Piotr Bodzek

The article presents literature review on the presence and nature of MNPs in drinking water and natural water used for its production, and their removal in processes used in DWTPs. MNPs of various types are present in raw drinking water reach DWTPs. The concentration) of MNPs in the freshwater supplying DWTPs can vary significantly from approximately 0 to several thousand particles/L. The most commonly shapes of these contaminants in water for drinking water production, including seawater, river water, and even groundwater are fibers, fragments, film, foam, and granules. Polymer types of MNPs found in raw waters reflected plastic production and polymer density. Studies have shown the release of MNPs into treated water during purification and transport of raw water feeding DWTPs. The research indicate that conventional/typical DWTPs treatment systems are not effective in the removal of MNPs, so they are present in tap water and bottled water, ranging from a few to several thousand particles/L. MNPs pose a new risk to human health. Exposure pathways, toxicological data and the likelihood of adverse health effects must be taken into account. Drinking water is one of the main routes of exposure to MNPs, although data on adverse effects in humans are still limited, but studies indicate toxic effects. Furthermore, the role of MNPs as carriers of other toxins, such as chemicals added to or adsorbed onto plastics, poses an-other challenge. Further research is needed in: (i) determination and characterization (size, shape, polymer composition) of MNPs in surface and groundwater as well as drinking water should become an important part of various water quality monitoring programmers, (ii) removal of MNPs by various unit processes that can be used in water treatment and development of new processes for removing MNPs, (iii) elimination of single-use plastic products, develop appropriate rules for plastic recycling, and increase efforts to develop biodegradable materials to replace plastics.

Micro- and nanoplastics (NPs) cannot be completely removed from water/wastewater in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). According to the literature analysis, membrane processes, one of the advanced treatment technologies, are the most effective and promising technologies for the removal of microplastics (MPs) from water and wastewater. In this article, firstly, the properties of MPs commonly found in water and wastewater treatment and their removal efficiencies are briefly reviewed. In addition, research on the use of microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO), and membrane bioreactors (MBR) for the remediation of MPs and NPs from water/wastewater is reviewed, and the advantages/disadvantages of each removal method are discussed. Membrane filtration is also compared with other methods used to remove MPs. Furthermore, the problem of membrane fouling by MPs during filtration and the potential for MPs to be released from the polymeric membrane structure are discussed. Finally, based on the literature survey, the current status and gaps in research on MPs removal by membrane technologies are identified, and recommendations for further research are made.

Wstęp: Rola końcowych produktów zaawansowanej glikacji (advanced glycation end products – AGEs) w patomechanizmie nadciśnienia tętniczego została udowodniona, jednak niewiele jest informacji na temat wpływu AGEs na przebieg stanu przedrzucawkowego (pre-eclampsia – PE). Celem pracy była ocena profilu stężeń zaawansowanych produktów glikacji białek u kobiet ciężarnych z rozpoznaniem PE.Materiał i metody: Oznaczenia stężeń AGEs, karboksymetylolizyny (carboxymethyllysine – CML), karboksyetylolizyny (carboxyethyllysine – CEL) i metyloglioksalu (methylglyoxal – MG) w surowicy badanych kobiet wykonano metodą immunoenzymatyczną.Wyniki: Stężenia AGE i CML były niższe w grupie kobiet z PE w porównaniu z grupą kobiet nieciężarnych (p = 0,0411 i p = 0,0072). Stwierdzono niższe stężenie CML u zdrowych ciężarnych w porównaniu ze zdrowymi nieciężarnymi (p = 0,00068). Stwierdzono dodatnie korelacje pomiędzy stężeniem AGE i CML u kobiet z PE (R = 0,339, p = 0,032) oraz pomiędzy CML i CEL u zdrowych kobiet nieciężarnych (R = 0,447, p = 0,012).Wnioski: Sugerujemy, że w czasie ciąży dochodzi do zmniejszenia intensywności nieenzymatycznej glikacji białek. Ponadto nasze badanie wskazuje, że izolowane PE może być związane z innym patomechanizmem niż przewlekłe nadciśnienie tętnicze i dlatego AGEs nie mogą być obecnie uważane za marker PE.

Objectives: Ovarian cancer remains a very common cause of death among women worldwide. The cause is to be found in too late of a diagnostic process and therapeutic difficulties The presence of heat shock proteins in the serum of ovarian cancer patients is still a new area of study. It is necessary to continue studies on the possibilities for using these markers to predict a patient’s response to a specific therapy and to monitor treatment progress. Material and methods: The study included 52 women with ovarian cancer, hospitalised at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Oncological Gynaecology, Medical University of Silesia. The control group consisted of 25 healthy women. The levels of HSP27 in the studied sera were determined by an immunoenzymatic method (ELISA). Results: The mean concentration of HSP27 in the group of patients with ovarian cancer was significantly higher than in the control group of healthy women. We have shown that mean HSP27 levels in ovarian cancer patients increase with tumour progression and further depend on the clinical stage of the disease (FIGO). Positivity values analysis revealed in all clinical stages of ovarian cancer, excluding stage 1, it was significantly higher than in the control group, and at the 4^th stage, it is significantly higher than at the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd stages. However, both for the untreated patients and those patients after chemotherapy, the mean HSP27 levels were significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusions: Our studies indicate a significant contribution of HSP27 to the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. It seems that serum HSP27 can be a marker for this cancer’s development, and a marker for the clinical stage. Objectives: Ovarian cancer remains a very common cause of death among women worldwide. The cause is to be found in too late of a diagnostic process and therapeutic difficulties The presence of heat shock proteins in the serum of ovarian cancer patients is still a new area of study. It is necessary to continue studies on the possibilities for using these markers to predict a patient’s response to a specific therapy and to monitor treatment progress. Material and methods: The study included 52 women with ovarian cancer, hospitalised at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Oncological Gynaecology, Medical University of Silesia. The control group consisted of 25 healthy women. The levels of HSP27 in the studied sera were determined by an immunoenzymatic method (ELISA). Results: The mean concentration of HSP27 in the group of patients with ovarian cancer was significantly higher than in the control group of healthy women. We have shown that mean HSP27 levels in ovarian cancer patients increase with tumour progression and further depend on the clinical stage of the disease (FIGO). Positivity values analysis revealed in all clinical stages of ovarian cancer, excluding stage 1, it was significantly higher than in the control group, and at the 4^th stage, it is significantly higher than at the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd stages. However, both for the untreated patients and those patients after chemotherapy, the mean HSP27 levels were significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusions: Our studies indicate a significant contribution of HSP27 to the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. It seems that serum HSP27 can be a marker for this cancer’s development, and a marker for the clinical stage.

Objectives: Heat shock proteins are overexpressed in many human malignancies. The role of heat shock proteins as a therapeutic target in cancer as well as their association with drug resistance were widely documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of IgG class HSP27 and HSP60 antibodies in serum of patients with endometrial and cervical cancer, as well as to analyse the variability of concentrations of the examined antibodies depending on the cancer stage. Results: In both endometrial and cervical cancer, the serum concentration of IgG anti-HSP27 antibody was significantly higher than in the healthy control group. The concentration of IgG anti-HSP60 antibody in endometrial cancer, cervical cancer and healthy control was similar. The median IgG anti-HSP27 antibody serum concentration of endometrial cancer patients was not correlated with FIGO-stage. In cervical cancer inverse correlation between concentration of this antibody and FIGO stage was observed. The median IgG anti-HSP60 antibody concentration in serum of endometrial cancer patients was lower in FIGO stage I and II compared to FIGO stage IV and in FIGO stage IA compared to FIGO stage IB. Concentrations of examined antibodies correlated positively with each other, both in the group of women with cancer and in the group of healthy women. The strongest correlations were found in the group of patients with endometrial cancer. Conclusions: Concentration of anti-HSP27 antibody could help in detection of cervical and endometrial cancer. We need to look for the cut-off point in large cohort studies. Anti-HSP27 and anti-HSP60 antibodies should be further evaluated for their potential usage as biomarkers in cervical and endometrial cancer as they shown some correlation with stage of disease. Objectives: Heat shock proteins are overexpressed in many human malignancies. The role of heat shock proteins as a therapeutic target in cancer as well as their association with drug resistance were widely documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of IgG class HSP27 and HSP60 antibodies in serum of patients with endometrial and cervical cancer, as well as to analyse the variability of concentrations of the examined antibodies depending on the cancer stage. Results: In both endometrial and cervical cancer, the serum concentration of IgG anti-HSP27 antibody was significantly higher than in the healthy control group. The concentration of IgG anti-HSP60 antibody in endometrial cancer, cervical cancer and healthy control was similar. The median IgG anti-HSP27 antibody serum concentration of endometrial cancer patients was not correlated with FIGO-stage. In cervical cancer inverse correlation between concentration of this antibody and FIGO stage was observed. The median IgG anti-HSP60 antibody concentration in serum of endometrial cancer patients was lower in FIGO stage I and II compared to FIGO stage IV and in FIGO stage IA compared to FIGO stage IB. Concentrations of examined antibodies correlated positively with each other, both in the group of women with cancer and in the group of healthy women. The strongest correlations were found in the group of patients with endometrial cancer. Conclusions: Concentration of anti-HSP27 antibody could help in detection of cervical and endometrial cancer. We need to look for the cut-off point in large cohort studies. Anti-HSP27 and anti-HSP60 antibodies should be further evaluated for their potential usage as biomarkers in cervical and endometrial cancer as they shown some correlation with stage of disease.

Wstęp: Zaburzenia jakości snu występują bardzo często wśród kobiet ciężarnych. Z badań wynika, że mają one liczne negatywne konsekwencje. Celem pracy była ocena jakości snu kobiet ciężarnych oraz porównanie do snu kobiet niebędących w ciąży.Materiał i metody: W anonimowym badaniu wzięło udział 65 kobiet ciężarnych oraz 67 kobiet z grupy kontrolnej. Kryteriami włączenia były: 18–35 lat, brak rozpoznanych i leczonych chorób psychicznych, przewlekłych, brak pracy w systemie zmianowym/nocnym, a dla grupy badanej dodatkowo ciąża o przebiegu prawidłowym. Zastosowano następujące narzędzia: autorski kwestionariusz (dane demograficzne, przebieg ciąży), skale SJS – Skala Jakości Snu oraz ESS – Skala Senności Epworth, aktygrafia.Wyniki: Całkowity czas trwania snu u kobiet ciężarnych był o ponad godzinę dłuższy niż w grupie kontrolnej, ale jego jakość była istotnie gorsza. W ciąży stwierdzono nasiloną senność dzienną. Ponad 58% ciężarnych zauważyło pogorszenie jakości snu w porównaniu z okresem sprzed ciąży. Na niską jakość snu wpływały: pozycja podczas snu, nocne kurcze łydek, konieczność wyjścia w nocy do toalety, stres, wybudzenia nocne.Wnioski: Większość kobiet ciężarnych doświadcza pogorszenia jakości snu podczas ciąży. U ponad 43% kobiet zaobserwowano obniżoną jakość snu, a u prawie 1/3 istotne nasilenie senności dziennej. Biorąc pod uwagę negatywne skutki zarówno dla kobiety, jak i dziecka, należy zwrócić uwagę na problematykę zaburzeń jakości snu poprzez edukację, badania diagnostyczne oraz promocję higieny snu. Takie holistyczne podejście może przyczynić się do polepszenia jakości snu u kobiet ciężarnych.

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is the most frequent congenital defect of the central nervous system for which there is no satisfactory alternative to postnatal treatment. On the contrary prenatal MMC surgery is conducting before birth and is aimed at protecting from Chiari II malformation. The main goal of fetal MMC repair is to improve development and life quality of children with Chiari II malformation. Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) which was published in 2011 clearly confirmed effectiveness of prenatal surgery. In this paper we compare MOMS results with our own clinical experience. Thanks to high effectiveness and significant improvement in safety of maternal-fetal surgery prenatal MMC surgery become a new standard of treatment. Abstract Myelomeningocele (MMC) is the most frequent congenital defect of the central nervous system for which there is no satisfactory alternative to postnatal treatment. On the contrary prenatal MMC surgery is conducting before birth and is aimed at protecting from Chiari II malformation. The main goal of fetal MMC repair is to improve development and life quality of children with Chiari II malformation. Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) which was published in 2011 clearly confirmed effectiveness of prenatal surgery. In this paper we compare MOMS results with our own clinical experience. Thanks to high effectiveness and significant improvement in safety of maternal-fetal surgery prenatal MMC surgery become a new standard of treatment.

A population-based organised cervical cancer screening programme (OCCSP) was introduced in Poland in 2006. In this study we have aimed to analyse whether selected parameters related to invasive cervical cancer (ICC) of patients diagnosed in two distant gynaecological oncology centres changed after the first screening round of the programme run between 2006–2008. We have run a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 189 women diagnosed with ICC between 2002–2005 (directly before introduction of the programme) and 165 patients diagnosed between 2009–2012 (just after the first screening round of the programme) and compared their age at diagnosis, histology, stage of tumours and overall survival (OS). Mean age of patients diagnosed in years 2002–2005 and 2009–2012 was 52.1 and 52.6 years respectively. Squamous cell carcinomas constituted 90.5% and 86.1% of tumours diagnosed in years 2002–2005 and 2009–2012 respectively and the rest of tumours had glandular and other histologies. 74.5% and 61.0% of women diagnosed in years 2002–2005 and 2009–2012 respectively had early ICC (FIGO—International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics stages I-IIA) and the rest had advanced disease (FIGO IIB-IV). We have noticed no significant differences in mean age of patients, histology of tumours and OS of patients with ICC diagnosed before and after the first screening round of OCSSP in Poland. Advanced stages of ICC were more commonly diagnosed after the introduction of OCSSP. Changes only in some clinical parameters of patients with ICC were noticed before and after the first screening round of OCSSP in Poland but OS of patients remained the same.