Organization of the 43rd European Congress of Cytology in the SARS–CoV-2 pandemic period: A report

The 43rd European Congress of Cytology in Wrocław, Poland, was held as a hybrid meeting in the Fall of 2021. After nearly 2 years without in-person cytology conferences, the 43rd Congress represents 1 of the first major international scientific meetings to occur during the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 pandemic. Since March 2020, the pandemic situation substantially modified the organization of scientific meetings because of both domestic and international travel restrictions, new health standards, and concern among participants, resulting in new alternative forms of virtual conferencing. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2022;130:000-000. ;     

Pneumococcal meningitis before the introduction of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into the National Childhood Immunization Program in Poland

Background

Poland introduced the 10-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PCV10) into the childhood immunization program in January 2017. During previous decades, considerable changes had occurred in the surveillance system for invasive pneumococcal disease. Therefore, to provide baseline data on pneumococcal diseases before PCV10 introduction, we evaluated the epidemiology of pneumococcal meningitis (PM), the only syndrome monitored consistently since 1970.

The Potential Influence of Dietary Counseling on Nutritional Status and Dietary Supplement Consumption in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Cancer, in particular breast cancer, is one of the leading causes of death among women. Good nutritional status contributes to the efficacy of treatment and recovery, and nutritional interventions can minimize the adverse effects of cancer therapy.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the potential role of dietary counseling in breast cancer patients. The impact of nutritional advice on the nutritional status of patients, the use of dietary supplements, and the knowledge of phytoestrogens were assessed.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between April and July 2016 in the Lublin Oncology Center on a group of 173 female patients undergoing breast cancer treatment. The patients filled out a questionnaire containing 34 open-ended and closed-ended questions. The collected data were processed in Excel and Statistica 5.0 programs, and the results were regarded as significant at P?<?0.05.

Results: The mean age of the evaluated patients was 66.8?±?11.3 years. The duration of disease was significantly correlated with the patients’ nutritional status expressed by the body mass index (P?=?0.0368). The main sources of knowledge about nutrition in cancer care were nurses (29.71%), physicians (12.31%), and nutritionists (13.78%). Patients who received nutritional advice had significantly greater knowledge about phytoestrogens (P?=?0.0001), and they were of the opinion that a diet rich in phytoestrogens was safe (P?=?0.001). More than 85% of the polled subjects used dietary supplements during treatment, and 2/3 of them did so without professional advice. In this study, 73.07% of the respondents regularly monitored their body weight. Patients who did not receive dietary advice less frequently informed their physician about weight changes.

Conclusions: The nutritional status of patients was correlated with access to nutrition and dietary advice during illness. The risk of malnutrition was minimized when patients received and understood educational materials. The patients who did not receive dietary advice more frequently overdosed on dietary supplements. Phytoestrogens were more widely used by patients who regularly attended a dietitian.     

A new aspect of in vitro antimicrobial leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma activity based on flow cytometry assessment

The current literature suggests that the antibacterial effect of leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP) is directly related to platelet and leukocyte concentrations. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of L-PRP against selected bacterial strains in vitro, and second, to correlate this effect with leukocyte and platelet content in the final concentration. Blood was collected from 20 healthy males, and L-PRP, acellular plasma (AP), and autologous thrombin were consecutively prepared. Flow cytometry analysis of the blood, L-PRP, and AP was performed. The L-PRP gel, liquid L-PRP, and thrombin samples were tested in vitro for their antibacterial properties against seven selected bacterial strains using the Kirby–Bauer disk-diffusion method. There was notable antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial strains. No statistically significant correlations between antimicrobial activities and the platelet concentration in L-PRP were observed. Statistically significant positive correlations between selected leukocyte subtypes and antimicrobial activity were noted. A negative correlation was found between elevated monocyte count and antimicrobial activity of L-PRP against one bacterial strain studied. L-PRP possesses antimicrobial activity and can be potentially useful in the fight against certain postoperative infections. The bactericidal effect of L-PRP is caused by leukocytes, and there exists a relationship among selected leukocyte subtypes and L-PRP antimicrobial activity.     

内镜柔性器械腱鞘传动模型及实验研究

目的 建立内镜柔性器械腱鞘系统的推力传动模型，研究影响传动效率的关键因素。方法 建立腱鞘系统在器械推送作用下力和位移的传动模型并进行仿真计算；搭建腱鞘系统传动测试的实验平台以验证模型的准确性，研究传动速度、腱鞘直径比、弯曲半径等对传动效率的影响。结果 腱鞘传动过程中存在显著的非线性传递现象，传动模型仿真与实验结果基本符合；传动速度、腱鞘直径比、弯曲半径均对内镜柔性器械的推力传动有较大影响，对位移传动的影响相对小一些。结论 该模型可用于内镜柔性器械中腱鞘系统推力传动的计算，提供给医生器械工作末端的力反馈，以保证器械的安全操作和提高手术效果；在内镜柔性器械的精准控制中需要综合考虑传动速度、腱鞘传动比、弯曲半径等对运动传递的影响。     

Kynurenic acid and zaprinast diminished CXCL17-evoked pain-related behaviour and enhanced morphine analgesia in a mouse neuropathic pain model

Background

The G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35), is considered important for nociceptive transmission, as suggested by accumulating evidence. This receptor was discovered in 1998; however, a lack of pharmacological tools prevented a complete understanding of its function and how to exploit it therapeutically. We studied the influence of CXCL17, kynurenic acid and zaprinast on nociceptive transmission in naïve and neuropathic mice. Additionally, we investigated the influence of kynurenic acid and zaprinast on morphine effectiveness in neuropathic pain.

New derivative of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione (TP427) potentiates the anticonvulsant action of valproate,but not that of carbamazepine,phenytoin or phenobarbital in the mouse tonic-clonic seizure model

Background

To assess the effects of 5-(3-chlorobenzyl)-4-hexyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione (TP427) on the protective anticonvulsant action of four classical antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin and valproate) in the tonic-clonic seizure model in mice, an isobolographic transformation of data was used.