Maintaining an optimal vitamin D concentration reduces the risk of recurrence and extends survival time in patients after breast cancer treatment. Data on vitamin D deficiency among Polish women after breast cancer therapy are limited. Thus, the aim of the study was the analysis of vitamin D status in post-mastectomy patients, considering such factors as seasons, social habits, vitamin D supplementation and its measurements. The study involved 94 women after breast cancer treatment. Serum vitamin D concentration was measured, and a questionnaire, gathering demographic and clinical data regarding cancer, diet, exposure to sun radiation, and knowledge of recommendations on vitamin D supplementation, was delivered twice, in both winter and in summer. The control group consisted of 94 age-matched women with no oncological history. In women after breast cancer treatment, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency was much more frequent than in the general population. Only about half of the patients supplemented vitamin D at the beginning of the study. After the first test and the issuing of recommendations on vitamin D supplementation, the percentage of vitamin D supplemented patients increased by about 30% in study groups. The average dose of supplement also increased. None of the women that were not supplementing vitamin D and were tested again in winter had optimal 25(OH)D concentration. It was concluded that vitamin deficiency is common in women treated for breast cancer. Medical advising about vitamin D supplementation and monitoring of 25(OH)D concentration should be improved.

<i>Introduction:</i> Chronic abdominal pain in children is a very frequent and sometimes challenging diagnostic issue. Differential diagnosis in that cases is difficult and often connected with numerous, time-consuming, expensive, and frequently stressful diagnostic studies. The aim of the study was to establish whether fecal calprotectin concentration (FCC) and TNF-alpha may be useful in children with chronic abdominal pain to differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Methods. The study included patients (median age 13 years), who were assigned to functional gastrointestinal disorders group (n=33); inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders other than IBD (n=71), children with IBD (n=37) and 22 healthy children served as a control group. The concertation of FCC and TNF-alpha in stool samples was measured using ELISA. <i>Results:</i> In healthy children and in children with functional disorders FCCs were below 100 μg/g. In patients with IBD FCCs and TNF-alpha were markedly elevated as compare to children with functional gastrointestinal disorders, however using ROC discrimination of IBD patients was significantly better using FCC than TNF-alpha. <i>Conclusion:</i> FCC is better test for differentiation between IBD, other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, and functional gastrointestinal disorders as compare to TNF-alpha concentration in stool. FCC as screening test in patients with chronic abdominal pain should allow to diminish unnecessary diagnostic in cases of functional gastrointestinal disorders.

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