Nitroxides are stable free radicals that contain a nitroxyl group with an unpaired electron. In this paper, we present the properties and application of nitroxides as antioxidants and anticancer drugs. The mostly used nitroxides in biology and medicine are a group of heterocyclic nitroxide derivatives of piperidine, pyrroline and pyrrolidine. The antioxidant action of nitroxides is associated with their redox cycle. Nitroxides, unlike other antioxidants, are characterized by a catalytic mechanism of action associated with a single electron oxidation and reduction reaction. In biological conditions, they mimic superoxide dismutase (SOD), modulate hemoprotein’s catalase-like activity, scavenge reactive free radicals, inhibit the Fenton and Haber-Weiss reactions and suppress the oxidation of biological materials (peptides, proteins, lipids, etc.). The use of nitroxides as antioxidants against oxidative stress induced by anticancer drugs has also been investigated. The application of nitroxides and their derivatives as anticancer drugs is discussed in the contexts of breast, hepatic, lung, ovarian, lymphatic and thyroid cancers under in vivo and in vitro experiments. In this article, we focus on new natural spin-labelled derivatives such as camptothecin, rotenone, combretastatin, podophyllotoxin and others. The applications of nitroxides in the aging process, cardiovascular disease and pathological conditions were also discussed.

Nitroxides are a group of stable organic radicals of low molecular weight having a nitroxyl group > N-.O, which has an unpaired electron. The presence of this group allows a nitroxide to participate in redox reactions. They serve as mimics of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and have stimulative properties towards haemoproteins with catalase-like activity. Nitroxides oxidize Fe (II) to Fe (III) preventing the Fenton and Haber-Weiss reactions. As the radicals have the ability to scavenge other free radicals. Nitroxides are not immunogenic, and mutagenic and do not show toxicity to the human cells. The review discusses the use of nitroxide in protecting cells and tissues from the effects of UVA radiation. Preliminary studies indicate that they are more effective than conventionally used vitamins C and E and UV filters. They also protect the biological material from the effects of ionizing radiation. Nitroxides protect healthy cells and simultaneously they do not protect cancer cells from ionizing radiation. The differences in the nitroxide activity are associated with conditions prevailing in the oxidizing environment of the tumor as opposed to reducing conditions in normal cells. Nitroxides can be used as contrast agents in the magnetic resonance imaging (MR). They have ability of detection of subtle changes in redox equilibrium in the tumor tissue. Application of nitroxides in MR method allow to distinguish normal and pathological state of tissue. Successful investigations using this technique were conducted in mice with colon and brain cancer.

Introduction. Arterial hypertension is the most frequent modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature mortality globally. Availability of novel antihypertensive agents with unique pharmacological characteristics improves the efficacy and safety of antihypertensive therapy. The aim of the ALMONDS survey was to identify the attitude of Polish medical professionals towards novel pharmacological agents used in the therapy of hypertension. In particular, we sought to investigate the views regarding the "class effect" for antihypertensive agents.Material and methods. The study was conducted using a standardized survey, which was filled in by 784 specialists or trainees in cardiology, internal medicine, family medicine, and diabetology. The letter form and anonymity of the survey allowed to maximize the reliability of the collected data.Results. The majority of the study group were females 46-60 years of age. A substantial proportion of the physicians specialized in internal medicine and had more than 20 years of professional experience. The management was mostly guided by the Polish Society of Hypertension (PTNT) guidelines or the European Society of Hypertension (ESH)/European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines. In patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease, the most commonly chosen drug treatment included a beta-blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an ACE inhibitor and a vasodilating beta-blocker. The latter combination was also selected most frequently in patients with hypertension and heart failure. In women in reproductive age, a vasodilating beta-blocker and a calcium antagonist were selected most frequently, while a combination of nebivolol and zofenopril was indicated as the best in young men with hyperkinetic circulation. In patients with resistant hypertension, the most frequently chosen regimen included furosemide, amlodipine, zofenopril, and nebivolol. Another popular combination included torasemide, lercanidipine, telmisartan, and carvedilol.Conclusions. The results of our study indicate that Polish medical professionals have clear preferences regarding specific pharmacological agents within drug classes. Vasodilating agents are preferred among beta blockers, newer agents among ACE inhibitors, dihydropyridines among calcium antagonists, and loop diuretics among diuretics. This attitude is generally consistent with the 2015 PTNT guidelines.

A lek sa n d er A n d rzejew sk i, L e s z e k K a jze r, M a rcin L e w a n d o w ski KLASZTOR W OŁOBOKU W BADANIACH ARCHEO LOG ICZNYCH ROKU 1997 I Klasztor w Ołoboku, choć od dawna interesował badaczy, nie posiada nowoczesnej monografii historycznej. M iejscowość wymieniona została po raz pierwszy pod datą 1207 r., kiedy to J. D ługosz zanotował, że w kościele w Ołoboku arcybiskup gnieźnieński (Henryk Kietlicz) miał konsekrować kanonika wrocławskiego Wawrzyńca na biskupa wrocławskiego1. Informacja ta ma sporą literaturę, sugerując też, że już przed tą datą znajdował się tu kościół2. Według H. Likowskiego decyzja o powstaniu nowego konwentu związana była z powrotem w 1210 r. Henryka Kietlicza z Rzymu3. M imo że w literaturze początki klasztoru odnosi się generalnie do lat 1211-1213, to sprawa jest dość skomplikowana, gdyż J. Trawkowski zwrócił uwagę, iż przed 1211 r. funkcjonował tu (a więc wcześniej niż założenie cysterek) konwent premonstratensów, czyli norbertanów4. Być może była to filia klasztoru na Zwierzyńcu pod Krakowem. Zdaniem H. Likowskiego, a ostatnio A. Wędzkiego, przywilej fundacyjny dla cysterek opatrzony datą 20 października 1213 r. jest falsyfikatem (pochodzącym z końca XIII w.), którego 1 Jana D ł u g o s z a , R oczniki..., ks. piąta i szósta, Warszawa 1975, s. 253. A . W ę d z k i , Region ostrow ski iv średniowieczu, [w:] O strów W ielkopolski. Dzieje m iasta i regionu,