Neurological deficits in patients after neck injuries should arouse the suspicion of the presence of a carotid artery aneurysm. Open repair remains the method of choice in treating carotid artery aneurysms but endovascular procedures create the possibility of treating extracranial aneurysms in selected cases when open surgery is not recommended.

Glucose metabolism disorders influence anticarcinogenic function of natural killer (NK) cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number and cytotoxic activity of NK cells in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients with negative family history of cancer, type 2 diabetic subjects with newly diagnosed untreated colon cancer (T2DCC) and patients without type 2 diabetes with newly diagnosed, untreated colon cancer (CC). Incubation tests were performed in 18 T2D patients, treated with diet and oral antidiabetic agents, 16 T2DCC; cT1-4N0M0 (c-clinical diagnosis based on computed tomography, colonoscopy and histopathology) treated with diet and oral antidiabetic agents and 16 normoglycemic CC; cT1-4N0M0. Control group included 18 metabolically healthy (with normal fasting glucose and normal glucose tolerance) subjects (HS) with negative family history of cancer, matched by age, BMI and waist circumference. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by means of gradient centrifugation. The K562 human erythroleukemia cell line served as the standard target for human NK cytotoxicity assay. The T2D revealed an increased number of NK cells (13.56 ± 5.9 vs 9.50 ± 4.8 %; p < 0.05) when compared with HS, yet these cells had a decreased activity (3.3 ± 2.5 vs 9.4 ± 3.6 %; p < 0.01). The CC demonstrated a decreased activity (2.9 ± 1.8 %; p < 0.01) but a similar number (8.82 ± 3.7 %; not significant) of NK cells when compared to HS. The T2DCC NK cells were characterized by trace cytotoxic activity (1.1 ± 0.7 %; p < 0.01) and nearly three times greater amount (21.24 ± 7.5 %; p < 0.01) when compared to T2D. Type 2 diabetes and CC are associated with disadvantageous alterations of NK cells, leading to impairment in their cytotoxic activity. The impaired activity of NK cells in T2D can be involved in the increased carcinogenic risk and can promote a higher incidence of CC.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and early results of mechanochemical ablation of incompetent varicose veins using a special catheter: the Phlebogriffe. Material and methods:The design of this catheter is based on a typical diagnostic catheter. Into this catheter a metal shank, attached to which are 5 thin, curved, springy wires with sharpened ends, is introduced. After being pushed out of the catheter, these wires deploy into a cat's claw pattern. When the whole device -the catheter and shank with open claws -is being pulled out, sclerosing foam is administered. In this pilot study, which was performed in the years 2011-2013, we evaluated 40 patients with varicose veins. Efficacy of the procedure, defined as closure of the treated vein, and clinical result evaluated using the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) were assessed after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Results: Efficacy of the procedure after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months was 97.4%, 94.9%, 89.7% and 89.7%, respectively. Statistical analysis of the VCSS before the procedure and after 12 months revealed statistically significant improvements regarding pain, presence of varicose veins, oedema, number and size of active ulcers, their duration, size of active ulcers and the use of compression therapy. The average improvement in VCSS scores was 3.56 points. Conclusions:The Phlebogriffe is a device that offers new opportunities for safe and efficient treatment of varicose veins associated with incompetence of saphenous veins.

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Aim The aim of the study was to retrospectively assess the relationship between the occurrence of polyps and colon cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods In 2014-2015, 976 colonoscopy was performed in patients. We compared the number of polyps with high-grade dysplasia and colorectal cancers in patients with and without diabetes. In addition, in the diabetic group, we documented the relationship between HbA1C and the occurrence of polyps high-grade dysplasia, and colon cancer. The data were statistically analyzed. Result 1) Patients with diabetes have a higher frequency of polyps with high-grade dysplasia/ carcinoma - (32/91 (35.16%) in comparison to patients without diabetes 136/885 (15.37%), p <0.001. 2) Patients with diabetes have a higher frequency of polyps with cancer - (9/91 (9.89%) as compared to patients without diabetes in patients 18/885 (2.03%), p <0.001. 3) Colorectal cancer occurred significantly more often in uncontrolled diabetes (p = 0.022) Conclusion The conducted study shows a significant association between type 2 diabetes and the incidence of colorectal adenomas. These findings may lead to the conclusion that diabetic patients are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer thus requiring more need for a controlled colonoscopy. Therefore it may be worth to consider a scheme for screening patients in the group mentioned above by performing colonoscopy.