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Implementation of works on preparing production of new product should be justified by the positive evaluation of purposefulness, and structural, technological, organizational feasibility, as well as economic efficiency. The results of the latest evaluation are critical. Preparation of production of new product, even it is expedient and feasible, it should not be implemented if it is economically inefficient or has high risk of failure. In the article set out guidelines for the evaluation of economic efficiency and risk according to the features which are characteristic for preparation of production of new product. These features are related to the scope of work of construction, technological and organizational preparation, their duration and time of product life, as well as capital expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization & Management / Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Slaskiej. Seria Organizacji i Zarzadzanie is the property of Silesian Technical University, Organisation & Management Faculty and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction : Myeloid sarcoma (previously chloroma or granulocytic sarcoma) is a very rare malignant neoplasm associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms. This type of tumour can be located anywhere outside the bone marrow. Aim: To describe the successful treatment and diagnostic of myeloid sarcoma. Case study: Retrospective case review. Results and discussion: This paper presents a case of myeloid sarcoma in a 50-year-old male. Patient presented due to pain lasting for 2 months in the left anterior axillary line region and a rapidly growing nodular lesion on the anterior chest wall. The lesion involved an extensive area of the ribs, causing rib destruction. Surgery was performed causing patients relief and chance of collecting histopathological tissue. Conclusions: In myeloid sarcoma patients, surgical treatment does not only bring relief in symptomatic patients but also provides material for histopathological examination, which is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. An important part of the diagnosis is the implementation of a wide panel of immunohistochemical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of finite aperture and frequency response of piezoelectric ultrasonic hydrophone probes on the free-field pulse intensity integral (PIT) and mechanical index (MI) was investigated using a comprehensive acoustic wave propagation model. The model developed was capable of predicting the true pressure-time waveforms at virtually any point in the field. The input to the model used pressure amplitude data measured in the immediate vicinity of the acoustic source or transducer considered. The experimental verification of the model was obtained using a commercially available, 8 MHz, dynamically focused linear array and a single element, 5 MHz, focused rectangular source. The verification was performed at low and high excitation levels, corresponding to linear and nonlinear acoustic wave propagation, respectively. The pressure-time waveforms were recorded using piezoelectric polymer hydrophone probes that had different sensitivities, frequency responses, bandwidths, and active element diameters. The nominal diameters of the probes ranged from 50 to 500 pm, and their useable bandwidths varied between 55 and 100 MHz. The PII, used to calculate the thermal index (TI), was found to increase with increasing bandwidth and decreasing effective aperture of the probes. The MI, another safety indicator, also was affected, but to a lesser extent. The corrections predicted using the model were used to reduce discrepancies as large as 30% in the determination of PII. The results of this work indicate that, by accounting for hydrophones' finite aperture and correcting the value of PII, all intensities derived from the PIT can be corrected for spatial averaging error. The results also point out that caution should be exercised when comparing acoustic output data. In particular, hydrophone's frequency characteristics of the effective diameter and sensitivity are needed to correctly determine the MI, TI, and the total acoustic output power produced by an imaging transducer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate the distribution of traces of Na, K, Ca, and Sr during the fractionated precipitation of barium carbonate from barium chloride solution with ammonium carbonate. The results of trace distributions were determined with 24Na, 42K, 45Ca, and 85Sr isotopes. In a concentration range of 1 × 10−4 to 1 × 10−3 % (related to BaCl2) at 80% of matrix precipitation the following quantities of trace impurities remained in the solution (%) Na: 89–94, K: 92–98, Ca: 38–47, and Sr: 35–26. The influence of DCTA complexing agent on impurities distribution was found to be insignificant. The distribution of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) in single-mode precipitation BaCO3 with (NH4)2CO3 was also investigated in the presence of EDTA and DCTA, and without any complexing agent. The AAS method was used to determine traces of heavy metal content. After a precipitation of 80% of matrix BaCO3 in presence EDTA, and 1 × 10−4 % initial trace concentrations, the following quantities (%) of 55 Cd, 70 Co, 72 Cu, 52 Fe, 70 Mn, 83 Ni, 60 Pb, and 67 Zn remained in the solution. The results were used for the optimization of BaCO3 obtainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An esophagorespiratory fistula is a pathological communication between the esophagus and respiratory tract. The most common type is a communication with the trachea, while the least common is with lung parenchyma. These fistulas are classified as congenital or acquired while etiology is benign or malignant. Aim: We present a case report of a patient who developed esophagopulmonary fistula several years after gunshot in the right side of the chest. Additionally, we discuss the treatment methods and compare the outcomes with other case studies and analyses from world literature. Case study: A 48-year-old male patient was admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Transplantation due to bleeding from the respiratory tract. Radiological images revealed a fistula between the esophagus and right lung parenchyma. Furthermore, bronchiectasis in the right lung was found. Tissues of the fistula, right middle and lower lobes were resected. The patient required renewed hospitalization due to pleural empyema. Furthermore, recurrence of the fistula was observed. Results and discussion: Treatment of esophagorespiratory fistula depends on the etiology and location of the pathological communication. Surgery provides the best possible outcomes in patients with a benign fistula. Proximal location requires cervicotomy, while distal location a thoracotomy. In addition, a distal fistula may damage lung parenchyma. Conclusions: A long-term distal fistula may require pulmonary resection, but early diagnosis would help to avoid more invasive procedures. As symptoms are non-specific and benign etiology is not frequent, thorough examination in search of malignancy is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and usual interstitial pneumonia are three most common indications for lung transplantation (LuTx) in Poland. As a result of irreversible destruction of pulmonary parenchyma and extended respiratory insufficiency that appear afterwards, it is crucial to estimate the reserve of gas exchange in each lung before and during surgery. Altering conditions of gas exchange require adaptation in circulatory system as well. In some of the cases the use of extracorporeal life support appears to be necessary to undergo the transplantation successfully. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) used during operation allow to replace the function of heart and lung, but they are also related to complications in the form of acute kidney failure, bleeding, heart arrhythmias or thromboembolic complications.Methods: We reviewed 77 LuTx from 2009 to 2020 performed at the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Transplantation. 40/77 (51%) patients required intraoperative extracorporeal assistance: 8 required CBP and 32 required ECMO. In the ECMO group 14/32 (44%) patients had peripheral cannulation and 18/32 (56%) had central one. We have calculated the survival rates and reviewed postoperative complications after lung transplantations. Cumulative Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated. Differences between the groups were evaluated by the Chi- square analysis for discontinuous variables and t-test for continuous variables.Results: The use of intraoperative central extracorporeal membrane oxygenator was associated with increased survival rates comparing to patients without external support (30-days, 1-year, 3-years, 5-years rates: 78%, 66%, 66%, 66% vs 83%, 65%, 59%, 44% respectively). Furthermore, survival was enhanced comparing to peripheral ECMO or cardiopulmonary bypass as well (50%, 41%, 41%, 33%; 75%, 50%, 50%, 38% respectively). Acute kidney injury and thromboembolic complications occurred statistically more often in case of patients that underwent lung transplantation with support devices (p = 0.005, p = 0.02 respectively). Frequency of other complications was comparable among groups.Conclusions: The use of central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation should be favorized over peripheral cannulation or cardiopulmonary bypass. CPB should be no longer used during LuTx. Trial registration Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heat transfer enhancement by simultaneous use of coil and nanofluid. • Significant increase in Nusselt number due to CuO nanoparticles presence. • Modest heat transfer enhancement due to nanoparticle concentration. • Two different nanofluid stabilizers were investigated. This work presents experimental and CFD simulation results of heat transfer for water and CuO-water nanofluid flow systems stabilized by capping agents. The experiments were carried out in a helically coiled tube in the range of turbulent flow regime with Reynolds numbers from 6000 to 21,968, for practical applications importance. Nusselt number enhancement with regard to host liquid was observed, up to 18–35 % for nanofluids under investigation. Numerical calculations were performed using the ANSYS® Fluent® package employing homogenous single-phase model with the assumption of constant wall temperature condition. The k-ε Realizable Turbulence and Enhancement Wall Treatment models were applied in all analyzed cases. New type stabilizer CTAC was employed which lead to enhanced heat transfer in coil in obtained nanofluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a form of acute lung injury (ALI) that occurs within 72 h after lung transplantation (LuTx) and is the most common early complication of the procedure. PGD is diagnosed and graded based on the ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen and chest X-ray results. PGD grade 3 increases recipient mortality and the chance of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD)., Method: The aim of this retrospective study was to identify new PGD risk factors. The inclusion criteria were met by 59 patients, who all received transplants at the same center between 2010 and 2018. Donor data were taken from records provided by the Polish National Registry of Transplantation and analyzed in three variants: PGD 1-3 vs. PGD 0, PGD 3 vs. PGD 0 and PGD 3 vs. PGD 0-2., Results: A multiple-factor logistic regression model was used to identify decreasing recipient age; higher donor BMI and higher donor central venous pressure (CVP) for the PGD (of the 1-3 grade) risk factor., Conclusions: Longer cold ischemia time (CIT) and higher donor CVP proved to be independent risk factors of PGD 3.

Poland syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital musculoskeletal entity occurring in approximately 1 in 30,000 newborns that manifests with variable symbrachydactyly, ipsilateral costochondral deformities, an absence of pectoral muscles, and breast underdevelopment. These have potential impacts on social, somatic, and psychological functionality, often leading affected individuals to seek expert opinions on corrective surgery. Due to phenotypic variability, strict management guidelines are lacking, with treatment decisions often based on the specialist's personal experience rather than published evidence. Comprehensive imaging with CT and MRI with 3D reconstruction is crucial for providing a descriptive assessment of musculoskeletal defects. Management is multidisciplinary, involving thoracic, plastic, and pediatric surgeons and hand surgery specialists, as well as psychologists and developmental growth specialists. Surgery should achieve both structural and cosmetic correction to reverse the psychological and social impact and achieve patient satisfaction. We aim to provide thoracic surgeons the essential answers for sharing with affected adult individuals during consultations focusing on chest surgical correction.

A vessel port, implanted into the central venous system, is used for long-term intravenous drug administration in oncology patients. Although essential for frequent chemotherapy and other treatments, ports can lead to complications such as infection and thrombosis. This article discusses a rare but serious complication: the displacement of a catheter fragment. A 67-year-old gastric cancer patient, experienced malignant recurrence with jaundice and bile duct infiltration post Roux-Y subtotal gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy. After nine cycles of chemotherapy, a catheter fragment from the venous port detached and lodged in a branch of the pulmonary artery in segment VIII of the right lung. Thoracotomy was performed to remove the foreign body. Our aim is to report on the surgical treatment of a displaced detached catheter and to raise awareness about the potential rare complications associated with the use of vascular ports in patients undergoing chronic oncological treatment. Additionally, we screened the PubMed database for similar surgical treatment reports and compared the collected data. Venous port malfunction or non-specific patient symptoms may indicate rare complications, such as port component detachment, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach for prompt diagnosis and management in oncological patients.

Primary pulmonary lymphoma is a rare neoplasm characterized by the proliferation of lymphoid tissue affecting the lungs. The most common subtype is marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Rarely, a MALT lymphoma transforms into a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. Here, we describe a patient with a primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma transforming into DLBCL. The purpose of this case report is to raise awareness of the relevant clinical and imaging features and to emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach to optimal management. In addition, we screened the PubMed and Embase databases for similar reports with a confirmed presence of transforming lymphoma within the lungs.

Introduction: Postpneumonectomy empyema (PPE) is a severe and often fatal complication of pneumonectomy, but some benefits of PPE were reported in patients who underwent either lobe or an entire lung resection due to lung cancer., Aim: To compare the survival outcomes of patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), who developed PPE after pneumonectomy with uneventful recoveries available in our center's database., Material and Methods: Outcomes of 928 pneumonectomies performed due to NSCLC between 1995 and 2009 were evaluated. The selection of the control group took into account the requirements for propensity score matching in terms of follow-up period, age, sex, tumor histopathology, TNM classification and the side of surgery., Results: Thirty-two patients with a PPE syndrome and 96 patients without complications after pneumonectomy were included. The estimated 5- and 10-year survival rates were 71% and 59%, respectively. The average and median survival was almost two- and three-fold longer compared to the group with uneventful recoveries. A 2-fold lower cancer-related mortality rate and a 1.5-fold higher cancer-unrelated mortality rate were noted in the PPE group as opposed to the group without complications. Having recovered from PPE, the patients had their risk of death reduced by 2.5-fold and 3.5-fold due to all causes and cancer, respectively., Conclusions: Pleural empyema in NSCLC patients who underwent pneumonectomy seems to improve the survival outcomes compared to patients with uneventful recoveries., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Polish Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons (Polskie Towarzystwo KardioTorakochirurgów) and the editors of the Polish Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (Kardiochirurgia i Torakochirurgia Polska).)

The removal of hydrogen sulfide from natural gas and other gases such as biogas, refinery gases, and coal gas is required because it is toxic and corrosive, even in traces. Zeolites are widely used in the removal of H 2 S from the abovementioned gases. In this work, we prepared an Ag-exchanged 13X molecular sieve by using different concentrations of AgNO 3 to increase its adsorption properties. XRD, SEM, and BET techniques were used to characterize samples. To determine the adsorption properties of each of the samples, a laboratory setup with a fixed-bed adsorber was utilized. The adsorption capacity of modified 13X increased when the molar concentration of AgNO 3 increased from 0.02 M to 0.05 M. However, the breakthrough time was attained quicker at a high molar concentration of 0.1 M AgNO 3 , indicating a low adsorption capacity. When compared to unmodified 13X, the adsorption capacity of AgII-13X increased by about 50 times. The results of this study suggest that the silver-modified 13X molecular sieve is highly effective at extracting H 2 S from natural gas.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare pressure resistance of the most common methods of vessel occlusion during thoracic surgical procedures: ligations, clips, and vascular endostaplers., Methods: Pulmonary vessels were obtained during routine thoracic surgeries. A ball-tipped cannula was inserted through an opening in the side wall and secured with a linen ligature from slipping out. Subsequently, saline was infused into the vessel. We recorded the pressure on which a leakage occurred., Results: A total of 65 vessels, divided between 3 groups, were enrolled in the study. In the endostaplers group, median bursting pressures were 262.5 mmHg and 300 mmHg for arteries and veins, respectively. In the case of clips, it was over 750 mmHg in both types of the vessels. The same results were observed in the ligation group. Minimal bursting pressures in endostapler occlusion were 187.5 mmHg and 225 mmHg in arteries and veins, respectively. In the case of clips, it was 600 mmHg for arteries and 675 mmHg for veins. A total of 525 mmHg (arteries) and 750 mmHg (veins) were the minimal leaking values observed in vessels occluded with ligations. Comparative analysis showed statistically significant differences in endostapler-clips and endostapler-ligations pairs ( p  < 0.001). There were no differences between clips and ligations., Conclusions: The examined methods are capable of occluding pulmonary vessels under physiological conditions. Furthermore, ligations and clips are resistant to pressures highly exceeding physiological values., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

The equations of streaming generated by an acoustic mod propagating in a nonlinear dispersive medium (exhibiting absorption and dispersion of phase sound speed) are derived with an arbitrarily shaped incident acoustical field assumed. This field may be periodic or non-periodic. A general dispersion model represented by a convolution operator taking into account relaxation effects was taken into account. Making the assumption of a periodic acoustic field from the general streaming equation. The quasi-stationary flow is driven by a force given by the average value of the dispersion operator with respect to the velocity and acoustic pressure fields. In the spectral representation, it is given by the weighted spectral power density distribution of the acoustic field. The weight of the distribution is the dispersion coefficient - the eigenvalue of the dispersion operator. A new result also reveals the effect of the refractive index deviation on the driving force of streaming. The possibility of generalizing the description of streaming in the simplest case of a non-Newtonian fluid was analyzed. The Reiner-Revlin model of a simple liquid was assumed. It was also noted that the streaming model in the Maxwell liquid is analytically solvable. It was found that asymptotic states of streaming in this model and the Navier-Stokes model are identical. The derivations use new methods different from those used so far. They are based on the separation of nonlinear modes in the momentum transport equation and on the properties of the Gauss-Weierstrass function for the Fick diffusion operator. So far, the method of successive approximations has been used. The consistency of the obtained equations with the assumptions was checked. The obtained formulas generalize the known descriptions of the form of forces driving streaming and extend their application to the case of nonlinear propagation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lung cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) represents 85% of all cases. Accumulating evidence highlights the outstanding role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in regulating the tumorigenesis process by modulating crucial signaling pathways. Micro RNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) are either up- or downregulated in lung cancer patients and can promote or suppress the progression of the disease. These molecules interact with messenger RNA (mRNA) and with each other to regulate gene expression and stimulate proto-oncogenes or silence tumor suppressors. NcRNAs provide a new strategy to diagnose or treat lung cancer patients and multiple molecules have already been identified as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets. The aim of this review is to summarize the current evidence on the roles of miRNA, lncRNA and circRNA in NSCLC biology and present their clinical potential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interests, (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The nonlinear acoustics equation for a dissipative medium is analytically solved. Continuous wave stimulation and an axisymmetric Gaussian spatial profile of the boundary conditions were assumed. The approximation of the D'Alambert operator by the wave diffusion operator was applied and justified. In this approximation and assuming classical absorption (dispersion), the equation to be solved is presented by the Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov model. A sequence of functions describing the spatial distribution of the harmonic components of the disturbance was determined. They are the form of spatially modulated Gauss functions for harmonic wave numbers (frequencies). For a lossless medium a universal numerical sequence describing non-linear interactions and harmonic generations was determined. In other cases, the description of the cooperation of dispersion and non-linear interactions in the harmonic generation process is given by a sequence of functions dependent on the dispersion coefficient and with boundary values given by the universal sequence mentioned above. It was unexpectedly discovered that the influence of geometrical parameters of the beam on nonlinear interactions depends on dispersion, and component of the dispersion, absorption may strengthen harmonic generation. In general, dispersion spatially modulates the amplitude and phase of nonlinear interactions. This is not against the law of conservation of energy. The energy exchange between the fundamental (initiating) component and other harmonics is described. The analytical solution was compared with the numerical one. The numerical solution was obtained in the scheme implementing the full Helmholtz operator (no axial - wave diffusion- approximation)., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens is an important cause of lung cancer. One of these substances is chromium, which is found ubiquitously across the planet. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified chromium(VI) as a human carcinogen. The aim of this study was to assess whether serum chromium levels, as well as DNA variants in selected genes involved in carcinogenesis, xenobiotic-metabolism, and oxidative stress could be helpful in the detection of lung cancer. We conducted a study using 218 lung cancer patients and 218 matched healthy controls. We measured serum chromium levels and genotyped ten genetic variants in ERCC2, XRCC1, MT1B, GSTP1, ABCB1, NQ01, CRTC3, GPX1, SOD2 and CAT. The odds ratios of being diagnosed with lung cancer were calculated using conditional logistic regression with respect to serum chromium level and genotypes. The odds ratio for the occurrence of lung cancer increased with increasing serum chromium levels. The difference between the quartiles with the lowest vs. highest chromium level was more than fourfold in the entire group (OR 4.52, CI 2.17-9.42, p < 0.01). This correlation was significantly increased by more than twice when specific genotypes were taken into consideration (ERCC-rs12181 TT, OR 12.34, CI 1.17-130.01, p = 0.04; CRTC3-rs12915189 non GG, OR 9.73, CI 1.58-60.10, p = 0.01; GSTP1-rs1695 non AA, OR 9.47, CI 2.06-43.49, p = < 0.01; CAT-rs1001179 non CC, OR 9.18, CI 1.64-51.24, p = 0.01). Total serum chromium levels > 0.1 μg/L were correlated with 73% (52/71) of lung cancers diagnosed with stage I disease. Our findings support the role of chromium and the influence of key proteins on lung cancer burden in the general population.

Background: We assessed whether blood cadmium levels were associated with incident lung cancer and could be used in the context of a screening program for early-stage lung cancer., Material and Methods: We measured blood cadmium levels among 205 lung cancer patients and 205 matched controls. Cases and controls were matched for sex, age and smoking history (total pack-years, years since cessation for former smokers)., Results: The odds ratio for those in the highest quartile of cadmium level (versus lowest) was four-fold (OR = 4.41, 95 % CI:2.01-9.67, p < 0.01). The association was present in former smokers (OR = 16.8, 95 % CI:3.96-71.2, p < 0.01), but not in current smokers (OR = 1.23, 95 % CI: 0.34-4.38) or in never smokers (OR not defined). Among former smokers, the association was present in both early- and late-stage lung cancer., Conclusion: Blood cadmium levels may be a marker to help with the early detection of lung cancer among former smokers., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although the results of studies in populations with low selenium status indicate an inverse correlation between body selenium levels and the risk of the lung cancer, the effect of this microelement on survival has not been studied., Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective study of 302 patients diagnosed with lung cancer in Szczecin, Poland. Selenium concentration in serum was measured at the time of diagnosis and before treatment. All patients were followed for a maximum of 80 months or until death. Vital status was obtained from the Polish National Death Registry., Results: Using Cox proportional hazard analysis, performed for all individuals with lung cancer, the hazard ratio (HR) for death from all causes was 1.25 (95% CI: 0.86-1.83, P = 0.99) for patients in the lowest tertile compared to those in the highest tertile of serum selenium levels. Among the patients with stage I disease this relationship was significant (HR-2.73; P = 0.01) for selenium level in tertile 1 (<57 μg/L) compared to tertile 3 (>69 μg/L, reference). The 80 months crude survival after diagnosis was 79.5% (95% CI: 68.5-92.4%) for individuals in the highest tertile and 58.1% (95% CI: 45.1-74.9%) for individuals in the lowest tertile with stage I lung cancer., Conclusion: These results suggest that in patients undergoing treatment for stage I lung cancer, serum selenium levels at the time of diagnosis (>69 μg/L) may be associated with improved overall survival., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the metabolic response in the early postoperative period after radical resection of stage I and II oesophageal cancer applying a minimally invasive procedure and an open procedure involving classical laparotomy and thoracotomy., Material and Methods: Serum concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and total serum protein (TP) and leukocyte count (WBC) in blood collected on the day of surgery prior to the procedure (day 0) and on days 1, 2 and 7 after the surgery were measured in two groups of patients undergoing oesophageal resection due to cancer: applying a minimally invasive procedure involving laparoscopy and videothoracoscopy (group A) and applying a classical procedure involving full opening of the chest and abdominal cavity (group B). The study involved a total of 24 patients divided into two groups of 12 patients each., Results: Tumour necrosis factor-α concentration was lower in group A compared to group B on day 0, PCT concentration was lower in group A compared to group B on day 2 after surgery, and on the remaining days TNF-α and PCT concentrations were not statistically different between groups., Conclusions: Lower concentration of PCT on post-surgery day 2 in the group of patients undergoing minimally invasive oesophageal resection seems to be associated with a smaller perioperative injury. Lower TNF-α concentration in serum collected on day 0 in the group of patients undergoing minimally invasive resection is associated with a lower stage of oesophageal cancer in this group.

Primary pulmonary lymphoma accounts only 0,5% of all primary lung neoplasms. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a low grade B-cell extranodal lymphoma. It is a quite infrequent entity, however it constitutes from 72% to 90% of all pulmonary lung lymphomas. Long-term stimulation of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue by antigens, smoking, inflammatory disorders or autoimmune diseases are thought to be leading to the development of MALT lymphoma. We present the case of primary pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. A 76-year-old man with a history of heavy smoking (22.5 pack years) was admitted to the hospital for a further diagnostics of an abnormal finding in the right lung visualized on the chest X-ray. The diagnostic process, including imagining studies did not reveal the etiology of a lesion in the right lung. The patient was qualified for surgical diagnostics. The histological finding confirmed extranodal marginal low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa -associated lymphoid tissue.

Lymphorrhoea is a rare complication after orthopaedic surgeries. This paper presents a case of a patient who demonstrated cervical lymphorrhoea as an early complication of scalenotomy. The lymphorrhoea was success - fully stopped through VATS closure of the thoracic duct following initial ineffective conservative treatment.

Diagnostic difficulties, serious prognosis and often insufficient response to treatment are all common features of pulmonary complications in solid organ recipients. Some of these complications need invasive diagnostic procedures and surgical treatment or prolonged pharmacological treatment. Tuberculosis, Pneumocystis and fungal infections are examples of infectious complications. Primary lung cancer or metastasis to the lungs developed shortly after solid organ transplantation are oncological complications. Infectious and noninfectious complications are connected with immunosuppression. Treatment of pulmonary complications in solid organ recipients and continuation of immunosuppression therapy can be challenge for therapeutic team. This article presents five cases (2 women and 3 men) of solid organ recipients treated in department of the authors due to lung neoplasms. Four of them were liver recipients and one was recipient of heart. Three patients were treated due to primary lung cancer, additionally in one of them metastasis of lung cancer occurred, two suffered from metastasis of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) to the lungs. Four patients underwent 6 operation: 2 lobectomies with lymphadenectomy, 1 segmentectomy with lymphadenectomy, 1 bilateral metastasectomy of HCC and 1 metastasectomy of lung cancer. In all cases of primary lung cancer pathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Immunosuppression schedule, perioperative courses and infectious complications (tuberculosis, disseminated infection, infection of biliary tract, oesophageal candidiasis) in this group were described. All of them were smokers.

Aim: To assess the influence of conventional immunosuppression on vancomycin concentration in the rat allogenic lung transplant basing on acute and hyperacute rejection models., Material and Methods: Left lung allotransplantations were performed from Brown Norway donors to Fisher F 344 recipients in the acute rejection model (animals were sacrificed 5 days after transplantation), and from Brown Norway donors to Wistar recipients in the hyperacute rejection model (animals were sacrificed 2 days after transplantation). Immunosuppression (cyclosporin A 5 mg/kg b.w., aziathioprine 4 mg/kg b.w., methylprednisolone 4 mg/kg b.w.) was administered daily. Control rats received no immunosuppression and were sacrificed on day 2 or 5, respectively. Rejection grading was done on the basis of arterial pO2 and histology of the lung graft sample obtained at autopsy. A single 30 mg/kg b.w. dose ofvancomycin was injected intraperitoneally on day 2 or 5 depending on the model. Samples of blood and grafted lung were collected 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 6 h from injection., Results: Arterial pO2 levels were significantly higher in the group with acute rejection and immunosuppression as compared with the control groups. Histology revealed attenuated rejection in the immunosuppression groups. Vancomycin concentration in the transplanted lung and the lung graft to plasma vancomycin concentration ratio did not differ in the immunosuppression and control groups., Conclusions: Immunosuppression has no influence on vancomycin concentration in the transplanted lung.

Introduction: Lung cancer (LC) remains one of the most serious epidemiological and clinical challenges both in the world and Poland. Results of LC therapy are far from satisfaction. One of the reasons of high LC mortality is its late detection. Currently, few centers in the world conduct LC screening programs based on low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) of the chest. There have been no such programs in Poland up to date., Material and Methods: The program of LC early detection based on CT for citizens of Szczecin aged 55-65, who smoked at least 20 pack/years, was introduced on May 1st 2008 and was planned for 3 years. There were 3647 subjects examined till December 31st 2008. Algorithm of further action for detected lesions was based on the IELCAP and NELSON trial protocols., Results: There were 25 malignancies detected, including 21 LC (17 females and 4 males) up to date (70% were in stage I TNM). In contrast - there was only 16.8% stage IA LC detected in the comparable group diagnosed on the symptoms basis. Fifty seven patients were treated surgically, of whom 16 underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy coupled with radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy. There were 3 wedge resections and 2 segmentectomies performed, too. Perioperative mortality was 0%. There were 32 benign lesions of different clinical importance resected as well (tuberculoma, hamartoma, inflammatory, mycotic and sarcoidal lesions). In our group 1365 lesions were detected in 996 persons - they are followed up in accordance with the IELCAP algorithm., Conclusions: Early LC detection program initiated in Szczecin resulted in significant increase of stage IA TNM detected patients subsequently treated radically. There was also a large number of small non malignant lesions detected.

This article reports a case of non-small cell lung cancer in a 74-year-old man with visceral total inversion. The epidemiology and main anatomical differences present in this rare syndrome, as well as basic information on lung cancer, are explored. We present diagnostic procedures and their results and describe the surgical technique of lung cancer treatment performed in this rare case. The perioperative period and the histopathological findings are analysed. Finally, references to similar cases found in worldwide literature are discussed.

Thoracic splenosis of the left lung and upper abdominal area was described. Left minithoracotomy was performed due to unclear results from a fine needle biopsy and following the suggestion to obtain a tissue sample. Clinical findings were similar to neoplasmatic disease; intraoperative extension of the disease was larger than CT view and correlated with postoperative assessment with (99m)Tc sulphur colloid. This confirmed the usefulness of scintigraphic assessment in preoperative diagnosis in order to avoid thoracotomy in such cases.

Background: To asses the influence of colchicine, a potent antinflammatory agent and neutrophile migration inhibitor, on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI) in rat lung isogeneic transplantation., Material/methods: Isogeneic, orthotropic single left lung transplantations were performed among male Wistar rats after total ischemic graft storage time of 12 or 18 hours in temperature of 4 degrees C. Recipients received either no specific treatment (control) or Colchicine 1.2 mg/kg/d ip. Twenty-four hours after transplantation, the native contralateral lung was occluded to assess graft gas exchange function (PaO(2)). The lung graft was excised and assessed for Wet/Dry ratio (W/D) as a measure of edema, Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) as a measure of neutrophile migration and histology., Results: PaO(2) differences were not significant among all groups. Comparing colchicine to control group, the W/D ratio 3.93+/-0.66 vs. 1.86+/-0.32, p=0.002 and MPO 8.1+/-3.34 vs. 5.87+/-1.76, p=0.046 were significantly higher for 18 hours colchicine group. Comparing 18 to 12 hours time groups, the W/D ratio 5.70+/-1.53 vs. 1.86+/-0.32, p=0.007 for control groups and 5.40+/-1.49 vs. 3.93+/-0.66, p=0.049 for colchicine groups were significantly higher for both 12 h groups. Histology favored colchicine treated animals., Conclusions: Colchicine in tested dose does not decrease edema after lung transplantation and does not improve lung function. 18 vs. 12 hours total ischemic graft storage time causes less lung edema.