TP53 codon 72 polymorphism and cervical cancer: a pooled analysis of individual data from 49 studies.

Background: Cervical cancer is caused primarily by human papillomaviruses (HPV). The polymorphism rs1042522 at codon 72 of the TP53 tumour-suppressor gene has been investigated as a genetic cofactor. More than 80 studies were done between 1998 and 2006, after it was initially reported that women who are homozygous for the arginine allele had a risk for cervical cancer seven times higher than women who were heterozygous for the allele.

[The prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes in clinical and commensal strains of Enterococcus faecalis isolated in Gdańsk].

The common use of antibiotics is responsible for selecting of drug resistance not only in pathogenic, clinical bacteria but also in commensal, not pathogenic strains which could cause the rapid dissemination of the resistance to these antibacterial agents. However, information regarding the antibiotic resistance of commensal bacteria is very scarce, and the data is based mostly on phenotypical research. Therefore the use of genotyping methods for detection of tetracycline resistance genes, in commensal and medical isolates of bacteria, is essential, for understanding the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Genetic variability of hepatitis B virus isolates in Poland.

There is very limited knowledge about the genetic variability of HBV strains circulating in the population of Polish chronically infected HBV patients. The aim of this study was to analyse the phylogenetic relatedness and polymorphism in some functional domains of HBV genome among chronically infected patients from northern Poland. Fifty-one serum samples were included to analysis of HBV genomes due to the viral load sufficient for DNA preparation and sequencing.

Evaluation of Fas gene promoter polymorphism in cervical cancer patients.

Transduction of signalling through Fas receptor has been implicated in physiological regulation of apoptosis process as well as pathogenesis of various human diseases. The gene encoding Fas receptor contains single nucleotide polymorphism at -670 position, which influences the expression by different transcriptional efficiency of this gene. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of -670 A/G Fas gene promoter polymorphism in cervical cancer patients and healthy control group in Poland in order to evaluate the potential association between Fas genotype and cervical carcinogenesis.

Distribution of HBV genotypes and mutants among hepatitis B infected patients from northern Poland.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major global epidemiological problems. The aim of our study was to determine the distribution of HBV genotypes in Poland since the data concerning the spread of HBV viruses in the central-eastern region of Europe is still very limited. HBV DNA was extracted from 58 serum samples.

HPV detection in cervical cancer patients in northern Poland.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with various benign and malignant lesions including genital condyloma and anogenital cancer. Epidemiological data show that about 90% of all cervical cancer patients are HPV positive. The aim of our study was to determine the percentage of HPV infections in Polish population of examined women.