Evaluation of tolerance and toxicity of high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost combined with interstitial hyperthermia for prostate cancer.

Purpose The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the tolerance and early as well as late toxicity of high dose rate brachytherapy (HDRBT) boost combined with interstitial hyperthermia (IHT) in patients treated for prostate cancer. Material and methods Between January 2011 and June 2013 76 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer received treatment consisting of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), followed by a HDRBT boost combined with IHT. IHT was performed before each brachytherapy fraction.

A holistic approach to chronic pain management that involves all stakeholders: change is needed.

Chronic pain affects a large proportion of the population, imposing significant individual distress and a considerable burden on society, yet treatment is not always instituted and/or adequate. Comprehensive multidisciplinary management based on the biopsychosocial model of pain has been shown to be clinically effective and cost-efficient, but is not widely available. A literature review of stakeholder groups revealed many reasons for this, including: i) many patients believe healthcare professionals lack relevant knowledge, and consultations are rushed, ii) general practitioners consider that pain management has a low priority and is under-resourced, iii) pain specialists cite non-adherence to evidence-based treatment, sub-optimal prescribing, and chronic pain not being regarded as a disease in its own right, iv) nurses', pharmacists' and physiotherapists' skills are not fully utilized, and v) psychological therapy is employed infrequently and often too late.

"Bone-οn-Bone" surgical reconstruction of moderate severity, flexible single curve adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: continuing improvements of the technique and results in three scoliosis centers after almost twenty years of use.

The "bone-on-bone" reconstruction for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is reviewed in this article. Extensive use over the past 18 years has identified it's functional benefits outstanding clinical results, and very limited complications. This is an extensive update of it's application, since it's introduction, 18 years ago.

The Fate of Polish Psychiatry under German Occupation in World War II.

Polish psychiatry was since its origin deeply influenced by German (Austrian) and Russian psychiatry. As a larger part of the Polish territory had belonged to Germany or Austria before 1918, many institutions and staff in mental health had a German or Austrian history. During the occupation nearly all mental hospitals were taken over by the Germans, sometimes all the patients, sometimes part of them were murdered, and often the staff members were shot together with their patients.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy: neobladder or ileal conduit, debate still goes on.

Objective: To compare the pre, intra, and post-operative data between ileal conduit and neobladder urinary diversions during laparoscopic radical cystectomy(LRC).

Material And Methods: Between 2006 and 2011, 63 patients who underwent LRC and urinary diversion had their data input prospectively into a database and said data used for the analysis. The outcome comparators were the patient demographics, operative time, conversion rate, blood loss, transfusion rate, morphine analgesic requirement, length of hospital stay, complication rates, follow up, and quality of life assessments.

α-blockade, apoptosis, and prostate shrinkage: how are they related?

Purpose: The α1-adrenoreceptor antagonists, such as terazosin and doxazosin, induce prostate programmed cell death (apoptosis) within prostate epithelial and stromal cells in vitro. This treatment should cause prostate volume decrease, However, this has never been observed in clinical conditions. The aim of this paper is to review the disconnect between these two processes.

Chronic total occlusion in ostium of right coronary artery - retrograde approach as the first-choice method of revascularization?

Recanalization of chronic total occlusion (CTO) located in the ostium may require the operator's ability to use the retrograde approach. We present a case of opening a chronically occluded right coronary artery (RCA) by the retrograde approach after an unsuccessful attempt of recanalization by classic antegrade technique.

Novel A18T and pA29S substitutions in α-synuclein may be associated with sporadic Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Mutations in the α-synuclein-encoding gene SNCA are considered as a rare cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). Our objective was to examine the frequency of the SNCA point mutations among PD patients of Polish origin.

Methods: Detection of the known SNCA point mutations A30P (c.

Clinical outcome of arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral internal thoracic arteries in diabetic patients: a single centre experience.

Objectives: The use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITAs) grafting has been documented to be advantageous over left internal thoracic artery (LITA) grafting. It has been shown to significantly improve clinical outcomes and increase long-term survival in patients with diabetes. However, harvesting BITAs may result in a greater risk of superficial wound infection (SWI) or deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and cardiovascular complications (major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events; MACCE) in such a patient group.

Prevalence of monogenic diabetes amongst Polish children after a nationwide genetic screening campaign.

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to study dynamic changes in the prevalence of different types of diabetes in paediatric populations in Poland, with a specific focus on monogenic diabetes (MD).

Methods: Using epidemiologic data (PolPeDiab Collaboration) and nationwide genetic test results (TEAM Programme), we compared the prevalence of type 1, type 2 and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) and MD. Genetically confirmed MD included MODY, neonatal diabetes and Wolfram and Alström syndromes.

Vanadium compounds affect growth and morphology of human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells were incubated with four vanadium compounds: cations BMOV and vanadyl sulphate, and anions ortho- and metavanadate. Growth inhibition of RMS cells in the culture was determined by two staining methods: with N-hexamethylpararosaniline (crystal violet = CV) or bromide 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT). After 48 h incubation with 10-40 μM for NaVO3 or 20-40 μM for the other three vanadium salts, the results were statistically significantly lower (0.

Therapeutic results in stage I Wilms' tumors in children - 15 years of surgical experience.

Introduction: Progress in the therapeutic management of Wilms' tumors (WT) in children has resulted in the fact that presently, almost all children with stage I and favorable histology diseases have a chance for a cure.

The Aim Of The Study: The objective of the report is an analysis of therapeutic results in children with unilateral stage I Wilms' tumors depending on the extent of tumor resection.

Material And Methods: The analysis included children treated between 1993 and 2008 under the Polish Wilms' Tumor Study, initially following the protocol SIOP 93-01 (patients treated up to 2002) and subsequently SIOP 2001.

Multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of a patient with chondrodystrophic myotonia (Schwartz-Jampel vel Aberfeld syndrome): case report and literature review.

Chondrodystrophic myotonia, Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, is a rare congenital disorder, which results from disturbance in a perlecan protein synthesis. Most affected are the muscles, acting in generalized myotonia, leading to joint contractures, weird-looking mask-like face appearance, and causing vision disturbances. Also, impaired bones and cartilages result in skeletal anomalies and dental disorders.

Absence of the musculocutaneous nerve associated with a supernumerary head of biceps brachii: a case report.

Unusual neural and muscular variations in the right upper limb were noted during anatomical dissection of a 54-year-old male cadaver. The absence of the musculocutaneous nerve was correlated with a three-headed biceps brachii muscle. The distribution of muscular branches innervating the anterior compartment of the muscles of the arm was different to the cases described in literature hitherto.

Pediatric single port transumbilical nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy.

Objective: To present seven cases of single incision laparoscopic nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy in children as a recent videoscopic innovation.

Patients And Methods: Seven children with nonfunctioning kidneys, three with multicystic dysplastic kidneys, two with end-stage renal nephropathy due to vesicoureteral reflux, and two with giant hydronephrosis were qualified to nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy. The surgery was performed transperitoneally using single incision access laparoscopy.

Forensic medical examination of the corpse of General Władysław Sikorski, a putative victim of assassination in 1943.

The Krakow Department of Forensic Medicine was granted a unique opportunity to examine the body of a historical figure, i.e. General Władysław Sikorski, the Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile, deceased in 1943.

Cellular therapy for treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

A critical mechanism to maintain urinary continence in women and men is the striated muscle sphincter (rhabdosphincter) that forms a ring around the mid urethra. Cellular therapy and the use of stem cells transplanted into the site of the rhabdosphincter in a setting of stress urinary incontinence may augment sphincter regeneration. Implanted cells may also release trophic factors promoting muscle and nerve integration into this muscle.

Lionfish envenomations in Poland.

14 injuries caused by lionfish Pterois volitans (L) kept in home aquariums were noted over a time period of 3 years. All the punctures occurred in the victims' hands. Intense pain and systemic findings observed in 11 patients.

Selenoenzymes, laboratory parameters, and trace elements in different types of thyroid tumor.

This study was performed to investigate selenoenzyme activities and trace element concentrations in thyroid tissues, with reference to other parameters routinely used to characterize thyroid function. This was to reveal relevant parameters as possible additional markers of tumor grade, clinical course, and prognosis of thyroid disorders. The tissue samples were obtained during surgical treatment (total or near total thyroidectomy) of 122 patients with different types of thyroid tumor.

Rapid HPLC method for the determination of vitamin A and E and cotinine concentration in human serum in women with CIN and cervical cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to elaborate on the analytical method for quantitative determination of retinol and alpha-tocopherol in serum of women diagnosed with CIN and cervical cancer. The basic problem in the analysis of the vitamins content in biological material is their low physiological concentration level and instability. Liquid chromatography with diode array detector (DAD) was applied.

Application of the fuzzy-oil-drop model to membrane protein simulation.

The analysis of structural properties and biological activity of membrane proteins requires long lasting simulation of molecular dynamics. The large number of atoms present in protein molecule, membrane (phospholipids), and water environment makes the simulation of large scale. The implementation of simplified model representing the natural environment for membrane proteins is presented and compared with the vacuum simulation and simulation in the presence of water molecules and membrane phospholipids presented explicite.