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The evaluation of patients after the surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis in a long-term follow-up with clinical neurophysiological methods has not been presented in detail. This study aimed to compare the results of neurophysiological studies in 45 girls with scoliosis of Lenke types 1–3 performed pre- (T0) and postoperatively, 1 week after surgery (T1) and 6 months after surgery (T2). The parameter values of the surface electromyography while attempting maximal contraction (mcsEMG) and the transcranial motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded in the anterior tibial muscles, as well as the electroneurography (ENG) of the peripheral transmission in the peroneal nerve motor fibers, were compared. The results indicate that efferent neural conduction function both centrally and peripherally, and TA muscle function slightly improved immediately after the surgical correction of scoliosis, and further normalization appeared after six months in the long-term follow-up (at p = 0.03). The sEMG recordings indicate that half a year after surgical treatment in IS patients, the TA muscle motor unit recruitment function, as well as the muscle strength evaluated with Lovett’s scale, was comparable to the normal condition. The ENG recording results indicated a gradual reduction in the motor fiber injury symptoms, mainly of the axonal type, in the peroneal nerves. The surgeries also improved the lumbar ventral roots’ neural transmission to a normal functional status. The MEP amplitude parameter values recorded after the surgical scoliosis corrections in T1 indicated a slight improvement in the efferent transmission of neural impulses within the fibers of the spinal tracts; in the long-term T2 observation period, they reached values comparable to those recorded in healthy volunteers, bilaterally. Preoperatively (T0), the results of all the neurophysiological study parameters in the IS patients were asymmetrical at p = 0.036–0.05 and recorded as worse on the concave side, suggesting the lateralization of neurological motor deficits. One week postoperatively (T1), this asymmetry was recorded as gradually reduced, showing almost no difference between the right and left sides six months later (T2). The presented algorithm for the neurophysiological assessments performed in the pre-, intra-, and long-term postoperative periods using the mcsEMG, MEP, and ENG neurophysiological examinations, together with the clinical studies, may help in the comprehensive functional evaluation of the spinal cord tracts and ventral root neural conduction, which allows the detection of the subclinical neurological changes related to scoliosis itself and the consequences of the corrective surgery. Such an evaluation can also be significant in making final decisions regarding IS surgeries and their personalization after attempting conservative treatments with bracing and kinesiotherapy. Neurophysiological studies, as a sensitive biomarker, allowed us to predict and ascertain the final result of IS treatment in the long-term follow-up, which showed the health status of patients as being comparable to that of healthy volunteers.

Introduction Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are currently considered as a more useful method for neurophysi-ological intraoperative monitoring than somatosensory evoked potentials in cases of surgery applied to patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The non-invasive approach is preferred to modify MEP recordings, criticizing, in many cases, the fundamentalism for neurophysiological monitoring based only on needle recordings. The aim of the review is to provide our own experience and prac-tical guidelines with reference to neuromonitoring innovations. Material and Methods Recordings of MEPs with surface electrodes instead of needle electrodes including nerve instead of muscle combinations during neurophysiological monitoring associated with surgical interventions to the spine have become more relevant for pediatric purposes, avoiding the anesthesiology-related influences. Observations on 280 patients with Lenke A–C types of spine curvature are presented before and after the surgical correction. Results The MEPs recorded from nerves do not undergo fluctuations at different stages of scoliosis correc-tions and the anesthesia effect more than MEPs recorded from muscles. The use of non-invasive surface electrodes during neuromonitoring for MEP recordings shortens the total time of the surgical procedure without diminishing the precision of the neural transmission evaluation. The quality of MEP recordings during intraoperative neuromonitoring from muscles can be significantly influ-enced by the depth of anesthesia or administration of muscle relaxants but not those recorded from nerves. Conclusions The proposed definition of “real-time” neuromonitoring comprises the immediate warning from a neurophysiologist about the changes in a patient’s neurological status during scoliosis surgery (es-pecially during pedicle screws’ implantation, corrective rods’ implantation, correction, distraction and derotation of the spine curvature) exactly during the successive steps of corrective procedures. This is possible due to the simultaneous observation of MEP recordings and a camera image of the surgical field. This procedure clearly increases safety and limits financial claims resulting from possible complications.

Background: The survivors of childhood cancer suffer from a number of long-term side effects. These include atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) that develop earlier in adulthood than in the rest of the population. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors of developing atherosclerosis before the development of symptomatic CVD. Methods: A total of 141 children that were 7–18 years old were examined; there were 116 survivors of childhood malignancies (hematopoietic and lymphoproliferative malignancies—52; neuroblastoma—22; Wilms tumor—24; other solid tumors—18) and 25 healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, ultrasonography of the abdomen, echocardiography, and laboratory tests were performed. Results: There were no significant differences in gender distribution, time from the end of the treatment, weight, BMI, prevalence of central obesity, blood pressure and resistive index of the renal arteries, lipid profile, or glucose and fibrinogen levels. Patients with solid tumors had a significantly lower height and worse renal function. Patients with hematological malignancies significantly presented the lowest shortening fraction of the left ventricle. The salusin β levels were significantly higher in the control group than among the patients. Conclusions: The type and severity of side effects are closely related to the type of neoplasm and the treatment that has been undergone. Careful observation and regular follow-up are necessary.

Modern techniques such as virtual-reality (VR) tasks might offer a unique method for eliciting state-variable fluctuations in body satisfaction and associated behaviors. The study aim was to develop the application of biometric avatars in VR as a useful tool to investigate changes within body representation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). All the avatars were created on the basis of 3D scans of bodies of real female patients with thoracic scoliosis, of 12–18 years of age, consecutively selected for brace treatment or posterior correction and fusion. A 3D, white-light LED scanner was used. The models were rigged using 3DS Max software, to enable the possibility of human-type interaction and animation. The “Avatar Scoliosis 3D” is an innovative 3D, interactive-XR application, loosely based on the virtual-mirror concept, and contains a number of predefined avatars, each with a different Cobb angle. It is possible to change a selected avatar to one with a different Cobb angle (lower or higher), should the patient decide the visualization of the original is incompatible with their own perception. In conclusion, the possible application of biometric avatars in VR as a useful tool to investigate changes within body image in AIS was proposed.

Motivation: Small and medium-sized enterprises, due to their large number, play an important role in the development of the Polish economy. Therefore, the focus should be on creating the right frameworks for their functioning — they should allow them to develop and stimulate the implementation of innovative solutions. Business support organizations (BSOs) are one of the entities that can facilitate development ant stimulation. The main types of BSOs in Poland are: technological parks and incubators, academic business incubators, centers for technology transfer, business angels networks, local/regional load funds, credit guarantee funds, and training and consulting centers. These entities should contribute to the implementation of new solutions in the surveyed enterprises and improve their competitive position.Aim: The aim of the article is to identify impact of business support organization on the innovation activity in industrial enterprises in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. The research hypothesis is the claim that BSOs increase the odds of implementation of new products and process in enterprises, but their impact will be different. The hypothesis will be validated on a sample of 442 small and medium-sized, manufacturing companies, which are located in Greater Poland Voivodeship. To carry out the study a multi-factor logit regression method will be used.Results: The research hypothesis is confirmed — BSOs increase the chances on innovation activity but their influence is different. Most effective are training and consulting centers and financing organizations, but this institution stimulate the implementation of new products and processes on the scale of the enterprise and innovation centers (technology parks, academic business incubators and technology transfer offices) of the country.

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), also termed veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver, is a well-known complication of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) both in children and adults. In the medical literature there are occasional reports of SOS in patients receiving conventional chemotherapy. In children with solid tumours this entity occurs during treatment of nephroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and medulloblastoma. In the late 1990s SOS was quite often observed as the complication of oral 6-thioguanine (6-TG) in patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), who received 6-TG throughout maintenance. In current protocols, the syndrome has become uncommon because treatment with 6-TG is limited to two weeks of oral therapy. Here, we report a case of a nine-year-old boy with ALL, who developed sinusoidal obstruction syndrome shortly after completing the reinduction block of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, thioguanine) according to the ALL Intercontinental Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster 2009 (ALL IC BFM 2009) treatment protocol.

The subject of this paper is the question of assessing the impact of structural industrial diversification of companies in terms of their innovative activities in Poland. The authors attempt to answer three basic questions: Firstly, is the domestic aggregation sufficient for diversifying innovation in Polish industry? Secondly, do companies in various industries behave differently in terms of their innovative efforts? Thirdly, are technologically advanced industries more interested in the active creation of knowledge or its passive transfer to domestic industry and to what extent? The main goal of the study was an attempt to seek out the directions and influence of various industries on the innovative activities of companies in Poland. The methodological section was developed using logit modeling based on probability theory. The study has shown that the key to accelerating research and development in Poland is the stimulation of such activities, primarily in the case of entities in the high and medium- high technology sectors. The low technology sector is a significant burden and limits possibilities for the active creation of new solutions in Poland. The passive transfer of knowledge should only be supported by companies included in these technologies to a limited extent. In other industries, the transfer of knowledge generated significant interest regardless of type of activity. At this stage of economic development, research and development processes are evolving in the direction of high technologies, while investments remain the domain of a broad group of companies unless they relate to traditional technologies.

Introduction and objective Caffeine is a natural methylxanthine widespread throughout the food industry. Many research studies have shown that caffeine readily crosses the placenta causing teratogenic and embryotoxic effects. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of caffeine, administered at 10°C, on the development of a rat’s bone tissue, with particular reference to elemental bone composition using an X-ray microprobe. Material and Methods The research was conducted on white rats of the Wistar strain. The fertilized females were divided into two groups: an Experimental Group (Group E) and a Control Group (Group C). The females in Group E were given caffeine orally (at 10°C) in 30 mg/day doses from the 8 th – 21 st day of pregnancy. The females in Group C were given water at the same temperature. The foetuses were used to assess the growth and mineralization of the skeleton. Qualitative analysis of the morphology and mineralization of bones was conducted using the alcian-alizarin method. For calcium and potassium analysis, an X-ray microprobe was used. Results By staining the skeleton using the alcian-alizarin method, changes in 47 Group E foetuses were observed. The frequency of the development variants in the Group E rats was statistically higher, compared with Group C. Conclusions On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that caffeine in high doses disturbs the development of bone tissue. An additional factor which enhances the adverse effects of this substance on bone tissue is the temperature of the administered solution (10°C). In the Experimental Group, a significant decrease in the calcium level, as well as an increase in the potassium level, was observed. The X-ray microprobe can be a perfect complement to the methods which enable determination of the mineralization of osseous tissue.

The lymphoepithelial cyst (LEC) of the major salivary gland is a rare lesion described in medical literature. It is found in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and considered an early manifestation of this infection. Despite the variety of theories, the origin of this lesion remains controversial. No veterinary studies on LEC have been published so far. This study is the first-ever that aims to describe histopathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical features of a LEC located adjacent to the salivary gland of a goat. The goat proved seropositive for the small ruminant lentivirus, showed clinical signs of caprine arthritis-encephalitis, and had caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV)-infected cells in the lung. The histopathology revealed a cystic lesion lined mainly with squamous epithelium surrounded by a lymphoid component, containing a mucus-negative material and a few nonbirefringent structures corresponding to amylase crystalloids. Using immunohistochemistry, CAEV-positive cells were detected in macrophages, LEC epithelial cells, and the salivary gland. The B cells were mainly in the germinal centres, the intraepithelial lymphocytes expressed CD3 and Bcl-2, and the proliferative activity was low. This study showed that LEC had many similar histological and immunohistochemical features to those seen in humans. However, further studies are required in this respect.

An easy access to products containing caffeine makes it widely consumed to excess by the general population, including pregnant women. Beverages containing caffeine are consumed at different temperatures (iced, hot, room temperature). Caffeine easily passes through biological membranes, including the blood-brain barrier, the placental barrier, and can also enter the amniotic fluid, breast milk and semen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between caffeine’s developmental toxicity, and the solution’s temperature (both low and high) administered to pregnant female rats. Fertilized females were randomly divided into two main groups: an experimental (E) and a control group (C). The experimental groups received caffeine (30mg/day) in 10 (E 1 ), 25 (E 2 ) and 45 o C (E 3 ). The females in the control group were given water at the same temperature (C 1 , C 2 and C 3 ). On the day 21 of pregnancy, the pregnant females were killed by decapitation, using a specially prepared laboratory guillotine, after which the mothers’ internal organs were weighed. Additionally, the offspring were examined using standard teratological methods. The study found that caffeine administered to pregnant females at a dose of 30mg/day and at the temperatures of 10°C, 25°C or 45°C did not produce any teratogenic effects. The only sign of its adverse effect was the appearance of developmental abnormalities in the form of haematomas and saturated bleeding in the internal organs. These changes most frequently occurred in foetuses of females which received caffeine at 10°C or 45°C.

[b]introduction and objective[/b]. Caffeine is one of the world’s most commonly ingested alkaloids which easily permeates the placenta. The teratogenic and embryotoxic influence of large doses of caffeine has been established in many experimental studies on animals. The objective of this work was to assess the influence of caffeine, administered at 45 °C, on the development of the bone tissue of rats, with particular reference to elemental bone composition using an X-ray microprobe. [b]materials and methods[/b]. The research was conducted on white rats of the Wistar strain. The fertilized females were divided into two groups: an Experimental Group (Group E) and a Control Group (Group C). The females in Group E were given caffeine orally (at 45 °C) in 30 mg/day doses from the 8 [sup]th [/sup] to the 21 [sup]st[/sup] day of pregnancy. The females in Group C were given water at the same temperature. The fetuses were used to assess the growth and mineralization of the skeleton. A qualitative analysis of the morphology and mineralization of bones was conducted using the alcian-alizarin method. For calcium and potassium analysis, an X-ray microprobe was used. [b]results.[/b] By staining the skeleton using the alcian-alizarin method, changes in 52 of Group E fetuses were observed. The frequency of the development variants in the Group E rats was statistically higher, compared with Group C. [b]conclusions[/b]. Receiving caffeine at a higher temperature may result in different pharmacodynamics and significantly change tolerance to it. In Group E, a significant decrease in the calcium level, as well as an increase in the potassium level, was observed. The X-ray microprobe can be a perfect complement to the methods which enable determination of the mineralization of osseous tissue.

introduction and objective. Environmental lead (Pb) is a serious public health problem. At high levels, Pb is devastating to almost all organs. On the other hand, it is difficult to determine a safe level of exposure to Pb. More than 90% of the Pb in the adult human body and 70% in a child’s body is stored in the bones. In the presented study, the effects of lead exposure on bones were studied for rats treated orally with Pb acetate in drinking water for 14 days. The hypothesis was tested that lead exposure negatively affects bone structure. materials and methods. Femur strength was measured in a three-point bending test, whereas infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to measure molecular structural changes. results. Lead significantly decreased the ratio of area of two types of vibrational transitions, which are highly specific to mineral to matrix ratio. The results of the biomechanical study show that femurs of rats treated by Pb-acetate appeared to be weaker than bones of the control group, and may produce a condition for the development of higher risk of fractures. Additionally, a great difference in body mass was observed between control and the Pb acetate-treated groups. conclusions. The lower bone mineral content and the weaker mechanical properties of bones from Pb-treated rats are associated with the pathologic state dependent of the exposure of lead.

Central venous access consists in inserting a vascular catheter to the vena cava and placing its tip in the vicinity of the opening to the right atrium. In the patients of the Clinic of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology at the Academic Clinical Centre of the Medical University in Gdańsk, such implantation procedures are conducted 40–50 times in a year using Broviac/Hickman catheters that are placed in the subclavian vein. In the Ultrasound and Biopsy Laboratory at the clinic mentioned above, approximately 200–250 examinations have been conducted since 2005 to assess the central venous access. Implantation of a catheter considerably increases the comfort of patients who require a long-term venous access. Nevertheless, it is an invasive procedure, burdened with a risk of numerous, early and late complications. The late complications are associated with implanted catheters and include catheter-related thrombosis. The aim of this paper was to present three patients of the Clinic of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology at the Academic Clinical Centre of the Medical University in Gdańsk, in whom thrombotic complications occurred as a result of long-term central venous catheters. The paper also discusses the possibilities of using sonography in the assessment of such complications. In the presented patients, it was possible to determine the size and localization of a thrombus which enabled effective treatment in two cases. The pathomechanism of catheter-related thrombosis was explained and the risk factors of such complications were discussed. The attention was paid to the necessity of conducting ultrasound examinations in pediatric patients with inserted catheters as soon as the first symptoms of thrombosis appear. Based on own observations and despite the lack of validation of ultrasound imaging in the assessment of central catheters, we believe that this method is highly promising and can be recommended for the assessment of thrombotic complications in pediatric patients with central venous catheters.

Reviewing the literature, both domestic and foreign can be seen that the issue of coopetition has become increasingly popular in recent times. The same cannot be said about coopetition in terms of economic practice. Reluctance or concerns about coopetition result from caution and distrust of Polish entrepreneurs in relation to other players on the market, whose strategy has proved successful in the previous socio-political conditions. However, the current situation forces small and medium-sized enterprises to draw attention to the strategy of "sleeping with the enemy." In this context, the objective of the study was to answer the question of what factors influence establishing coopetition in western Poland in a simulative or detrimental way.

PURPOSE:The aim of this study was to detect and assess the estrogen receptor (ESR) coactivator PELP1 expression within human paraspinal skeletal muscles in patients suffering from idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS:During surgical correction of scoliosis the muscle biopsies harvested in 29 females. Presence of PELP1, ESR1 and ESR2 genes transcripts was studied using RT-qPCR technique while immunohistochemistry and western blot methods were used to detect the PEPL1 protein presence. RESULTS:PELP1 expression in deep paraspinal muscles revealed higher than in superficial back muscles (p = 0.005). Positive immunohistochemical staining for PELP1 was observed in the nuclei of the paraspinal muscle cells. Western blot revealed PELP1 protein in all samples. No significant difference in PELP1 expression between the convex and the concave scoliosis side (p>0.05) was found. In deep paraspinal back muscles, a significant correlation between the PELP1 expression level on the concave side and the Cobb angle (r = 0.4; p

Caffeine is a methylxanthine which permeates the placenta. In studies on animals, it has beenshown to produce teratogenic and embryotoxic effects in large doses. The objective of this study was toassess the influence of caffeine on the development of bone tissue, with particular reference to elementalbone composition using an X-ray microprobe. The research was conducted on rats. The fertilized femaleswere randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group wasgiven caffeine orally in 30 mg/day doses from the 8th to the 21st day of pregnancy, while the control groupwas given water. The fetuses were used to assess the growth and mineralization of the skeleton. On thebasis of double dyeing, a qualitative analysis of the bone morphology and mineralization was conducted.For calcium and potassium analysis, an X-ray microprobe was used. In 67 fetuses from the experimentalgroup, changes in skeleton staining with the alcian-alizarin method were noticed. The frequency of thedevelopment of variants in the experimental group was statistically higher. In the experimental group,a significant decrease in the calcium level, as well as an increase in the potassium level, was observed.The X-ray microprobe’s undoubted advantage is that is offers a quick qualitative and quantitative analysisof the elemental composition of the examined samples. Employing this new technique may furnish uswith new capabilities when investigating the essence of the pathology process.Caffeine is a methylxanthine which permeates the placenta. In studies on animals, it has beenshown to produce teratogenic and embryotoxic effects in large doses. The objective of this study was toassess the influence of caffeine on the development of bone tissue, with particular reference to elementalbone composition using an X-ray microprobe. The research was conducted on rats. The fertilized femaleswere randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group wasgiven caffeine orally in 30 mg/day doses from the 8th to the 21st day of pregnancy, while the control groupwas given water. The fetuses were used to assess the growth and mineralization of the skeleton. On thebasis of double dyeing, a qualitative analysis of the bone morphology and mineralization was conducted.For calcium and potassium analysis, an X-ray microprobe was used. In 67 fetuses from the experimentalgroup, changes in skeleton staining with the alcian-alizarin method were noticed. The frequency of thedevelopment of variants in the experimental group was statistically higher. In the experimental group,a significant decrease in the calcium level, as well as an increase in the potassium level, was observed.The X-ray microprobe’s undoubted advantage is that is offers a quick qualitative and quantitative analysisof the elemental composition of the examined samples. Employing this new technique may furnish uswith new capabilities when investigating the essence of the pathology process.

The influence of pregnancy on bone tissue metabolism is not completely understood. Caffeine also has a potentially negative influence on bones. The aim of this study was the evaluation of changes in the bones of pregnant rats under the influence of caffeine. The experiment was carried out on Wistar rats. The evaluation of rats’ bone tissue quality was performed based on bone density measurements and resistance examinations. It analyzed the impact of caffeine on the degree of bone tissue mineralization and the composition of the bones. The mean value of pelvises ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ densities in a group of pregnant rats with caffeine intake was lower compared to the control group. The deformation in maximal load point of the femur shaft in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group. In the experimental group, the percentage of water in the bones was significantly higher, while the content of inorganic phase was significantly lower compared to the control group. The changes of biomechanical parameters in the group of pregnant rats with caffeine intake indicate its negative influence on the bone. Our results show higher plasticization of the bone shafts of the animals under the influence of caffeine. Higher deformation of bone shafts may have an effect on the statics of the skeleton. The administration of caffeine significantly affected the quantitative composition of the bone. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 504–511)

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of systemic glucocorticosteroids administration on mechanical properties of animal tendons. Twenty female Wistar rats were divided into two groups and those that formed experimental group were subjected activity of hydrocortisone given to the peritoneum. Mechanical tests were performed. Hydrocortisone administration caused reduction of force value and the increase of strain, also the value of elasticity module was significantly smaller comparing to the control group. The results of biomechanical tests suggested that glucocorticoids produce less stiffness tendon, which fails in maximum point of load. This study revealed that systemic hydrocortisone administration changes significantly mechanical properties of tendons, which may cause frequent failure of the tendon.

The aim of the article is to show the impact of market location and the distance from the supply network participants on the occurrence of innovative cooperation between the food industry companies and industry- and science-oriented entities. The methodological part of the article is based on probit modelling. The material necessary for the analyses present in this article has been collected by means of a questionnaire sent to the companies all over Poland. The conducted research confi rmed that the situation when the market or other participants of the supply network (suppliers, customers and competitors) are localised in close proximity to the food industry company has a negative impact on the occurrence of innovative activity between the company and other food industry companies or science-oriented units. On the other hand, the location outside one’s own region stimulates this kind of collaboration.

Artykuł napisano w oparciu o dane empiryczne pozyskane w trakcie IV tury badań nad otoczeniem biznesu przeprowadzonych w latach 2008-2009 na zlecenie Europejskiego Banku Odbudowy i Rozwoju (EBOR) oraz Banku Światowego. Na terenie państw grupy Wyszehradzkiej przebadano łącznie 1349 przedsiębiorstw. Głównym celem artykułu jest analiza wpływu intensywność presji ze strony konkurentów na działalność innowacyjną przedsiębiorstw. Artykuł ten uwzględnia zarówno presję ze strony konkurentów na wprowadzenie przez przedsiębiorstwo nowych wyrobów jak i presję ze strony konkurentów na obniżenie przez przedsiębiorstwo kosztów produkcji Przeprowadzone badanie ma charakter statyczny i dotyczy okresu 2006-2008. Część metodyczna artykułu bazuje na modelowaniu probitowym. W celu odrzucenia lub pozytywnego zweryfikowania postawionych hipotez badawczych przyjęto zmienne niezależne o różnej intensywności dotyczące: a) presji ze strony konkurentów na wprowadzenie przez przedsiębiorstwo do produkcji nowych produktów, b) presji ze strony konkurentów na obniżenie przez przedsiębiorstwo kosztów produkcji. Z kolei jako zmienne zależne przyjęto występowanie w przedsiębiorstwie: a) działalności inwestycyjnej, b) działalność B+R, c) wprowadzonych do produkcji nowych wyrobów, d) ulepszonych wyrobów, e) międzynarodowych certyfikatów jakości. Przeprowadzone badania potwierdzają hipotezę, że presja ze strony konkurentów wpływa stymulująco na aktywność innowacyjną badanych przedsiębiorstw. Z kolei brak lub minimalna presja ze strony konkurentów powoduje ograniczenie działalności innowacyjnej przedsiębiorstw. Wnioski wynikające z artykułu stanowią przyczynek do dyskusji na temat roli konkurencji we wspieraniu aktywności innowacyjnej przedsiębiorstw z państw rozwijających się.