A Cross-Talk about Radioresistance in Lung Cancer-How to Improve Radiosensitivity According to Chinese Medicine and Medicaments That Commonly Occur in Pharmacies.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the population and is characterized by non-specific symptoms that delay the diagnosis and reduce the effectiveness of oncological treatment. Due to the difficult placement of the tumor, one of the main methods of lung cancer treatment is radiotherapy, which damages the DNA of cancer cells, inducing their apoptosis. However, resistance to ionizing radiation may develop during radiotherapy cycles, leading to an increase in the number of DNA points of control that protect cells from apoptosis. Cancer stem cells are essential for radioresistance, and due to their ability to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition, they modify the phenotype, bypassing the genotoxic effect of radiotherapy. It is therefore necessary to search for new methods that could improve the cytotoxic effect of cells through new mechanisms of action. Chinese medicine, with several thousand years of tradition, offers a wide range of possibilities in the search for compounds that could be used in conventional medicine. This review introduces the potential candidates that may present a radiosensitizing effect on lung cancer cells, breaking their radioresistance. Additionally, it includes candidates taken from conventional medicine-drugs commonly available in pharmacies, which may also be significant candidates.

Analysis of MMP-2-735C/T (rs2285053) and MMP-9-1562C/T (rs3918242) Polymorphisms in the Risk Assessment of Developing Lung Cancer.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 are gelatinases which are capable of degrading type IV collagen and have been linked to cancer invasion and metastatic development. MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene polymorphisms may affect their biological function, and thus their role in cancer development and progression. We analyzed the association of the polymorphism frequencies of MMP-2-735C/T and MMP-9-1562C/T with MMP-2 and MMP-9 serum concentrations, as well as their potential effects in lung cancer patients. We conducted a retrospective, case-control study consisting of 112 lung cancer patients and 100 healthy individuals from a Caucasian population in Poland. Polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) and electrophoresis was used to genotype genomic DNA from whole blood samples. MMP-2 and MMP-9 serum concentrations were then determined using ELISA. For statistical analysis, Statistica version 13 from TIBCO Software Inc. was utilized with a significance level <0.05. Logistic regression analysis revealed that MMP-2-735CC (OR = 5.39; 95% CI = 0.62-47.17; p = 0.238504) and -735CT genotype (OR = 7.22; 95% CI = 0.78-67.14; p = 0.072836), as well as MMP-9-1562CC (OR = 1.45; 95% CI = 0.31-6.70; p = 0.757914) and -1562CT genotype (OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 0.33-7.83; p = 0.548801) were associated with a higher risk of lung cancer. There were statistically significant differences observed in the MMP-2 concentration between individuals with the -735CC genotype and the -735CT genotype (non-smoking control: 204.04 ng/mL vs. 237.00 ng/mL, respectively, p = 0.041479; adenocarcinoma patients: 157.69 ng/mL vs. 126.37 ng/mL, respectively, p = 0.013222), as well as differences in the MMP-9 concentration between individuals with the -1562CC genotype and the -1562CT genotype (smoking control: 385.67 ng/mL vs. 562.80 ng/mL, respectively, p = 0.000936; patients with other lung neoplasms: 821.64 ng/mL vs. 928.88 ng/mL, respectively p = 0.023315). The role of MMP-2-735C/T and MMP-9 -1562C/T polymorphisms in an increased risk of lung cancer cannot be dismissed. Specific genotypes affect MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations in both lung cancer patients and healthy controls, which may thereby increase lung cancer risk, disease aggressiveness, and patient survival outcomes.

The Cause and Effect Relationship of Diabetes after Acute Pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammation of the pancreas associated with high morbidity and mortality. Endocrine pancreatic insufficiency secondary to AP has drawn increasing attention in recent years. The aim of this paper is to analyze the available clinical and experimental literature to determine the cause and effect relationship of diabetes type 3c (T3cDM; pancreatogenic diabetes) after acute pancreatitis. The clinico-pathological features and management challenges of pancreatogenic diabetes overlap with other secondary causes of diabetes. A complex pathogenesis involving pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, dysfunction of insulin secretion, and insulin resistance is likely the cause of T3cDM after AP. To obtain an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetes after AP, more research is now needed to understand the risk of complications related to the pancreas and diabetes in these patients.

Association of MMP-2 and MMP-9 Polymorphisms with Diabetes and Pathogenesis of Diabetic Complications.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) affects millions of people around the world, and its complications have serious health consequences. In addition to external factors, the causes of morbidity and increased risk were also sought in the variability of the human genome. A phenomenon that can answer these questions is the occurrence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). They constitute a field for research into genetic determinants responsible for the increase in the risk of the discussed metabolic disease. This article presents the outline of two enzymes: metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), their biological activity and the effect caused by differences in individual alleles in the population, as well as the reports on the importance of these DNA sequence variations in the occurrence of diabetes mellitus type 2 and associated conditions. The results of the conducted research indicate a relationship between two MMP-2 polymorphisms (rs243865, rs243866) and two MMP-9 polymorphisms (rs3918242, rs17576) and the presence of T2D. This could offer a promising possibility to use them as predictive and diagnostic markers. However, due to the low number of reports, more research is needed to clearly confirm the link between these SNPs and diabetes.

Hepcidin as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Anaemic Lung Cancer Patients.

We aim to describe the characteristics of hepcidin, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in anaemia of lung cancer patients with operative tumour as well as to investigate the potential diagnostic capabilities of hepcidin in combination with IL-6, TNF-α, and acute phase proteins. We present a retrospective study of 112 lung cancer patients (41 women and 71 men) who were surgically treated at the Lower Silesian Centre for Lung Diseases in Wroclaw, Poland. Serum blood samples were collected from all these patients prior to any surgical treatment and used to determine hepcidin, IL-6, TNF-α, SAA1, and CRP concentrations. Patients were also examined with a complete blood count several times during their hospitalization. The female and male groups were divided based on the occurrence of anaemia during their hospitalization. Patients who developed anaemia post-operatively had significantly lower hepcidin concentrations than non-anaemic patients (p = 0.000694 in females with ≥3 complete blood count examinations and p = 0.007905 in males with 2 complete blood count examinations), whereas patients with anaemia since hospital admission had higher hepcidin concentrations. We observed two hepcidin roles related to two cancer anaemia pathogeneses: (1) higher hepcidin concentrations in patients with anaemia since hospital admission (anaemia of inflammation) and (2) lower hepcidin concentrations in patients who developed anaemia after surgery (anaemia of iron deficiency). Our data support the role of hepcidin, IL-6, and TNF-α in cancer-related anaemia and provide diagnostic values for predicting post-operative anaemia in lung cancer patients.

New Insights on Old Biomarkers Involved in Tumor Microenvironment Changes and Their Diagnostic Relevance in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is a multifactorial disease with a heterogeneous tumor group that hampers diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, as well as understanding of the processes that underlie its pathogenesis. Current research efforts are focused on examining alterations in the tumor microenvironment, which may affect the pathogenesis and further malignant progression in lung cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the levels of biomarkers involved in the lung tumor microenvironment and their diagnostic utility in differentiating lung cancer subtypes and stages. METHODS: This study comprised 112 lung cancer patients, 50 with adenocarcinoma, 35 with squamous cell carcinoma, 13 with other non-small cell lung carcinoma subtypes, and 14 with other lung neoplasms than non-small cell lung carcinoma. Tumor markers (CEA, CYFRA 21-1, and NSE) were measured in the patients' sera and plasmas, along with IL-6, TNF-α, SAA1, CRP, MMP-2, MMP-9, glucose, lactate, and LDH, utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, enzyme immunoassays, and automated clinical chemistry and turbidimetry systems. The results were statistically analyzed across patient groups based on the subtype and stage of lung cancer. RESULTS: Glucose concentrations showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences both between lung cancer subtypes and stages, with the highest levels in patients with other lung neoplasms (me = 130.5 mg/dL) and in patients with stage IIB lung cancer (me = 132.0 mg/dL). In patients with advanced lung cancer, IL-6 and LDH had considerably higher concentration and activity. There was also a significant positive correlation between IL-6 and MMP-9 in adenocarcinoma and SqCC, with correlation coefficients of 0.53 and 0.49, respectively. The ROC analyses showed that the best single biomarkers for distinguishing adenocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma are glucose, CRP, and CYFRA 21-1; however, their combination did not significantly improve sensitivity, specificity, and the AUC value. The combinations of IL-6, glucose, LDH and CEA, IL-6, SAA1, MMP-9, and lactate can distinguish patients with stage IIB lung cancer from those with stage IIA with 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and with an AUC value of 0.8333 and 1.0000, respectively, whereas the combination of CEA, IL-6, and LDH can identify patients with stage IIIA lung cancer from those with stage IIB with 72.73% sensitivity, 94.44% specificity, and an AUC value of 0.8686. CONCLUSION: There is a link between biomarkers of tumor microenvironment changes and tumor markers, and combinations of these markers may be clinically useful in the differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as lung cancer stages IIB and IIA, and IIIA and IIB.

Genetic Markers in Lung Cancer Diagnosis: A Review.

Lung cancer is the most often diagnosed cancer in the world and the most frequent cause of cancer death. The prognosis for lung cancer is relatively poor and 75% of patients are diagnosed at its advanced stage. The currently used diagnostic tools are not sensitive enough and do not enable diagnosis at the early stage of the disease. Therefore, searching for new methods of early and accurate diagnosis of lung cancer is crucial for its effective treatment. Lung cancer is the result of multistage carcinogenesis with gradually increasing genetic and epigenetic changes. Screening for the characteristic genetic markers could enable the diagnosis of lung cancer at its early stage. The aim of this review was the summarization of both the preclinical and clinical approaches in the genetic diagnostics of lung cancer. The advancement of molecular strategies and analytic platforms makes it possible to analyze the genome changes leading to cancer development-i.e., the potential biomarkers of lung cancer. In the reviewed studies, the diagnostic values of microsatellite changes, DNA hypermethylation, and p53 and KRAS gene mutations, as well as microRNAs expression, have been analyzed as potential genetic markers. It seems that microRNAs and their expression profiles have the greatest diagnostic potential value in lung cancer diagnosis, but their quantification requires standardization.

Markers Useful in Monitoring Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Lung Cancer Patients: A Review.

In 2018, lung cancer was the most common cancer and the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for a 1.76 million deaths. Radiotherapy (RT) is a widely used and effective non-surgical cancer treatment that induces remission in, and even cures, patients with lung cancer. However, RT faces some restrictions linked to the radioresistance and treatment toxicity, manifesting in radiation-induced lung injury (RILI). About 30-40% of lung cancer patients will develop RILI, which next to the local recurrence and distant metastasis is a substantial challenge to the successful management of lung cancer treatment. These data indicate an urgent need of looking for novel, precise biomarkers of individual response and risk of side effects in the course of RT. The aim of this review was to summarize both preclinical and clinical approaches in RILI monitoring that could be brought into clinical practice. Next to transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGFß1) that was reported as one of the most important growth factors expressed in the tissues after ionizing radiation (IR), there is a group of novel, potential biomarkers-microRNAs-that may be used as predictive biomarkers in therapy response and disease prognosis.

N-acetyl-beta-D-Glucosaminidase in Tissues of Rats Chronically Exposed to Cadmium and Treated with Ozone.

Our aims were to evaluate N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity in an experimental rat model of chronic exposure to cadmium and its response to ozone therapy. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control, cadmium only, cadmium and oxygen, cadmium and ozone, and ozone only. Cadmium concentration (ASA method) and NAG activity (by the Maruhn method) were determined in the supernatants of the kidneys, liver, and pancreas. The histopathological alterations were evaluated in tissue sections.The highest concentration of cadmium and NAG activity was observed in rats intoxicated with cadmium. Ozone therapy led to a decrease in cadmium accumulation in the kidneys and liver. An examination of renal, hepatic and pancreatic tissues revealed severe histopathological lesions in Cadmium group (Cd) treated animals. The histopathological changes in animals treated with ozone were similar, but with slightly decreased intensity. Positive correlations between histochemical lesions, NAG activity and cadmium concentration in the study groups were observed. It has been shown that chronic cadmium intoxication has cytotoxic activity in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas, causing an increase in NAG activity. Ozone therapy significantly reduces NAG activity and the severity of histopathological lesions in the kidneys and liver, confirming its beneficial effects.

Relationship between somatostatin and interleukin-6: A cross-sectional study in patients with acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the analysis is to determine dynamic changes in somatostatin (SS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations during in acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: The influence of tobacco smoking on IL-6 and SS levels in the serum of non-smoking (n = 10) and smoking (n = 27) patients with diagnosed AP and control group: non-smoking (n = 44), smoking (n = 42) and passive smoking (n = 29) healthy persons was proved. The concentration of IL-6 and SS was determined by means of ELISA. Differences between the groups analyzed were tested using the U Mann Whitney test. The Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlations. RESULTS: The concentrations of IL-6 and SS were significantly higher in smoking patients with AP and healthy persons when compared with non-smoking population on every day (1 day: p = 0.0002, p = 0.015; 3 day: p = 0.005, p = 0.001 and 7 day: p = 0.025, p = 0.038). Dynamic changes in concentrations of IL-6 and SS in the serum of patients with AP were demonstrated in the ensuing days of the disease. In case of non-smoking and smoking patients, significant positive correlations between IL-6 and SS was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that some of the antiinflammatory effects of SS against acute pancreatitis may be mediated by reducing the local proinflammatory cytokine secretion in the pancreas.

Diabetes mellitus secondary to pancreatic diseases (type 3c): The effect of smoking on the exocrine-endocrine interactions of the pancreas.

The present study was conducted to ascertain how cigarette smoke affects the exocrine-endocrine interactions of the human pancreas with diabetes mellitus secondary to pancreatic diseases (type 3c). Blood has been collected from smoking and non-smoking healthy individuals as well as from patients with diagnosed chronic pancreatitis and diabetes type 3c. The concentrations of interleukin-6, endothelin-1 and insulin in the plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. The activities of amylase and lipase in the serum, as well as the lipid profile, creatinine, uric acid and urea concentrations, were measured using colorimetric methods. Samples of normal pancreatic tissue and chronic pancreatitis were verified histopathologically and then interleukin-6, endothelin-1, insulin and glucagon were localized by immunohistochemical staining using a monoclonal anti-human antibody. The highest levels of interleukin-6 and endothelin-1 and the lowest levels of insulin and glucagon intensity from the immunostaining were observed in smoking patients with diabetes. In all smoking patients with pancreatitis and diabetes, there was a significant elevation in interleukin-6 and endothelin-1 concentration and amylase and lipase activities, hyperlipidaemia and a lower value of estimated glomerular filtration rate and blood urea nitrogen when compared to non-smokers. Our study confirmed that smoking exerts a pro-inflammatory effect and disturbs the exocrine-endocrine interactions of the pancreas.

Influence of oral contraceptives on lipid profile and paraoxonase and commonly hepatic enzymes activities.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to verify the influence of oral contraceptives (OCs) on lipid profile and the arylesterase, lactonase and phosphotriesterase activities of paraoxonase 1 (PON1). Also commonly hepatic enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyltranspherase (GGT) were measured. METHODS: Lipid profile and hepatic enzymes were determined using commercial available reagents. Paraoxonase activities were estimated using earlier published procedures. Blood samples were collected from 120 women of similar age (22.6±1.0 years) with similar BMI (20.71±2.20 kg/m2 ). Participations were divided into two groups: 74 females do not take (group A) and 46 women taking OCs (group B). RESULTS: Higher triglycerides and lower low-density lipoproteins levels were observed in group B than in group A) (56.9±19.7 mg/dL. Castelli risk index I was significantly higher in group B when compared to group A (P<.0001), whereas we did not observe any statistically significant differences in Castelli risk index II value between studied groups. In group B, increase in ALT, AST and GGT activities were found, while the de Ritis ratio was lower in group B than in group A. In group B, lower phosphotriesterase activity and higher arylesterase and lactonase activities were found when compared to group A. CONCLUSION: Higher ALT, AST and GGT activities in serum as well as changes in lipid profile and PON activities can indicate that OCs usage can cause disorder in these parameters in the serum of women taking OCs.

The impact of smoking on the development of diabetes and its complications.

Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders and emerges secondary to an interaction between genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. This work provides an overview of the impact of smoking on the development of vascular complications in this condition and also provides an overview of the potential role of smoking in predisposition to diabetes. There are many studies documenting the impact of smoking on health (not focused on patients with diabetes), suggesting that the health exposure in these individuals is at least comparable to that observed in the general population. Distinct studies of smoking in patients with diabetes have unambiguously confirmed an increased prevalence and a higher risk of early death associated with the development of macrovascular complications. Smoking is also associated with premature development of microvascular complications and may contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that smoking is a predictor of the progression of glucose intolerance at both the transition from normoglycaemia to impaired glucose tolerance status and the increased risk of developing diabetes. The mechanisms explaining the relationship between smoking and the development of diabetes are not fully understood, although a number of hypotheses have been put forward. Current evidence indicates that smoking cessation is not only important to prevent macrovascular complications in diabetes, but also has a role in limiting microvascular disease and may also facilitate glycaemic management in this condition.

The effect of ozone on the expression of metallothionein in tissues of rats chronically exposed to cadmium.

Our aims were to evaluate the expression of metallothionein (MT) in an experimental rat model which experienced chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd) and to measure its expression after ozone therapy (OT) or oxygen (Ox) in the same model, as compared to the control group, which was exposed to neither cadmium nor ozone. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: control, Cd, Cd and Ox, Cd and Oz, and Oz. During our research, Cd concentration (ASA) and MT concentration (ELISA) were determined in supernatants of the kidneys, liver and pancreas. SDS-PAGE analyses and immunohistochemical localization were used to evaluate the level of MT expression in the tissue. In rats intoxicated with Cd, the highest concentration of both Cd and MT was observed in the kidneys and liver, with a significantly lower concentration measured in the pancreas. Ozone therapy reduces the accumulation of cadmium in the liver and kidneys, resulting in a reduced expression of metallothionein in those tissues.

The role of pancreatic polypeptide in pancreatic diseases.

The aim of this study was to review the diagnostic significance of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) in pancreatic diseases. PP may play a significant role in monitoring the development of the disease and the patient's healing process, particularly after the removal of a portion of the pancreas. Determining PP in acute pancreatitis is quite controversial. At the 1st stage of severe pancreatic damage, there is excessive PP release followed by its fall. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, a significant decrease in PP secretion was found in the presence of a food stimulant. In this case, PP could be a good marker for determining the stage of pancreatitis. Pancreatic polypeptide also functions as a hepatic glucose regulator. PP increases hepatic insulin sensitivity, resulting in reduced hepatic glucose production. Therefore, impaired hepatic insulin sensitivity in chronic pancreatitis is abrogated after the PP administration. Endocrine pancreatic tumors initially grow without specific symptoms. In contrast, they are almost always correlated with elevated serum pancreatic polypeptide. Therefore, the level of PP may be a good diagnostic parameter confirming the presence of pancreatic cancer. Depending on the type of disease, the polypeptide concentration can be increased or decreased, evidencing the disease progress or regression.

Distribution of Pancreatic Polypeptide-secreting Endocrine Cells in Nondiabetic and Diabetic Cases.

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the effects of cigarette smoking and ongoing inflammation in chronic pancreatitis on the functioning of pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-secreting cells and to determine the relationship between the occurrence of an increased number of PP cells in the pancreas, the change in their location, and the intensity of their inflammatory changes in the course of pancreatitis and diabetes. Samples of tissues from healthy persons and from patients were verified histopathologically, and then PP was localized by immunohistochemical staining using the monoclonal anti-human PP antibody. The histopathologic evaluation of the hormone expression intensity in tissue sections was carried out using the semiquantitative method and was calculated with digital image analysis. The present study showed a very strong PP expression in the pancreatic tissue (especially in the head of the pancreas) derived from smoking patients with diabetes. The increase in the percentage of cells in the PP islets, between the acinar cells in smoking patients with diabetes and a statistically significant increase in the expression of PP, indicates a pancreatic endocrine dysfunction and suggests that cigarette smoking has a negative impact on the organ's efficiency. Because of its properties, the PP appears to be a useful marker of the endocrine insufficiency of the pancreas and a specific prognostic parameter of developing diabetes due to chronic pancreatitis.

Somatostatin expression in the pancreatic cells of smoking and non-smoking chronic pancreatitis patients with or without diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the analysis is to determine the location and degree of the hormone immunoreactivity in tissues of patients with chronic pancreatitis and diabetes. METHODS: The study was performed on 11 non-smoking and 12 smoking patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) with/without diabetes. The hormone was located in the pancreatic tissues by means of the immunohistochemical method using somatostatin antibodies. The histopathological evaluation of the hormone expression intensity in tissue sections was carried out using the semi-quantitative method and was calculated by means of a digital image analysis. RESULTS: The hormone's strong immunohistochemical reaction and the modified D-cell location may be a result of the pancreatic tissue fibrosis process prevention in patients with CP. Changes in the intensity of SS immunoreactivity and the D-cell distribution in the pancreas of patients with CP and diabetes may possibly result from the additional hormone compensatory effect in the excessive glucagon secretion inhibition. Smoking patients with diabetes showed significantly higher hormone immunostaining in the pancreas compared to non-smoking patients without diabetes and healthy persons. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of histopathological changes in smoking CP patients indicates that the cigarette smoke components may further exacerbate the inflammatory reactions. Patients with CP were found to have a strong immunohistochemical reaction to SS and changes in the distribution of D cells when compared to healthy patients. The strongest immunohistochemical SS reaction has been identified in the pancreatic tissue from smoking patients with diabetes.

[Psilocybin - public available psychodysleptic]. / Psylocybina ­ ogólnodostepny psychodysleptyk.

Substances of plant origin have been used to induce hallucinations for a long time, in religious ceremonies and rituals as well as in pain relief. Psilocybin and psilocin naturally occur in the fungal genus Psilocybe. Due to the psychedelic effects and relative harmlessness of these substances and the fact that they do not cause physical addiction, psilocybin and psilocin recently have been increasingly replacing synthetic psychodysleptics, such as diethylamide D-lysergic acid. Both compounds as psychoactive substances are illegal, but psilocybin, in addition to psychotropic action, also shows positive effects, which from a medical point of view indicate its therapeutic potential and capacity for use in therapy. However, poisoning by psilocin and its derivatives is still a major clinical and social problem, mainly among young people, which is why quick and reliable identification of these substances is very important. Traditional ways of assigning the sample to a particular taxon, such as morphological and biochemical analysis or palynological and sporological studies, are not very universal and often do not provide clear results. Credibility, high speed and lower cost of DNA analysis make genetic methods more often used to determine the species of fungi. These methods are random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and high resolution melting (HRM). Moreover, analysis of the regions ITS1 and nLSU was suggested as a valid method for application in the molecular taxonomy of fungi for forensic purposes. Modern methods of identifying psilocybin and psilocin in fungi and biological material are: zone capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The mentioned methods are successfully used for the identification of psychoactive substances in fungi as well as in blood and urine samples.

[The knowledge of students and teachers of selected groups about the OTC drugs containing codeine and pseudoephedrine--an alternative to "legal highs"?]. / Stan wiedzy uczniów i nauczycieli wybranych srodowisk na temat leków OTC zawierajacych kodeine i pseudoefedryne--alternatywa dla "dopalaczy"?

BACKGROUND: Currently the youth to intoxication increasingly used drugs generally available over the counter (OTC, Over-The-Counter drug) containing psychotropic substances. The knowledge on the subject among parents and teachers is inadequate. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge of students and teachers about OTC drugs containing codeine or pseudoephedrine and their consequences on the use and popularity of these drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted from December 2014 to March 2015 of 93 respondents. In conducting the study used research tool in the form of an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 21 questions for the students and teachers of 16 questions, the questions relate knowledge of the studied group persons on the OTC drugs containing codeine or pseudoephedrine and the effects of their use. RESULTS: Among the students participating in the study, the majority of respondents are aware that using drugs containing codeine or pseudoephedrine can be addicted to them. Higher knowledge on this subject have demonstrated high school students, but less teachers. Most of the respondents had knowledge about the health effects that result from an overdose of these drugs. Among the students most frequently reported sources of knowledge about OTC drugs containing codeine or pseudoephedrine were friends and the Internet. CONCLUSIONS: The general knowledge of high school students and teachers on the effects of OTC medications containing codeine or pseudoephedrine is not sufficient. There is a need to conduct preventive and educational action aimed at increasing knowledge among youth and adults on the health effects of these drugs.

The effect of smoking on endothelin-1 in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

The aim of this study is to prove the influence of tobacco smoking on the endothelin-1 (ET-1) level in the plasma and on the immunohistochemical localization in the pancreatic tissues. The blood was collected from 50 healthy individuals and 63 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). The ET-1 and cotinine concentrations in the plasma were estimated by ELISA. Samples of tissues of the normal pancreas and CP were verified histopathologically, and then ET-1 was localized by immunohistochemical staining using the monoclonal anti-human ET-1 antibody. The intensity of immunohistochemical reaction was calculated with the semiquantitative Digital Imaging Methodology. The study demonstrated a significant concentration of ET-1 in smoking healthy individuals and in patients with CP when compared with the nonsmoking population (P=0.003 and 0.0005, respectively). A significantly stronger immunohistochemical ET-1 reaction was observed in the tissue of smoking patients with CP than in the normal pancreatic tissue and of nonsmoking CP patients (P=0.001, 0.008, and 0.03, respectively). The presented data evidence that tobacco smoking has a direct effect on the endothelium, leading to an increased level of ET-1.