Inne

The goal of this study was to evaluate the activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the levels of glutathione (GSH) and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), as potential markers in different histopathologic types of pediatric neoplasms. No studies on this subject have been reported to date.

Gastric cancer is characterized by varying secretion of mucus. Mucin producing gastric carcinoma (MUC) is thought to be a histological subtype with a worse prognosis. The aim of this study was to compare the clinicopathological differences between MUC and other types of gastric carcinoma without secretion of mucus (NMUC).

Lysosomal exoglycosidases, such as α-mannosidases (MAN) and β-galactosidases (GAL), are found in different glycoside hydrolase sequence-based families. Considerable research has proved plays the role of MAN, which play a key role in the modification and diversification of hybrid N-glycans, processes with strong cellular links to cancer. Therefore the study aim was to investigate the activities of MAN and GAL in larynx cancer compared to controls.

Several epidemiological studies have attempted to demonstrate a relationship between increased serum level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and an augmented risk of developing colorectal cancers (CRC). The human IGF-1 gene is composed of 6 exons and demonstrated expression of 6 different splice variants (isoforms) of mRNA (IA, IB, IC, IIA, IIB and IIC).The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of different isoforms of IGF-1 mRNA in CRC and normal colon tissue.

The need to establish conditions for safe irradiation was noted in Poland back in 1986 in the Atomic Law, but for over 16 years no regulations regarding this aspect were passed. The radiological incident in Bialystok (Poland) in 2001 undeniably accelerated the implementation of new legal regulations. Nevertheless, in the absence of national guidelines until 2002, most health care institutions resorted to the quality management system (QMS) model proposed by the ISO norm 9001:2000. Eventually, practice proved the theory and the aforementioned model was also implemented into Polish acts of law defining basic requirements for QMS in radiotherapy.

Acromegaly is a chronic disease caused by the excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH), and as a result, of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Untreated, the condition reduces the patients’ life expectancy and leads to a series of complications, among which an increased risk of carcinogenesis is considered most important.

The term proteomics was used for the first time in 1995 to describe large-scale protein analyses. At the same time proteomics was distinguished as a new domain of the life sciences. The major object of proteomic studies is the proteome, i.e. the set of all proteins accumulating in a given cell, tissue or organ. During the last years several new methods and techniques have been developed to increase the fidelity and efficacy of proteomic analyses. The most widely used are two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and mass spectrometry (MS).

W European Journal of Cancer zaprezentowano wyniki randomizowanego badania III fazy, w którym oceniano skuteczność nowego nieinwazyjnego przenośnego urządzenia, stosowanego do leczenia chorych na glejaka wielopostaciowego w porównaniu do chemioterapii.

Aim of the study : The purpose of this study is to investigate the complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) usage and the factors affecting this among cancer patients in the western region of Turkey. 220 adult cancer patients participated in the study and 93 patients (42.3%) were found to use at least one CAM method. Material and methods : Our study was done by face-to-face communication in a university hospital, in Turkey. Oncology patients’ primary diseases, sociodemographic characteristics, complementary alternative medicine usage, psychological conditions and quality of life were evaluated with proper psychological scales. Patients using and not using CAM were compared with respect to Beck Depression, State Trait Anxiety and Beck Hopelessness scores. No statistically significant difference was detected between/among the groups in BDI (12.0 ±8.4, 11.9 ±8.7, p = 0.96), BHS (5.5 ±4.9, 4.8 ±4.4, p = 0.27) or STAI (43.7 ±8.0, 44.3 ±8.2, p = 0.64) scores. Patients using and not using CAM were compared with respect to WHOQOL-BREF quality of life scores. There was no statistically significant difference between/among the groups in WHOQOL-BREF sub-group scores (physical, psychological, social relations, environment, standardized by culture (environment), general health). Results : Nearly half of the patients (42.3%) in this region were found to be using at least one of the CAM methods. The patients mostly preferred herbal methods, with the leading product being stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). The severity of disease (recurrence and dissemination) and patients’ knowledge of the diagnoses were the most important factors affecting the CAM usage. Conclusions : The usage of CAM by oncology patients and the effects of CAM on the present medication prescribed by oncology practitioners must be remembered when they are admitted to polyclinics. Also it must be known that patients with advanced stage and patients with recurrence are more likely to use complementary alternative medications than early stage patients. Therefore oncology patients must be informed about CAM besides their clinical situations. At least physicians should give answers about the CAM to their patients.

Aim of the study : To analyse practical aspects of implementing the Personal Data Security Management System (PDSMS) in an oncology centre based on applicable legal requirements and professional standards. Material and methods : The research method is based on the analysis of legal documents, quality standards, analysis of progress in the achievement of objectives of the PDSMS based on interviews with heads of units and on review of data protection documentation. Results : The implementation of the PDSMS has caused the processed data to be adequately protected, minimised the risk of such data being used in a manner incompatible with their purpose, while ensuring the hospital’s compliance with applicable legal regulations. Conclusions : The implementation of the PDSMS has required technical and organisational measures to be taken in the centre’s organisational units, in particular appointing data protection officers, engaging staff in the data protection process by awarding them with authorisations to process data and familiarising them with securities that have been put in place.

A whole range of complex interactions develops between growing malignant neoplastic cells and non-malignant stromal elements of a tumour. The tumour microenvironment includes a number of interrelated elements: fibroblasts, macrophages and dendritic cells, endo­thelial cells, pericytes, inflammatory cells and extracellular matrix components. All these elements are actively involved in tumour growth and progression and angiogenesis, and can either promote or inhibit these processes. Understanding of the relationship between the various components of the tumour microenvironment and tumour cells may allow the introduction of combination drug therapy having different target points which gives hope of reducing the doses of medicines, and thus reducing their toxicity while increasing their efficiency.

Nowadays, diagnostics enables detection of cancer-related mutations. It concerns germline mutations as well as de novo mutations. The number of genetics tests available for specific tumors increase incessantly. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are high-penetrant genes, but still their functions and mechanisms leading to cancer caused by their mutations remain unknown. Germline alterations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 sequences are related to hereditary breast cancer syndrome (HBC), hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC), hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome (HOC). Primary and secondary tumors prevention and choice of the best treatment are the benefits of the detection of BRCA2 mutations. Research on correlation between the tumor phenotype and the type of mutation is continuously performed. This research may have an impact on the development of more effective drugs.

Opisywany przypadek dotyczy pacjenta z zaawansowanym nowotworem o nieznanym umiejscowieniu pierwotnym, u którego pomyślnie przeprowadzono zamianę morfiny o kontrolowanym uwalnianiu (CR) na oksykodon CR. Mężczyznę, lat 71, przyjęto do hospicjum domowego ze względu na przerzuty nowotworowe do kości i szyjnych węzłów chłonnych po zastosowaniu radioterapii paliatywnej. Pacjent uskarżał się głównie na silny ból (o natężeniu 6–8 w skali NRS) w obrębie szyi i odcinku piersiowym kręgosłupa. Ból był oporny na tramadol, który zastąpiono przezskórnym fentanylem oraz morfiną CR w dawce dobowej ustalonej ostatecznie na 240 mg (40 mg w bólu przebijającym). Inną dolegliwością zgłaszaną przez pacjenta były zaparcia. Leczenie morfiną przerwano, a następnie wdrożono oksykodon CR w dawce 80 mg dwa razy na dobę. Po upływie 6 tygodni dawkę zwiększono do 100 mg dwa razy na dobę, osiągając zadowalający efekt przeciwbólowy (3–4 w skali NRS). Podczas przyjmowania oksykodonu CR nie stwierdzono istotnych działań niepożądanych. U pacjenta pomyślnie kontynuowano ustalony schemat leczenia aż do wystąpienia epizodu drgawkowego na skutek przerzutów nowotworowych do mózgu i skierowania pacjenta na oddział szpitalny w celu dalszego leczenia.

Calcineurin inhibitors (CI), such as tacrolimus and cyclosporin A (CSA), are routinely used for prophylaxis and therapy of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and solid organ transplantation. Neurotoxicity is a well-known side effect of calcineurin inhibitor therapy with multifactorial pathogenesis. In this paper we report the clinical and radiological features of CI-induced cerebral complications in four paediatric patients after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The most common symptoms in this series of patients were seizures and disturbances of consciousness. Abnormalities in neuroimaging suggested CI-induced leukoencephalopathy or reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome or showed cerebral haemorrhage. Other possible causes of neurological complications, such as delayed cyclosporin A toxicity, post-transplant microangiopathy, hypertension or thrombocytopenia are discussed. We also present a review of the literature of tacrolimus-induced neurotoxicity in children. So far, 47 case reports of children and adolescents up to 21 years of age with tacrolimus-induced encephalopathy have been described in the literature. The clinical features of tacrolimus-induced leukoencephalopathy in children are similar to those reported in adults.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a life-threatening complication and the number of patients at risk is increasing over time. In the majority of patients Epstein-Barr virus-related PTLD (EBV-PTLD) is diagnosed with a histological picture of B-cell lymphoma. In 2009 recommendations for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of patients with EBV-PTLD were published. Definitions of preemptive treatment and therapy of probable or proven PTLD were introduced. Results of preemptive treatment and therapy of documented PTLD are discussed in this paper, with the emphasis on monoclonal antibody anti-CD20 rituximab effectiveness and indications for its applications. A comprehensive review of reported cases of PTLD and summary of results indicate that rituximab in monotherapy or in combination treatment is successful in 63% of confirmed PTLD cases and in 89% when used preemptively. Still, an analysis of factors determining the response to therapy is lacking.

Anticancer therapy has multiple, sometimes life-threatening side effects, and their influence on bone is not seen as important. Data have been published confirming the existence of side effects chemotherapy has on bone, which affect patients’ quality of life. They influence a bone tissue not only in a direct way, but also when suppressing the activity of gonads. We have no information on the impact of drugs on bone belonging to the “targeted therapies”. There are, however, some attempts to create antibodies that target proteins involved in bone physiology. Relatively well known is the impact of anti-cancer hormone therapy on bone metabolism. The most commonly used drugs in this type of therapy are: analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), aromatase inhibitors and antiandrogens. A group of preparations particularly connected with this issue is the bisphosphonates, entering into interaction both with bone cells and colonizing tumour cells.

To determine the stability of fludarabine phosphate in concentrate in glass containers and diluted with sodium chloride 0.9% in polyethylene (PE) bags. Fludarabine phosphate, both undiluted in glass containers and diluted with NaCl 0.9% in PE bags, remains stable (< 10% degradation) for at least 15 days at room and refrigerator temperature.

Cytogenetic investigations play an important role in the diagnosis of lymphomas. One of the recurrent aberrations in T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (T-NHL) is a loss of the suppressor gene CDKN2A (9p21). The loss of this region is not seen in the karyotype; this deletion is submicroscopic in most cases. Deletion of 9p21 was found in 29% (n = 55) of patients with T-NHL. Loss of CDKN2A was observed in 11 (55%) out of 20 cases with T-LBL/ALL, in 2 (33%) out of 6 with T-LGL and in 3 (20%) out of 15 patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). Patients with MF, SS, primary cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphomas and other sporadic subtypes of peripheral T-cell lymphomas did not show deletion of this region. In studied lymphomas with deletion we observed a heterogeneous signal pattern in most cases (over 81%). Analysis of the signal pattern of CDKN2A deletion showed clones with mono- and biallelic deletion in cells with variable ploidy. Probably, this phenomenon is related to concurrent incidence of cells which are in different stages of neoplastic transformation.

W 1999 r. system INTRABEAM® uzyskał certyfikaty FDA i CE, potwierdzające dopuszczenie systemu do stosowania w radioterapii wszystkich rodzajów nowotworów litych. System INTRABEAM® jest obecnie stosowany głównie w radioterapii śródoperacyjnej (IORT).

Utrata włosów spowodowana chemioterapią stanowi poważny problem natury psychologicznej chorych leczonych z powodu nowotworów złośliwych. Autor publikacji przedstawia przegląd badań klinicznych oceniających skuteczność m.in. hipotermii i elektrotrichogenezy zastosowanych w celu zapobiegania utraty włosów w następstwie chemioterapii.