The research concerns analysis of cause-effect relationships occurring between condition attributes describing structure and surface-active properties and decision attributes (antimicrobial activity) of alkyl(alkylthiomethyl)dimethylammonium chlorides and alkyl(alkoxymethyl)dimethylammonium chlorides. 72 ammonium chlorides were described by 7 condition attributes concerning structure and 7 condition attributes concerning surface-active properties. Antimicrobial activity was expressed by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 (classification I) and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (classification II). The ROSE 2 (Rough Sets Data Explorer) and LEM 2 (Minimal Set Covering Algorithm) software were used to perform the analysis. Attributes with continuous values were discretized. 45 decision rules were generated in the classification I, and 38 rules in the classification II. Those described the most important dependencies between structure, surface-active properties of analyzed chlorides and their antimicrobial activity. Strong decision rules supported by large number of objects provide guidelines which may facilitate synthesis of new compounds with preferable antimicrobial properties.

Background: Non-adherence occurs in various groups of patients, including those with chronic diseases. One strategy to increase adherence among oncological patients is to individualise treatment and expand pharmaceutical care. Pharmaceutical labels that remind patients how they should take their medications are of great importance in this respect. Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate medication adherence in oncological patients, and to gather their opinions on the individual medication labelling system as an element of effective treatment. Methods: The study was conducted in 2021 among 82 patients of the oncological department of the Centre of Oncology in Radom. The research tool was a questionnaire consisting of personal data and two parts relating to the patient’s disease and the medication labelling system. Results: Nearly half of the respondents reported that they forget to take medications and how they should take them. These problems increased with the age of the patient and the number of administered medications. Of the respondents, 89% stated that the labels with dosing information are helpful. Over 67% agreed that these labels should be affixed to all medications. Nearly 90% of the respondents believed the labels should be available in all pharmacies. Conclusions: Non-adherence is a common phenomenon among oncological patients. Pharmacists providing a labelling service for medicinal products can play a significant role in reducing this phenomenon.

Introduction.A comparison of the cost of an alternative treatment regimen is the basis of the rationalisation and cost effectiveness of cancer therapy. The aim of the study was to compare two alternative treatment regimens for colorectal cancer in the III and IV advancement stage (FOLFOX4 and XELOX). Material and methods. A cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out on the basis of data collected retrospectively; considering 100 patients treated at the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz. A measure of the effectiveness of the therapy was the total survival time of patients. Data on the average survival time of patients has been obtained from clinical trials. Results. The total cost of treatment per patient was 33 879.13 PLN in FOLFOX4. In XELOX the average cost per patient was 20 023.96 PLN. The endpoint, defined as the average survival time of patients treated with the FOLFOX4 scheme amounted to 27.25 months. In the case of the use of the XELOX regimen, the average survival time was 23.65 months. Incremental costs for additional units as a result of using the more expensive treatment regimen were estimated as 46 183.47 PLN. Conclusions. The comparison of the two treatment regimens for colorectal cancer in stage III and IV, which were used in the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz, showed that the more expensive but more efficient treatment was FOLFOX4. NOWOTWORY J Oncol 2016; 66, 6: 470-476