Publications (9)19.66 Total impact
-
Article: Tobacco smoking in countries of the European Union.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Existing smoking prevalence comparisons between the 'old' and 'new' members of the European Union (EU) give a misleading picture because of differences in methodology. A major EU project designed to find ways of closing the health gap between the member states, included the first ever comparison of smoking prevalence between these countries using a methodology that minimises potential biases. A detailed analysis of methods and data from the most recent nationwide studies was conducted in the adult population of 27 countries of the European Union and Russia as an external comparator. To maximise comparability, daily smoking in the age range 20-64 was used. Prevalence of current daily smoking, former smoking and never smoking were age-standardised and calculated separately for males and females. The European map of smoking prevalence shows that male smoking prevalence is much higher in the new than the old members of the EU, whereas in females the reverse is true, but there are also very large differences in smoking rates between particular countries within the same region. Sweden clearly has the lowest prevalence, and the prevalence in the United Kingdom (UK) at the time of the surveys emerges as near the average for old-Europe but higher than, for example, Ireland. Restricting the analysis to daily smokers aged 20-64 produces a map of Europe in which variation in prevalence between individual countries within regions is as important as variation across regions. Survey methods need to be harmonised across countries to enable comparisons involving all ages and non-daily as well as daily smokers.Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine: AAEM 06/2012; 19(2):181-92. · 2.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Prevalence of obesity - baseline assessment in the prospective cohort 'PONS' study.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population of Świętokrzyskie Province in Poland. Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) in the Polish-Norwegian Study (PONS) was measured in 2,567 females and 1,287 males. Anthropometric measurements included fat mass, height, weight, waist and hip circumference. BMI and WHR were calculated. Data showed that 52% of males and 42% of females were overweight (25.0 ≤ BMI<30.0 kg/m2), and the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) was 35% in both genders. The average BMI was higher in males (28.5 kg/m2) than in females (28.2 kg/m2). Analysis of WC showed that 36% of males and 45% of females had abdominal obesity, whereas measurements of WHR showed abdominal obesity in 64% of males and 79% of females. Generally, the prevalence of obesity was higher in the older age group (55-64 years) and in rural inhabitants. The prevalence of overweight increased with educational level, but the prevalence of obesity decreased with level of education in both males and females. Almost 80% of the PONS population were either overweight or obese; therefore, the PONS population is at increased risk of developing obesity-related diseases.Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine: AAEM 12/2011; 18(2):246-50. · 2.31 Impact Factor -
Article: STAT3 and apoptosis regulators: Bak and Bcl-xL in endometrioid adenocarcinomas of different estrogen receptor-α immunoprofile.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Estrogen receptor (ER) is a major feature of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. It has a significant impact on constitution of estrogen-responsiveness of this endometrial malignancy, in which STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription) becomes hyperactivated. The aim of our study was to detect immunohistochemically and compare expressions of STAT3 with apoptosis regulators (Bak and Bcl-xL) in regard to different pathological features and variably pronounced ER-α immunoprofile in 78 endometrioid adenocarcinomas. STAT3 was abundantly detected in nuclei of cancer cells in 54 cases, thus pointing at its activation as an universal nuclear transcriptional factor. Bcl-xL and Bak were expressed in cytoplasm of malignant cells in 62 and 20 cancers, respectively. STAT3 correlated both with Bcl-xL (p = 0.001, r = 0.365) and Bak (p < 0.001, r = 0.436) in all of endometrioid adenocarcinomas and variably in different subgroups of these tumours segregated in regard to grading, staging and patients' age. Remarkably, only ER-α positive cancers retained these correlations in opposition to ER-α negative tumours with negativity defined as an immunoreactivity below 10%. ER-α receptor probably enhances interactions between STAT3 and Bcl-xL to be present in statistically significant manner. Presence of ER-α receptor seems to be crucial for relationships among Bcl-xL and STAT3 to occur in endometrioid adenocarcinomas.Gynecological Endocrinology 08/2011; 27(8):536-40. · 1.58 Impact Factor -
Article: [Gap junction intercellular communication in carcinogenesis of endometrial cancer].
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: One of the mechanisms for direct cell to cell signaling is mediated by gap junctions. These junctions are formed by connexins, transmembrane proteins. Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) plays a critical role in tissue development, differentiation of cells, and regulation of tissue homeostasis. Cancer cells are characterized by growth and/or differentiation disorders. Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries. In this study we discuss the putative role of GJIC and adhesion molecules in the development of endometrial cancer The relationships of GJIC to the process of apoptosis and function of some adhesion proteins have also been underlined.Ginekologia polska 07/2011; 82(7):520-4. · 0.41 Impact Factor -
Article: ERα and ERβ expression in correlation with Ki-67, Bcl-2 and Bak in primary tumors and lymph node metastases of breast cancer: The effect of pre-operative chemotherapy.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This study aimed to assess the pre-operative chemotherapy impact on the relationship between estrogen receptor (ER) expression and markers of proliferation and apoptosis in primary and metastatic breast cancer. Immunohistochemical examinations were conducted on surgically removed ductal invasive breast cancers and their lymph node metastases in 135 patients. A total of 64 patients from this group underwent pre-operative chemotherapy and in 71 cases the surgery was performed without primary chemotherapy. A negative correlation between ERα and Ki-67 was found in primary tumors and lymph node metastases. A positive correlation was observed between ERα and Bcl-2. A positive correlation was also noted between ERβ and Bak, suggesting that the two ERs were involved in the regulation of proteins responsible for the control of the apoptotic process. Assessment of the expression of the proteins conducted separately in primary tumors and lymph node metastases did not reveal a significant effect of pre-operative chemotherapy on the correlations of ERs with Ki-67, Bcl-2 and Bak. However, the analysis of the correlations between the receptor expression in primary tumors and Ki-67, Bcl-2 and Bak in lymph node metastases showed a statistically significant impact of pre-operative chemotherapy on the correlations of ERα and Bcl-2 with ERβ and Bak, confirming involvement of the two ERs in the regulation of apoptosis during breast carcinogenesis.Oncology letters 11/2010; 1(6):1067-1071. · 0.11 Impact Factor -
Article: Liver cirrhosis mortality in Europe, with special attention to Central and Eastern Europe.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Over the last decades, Europe has experienced dramatic changes in the geographical variation of liver cirrhosis rates. We attempt to provide a comprehensive analysis of patterns and trends in liver cirrhosis mortality in European countries and regions. Age-standardized (world standard) liver cirrhosis mortality rates per 100,000 person-years at ages 20-64 for 35 separate countries were computed using the World Health Organization Mortality Database. In the analyzed period (1959-2002), a very strong East-to-West gradient in mortality rates was observed. An increase of the burden of mortality due to liver cirrhosis appeared in Eastern Europe in two specific areas: South-eastern Europe and North-eastern Europe. In the first group of countries, liver cirrhosis mortality was 10-20 times higher than in most other European states, levels never before observed in Europe. In the countries of North-eastern Europe (former Soviet Union countries) liver cirrhosis mortality was characterized by dramatic changes (both positive and negative) in specific periods of time. Despite the fact that the etiology of liver cirrhosis is multifactorial, it seems that alcohol drinking is the factor that best explains the observed patterns in frequency of this disease in Europe. Alcohol control policies in Central and Eastern Europe could lead to an appreciable reduction of premature mortality from liver cirrhosis.European Addiction Research 01/2010; 16(4):193-201. · 2.53 Impact Factor -
Article: Association between quality of cheap and unrecorded alcohol products and public health consequences in Poland.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The research aimed to study the quality of cheap alcohol products in Poland. These included unrecorded alcohols (i.e., home-produced or illegally imported), estimated to constitute more than 25% of total consumption and fruit wines. A sample of alcohol products (n = 52) was collected from local markets and chemical analyses were conducted. The parameters studied were alcoholic strength, volatiles (methanol, acetaldehyde, and higher alcohols), ethyl carbamate, inorganic elements, and food additives including preservatives, colors, and sweeteners. The compositions of the beverages were then toxicologically evaluated using international standards. With the exception of 1 fortified wine, the unrecorded alcohols were home-produced fruit-derived spirits (moonshine) and spirits imported from other countries. We did not detect any nonbeverage surrogate alcohol. The unrecorded spirits contained, on average, 45% vol of alcohol. However, some products with considerably higher alcoholic strengths were found (up to 85% vol) with no labeling of the content on the bottles. These products may cause more pronounced detrimental health effects (e.g., liver cirrhosis, injuries, some forms of malignant neoplasms, alcohol use disorders, and cardiovascular disease) than will commercial beverages, especially as the consumer may be unaware of the alcohol content consumed. Fruit wines containing between 9.5 and 12.2% vol alcohol showed problems in terms of their additive content and their labeling (e.g., sulfites, sorbic acid, saccharin, and artificial colors) and should be subjected to stricter control. Regarding the other components investigated, the suspected human carcinogens, acetaldehyde and ethyl carbamate, were found at levels relevant to public health concerns. While acetaldehyde is a typical constituent of fermented beverages, ethyl carbamate was found only in home-produced unrecorded alcohols derived from stone fruits with levels significantly above international guidelines. The contamination of unrecorded alcohols with ethyl carbamate should be analyzed in a larger sample that also should include legal alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, the impacts of unrecorded alcohol on the health of people with lower socioeconomic status should be studied in detail. Overall, given the extent of the alcohol-attributable disease burden in Poland, the highest priority should be given to the problem of ethanol and its very high content in unrecorded alcohol products.Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research 08/2009; 33(10):1757-69. · 3.34 Impact Factor -
Article: Alcohol accounts for a high proportion of premature mortality in central and eastern Europe.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: There is a west-east mortality gradient in Europe, more pronounced in men. The objective of this article was to quantify the contribution of alcohol use to the gap in premature adult mortality between three old (France, Sweden and United Kingdom) and four new (Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland) European Union (EU) member states for the year 2002. Russia was added as an external comparator. Exposure data were taken from surveys and per capita consumption records from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Alcohol Database. Mortality data were taken from the WHO databank. The risk relationships were taken from published meta-analyses and from the WHO Comparative Risk Assessment project. Alcohol exposure and relative risk information was combined to derive alcohol-attributable fractions for relevant causes of premature mortality. Alcohol consumption was responsible for 14.6% of all premature adult mortality in the eight countries, 17.3% in men and 8.0% in women. This proportion was clearly higher in the new EU member states and Russia compared with the comparison countries from the old EU. For men, Russia with 29.0 alcohol-attributable premature deaths per 10,000 population had a more than 10-fold higher rate compared with Sweden (2.7 deaths/10,000). For women, the ratio between Hungary (5.0 alcohol-attributable deaths/10,000) and Russia (4.7 deaths/10,000) compared with Sweden (0.5 deaths/10,000) was almost as high, but the rates were much lower. The Czech Republic and Poland showed proportionally less alcohol-attributable premature mortality than the other new EU member states or Russia for both genders, which, however, was still higher than in any of the old EU member states. Alcohol is a strong contributor to the health gap between western and central and eastern Europe, with both average volume of consumption and patterns of drinking contributing to burden of disease and injury. Alcohol also contributes substantially to male-female differences in mortality and life expectancy. However, there are feasible and cost-effective measures to reduce alcohol-related burden that should be implemented in central and eastern Europe.International Journal of Epidemiology 05/2007; 36(2):458-67. · 6.41 Impact Factor -
Article: GLUT1 and Bcl-xL in relation to erythropoietin in human colorectal adenocarcinomas.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: GLUT1 and EPO belong to so called hypoxia-associated markers, which exert cytoprotective actions in the hypoxia suffering cells. In oxygen deficiency Bcl-xL can also be upregulated. Therefore, we detected with immunohistochemistry and compared EPO with expressions of GLUT-1 and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL in 125 colorectal cancers. EPO correlated with GLUT-1 in all colorectal cancers (p < 0.001, r = 0.369). EPO expressions also associated with Bcl-xL (p < 0.001, r = 0.591) in all colorectal cancers. EPO correlated with GLUT-1 and Bcl-xL in subgroups of different nodal status, grading, staging, histopathological type, tumor site, patients' age and gender. However, the statistically significant relationship between EPO and GLUT-1 or Bcl-xL was lost in case of shallower neoplastic extent (pT1+pT2), but it was sustained in subgroup of deeper invading cancers (pT3+pT4) (p < 0.001, r = 0.355 and p < 0.001, r = 0.585, respectively). High expression of hypoxia dependent proteins (EPO, GLUT-1) indicates hypoxia of examined tissues of colorectal cancers. Cooperation may be reflected among the studied proteins by correlations between hypoxia dependent proteins (EPO vs. GLUT-1). Concerning functional significance of these investigated factors, subsequent promotion of cell survival could be maintained thanks to mutual impact of EPO and Bcl-xL on cellular viability in hypoxic environment of colorectal cancer.Hepato-gastroenterology 57(101):741-5. · 0.66 Impact Factor
