We aimed at determining whether any association exists between genetic polymorphisms in epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1), NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1/P1/T1) and individual susceptibility to breast cancer. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism-based genotyping assays were used to determine the frequency of polymorphisms in EPHX1 (exons 3 and 4), NQO1 (exon 6), GSTM1 (deletion), GSTP1 (exon 5), and GSTT1 (deletion) in a case -control study comprised of 238 patients with breast cancer and 313 healthy individuals. The distribution of genotypes in exon 6 of NQO1 was significantly different between the control group and breast cancer cases. Age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for variant genotype NQO1*2/*2 was 3.68 (confidence interval (CI) ¼ 1.41 -9.62, P ¼ 0.008). Association of GSTP1*2/*2 genotype as well as that of low EPHX1 activity deduced by combinations of genotypes in exons 3 and 4 with breast cancer was suggestive, but nonsignificant. Individuals simultaneously lacking GSTM1 and carrying at least one GSTP1 variant allele were at significantly higher risk of breast cancer (OR ¼ 2.03, CI ¼ 1.18 -3.50, P ¼ 0.010). Combinations of either GSTM1null or GSTP1*2 with low activity of EPHX1 presented significant risk of breast cancer (OR ¼ 1.88, CI ¼ 1.00 -3.52, P ¼ 0.049 and OR ¼ 2.40, CI ¼ 1.15 -5.00, P ¼ 0.019, respectively) as well. In conclusion, the results suggest that genetic polymorphisms in biotransformation enzymes may play a significant role in the development of breast cancer.

Following laparoscopic colorectal resection, patients can be expected to have a hospital stay of under a week and return to their usual activities as early as a week after discharge from hospital and < 2 weeks from surgery in comparison to patients undergoing open surgery who take 8 weeks or more to recover.

A rapid, accurate, low-cost and time-effective method for screening ABCB1 SNPs was developed. Significant associations of ABCB1 rs2032582 and rs2214102 SNPs with prognostic factors and survival of patients were found.

Motivation: the contemporary phenomenon of financial exclusion, in the sphere of its reasons, consequences and activities aimed at its reduction can be connected, e.g., with using new technologies and financial innovations. The new dimension of such exclusion is created by the digital financial exclusion developed through a diverse set of behavioral, environmental and demographic factors. Their identification and analysis has become an essential activity influencing, e.g., the effectiveness of selective choice and application of proper tools to reduce this exclusion. Aim: identification and assessment of the determinants related to digital financial exclusion as a barrier in the adoption of mobile banking services, considered from the perspective of their impact on the segmentation of the analysed population. Results: the ranking, identified by the authors, regarding the importance of predictors indicated that the dependent variable — Y (i.e. people who have an online bank account classified based on the mobile forms of its use) is most influenced by the generation factor — X4 (1.0), followed by: personal innovativeness — X2 (0.92), digital skills — X1 (0.90) and the perceived risks of new technologies — X3 (0.66).

D clinical director and general and laparoscopic colorectal consultant surgeon, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust,