The utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in brain tumours diagnosis

Background: The purpose of the study was to discuss whether 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) study protocol should include brain imaging. Materials and methods: Analysis of international societies recommendations compared with the original data obtained in over 1000 consecutive torso and brain 18F-FDG PET/CT studies collected in 2010. Results: According to the international societies recommendations, the 18F-FDG should not be the radiotracer of choice considering the brain region PET/CT study. However, it can be performed as an additional brain imaging tool. Based on at least a 3-year follow-up, we detected 8 cases of suspicious brain findings and no primary lesion among over 1000 consecutive torso and brain 18F-FDG PET/CT scans performed in 2010. However, in 5 out of 8 patients, the brain lesion was the only metastasis detected, affecting further therapy. Conclusions: The 18F-FDG PET/CT study may help detect malignant brain lesions and, therefore, including brain region imaging into the study protocol should be considered.

Cardiac Rehabilitation in Heart Failure. Part I, Mechanism

Introduction Diagnosis and treatment issues among heart failure (HF) patients are becoming one of the most important points in public health of developed countries, largely due to the aging of population and the fact that HF affects mainly the elderly. In this review we would like to focus on pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure and potential benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Material and Methods Analysis of articles in the EBSCO database using keywords: heart failure, cardiac rehabilitation, exercise training, pathophysiology. Results HF can be described as a composite syndrome which results from structural or functional impairment of ventricular filling or blood ejection. Patients have variety of symptoms which usually are nonspecific. The most frequently occurring symptoms of HF are dyspnea and fatigue, which may restrict exercise capacity, and fluid retention. There are many possible pathophysiological factors involved in the development of exercise intolerance. Based on the available literature pathological changes in central hemodynamic function, pulmonary system, skeletal muscles, endothelial function and neurohumoral system can be distinguished. They play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HF symptoms and represent a potential curative object. Conclusions HF patients are characterized by diminished functional performance. Exercise training has many potential profits in patients with heart failure, including an increase in peak oxygen uptake, improvement in central hemodynamics, peripheral vascular and skeletal muscle function and has become part of evidence-based clinical therapy in these patients

Metody i obszary zarządzania

Publikacja recenzowana / Peer-reviewed publicationOpracowanie poświęcone jest charakterystyce i propozycji rozwiązania wybranych problemów zarządzania. Kilka tekstów dotyczy roli mediów (a także innych instrumentów) w marketingu. Ciekawe jest opracowanie oparte na pewnej autorskiej typologii instrumentów marketingu-mix stosowych przez przedsiębiorstwa działające na rynkach zagranicznych. Druga grupa artykułów poświęcona jest nowym formom zatrudnienia, partycypacji pracowników oraz standardów ochrony pracy, które winny być stosowane przez nasze organizacje. Zatem blok ten dotyczy zagadnień organizacji pracy. Są także artykuły prezentujące konkretne metody zarządzania, począwszy od zarządzania komunikacją, przez zarządzanie strategiczne, a na systemach zarządzania produkcją skończywszy. Niektórzy Autorzy podejmują się nie tylko prezentacji, a także przedstawiają pewne rozwiązania zagadnień dotyczących niemal wszystkich obywateli. Tu przede wszystkim należy wymienić rozważania o kształtowaniu tran sportu publicznego. Ciekawe jest także studium o możliwości wykorzystania Internetu na rynku ubezpieczeń społecznych

Potential impact of HercepTest™ mAb PharmDx (Dako Omnis) (ge001) in breast cancer diagnosis

The HER2 gene is a biomarker for breast cancer prognosis and treatment. Overexpression of HER2 protein determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or amplification of the HER2 gene determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a condition for qualifying patients for anti-HER2 therapy. Due to the high toxicity of anti-HER2 treatment, proper patient selection is essential. In our study we compared 40 cases with IHC staining of HER2 antibody determined by Ventana PATHWAY anti-HER2/neu antibody (4B5) as HER2 2+ with the new antibody (HercepTest™ mAb PharmDx [Dako Omnis] [GE001]). Then using a double-blind study we compared the (IHC) evaluation with FISH results. In 65% of cases (26/40) the IHC 2+ score remained unchanged, in 32.5% of cases (13/40) expression of HER2 protein after IHC with new antibody was indicated as 3+ score, and in one case we observed a decrease of HER2 protein expression to 1+. In all cases but one, in which we found IHC HER 3+ with new antibody, there was FISH amplification. We have reason to believe that the new antibody will reduce the diagnostic time and avoid unnecessary costs. Due to the small study group, further investigation is needed

Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumours Assessed with the Brain and Torso [18F]FDG PET/CT Study Protocol—10 Years of Single-Institutional Experiences

According to the international societies’ recommendations, the 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]FDG PET/CT) technique should not be used as the method of choice in brain tumour diagnosis. Therefore, the brain region can be omitted during standard [18F]FDG PET/CT scanning. We performed comprehensive literature research and analysed results from 14,222 brain and torso [18F]FDG PET/CT studies collected in 2010–2020. We found 131 clinically silent primary and metastatic brain tumours and 24 benign lesions. We concluded that the brain and torso [18F]FDG PET/CT study provides valuable data that may support therapeutic management by detecting clinically silent primary and metastatic brain tumours

Oncogenic BRAF mutations and p16 expression in melanocytic nevi and melanoma in the Polish population

Introduction: Twenty-five – fifty percent of skin melanomas arise from nevi. Melanocyte proliferation is activated by BRAF V600E , then is arrested, but single nevi transform to melanomas. p16 controls arrest, and p16 loss may promote transformation. Aim : To analyze BRAF V600E , p16 expression and melanocyte proliferation in dermal, compound and dysplastic nevi, cells of primary and metastatic melanoma in the Polish population. Material and methods : One hundred and thirty-two nevi (dermal, compound, dysplastic) and 41 melanomas (in situ, primary, metastatic) were studied. BRAF was assessed by cobas® 4800 BRAFV600 Mutation Test, High Resolution Melting Assay validated with: pyrosequencing and immunohistochemistry. p16 and Ki67 expression was analyzed by IHC. Results : Eighty-two percent of nevi and 57% of melanomas display BRAF V600E expression. Most dermal and compound nevi had > 50% of p16(+) cells. BRAF V600E dysplastic nevi had a low number of p16(+) cells. Nevi without BRAF V600E (WT), had 90% of cells p16(+). In 60% of in situ and primary melanomas, there was a low number of cells of p16(+). Fifty percent of WT metastatic melanoma and 33% of BRAF V600E showed a high level of p16. The number of Ki67(+) cells in dysplastic nevi was very low. In 25% of BRAF V600E melanomas in situ and 55% of WT, > 10% cells were Ki67(+). All BRAF V600E primary melanomas and 66% of WT had > 10% Ki67(+) cells. Twenty percent of BRAF V600E and WT metastases had > 10% of Ki67(+), however, 62% of BRAF V600E and 32% of WT samples had > 50% of Ki67(+) cells. Conclusions : BRAF V600E and p16 are more frequent in nevi than in melanoma in vivo. A significantly higher p16 expression was observed in mutated nevi than in WT, while in melanoma it was just the opposite. The proliferation rate of melanoma cells negatively correlated with p16 expression

Harnessing the potential of the environmental microbiome in forensic science

Konsorcjum naukowe pod przewodnictwem Centralnego Laboratorium Kryminalistycznego Policji podjęło się opracowania metody analizy DNA mikrobiomu gleby, która znajdzie zastosowanie w badaniach kryminalistycznych. Celem projektu o akronimie SMAFT (Soil Microbiome Analysis Forensic Tool, http://smaft.eu/), finansowanego przez Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju (DOB-BIO10/03/01/2019), jest stworzenie nowego narzędzia umożliwiającego powiązanie śladu w postaci próbki gleby z określoną lokalizacją geograficzną. W pierwszej części artykułu przybliżono pojęcie mikrobiomu oraz przedstawiono możliwości wykorzystania analiz DNA mikrobiomu w kryminalistyce. W jego drugiej części szczegółowo opisano etapy realizowanego projektu, począwszy od zbierania próbek gleby z różnych miejsc Polski w czterech porach roku i izolacji z nich DNA mikrobiomów, poprzez oparte na technologii MPS (ang. Massively Parallel Sequencing) sekwencjonowanie izolatów oraz opracowanie testu genetycznego zawierającego zestaw markerów metagenomicznych pozwalających na skuteczną indywidualizację próbek gleby, aż po stworzenie systemu informatycznego umożliwiającego analizę i interpretację otrzymanych wyników, który obejmuje bazę danych profili DNA mikrobiomów gleb pochodzących z różnych miejsc Polski.A scientific consortium led by the Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police has undertaken to develop a method for DNA analysis of the soil microbiome to be used in forensic investigations. The aim of the project entitled Soil Microbiome Analysis Forensic Tool – SMAFT (http://smaft.eu/), financed by the National Center for Research and Development (DOB-BIO10/03/01/2019), is to develop a new tool that enables the association of a trace in the form of a soil sample with a specific geographical location. The first part of the paper introduces the concept of the microbiome and presents the possibilities of using microbiome DNA analysis in forensic science. In the second part, the stages of the SMAFT project are described in detail, beginning from the collection of soil samples from different sites in Poland across all seasons and isolation of microbiome DNA through massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technology-based analysis of isolates and the development of a genetic test containing a set of metagenomic markers allowing for effective individualization of soil samples, up to the creation of an IT system enabling analysis and interpretation of the obtained results, which includes a database of soil microbiome DNA profiles from various locations in Poland

Do former elite athletes live longer? Potential role of critical window(s) in the development of the health-oriented behaviors and physiological adaptations

Introduction: Some epidemiological data indicate that moderate-to-vigorous levels of physical activity could be beneficial for longevity. Moreover, in terms of cognitive functioning, mental activities undertaking during first decades of life translate to better coping with pathological changes of brain during aging. Therefore, it is worth to examine the relationship between the most intense form of regular physical exercise undertaking, which is typical for the former elite athletes, with longevity. Material and methods: Articles in the EBSCO database have been analyzed using keywords: longevity, ex-elite athletes, former elite athletes, ex-athletes, mortality, chronic diseases. Results: Reviewed literature described the longevity of participants who were active elite athletes. Analyzed groups could be separated based on sport type: aerobic, anaerobic and mixed, and due to, inter alia, sex and race of sportsmen. Conclusions: There is some evidence for increased longevity in the former elite athletes of aerobic and mixed sports and for decreased longevity in anaerobic, comparing to general population. However, there is need for further studies with design which could explain the mechanism of differences in longevity and incorporate potentially confounding factors