Epidemiological studies on myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in Middle-Eastern Europe are scarce. No data about the demographic, clinical, and laboratory features of Polish MDS patients have been published. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological data and toxic exposure of Polish MDS patients and their association with hematological parameters and clinical outcomes. For 15 months, 966 living MDS patients were enrolled at 24 centers (12 university and 12 community hospitals). Follow-up was conducted for the next 55 months. The percentage of patients older than 80 years (16%) was between the values for Eastern and Western countries. In patients younger than 55 years, a female predominance was observed (male/female ratio 0.70:1 vs. 1.29:1; p < 0.001). Female patients had higher platelet counts (160 × 10⁹/l vs. 111 × 10⁹/l; p < 0.001). Patients exposed to chemicals were younger than patients without such exposure; their median age at MDS diagnosis was 66 vs. 70 years (p = 0.037). Smokers had significantly lower hemoglobin concentrations (8.6 vs. 9.1 g/dl; p = 0.032) and lower platelet counts (99 × 10⁹/l vs. 137 × 10⁹/l; p < 0.001) than nonsmokers. We provide the first description of the characteristics of Polish MDS patients. Females predominated in the group aged <60 years and they had higher platelet counts. The course of the disease is affected by toxic exposure and smoking.

In this study, for the first time, we used the in vitro metallopeptidase model for the identification of a potential novel activity of defatted evening primrose seed extracts. Prepared extracts of different polarity (aqueous, 60% ethanolic, isopropanolic, and 30% isopropanolic) at concentrations of 1.5-100 microg/mL exhibited a significant and dose dependent inhibition of three tested enzymes. The 50% inhibition of enzymes activity showed that aminopeptidase N (APN) was the enzyme affected to the greatest extent with IC50 at the level of 2.8 microg/mL and 2.9 microg/mL for aqueous and 30% isopropanolic extracts, respectively. The activity of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) was quite strongly inhibited by the extracts as well. The HPLC-DAD analysis and bioguided fractionation led to the identification of four active compounds: (-)-epicatechin gallate, proanthocyanidin B3, oenothein B, and penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG). Oenothein B has been shown previously to inhibit metallopeptidases. The three other compounds are known to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), but they have not been previously reported to inhibit the NEP and APN activity. PGG and procyanidins with different degrees of polymerization, as the dominating compounds in O. paradoxa seeds, seemed to play a role in the crude extract activity.

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Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare and aggressive disease that requires multidisciplinary treatment with the use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Our retrospective study aimed to analyze the prognostic factors and treatment results in different age groups of patients. Between 1998 and 2018, 569 patients with ES were treated in two referral centers. The patients were divided into four age groups (≤10 years; 11–18 years; 19–25, and >25). The treatment results and prognostic factors were assessed for each group. For statistical analyses, we used the Chi2 test, the Kaplan–Meier estimator with a log-rank test, and the multivariate Cox model. Five-year overall survival (OS) rate was 56%. In the age subgroups: ≤10 years, 11–18 years, 19–25 years, and >25 years, the 5-year OS rates were 75%, 58%, 41%, and 52%, respectively. Favorable prognostic factors: female gender (p = 0.024), non-axial localization (p = 0.005), VIDE regimen (p < 0.001), and surgery as a local treatment (p < 0.001) dominated in the group ≤10 years. In multivariate analysis, male (HR = 1.53), axial localization (HR = 1.46), M1 status at presentation (HR = 2.64), and age > 10 years (HR = 2.29) were associated with shorter OS. The treatment results in ES are significantly better in children aged ≤10 years; the challenge is to provide therapy for adolescents and young adults. The diagnostics and treatment of ES patients must be provided in referral centers.

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