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Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of solid tumours. Its main side effect, limiting the use of higher doses, is nephrotoxicity manifested by acute kidney injury (AKI). Monitoring of kidney function and AKI detection during the treatment with cisplatin requires a serial measurements of serum creatinine, with estimation of glomerular filtration rate. This method allows the detection of AKI with a 24–48 hour delay, when glomerular filtration rate is significantly decreased. Research conducted in recent years has indicated a group of potential so-called morphological markers of kidney damage that allow earlier detection of AKI, also with subclinical manifestation (without a significant increase in serum creatinine). This is following cardiac surgery and after administration of contrast agents. The best characterised of these markers is neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). It is a protein physiologically existing in the granules of neutrophils, bone marrow, lung, stomach, small and large intestines, pancreas and kidney. Its expression increases in the course of renal epithelial damage. Studies have demonstrated the utility of NGAL assessed in both serum and urine in the diagnosis of ischemic AKI. So far, studies of cancer patients treated with cisplatin did not confirm the usefulness of NGAL determination in serum, but demonstrated that its urine measurements enable earlier diagnosis of AKI than the routine serum creatinine assessment. This paper is a systematic review of these studies.

Introduction. Tuberculosis is still a public health problem despite the steadily declining incidence rate in the wider Polish population. Effective prevention requires a good diagnosis of the problem on a regional scale, particularly among the younger population. Therefore, analysis of the incidence in the Silesian population with analysis of temporary differences in this trend among children and adolescents to 19 years of age was made. Material and methods. The incidence rate and standardized incidence were calculated on data based from Central Statistical Office reports and data from Provincial Sanitary Epidemiological Station in Katowice. Data were analyzed with consideration of counties as a place of residence. Results. The standardized incidence rate of tuberculosis (n/100,000) in Silesian population between 2002–2013 amounted to: 25.5; 21.8; 22.1; 21.1; 17.3; 18.5; 17.1; 18.8; 19.8; 22.0; 19.9; 19.5. Percentage incidence in children and adolescents aged 0–19 years in subsequent years: 1.4%; 1.5%; 0.9%; 2.4%; 1.7%; 1.8%; 1.4%; 2.7%; 2.0%; 3.0%; 2.3%; 3.7%. The highest temporary differences of trend in children and adolescents are reported in Lubliniec county (0–35.2/100,000). Conclusions. Varied incidence of tuberculosis noted in the years 2002–2013 in Silesian area is followed by low percentage of tuberculosis cases in children and adolescents aged 0–19 years. The epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in most counties is stable. However, the increasing incidence in the youngest segment of the Silesian population in the last three years should be noted.

Published data shows different prevalence trends depending on the region of Europe.The aim of the study was to analyze time trends of the frequency of the respiratory symptoms and allergic diseases in school children (Silesia, Poland) over the last 21 years.We compared the results of four population-based surveys performed in a town of Chorzow in 1993, 2002, 2007 and 2014 in children aged 7-10 years. All four studies had the same study protocol, recruitment (cluster, school-based sampling), questionnaire (WHO respiratory health questionnaire) and the same principal investigator The surveys included 1130 children in 1993, 1421 children in 2002, 1661 children in 2007 and 1698 in 2014.The results covered a 21 year span and showed a statistically significant (p 0.05) increase in the prevalence of the following physician-diagnosed disorders (1993-2002-2007-2014): asthma (3.4%-4.8%-8.6%-12,6%); allergic rhinitis (4.3%-11.9%-15.9%-13.9%); atopic dermatitis (3.6%-7.9%-12.0%-13.9%); allergic conjunctivitis (4.3%-7.9%-8.3%-7.9%); A simultaneous increasing trend (p 0.05) in the attacks of dyspnea (3.9%-5.9%-7.0%-7.3%) and symptoms (wheeze, dyspnea, cough) induced by exercise (7.5%-10.6%-22.0%-22.4%) and - at the same time - decrease (p 0.05) in the prevalence of cough (31.6%-19.6%15.4%-14.4%). Among children with diagnosed asthma during the 21 year span there was significantly (p 0.05) increased proportion of treated children (51.3%-51.3%-69.5%-60.7%) and a lower frequency of presenting current symptoms.Our findings are in line with the concept of a real increase in the occurrence of asthma and allergic disease in children. The pattern involves not only physician-diagnosed allergic diseases but also occurrence of symptoms related to respiratory disorders. Diagnosed asthma is better treated and better controlled.