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<b>Introduction:</b> Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. </br></br> <b>Aim:</b> The aim of this study was to analyze the data of patients treated for malignant tumours of the oral cavity at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, and Laryngological Oncology Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz between 2003-2011 to asses the influence of risk factors on survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. </br></br> <b> Material and methods:</b> Material was collected from 62 patients treated for oral SCC between 2003-2011. Forty-three were men (69.35%) with a mean age of 56.33 years. The medical records were analysed, especially history, operative reports, histopathology reports, survival, adjuvant treatment and recurrence. </br></br> <b>Results:</b> All patients underwent surgical treatment (33.87% also had partial removal of the lower jaw, 67.74% adjuvant radio-therapy, 11.29% radiochemotherapy). More than half reported to the doctor within 6 to 15 weeks from the onset of symptoms. The majority smoked and drank alcohol (96.32%). Five-year disease specific survival (DSS) was 68.69%. </br></br> <b>Conclusions:</b> The age over 65 did not significantly influence DSS. The location on the anterior two thirds of the tongue gave the best outcome, while the worst outcome was observed in the retromandibular triangle area which was statistically almost significant (p = 0.06843). In the case of higher degrees of local and regional advancement and a higher stadium, a worse out-come was recorded. Positive surgical margins were identified in 11.29% of the cases, but they had no impact on the results of treatment. No worsening of the outcome was proven for the patients who reported to the doctor later than 15 weeks following the occurrence of symptoms.

Vestibular migraine is a disease from the border of neurology and otoneurology. The diagnosis depends on patient history. There are no valuable laboratory or imaging tests, therefore the examination of visual-ocular and vestibulo-ocular reflexes is very useful in this group of patients. The material was collected from patients diagnosed due to dizziness at the Department of Otolaryngology and Oncology with the Subdepartment of Audiology and Phoniatrics, CM UMK in Bydgoszcz in 2019-2021. We considered patients with vestibular migraine and analyzed videonystagmographic tests in this study. The most common VNG abnormalities in patients suffering from vestibular migraine were an increased labyrinthine response, increased time constant of the rotational response and abnormal optokinetic response. There was not a single case of canal paresis in the group of patients with vestibular migraine.

Recently developed COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce the risk of severe coronavirus disease, which is essential in the particularly vulnerable cancer patient population. There is a growing anti-vaccine concern that may affect the success of the fight against the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. To evaluate opinions and attitudes toward vaccination, we conducted an anonymous online survey among Polish patients diagnosed with cancer. We analyzed how socio-demographic factors, type of cancer, comorbidities, previous influenza vaccinations, and information sources affect the general willingness and opinions about vaccinations, emphasizing vaccination against COVID-19. Six hundred thirty-five patients (80.2% female) participated in the study. A positive attitude towards vaccination was presented by 73.7%, neutral by 17.8%, while negative by 8.5%. Willingness to get vaccinated was declared by 60.3%, 23.5% were unwilling, and 16.2% were undecided. Significant predictors of willingness were education, marital status, active anti-cancer treatment, previous influenza vaccination, and positive attitude towards vaccinations. Patients with cancer have concerns regarding safety, effectiveness, and the process of development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, patients with cancer present positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination but required sufficient information on its efficacy and side effects.

An Amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Decades of overexploitation have devastated shark populations, leaving considerable doubt as to their ecological status 1,2 . Yet much of what is known about sharks has been inferred from catch records in industrial fisheries, whereas far less information is available about sharks that live in coastal habitats 3 . Here we address this knowledge gap using data from more than 15,000 standardized baited remote underwater video stations that were deployed on 371 reefs in 58 nations to estimate the conservation status of reef sharks globally. Our results reveal the profound impact that fishing has had on reef shark populations: we observed no sharks on almost 20% of the surveyed reefs. Reef sharks were almost completely absent from reefs in several nations, and shark depletion was strongly related to socio-economic conditions such as the size and proximity of the nearest market, poor governance and the density of the human population. However, opportunities for the conservation of reef sharks remain: shark sanctuaries, closed areas, catch limits and an absence of gillnets and longlines were associated with a substantially higher relative abundance of reef sharks. These results reveal several policy pathways for the restoration and management of reef shark populations, from direct top-down management of fishing to indirect improvement of governance conditions. Reef shark populations will only have a high chance of recovery by engaging key socio-economic aspects of tropical fisheries.

The aim of the work was to develop innovative antibacterial hybrid coatings applied on implants that are used for anastomoses of animals' long bones and to assess their physicochemical and biological properties. Plates made of the titanium alloy were covered with composite hybrid layers so as to protect the implant surface against corrosion and to enhance it with antibacterial properties.The hybrid coatings were obtained electrochemical oxidation and sol-gel. First, a layer of titanium nanotubes was applied to the implants surface through anodization. Next, the sol-gel method was used to create the second layer with silver nanoparticles. The microstructure examination of the materials was performed with the SEM. The phase composition analysis was carried out via the X-ray diffraction. The surface parameters (roughness, contact angle and free surface energy) were assessed. Biological studies of implants were conducted, including the analysis of degradation processes, cell response and bactericidal activity. The results confirmed that the hybrid antibacterial layers effectively protected the implant surface against scratches and corrosion and eliminated bacteria, which in turn would promote bone healing. The advantageous physicochemical and biological properties of metallic implants with hybrid composite layers raise hopes for their applicability in the veterinary treatment of bone fractures., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate risk factors influencing the results of tympanoplasties on the base of material taken from the Department of Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology Collegium Medicum of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Bydgoszcz between 2004-2009. In this period 98 operations were done. The time from operation to hearing examination was 3 to 7 years, mean 5,43. Tympanoplastic operation were divided according to Tos classification. Measuring hearing results, tonal audiometry was done and mean air bone gap on four frequencies was assesed (500, 1000, 2000, 3000 Hz), according to AAO-HNS guidelines (1995). This parameter was compared between groups separated according to risk factors, that could potentially affect the results. Those risk factors were: disfunction of the Eustechian tube, localisation and size of the perforation of the tympanic membrane, damage of the ossicles, the state of the mastoid process, the number of operations, the presence of the cholesteatoma or granulating tissue, chronic otitis media in the opposite ear, smoking cigarettes, mastoidectomy, canal wall down technique. The results were analysed using statistical test., Results: The most impotant risk factor affecting treatment's results (besides discharge from the ear) is damage of the ossicles, especially the malleus and stapes. Well done operation ensures good hearing results irrespectively of the presence of cholesteatoma or granulating tissue, and also in case of reoperation. For all types of tympanoplasties neither the localisation, nor the size of perforation do not influence on hearing results in long term observation.

INTRODUCTION    The etiology of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is unclear, with molecular mimicry between host and viral/drug antigens being the most plausible mechanism initiating the immune cascade that induces hepatocyte injury. Finding a serologic parameter that closely relates to the liver histology would be beneficial for monitoring AIH activity and optimizing treatment. OBJECTIVES    We studied serum interleukin (IL)-17 levels and IL‑17 activators (IL‑6 and transforming growth factor β1 [TGF-β1]) in treatment-naive and immunosuppressed patients with AIH. We also analyzed the relationships between these cytokines and histological inflammation scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS    A total of 44 patients with confirmed AIH were enrolled to the study (22 treatment-naive patients and 22 patients in clinical remission after at least 3 years of immunosuppression). Liver biopsies were performed, and the histological grading of inflammatory activity was performed by a single pathologist. The control group comprised 30 healthy age- and sex‑matched subjects. Serum IL‑17, IL‑6, and TGF‑β1 levels were measured by a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS    Serum IL‑17, IL‑6, and TGF‑β1 levels were higher in treatment-naive patients compared with controls (23.2 pg/ml vs 15.3 pg/ml, P = 0.0001; 5.20 pg/ml vs 1.42 pg/ml, P = 0.0001; and 40.5 ng/ml vs 30.1 ng/ml, P = 0.04; respectively). In treatment-naive patients, serum IL‑17 negatively correlated with hepatic inflammation (r = -0.63, P = 0.01). A reduced serum IL‑17 concentration correlated with an increased TGF‑β1 concentration in patients in clinical remission (r = -0.51, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS    Serum IL‑17 levels may be a useful parameter for assessing disease activity in patients with AIH.

Introduction: Surgical treatment of conductive hearing loss runs the risk of damage to the inner ear in the mechanism of acoustic trauma., Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of the organ of Corti, expressed as bone conduction threshold at the frequency of 4000 Hz for selected operations: mastoidectomy and canal-wall-down procedure., Material and Methods: The material was collected from patients with chronic otitis media in the Department of Otolaryngology and ENT Oncology, Collegium Medicum of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Bydgoszcz in 2004-2009. All patients were examined with pure tone audiometry threshold before surgery and at least three years after surgery. The analyzed group of patients was divided into subgroups depending on the type of operation according to To classification and procedures for resection: mastoidectomy and canal-wall-down procedure. The results were statistically analyzed., Results: In the analyzed period of three years after surgery there was no statistically significant difference between groups, although there were higher values for tympanoplasty type 1 with mastoidectomy compared with tympanoplasty type 1 without mastoidectomy - respectively 25.67 dB and 18.53 dB. In the study, there was no statistically significant the difference in bone conduction threshold for frequency 4000 Hz within the type 2 tympanoplasty according to Tosa comparing canal wall-up and canal-wall-down procedure., Conclusions: Mastoidectomy or canal-wall-down procedure do not affect the bone conduction threshold for a frequency of 4000 Hz after tympanoplasty in long-term observation.

Objective: We reviewed functional outcomes of tympanoplasty., Study Design: The results of tympanoplastic surgery are changing in time. We present late treatment outcomes among different types of tympanoplasty., Methods: Eighty-six patients who underwent tympanoplasty were enrolled in the study. The results of pure tone audiometry performed 7 days before, then at 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years after the surgery were assessed. Type II tympanoplasty involved implantation of a partial ossicular replacement prosthesis and type III tympanoplasty involved reconstruction with a total ossicular replacement prosthesis and the use of autogenous homogenous material. Statistical analysis was performed., Results: With all four types of tympanoplasty, hearing improvement was achieved at 3 months and 1 year after surgery based on the magnitude of the mean ABG reduction (p<0.001). In patients who underwent type I, type III, and type IV tympanoplasty, the ABG reduction at 3 years after surgery was maintained at the level reported at 3 months and 1 year after surgery (p<0.001). In patients who underwent type II tympanoplasty, however, the mean ABG value was increased at all tested frequencies (p<0.05). The mean ABG values reported 3 years after type II and type III tympanoplasty were similar., Conclusions: Based on the results over time, hearing improvement seems to be less durable after reconstruction with the partial ossicular replacement prosthesis procedure compared to the total ossicular replacement prosthesis procedure.

Stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotopic values and total mercury (Hg) concentrations were analysed in muscle and liver of mothers and embryos of two aplacental shark species, Squalus megalops and Centrophorus moluccensis. Embryos of the two species had similar or lower isotopic values than their respective mothers, the only exception being for δ¹³C, which was higher in the liver of C. moluccensis embryos than in their mothers. Hg concentrations were systematically lower in embryos compared with their mothers suggesting a low transfer of this element in muscle and liver., (Journal of Fish Biology © 2014 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Introduction: The method of tympanic membrane repairing is called myringoplasty., Aim of the Study: We analysed the reasons of failure of this procedure., Material and Methods: The structural results were observed among 36 patients under restricted criteria with diagnosed chronic otitis media. The unsuccessful procedure was one with reperforation. We studied Eustachian tube function and also localisation and size of the perforation., Results: The failure rate was 25%, which was mainly observed among individuals with incorrect Eustachian tube function - 70% and margin perforations - 50%. The localisation and the size of the perforation did not matter., Conclusions: The main reasons of myringoplasty failure were incorrect Eustachian tube function and margin perforations of tympanic membrane., (Copyright © 2013 Polish Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z.o.o. All rights reserved.)

Introduction, Material and Methods, Aim of the Study: Evaluation of the methods and results of treatment of 19 cases of malignant tumors of the external auditory meatus and/or temporal bone was performed., Results: In 10 cases planoepithelial carcinoma was diagnosed; in 7 cases basocellulare carcinoma; in 1 case rhabdomyosarcoma; and in 1 case malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor were histopathologically established. In stage T1 were 8 cases, in T2 - 7, in T3 - 1 and in T4 3 patients were stated based upon clinical and radiological (HRCT and MRI) examination. Three patients in T4 stage were qualified to palliative therapy. In 2 cases radical mastoidectomy was performed, 8 patients underwent partial temporal bone resection. In 6 cases removal of cartilaginous and osseous external auditory meatus was done. In 9 cases local recurrence of tumor was observed during 2 years after surgery. The last 7 cases are under oncological observation., Conclusions: In conclusion we stressed that patients with malignant tumors of this region are treated in late stages of the disease; it is a main cause of poor diagnosis., (Copyright © 2013 Polish Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z.o.o. All rights reserved.)

The heart is a mesoderm-derived organ, whose formation is regulated by various genes. Initially, the most important is expression of Nkx2.5, CR1, pitx2, anf and mhc2a, which are responsible for differentiation of cardiomyocytes. In a later phase activation of mhc2b, pitx2c, mesp1, pcmf1, vmhc, xin, mcl2v, mlc2a, mlc2a, mef2, hand1 and hand2 was revealed. Their expression is regulated by various molecules, including transcription (XIN, GATA, MEF, Tbx5, Baf60c, PECAM, tie-2, MEF2) and growth (VEGF, FGF, PDGF) factors, as well as proteins (i.e., dickkopf-1, cerberus, cytotactin, fibrillin, nodal, thrombomodulin, Wnt, bone morphometric ones - BMP2, BMP 4, BMP5, BMP7) and other substances, such as retinoid and folic acid. Crucial steps in cardiac organogenesis are development of the ventricle and atrial formation, as well as septation and valve formation. Any disturbances of such processes may lead to various congenital heart diseases and defects that could be initiated by various genetic, epigenetic or environmental factors. The most common heart malformations are: stenosis (coarctation) of the aorta and pulmonary trunk, bicuspid aortic valve, atrial and/or ventricular septal defect, persistent truncus arteriosus (Botallo duct), transposition of the great vessels, tricuspid atresia, hypoplastic left and right heart, as well as syndrome of Lutembachera, Cantrell, Ebstein, Eisenmenger and Shone and trilogy, tetralogy, pentalogy of Fallot.

The spinal perineurial cyst (Tarlov) is a dilatation between the perineurium and endoneurium of spinal nerve roots, located at level of the spinal ganglion and filled with cerebrospinal fluid but without communication with the perineurial subarachnoid space. The aim of the study was to evaluate it incidence among East-European patients. The retrospective data collected during various magnetic resonance spinal examinations and stored on the picture archiving and communication system was analyzed for an incidence of perineurial cysts. From among 842 patients that underwent examination, 75 cases perineurial cysts were revealed. In 22 cases single anomalies were found. In remaining 53 cases, multiple uni- or less frequently bilateral changes were noted. The most common position was the sacral canal, particularly the level of S2 and S3. Occasionally, cysts were also visible on the cervical, thoracic and lumbar level. Incidence of sacral perineurial cysts was significantly higher in females than in males. Similar data was found for single and multiple changes despite of their localization. Insignificant changes were seen for patient age and cyst size. Perineurial spinal cysts were the most frequently observed on the sacral level and such changes were more common in females.

Introduction: There are many ways of presenting the treatment's results for otosclerosis. Because of loss of the uniform standard, it is impossible to compare these results between various health centres. But the most important is, which way of presenting seems to be the best., Aim: The aim of the study was to propose a scheme of presenting the treatment's results for otosclerosis., Material and Methods: In order to devise method, medical documentation of 81 patients, treated for otosclerosis in Otolaryngological and Oncological Laryngology Clinic with Audiology and Phoniatrics Department, was analysed retrospectively., Results: The received results were analysed for each patient and divided into 3 groups: first - changes of the air conduction, second - changes of the air-bone gap, third - changes of the bone conduction. The value of the air-bone gap is a measure of surgeon's effectiveness interpreting as the reconstruction of the conductive chain in the middle ear. The loss of bone conduction before and after the operation can evaluate the improving hearing after the operation of otosklerosis due to overclosure and also can take under consideration the sensoneurinal hearing loss induced by moving of the stapes. Only comparison these three parameters is correct to evaluate the operation's results, especially the air conduction. So that de Bruijn et al. proposed a diagram, called Amsterdam Evaluation Hearing Plots - AEHPs. That diagram compares the pre-operative mean air-bone gap to post-operative change of loss of air - conduction. Thanks to that, the overclosure and post-operative sensorineurinal hearing loss were taken under consideration., Conclusions: The presentation of the treatment's results for otosclerosis should include, besides the air-bone gap, the air conduction and bone conduction too. The AEHPs meet the requirements., (Copyright © 2013 Polish Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z.o.o. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of the tympanoplasty in chronic otitis media in its functional aspect., Methods: We analysed and categorized 489 tympanoplasties using Wullstein classification. The operations were performed in the Otolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology Department of the University School of Medicine in Bydgoszcz, Poland, from 2004 to 2009. The group consisted of 421 patients (221 women, 253 men, mean age 52.2 years)., Results: Type I tympanoplasty was performed in 133 patients (31.59%), type II tympanoplasty was performed in 191 patients (45.36%), type III tympanoplasty was performed in 93 patients (22.09%) and type IV tympanoplasty was performed in 4 patients (0.95%). The audiometry was done one year after the operations. We observed good effect in 116 cases (86.9%) of type I tympanoplasty, good or satisfactory in 150 cases (78.6%) of type II tympanoplasty and satisfactory in 63 cases (67.7%) of type III tympanoplasty. There were no hearing improvement and its deterioration results in 61 cases (14.48%), including all treated by type IV tympanoplasty., Conclusions: 1. There were improvement of hearing in audiometry in majority of our patients. 2. The functional effect of hearing depends on the function of conductive mechanism of the ear before the treatment. 3. We prefer among all types canal wall-up tympanoplasty., (Copyright © 2012 Polish Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z.o.o. All rights reserved.)

The study describes cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYPA1) expression in the skin of different cetacean species (Megaptera novaeangliae, n=15; Stenella attenuata, n=7 and Stenella longirostris, n=24) from the Mozambique Channel island of Mayotte. Immunohistochemical examination was performed with a monoclonal antibody against scup cytochrome CYPA1. The sex was determined using a molecular approach consisting in the genotyping sex-specific genes. CYPA1 was detected at the junction between epidermis and blubber on dolphins only, mostly in the endothelial cells. Similar observation was obtained in the dermis of one M. novaeangliae. Immunohistochemical slides were scored to evaluate the expression of the CYPA1 and a higher expression was observed in S. longirostris, suggesting a higher exposure to pollutants for this species. The difference of expression between sexes was not significant., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although humpback whales are among the best-studied of the large whales, population boundaries in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) have remained largely untested. We assess population structure of SH humpback whales using 1,527 samples collected from whales at fourteen sampling sites within the Southwestern and Southeastern Atlantic, the Southwestern Indian Ocean, and Northern Indian Ocean (Breeding Stocks A, B, C and X, respectively). Evaluation of mtDNA population structure and migration rates was carried out under different statistical frameworks. Using all genetic evidence, the results suggest significant degrees of population structure between all ocean basins, with the Southwestern and Northern Indian Ocean most differentiated from each other. Effective migration rates were highest between the Southeastern Atlantic and the Southwestern Indian Ocean, followed by rates within the Southeastern Atlantic, and the lowest between the Southwestern and Northern Indian Ocean. At finer scales, very low gene flow was detected between the two neighbouring sub-regions in the Southeastern Atlantic, compared to high gene flow for whales within the Southwestern Indian Ocean. Our genetic results support the current management designations proposed by the International Whaling Commission of Breeding Stocks A, B, C, and X as four strongly structured populations. The population structure patterns found in this study are likely to have been influenced by a combination of long-term maternally directed fidelity of migratory destinations, along with other ecological and oceanographic features in the region.