Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) is a new entity in children, likely associated with previous coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Most of reports about PIMS come from countries particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to investigate the nature of inflammatory syndromes in Poland (a country with low COVID-19 prevalence) and to perceive the emergence of PIMS in our country. On May 25th, we have launched a nationwide survey of inflammatory syndromes in children for retrospective (since 4th March 2020) and prospective data collection. Up to 28th July, 39 reported children met inclusion criteria. We stratified them according to age (<5 and ≥ 5 years old) and COVID-19 status. The majority of children had clinical and laboratory features of Kawasaki disease, probably non-associated with COVID-19. However, children ≥5 years of age had PIMS characteristics, and 9 children had COVID-19 confirmation. This is the first to our knowledge report of PIMS register from the country with low COVID-19 prevalence, and it proves that PIMS may emerge in any area involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. In a context of limited COVID-19 testing availability, other risk factors of PIMS, e.g. older age should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory syndromes in children.

There is an urgent need to seek new molecular biomarkers helpful in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. In this elaboration, we performed a molecular analysis of mutations and expression of genes within the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in patients with ductal breast cancer of various malignancy levels. We recognized significant correlations between the expression levels of the studied genes. We also performed a bioinformatics analysis of the data available on the international database TCGA and compared them with our own research. Studies on mutations and expression of genes were conducted using High-Resolution Melt PCR (HRM-PCR), Allele-Specific-quantitative PCR (ASP-qPCR), Real-Time PCR molecular methods in a group of women with ductal breast cancer. Bioinformatics analysis was carried out using web source Ualcan and bc-GenExMiner. In the studied group of women, it was observed that the prevalence of mutations in the studied PIK3CA and AKT1 genes was 29.63%. It was stated that the average expression level of the PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN genes in the group of breast cancer patients is lower in comparison to the control group, while the average expression level of the AKT1 and mTOR genes in the studied group was higher in comparison to the control group. It was also indicated that in the group of patients with mutations in the area of the PIK3CA and AKT1 genes, the PIK3CA gene expression level is statistically significantly lower than in the group without mutations. According to our knowledge, we demonstrate, for the first time, that there is a very strong positive correlation between the levels of AKT1 and mTOR gene expression in the case of patients with mutations and without mutations.

Background: Plastic bronchitis (PB) may occur not only in children following palliative Fontan procedure but also in those without underlying heart disease. We aim to assess the clinical course, therapeutic measures, outcome, and follow-up of PB in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and children without cardiac problems. Methods: This retrospective case series assessed children with PB admitted to hospital between 2015 and 2019. Parents or guardians of patients were contacted by e-mail or telephone between September 2017 and June 2019 to enquiry about recurrence of PB and strategy of treatment. The diagnosis of PB was based on the expectoration (spontaneous or during bronchoscopy) of endobronchial plugs. Results: This study delineated the clinical, histological, and laboratory features of plastic bronchitis in children following Fontan procedure (Group A) and in those without heart defects (Group B, non-CHD children). The main symptoms were cough accompanied by dyspnea, and hypoxemia with a decrease in oxygen saturation, often leading to acute respiratory failure. In children with CHD, the first episode of PB occurred at a relatively young age. Although chronic, i.e., lasting more than 3 weeks, inhaled therapy was implemented in both groups of patients, the recurrences of PB were observed. The mean time to PB recurrence after the first episode in Group A was longer than that in Group B (1.47 vs. 0.265 years, p = 0.2035). There was no re-episode with recurrence of PB in 3 cases out of 10 in total in Group A (30%) and 1 case out of 4 in total in Group B (25%). While the majority of children in Group A usually developed bronchial casts on the right side, the patients in Group B (without CHD) suffered from bronchial casts located only on the left side. Conclusions: Despite many similarities, clinical, histological, and laboratory studies in the children with plastic bronchitis after Fontan’s surgery and in children without heart defects suggest that there are differences in the course of the disease in patients without CHD, such as a more advanced age of the first episode of PB, the location of plastic casts on the left side, and a stronger role of inflammatory factors and mechanisms. Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiology of PB and choose the most appropriate therapy.

The 2004, 2007, and 2013 enlargement of the EU opened up free trade opportunities, increasing trade flows and demand for products of agriculture. On the one hand, the integration processes have intensified competition between countries, and on the other hand, they have created new opportunities for them. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of European integration on the competitiveness of the agricultural sector in countries that acceded to the EU in or after 2004. The assessment of the competitiveness of the agricultural sector was made using the following indicators: land and labour productivity in agriculture, importance of the agricultural sector in the economy of the EU countries, agricultural trade balance, importance of agricultural export in total export of the EU countries, trade coverage ratio, Grubel–Lloyd intra-industry specialization indicator, and Balassa comparative advantage indicator. The analysis was carried out from 2004 to 2020 with the Eurostat statistical database. The outcome of surveys implies that a gap still exists between the old and the new member states of the European Union (EU) in the efficient utilisation of their production factors, despite an increased dynamics of growth in labour productivity compared with the old member states, the so-called EU-15. The overall competitive position of all EU-13 countries in agricultural trade on the common EU market has improved; however, individual analysis reveals disparities between respective member states. In 2020, net exporters with comparative advantage were Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Croatia, and net importers with comparative disadvantage included Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Estonia, and Malta. Latvia and Romania improved their competitive position in agricultural trade.

The research goal of this study is to assess the significance of the banking union for the stability of the financial sector in the euro area. A review of available literature, legal acts and the analysis of statistical data relevant to the research objective of the work turned out to be necessary to prepare the work. The financial crisis that began in 2007 had its source in the deregulation of financial markets, the lack of legal framework for supervisory institutions and inadequately functioning market information system. Public aid for banks in the EU within 5 years (2008-2012) amounted to nearly EUR 4 trillion. The majority of public aid (75%) was addressed to euro area banks. The largest amounts of public aid were directed to support banking systems in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. In the case of Ireland, this led to almost bankruptcy. The crisis has led to changes in the approach to the security of the financial sector including the banking sector of countries belonging to the euro area. The most important project implemented in response to the financial crisis is the banking union. The banking union is based on three pillars: the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM), the Single Deposit Guarantee Scheme (SDGS).