Carotid intima media thickness and blood biomarkers of atherosclerosis in patients after stroke or myocardial infarction

Aim To test if circulating levels of markers of inflammation, endothelial function, and chronic infections, as well as association between these markers and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), depend on the stage of atherosclerosis expressed as a history of a major vascular event. Methods The associations were analyzed separately in 75 healthy controls, 79 patients 3-6 months after the first-ever non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke (IS), and 37 patients 3-6 months after the first-ever myocardial infarction (MI). Data were collected prospectively in 2005. We measured high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), procalcitonin, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), serum level of immune complexes (IC), and identified antibodies against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV), Cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia pneumonia, and Helicobacter pylori. Correlations with CIMT were determined using Pearson R and verified after adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and statin therapy. Results Median ICAM-1 concentration was significantly lower in controls than in post-IS patients (188 μg/L vs 215 μg/L), and significantly lower in post-IS patients than in post-MI patients (215 μg/L vs 260 μg/L). Control patients also had significantly lower IC level (0.03 U/L) and HSV antibody index (6.0) compared to both post-IS (0.6 U/L, 9.6) and post-MI (0.4 U/L, 9.2) patients. CIMT was correlated with age (Pearson R = 0.38, P = 0.001) in the control group, immune complexes (R = 0.26, P = 0.023) in the post-IS group, and with hs-CRP (R = 0.40, P = 0.017) in the post-MI group. These correlations were confirmed using multiple regression analysis. Conclusions Our study supports linear correlations between CIMT and IC and hs-CRP levels. However, these associations seem to depend on the type of vascular burden

Nivolumab for relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma after brentuximab vedotin failure – Polish Lymphoma Research Group real-life experience

AimPolish centers analyzed retrospectively the real-life experience with nivolumab in relapsed/refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients, after brentuximab vedotin (BV ) failure. BackgroundDespite the effective frontline treatment, for cHL patients relapsing after autologous stem cell transplantation, the only effective strategy remains the novel agents. Nivolumab, a checkpoint inhibitor, demonstrates the clinical benefit with an acceptable safety profile. Materials and methodsRetrospective analysis included 16 adult patients with R/R cHL after BV failure. All patients received single-agent nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. ResultsAfter six cycles of nivolumab the overall response rate was 81% (complete remission rate of 56%, partial remission rate of 25%). The median PFS was not reached after a median follow-up of 19 months. Adverse events (AEs) of any grade occurred in 12 patients (75%), including grade 3 AEs observed in 5 patients (31%). There were no AEs of grade 4 or 5. After a median of 25 nivolumab doses, 62% of responding patients proceeded to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. ConclusionNivolumab monotherapy demonstrated a high efficacy and safety in R/R cHL patients after BV failure. More patients and longer follow-up may further establish the potential benefit

Naturalne promieniowanie gamma na poziomie morza wokół kontynentu antarktycznego zarejestrowane na południe od równoleżnika 62°

This study presents the results of dosimetry radiation measurement performed in the Antarctic region at the surface of the sea which was conducted between January and March 2018. Over 2 200 records were collected using a portable Gamma Scout Online radiometer during a 72-day voyage circumnavigating the continent of Antarctica. The mean average of the measured radiation dose rate was 0.091 μSvh-1 and varied from 0.052 to 0.193 μSvh-1. These result are above global average dose rate of radiation at sea level (0.031 μSvh-1) and often higher than those recorded on the Antarctic continent. Yet generally our records fall within well recognized latitudinal trend of radiation being higher toward poles. This is results of troposphere begins at lower altitude in Antarctic in comparison to lower latitudes. The origin of this radiation is natural and results from the presence of higher cosmic rays and secondary radiation induced in the atmosphere. The presence of terrestrial radionuclides in the Antarctic environment has a local, secondary influence on the measured values of radiation. The theoretical calculated annual dose equivalent for humans present in Antarctica could often exceed the limit of 1 mSv as recorded for other Antarctic locations yet our results (0.772 mSv per year) do not confirm that.W pracy przedstawiono wyniki dozymetrycznych pomiarów promieniowania, przeprowadzonych przez załogę jachtu Katharsis II, w trakcie 72-dniowego rejsu wokół Antarktydy. Podczas rejsu trwającego od stycznia do marca 2018 roku, za pomocą przenośnego radiometru Gamma Scout Online rejestrowano dawki promieniowania na poziomie morza w odstępach 10-minutowych. Po wstępnej analizie statystycznej uzyskano dane w postaci 2 200 rekordów, które wykorzystano do wnioskowania o rozkładzie promieniowania w rejonie Antarktyki. Średnia zmierzona moc dawki promieniowania wyniosła 0,091 μSvh-1 i wahała się od 0,052 do 0,193 μSvh-1. Wyniki te są powyżej średniej globalnej mocy dawki promieniowania na poziomie morza (0,031 μSvh-1) i często wyższe niż te zarejestrowane bezpośrednio na Antarktydzie. Jednak, generalnie zarejestrowane przez nas dawki promieniowania mieszczą się w dobrze rozpoznanym równoleżnikowym trendzie, w którym promieniowanie jest wyższe w kierunku biegunów. Związane jest to z cieńszą warstwą troposfery w rejonach biegunowych w porównaniu z niższymi, równikowymi szerokościami geograficznymi. Ogólnie pochodzenie tego promieniowania jest naturalne i związane z silniejszą penetracją troposfery przez promieniowanie kosmiczne oraz obecnością promieniowania wtórnego indukowanego w atmosferze. Obecność radionuklidów naziemnych w środowisku Antarktyki ma lokalny, wtórny wpływ na mierzone wartości promieniowania. Teoretycznie obliczony roczny ekwiwalent dawki dla ludzi, w różnych miejscach Antarktydy, może przekraczać limit 1 mSv, natomiast nasze wyniki (0,772 mSv rocznie) tego nie potwierdzają

Radon intercomparison tests – Katowice, 2016

At the beginning of the year 2016, the representatives of the Polish Radon Centre decided to organize profi ciency tests (PTs) for measurements of radon gas and radon decay products in the air, involving radon monitors and laboratory passive techniques. The Silesian Centre for Environmental Radioactivity of the Central Mining Institute (GIG), Katowice, became responsible for the organization of the PT exercises. The main reason to choose that location was the radon chamber in GIG with a volume of 17 m3, the biggest one in Poland. Accordingly, 13 participants from Poland plus one participant from Germany expressed their interest. The participants were invited to inform the organizers about what types of monitors and methods they would like to check during the tests. On this basis, the GIG team prepared the proposal for the schedule of exercises, such as the required level(s) of radon concentrations, the number and periods of tests, proposed potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC) levels and also the overall period of PT. The PT activity was performed between 6th and 17th June 2016. After assessment of the results, the agreement between radon monitors and other measurement methods was confi rmed. In the case of PAEC monitors and methods of measurements, the results of PT exercises were consistent and confi rmed the accuracy of the calibration procedures used by the participants. The results of the PAEC PTs will be published elsewhere; in this paper, only the results of radon intercomparison are described

Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD) 2016

Peer reviewe