Body composition as an indicator of the nutritional status in children with newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease - a prospective study.

Introduction: The prevalence of nutritional status disorders in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) is much lower than in the case of Crohn's disease (CD). The largest variability in the components of body composition occurs at the time of a new diagnosis and in periods of disease exacerbation.

Aim: Assessment of body composition in children with UC and CD.

FPA-FTIR Microspectroscopy for Monitoring Chemotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. Approximately 70% of triple-negative breast cancer patients fail to achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) after chemotherapy due to the lack of targeted therapies for this subtype. We report here the development of a focal-plane-array Fourier transform infrared (FPA-FTIR) microspectroscopic technique combined with principal component analysis (PCA) for monitoring chemotherapy effects in triple-negative breast cancer patients.

Telemedicine in Greenland: Citizens' Perspectives.

Background: Telemedicine may have the possibility to provide better access to healthcare delivery for the citizens. Telemedicine in arctic remote areas must be tailored according to the needs of the local population. Therefore, we need more knowledge about their needs and their view of telemedicine.

Sulforaphane Regulates NFE2L2/Nrf2-Dependent Xenobiotic Metabolism Phase II and Phase III Enzymes Differently in Human Colorectal Cancer and Untransformed Epithelial Colon Cells.

Sulforaphane (SFN), a naturally occurring chemopreventive and anticancer agent, is a nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2 (NFE2L2/Nrf2) inducer. Nrf2 plays a critical role in coordinating the cell defense system by initiating the transcription of cytoprotective genes, including detoxification enzymes such as NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) and transport proteins such as ATP-binding cassette, subfamily C (CFTR/MRP). Recently, the essential role of Nrf2 in tumor development and progression and in the development of multidrug resistance in cancer cells has been highlighted.

Risk factors for cancer development in type 2 diabetes: A retrospective case-control study.

Background: The risk of several types of cancer is increased in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The earliest possible diagnosis of cancer - difficult within regular outpatient diabetes care - is of utmost importance for patients' survival. The aim of this multicenter, retrospective (years 1998-2015), case-control study was to identify risk factors associated with malignancy in subjects with diabetes treated in a typical outpatient setting.

Moving beyond disrespect and abuse: addressing the structural dimensions of obstetric violence.

During recent decades, a growing and preoccupying excess of medical interventions during childbirth, even in physiological and uncomplicated births, together with a concerning spread of abusive and disrespectful practices towards women during childbirth across the world, have been reported. Despite research and policy-making to address these problems, changing childbirth practices has proved to be difficult. We argue that the excessive rates of medical interventions and disrespect towards women during childbirth should be analysed as a consequence of structural violence, and that the concept of obstetric violence, as it is being used in Latin American childbirth activism and legal documents, might prove to be a useful tool for addressing structural violence in maternity care such as high intervention rates, non-consented care, disrespect and other abusive practices.

Fluorometric enzymatic assay of l-arginine.

The enzymes of l-arginine (further - Arg) metabolism are promising tools for elaboration of selective methods for quantitative Arg analysis. In our study we propose an enzymatic method for Arg assay based on fluorometric monitoring of ammonia, a final product of Arg splitting by human liver arginase I (further - arginase), isolated from the recombinant yeast strain, and commercial urease. The selective analysis of ammonia (at 415nm under excitation at 360nm) is based on reaction with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) in the presence of sulfite in alkali medium: these conditions permit to avoid the reaction of OPA with any amino acid.

Pro-health behaviours - a sense of coherence as the key to a healthy lifestyle in rural areas?

Background: Health-related behaviours and lifestyle are related to the salutogenic concept of health, whereas the major public health problems faced in rural areas include difficulties in encouraging people to a healthy lifestyle.

Objective: The aim of the study is to explore mutual relationships between psychosocial-demographic factors and a sense of coherence.

Material And Method: Two-stage sampling was applied.

The Comparison of MTT and CVS Assays for the Assessment of Anticancer Agent Interactions.

Multiple in vitro tests are widely applied to assess the anticancer activity of new compounds, including their combinations and interactions with other drugs. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay is one of the most commonly used assays to assess the efficacy and interactions of anticancer agents. However, it can be significantly influenced by compounds that modify cell metabolism and reaction conditions.

Application of Raman Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy in the Identification of Breast Cancer.

Raman spectroscopy and infrared (IR) spectroscopy are both techniques that allow for the investigation of vibrating chemical particles. These techniques provide information not only about chemical particles through the identification of functional groups and spectral analysis of so-called "fingerprints", these methods allow for the qualitative and quantitative analyses of chemical substances in the sample. Both of these spectral techniques are frequently being used in biology and medicine in diagnosing illnesses and monitoring methods of therapy.

Immune checkpoints: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 and programmed cell death protein 1 in breast cancer surgery.

Immune checkpoints refer to a plethora of inhibitory pathways built into the immune system, and recent studies have emphasized the role of these checkpoints in carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate two major immune checkpoints, the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), in the serum of 35 patients with stage I and II breast cancer. Serum concentrations of CTLA-4 and PD-1 were measured at three time points: i) Preoperatively; ii) during anesthesia following the harvesting of sentinel nodes (SNs); and iii) 24 h postoperatively.

Parent-healthcare provider interaction during peripheral vein cannulation with resistive preschool children.

Aim: The aim of this study was to increase understanding of parent-healthcare provider interaction in situations where newly admitted preschool children resist peripheral vein cannulation.

Background: Parent-healthcare provider interaction represents an important context for understanding children's resistance to medical procedures. Knowledge about this interaction can provide a better understanding of how restraint is used and talked about.

Functional Selectivity and Antidepressant Activity of Serotonin 1A Receptor Ligands.

Serotonin (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter that plays an important role in physiological functions. 5-HT has been implicated in sleep, feeding, sexual behavior, temperature regulation, pain, and cognition as well as in pathological states including disorders connected to mood, anxiety, psychosis and pain. 5-HT1A receptors have for a long time been considered as an interesting target for the action of antidepressant drugs.

Shared genetics underlying epidemiological association between endometriosis and ovarian cancer.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated associations between endometriosis and certain histotypes of ovarian cancer, including clear cell, low-grade serous and endometrioid carcinomas. We aimed to determine whether the observed associations might be due to shared genetic aetiology. To address this, we used two endometriosis datasets genotyped on common arrays with full-genome coverage (3194 cases and 7060 controls) and a large ovarian cancer dataset genotyped on the customized Illumina Infinium iSelect (iCOGS) arrays (10 065 cases and 21 663 controls).

Usefulness of ultrasound examinations in the diagnostics of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most serious disorders of gastrointestinal tract during neonatal period. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are essential in the presence of clinical suspicion of NEC. Plain abdominal radiography is currently the modality of choice for initial evaluation of gastrointestinal tract in neonates.

Diagnostic imaging and problems of schizencephaly.

Background: Schizencephaly is a rare developmental malformation of the central nervous system associated with cell migration disturbances. Schizencephaly can be uni- or bilateral and is divided into two morphological types. The cleft is defined as type I ("closed lips") if there are fused clefts in cerebral mantle.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU) in Treatment of Symptomatic Uterine Myomas.

Magnetic Resonance-guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MR-HIFU) is a noninvasive technique for ablation therapy for uterine myomas, where focused ultrasound energy beam generates localized high temperature in the selected area and coagulates chosen tissue, leaving the skin and tissues in between unharmed. Magnetic resonance imaging enables accurate targeting for HIFU as well as temperature monitoring during treatment. MR guidance with 3D anatomical imaging provides reference data for treatment planning, while real-time temperature monitoring aids in controlling ablation process.

Magnetic resonance imaging of rotator cuff tears in shoulder impingement syndrome.

Background: Shoulder joint is a common site of musculoskeletal pain caused, among other things, by rotator cuff tears due to narrowing of subacromial space, acute trauma or chronic shoulder overload. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent modality for imaging of soft tissues of the shoulder joint considering a possibility of multiplanar image acquisition and non-invasive nature of the study. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of partial and complete rotator cuff tears in magnetic resonance images of patients with shoulder impingement syndrome and to review the literature on the causes and classification of rotator cuff tears.

Simplified automated right ventricular overdrive pacing for rapid diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic value of right ventricular overdrive pacing (RVOP) during supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) using a 2-catheter approach with automatic pacing from the right ventricular inflow (RVIT) and outflow tract (RVOT).

Methods: One hundred and thirty-six consecutive patients (with 138 arrhythmias, mean age 36 ± 20 years, range 4-95) were enrolled in this study. Only coronary sinus and ablation catheters were used.

The outcome of care in people with type 1 diabetes after switching to insulin glargine-based regimens in a real-life setting: a long-term observational study.

Background: Different insulin preparations are used as basal insulins in type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess long-term efficacy and safety of insulin glargine after switching from other basal insulins in type 1 diabetes in a real-life setting.

Methods: In the clinic's database, 87 subjects treated with glargine for > 1 year were identified.

Pain symptoms of the spine and work ergonomics of people in south-eastern Poland.

Introduction: Pain disorders of the spine are the most common causes of appointments with physiotherapists. It has been estimated that nine out of ten adults at least once in their lifetime experience spine pains and five out of ten working people have this kind of ailments a minimum once a year.

Objective: The evaluation of the occurrence of spine pains in people who are professionally active with regards to obeying the rules of work ergonomics.

Impact of different modifiable factors on hearing function in type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects. A preliminary study.

Introduction And Objective: Hearing impairment in diabetic subjects is more prevalent than in the general population. Ageing, noise exposure and smoking are known as risk factors of hearing loss. The aim of this study was to assess whether other factors, such as HbA(1c), blood pressure, serum lipids and BMI have an impact on hearing function among relatively young diabetic subjects.

The opinions of Polish nurses and patients on nursing protests.

The aim of this study is to explore nurses' and patients' opinions about nurses in Poland going on strike. The study was carried out in Poland between January and June 2009, using 150 nurses and 150 hospitalized patients. The study was conducted using two questionnaire surveys.