Evaluation of Salivary Biomarkers and Spirometry for Diagnosing COPD in Non-Smokers and Smokers of Polish Origin.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent respiratory condition with global implications. Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical; however, traditional diagnostic methods (based on spirometry) show limitations, prompting the search for predictive biomarkers and modern diagnostic techniques. This study explored the validation of COPD-related biomarkers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, neutrophil elastase, and alpha-1 antitrypsin) in saliva. A diverse cohort, including healthy non-smokers, healthy smokers, and COPD patients of Polish origin, underwent spirometry and marker analysis. The data correlated with clinical factors, revealing noteworthy relations. Firstly, salivary biomarker levels were compared with serum concentrations, demonstrating notable positive or negative correlations, depending on the factor. Further analysis within healthy individuals revealed associations between biomarker levels, spirometry, and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, and BMI. Next, COPD patients exhibited an enhanced concentration of biomarkers compared to healthy groups. Finally, the study introduced a breathing assessment survey, unveiling significant associations between self-perceived breathing and spirometric and tested parameters. Outcomes emphasized the relevance of subjective experiences in COPD research. In conclusion, this research underscored the potential of salivary biomarkers as diagnostic tools for COPD, offering a non-invasive and accessible alternative to traditional methods. The findings paved the way for improved modern diagnostic approaches.

Application of Optical Methods for Determination of Concentration of Doxorubicin in Blood and Plasma.

The aim of presented research is to develop a simple and quick method of spectrophotometric detection for the determination of doxorubicin hydrochloride in blood and plasma. Anthracycline antibiotics are among the most effective antineoplastic agents. However, despite their high efficacy in the treatment of various types of cancer, their administration is limited primarily because they exhibit myocardial toxicity. This may be a limiting factor in the dosage of medications; nevertheless, drugs exhibiting this mechanism of action constitute a very important group of chemotherapeutics. One of the more widely studied antibiotics from the anthracycline group is doxorubicin. It exhibits the highest antineoplastic activity from among a number of derivative compounds. Because of the adverse effects of doxorubicin, especially cardiotoxicity, it is important to maintain control of its concentration in body fluids. The method in the study consists of extraction doxorubicin from the plasma or blood and measurements of the absorbance of light in the visible light range in a DOX solution with respect to a reference sample. The research used blood and plasma samples spiked with doxorubicin to give concentrations in the range of 0.2-10 µg/mL. Obtained LODs were 1.6 µg/mL and 1.2 µg/mL, respectively.

Local infiltration analgesia with bupivacaine and adrenaline does not reduce perioperative blood loss in total hip arthroplasty.

This study evaluates the effect of local infiltration analgesia with bupivacaine and adrenaline on perioperative blood loss in total hip arthroplasty. Patients who had primary total hip arthroplasty were retrospectively assigned to two groups. One group had 100 ml of bupivacaine/adrenaline solution injected into periarticular soft tissues at the end of the procedure. There were 55 patients in the infiltrated hip group and 44 patients in the not infiltrated group. Patients' hemoglobin level (Hb), hematocrit (HTC), red blood count (RBC), platelet count (PLT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) as well as the need for blood transfusions were compared statistically between groups preoperatively and postoperatively. There were no significant differences between Hb, HTC or RBC levels as well as the rate and amount of blood transfusions on the 1st, 4th postoperative days or at patients' discharge between infiltrated and not infiltrated groups. This study does not support the hypothesis that the use of local infiltration analgesia with adrenaline may reduce perioperative blood loss in total hip arthroplasty.

A Mobile Device for Monitoring the Biological Purity of Air and Liquid Samples.

A detector for identifying potential bacterial hazards in the air was designed and created in the Military Institute of Chemistry and Radiometry in the framework of the project FLORABO. The presence of fungi and bacteria in the air can affect the health of people in a given room. The need to control the amount of microorganisms, both in terms of quantity and quality, applies to both hospitals and offices. The device is based on the fluorescence spectroscopy analysis of the sample and then these results were compared to the resulting spectrogram database, which includes the standard curves obtained in the laboratory for selected bacteria. The measurements provide information about the presence, the type, and the approximate concentration of bacteria in the sample. The spectra were collected at different excitation wavelengths, and the waveforms are specific for each of the strains. It also takes under analysis the signal intensities of the different spectra (not only shape a maximum of the peak) so that the concentration of bacteria in the sample being tested can be determined. The device was tested in the laboratory with concentrations ranging from 10 to 108 cells/mL. Additionally, the detector can distinguish between the vegetative forms of spores of the bacteria.

Does the operator's sex matter? An analysis based on the national interventional cardiology registry.

BACKGROUND: A small number of female cardiologists work in the field of interventional cardiology. Such disparity is observed in most European countries. AIMS: We present the first national report on the practice patterns and outcomes regarding percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed by female operators (FOs) in Poland. METHODS: Data were collected from the National Registry of Invasive Cardiology Procedures (Ogólnopolski Rejestr Procedur Kardiologii Inwazyjnej [ORPKI]) between January 2014 and December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 31 FOs (4.1%) performed 12 935 PCIs (2.8%). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of PCIs performed by FOs per year was 75 (43-154), whereas that by male operators was 139 (67-216; P <0.01). Patients handled by FOs were characterized by a lower prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and previous coronary artery interventions. Acute coronary syndrome was the main indication for treatment (74.66%). Compared with male operators, FOs handled significantly more patients with single­vessel disease (87.02% vs 84.72%; P <0.001). They used smaller contrast doses during PCIs (median [IQR], 170.36 [77.54] cm3 vs 173.48 [77.54] cm3; P <0.001) yet higher doses of radiation exposure (median [IQR], 843 [472-1409] mGy vs 815 [458-1390] mGy; P = 0.01). There was no difference in clinical outcomes (a composite of all­cause death, bleeding at the puncture site, or coronary artery perforation) associated with the operator's sex. CONCLUSIONS: Women represent a minority of operators in interventional cardiology and are responsible for a low percentage of PCIs. Nonetheless, the practice patterns and outcomes of PCIs performed by FOs are similar to those of male operators.

Median and ulnar nerve grafting in children.

A case series of seven children and adolescents who underwent secondary nerve grafting of median or ulnar nerve is presented. The children were evaluated after a mean follow-up of 7 years, using the Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the Rosen-Lundborg outcome scale. The mean DASH outcome was 14.6 and the mean Rosen-Lundborg score was 2.08. A similar study was conducted for comparison in an adult group, with a mean DASH score of 46.3 and Rosen-Lundborg score of 1.3, indicating superior treatment results in children. The treatment outcome after nerve grafting in children did not match, however, to those obtained in the primary suture group.

Screen-printed poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT): A new electrochemical mediator for acetylcholinesterase-based biosensors.

This work describes the use of a PEDOT:PSS-based conductive polymer for designing AChE-based biosensors. The transducers were obtained directly by screen-printing a PEDOT:PSS suspension on the surface of thick film carbon electrodes. The obtained working electrodes showed a high conductivity when compared with electrodes modified with conventional mediators like cobalt phthalocyanine or tetracyanoquinodimethane. The PEDOT:PSS polymer was shown to be suitable for thiocholine oxidation, allowing the measurement of AChE activity at 100 mV vs Ag/AgCl. The high conductivity of PEDOT:PSS allowed the accurate detection of the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos-oxon at concentrations as low as 4x10(-9)M, corresponding to an inhibition ratio of 5%.

Enantioselectivity of potentiometric sensors with application of different mechanisms of chiral discrimination.

In the recent years, numerous successful applications of various chiral selectors in high performance separation methods have generated an increasing interest in the application of some of these compounds as electroactive species in potentiometric sensors. The objective of this work was to examine the enantioselectivy of several different sensors employing substituted cyclodextrins, example antibiotic teicoplanin and electrodeposited conductive polymers for various chiral analytes. Varying degrees of enantioselectivity were found for the ion-selective electrodes examined, depending on the chiral selector used and the target analyte.