Lung cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in the world and the most frequent cause of cancer deaths among men and second after breast cancer among women. Tobacco smoking is the most important risk factor of cancer development. Asbestos, radon gas, genetic factors, air pollution and passive smoking also play a significant role. Adenocarcinoma, localized in peripheral parts of lungs, is the most often diagnosed cancer among women and non-smokers. Read full text »

Instead of a cooler, Gary Cunningham’s new set of lungs arrived at UPMC Presbyterian in a high-tech box on wheels. The small machine kept the donor lungs functioning and “breathing” outside the body with a constant supply of blood and nutrients. The machine, made by Massachusetts-based TransMedics, allows the lungs to remain at a normal body temperature [1, 4]. It was one of the first case of using mechanical perfusion in normothermia for lung storage before transplanting. There are similar researches in kidney and liver transplantation. Read full text »

The end of March and the beginning of April brought the discovery (1) of Texas scientists to light. The researchers tested a little known substance – gossypin – for its action against skin cancer cells. This naturally-occurring flavone was found to inhibit in vitro human melanoma proliferation. Scientists have also observed a unique mechanism that may be responsible for this effect. Furthermore, gossypin therapy, carried out on mice model, reduced the size of melanoma tumors and increased the survival rates. And this is not the only secret property that this flower-derived flavone has. Read full text »

Melatonin gel, Smad7 protein, or perhaps some other method? Oral mucositis caused by radio and chemotherapy may be ultimately defeated soon. Scientists from Granada and Colorado, after many years of research suggest drugs that are likely to improve the quality of life and revolutionize anti side effects treatment of patients undergoing cancer therapy. Read full text »

What was only a dream for diabetics a few months ago became a fact today. A team from Institute and Clinic of General and Transplant Surgery of Baby Jesus Clinical Hospital in Warsaw had conducted revolutionary surgery of autogenous transplantation of islet cells under stomach’s mucosa(1). Read full text »

Glybera is the first drug authorized in Europe which is based on gene therapy. It is also known as the most expensive drug in the world – a therapy with the use of it is expected to cost about 1.2 million euros. The drug helps people suffering from familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (LPLD) which a rare disease of lipid metabolism. In 2012 the European Commission authorized the drug and it will be available in 27 countries of the European Union in a few months (in the second half of 2013). Read full text »

Polish scientists from Medical Genetics Institute of Warsaw Medical University discovered that tendencies to certain reactions to alcohol are genetically conditioned and may lead to an increase in probability of suicidal attempts. Read full text »

A group of Silesian Surgeons from the Cancer Centre of Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute in Gliwice announced that they are ready to perform first facial allograft transplantation in Poland and Middle-East Europe. A team of Professor Adam Maciejewski is still searching for the best match of donor and recipient. Similar surgeries have already been performed in USA, Spain, Germany, France and Belgium. Read full text »

Polish scientists from the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Science and The International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IIMCB) in Warsaw under the guidance of dr. Ewelina Knapska, Ph.D. Jacek Jaworski and professor Leszek Kaczmarek confirmed common speculations that two independent of each other neuronal pathways are responsible for triggering and inhibiting phobias. It is manifested in difficulties of phobias treatment because creating competing engrams is responsible for quenching fear. Read full text »

Robotic surgery can be considered as a “step forward” in laparoscopic surgery. Surgeon does not stand behind the operating table, but controls the intervention using a special console. The image is seen three-dimensionally, what facilitates the view of the surgical field and improves precision. The Da Vinci robots are used widely in surgeries of prostate, kidney, colon, bladder, in the cancer of head and neck, the uterus and appendages, and in tumors of the chest.

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