Evaluation Criteria of the Applications for Public Funding and Their Role in Increasing Innovative Potential of Enterprises: The Case of the Opolskie Voivodeship Regional Operational Programme 2014–2020

The aim of the study is to assess the innovative potential of the selected companies in Opolskie Voivodeship through comparing and contrasting meeting by them criteria used for the evaluation of projects of the Opolskie Voivodeship Regional Operational Programme (RPO WO) 2014–2020. The study process is focused around the following research questions: (1) What criteria are used for evaluation of projects in theOpolskie Voivodeship Regional Operational Programme (RPO WO) 2014–2020? (2) How has the innovation level of project outcomes i.e. products/ services/ technologies changed? (3) What is the level of cooperation with the R&D sector in the evaluated companies? (4) Are there any changes observed in regard to developing by companies their in-house R&D capabilities?

Stability of Ceftiofur Sodium and Cefquinome Sulphate in Intravenous Solutions

Stability of ceftiofur sodium and cefquinome sulphate in intravenous solutions was studied. Chromatographic separation and quantitative determination were performed by using a high-performance liquid chromatography with UV-DAD detection. During the stability study, poly(vinylchloride) minibags were filled with a solution containing 5 mg of ceftiofur sodium or cefquinome sulphate and diluted to 0.2 mg/mL with suitable intravenous solution depending on the test conditions. The solutions for the study were protected from light and stored at room temperature (22°C), refrigerated (6°C), frozen (−20°C) for 30 days, and then thawed at room temperature. A comparison of results obtained at 22°C and 6°C for the same intravenous solutions showed that temperature as well as components of solutions and their concentration had an influence on the stability of ceftiofur sodium and cefquinome sulphate. It was found that ceftiofur sodium and cefquinome sulphate dissolved in intravenous solutions used in this study may be stored at room temperature and at 6°C for up to 48 h

Breast self-exams in a group of women participating in mammography screening Elżbieta Garwacka-Czachor, Adam Maciejczyk

Introduction. A key role in the struggle against breast cancer is played by secondary prevention, which includes breast self-exams, clinical tests, and mammography screening. The purpose of the study was to analyze the impact of age, education, and selected breast cancer risk factors on the frequency with which women participating in the mammography screening program perform breast self-exams. Material and methods. The study group consisted of 32,626 women aged 50–69, enrolled in the Early Breast Cancer Detection Program in Lower Silesia between January 2007 and 2011. The study was conducted by means of a diagnostic survey and the frequency of breast self-exams was analyzed as a function of age, education, and selected risk factors. Results. Only 14% of respondents, mostly younger and better educated, reported that they examined their breasts regularly every month. Exposure to risk factors had a negligible impact on the frequency of self-exams. Conclusions. Younger and better educated women were more likely to perform breast self-exams. Risk factors, such as a family history of breast cancer and the prolonged use of hormonal medication, did not have a significant impact on self-exam frequency. Monthly self-exams were more often reported by women suffering from breast-related ailments, probably because of the associated experience of pain and discomfort

The sociodemographic profile of women participating in mammography screening in Lower Silesia

Introduction. Female breast cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide. An important element of cancer control involves population-based screening, which aims to reduce related mortality. Screening programs can only serve their purpose if they are long-term and available on a mass scale; accordingly, they are deemed effective as long as they cover at least 70% of the target population. Alarmingly, the coverage of breast cancer screening in Poland is markedly lower. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of selected sociodemographic factors on the participation of women in mammography screening. Material and methods. The study included a population of Lower Silesian women aged 50 to 69, who participated in mammography screening, and analyzed a total of 32,626 questionnaires collected by means of a diagnostic survey between January 3, 2007 and December 30, 2011. Examined sociodemographic factors included the place of residence, age, educational level, and occupational status. Results. The largest group of screening participants comprised women aged 55 to 59 (30%), from Wrocław and the neighboring districts, with at least secondary education (74%), mostly old-age and disability pensioners (55%). Conclusions. Place of residence, age, education and occupation have a significant impact on the participation of Lower Silesian women in mammography screening. Age and disability pensioners aged 55–59 with at least secondary education are more likely to participate

Necessity for an intensive follow-up after curative resection of colorectal cancer

Rak jelita grubego jest drugim pod względem częstości występowania nowotworem litym i drugą najczęstszą przy­czyną zgonów pacjentów onkologicznych. Optymalizacja technik leczenia chirurgicznego przekłada się na stały wzrost odsetka doszczętnych resekcji raka jelita grubego, jednak pomimo to u znacznego odsetka chorych (30–50%) dochodzi do nawrotu. Uzasadnia to prowadzenie intensywnego nadzoru po leczeniu. Na korzystne efekty takiego postępowania wskazują wyniki badań klinicznych i metaanaliz. Szczególnie intensywny nadzór wskazany jest w ciągu pierwszych 3 lat po zakończeniu leczenia; minimalny okres trwania nadzoru to 5 lat. Niezbędnymi komponentami kontroli po leczeniu są: badanie lekarskie, kolonoskopia, badania obrazowe jamy brzusznej i klatki piersiowej oraz oznaczanie poziomu antygenu rakowo-płodowego (CEA) w surowicy.Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent type of solid tumour and the second leading cause of mortality in oncological patients. Optimisation of surgical techniques results in a gradual increase in the percentage of curative resections of colorectal tumours. Nevertheless, a considerable fraction of patients (30–50%) suffer from recurrent colorectal cancer. This justifies intensive follow-up after treatment. Beneficial effects of such approach are confirmed by the results of clinical trials and meta-analyses. Follow-up should be particularly intensive during the initial three years after treatment, and should be continued for at least five years. Vital components of the follow-up are physical examination, colonoscopy, imaging of the abdominal cavity and chest, and determination of serum level of carci­noembryonic antigen (CEA)

Is there an epidemic of prostate cancer in Polish males?

Rak gruczołu krokowego zalicza się do grupy nowotworów złośliwych specyfi cznych dla krajów rozwiniętych.Dane epidemiologiczne wskazują, że obok oskrzeli i płuca oraz jelita grubego prostata zalicza się do najczęstszychumiejscowień nowotworów złośliwych u mężczyzn w Europie i Stanach Zjednoczonych. W 2008 r. procentowyudział wymienionych umiejscowień wśród zachorowań polskich mężczyzn na nowotwory złośliwe wyniósł 46,2%,a współczynnik zachorowalności na raka gruczołu krokowego wyniósł 29,9 na 100 000. Warto jednak zwrócić uwagęna znaczne geografi czne zróżnicowanie częstości występowania raka gruczołu krokowego w naszym kraju: w 2008 r.współczynniki zachorowalności nowotworu w poszczególnych województwach wahały się bowiem od 20,5 do 43,6 na100 000. Ciekawych wniosków dostarcza szczegółowa analiza danych epidemiologicznych na poziomie regionu.W ostatnim 25-leciu w województwie dolnośląskim u mężczyzn obserwuje się systematyczny spadek liczby nowychprzypadków raka oskrzeli i płuca (najczęstszego nowotworu złośliwego w regionie) przy jednoczesnym wzroście częstościwystępowania nowotworów złośliwych jelita grubego i gruczołu krokowego. Tendencja wzrostowa w zakresiezachorowalności na raka gruczołu krokowego jest jeszcze bardziej wyraźna, gdy weźmie się pod uwagę wyłączniedane dotyczące Wrocławia — stolicy i największego miasta Dolnego Śląska. Począwszy od 2004 r. nowotwory złośliweprostaty rozpoznaje się tu częściej niż raka jelita grubego, a w 2009 r. liczba nowych przypadków zbliżyła siędo liczby nowych rozpoznań raka oskrzeli i płuca. Powyższe dane wskazują na rosnącą częstość rozpoznawania rakaprostaty — szczególnie wśród mężczyzn z dużych aglomeracji miejskich. Jednak rosnąca częstotliwość występowaniaraka gruczołu krokowego wydaje się być nie tyle następstwem epidemii tego nowotworu złośliwego, co skutkiemstarzenia się społeczeństwa i poprawy możliwości diagnostycznych.Prostate cancer belongs to malignancies that are specifi c for developed countries. Epidemiological data suggeststhat, aside from bronchi, lungs, and large intestine, prostate is one of the most frequent locations of male malignanciesdetected in Europe and United States. In 2008, the fraction of cancers in those aforementioned locations correspondedto 46.2% of all male oncological patients in Poland, and the incidence rate of prostate cancer amountedto 29.9 per 100 000. However, one should note considerable geographical variability of prostate cancer incidence inour country. In 2008 the incidence rate of that malignancy ranged between 20.5 and 43.6 per 100 000, depending onprovince. Detailed epidemiological analysis of regional data is even more conclusive. During the last 25 years, a systematicreduction could be observed with regards to the number of new cases of bronchus/lung malignancies (thepredominant cancer location in that region) diagnosed in men from Lower Silesian province, along with increasingincidence of colorectal and prostate malignancies. This growing tendency in prostate cancer incidence is even moreevident when relates the data to Wroclaw, the capital and the largest city of Lower Silesia. Beginning in 2004, prostatemalignancies are detected here more frequently than those aff ecting the large intestine, and in 2009 the numberof newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases was similar to that of bronchi and lungs. This data points to an increasingfrequency of prostate cancer detection. However, this increasing incidence of prostate cancer seems to be relatedto progressing ageing of the population and improved diagnostic possibilities rather than to any specifi c epidemicsof this malignancy