Trends in cervical cancer incidence and mortality in Poland: is there an impact of the introduction of the organised screening?

Aside from existing opportunistic screening, an organised screening programme (OSP) for cervical cancer (CC) was implemented in 2006/2007 in Poland. We applied joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort model to look for the impact of the OSP on CC incidence/mortality trends. Decline of age-standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) in the screening-age group (25–59 years) accelerated from ?2.2% (95% CI ?2.7 to ?1.7%) between 1993 and 2008 to ?6.1% (95% CI ?7.7 to ?4.4%) annually after 2008. In women aged 60+ years, ASIRs declined from 1986 until 2005 [annual percent change (APC) = ?2.6%, 95% CI ?2.9 to ?2.4%] and stabilised thereafter. Decline of age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) in the screening-age group accelerated from ?1.3% (95% CI ?1.5 to ?1.1%) between 1980 and 2005 to ?4.7% (95% CI ?5.6 to ?3.8%) annually after 2005. In women aged 60+ ASMR declined between 1991 and 2004 (APC = ?2.9%, 95% CI ?3.5 to ?2.3%) and stabilised thereafter. Relative risks of CC diagnosis and death were 0.63 (95% CI 0.62–0.65) and 0.61 (95% CI 0.59–0.63), respectively, for the most recent period compared to the reference around 1982. Implementation of the OSP possibly accelerated downward trends in the burden of CC in Polish women under the age of 60, but recent stabilisation of trends in older women requires actions.     

Dystrophy or eutrophy: phytoplankton and physicochemical parameters in the functioning of humic lakes

The studies were carried out in six humic lakes (Polesie Region, Eastern Poland) in order to present a role of phytoplankton in relation to physical and chemical parameters characteristic of particular processes. On the basis of physical and chemical properties of waters (SD, colour, pH, EC, Ca²⁺, DIC, DOC), these lakes are divided into three groups: dystrophic (Lakes Orchowe and P?otycze), humoeutrophic (Lakes Brudzieniec and Pereszpa) and mesoeutrophic (Lakes Moszne and D?ugie). The occurrence of dystrophication, humoeutrophication or eutrophication processes is clearly reflected in the phytoplankton composition and its abundance, as well as its biomass. In both dystrophic and humoeutrophic lakes, flagellates dominated in the phytoplankton. Among them, the invasive species Gonyostomum semen was very abundant. Mesoeutrophic lakes were characterized by other phytoplankton composition, mainly by non-flagellate species (green algae).     

Phase I and phase II metabolism simulation of antitumor-active 2-hydroxyacridinone with electrochemistry coupled on-line with mass spectrometry

1. Here, we report the metabolic profile and the results of associated metabolic studies of 2-hydroxy-acridinone (2-OH-AC), the reference compound for antitumor-active imidazo- and triazoloacridinones.

2. Electrochemistry coupled with mass spectrometry was applied to simulate the general oxidative metabolism of 2-OH-AC for the first time. The reactivity of 2-OH-AC products to biomolecules was also examined. The usefulness of the electrochemistry for studying the reactive drug metabolite trapping (conjugation reactions) was evaluated by the comparison with conventional electrochemical (controlled-potential electrolysis) and enzymatic (microsomal incubation) approaches.

3. 2-OH-AC oxidation products were generated in an electrochemical thin-layer cell. Their tentative structures were assigned based on tandem mass spectrometry in combination with accurate mass measurements. Moreover, the electrochemical conversion of 2-OH-AC in the presence of reduced glutathione and/or N-acetylcysteine unveiled the formation of reactive metabolite-nucleophilic trapping agent conjugates (m/z 517 and m/z 373, respectively) through the thiol group. This glutathione S-conjugate was also identified after electrolysis experiment as well as was detected in liver microsomes.

4. Summing up, the present work illustrates that the electrochemical simulation of metabolic reactions successfully supports the results of classical electrochemical and enzymatic studies. Therefore, it can be a useful tool for synthesis of drug metabolites, including reactive metabolites.

     

Expressions and inhibitory functions of CD300a receptors on purified human basophils

The inhibitory myeloid immunoglobulin receptor CD300a (IRp60) has been shown to downregulate mast cell and eosinophil activities, thereby serving as a potential target for inhibiting allergic effector cell input in allergy. Our aims were to study the expression and functional properties of this receptor in purified human basophils, cells that crucially contribute to Th2‐type immunity and allergy. Basophils homogeneously expressed CD300a as well as the inhibitory receptor CD200R on their cell surface, and these expressions increased after anti‐IgE stimulation. IgE‐mediated basophil degranulation was also significantly inhibited by crosslinking of either CD200R or CD300a (by 90% and 50%, respectively). Inhibitory SHIP‐1 phosphorylations were also induced by CD200R and CD300a, although they were not noticeably increased by IgE‐dependent activation. We conclude that both CD200R and CD300a play a role in reducing IgE‐mediated basophil function and may crucially govern the known differential activities of these cells in vivo.     

Anatomical anomalies of the V3 segment of the vertebral artery in the Polish population

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of the anatomical anomalies of the V3 segment of the vertebral artery in the Polish population. There is conflicting evidence on the incidence of these anomalies: Asian-based studies show high incidence of 10 %, whereas the North American study identifies these anomalies in less than 1 % of patients.

Methods

1800 computed tomography angiographies (CTA) obtained at the Barlicki University Hospital in Lodz, Poland, were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

All the patients were Caucasians. There were 968 males and 832 females. The mean age of the patients was 58. CTAs were obtained for the following reasons: stroke 1312, trauma 25, vascular/aneurysm 216, and intracranial haemorrhage 247. Vertebral artery hypoplasia was present in 360 cases (20 %). Persistent intersegmental artery (type I anomaly) was not found in any study. Fenestration of the V3 vertebral artery (type II) was recognized in three angiograms (0.16 %). Vertebral artery ending up as posterior inferior cerebellar artery (type III anomaly) was seen in 11 patients (0.61 %).

Conclusions

Very low incidence of V3 segment anomalies does not justify in our opinion routine vascular imaging in patients undergoing posterior cervical instrumented procedures.

     

Ostre zatrzymanie moczu – opis przypadków

Acute urinary retention (AUR) in children is rare, but should be immediately diagnosed and treated. We report two patients with AUR: 13-year-old girl with urinary retention due to hematocolpos resulting from an imperforate hymen and 4-year-old boy with urinary tract infection and psychological retention of urine.