Atmospheric contamination, especially particulate matter (PM), can be associated viral infections connected with respiratory failure. Literature data indicates that intensity of SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide can be associated with PM pollution levels. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between atmospheric contamination, measured as PM2.5 and PM10 levels, and the number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths in Poland in a one-year observation study. Number and geographical distribution of COVID-19 incidents and related deaths, as well as PM2.5 and PM10 exposure levels in Poland were obtained from publicly accessible databases. Average monthly values of these parameters for individual provinces were calculated. Multiple regression analysis was performed for the period between March 2020 and February 2021, taking into account average monthly exposure to PM2.5 and PM10, monthly COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants and the population density across Polish provinces. Only December 2020 the number of new infections was significantly related to the three analyzed factors: PM2.5, population density and the number of laboratory COVID-19 tests (R² = 0.882). For COVID-19 mortality, a model with all three significant factors: PM10, population density and number of tests was obtained as significant only in November 2020 (R² = 0.468). The distribution of COVID-19 incidents across Poland was independent from annual levels of particulate matter concentration in provinces. Exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality in different provinces only in certain months. Other cofactors such as population density and the number of performed COVID-19 tests also corresponded with both COVID-19-related infections and deaths only in certain months. Particulate matter should not be treated as the sole determinant of the spread and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic but its importance in the incidence of infectious diseases should not be forgotten.

Alterations in circulating Cu and Zn are negative predictors of survival in neoplastic patients and are known during lung cancer. However, no data on predicting mortality of lung cancer patients based on the level of these elements in the blood have been presented to date. The aims of this prospective cohort study were as follows: (i) To evaluate the disturbances in serum and whole blood Cu and Zn, (ii) to assess the relationships between serum and whole blood Cu and Zn status and clinical, sociodemographic, and nutritional data, and (iii) to investigate the association of Cu and Zn status with all-cause mortality in lung cancer. Naïve-treatment lung cancer patients (n = 167) were characterized in terms of sociodemographic, clinical, and anthropometric data and dietary intake and compared with sex-matched control subjects (n = 48). Whole blood and serum Cu and Zn status was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for multiple confounders/mediators were used to estimate the association between all-cause death and Cu and Zn status. Sex, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, clinical stage, and hemoglobin, platelet, and glucose concentrations significantly differentiated Cu and Zn status. All-cause mortality in lung cancer patients was positively associated with serum Cu levels, Cu:Zn ratio, and whole blood Zn levels. However, an advanced clinical stage of disease was the strongest predictor of all-cause mortality. Circulatory status of Cu and Zn might be included in routine clinical characteristics of patients with lung cancer patients as additional prognostic variables, but only after further more detail studies.

The study aimed to assess the strength of the relationships between small dense low-density lipoproteins (sdLDL) and other parameters describing metabolic disorders and determine which of the lipid profile parameters can be used as markers of increased sdLDL concentration. The proposed model of sdLDL (examined by heparin–magnesium precipitation method) as a function of lipid parameters and atherogenic plasma indexes non-high-dense lipoproteins (non-HDL) and total cholesterol to high-dense lipoprotein ratio (TC/HDL), Atherogenic plasma index (API) is based on data from 485 participants divided into two age groups, <35≥ years. In multiple linear regression, sdLDL concentration was associated with the concentration of non-HDL-C (p = 0.043) and API value (p < 0.001) in participants <35 years, and with non-HDL-C (p < 0.001) and triglycerides (p = 0.020) concentration ≥35 years. The presence of abnormal values of API in participants <35 years and non-HDL-C in participants ≥35 years is a significant factor increasing the chances of the highest sdLDL (≥1.03 mmol/L) corresponding to Q4 in people without metabolic disorders. Different lipid parameters and atherogenicity indexes are associated with a high concentration of sdLDL depending on the age group. Abnormal API <35 years and non-HDL ≥35 years are associated with the highest sdLDL values and may be an indication for further specialist diagnosis of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Autologous platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) injection is a safe biological method used to treat various musculoskeletal diseases. By downregulation of inflammatory cytokines and stimulation of synovial fibroblasts, PRP injection is a promising adjunctive treatment for patients with chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. A major problem in comparing the results of clinical trials in this area is the considerable variability in the cytokine content of PRP. We presented the profile of selected growth factors and inflammatory cytokines in the obtained PRP samples and compared them with baseline serum levels to assess the efficacy of PRP as a source of those paracrine molecules. Additionally, we wanted to determine whether the difference is only quantitative, which would suggest the use of a cheaper alternative by injecting a large amount of autologous serum. For this purpose, we analyzed whole blood and PRP samples prepared using the Mini GPS III Platelet Concentration System (Biomet Inc., USA) in 31 subjects aged 35‐60 years. Cellular content, seven selected growth factors, and 13 human inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Multiplex bead immunoassays that use fluorescence‐encoded beads LEGENDplex™ (BioLegend, USA) and flow cytometer measurements were used. As a result, we found a statistically significant increase in four of the growth factors tested and eight of the inflammatory cytokines tested in PRP compared to blood serum. The difference is not only quantitative but also in the composition of paracrine molecules. In conclusion, the study confirmed that PRP is an efficient source of several growth factors and some inflammatory cytokines. These data provide additional insight into the potential mechanisms of PRP’s effects on cellular metabolism and inflammatory response and may contribute to a better understanding of its clinical efficacy.