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Over the past years, several remote sensing maps of land cover have been produced, but they still exhibit certain differences compared to the real land use that reduce their value for climate and carbon cycle modelling as well as for national estimates of forest carbon stocks and their change. This paper outlines a straightforward framework for evaluating map accuracy and estimating uncertainty in land cover area, specifically for forest-related land cover maps in Poland for the year 2018.

Starting in 2021, Poland's emission reduction target for 2030, in the sectors not covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is −7% compared to the emissions level in the non-ETS sectors in 2005. This is a big change in comparison with the target for the period of 2013–2020, which assumed potential emissions increase relative to the same baseline and was +14% by 2020. In order to cope with the need to make a much greater reduction effort, Poland will likely need to use flexibility mechanisms to support achieving the more ambitious target.

Abstract Background The antibacterial activity of bacteriophages has been described rather well. However, knowledge about the direct interactions of bacteriophages with mammalian organisms and their other, i.e. non-antibacterial, activities in mammalian systems is quite scarce. It must be emphasised that bacteriophages are natural parasites of bacteria, which in turn are parasites or symbionts of mammals (including humans). Bacteriophages are constantly present in mammalian bodies and the environment in great amounts. On the other hand, the perspective of the possible use of bacteriophage preparations for antibacterial therapies in cancer patients generates a substantial need to investigate the effects of phages on cancer processes. Results In these studies the migration of human and mouse melanoma on fibronectin was inhibited by purified T4 and HAP1 bacteriophage preparations. The migration of human melanoma was also inhibited by the HAP1 phage preparation on matrigel. No response of either melanoma cell line to lipopolysaccharide was observed. Therefore the effect of the phage preparations cannot be attributed to lipopolysaccharide. No differences in the effects of T4 and HAP1 on melanoma migration were observed. Conclusion We believe that these observations are of importance for any further attempts to use bacteriophage preparations in antibacterial treatment. The risk of antibiotic-resistant hospital infections strongly affects cancer patients and these results suggest the possibility of beneficial phage treatment. We also believe that they will contribute to the general understanding of bacteriophage biology, as bacteriophages, extremely ubiquitous entities, are in permanent contact with human organisms.

Background: The value of prophylactic closed-suction drainage in totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP) is still a matter of controversy. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies examining postoperative seroma rates in patients with or without routine placement of closed-suction drainage tubes., Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted for trials comparing the outcome of TEP with or without routine drainage placement. Data regarding postoperative outcomes were extracted and compared by meta-analysis. The odds ratio and standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated., Results: Four studies were identified, involving a total of 1626 cases (Drain: n = 1251, no Drain: n = 375). There was a statistically significant difference noted between the 2 groups regarding postoperative seroma formation favoring the Drain group (odds ratio = 0.12; 95% confidence intervals [0.05, 0.29]; P < .001; 4 studies; I2 = 72%). For the remaining secondary endpoints postoperative urinary retention, recurrence, mesh infection and in-hospital length of stay no statistically significant difference was noted between the 2 study groups., Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that patients who underwent TEP with routine closed-suction drain placement developed significantly fewer seromas without any additional morbidity or prolongation of in-hospital stay., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

In eukaryotes, genomic DNA is extruded into loops by cohesin 1 . By restraining this process, the DNA-binding protein CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) generates topologically associating domains (TADs) 2,3 that have important roles in gene regulation and recombination during development and disease 1,4-7 . How CTCF establishes TAD boundaries and to what extent these are permeable to cohesin is unclear 8 . Here, to address these questions, we visualize interactions of single CTCF and cohesin molecules on DNA in vitro. We show that CTCF is sufficient to block diffusing cohesin, possibly reflecting how cohesive cohesin accumulates at TAD boundaries, and is also sufficient to block loop-extruding cohesin, reflecting how CTCF establishes TAD boundaries. CTCF functions asymmetrically, as predicted; however, CTCF is dependent on DNA tension. Moreover, CTCF regulates cohesin's loop-extrusion activity by changing its direction and by inducing loop shrinkage. Our data indicate that CTCF is not, as previously assumed, simply a barrier to cohesin-mediated loop extrusion but is an active regulator of this process, whereby the permeability of TAD boundaries can be modulated by DNA tension. These results reveal mechanistic principles of how CTCF controls loop extrusion and genome architecture., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and peripheral artery disease significantly increase the risk of perioperative complications., Aim: The study aimed to determine the incidence of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), its association with 30-day mortality, as well as predictors of postoperative acute kidney injury (pAKI) and bleeding independently associated with mortality (BIMS) in patients undergoing open vascular surgeries involving the abdominal aorta., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using a sample of consecutive patients who underwent open abdominal aortic surgery due to infrarenal AAA and/or aortoiliac occlusive disease in a single tertiary center. In each patient, at least two postoperative troponin measurements were performed (on the first and second postoperative day). Creatinine and hemoglobin levels were measured preoperatively and at least twice postoperatively. The outcomes included MINS (primary outcome), pAKI, and BIMS (secondary outcomes). We assessed the associations between them and 30-day mortality and performed multivariable analysis to identify risk factors for these outcomes., Results: The study group comprised 553 patients. The mean age was 67.6 years, and 82.5% of patients were male. The incidence of MINS, pAKI, and BIMS was 43.8%, 17.2%, and 45.8%, respectively. The 30-day mortality rate was higher in patients who developed MINS (12.0% vs. 2.3%; P <0.001), pAKI (32.6% vs. 1.1%; P <0.001), or BIMS (12.3% vs. 1.7%; P <0.001) compared to patients who did not develop these complications., Conclusion: This study demonstrated that MINS, pAKI, and BIMS are common complications after open aortic surgeries, and they are related to a substantial increase in the 30-day mortality rate.

Life begins with a switch in genetic control from the maternal to the embryonic genome during zygotic genome activation (ZGA). Despite its importance, the essential regulators of ZGA remain largely unknown in mammals. On the basis of de novo motif searches, we identified the orphan nuclear receptor Nr5a2 as a key activator of major ZGA in mouse two-cell embryos. Nr5a2 is required for progression beyond the two-cell stage. It binds to its motif within SINE B1/Alu retrotransposable elements found in cis-regulatory regions of ZGA genes. Chemical inhibition suggests that 72% of ZGA genes are regulated by Nr5a2 and potentially other orphan nuclear receptors. Nr5a2 promotes chromatin accessibility during ZGA and binds nucleosomal DNA in vitro. We conclude that Nr5a2 is an essential pioneer factor that regulates ZGA.

Total transferrin concentration changes in acute-phase reactions. Additionally, the alteration of transferrin glycosylation in inflammations can occur. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of pancreatitis on the serum profile of transferrin isoforms. The tested groups consisted of 84 patients with acute pancreatitis and 42 patients with chronic hepatitis. Transferrin isoforms were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis on a MINICAP electrophoretic system (Sebia, France). There was a significant decrease in the concentration of pentasialotransferrin in both acute and chronic pancreatitis, and a significant increase in tetrasialotransferrin in the acute pancreatitis group when compared to the control group. There were no significant changes in transferrin isoforms between the acute and chronic pancreatitis groups, and between the edematous and necrotizing forms of the disease. Considering the etiology of acute pancreatitis, we noticed higher values of bile acids and γ-glutamyltransferase in acute pancreatitis of alcoholic etiology than that in pancreatitis of other etiologies. In conclusion, the alterations in transferrin isoform profile in acute and chronic pancreatitis are not organ specific. Because similar changes were observed in hepatitis, we can conclude that the serum profile of transferrin isoforms is involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Purpose: We performed a retrospective cohort study in patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) to determine the incidence and predictors of myocardial injury and acute kidney injury (AKI)., Methods: We included 267 consecutive patients who underwent EVAR at two tertiary centres in Canada and Poland. The primary outcome was myocardial injury during hospital stay after EVAR defined as a troponin elevation (ultra-sensitivity troponin I Vidas ≥ 19 ng·L -1 , non-high-sensitivity troponin I Vidas ≥ 0.01 µg·L -1 , high-sensitivity troponin T ≥ 20 ng·L -1 , non-high-sensitivity troponin T ≥ 0.03 ng·mL -1 ). The secondary outcome was AKI defined using the stage 1 of the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria., Results: Myocardial injury occurred in 78/267 patients (29%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 24.1 to 34.9) and with AKI occurring in 25/267 (9.4%; 95% CI, 6.4 to 13.5). In a multivariable analysis, the following variables were associated with an increased risk of myocardial injury: age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.65 per ten-year increase; 95% CI, 1.09 to 2.49), Revised Cardiac Risk Index score ≥3 (aOR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.26 to 6.41), The American Society of Anesthesiology physical status score 4 (aOR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.12 to 4.47), duration of surgery (aOR, 1.27 per each hour; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.61), and perioperative drop in hemoglobin (aOR, 3.35 per 10 g·dL -1 decrease; 95% CI, 1.00 to 11.3). Predictors of AKI were duration of surgery (aOR, 1.72 per hour; 95% CI, 1.36 to 2.17), a preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 30-59 mL·min -1 (aOR, 3.82; 95% CI, 1.42 to 10.3), and an eGFR < 30 mL·min -1 (aOR, 37.0; 95% CI, 7.1 to 193.8)., Conclusion: Myocardial injury and AKI are frequent during hospital stay after EVAR and warrant further investigation in prospective studies.

Background: The aim of our study is to assess the prevalence of concomitant arterial abnormalities (true aneurysms of iliac, common femoral, renal, visceral arteries and stenoses of iliac and renal arteries) in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, and to evaluate whether the type of the aneurysm (suprarenal versus solely infrarenal) is associated with this prevalence., Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we assessed computed tomography angiography scans of 933 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, including thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms type II-IV, with no history of abdominal aortic surgery. We compared 2 groups of patients: group 1 (n = 859) with solely infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and group 2 (n = 74) with the suprarenal aneurysm component. Patients with history of aortic dissection or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms type I and V were excluded from the study. All computed tomography angiography scans were visually assessed by 2 independent experienced physicians., Results: Study group comprised 933 patients with the median age of 73.0 years, 83.8% of whom were male. We observed higher prevalence of common iliac artery aneurysms (44.6% vs. 30.6%, P = 0.013), internal iliac artery aneurysms (28.4% vs. 18.0%, P = 0.03), common femoral artery aneurysms (13.5% vs. 4.4%, P < 0.001), visceral artery aneurysms (5.4% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.019), renal artery stenosis (20.3% vs. 5.2%, P < 0.001), renal atrophy (6.7% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.004), and severe chronic kidney disease (14.1% vs. 1.8%, P < 0.001) in group 2 compared to group 1. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of iliac arterial stenoses between the groups., Conclusions: Among patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, concomitant aneurysms and renal artery stenosis are more common in patients with suprarenal component when compared to those with solely infrarenal presentation., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Walk-in counselling has been used to reduce wait times but there are few controlled studies to compare outcomes between walk-in and the traditional model of service delivery., Aims: To compare change in psychological distress by clients receiving services from two models of service delivery, a walk-in counselling model and a traditional counselling model involving a wait list., Method: Mixed-methods sequential explanatory design including quantitative comparison of groups with one pre-test and two follow-ups, and qualitative analysis of interviews with a sub-sample. Five-hundred and twenty-four participants ≥16 years were recruited from two Family Counselling Agencies; the General Health Questionnaire-12 assessed change in psychological distress., Results: Hierarchical linear modelling revealed clients of the walk-in model improved faster and were less distressed at the four-week follow-up compared to the traditional service delivery model. Ten weeks later, both groups had improved and were similar. Participants receiving instrumental services prior to baseline improved more slowly. The qualitative data confirmed participants highly valued the accessibility of the walk-in model, and were frustrated by the lengthy waits associated with the traditional model., Conclusions: This study improves methodologically on previous studies of walk-in counselling, an approach to service delivery not conducive to randomized controlled trials.

The aim of our investigation was to verify whether phage therapy (PT) can induce antiphage antibodies. The antiphage activity was determined in sera from 122 patients from the Phage Therapy Unit in Wrocław with bacterial infections before and during PT, and in sera from 30 healthy volunteers using a neutralization test. Furthermore, levels of antiphage antibodies were investigated in sera of 19 patients receiving staphylococcal phages and sera of 20 healthy volunteers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The phages were administered orally, locally, orally/locally, intrarectally, or orally/intrarectally. The rate of phage inactivation (K) estimated the level of phages' neutralization by human sera. Low K rates were found in sera of healthy volunteers (K ≤ 1.73). Low K rates were detected before PT (K ≤ 1.64). High antiphage activity of sera K > 18 was observed in 12.3% of examined patients (n = 15) treated with phages locally (n = 13) or locally/orally (n = 2) from 15 to 60 days of PT. High K rates were found in patients treated with some Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis phages. Low K rates were observed during PT in sera of patients using phages orally (K ≤ 1.04). Increased inactivation of phages by sera of patients receiving PT decreased after therapy. These results suggest that the antiphage activity in patients' sera depends on the route of phage administration and phage type. The induction of antiphage activity of sera during or after PT does not exclude a favorable result of PT.

Background: Bacteriophage therapy is considered one of the most attractive alternatives to antibiotic treatment, which may be significant due to the rising number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Patients with cancer frequently suffer bacterial infections resulting from immunosuppression caused by anticancer treatment; thus they constitute a considerable group of patients subjected to phage therapy. In this study, we investigated the influence of bacteriophages on the migration of human leukemia (HL-60) cells. Results of these studies provide data regarding phage treatment of patients with cancer, especially with this type of leukemia., Materials and Methods: The influence of phage preparation on migration of HL-60 leukemia cells was evaluated with BD Bioscience Migration Chambers., Results: Bacteriophages have no influence on migration of HL-60 cells. The only phage preparation which stimulated migration of HL-60 cells was Staph.liz, specific to S. aureus, however, the molecular basis of these interactions cannot be currently explained., Conclusion: Results of our studies may be in line with previous data indicating that phage therapy is safe for patients with cancer.

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. It was shown that bacteriophage therapy is an effective method of combating bacterial infections, including infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. One of the main obstacles to widespread use of phage preparations is limited knowledge regarding the influence of bacteriophages on human organisms. In our study, we evaluated whether application of phage preparations impair bactericidal activities of human phagocytes (granulocytes and monocytes). In our study, we used preparations of phages T2 and T4 specific to Escherichia coli and A3 phage specific to Staphylococcus aureus. We found that bacteriophage preparations do not influence intracellular killing of bacteria by human phagocytes. The effect is irrespective of phage preparation type (lysate, purified phage preparation), phage titer of the preparation, and whether bacteria phagocytosed by phagocyte cells are sensitive or insensitive to phage (bacteriophages homologous and heterologous to bacteria). Although the results of our study are preliminary, they support previous data indicating safety of therapeutic application of phages.

Background: Members of the genus Klebsiella are among the leading microbial pathogens associated with nosocomial infection. The increased incidence of antimicrobial resistance in these species has propelled the need for alternate/combination therapeutic regimens to aid clinical treatment. Bacteriophage therapy forms one of these alternate strategies., Methods: Electron microscopy, burst size, host range, sensitivity of phage particles to temperature, chloroform, pH, and restriction digestion of phage DNA were used to characterize Klebsiella phages., Results and Conclusions: Of the 32 isolated phages eight belonged to the family Myoviridae, eight to the Siphoviridae whilst the remaining 16 belonged to the Podoviridae. The host range of these phages was characterised against 254 clinical Enterobacteriaceae strains including multidrug resistant Klebsiella isolates producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). Based on their lytic potential, six of the phages were further characterised for burst size, physicochemical properties and sensitivity to restriction endonuclease digestion. In addition, five were fully sequenced. Multiple phage-encoded host resistance mechanisms were identified. The Siphoviridae phage genomes (KP16 and KP36) contained low numbers of host restriction sites similar to the strategy found in T7-like phages (KP32). In addition, phage KP36 encoded its own DNA adenine methyltransferase. The φKMV-like KP34 phage was sensitive to all endonucleases used in this study. Dam methylation of KP34 DNA was detected although this was in the absence of an identifiable phage encoded methyltransferase. The Myoviridae phages KP15 and KP27 both carried Dam and Dcm methyltransferase genes and other anti-restriction mechanisms elucidated in previous studies. No other anti-restriction mechanisms were found, e.g. atypical nucleotides (hmC or glucosyl hmC), although Myoviridae phage KP27 encodes an unknown anti-restriction mechanism that needs further investigation.

Bacteriophages constitute a serious alternative to antibiotic therapy of bacterial infections. They are also extremely numerous entities: phages can be found in almost all places on Earth and are constantly present in human and animal bodies. Observations of the effect of therapeutic staphylococcal phages and their bacterial hosts on melanoma migration in vitro are reported in this article. Together with bacteriophage preparations, disrupted Staphylococci (host strains) were investigated to compare the effects of bacteria with those of bacteriophages. Migration was decreased by all the investigated preparations in various ways and this was rather due to the activity of the bacterial components. Importantly, none of the investigated bacteriophage or bacterial preparations induced an increase in the migration activity of melanoma cells, which is important from the perspective of the therapeutic use of phage lysates. The possible presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins in the therapeutic bacteriophage preparations was also verified. All the studied therapeutic bacteriophage preparations were negative for the Staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, D, and E (i.e., the enterotoxin content was less than 0.2-0.5 ng/ml).

Background: The antibacterial activity of bacteriophages has been described rather well. However, knowledge about the direct interactions of bacteriophages with mammalian organisms and their other, i.e. non-antibacterial, activities in mammalian systems is quite scarce. It must be emphasised that bacteriophages are natural parasites of bacteria, which in turn are parasites or symbionts of mammals (including humans). Bacteriophages are constantly present in mammalian bodies and the environment in great amounts. On the other hand, the perspective of the possible use of bacteriophage preparations for antibacterial therapies in cancer patients generates a substantial need to investigate the effects of phages on cancer processes., Results: In these studies the migration of human and mouse melanoma on fibronectin was inhibited by purified T4 and HAP1 bacteriophage preparations. The migration of human melanoma was also inhibited by the HAP1 phage preparation on matrigel. No response of either melanoma cell line to lipopolysaccharide was observed. Therefore the effect of the phage preparations cannot be attributed to lipopolysaccharide. No differences in the effects of T4 and HAP1 on melanoma migration were observed., Conclusion: We believe that these observations are of importance for any further attempts to use bacteriophage preparations in antibacterial treatment. The risk of antibiotic-resistant hospital infections strongly affects cancer patients and these results suggest the possibility of beneficial phage treatment. We also believe that they will contribute to the general understanding of bacteriophage biology, as bacteriophages, extremely ubiquitous entities, are in permanent contact with human organisms.

A case of a 62-year-old male with suspected aortic dissection is presented. Echocardiography did not confirm the initial diagnosis and revealed the presence of thrombus in the inferior vena cava, right atrium and right ventricle. Computerised tomography, followed by histological examination of liver biopsy, revealed hepatic carcinoma. The patient received anticoagulation and unfortunately died 14 days later. Symptomatology of the right-heart thrombus and thrombo-embolic complications in patients with neoplastic disorders are discussed.

In the present study vascular density was measure in histopathological slides of the simple goiter (15 cases) and of the same proliferative condition of the thyroid gland (113 cases) including adenoma (29 cases) and carcinoma (16 cases). Epithelial antibody CD31 and vWF identified vessels with the help of semiautomatic image analysis system. It has been shown that the highest values were typical for neoplastic tumors. However significant overlap has been shown. Statistically significant differences were very weakly seen between neoplasm's and thyroid hyperfunction. Also differences between carcinomas and adenomas were of low significance. Probably this is because of great heterogeneity of carcinomatosus neoplasms included in this study. Unexpectedly there were also no statistically significant differences between simple goiter, hyperplasia and thyroid hyperfunction.

Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized from L-arginine interacts with prostaglandins (PG) and sensory neuropeptides in the regulation of mucosal integrity, but the role of L-arginine, a substrate for NO-synthase, in gastroprotection and healing of chronic gastric ulcers has been little studied. In this study we compared the effects of intragastric (i.g.) and systemic (i.v.) administration of L-arginine or D-arginine on gastric secretion and acute gastric lesions provoked in rats by i.g. application of 100% ethanol, acidified aspirin (ASA), or the exposure to 3.5h of water immersion and restraint stress (WRS). In addition, the effects of L-arginine on ulcer healing and the formation of new vessels (angiogenesis) were determined, using monoclonal antibody (MAb E-9). L-arginine (10-200 mg/kg i.g.) failed to significantly affect gastric secretion but dose-dependently reduced the gastric lesions induced by 100% ethanol. ASA, and WRS, the doses inhibiting 50% of these lesions being 65, 94, and 72 mg/kg, respectively. This protection was accompanied by a significant rise in the gastric blood flow (GBF), whereas L-arginine given i.v. failed to affect the ethanol-lesions and the GBF. D-arginine or the NO-related amino acids--L-glutamine, L-citrulline, or L-ornithine--failed to significantly influence these lesions. Suppression of the generation of mucosal PG by indomethacin or capsaicin-denervation attenuated the protection and hyperemia induced by L-arginine. The inhibition of constitutive NO synthase by L-NNA had no significant effect on the protection afforded by L-arginine, but reduced the gastric hyperemia accompanying this protection. L-arginine (150 mg/kg per day, i.g.) accelerated the ulcer healing and increased GBF at the ulcer margin, and angiogenesis, whereas treatment with L-NNA had an opposite effect. L-arginine added to NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) restored the ulcer healing, hyperemia, and angiogenesis. We conclude that: (1) the protective activity of L-arginine involves gastric hyperemia mediated by NO and a mild irritant effect due to enhanced generation of endogenous PG, and (2) the ulcer healing properties of L-arginine depend upon its hyperemic and angiogenic actions, possibly involving NO.

Objective: To analyze various argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) parameters in proliferative lesions of the thyroid gland and to determine to what extent these parameters are influenced by the type of lesion or malignancy., Study Design: AgNORs were studied by light microscopy with the help of a semiautomated image analysis system in the normal thyroid gland (n = 6), nodular hyperplasia (n = 12), thyroid hyperfunction (n = 6); follicular adenoma (n = 21), oxyphilic adenoma (n = 10), follicular carcinoma (n = 10), oxyphilic carcinoma (n = 9), papillary adenocarcinoma (n = 14), and giant (n = 6) and small cell anaplastic carcinoma (n = 4). The investigated parameters included the number and area of AgNOR dots, the number of separate AgNOR locations, the ratio of the AgNOR dot area to the nuclear area and the area of single AgNOR dots., Results: The number and area of AgNOR dots were low in all the lesions, with the exception of giant cell anaplastic carcinoma. The number of separate AgNOR locations was the lowest in oxyphilic cell tumors and medium in papillary adenocarcinoma, while in all other lesions and normal thyroid it had higher values. The ratio of AgNOR area to the nuclear area and the area of single dots were similar in proliferative lesions and normal thyroid. In all proliferative lesions and in normal thyroid, there was a significant positive correlation (P < or = .0001) between the area or number of AgNOR dots on the one hand and nuclear area on the other., Conclusion: The results indicate that in thyroid proliferative lesions, AgNOR values, particularly the number of separate AgNOR locations, correlate with the type of lesion but not with malignancy. Very typical are single clusters of dots within nuclei in oxyphilic tumors, malignant and benign, and in papillary adenocarcinomas, more or less often accompanied by single dots.

Lack of uniform views concerning subcellular image and possible meaning of free radicals in the myocardial damage prompted us to study rat hearts submitted for chronic thyrotoxicosis. The studies were performed on 30 Wistar white rats. The material was obtained from anterior wall of the left ventricle of the heart. To confirm the role of free radicals one group of rats was given ascorbic acid, a well-known substance with anti-oxidation properties (free radical scavenger). In the control group we observed a typical structure of the myocardium. In the group with thyrotoxicosis a great degree of subcellular structural damage was noticed. These alterations correspond to nonspecific myocardial damage that can be meet in hypoxia, reperfusion or in toxic myocardial damage. However, in case of vitamin application generally known to have anti-oxidation properties, damages were significantly less intensive and occurred more rarely. It seems to indicate a significant role of free radicals in the generation of these alterations.

In the present study various AgNOR parameters were assessed in the computer-aided image analysis and involved the normal epithelium of colon both superficial and epithelium of crypts, adenomas and carcinomas of colon in humans. It indicated that the number and area of AgNOR dots was highest in carcinomas and decreased stepwise from carcinomas through adenomas and the epithelium of crypts to the superficial epithelium. Other parameters such as: the ratio of AgNOR dot area to nuclear area and the size of single dots were different only in the superficial epithelium. The number of AgNOR separate locations showed a tendency for higher values in neoplasms. In neoplastic lesions and normal epithelium there was a positive correlation (p < 0.0001) between AgNOR dot area and nuclear area.

Silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were studied in the proliferative lesions and in normal tissue of bronchi, colon and thyroid gland. In the histopathological samples AgNORs were seen as blacks dots more or less scattered within nuclei. The investigated parameters included the number and area of AgNOR-dots, the number of AgNOR clusters, the ratio of AgNOR dot area to the nuclear area and the area of single AgNOR dots. The measurements were done with the help of semiautomatic computer image analysis. In thyroid the differences between proliferative lesions and also normal gland tissue were strongly marked in the number of clusters. Low values were typical for oxyphilic neoplasms and papillary carcinomas--in oxyphilic neoplasms single clusters within nuclei were seen. In bronchi and colon the differences between proliferative lesions and also normal tissue were strongly marked in the number and area of dots. High values were typical for squamous cell carcinomas or adenocarcinomas whereas low values were in small cell carcinomas. The ratio of dot area to nuclear area and the area of single dots were similar in various lesions and also in the normal tissue of thyroid, bronchi and colon. This study have shown that in the proliferative lesions of bronchi, colon and thyroid AgNOR values, particularly the number and area of AgNOR dots or the number of the AgNOR clusters show differences and are related with the type of tissue, type of lesion or their malignant character and are also related with the size of nuclei.

Various AgNOR parameters were measured using the computer-aided image analysis in the normal bronchial epithelium (n = 13), in squamous cell carcinoma (n = 25) and in small-cell carcinoma (n = 11). The number and area of AgNOR dots were the highest in squamous cell carcinoma. In small cell carcinoma and in the normal epithelium the values were significantly lower. The number of AgNOR separate locations was higher in tumors in general. The size of single AgNOR dots showed differences between squamous cell carcinoma and small-cell carcinoma. Ratio of AgNOR dot area to nuclear area was similar in various pathological lesions and normal epithelium. There was a positive correlation ( < or = 0.0001) between the number and area of dots, the number of AgNOR separate locations, the area of single AgNOR dots on one hand and nuclear area on the other.

Semiautomatic computer-aided image analysis was used to measure nuclear area of epithelial cells (surface and glandular epithelium) in various parts of digestive tract in rats. In surface epithelium largest nuclei were observed in duodenum and jejunum. In glandular epithelium largest nuclei were found in duodenum. Nuclear area of epithelial cells within normal mucosa of digestive tract shows differences, that seems to be related to localization and resorption activity.

NORs are the loops of DNA containing ribosomal genes which are associated with non-histonic argyrophilic proteins. It permits their identification by using specific argyrophilic staining. NORs are visualized in light microscopy as AgNOR dots or argyrophilic NOR dots. Neoplastic and proliferative cells show differences with respect to the number, area and distribution of AgNOR dots. Major difficulties in the analysis of AgNOR dots are caused by technical problems associated with staining and fixation of the tissue. In our study we found that correct fixation of nucleolar proteins associated with AgNORs was a decisive factor in correct interpretation of the results.

The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostical value of nuclear area in proliferative lesions of colonic and bronchial epithelium. The study included 11 adenomas and 9 adenocarcinomas of colon, 11 control samples of normal colonic epithelium as well as 5 cases of bronchial squamous cell metaplasia, 25 squamous cell carcinomas, 9 small cell carcinomas and 3 adenocarcinomas of bronchi and 13 control samples of normal bronchial epithelium. All tissue samples were formalin fixed, paraffin embedded and silver stained. Morphometrical analysis was performed using optical Axiophot microscope with immersion, B/W CCD camera connected to frame grabber card, computer PC AT 386 and morphometrical software Vist and Morpho. Nuclear area was measured semiautomatically. Within each case 100 nuclei were analyzed. Statistically significant differences between carcinoma and adenoma or normal epithelium were observed in colon. In bronchi nuclear area was significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma if compared with other lesions including small cell carcinoma or bronchial metaplasia and normal epithelium.

The present study of AgNORs was carried out by computer-aided semiautomatic image analysis and involved epithelium, both surface and glandular, from various parts of the digestive tract in rats. It indicated that the number of AgNOR dots, their area and sometimes even the ratio of AgNOR area to nuclear area or the number of AgNOR clusters varied in epithelium from different parts of the digestive tract. The number and area of AgNORs correlated with the proliferative activity of cells in a given epithelium and they showed some typical features associated with the location. It should be noted that the area of AgNOR dots per nucleus and the area of a single AgNOR dot also positively correlated with the nuclear area.

The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic value of nuclear area in proliferative lesions of thyroid gland. This study included 98 histological preparations of thyroid and 57 cytological preparations (touch imprints). Morphometric analysis was performed using light microscopy, B/W CCD camera connected to the frame grabber card, computer PC AT 386/3 and morphometric software Vist and Morpho. Nuclear area was measured semiautomatically. Our study indicated that the nuclear area was significantly higher in cytological preparations and that size of nuclei seems to depend on the type of neoplasm and to a lesser extent on whether a given tumor was malignant or benign.

NORs are the loops of DNA that contain the sites of ribosomal genes around which the nucleolus is formed during telophase of mitosis. In light microscopy they can be visualized by simple silver staining technique as small dark dots within the nucleus. It has been recognized that in many neoplasms, especially malignant AgNORs are more numerous and often atypical when compared with benign tumors and normal tissue. We have introduced this novel technique to the fine needle cytology of thyroid neoplasms (n = 56). We have analyzed the number, the area of AgNORs, the number of clustered AgNORs in the nucleus and the ratio of AgNOR area to the nuclear area and the area of single AgNOR by means of semiautomatic computerized image analysis. We have studied cytological samples consisting of 7 simple goiters, 7 hyperplasias, 15 follicular adenomas, 7 oxyphilic follicular adenomas, 6 follicular carcinomas, 8 oxyphilic follicular carcinomas, 6 papillary adenocarcinomas. In this study we have demonstrated that some differences in the AgNORs value are associated with the type of tumor rather than with malignancy. Location of the AgNORs seems to be very typical for some types of tumors. For example in oxyphilic neoplasms they form single clusters in the nucleus and in papillary adenocarcinomas they form at least two abundant clusters. In other proliferative lesions of the thyroid gland location of AgNORs is less typical.

The purpose of the present study was to analyse the differences in the number Ag-NORs dots in the selected cases of carcinomas and adenomas of the large intestine as well as in the stromal cells, surface epithelium and epithelium of crypts of the large intestine. Ag-NORs dots are consider to be argyrophilic proteins associated with so called nucleolar organizer regions (NORs). The increase in their number is regarded as a marker of metabolic and proliferative changes in the cells. In our material we found a definite statistical differences in the number of Ag-NORs dots in carcinomas, adenomas and normal mucosa of the colon. The problem of adenomas grade IV with visible signs of malignancy, atypical number of Ag-NORs is, however, controversial. This may be an indicator of the different growth dynamics of these adenomas.