Lung tissue is directly exposed to high oxygen pressure, as well as increased endogenous and exogenous oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in these conditions play an important role in the initiation and promotion of neoplastic growth. In response to oxidative stress, the antioxidant activity increases and minimizes ROS-induced injury in experimental systems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD; isoforms: Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), along with the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in tumor and adjacent noncancerous tissues of two histological types of NSCLC, i.e., adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, collected from 53 individuals with surgically resectable NSCLC. MDA concentration was similar in tumors compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues. Tumor cells had low MnSOD activity, usually low Cu/ZnSOD activity, and almost always low catalase activity compared with those of the corresponding tumor-free lung tissues. Activities of GSH-related enzymes were significantly higher in tumor tissues, irrespective of the histological type of cancer. This pattern of antioxidant enzymes activity could possibly be the way by which tumor cells protect themselves against increased oxidative stress.

Telomerase, undetectable in normal somatic cells, plays a critical role in carcinogenesis of the majority of human tumors including lung carcinoma. The aim of our study was to determine human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in order to estimate its usefulness as diagnostic and/or prognostic factor. hTERT expression was analyzed in a group of 12 females and 28 males with NSCLC using Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR method) in cancerous and non-cancerous lung tissues. Results were analyzed according to clinical data and one-, two-, and five-year survival rates. hTERT expression in the cancerous tissue was significantly higher than in the lung parenchyma free from neoplasm infiltration (p<0.05). There was no significant association between hTERT expression in the tumor tissue and age, gender, grading or clinical stage. A significant difference in hTERT expression between two types of histopathological patterns (adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) was detected (p=0.01). No association between hTERT expression in NSCLC specimens and survival rates was found. hTERT mRNA detection by QRT-PCR in tumor and corresponding cancer-free tissues can be used as a diagnostic marker in patients with NSCLC, but seems not to be a prognostic factor.

Cholelithiasis is diagnosed in 10% of the population of the USA and Western Europe. A rare but serious complication of cholelithiasis is the obstruction of the digestive tract caused by a gall-stone (Bernard syndrome). It can add up to 1-4% of the mechanical obstructions of a small intestine among the general population but it can result in nonstriangulational mechanical obstructions of a small intestine in 25% cases among the patients over the age of 65. 5 patients have undergone an operation due to a small intestine gall-stone ileus in years 2011-2013 (within 27 months) in the General Surgery Ward of the Beskid Oncology Center - Municipal Hospital. In 4 patients simple enterotomy with a gall-stone extraction was performed. In the fifth patient enterolitotomy was conducted together with cholecystectomy and fistulotomy.

IntroductionHigh telomerase activity has been detected in the majority of malignant neoplasms including lung cancer. The purpose of the study was to attempt to use telomerase activity as a prognostic factor in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Material and methodsTelomerase activity was analyzed in 47 tissue specimens taken from patients with NSCLC. The control group consisted of 30 specimens of non-cancerous lung parenchyma. Telomerase activity was measured by means of the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP).ResultsTelomerase activity in the neoplastic tissue was significantly higher than in the lung parenchyma that was free from neoplastic infiltration. There was no significant association between telomerase activity and age, gender, tobacco smoking, histological type of the tumor, or staging (pTNM). No association was found between the level of telomerase activity in NSCLC specimens and the two-year survival rate of patients (p = 0.326). A higher level of telomerase activity in poorly differentiated tumors (G3) as compared to moderately differentiated tumors (G2) was detected (p = 0.008). A positive association was identified between telomerase activity in pulmonary parenchyma free from tumor infiltration and the presence of leukocyte infiltration (p = 0.0001).ConclusionsNo association was found between the level of telomerase activity in NSCLC specimens and the two-year survival rate of patients. The study has revealed a positive association between telomerase activity and the grade of differentiation (G) in NSCLC.

Tumor cells stimulate local angiogenesis, resulting in their further multiplication and spread. Angiogenesis is a multifaceted process in which angiopoietins participate. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) through its receptor Tie2 stimulates endothelial cell survival and the maintenance of the endothelial barrier. These phenomena can support tumour growth by promoting angiogenesis. On the other hand, overproduction of Ang-1 triggers endothelium stability and can lead to angiogenesis inhibition. Because of the ambiguous role of Ang-1, we decided to determine its clinical significance in patients with resectable NSCLC. In a group of 47 patients, tumours and the adjacent non-cancerous tissues were assessed for ANG-1 mRNA expression (using Q-RT-PCR analysis) and Ang-1 concentration (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) together with clinical parameters and the five-year survival rate. ANG-1 expression and Ang-1 concentration were higher in tumour-free tissue, showing no differences between histological types of NSCLC, clinical stage or grading and seemed not to determine the five-year survival. ANG-1 expression and Ang-1 concentration in tumour and tumour-free tissues in patients with NSCLC seem not to be useful as factors supporting either diagnostics or prognosis.