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Fountains are decorative elements that improve the attractiveness and visual qualities of urban environments. They can give refreshment to residents on a hot, sunny day. Despite the prohibitions on bathing in these facilities people often have contact with fountain water. It should be emphasized that poor quality of water from fountains can be dangerous for human health. This study was aimed at evaluating microbial contamination of water in Krakow fountains (fountain from Szczepański Square, fountain on the Groble Square, "Chopin" fountain near the philharmonic, "Stone" fountain on the Maria Magdalena Square and the fountain on the Main Market Square). Microbiological analyses were conducted to determine the total number of microorganisms at 36±2°C after 48 hours (mesophilic bacteria) and the total number of microorganisms at 22±2°C after 74 hours (psychrophilic bacteria). In addition, the coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli and Closridium perfringens were also examined. The results have shown a high degree of microbiological contaminants in the tested water samples. The lowest contamination of water was observed in the fountain on the Szczepański Square and in nozzle water from the fountain on the Groble Square. The highest numbers of bacteria were found in "Stone" fountain at the Maria Magdalena Square. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a significant source of macro -- and microelements, necessary for the proper functioning of a human body. The purpose of this article was to analyze the quality of the selected bottled waters available on the Polish market in terms of the physico-chemical parameters (pH, conductivity, chloride ions, bromide ions), macroelements (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium) and trace elements (lead, nickel, antimony, arsenic). 17 brands of the bottled waters available on the Polish market were investigated within the study presented in the article (8 natural mineral waters, 6 spring waters and 3 therapeutic waters). The bottled waters, which were analyzed in the article, characterized with a large diversity of chemical composition. In two samples of therapeutic waters the permissible concentration of nickel was exceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chlorine disinfectants are used to disinfect swimming pool water; in reaction with compounds dissolved in water, they cause the formation of many new substances, which are the disinfection by-products. Inorganic chloramines (mono-, di-, and trichloramine) also belong to this group of problematic substances. In a case of mono- and dichloramine, their negative effect on swimmers’ health has not been observed; however trichloramine can cause skin and eye irritation, as well as cause inflammation of the airways, potentially also asthma. The article presents the dynamics of trichloramine formation from the nitrogen compounds that are introduced into the pool water along with body fluids such as urea, creatinine, glycine, histidine, arginine, uric acid, hippuric acid, and ammonia. Beside the individual human body fluids, their mixture and the sample of swimming pool water were also studied. These studies were conducted for 1–79 h. The research results showed that the dynamics of trichloramine formation differ for particular compounds. Urea, creatinine, ammonia as well as hippuric acid react slowly with chlorine; however trichloramine concentration in water remains at a similar level in up to 6 h. In the case of arginine, despite the rapid depletion of free chlorine, trichloramine concentration remained high up to 24 h of incubation. Glycine, histidine, and uric acid are precursors, for which trichloramine was formed with the highest rate in the first hour of observation, after which the concentration of both trichloramine and free chlorine dropped rapidly. The studies have shown the other compounds present in swimming pool water can reduce the reactivity of free chlorine, and in the consequence the smaller formation potential for trichloramine occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A potential reason for poor survivalamong patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in Poland is initial disqualification from curative treatment due to advanced stage of the disease or low performance status. The aim of this study was to describe patterns of care in patients with newly diagnosed MIBC. This is a multicentre retrospective cohort study involving 296 consecutive patients with primary histologically diagnosed MIBC. Therapeutic decisions and potentially underlying clinical factors were analysed. Full clinical data was available for 285 patients. One hundred and sixty-four (57.5%) patients were qualified for radical cystectomy (RC), 32 (11.2%) patients for a second step of transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT) intentionally followed by systemic chemotherapy, four (1.4%) patients after complete TURBT were qualified for adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy only, while the remaining 85 (29.8%) patients were qualified for palliative treatment in the form of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and/or best supportive care. Patients disqualified from curative treatment were older (78 vs. 69 years, p < 0.02), had lower BMI values (24.5 vs. 25.7 kg/m2, p < 0.02), lower haemoglobin concentration (11.6 vs. 12.9 mg/l, p < 0.02), declared lower rate of nicotine abuse (50.5% vs. 72.1%, p < 0.02), and had a shorter time interval between first symptom and diagnosis (30 vs. 60 days, p = 0.02). As the majority of Polish patients with primary MIBC receive curative treatment, the stage of the disease alone seems not to be the leading cause of poor survival. However, appropriateness of qualification for RC and treatment quality needs to be assessed for final conclusion on the factors influencing outcomes of treatment in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Preoperative identification of high-grade bladder cancer presence can optimize patient management. The aim of this study was to assess the association between preoperative pyuria and the pathological features of bladder cancer., Material and Methods: This retrospective analysis enrolled 943 patients undergoing transurethral resection of a bladder tumor. Patients were divided into two study groups based on the presence of pyuria in preoperative urine analysis, defined as the presence of >5 leukocytes in the high power field. Pyuria status as a potential predictive factor was then confronted with pathological features based on standard microscopic examination of the surgical specimen., Results: Among 943 recruited patients, 294 (31.2%) presented with pyuria. Patients with pyuria were older (71 vs. 68 years, p <0.05), had higher rates of large (≥3 cm) tumors (37% vs. 26%, p <0.05), and more frequently presented concomitant hematuria (58% vs. 24%, p <0.05). In case of recurrent tumors patients with pyuria more often received intravesical chemotherapy in the past (4.8% vs. 1.4%, p <0.05). Regarding oncological data, patients with pyuria had significantly higher tumor stage and grade. On multivariable analysis pyuria was independently associated with high-grade tumors (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.45-2.67). Specificity and negative predictive value of pyuria as a biomarker of high-grade tumors were 76% and 68%, respectively., Conclusions: Preoperative pyuria can be regarded as a predictor of the presence of high-grade bladder carcinoma in patients with bladder tumors., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright by Polish Urological Association.)

Keloid disease is the abnormal formation of scar tissue in genetically predisposed people. Among many genes which may be related to the development of keloids, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is one of the most mentioned. It encodes cytokinin, which is responsible for the production of extracellular matrix and takes part in healing. Any abnormalities which arise during synthesis of the protein as a result of polymorphism or gene mutation may be the cause of healing disorders (scarring of the body); thus it is responsible for the development of keloids. The objective of this study is to determine the single nucleotide polymorphism of the gene TGF-β1, at the position -509(rs1800469)509, to compare the obtained results in the form of three different genotypes within the analysed group (keloids) and within the control group (healthy scars), and to analyse the correlation between obtained genotypes and the occurrence of keloid disease. Seventy-three patients after cardiac surgery with scars on their sternums were examined (22 women and 51 men) in the age group from 38 to 84 years. Two groups of patients were distinguished: 37 with keloids and 36 with healthy scars. DNA taken from patients was analysed and polymorphism C(-509)T of the gene TGF-β1 was determined. On the basis of the study it was found that the allele T in the position -509 of the gene TGF-β1 is associated with a lower risk of keloid formation regardless of age and gender.