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Data other than that from clinical trials are important for healthcare decision making. However, unlike the vocal calls seen for more open access to trial data, there are limited efforts being made to ensure that agencies that collect real-world data (RWD) share this, despite its importance. There are many RWD sources across the world that could be readily exploited for research once shared. There are policy and privacy questions that need to be tackled, but opening up and sharing RWD offers remarkable potential for improvements in care for individuals and more effective use of limited healthcare resources. Open science should become the standard for RWD as well as clinical trials, especially those that have a high likelihood to influence practice.

Background Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) eye drops are a frequently used medication to treat Acanthamoeba keratitis. In the absence of marketed PHMB eye drops, pharmacy-compounding units are needed to prepare this much needed treatment, but the lack of validated PHMB stability data severely limits their conservation by imposing short expiration dates after preparation. In this study we aim to assess the physicochemical and microbiological stability of a 0.2 mg/mL PHMB eye drop formulation stored in two kinds of polyethylene bottles at two different temperatures. Methods A liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector stability-indicating method was validated to quantify PHMB, using a cyanopropyl bonded phase (Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-CN column 4.6 × 75 mm with particle size of 3.5 μm) and isocratic elution consisting of acetonitrile/deionized water (3/97 v/v) at a flow rate of 1.3 mL/min. PHMB eye drops stability was assessed for 90 days of storage at 5 and 25 °C in ethylene oxide sterilized low density polyethylene (EOS-LDPE) and gamma sterilized low density polyethylene (GS-LDPE) bottles. The following analyses were performed: visual inspection, PHMB quantification and breakdown products (BPs) screening, osmolality and pH measurements, and sterility assessment. PHMB quantification and BP screening was also performed on the drops emitted from the multidose eyedroppers to simulate in-use condition. Results The analytical method developed meets all the qualitative and quantitative criteria for validation with an acceptable accuracy and good linearity, and is stability indicating. During 90 days of storage, no significant decrease of PHMB concentration was found compared to initial concentration in all stored PHMB eye drops. However, BP were found at day 30 and at day 90 of monitoring in both kind of bottles, stored at 5 and 25 °C, respectively. Although no significant variation of osmolality was found and sterility was maintained during 90 days of monitoring, a significant decrease of pH in GS-LDPE PHMB eye drops was noticed reaching 4 and 4.6 at 25 °C and 5 °C respectively, compared to initial pH of 6.16. Discussion Although no significant decrease in PHMB concentration was found during 90 days of monitoring in all conditions, the appearance of BPs and their unknown toxicities let us believe that 0.2 mg/mL PHMB solution should be conserved for no longer than 60 days in EOS-LDPE bottles at 25 °C.

Elisa Dassie,1,2,* Diletta Arcidiacono,2,3,* Iga Wasiak,4 Nunzio Damiano,5 Luigi Dall’Olmo,6 Cinzia Giacometti,7 Sonia Facchin,3 Mauro Cassaro,7 Ennio Guido,8 Franca De Lazzari,8 Oriano Marin,9,10 Tomasz Ciach,4 Suzanne Fery-Forgues,11,12 Alfredo Alberti,1,2 Giorgio Battaglia,13 Stefano Realdon13 1Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 2Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, 3Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; 4Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland; 5Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, 6Department of Emergency Medicine, “Santi Giovanni e Paolo” Hospital, Venice, 7Anatomic Pathology Unit, ULSS 15, Alta Padovana, Camposampiero, 8Gastroenterology Unit, Sant’Antonio Hospital, 9Interdepartmental Research Centre for Innovative Biotechnologies (CRIBI), University of Padua, 10Proteomics Facility, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padua, 11CNRS, ITAV-USR 3505, Toulouse, France; 12Université de Toulouse, ITAV-USR 3505, Toulouse, France; 13Endoscopy Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV-IRCCS), Padua, Italy *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: For many years, novel strategies for cancer detection and treatment using nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed. Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries, and despite recent advances in early detection and treatment, its prognosis is still very poor. This study investigated the use of fluorescent organic NPs as potential diagnostic tool in an experimental in vivo model of Barrett’s esophageal adenocarcinoma. NPs were made of modified polysaccharides loaded with [4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran] (DCM), a well-known fluorescent dye. The NP periphery might or might not be decorated with ASYNYDA peptide that has an affinity for esophageal cancer cells. Non-operated and operated rats in which gastroesophageal reflux was surgically induced received both types of NPs (NP-DCM and NP-DCM-ASYNYDA) by intravenous route. Localization of mucosal NPs was assessed in vivo by confocal laser endomicroscopy, a technique which enables a “real time” and in situ visualization of the tissue at a cellular level. After injection of NP-DCM and NP-DCM-ASYNYDA, fluorescence was observed in rats affected by esophageal cancer, whereas no signal was observed in control non-operated rats, or in rats with simple esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus mucosa. Fluorescence was observable in vivo 30 minutes after the administration of NPs. Interestingly, NP-DCM-ASYNYDA induced strong fluorescence intensity 24 hours after administration. These observations suggested that NPs could reach the tumor cells, likely by enhanced permeability and retention effect, and the peptide ASYNYDA gave them high specificity for esophageal cancer cells. Thus, the combination of NP platform and confocal laser endomicroscopy could play an important role for highlighting esophageal cancer conditions. This result supports the potential of this strategy as a targeted carrier for photoactive and bioactive molecules in esophageal cancer diagnosis and treatment. Keywords: confocal laser endomicroscopy, Barrett’s esophagus, diagnostics, esophageal adenocarcinoma, fluorescent nanoparticles, heptapeptide

Celem artykułu jest ukazanie wielkości dokonywanych wydatków na ochronę zdrowia w Polsce na tle innych krajów Unii Europejskiej. W finansowaniu publicznym uwzględniono wydatki NFZ i wydatki budżetu państwa, natomiast w finansowaniu prywatnym wydatki na ubezpieczenia prywatne z uwzględnieniem ubezpieczeń prywatnych pracodawców oraz wydatki gospodarstw domowych. Przeprowadzona analiza wydatków pozwoliła na wskazanie podstawowych problemów w systemie finansowania opieki zdrowotnej oraz na ukazaniu zmian, które w przyszłości wpłynęłyby na poprawę tego systemu w Polsce i w Unii Europejskiej.

Mireia Raluy-Callado,1 Sylvie Gabriel,2 Jérôme Dinet,2 Meng Wang,1 Radek Wasiak1 1Retrospective Observational Studies, Evidera, London, UK; 2Ipsen Pharma, Boulogne-Billancourt, France Purpose: Cervical dystonia (CD) is a hypertonic condition caused by damage to the central nervous system. Very few studies have assessed the overall economic burden of the disease. The objective of this study was to describe the utilization of health care resources of patients with CD in the UK primary care setting, using a large population-based database.Patients and methods: Adults with a first diagnosis of CD between January 1, 2007 and January 31, 2011, who were registered to a general practitioner (GP) practice contributing to The Health Improvement Network (THIN), were included. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed at the time of diagnosis. Health care resource utilization and pharmacological treatment were investigated at the end of the first and second year after diagnosis.Results: Overall, 4,024 newly diagnosed patients with CD were identified, with average age at diagnosis of 45 years old; 65.3% were female. Depression in the year prior to diagnosis was the most common comorbidity. Primary care utilization was high in the first year, with 99.2% of patients visiting their GP (on average 6.2 times), and 43% visiting a nurse (on average 2.5 times). Patients were most commonly referred to an orthopedic surgeon, and 15.9% reported at least one physiotherapy visit. In the second year, utilization was similar. Prescriptions of at least one of the investigated treatments were found in 82.0% and 45.3%, in the first and second year, respectively.Conclusion: Findings suggest a high number of new CD cases are being identified in primary care, but not all will be referred to secondary care. Health care resource utilization was compared with that of all patients registered in THIN, which is representative of the UK, and the adjusted usage of primary care resources was found to be similar to that of the THIN population. Keywords: primary care, health care utilization

Abstract Introduction Despite technical advancements in breast radiation therapy, cardiac structures are still subject to significant levels of irradiation. As the use of adjuvant radiation therapy after breast‐conserving surgery continues to improve survival for early breast cancer patients, the associated radiation‐induced cardiac toxicities become increasingly relevant. Our primary aim was to evaluate the cardiac‐sparing benefits of the deep inspiration breath‐hold (DIBH) technique. Methods An electronic literature search of the PubMed database from 1966 to July 2014 was used to identify articles published in English relating to the dosimetric benefits of DIBH. Studies comparing the mean heart dose of DIBH and free breathing treatment plans for left breast cancer patients were eligible to be included in the review. Studies evaluating the reproducibility and stability of the DIBH technique were also reviewed. Results Ten studies provided data on the benefits of DIBH during left breast irradiation. From these studies, DIBH reduced the mean heart dose by up to 3.4 Gy when compared to a free breathing approach. Four studies reported that the DIBH technique was stable and reproducible on a daily basis. According to current estimates of the excess cardiac toxicity associated with radiation therapy, a 3.4 Gy reduction in mean heart dose is equivalent to a 13.6% reduction in the projected increase in risk of heart disease. Conclusion DIBH is a reproducible and stable technique for left breast irradiation showing significant promise in reducing the late cardiac toxicities associated with radiation therapy.

The paper describes proecological solution dedicated for organizing logistics services in urban areas. Proposed solution is based on cross-docking processes combined with consolidation centres. Authors proposed new method of estimating economic and social benefits from implementing centrally managed cooperation of logistics operators using common city consolidation hubs. Developed mathematical model bases on Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) with vehicles of different types, limited loading capacities and multiply depots characterized by limited throughput. Proposed approach was supported by case study of integration of distribution processes in Warsaw (Poland) performed by three medium-size logistics operators. The central management of distribution was investigated in variants assuming using existing warehouses and with new configuration of logistics network developed with using SIMMAG 3D tools. As it was proved for analysed case, total costs of distribution in the city after implementation of centrally managed distribution were reduced by 8.1% for variant with current depots and by 26.5% for variant with new logistics network, while emission of carbon monoxide (CO) was reduced respectively by 7.8 and 16.7%.

In order to understand the current state of data sharing in observational research studies, we reviewed data sharing statements of observational studies published in a general medical journal, the British Medical Journal. We found that the majority (63%) of observational studies published between 2015 and 2017 included a statement that implied that data used in the study could not be shared. If the findings of our exploratory study are confirmed, room for improvement in the sharing of real-world or observational research data exists.

This article presents a mathematical formulation of the optimization problem of loading unit formation taking into account the mass of packaging units. Proposed model can be applied to optimize the arrangement of non-uniform cubical loading units in loading spaces. The model ensures possibility of defining various dimensions, masses, resistances of particular packaging units and their vertical axis rotation. Within the constraints of formulating optimization problem, taking into account masses and resistances ensures that all packaging units will rest on a pallet or on other packaging units, and the surface of contact between loading units guarantees stability of units arranged in subsequent layers. The mathematical model was verified. The paper provides an appropriate calculation example.

The article describes the possibilities of LV microgrids operation in the island mode. Control strategies of energy sources connected to the grid by means of invertors are discussed, either for a microgrid connected to the supplying network or during the island mode operation. The presented results of research were conducted at the Laboratory of Distributed Generation at Lodz University of Technology. The study was performed for two variants of reference voltage source: the battery storage and microturbine respectively.

Paper presents features of simulation model of proecological transport system on the example of Poland. Model allows computational experimentation and inference on transport modal split and emission of pollution in national transport system. Particular elements of the model are characterized: transport networks for different modes, stock of vehicles, demand model for passenger and freight transport, and mechanism of material and passenger flows distribution into a network. Characteristics describing infrastructure, vehicles, and harmful compounds of exhaust gases are given. Model is implemented in PTV VISUM. Road and rail vehicles for passenger and freight transport are characterized and divided into groups according to types. The demand for transport services and emission of exhaust gases components are reflected in model of proecological transport system of Poland. The last part of paper presents exemplary results of research on estimating emission from transport activities.

The paper deals with the analysis of voltage harmonics measurements performed in the 400 kV transmission network. The voltage was measured by means of three transducers: resistive voltage divider, inductive measuring transformer and capacitive voltage measuring transformer. Instrument errors were estimated for measuring transformers with reference to the harmonic values obtained from the voltage divider.

Despite the widespread use of sonication for individualization of nanomaterials, its destructive nature is rarely acknowledged. In this study, we demonstrated how exposure of the material to a hostile sound wave environment can be limited by the application of another preprocessing step. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were initially ground in a household coffee grinder, which enabled facile deagglomeration thereof. Such a simple approach enabled us to obtain high-quality CNT dispersion at reduced sonication time. Most importantly, electrical conductivity of free-standing films prepared from these dispersion was improved almost fourfold as compared with unground material eventually reaching 1067 ± 34 S/cm. This work presents a new approach as to how electrical properties of nanocarbon ensembles may be enhanced without the application of doping agents, the presence of which is often ephemeral.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of heat treatment salmon quality using the sous-vide method (57 °C, 20 min and 63 °C, 80 min) in comparison with traditional methods (steam cooking, roasting). The yield of process and sensory quality (sensory profile, consumer liking) and the color and texture of salmon was measured. Salmon processed with the sous-vide method was characterized by a statistically significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher yield and water content than the samples prepared by steaming and roasting. Statistically higher (p ≤ 0.05) consumer preference for salmon prepared using higher parameters of the sous-vide process (63 °C, 80 min) compared with low parameters (57 °C, 20 min) was stated. Parameters of the sous-vide processing (57 °C, 20 min) have a negative effect on salmon quality. It was observed that as the temperature and time of the process increased, the intensity of the flavor and odor attributes of cooked fish also increased, while the intensity of raw fish, juiciness, tenderness, and softness decreased. The color of salmon also changed. Based on the results, we recommend the following parameters of process in preparing salmon using the sous-vide method: 63 °C for 80 min.

Intensified action aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and striving for energy self-sufficiency of both business entities and individual consumers are forcing the sustainable development of environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources. The development of an appropriate class of equipment and production technology is not without significance in this process. On the basis of a proven design for a combustion burner for ecological fuels, a new biofuel burner, also dedicated to prosumers’ energetics, was built. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the type of biofuel on a burner’s output parameters, especially gaseous emissions, during the combustion of four types of fuels, including three types of biomass. The combustion temperature was measured for lignite, wood pellets, straw pellets, and sunflower pellets. An analysis of exhaust gas composition was performed for lignite and wood pellets. The results of exhaust emissions and combustion temperatures were compared with the burners currently in use. The use of a new burner might contribute to cleaner combustion and reducing the emissions of some gaseous components.

The power sector is currently experiencing a dynamic transformation, resulting not only from EU directives, but also from current problems, mainly related to ensuring energy security for customers. For this reason, in Poland, it was decided that the model of electricity market operation needed to be changed. A dual market has been created, and a separated segment is the capacity market. This solution operates, in addition to other power mechanisms, in many European Union countries, e.g., in France, Great Britain, and Italy. The experience of these countries indicates the positive impact of the power market on various aspects of the power sector, such as legal, economic, technical and technological, social, and infrastructural aspects, mainly due to technological neutrality and open competition between power suppliers. The creation of the structure of an energy market drastically changes the rules of energy management, which requires investigations concerning the impact of those factors on the energy sector in Poland. The aim of this work is to examine the impact of the power market on the Polish power sector, and to determine the impact of individual consequences on several predefined areas. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was used. The purpose of a detailed analysis is to develop probable scenarios for the sustainable development of the Polish energy sector.

The effect of embodied energy on energetic effectiveness of biodiesel production is studied. Embodied energy, i.e. energy consumed for production of a technical device, is gradually consumed during the life time of that device. The amount of embodied energy consumed during individual agricultural operation affects the energetic effectiveness of that operation, as well as that for the whole production process. The embodied energy in agriculture is associated with the use of machinery , transportation means, fertilizes, etc. The paper estimates the effect of embodied energy in the rapeseed biodiesel production basing on computer modelling.

This study explores the utility of movement analysis technology as a means of contributing to a performance pedagogy informed in part by science. Two research questions were investigated: Can biomechanical skills needed for performance on the violin be accurately and objectively characterized and generalized? Can these data be used to inform performance pedagogy to maximize efficiencies and minimize injury? Movement analysis technology was used to study biomechanical phenomena associated with legato bowing on the violin. Results identified and described generalizable characteristics or markers among expert violinists, interactions between right shoulder and elbow, and three discrete tempo-dependent phases of motor control. Such markers may provide new ways of accurately identifying, assessing, and communicating when teaching. Results hold implications for factors related to overuse injuries and underscore the need for more systematic collaborative inquiry into performance pedagogy. (Contains 5 figures and 1 table.)

This study explored alternative approaches to young people's concerts aimed at extending musical appreciations and cultural understandings while promoting interest in concert attendance among upper elementary students. The project, an artistic and cross-cultural collaboration grounded in a spirit of mutual respect, consisted of three components: (1) concert; (2) instructional unit; and (3) action research. The concert was a "meeting place" of contemporary art music and contemporary native-American music; ancient Blackfoot mythology and contemporary dance and new media; and traditional Blackfoot dress and artifacts and those of contemporary North America. The instructional unit was designed to enable students to make connections between materials and processes used in the creation of the concert and those experienced in music classes. Research findings indicated that response to the concert was positive and the project was highly successful in promoting cultural understanding; however, data regarding the efficacy of the instructional unit were inconclusive. (Contains 2 tables and 3 notes.)

Dextran is widely exploited in medical products and as a component of drug-delivering nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we tested whether dextran can serve as the main substrate of NPs and form a stable backbone. We tested dextrans with several molecular masses under several synthesis conditions to optimize NP stability. The analysis of the obtained nanoparticles showed that dextran NPs that were synthesized from 70 kDa dextran with a 5% degree of oxidation of the polysaccharide chain and 50% substitution with dodecylamine formed a NP backbone composed of modified dextran subunits, the mean diameter of which in an aqueous environment was around 100 nm. Dextran NPs could be stored in a dry state and reassembled in water. Moreover, we found that different chemical moieties (e.g., drugs such as doxorubicin) can be attached to the dextran NPs via a pH-dependent bond that allows release of the drug with lowering pH. We conclude that dextran NPs are a promising nano drug carrier.

In the 1980s, when computers became affordable for private households, a hacker or cracking scene, which was the term used by members of this subculture, developed in several western and northwestern European countries. These (almost exclusively male) groups of adolescents ‘cracked’, copied and exchanged computer games. On the basis of magazines and published interviews with former members of this scene, this article shows how cracking became an important current in the broad spectrum of teenage subculture – with specific ethical codes and rituals of masculinity. Its members were by no means lone specialists who eschewed contact with the outside world, but rather developed their own forms of community and communication. This scene did not construe itself as a political counter-culture; it was rather part of the diversifying popular and consumer culture of the 1980s. In the early 1990s, when law enforcing agencies began to prosecute software piracy more resolutely, this computer subculture began to fade. However, it lived on in the field of computer graphics, in electronic music and in the growing IT sector. ∗ ∗ ∗ In den 1980er-Jahren, als Computer auch für den privaten Gebrauch erschwinglich wurden, entstand in mehreren west- und nordeuropäischen Ländern eine „Hacker“- oder (der damaligen Selbstbezeichnung folgend) „Cracking“-Szene, die Computerspiele kopierte und tauschte. Anhand von Magazinen und publizierten Interviews der Akteure wird gezeigt, dass diese Szene zu einer wichtigen Strömung im Spektrum jugendlicher Subkulturen wurde – mit spezifischen Leitbildern und (Männlichkeits-)Ritualen. Ihre Mitglieder waren nicht etwa einsame Nerds, sondern entwickelten eigene Gemeinschafts- und Kommunikationsformen. Diese Szene verstand sich nicht als eine politische Gegenkultur; sie war vielmehr Teil der sich ausdifferenzierenden Populär- und Konsumkultur der 1980er-Jahre. Ab etwa 1990, als Software-Piraterie stärker verfolgt wurde, trat die Computer-Subkultur in den Hintergrund, wirkte jedoch nach – im Bereich der Computergrafik, in der elektronischen Musik und der wachsenden IT-Branche.

Radoslaw Wasiak,1 Anna Filonenko,2 David J Vanness,3 Kim U Wittrup-Jensen,2 Donald E Stull,1 Steven Siak,1 Ian Fraser41Centre for Health Economics and Science Policy, United BioSource Corporation, London, United Kingdom; 2Global Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Berlin, Germany; 3University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaBackground: The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of estradiol valerate-dienogest (E2V/DNG; Qlaira®/Natazia®) on work productivity and activities of daily living in European and Australian women with heavy menstrual bleeding.Methods: Women aged 18–54 years with a confirmed diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding and no recognizable pathology were recruited across nine European countries (the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, The Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, UK, and Ukraine) and Australia. The women were randomized to receive either E2V/DNG (n = 149) or placebo (n = 82) for seven treatment cycles (196 days). The outcomes assessed included work productivity (ie, productivity while at work) and activities of daily living, measured on a Likert scale from 0 to 10 (with higher values denoting higher impairment levels) at baseline and at the end of the third and seventh cycles (days 84 and 196). The equivalent monetary value associated with the changes in work productivity and activities of daily living was also calculated.Results: Across all the countries, greater improvements from baseline to the end of treatment were observed with E2V/DNG treatment than placebo in work productivity (46.0% versus 15.1%) and activities of daily living (55.6% versus 30.8%). In 2008, savings associated with improvements in work productivity and activities of daily living due to E2V/DNG treatment (net of placebo improvement) were estimated to be between US$22–62 and US$18–56 per month (in purchasing power parity of US$), respectively.Conclusion: E2V/DNG has a consistent positive impact on work productivity and activities of daily living in European and Australian women with heavy menstrual bleeding. These improvements were associated with a reduction in monetary burden of heavy menstrual bleeding compared with the placebo group, consistent with the response to treatment observed.Keywords: heavy menstrual bleeding, work productivity, activities of daily living, estradiol valerate, and dienogest

Immunotherapy with dendritic cells (DC) may constitute a new and advantageous option for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who respond to therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), but do not reach complete cytogenetic or molecular remission. In this study, we evaluated the immunophenotype of DC generated from monocytes (Mo-DC) of patients with CML and the influence of TKI therapy on the results of CML-DC generation. We also measured the percentages of T regulatory cells (Tregs) as well as Th17 cells in 19 untreated patients suffering from CML, and in 28 CML patients treated with TKI. We found that DC can be reliably generated from the peripheral blood CD14+ cells of untreated CML patients. But we observed a persistent expression of CD14 monocyte marker on DC from CML patients, together with lower percentages of Mo-DC with expression of CD1a (p = 0.002), CD80 (p = 0.0005), CD83 (p = 0.0004), and CD209 (p = 0.02) compared to healthy donors. There was an adverse correlation between WBC count and the percentage of Mo-DC with co-expression of CD80 and CD86 (R = –0.63; p = 0.03). In patients treated with TKI, we observed higher efficacy of DC generation in seven-day cultures, compared to untreated patients. Expression of CD209 on DC was higher in patients treated with TKI (0.02). The duration of TKI therapy correlated adversely with MFI for CD1a (R = –0.49; p = 0.006) and positively with MFI for CD83 (R = 0.63; p = 0.01). Percentages of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ cells (p = 0.0002) and Th17 cells (p = 0.02) were significantly higher in untreated CML patients compared to healthy controls. There was a significant correlation between the percentage of Treg cells and the percentage of peripheral blood basophiles (R = 0.821; p = 0.02). There were no changes in Tregs or Th17 cell percentages in CML patients after six months of TKI therapy. However, the expression of intracellular IL-17 in Th17 cells correlated negatively with the time of TKI therapy in the whole group of treated patients (R = –0.516; p = 0.04). We noted a correlation between IL-6 serum level and peripheral blood WBC count (R = 0.492; p = 0.04). There was also an inverse correlation between the serum level of IL-6 and the duration of TKI therapy (R = –0.66; p = 0.03). Taken together, our data shows that mature DC can be generated from CML patients treated with TKI, and that the yield of Mo-DC is higher in patients treated with TKI than in patients with active disease. This should encourage further trials with DC immunotherapy in patients with cytogenetic response after TKI therapy. We also found increased frequencies of T regulatory and Th17 cells in CML patients, which might suggest their potential role in immunity against this disease. Further studies are needed to determine if manipulation of these cell populations might improve the results of DC immunotherapy. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 153–160)

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the commonest histological type of malignant lymphoma, andremains incurable in many cases. Developing more efficient immunotherapy strategies will require betterunderstanding of the disorders of immune responses in cancer patients. NKT (natural killer-like T) cells wereoriginally described as a unique population of T cells with the co-expression of NK cell markers. Apart fromtheir role in protecting against microbial pathogens and controlling autoimmune diseases, NKT cells havebeen recently revealed as one of the key players in the immune responses against tumors. The objective of thisstudy was to evaluate the frequency of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells in the peripheral blood of 28 diffuse largeB-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients in correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters. Median percentagesof CD3+/CD16+CD56+ were significantly lower in patients with DLBCL compared to healthy donors(7.37% vs. 9.01%, p = 0.01; 4.60% vs. 5.81%, p = 0.03), although there were no differences in absolute counts.The frequency and the absolute numbers of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells were lower in advanced clinical stagesthan in earlier ones. The median percentage of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells in patients in Ann Arbor stages 1–2 was5.55% vs. 3.15% in stages 3–4 (p = 0.02), with median absolute counts respectively 0.26 G/L vs. 0.41 G/L (p == 0.02). The percentage and absolute numbers of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells were significantly higher in DL-BCL patients without B-symptoms compared to the patients with B-symptoms, (5.51% vs. 2.46%, p = 0.04;0.21 G/L vs. 0.44 G/L, p = 0.04). The percentage of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells correlated adversely with serumlactate dehydrogenase (R= –445; p < 0.05) which might influence NKT count. These figures suggest a relationshipbetween higher tumor burden and more aggressive disease and decreased NKT numbers. But it remains tobe explained whether low NKT cell counts in the peripheral blood of patients with DLBCL are the result of theirsuppression by the tumor cells, or their migration to affected lymph nodes or organs.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the commonest histological type of malignant lymphoma, and remains incurable in many cases. Developing more efficient immunotherapy strategies will require better understanding of the disorders of immune responses in cancer patients. NKT (natural killer-like T) cells were originally described as a unique population of T cells with the co-expression of NK cell markers. Apart from their role in protecting against microbial pathogens and controlling autoimmune diseases, NKT cells have been recently revealed as one of the key players in the immune responses against tumors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells in the peripheral blood of 28 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients in correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters. Median percentages of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ were significantly lower in patients with DLBCL compared to healthy donors (7.37% vs. 9.01%, p = 0.01; 4.60% vs. 5.81%, p = 0.03), although there were no differences in absolute counts. The frequency and the absolute numbers of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells were lower in advanced clinical stages than in earlier ones. The median percentage of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells in patients in Ann Arbor stages 1–2 was 5.55% vs. 3.15% in stages 3–4 (p = 0.02), with median absolute counts respectively 0.26 G/L vs. 0.41 G/L (p = = 0.02). The percentage and absolute numbers of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells were significantly higher in DL -BCL patients without B-symptoms compared to the patients with B-symptoms, (5.51% vs. 2.46%, p = 0.04; 0.21 G/L vs. 0.44 G/L, p = 0.04). The percentage of CD3+/CD16+CD56+ cells correlated adversely with serum lactate dehydrogenase (R= –445; p < 0.05) which might influence NKT count. These figures suggest a relationship between higher tumor burden and more aggressive disease and decreased NKT numbers. But it remains to be explained whether low NKT cell counts in the peripheral blood of patients with DLBCL are the result of their suppression by the tumor cells, or their migration to affected lymph nodes or organs. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 183–187)

This paper examines dynamics surrounding the negotiation and articulation of the body-technology relationship necessarily characterizing the experience of being-in-the-city. Nowhere is everyday experience more mediated by technology than in the city. Being-in-the-city involves being embodied by technology at levels ran-ging from micro to macro. Despite the fact that technologies are constantly evolving in city space, relations with technology tend to become quickly normalized - mundane - transparent. Given this normalization as well as the sheer pervasiveness of technology in constituting city space it is important to examine the ways in which technology comes to shape the experiential contexts of everyday life. In urban space, technologies result is new sights to be seen, sounds to be heard, smells to be smelt, textures to be felt, as well as altogether new modes of experiencing the everyday. In exploring the dynamics surrounding the ongoing, multi-layered negotiation and articulation of the body-technology relationship necessarily characterizing the experience of being-in-the-city a phenomenological perspective is adopted. Heidegger's writing on technology, Merleau-Ponty's wri-ting on embodiment and perception, and Don Ihde's writing on the body and technology contribute to a theoretical framework for a phenomenological examination of the experiential implications of being-in-the-city, a technological ecology.

We present a case report of patient with intracranial chondrosarcoma and attempt to use vaccination of dendritic cells as the salvage therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of DCs vaccination in the head and neck chondrosarcoma. Immunotherapy with allogeneic DCs stimulated with tumor cell lysates in this case was demonstrated to be feasible, safe and well tolerated. Unfortunately we did not observe any clinical or immune response during vaccination. CD4+ and CD8+ regulatory cells could be responsible for ineffectiveness of immunotherapy.

The model, developed earlier, have been designed to the studies of energy gain in the biofuels production, as compared to the sum of energy inputs on various production steps, and in processes enabling biomass conversion to energy. The present paper shows application of that model towards estimation of the contribution of energy used for commuting between agricultural production sites for a chosen example of plantation’s topological characteristics. Algorithm for computations is elaborated, and numerical example is shown. The sizes of the fields as well as distances between them determine the amount of energy spend for the agricultural work in addition to the tillage technologies being applied.

Energetic efficiency of biofuel production systems, as well as that of other fuels production systems, can be evaluated on the basis of modified EROEI indicator. In earlier papers, a new definition of the EROEI indicator was introduced. This approach enables the determination of this indicator separately for individual subsystems of a chosen production system, and therefore enables the studies of the influence of every subsystem on the energetic efficiency of the system as a whole. The method has been applied to the analysis of interactions between agricultural, internal transport subsystems, as well as preliminary studies of the effect of industrial subsystem.