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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.

Background: Recent studies suggest that a large proportion of children with diagnosed and treated spastic bronchitis, in fact, suffer from undiagnosed asthma. Such a “labeling” effect is well described in Poland and a few other Eastern European countries. Aims and objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and associations of allergic conditions in children with asthma and spastic bronchitis. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of randomly selected children aged 6-15 years living in the town of Chorzow (Southern Poland). Physician-diagnosed respiratory diseases such as asthma and spastic bronchitis as well as allergic disorders including hay fever, eczema, dust, pollen, food, and animal allergy were ascertained using a questionnaire completed by the parents. Results: A total of 3480 children aged 6-15 years participated in the study (response rate=75.7%). Asthma prevalence was 12.9% while spastic bronchitis prevalence was 10.5%. Any allergy was present in 71.6% of children with asthma and in 26.6% of children with spastic bronchitis (p Conclusions: Our findings revealed that allergic conditions are more frequent and are more strongly associated with asthma than with spastic bronchitis. It indirectly shows that in our study children with asthma and spastic bronchitis may suffer from two different conditions.

Background: Dyspnea is a frequent, difficult to measure subjective sensation in hospitalized patients. Objective: To find out which factors impact dyspnea sensation in patients hospitalized in Indian and Polish pulmonary departments. Methods: 340 patients were assessed with BORG, MRC, NYHA scales. Dyspnea was correlated with: 6MWT, spirometry results, level of education and disease awareness in both populations. Results: Patients were of the same age 57 (18-88) and 58 (17-92) years (p=0.5), but not height 169 (140-191) and 157(142-183)cm (p

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.