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Radiophotoluminescence signal of LiF crystals was found to be sufficiently strong to visualize tracks of a single charged particle. This was achieved with a wide-field fluorescent microscope equipped with a x100 objective and LiF single crystals grown with the Czochralski method at IFJ PAN. The tracks of alpha particles, protons, as well as products of 6Li(n,α)³H reaction with thermal neutrons (moderated Pu/Be source), were observed. These encouraging results are the first steps towards practical use of LiF as fluorescent nuclear track detectors. The most promising dosimetric application seems to be neutron measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in atherosclerosis and a useful model from which to study chronic inflammation. We compared monocyte function, lipid profiles and inflammatory markers in smokers and non-smokers, before and after oral ibuprofen intake. The adhesion of freshly isolated monocytes to native and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), as well as superoxide anion (O2-) levels and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production in resting and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated monocytes were determined. A group of nine smokers without any other coronary risk factor was compared with an age-matched group of 9 non-smokers. Tests were performed before and after a two-week course of oral ibuprofen (600 mg day-1). In smokers before ibuprofen, monocyte adhesion to native and TNFα-stimulated HUVEC was increased (P < 0001 and P < 0·01, respectively), and so were O2- levels in native and PMA-stimulated monocytes (P < 0·01 and P < 0·001, respectively). Ibuprofen reduced the adhesion of monocytes to native and stimulated HUVEC (P < 0·001) and O2- generation by resting and PMA-stimulated cells (P < 0·01) in both groups. H2O2 production by resting and PMA-stimulated monocytes was reduced in smokers and non-smokers (P < 0·01). Interestingly, ibuprofen increased HDL cholesterol levels in smokers (P < 0·01) and non-smokers (P < 0·001), and reduced the level of triglycerides in smokers (P < 0·05). Oral administration of ibuprofen reduced the adhesion of monocytes to HUVEC, suppressed oxidative stress and increased HDL cholesterol levels in smokers and non-smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "In Chronic Heart Failure Overactive Chemokine System Is Associated With Immune Activation, Low Grade Inflammation and Predicts Loss of Fat Tissue," by H. Bukowska and B. Millo, is presented.

An abstract of the study "In Chronic Heart Failure Elevated Homocysteine Level Is Related to Impaired Metabolism and Endothelial Dysfunction," by B. Millo and W. Banasiak, is presented.