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Introduction: In the natural process of wound healing a scar is formed, which by its build, colour and function does not resemble healthy tissue. This concerns not only the appearance of the outer integument, but above all, the deeper layers, which are also subject to the process of scarring. In some cases, a disorder of the decomposition and synthesis of collagen takes place and then hypertrophied scars and colloids are formed. Therefore, in physiotherapeutic practice, a scar should be seen in the three-dimensional aspect. Oncology patients can have so-called silicone dressings applied in the healing process of hypertrophied scars and colloids. The therapy using plasters with silicone gel is safe and non-invasive. Aim of the research: To assess the impact of silicone plasters on postoperative scars in the rehabilitation of women after mastectomy. Material and methods: The study, in which women after mastectomy took part, was performed in the Holycross Cancer Centre in Kielce. The assessment of a postoperative scar was based on the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Results and conclusions: Silicone dressings applied on a postoperative scar influenced its flexibility, colour and size. The achieved results are satisfactory and the applied method is effective and promising. However, the methods used to assess the scar, which are commonly recommended but not quite objective, raise some reservations and doubts among the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The problem of cancer is becoming epidemic in the world. Despite many campaigns that promote prophylaxis, the number of women dying of cervical carcinoma is still high. Broadly defined health education aimed at detecting the disease at an early stage should be an important point of the cervical carcinoma prophylaxis program. Aim of the research: To determine the level of awareness of women surveyed in the context of the risk factors and an analysis of health behaviours. Material and methods: The study was conducted among 108 randomly selected women living in Świętokrzyskie province. The women were between the ages of 20 and 60 years. Results: The study showed that the respondents were able to read properly the causes of the risk of cervical carcinoma, but only about 30% went to a gynaecologist for prophylactic measures. Thirty percent of the respondents had cytology regularly done. Only 8% of the women in the studied group accepted an invitation to screening examinations. The majority of the surveyed women knew the risk factors for cervical carcinoma but they did not translate their knowledge into health behaviours. Most of the respondents did not have regular cytological examinations done. The majority of the surveyed women did not have screening examinations done. Conclusions: Therefore, it is necessary to multiply efforts within the actions preventing cervical carcinoma, and promote a healthy lifestyle and pro-health education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary lymphoedema is a complication after oncological treatment. Rehabilitation management is aimed at reducing lymph stasis and improving mobility. Long-lasting lymphoedema can cause changes in the bones and joints. Increasing oedema significantly restricts the mobility of joints, and after some time leads to degenerative changes. Progressive changes in the appearance and function of the limb also cause emotional and mental changes. The problem of lymph stasis in patients after mastectomy is very serious and requires an appropriate early implementation of physiotherapy. Applied physiotherapeutic methods can be used in an independent or associated way. Currently, treatment of lymphoedema is based on symptom treating, so the knowledge of the lymphoedema pathogenesis can significantly contribute to the patients' awareness of the need to apply antiedematous prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early identification of high-risk individuals is key for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to assess the potential impact of a family history of metabolic syndrome (fhMetS) on the risk of metabolic disorders (abnormal body mass, lipid profile, glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and blood pressure) in healthy young individuals. Methods: We studied CVD risk factors in 90 healthy volunteers, aged 27-39 years; of these, 78 had fhMetS and 12 were without fhMetS (control group). Fasting serum lipids, glucose, and insulin levels were assayed, and anthropometric parameters and blood pressure using, an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring system, were measured. Nutritional and physical activity habits were assessed. Results: Despite similar nutritional and physical activity habits, abnormal body mass was found in 53.2% of the fhMetS participants and 46.1% of the control participants (p = 0.54). The occurrence of obesity was 19.4% and 0%, respectively (p = 0.69). Compared to the control participants, fhMetS was associated with significantly higher total cholesterol ( 5.46 mmol/L vs. 4.69 mmol/L, p < 0.030), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( 3.28 mmol/L vs. 2.90 mmol/L, p < 0.032), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( 3.74 mmol/L vs. 3.25 mmol/L, p < 0.016) levels, in addition to lower fasting glucose levels ( 4.51 mmol/L vs. 4.81 mmol/L, p < 0.042). A positive correlation between fasting glucose and insulin levels (r = 0.28; p < 0.015) was detected in the fhMetS participants. Higher mean daytime systolic blood pressure ( 121.5 mmHg vs. 113.3 mmHg, p < 0.035), mean daytime diastolic blood pressure (79.0 mmHg vs. 74.5 mmHg, p < 0.045), and mean nighttime diastolic blood pressure ( 64.0 mmHg vs. 59.5 mmHg, p < 0.019) were observed in the fhMetS group. Conclusions: More than 50% of the fhMetS participants had excess weight or a lipid disorder, which may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and the need for regular ambulatory assessment of serum lipid concentrations in young people with a family history of MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant cells are known to enhance glucose metabolism, to increase glucose uptake and to inhibit the process of oxidative phosphorylation. Accelerated glycolysis is one of the biochemical characteristics of cancer cells that allow them to compensate the inefficient extraction of energy from glucose in order to continue their uncontrolled growth and proliferation. Upregulation of glucose transport across the plasma membrane is mediated by a family of facilitated glucose transporter proteins named GLUT. Overexpression of GLUTs, especially the hypoxia-responsive GLUT1, has been frequently observed in various human carcinomas. Many studies have reported a correlation between GLUT1 expression level and the grade of tumor aggressiveness, which suggests that GLUT1 expression may be of prognostic significance. Therefore, GLUT1 is a key rate-limiting factor in the transport and glucose metabolism in cancer cells. This paper presents the current state of knowledge on GLUT1 regulation as well as its utility in the diagnosis and therapy of cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism is a relevant complication in patients operated for oncological reasons. Authors discuss the problem of primary and secondary thromboprophylaxis in this group of patients on the basis of the case of woman with recurrence of urinary bladder carcinoma, in whom palliative, abdominal operation was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first open-heart surgery in Gdansk took place in 1975. It was possible thanks to the gift of a Pemco extracorporeal circulation machine from the Netherlands to the Surgery Institute of the Medical Academy of Gdansk. The article presents additional, unpublished informations which enable a new interpretation of the previously known facts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the study was to assess the risk of falls, and physical fitness in the group of women aged 60 to 65 years of age suffering from an identified osteoporosis in comparison to a similar group of healthy women. The main question was: What is the level of physical fitness and risk of fall among women with osteoporosis compared to healthy women? The research included 262 women aged 60 to 65 of age: 135 with osteoporosis and 127 healthy ones, living in the Małopolskie and the Świętokrzyskie Provinces of Poland. To assess the level of physical fitness, the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) was used, while the Tinetti POMA (Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment) and Timed Up&Go test (TUG) were used to asses the risk of fall. Significant statistical differences in average results of physical fitness assessment were noticed as regards the following aspects: flexibility of the lower body part p < 0.001; flexibility of the upper body part p < 0.001. Essential differences were demonstrated in assessing the risk of falling with p < 0.01. Women with osteoporosis are marked by a lower physical fitness than healthy women. A higher percentage of great and serious risk of fall was demonstrated among women with osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the influence of phenology‐related intraseasonal asynchrony on metapopulation dynamics and stability. As the part played by intraseasonal asynchrony is as yet unclear and poorly described, greater account of it should be taken in both metapopulation research and conservation practice. The subpopulations of the Parnassius mnemosyne metapopulation studied here are strongly isolated because of the phenological shift between them, despite the relatively small physical distances between them. This isolation is the result of a significant temporal shift in the species' flight periods in the main metapopulation centers: in some seasons its flight times in the different subpopulations did not overlap at all. The predicted results of such strong intraseasonal asynchrony are not altogether clear. On the one hand, they reduce the vulnerability of the entire metapopulation to the effects of short‐term random disasters. On the other, the ever‐greater isolation of subpopulations may cause the metapopulation to become a nonequilibrium one, which will have a serious impact on its long‐term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Further isolation may arise through site-specific co-evolution between the mussels and hosts; Douda et al. ([7]) demonstrated that there are often differences in the suite of fish hosts used by I U. crassus i , even across genetically and geographically close populations. Keywords: conservation; glochidia; host specificity; parasitism; reproduction EN conservation glochidia host specificity parasitism reproduction 1 5 5 05/03/23 20230501 NES 230501 Understanding the life-history characteristics of endangered species is crucial to their conservation, management, and predicting their responses to environmental change (Stark et al., [16]). Fishing for hosts: Larval spurting by the endangered thick-shelled river mussel, Uniocrassus Host specificity can increase vulnerability of mussels as survival is intrinsically linked to that of their hosts. [Extracted from the article]

As predation by grass snakes was the most common cause of mortality in this study, the inference to be drawn is that the yellow-bellied toad's aposematic coloration is not sufficient defense against these snakes. Telemetric research reveals predation on the poisonous yellow-bellied toad Bombina variegata The most common predator of adult yellow-bellied toads turned out to be the grass snake I Natrix natrix i (Figure 1c), which devoured toads with transmitters attached to them. The reason for the extremely limited data on the predation of adult yellow-bellied toads may lie in the difficulties of actually observing predation in the wild. [Extracted from the article]

Scarring is a natural process of wound healing. In some cases, however, there is formation of hypertrophic scars and keloids that are the result of collagen decomposition and synthesis. A disturbed scarring process causes functional, aesthetic, and psychological disorders in the patient. Silicone dressings in the form of plasters or gel are used in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. A case of pressotherapy of a postoperative scar with the use of non-sterile silicone dressings in a 56-year-old patient treated for breast cancer is described herein. The use of a 2-month pressotherapy of the scar resulted in an improvement in all the assessed parameters. Pressotherapy of the postoperative scar in the patient after mastectomy proved to be an effective and promising method. However, the methods of the scar assessment before and after treatment need objectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and coexisting diabetes mellitus (DM) are likely to have cardiological complications. Aim We assessed whether patients with moderate kidney dysfunction, with coexisting type 2 DM and preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function, demonstrate a more advanced LV diastolic dysfunction. Material and methods The study group consisted of 58 ambulatory patients with CKD, stages 3 and 4. The patients were assigned to groups based on the presence of type 2 DM. The first group (DM+) consisted of 21 patients with type 2 DM while second one (DM−) consisted of 37 patients without type 2 DM. Standard echocardiography was performed in all patients with tissue Doppler echocardiography for evaluation of the systolic velocity and both diastolic velocities of LV. The following laboratory parameters were measured: serum creatinine concentration, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the levels of urea, phosphorus, calcium, parathormone, platelets count, hemoglobin level and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels. LV diastolic dysfunction was defined as EmLV less than 8 cm/s. Results and discussion Patients in DM+ group, as compared to patients in DM− group, were characterized by higher values of left and right ventricular end-diastolic dimension, left atrial diastolic dimension, interventricular septal diastolic diameter, LV posterior wall dimension at diastole and of LV mass index, smaller LV ejection fraction and LV fractional shortening. In tissue Doppler echocardiography patients of DM+ group, as compared to patients of DM− group, did not differ in value of EmLV (7.4 ± 2.4 cm/s vs. 7.6 ± 2.1 cm/s, P = .723), respectively, and were characterized by similar estimated LV diastolic filling pressure as indicated by E /EmLV (10.1 ± 3.7 vs. 8.8 ± 2.6, P = .119). Conclusions CKD patients in the moderate stage, with coexisting type 2 DM were not characterized by higher risk of developing LV diastolic dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naiads, large freshwater mussels (Unionida), have very long life spans, are large-bodied, and produce thousands to millions of larvae (glochidia) which typically must attach to host fish tissues to metamorphose into a juvenile mussel. Glochidia develop within a female's marsupial gill demibranch, thus their number is restricted by female size. However, larger mussels acquire more energy, which could be invested in either larger-sized glochidia, in a more glochidia, or a combination of both. The high level of host specialization seen in many naiads may constrain glochidial size and shape around a narrow optimum, while naiads that use a wide range of host fishes may be predicted to possess greater plasticity in glochidial morphology. In this paper, we investigated the relationship between maternal body size and progeny body size and shape, aided by modern digital microscopy. We analyzed the between- and within- species variation of glochidia size and shape relative to female size in four widespread species of European naiads: Anodonta anatina, Anodonta cygnea, Unio crassus and Unio tumidus. Whereas the total reproductive output is collinear with female body size, substantial differences between species in glochidia size were found within genus Anodonta, but not genus Unio where glochidial size is remarkably consistent. The glochidial shape, however, differed within both Unio and Anodonta. We interpret this constant within-species glochidial size in Unio as reflecting a constraint imposed by the likelihood of successful transmission onto and off from a narrow range of hosts, whereas their shape seems to be less constrained. The Anodonta species, inhabiting a wide spectrum of habitats and using more than twice the number of fish hosts than Unio spp., have larger glochidia with greater variation in size and shape. Our results suggest that measures of glochidial variability may also serve as an indicator of host specificity in other naiads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lungs are a common site of metastases from malignant tumors. Their removal with a minimal but safe tissue margin is essential for the long-term survival of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a 1940 nm thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) and a 1470 nm diode laser (DL) in a pig model of lung surgery that involved the incision and excision of lung tissue. Histopathological analysis was performed on days 0 and 7 after surgery. Neither TDFL nor DL caused significant perioperative or postoperative bleeding. Histological analysis revealed the presence of carbonized necrotic tissue, mixed fibrin–cellular exudate in the superficial zone of thermal damage and bands of deeper thermal changes. The mean total width of thermal damage on day 0 was 499.46 ± 61.44 and 937.39 ± 109.65 µm for TDFL and DL, respectively. On day 7, cell activation and repair processes were visible. The total width of thermal damage was 2615.74 ± 487.17 µm for TDFL vs. 6500.34 ±1118.02 µm for DL. The superficial zone of thermal damage was narrower for TDFL on both days 0 and 7. The results confirm the effectiveness of both types of laser in cutting and providing hemostasis in the lungs. TDFL caused less thermal damage to the lung parenchyma than DL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life cycle of unionids is characterized by a obligatory period of larval parasitism on a fish host, any disturbance of which might cause a large-scale decline in the mussel population. Because the probability of fish infestation is so important, we modelled what would happen to a population (in terms of population growth and probability of extinction), if the same number of glochidia were released in one or more separate spawning events, by a hypothetical mussel population living in conditions differing in the probability of fish infestation (a "neutral" scenario, a "good" one and three variants of a "bad" one). The single brood strategy was the best in the "good" scenario. However, when the frequency of unfavourable stochastic events increased ("bad" scenarios), all strategies led to population decline, the single brood strategy being the worst. In "good" and moderately "bad" conditions the double brood strategy performed better than the other multiple brood strategies, but as infestation conditions deteriorated, a greater number of spawning events ensured a slower population decline and longer persistence. Our model can facilitate a better understanding of this problem and set up a framework for further tests in other unionid species and their environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented rapeseed meal has the potential to partial replace soybean meal in feed mixtures for poultry without a negative impact on the health condition and performance of birds. This is due to the fact that the fermentation process can reduce the amount of antinutritional factors, improve the use of nutrients and impart probiotic properties to rapeseed meal. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the effect of fermented rapeseed meal on the performance, egg quality, intestinal morphometry, the viscosity of intestinal content and total phosphorus availability. A total of 108 Lohmann Brown laying hens at 26 wk of age were used in the 90-day study. All hens were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups, with 12 replicates (cages) each, as follows: control group received no rapeseed meal, the URSM group received 3% unfermented rapeseed meal and the FRSM group received 3% fermented rapeseed meal. In the case of performance, egg traits, sensory evaluation of eggs, the viscosity of intestinal content and the availability of total phosphorus, if the distribution was normal, a 1-way analysis of variance was performed. If the distribution was not normal, the Kruskal-Wallis test was performed. In the case of histomorphometric evaluation of the intestine, if the distribution was normal, the Student t test for independent samples was performed. If not, a Mann-Whitney U test was performed. The performed analyses showed that the supplementation of fermented rapeseed meal had no negative effect on the performance of birds and the quality of eggs. Fermented rapeseed meal was also associated with improved histomorphometric parameters of the small intestine compared to the group receiving unfermented rapeseed meal in the feed. Laying hens from FRSM group were characterized by significantly lower viscosity of intestinal content (P < 0.05) compared to URSM group. Phosphorus in FRSM group was significantly more available to the birds (P < 0.05) compared to URSM group. These results suggest that supplementation with fermented rapeseed meal may be beneficial, especially in times of unstable prices of soybean meal and problems with its availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleeding is a major complication of anticoagulation in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) while estimating individual bleeding risk remains challenging. Elevated D-dimer levels (DD) have been shown to predict bleeding events. (1) direct comparison of the capacity of bleeding risk prediction scores (VTE-BLEED, RIETE, HAS-BLED, HEMORR 2 HAGES) to prognosticate in-hospital bleeding events in the acute phase of APE in a real-life population of APE patients;(2) augmentation of the discriminative capacity of fore mentioned scores with DD. Post-hoc analysis of a prospective observational study. DD levels were measured using the VIDAS D-dimer Exclusion test. Receiver operating characteristic curves, areas under the curve (AUC) for bleeding prediction were calculated for scores and DD. Bleeding scores+DD were compared using an established index quantifying the reclassification of patients (net reclassification index, NRI). 310 APE patients were included. 35(11.3%) bleeding events occurred (hematomas, GI, urinary tract, retroperitoneal, uterine, CNS, respiratory tract): 17 major (MB) and 18 clinically-relevant non-major bleedings (CRNMB), none were fatal. All scores had satisfactory AUCs (0.754–0.767), except HAS-BLED (AUC = 0.512; 0.455–0.569). DD were higher in patients with bleeding events (29,911 ng/ml vs. 4805 ng/ml, p =.031), AUC 0.621(0.520–0.721), p =.02. DD = 5750 ng/ml was characterized by OR = 2.3(95%CI 1.05–5.0) for all bleeding events. Adding DD improved the discriminatory capacity of tested scores in the non-high risk of bleeding category, NRI 0.07–03. Of the tested scores RIETE, HEMORR 2 HAGES, VTE-BLEED performed best at identifying APE patients at risk of in-hospital bleeding complications. DD levels may predict in-hospital bleeding events and may improve identifying patients classified as non-high risk who experience bleeding complications. • Estimating individual bleeding risk is based on prediction scores. • Elevated D-dimer (DD) levels have been shown to predict bleeding in APE. • We compared four bleeding risk prediction scores in a real-life acute pulmonary embolism population. • In this study, patients with hemorrhagic complications had higher DD levels. • DD levels enhanced the discriminatory capacity of tested bleeding risk scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Increased values of emerging fat indices are correlated with increased cardiovascular risk. Aim: To examine the novel non-invasive predictors of coronary disease, namely the carotid extra-media thickness (EMT), PATIMA, and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), in a group of patients with morbid obesity. Material and methods: We examined a group of 40 morbidly obese (OB) patients and a control group (CG). All patients were subjected to anthropometric measurements, as well as laboratory and ultrasound examinations. Results: EATmean and EMTmean differed significantly between groups (OB vs. CG): 5.09 vs. 3.50 and 808.50 vs. 737.00, p < 0.0001, respectively. Conclusions: Strong correlations were found between novel non-invasive predictors of coronary disease, namely the carotid extra-media thickness, PATIMA, and epicardial adipose tissue. The above-mentioned fat indices were not found to correlate significantly with BMI or other body weight-related parameters used to assess the adipose tissue content. Further studies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida provide important ecosystem functions and services. Unfortunately, some previously widespread species are now seriously endangered. To restore the historical range of the population of Unio crassus in the Biała River, southern Poland, the species was reintroduced into a series of ‘stepping stones’ joining two remnant populations. During the first phase of the study, the relationships between the abundance of U . crassus , physical habitat, and water quality were studied to assess reintroduction potential. In general, chemical water quality improved upstream from the existing population, favouring the decision for reintroduction, whereas morphological variables worsened. Mussel abundance was correlated negatively with the elevation and slope of channel, organic matter contents, and pH (exceeding 8.0), but positively with silt presence, water conductivity, and concentrations of HCO 3 − , Ca 2 + , and NO 3 − . During the second phase, adult individuals were introduced into one type of functional habitat—marginal channel sectors with still water and fine sediment. Despite the initial very high rate of reproduction in some parts of the upper reach of the river, the juveniles were ultimately recruited only in the lower part of the restored range, resulting in a very rapid change in recruitment at a channel slope of 1.8‰. Recruitment was positively related to silt content, conductivity, and Ca 2 + and HCO 3 – ions, negatively to channel elevation and slope, and water pH. The host fish species showed no correlation with abiotic habitat features within the studied reach. These results imply that most of the habitat traits related to U . crassus occurrence depended on the river's longitudinal profile, not on the chemical water quality, and that final success of introduction should be evaluated after several years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cells adapt to hypoxia by transcriptional induction of genes that participate in regulation of angiogenesis, glucose metabolism and cell proliferation. The primary factors mediating cell response to low oxygen tension are hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs), oxygen-dependent transcription activators. The stability and activity of the α subunits of HIFs are controlled by hydroxylation reactions that require ascorbate as a cofactor. Therefore, deficiency of intracellular vitamin C could contribute to HIFs overactivation. In this study, we investigated whether vitamin C content of human thyroid lesions is associated with HIF-1α and HIF-2α protein levels. Methods: Expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α as well as vitamin C content was analyzed in thyroid lesions and cultured thyroid carcinoma cell lines (FTC-133 and 8305c) treated with hypoxia-mimetic agent (cobalt chloride) and ascorbic acid. The expression of HIFs and hypoxia–induced glucose transporters were determined by Western blots while quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect HIFs mRNA levels. Ascorbate and dehydroascorbate levels were measured by HPLC method. Results: We found an inverse correlation between vitamin C level and HIF-1α but not HIF-2α expression in thyroid lesions. These results agree with our in vitro study showing that vitamin C induced a dose - dependent decrease of HIF-1α but not HIF-2α protein level in thyroid cancer cells FTC-133 and 8305C. The decreased HIF-1α expression was correlated with reduced expression of hypoxia-related glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in thyroid cancer cells. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that HIF-1α activation is associated with vitamin C content in thyroid lesions. Our study suggests that high tumor tissue ascorbate level could limit the expression of HIF-1α and its targets in thyroid lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lung cancer is the most common malignant cancer worldwide. In 2013 a total of 21,524 new cases of lung cancer in Poland and 751 (576 in men and 175 in women, respectively) in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship were reported. Aim of the research: To assess the dynamics of changes in lung cancer incidence between 1999 and 2013 in the population of inhabitants of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship by sex. Material and methods: Eleven thousand four hundred and eighteen new lung cancer cases in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in 1999-2013 were analysed. Crude rates (CRs) and age-standardised rates (ASRs) per 105 population were calculated, in general and by sex. The analysis of incidence trends was carried out using joinpoint models. Results: In 2013 a significant decrease by 22.3% in lung cancer incidence was reported in comparison with the year 1999. A significant decrease by 32.3% among men and non-significant increase by 32.3% in lung cancer incidence among women were reported. The relative risk of lung cancer incidence in men decreased by 44.5% compared to women. The trend in ASRs showed a significant decrease by 2.0% per year. In the male population a significant decreasing trend by 2.9% per year and a significant increasing trend by 2.1% per year among the female population were observed. The lung cancer incidence among men in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship decreased, with a simultaneous increase in incidence among women in 1999-2013. Sex was the main factor that differentiated the shaping of incidence trends. A significant decreasing incidence trend among men and a significant increasing incidence trend among women were observed. Conclusions: It is necessary to intensify the primary and secondary prevention of lung cancer in the voivodeship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced glucose requirement of cancer cells is associated with an increased glucose transport across plasma membrane that is mediated by a family of facilitated glucose transporter proteins, named GLUTs. GLUT1 is the main transporter in thyroid cancer cells. Glucose is the principal physiological substrate of GLUT1; however, it is also capable of transporting of oxidized form of vitamin C [i.e., dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) which inside the cells is reduced to ascorbic acid (AA)]. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of normo-, hypo-, and hyperglycemia conditions on GLUT1-dependent intracellular ascorbate accumulation and viability of thyroid cancer cells. GLUT1 seems to be the main DHAA transporter in thyroid cancer cells because its knockdown by RNAi reduced DHAA accumulation by more than 80%. The results showed that in thyroid cancer cells high glucose inhibits both transport of AA and DHAA. Inhibition of vitamin C transport by glucose had a cytotoxic effect on the cells. However, stabilization of vitamin C in one of 2 forms (i.e., AA or DHAA) abolished this effect. These results suggest that cytotoxic effect is rather associated with extracellular accumulation of vitamin C and changes of its oxidation state than with intracellular level of ascorbate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hyperglycaemia increases inflammatory cytokine concentration in the blood. Elevated levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), a cytokine belonging to the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family, were recently reported in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and nephropathy. The aim of the present work was an examination of IL-18 concentration in the sera of elderly DM2 patients with nonproliferative retinopathy and age-matched control people and an estimation whether this cytokine plays pro- or anti-angiogenic role in in vivo angiogenic activity of their sera in mice cutaneous angiogenesis test. Recombinant human IL-18 injected intradermally to murine skin induced significant neovascular reaction. DM2 patients sera contained higher concentration of IL-18 and induced stronger neovascular reaction in mice skin than did the sera of corresponding control people. Sera from both groups of people after neutralization with antihuman IL-18 antibodies lost substantial part of their angiogenic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to develop and assess a polyvinyl alcohol-cellulose derivatives-based film with incorporated povidone-iodine (PVP-I) predicted for applications in the treatment of periodontitis. Films were fabricated by solvent-casting, and their physical characteristics, such as their surface and structure morphology, mechanical properties, and disintegrating time, were evaluated. For in vitro iodine release studies and evaluation, the antimicrobial activity was tested using a modified disc diffusion method against five microbial strains. For further use, we selected the film with polyvinyl alcohol-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (PVA/HPMC_B) based on acceptable physicochemical properties. To assess the subacute toxicity of the film composition, the tissue regeneration process was tested in rats and compared to a conventional dressing commonly used in wound healing (Spongostan). Seven days after implantation, dorsal skin sections and blood samples (n = 10, in total n = 30) were examined. The wound area, epithelium, and dermis were evaluated microscopically, while the blood collected from the rats underwent biochemical analysis. The blood biochemistry results were comparable in all three groups. No significant histological differences between the Spongostan and the placebo film developed after subcutaneous implantation were observed. In contrast, the inflammation stage was reduced and the "scar" in the dermis was smaller when PVP-I and PVA/HPMC_B films were used. A smaller local inflammatory response inflicted less tissue damage, leading to the activation of subsequent regeneration phases and restoration of the area to its original state. The results obtained confirmed that PVP-I incorporated into PVA-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose film is a promising drug carrier, working faster and more effectively than the other two dressing materials evaluated. These developments provide a promising alternative in tissue regeneration and the wound healing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although eutrophication of freshwaters is a natural process, the human impact often leads to inland waters becoming overloaded with nutrients, impoverishing many valuable and vanishing habitats, such as floodplain lakes. These changes need to be reversed if the occurrence of endangered aquatic species is to be restored. In this paper we analyse the impact of a change in the water regime of a naturally eutrophic floodplain lake, which harbours a large diversity of Unionidae (large freshwater mussels), a globally threatened taxonomic group that provides important ecosystem functions and services. We found that a slight increase in the discharge from this waterbody, following the construction of an additional outflow pipe, positively influenced recruitment in three of the five mussel species inhabiting the lake. We also found that, after the construction of this additional outflow, the niches of juveniles of Anodonta cygnea and Unio spp. changed, revealing differences in their hydrological requirements. Our results suggest that, as in lotic habitats, complex hydraulic parameters are highly significant to unionid mussels in lentic conditions. Unlabelled Image • Additional outflow channel was constructed to reduce the retention time and halt the degradation of a eutrophic lake • The change in the water regime positively influenced recruitment in three of the five mussel species inhabiting the lake • The change in the water regime revealed differences in hydrological requirements between mussel species • As in lotic environments, complex hydraulic parameters are highly significant to unionid mussels in lentic environments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]