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Background. The high sensitivity of cells of Fanconi anemia (FA) patients to DNA cross-linking agents (clastogens), such as mitomycin C (MMC), was used as a screening tool in Polish children with clinical suspicion of FA. Objectives. The aim of the study was to compare chromosome fragility between 3 groups, namely non-FA, possible mosaic FA and FA patients. Materials and methods. The study included 100 children with hematological manifestations and/or congenital defects characteristic of FA, and 100 healthy controls. Blood samples obtained from participants were analyzed using an MMC-induced chromosomal breakage test. Results. Patients with clinical suspicion of FA were divided into 3 subgroups based on the MMC test results, namely FA, possible mosaic FA and non-FA. Thirteen out of 100 patients had a true FA cellular phenotype. The mean value of MMC-induced chromosome breaks/cell for FA patients was higher than for non-FA patients (6.67 ±3.92 compared to 0.23 ±0.18). In addition, the percentage of cells with spontaneous aberrations was more than 9 times higher in FA patients than in non-FA patients. Conclusions. Our results confirmed that the MMC sensitivity test distinguishes between individuals affected by FA, those with possible somatic mosaicism, and patients with bone marrow failure for other reasons, who were classified as non-FA in the first diagnostic step. However, a definitive differential diagnosis requires follow-up mutation testing and chromosome breakage analysis of skin fibroblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhododendron tomentosum possesses the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial properties, determined by the chemical composition of its essential oil. The effects of place (Miszewko, Lubichowo) and time of harvesting (June, November) as well as drying (air-drying, oven-drying, freeze-drying) and isolation (in Deryng, Clevenger and Likens-Nickerson apparatus) procedures on the yield and quality of R. tomentosum essential oil were studied. Ledol (8.1-14.4%), palustrol (6.9-13.0%) and γ-terpineol (8.5-9.1%) predominated in the plants collected from Miszewko, while γ-terpineol (11.8-22.2%), p-cymene (5.3-12.6%) and geranyl acetate (5.7-7.5%) prevailed in the biomass from Lubichowo. The shoots produced more volatiles in the flowering phase than at the end of the vegetation. Oven-drying at 30OC with controlled air flow was suggested as the quick dehydration method. Hydrodistillation in Deryng and Clevenger apparatus resulted in comparatively high essential oil yield (about 1%). All studied drying and distillation methods did not influence significantly the general profile of R. tomentosum essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is rated with the highest incidence and mortality every year compared with other forms of cancer, therefore early detection and diagnosis is essential. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are 'artificial intelligence' software which have been used to assess a few prognostic situations. In this study, a database containing 193 patients from Diagnostic and Monitoring of Tuberculosis and Illness of Lungs Ward in Kuyavia and Pomerania Centre of the Pulmonology (Bydgoszcz, Poland) was analysed using ANNs. Each patient was described using 48 factors (i.e. age, sex, data of patient history, results from medical examinations etc.) and, as an output value, the expected presence of lung cancer was established. All 48 features were retrospectively collected and the database was divided into a training set (n=97), testing set (n=48) and a validating set (n=48). The best prediction score of the ANN model (MLP 48-9-2) was above 0.99 of the area under a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. The ANNs were able to correctly classify 47 out of 48 test cases. These data suggest that Artificial Neural Networks can be used in prognosis of lung cancer and could help the physician in diagnosis of patients with the suspicion of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of our study is the analysis of data obtained from molecular modeling for a series of imidazole derivatives that possess strong antifungal activity. The research was designed to use artificial neural network (ANN) analysis to determine quantitative relationships between the structural parameters and anti-Streptococcus pyogenes activity of a series of imidazole derivatives. ANN in association with quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) represents a promising tool in the search for drug candidates among the practically unlimited number of possible derivatives. In this work, a series of 286 imidazole derivatives presented as cationic three-dimensional structures was used. The activity was expressed as a logarithm of the reciprocal of the minimal inhibitory concentrations, log 1/MIC. Multilayer perceptron ANN was used for predictions of antimicrobial potency of new imidazole derivatives on the basis of their structural descriptors. The obtained correlation coefficient equaled 0.9461 for the learning set, 0.9060 for the validation set and 0.8824 for the testing set of imidazole derivatives. Hence, satisfactory and practically useful predictions of anti-Streptococcus pyogenes activity for a series of imidazole derivatives was obtained, supporting the future successful interpretation of QSAR analysis for those compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2005, the European Commission presented a report on the current situation associated with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in 29 European countries. According to the report, exclusive breastfeeding was undertaken by 71% of the mothers in Poland. We concluded that an attempt shall be made to verify these data values. The aim of our survey was to assess the duration of breastfeeding and identify the potential medical and social factors affecting this parameter in Poland. We surveyed 427 women aged 18 to 40 from Northeastern Poland. The duration of breastfeeding and the presence of selected potential factors that may affect this parameter were assessed in 591 children. The mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 4.73 months with breastfeeding being initiated in 97.87% and continued beyond 12 months (following the introduction of complementary foods) in 32.49 % of the children. In our region, nearly all mothers attempt to breastfeed. Exclusive breastfeeding is continued by 75.46% and 29.27% of the mothers by 3 and 6 months of the baby's life. Breastfeeding with complementary feeding is continued by 56.01% and 32.49% of the mothers by 6 and 12 months of the baby's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testicular cancer is rare but is the most common cancer in males between 15 and 34 years of age. Two principal types of testicular cancer are distinguished: seminomas and non-seminomas. If detected early, the overall cure rate for testicular cancer exceeds 90%. In this study, artificial neural network (ANN) analysis as a prognostic tool was demonstrated regard to five year recurrence after the non-seminoma treatment. Data from 202 patients treated for non-seminoma were available for evaluation and comparison. A total of 32 variables were analysed using the ANN. The ANN approach, as an advanced multivariate data processing method, was demon-strated to provide objective prognostic data. Some of these prognostic factors are consistent or even imperceptible with previously evaluated by other statistical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease particularly affecting the poorest socioeconomic groups. One such group in Central Europe are the homeless. We developed a prevention programme that targets, among others, homeless individuals in Warmia and Mazury Province (in the northeast of Poland). We investigated 121 homeless persons. We performed surveys, X-rays and microbiological tests of the sputum for TB. Five cases of pulmonary TB were found. The prevalence of TB in this community was estimated at 4132 per 100,000 (4.13%). Efficient TB control justifies continued prevention programmes aimed at the systematic monitoring of the homeless population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the Study: To determine the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer (LC) screening with low-dose computerised tomography of the chest, as compared to an approach without screening, reimbursed today by the National Health Fund (NHF) in Poland., Material and Methods: In order to analyse the current costs of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of a model LC patient treated today, a model group consisting of 199 consecutive patients diagnosed and treated in the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz, Poland from January 2007 to April 2010 was used. The number and type of performed procedures in this group was obtained from the Polish Register of Neoplasms and the NHF. Only direct medical costs were analysed. To calculate the total costs of screening, diagnostics, and treatment of the hypothetical LC patient who would have cancer diagnosed with screening CT, data from the literature and costs calculated for the model group were used. Prices of procedures were obtained from the price list of the NHF on 30 April 2010 and did not change from that time until June 2014. One-way sensitivity analysis was performed., Results: The average cost per LC patient, diagnosed and treated without screening, is 5567.50 EUR, and median LC-specific survival is one year. In the hypothetical LC patient with cancer diagnosed by screening, the average cost is 13689.35 EUR per LC patient, with a median LC-specific survival of at least seven years. A calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is 1353.64 EUR/year of life gained., Conclusions: Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT would be highly cost-effective in Poland.