Changes in energetic metabolism and lysosomal destruction in the skeletal muscle and cardiac tissues of pigeons (Columba livia f. urbana) from urban areas of the northern Pomeranian region (Poland).

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biochemical responses of the skeletal muscle and cardiac tissues of the urban pigeon as a bioindicator organism tested in diverse environments (Szpęgawa as a rural environment and Słupsk as an urban environment, Pomeranian Voivodeship, northern Poland), resulting in changes in the level of lipid peroxidation at the initial and final stages of this process and the activities of Krebs cycle enzymes (succinate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and alfa-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase). Szpęgawa village was chosen due to the intensive use of the European motorway A1 with significant traffic and pollution levels. The concentration of Pb was higher in the soil and feathers of pigeons nesting in the polluted areas (Szpęgawa).

Profile of Heavy Metals and Antioxidant Defense in the Muscle Tissues of Pigeons (Columba livia f. urbana) from Anthropogenically Transformed Areas in the Pomeranian Region (Northern Poland).

Pigeons can be successfully used as bioindicators of a contaminated environment. We studied the relationship between the functioning of the pro/antioxidant balance in muscle tissues (skeletal muscle and cardiac tissues) of pigeons (Columba livia f. urbana) living in areas with different levels of pollution (Pomeranian Voivodeship, Northern Poland).

Estimation of oral leukoplakia treatment records in the research of the Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk.

Introduction: Oral leukoplakia (OL) is the most common potentially malignant lesion of the oral cavity.

Aim: The purpose of the study was clinical and epidemiological analysis of patients with OL diagnosed and treated in the Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk, comparison of effectiveness of treatment methods, defining whether van der Waal level of OL influences treatment effectiveness, correlation between localization of OL and treatment effectiveness, and defining the optimal OL therapeutic method.

Material And Methods: Among 55 911 patients diagnosed and treated in the Department in the years 1999-2009, 204 people with OL were selected (104 women, 100 men, average age: 58.

Tobacco smoking alters the number of oral epithelial cells with apoptotic features.

Tobacco smoking is a global problem associated with the occurrence of many systemic diseases and tumors. Oral cavity tumors are common tobacco-related cancers, and of all the anatomical structures that are exposed to the effects of smoking, the oral cavity remains the least-explored area. Changes that occur in the biology of oral epithelial keratinocytes under the influence of the components of tobacco smoke often go unnoticed, if they are asymptomatic.