and electrolyte disturbances [26, 29, 30, 43, 67]. This software was constructed considering both neurophysiological theories and data regarding the human genome [42, 49, 55]. In the 1980s, as personal computers became widely available, we experimented with object-oriented programming languages, particularly LOGO [43, 67, 69]. These programs were valuable educational tools [44, 57]. See: https://arc.pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/equimerecunit.htm.
My involvement in computer science also led to an interest in NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy and imaging. In 1985, I organized the first national conference on NMR physics and MR scanner technology. I also initiated a competition for new "image reconstruction algorithms." The proceedings are available in major libraries. One of my assistants performed pioneering NMR investigations of cerebro-spinal fluid for her Ph.D. My ongoing interest in these techniques is reflected in later papers on non-standard applications of MR scanners [181, 197].
During this period, at the request of Professors Z. Traczyk and A. Trzebski, editors of the textbook Human Physiology, I authored an introductory chapter entitled "Basic Mechanisms of Physiological Controls" [68]. This work continued my analysis of the central nervous system, integrating cybernetics and control theory with neuropsychology. This chapter also links to my early paper "The homeostasis of glucose and free fatty acids" [5], which illustrates how physiological regulation consists of hundreds of feedback loops, necessitating new descriptive methods for such complex systems.
In 1989, I encountered the book Slow Wave Sleep (Raven Press, 1989), which noted that cytokines such as TNF and IL-1 are involved in the sleep process. We had already begun measuring cytokines in our department [154, 174]. This inspired experiments regarding the circadian rhythms of these cytokines, published in frequently cited international journals [e.g., Zubelewicz B, et al., J Physiol Pharmacol. 2000;51(4 Pt 2):897-906]. My younger colleagues, Barbara Zubelewicz-Szkodzińska and Małgorzata Muc-Wierzgoń, subsequently became Associate Professors based on this work.
This research led me to consider how geophysical factors beyond nightfall influence the human organism. I assumed that various geophysical parameters could affect the production of cytokines and hormones. Consequently, I collaborated with the Institute of Physics (Radio-astronomy unit) at Jagiellonian University. This resulted in the book Solar Storm is Coming [126, 127-133]. Along with Dr. Damian Kaszuba, I also undertook the "Death Certificate Project," analyzing 750,000 certificates to conclude that the season of birth statistically influences morbidity rates for certain diseases.
In 1990, I published "The unit of neural networks modeling the recall of mental images..." [70], which I later presented to computer scientists [93]. This is perhaps one of my most significant achievements. The "equ-me-rec unit" (equilibrating-memorizing-recalling unit) provides a theoretical and algorithmic model for a "chip" that reproduces how neural circuits realize imagery. Since recalling memory is effectively an act of imagination, this unit represents a basic building block of human neural circuits. Understanding the ability to imagine objects is essential to understanding the "imagination of oneself," which is the basis of consciousness [59, 60, 116, 157, 219, 293, 312].
This model is particularly relevant today as researchers attempt to explain consciousness via quantum physics [123, 138]. I discuss the generalization of the equi-me-rec theory in relation to quantum phenomena in recent work [312].
I have also published papers on genetic engineering [48], DNA sequencing [75], and the role of molecular genetics in medicine [74]. We introduced the term "genomatics" a decade before the field's international rise. I also developed an educational website for genetics: http://pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/genetics.htm.
By 1989, I had published approximately 80 peer-reviewed papers. These achievements, along with my work in education and clinical organization, led to my being awarded the title of Professor by the President of the Republic of Poland on March 30, 1989.
d. Activity After Receiving the Title of Professor
Following my focus on computer applications and neuroscience, I became increasingly involved in cognitive science, psychological theory, and psychotherapy. In the 1980s, I published several papers bridging clinical psychology and neural science [50, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66]. These included "Trace of series of negative events... leading to chronic diseases" and "Evolutionary theoretical model of the disease" [31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 51, 54, 56]. Looking back, I realize I was then establishing the theoretical foundations for original methods of indirect psychotherapy and a holistic approach to medicine.
As head of a university department overseeing 72 patients, I implemented a set of diagnostic and therapeutic tools constituting a scientifically based holistic approach. I believe "holistic medicine" should combine pharmacological or surgical treatment with an understanding of the patient's psyche, stress levels, past trauma, and social situation. This includes detecting masked depression and estimating a "sense of coherence." Between 1985 and 2000, I published extensively on these tools [76, 81, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 113, 115, 119, 120].
I promoted objective diagnostic methods derived from George Kelly's Personal Construct Theory, proposing simplified "repertory grids" [http://pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/standard.htm]. Many of these tools, such as the "syncretic medical scheme of the psyche," are original inventions [85, 91, 98, 99, 100, 102]. My web pages provide concise lectures on psychotherapy for general practitioners: https://arc.pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/psychologia.htm.
Implementing a holistic approach required developing "indirect" forms of psychotherapy [71, 73, 82, 92, 105, 118, 134]. I have championed the term "indirect supportive psychotherapy" for many years [100, 283, 284] and authored numerous popular articles and books to promote health [71, 73, 82, 105, 118, 134].
This approach encompasses "non-talking therapies" such as meditation, mindfulness, light therapy, and rehabilitation (see: https://arc.pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/adventure.htm). Interestingly, a paper resulting from a conference at King's College London, "Breast self-examination: attitudes and practices among young women in Europe" [97], remains one of my most cited works.
In the 1990s, we investigated potential curative geophysical influences, such as Schumann Resonance and Pc1/Pc3 micropulsations. I published Solar Storm is Coming [126] regarding "geophysics and health" (available at: https://arc.pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/sztorm.htm). One study involved treating epilepsy using weak, ultra-low frequency electromagnetic fields (Ph.D. thesis of Dr. M. Sieczkowska). These investigations exemplify methods for reinforcing the "healing potential of the human organism," a topic I have discussed in several papers and on my website [108, 117, 135, https://www.angelfire.com/ab2/abrodziak/coronal.html].
I also explored Aaron Antonovsky's concept of the "sense of coherence." I believe "philosophical counseling" can reinforce meaningfulness and help patients think more deeply about life’s challenges. A doctor practicing holistically should be prepared for such discussions. This led me to explore the philosophy of nature and Frank Tipler’s "Anthropic Principle." I published You are Immortal in 1990, a conclusion of discussions on the anthropic principle.
Years later, my considerations on the philosophy of nature were published in peer-reviewed journals [191, 222, 286, 287]. My earlier theses are supported if one assumes the "Block Universe" model promoted by Max Tegmark [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c8Lb44wOOQ]. These publications serve as "indirect psychotherapy" for those experiencing a decreased sense of meaning. My "syncretic outlook of the world" is accessible at: http://pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/filozofia.htm.
e. Activity at the Onset of the Internet Era
I began exploring the possibilities of the Internet in 1996–1997, initially through scientific discussion groups (sci.physics, sci.med, etc.). My contributions regarding the "deficit of meaning" are recorded in my "Medical Phoenix Project" and the book The Gap of Happiness – Search for Meaning [134]. See also: https://www.angelfire.com/ga3/gean/cosmolife.htm.
I realized the Internet could provide accessible health advice and tools for "indirect psychotherapy." In 1997, a grant from the Stefan Batory Foundation facilitated a website supporting treatment that considers psychological and social circumstances.
This website also provided guidance for healthcare managers; organizing services to account for these conditions reduces costs and increases patient satisfaction. I have presented our work on supporting websites at numerous conferences [121, 122, 124, 125, 140, 143, 144, 146, 148, 153]. We also anticipated the importance of mobile telephony in e-medicine [167]. Consequently, I was invited to lecture at the "Telemedicine & Telecare International Trade Fair" in Luxembourg in April 2002 [165, 166].
f. Activity after the transfer of my Department to the Faculty of Public Health (SMU) in 2001 and the commencement of teaching at the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa
In 2001, the Chair and Department of Internal Diseases, under my leadership, was transferred from the Faculty of Medicine to the Faculty of Public Health at the Silesian Medical Academy. This move was part of the Rector's plan to expand the medical school and rename it "Medical University." While this transition did not change our diagnostic and treatment activities, it slightly shifted the profile of our educational programs and scientific objectives.
Reflecting on the essence of "public health," I developed several new research subjects in this domain. I concluded that one of the most critical public health issues is the ongoing depopulation of most European countries. At the time, the "children-to-woman ratio" for all EU countries was estimated at approximately 1.5, while a value of 2.1 is necessary to maintain a steady population.
During this period, the EU's Research, Technological Development & Demonstration Commission announced a call for "New and Emerging Science and Technology - INSIGHT" projects. These were designed to evaluate discoveries or phenomena posing potential risks to European society. I submitted a project outline entitled: "Risks of actual cultural, spiritual and economic patterns for the depopulation of Europe – investigation of possible, necessary modifications" [https://arc.pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/insight.htm].
Although the project did not receive a grant, I was very satisfied with the evaluation [http://pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/evaluation.htm]. The EU expert noted:
"...This proposal is based on a genuine insight about European depopulation... There can be no doubt about the potential risks and high scientific uncertainties involved..."
Despite being labeled as "too dogmatic" for that specific program, I remain convinced that the problem of depopulation will not disappear. Our project serves as a ready-to-use framework for when society realizes the severity of this "demographic catastrophe" (see also our later monograph [255]).
In an aging society, another vital public health issue is supporting the elderly. We proposed a research project titled: "Wellbeing and health of older people – enhancement of new forms of care and help by a 'personal and societal online helping tool'" [https://arc.pwsz.nysa.pl/~andrzej.brodziak/old.htm]. Additionally, we addressed the psychological prerequisites of immigration policy. In our view, a multicultural society must consider the cultural integration of massive immigration fluxes from neighboring regions with high birth rates. This is a matter of "public mental health," leading us to discuss countermeasures against fundamentalism [236].
The move to the Faculty of Public Health in Bytom required new teaching and research tasks, which I discussed in a published article [168]. These topics inspired me to consider the methodology of searching for solutions to difficult social problems [171, 177]. I also published works on the concept of health assessment [178, 182] and health care system reconstruction. Furthermore, I published an open letter in The Internet Journal of World Health and Societal Politics regarding abnormalities associated with the "swine flu" pandemic and vaccine procurement [199].
During this period, I also focused on medical ethics, holistic medicine [183, 187, 188, 190, 204], and methods for assessing patient stress and mental health [195, 198, 200, 203, 205]. My work at the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa allowed me to participate in the LLP/Erasmus program, lecturing in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, and Belgium. These visits led to scientific collaborations and comparative studies on the mental health of students [196, 200].
I also further developed my concepts of metaphysics and the philosophy of nature [188]. I published papers on the "Theory of people's participation in recurrent reoccurrence of the next version of the Universe" (TWLNOS) [190, 191, 192]. I hope this theory will gradually gain wider understanding, particularly as similar concepts have since been published by cosmologists like James Gardner and Clément Vidal.
Between 2008 and 2011, I investigated the role of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERV) in chronic diseases, suggesting they may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune diseases [201, 207, 210]. I also reviewed the genetic and immunological factors of individuals insusceptible to HIV infection [201, 208].
g. Scientific activity after employment as an independent researcher at the Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health in 2011
In 2011, upon reaching retirement age, I left the Medical University of Silesia and joined the Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health (IOM&EH) as an independent researcher while continuing my work at the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa.
I focused my efforts on environmental health, which I believe should encompass not only physical and chemical pollution but also social, psychological, and cultural factors. At IOM&EH, I worked with the Regional Center for Acute Poisoning, which treated nearly 1,000 people annually, often following suicide attempts.
I submitted a grant proposal to the National Science Center [http://www.ncn.gov.pl/] titled: "Evaluation of existential, living and social charges and mental condition of the population of Silesia through data collected in the Regional Poison Center." Although it did not receive funding, reviewers acknowledged that suicide indicators are a legitimate marker of public mental health. This work resulted in several papers on biochemical markers of depression and the differentiation of existential vs. mental determinants of suicide [211, 212, 217].
My research also covered:
Tools for GPs and nurses to assess health status in home settings [213].
A comprehensive review of biological and environmental determinants of sexual orientation [216].
Systematization of knowledge regarding atherosclerosis, asthma, and coronary artery disease [223, 224].
Addressing the demographic crisis and aging population [214, 215, 221, 226].
In 2013, I published a seminal work: "A current model of neural circuitry active in forming mental images" [219]. This and my earlier 2001 paper [157] are still frequently cited. In 2018, authors Wiesław Galus and Janusz Starzyk reproduced my diagram explaining the essence of imagination in their book Consciousness? – But it's very simple.
h. Scientific activity during tenure as Head of the Institute of Nursing and Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa
From 2002 to 2022, my scientific activity was conducted across the three aforementioned institutions. At the Institute of Nursing, my work focused on holistic diagnosis and treatment, including psychotherapy conducted by nurses (life review, story theory) [235, 249, 283, 284, 285] and care for the elderly [278].
We published original articles on controversial ethical dilemmas, including:
Pro-life vs. pro-choice attitudes [274, 280, 281, 282].
Emergency contraception [276].
The harms of new psychoactive substances [242].
The integration of immigrants [275].
We also highlighted the importance of addressing loneliness, sexuality, and delirium in the elderly [288, 289, 294, 295, 296, 299, 300, 301, 302]. Other papers explored the "glymphatic system" [277, 290] and the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation to understand self-consciousness [292].
I promoted the idea that nurses should acquire advanced competencies, such as practicing psychotherapy or conducting psychophysical examinations [233, 291]. Since 2017, all my scientific papers have been affiliated with the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa.
i. Scientific activity after resignation from the position of Dean
In 2020, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, I resigned as Dean but continued lecturing and conducting research. I promoted the principles of "narrative medicine" in nursing [319] and published a text on how medical personnel can influence climate change via dietary habits [305].
In 2021, I published one of my life's most important papers, presenting a model of neural circuits explaining self-awareness and the role of the brain's electromagnetic field [312]. This theory integrates Stuart Hameroff’s and Roger Penrose's "Orch OR theory" to explain qualia. I also addressed the practical significance of recognizing borderline personality disorder [313] and co-authored a paper on healthcare reform through task substitution [324].
Recent Publications (2023 – Present)
Since 2023, I have published several papers in the innovative journal Qeios, which uses a rapid, transparent peer-review process. My recent work focuses on "planetary consciousness" and the intersection of neuroscience and democracy:
The impact of sexual and ambitious attitudes on global functioning [https://doi.org/10.32388/966HXZ].
How brain science supports democracy [https://doi.org/10.20431/2456-057X.0701002].
Integrating afterlife beliefs through the Cyclic Universe Model [https://doi.org/10.32388/WGQODE.2].
My most recent works conclude decades of effort to understand fundamental neurophysiological processes and their relationship to the sentience of Artificial Intelligence [https://doi.org/10.32388/82VRPG, https://doi.org/10.20431/2456-057X.0801004]. These papers reflect an integrative vision linking clinical medicine, neural modeling, and AI within a single theoretical framework.