Background: It is postulated that both individual genotype and environmental factors such as diet may modify the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). The influences of GST gene polymorphism and red meat intake on CRC occurrence in the Polish population were analyzed in this study. Methods: Genotyping was performed with the qPCR method. Results: A high frequency of meat consumption was associated with an over 2-fold increase in the risk of colorectal cancer odds ratio (OR) adjusted for sex and age = 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.3–4.4). However, after analyzing the genetic profiles, in the absence of polymorphisms of all three analyzed genes, there was no association between a high frequency of meat consumption and the occurrence of CRC. In the case of GSTM1 gene polymorphism, the high frequency of meat consumption increased the risk of CRC by almost more than 4 times (OR adjusted for sex and age = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.6–9.1). For GSTP1 gene polymorphism, a 3-fold increase in CRC risk was observed with a high frequency of meat consumption (OR adjusted for sex and age = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.4–8.1). In the case of GSTT1 gene polymorphism, the increase in risk of CRC was not statistically significant (OR adjusted for sex and age = 1.9, 95% CI: 0.4–8.5). Conclusions: The frequency of red meat intake in non-smokers increases the risk of colon cancer in the case of GST gene polymorphisms.

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumour occurring in the head and neck region. It is now understood that (human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative diseases are two very different clinical entities associated with different outcomes. We decided to assess p16 expression status in patients with oropharyngeal cancer and retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of the treatment. Meterial and methods: The evaluated group consisted of 98 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx treated in a combined way in Holycross Cancer Centre in Kielce in 2006-2014. For all patients p16 status was assessed based on the biological material. In 51 patients HPV infection was diagnosed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to produce survival curves using the log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the risk factors. The following risk factors were included: HPV status (positive, negative), sex, age, smoking, histopathological grade of the tumour, clinical stage, and systemic therapy application. For HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients independent analyses were done including aforementioned factors, excluding HPV status. Results: The observation time for HPV-positive patients was significantly longer (p = 0.0008). Fifty-eight patients died, 40 patients are alive. Number of deaths in HPV-negative patients was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.0222). A statistically significant difference in the disease-free survival probability and overall survival probability between HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients was found (p = 0.0045 and p = 0.0037 respectively). For disease-free survival a statistically significant factor of the risk of recurrence was HPV infection (p = 0.0169). For HPV-positive patients, age (p = 0.0199) and smoking (p = 0.0353) were statistically significant risk factors of recurrence. For HPV-negative patients significant risk factors of recurrence were clinical stage (p = 0.0114) and systemic therapy application (p = 0.0271). For overall survival for the entire group statistically significant risk factors were absence of HPV infection (p = 0.0123), male sex (p = 0.0426), and age (p = 0.0311). For HPV-positive patients, age (p = 0.0096) and smoking (p = 0.0387) were statistically significant risk factors of death. For HPV-negative patients significant risk factors of death were clinical stage (p = 0.0120) and systemic therapy application (p = 0.0460). Conclusions: Our data show that HPV infection is a predictor of better disease-free and overall survival in patients with oropharyngeal cancer. For HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer patients weekly given cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy can be an alternative to three weekly given cisplatin considering effectiveness and early toxicity.

All types of cytological procedures bear a burden of unequivocal reports and confusion with setting a proper clinical procedure. In 1989, The Bethesda System (TBS) was introduced to resolve many concerns in the matter of unclear classification of changes in cervical cytology. The guidelines of TBS were based on the clinical data provided, the quality of the smear assessment, unification of terminology, and updated knowledge about changes underlying cell abnormalities. It is believed that both TBS and thyroid TBS inspired the members of the Papanicolaou Society of Cytology to design and publish a modern approach to pancreatic lesion description. The presented proposal created a strong foundation for clinical management and revealed a serious risk of underdiagnosis. In light of the short time since the launch of this guide, more time is needed to estimate its impact, especially since only a few clinical centres have implemented it to this day. Streszczenie Wszystkich typów badań cytologicznych dotyczy problem dwuznacznych wyników, które utrudniają wdrożenie właściwych procedur leczniczych. Aby rozwiać wiele wątpliwości wynikających z niejasnej klasyfikacji zmian w cytologii szyjki macicy, w 1989 roku stworzono system określony od miejsca powstania jako "Bethesda system". Jego podstawowe zasady oparto na dostarczonych danych klinicznych, ocenie jakości materiału, ujednoliceniu terminologii, jak również na zaktualizowanej wiedzy o zmianach patologicznych w komórkach. Po zakończonym sukcesem włączeniu go do użytku podobne rozwiązania wdrożono do raportowania biopsji tarczycy. Można podejrzewać, że to zainspirowało członków Papanicolau Society of Cytology do opublikowania systemu klasyfikacji zmian guzowatych trzustki. Z perspektywy czasu można powiedzieć, że system Bethesda oceny zmian w szyjce macicy i w tarczycy został bardzo chętnie zaakceptowany przez patologów i klinicystów, a przedstawione klasyfikacje stworzyły fundament dla ujednoliconego postępowania klinicznego. Wydaje się, że obiektywna ocena wpływu przedstawionych propozycji na proces diagnostyczny wymaga więcej czasu.

Several clinical reports have demonstrated a spectrum of neurological manifestations of COVID-19 patients with subsequent post-mortem neuropathological findings. The aim of the case description is to show spotty inflammatory lesions in the olfactory bulb, which could lead to passing anosmia. Microscopic examination showed severe ischaemia and microglial proliferation in the olfactory bulb region. We encountered the presence of perivascular infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8). The COVID-19 pandemic brought us many new challenges concerning viral detection, transmission, abd spread, then clinical symptoms, and clinical outcome. It seems that cytotoxic T response could be a causative factor not only in respiratory tract injury but also is involved in the neural system, but further studies are required. StreszczenieDoniesienia naukowe z ostatnich miesięcy pokazują zmiany patologiczne w badaniach sekcyjnych u pacjentów, u których występowały objawy neurologiczne w przebiegu COVID-19. Celem pracy było wykazanie obecności nacieków zapalnych w obrębie opuszki węchowej, które mogą prowadzić do utraty węchu. W badaniu histopatologicznym licznych wycinków mózgu stwierdzono cechy ostrego niedokrwienia i proliferacje komórek mikrogleju w rejonie opuszki węchowej. Wykonano dodatkowe barwienia immunohistochemiczne na obecność limfocytów T (CD4 i CD8). Wykazano obecność cytotoksycznych limfocytów T (CD8) zlokalizowanych wokół naczyń krwionośnych. Wydaje się, że odpowiedź immunologiczna z cytotoksycznych limfocytów T może mieć związek nie tylko z uszkodzeniem układu oddechowego, lecz także ze zmianami obserwowanymi w ośrodkowym układzie nerwowym, co wymaga dalszych badań.

Introduction: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is regarded as the gold standard method for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but it has its limitations. Additional methods that would improve sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer (TC), especially in indeterminate lesions. Molecular tests seem to be such a tool. BRAF V600E mutation (the most common in TC) can be detected in FNAB and can be potentially a very useful ancillary marker for FNAB practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in FNAC in the early diagnosis of TC in patients with indeterminate cytology. Material and method: 2290 FNAB were performed and 147 indeterminate results (group 3, 4, and 5 of the Bethesda system) were obtained. Material from these groups was submitted for molecular tests for the occurrence of BRAF V600E mutation. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the tests were calculated. Results: Determining the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in FNAC material in groups 3 and 4 together and in group 5 is associated with sensitivity of TC diagnosis of 37.5% and 81.8%, respectively. In all cases the detection of BRAF V600E mutation was associated with histopathologically proving the presence of TC (specificity of the test -100%). Conclusions:1. The presence of BRAF V600E mutation in FNAC material is always associated with the presence of TC. 2. The usefulness of determining the presence of BRAF V600E in FNAC in cytological groups 3 and 4 is associated with low sensitivity in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. 3. Due to its high specificity BRAF V600E study may be useful in determining the scope of surgery in patients in cytological group 5. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (1): 41-47)