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Hair analysis is a promising tool for routine clinical screening and diagnosis of heavy metal exposure and essential trace element status in the human body. Systemic intoxications have been identified by anomalously high values of toxins in hair samples. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between smoking habit of the family members and the levels of toxic and nontoxic trace elements in hair samples of children. The randomized cross-sectional controlled study comprised of 95 children (41 girls and 54 boys) between the ages of 1 and 6 years. After written informed consent was obtained, a face-to-face interview was conducted with the families about educational background, total income of the family, and smoking habits of family members. The mineral elements considered in this study were Zn, Se, B, V, Co, Mo, Mn, iron (Fe), Be, aluminum (Al), As, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), Hg, chromium (Cr), Ag, Be, nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), Sn, and antimony (Sb). Hair mineral contents were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Sb, Fe, and Al in hair samples of children whose parents smoked were significantly higher than those whose parents were nonsmokers. The number of smokers and the frequency of smoking at home were positively correlated with Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Sb levels found. At the same time, it was found that there was no correlation between toxic element concentrations and family income or educational background excluding the levels of Cd. A correlation was observed between the smoking status of family members and levels of toxic trace elements in hair where this correlation was more significant with the levels of Pb and Cd. High socioeconomic status and the level of education of family members did not have any effect on toxic trace levels in hair samples of children.

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Gene polymorphisms of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibition (TAFI) factor have been investigated in various studies in terms of etiology (recurrence) and treatment (fibrinolytic effect) of thrombus formation. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a life-threatening disease observed in young persons. Fifty-nine patients with CVT and 100 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the case/control study. The association between TAFI gene polymorphisms -438G>A, +505A>G and +1040C>T and cerebral venous thrombosis was investigated. It was found that frequencies of polymorphic genotype and allele were not different in patients than in control group and that they were not significant for cerebral venous thrombosis.

Myringosclerosis development was significantly reduced in rats receiving myringotomy plus intraperitoneal L-carnitine. Intraperitoneal L-carnitine administration prevented fibroblastic proliferation and tympanic membrane thickening (both of which cause further tympanic membrane destruction), thus reducing myringotomy-associated morbidity. Local L-carnitine administration had limited effectiveness in this experimental setting.

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is relatively rare and, in our series, its incidence was 0.6%. According to its immunohistochemical characteristics, MpBC can be interpreted as a subgroup of triplenegative breast cancers (TNBC). Five of the presented patients resembled the subgroup of TNBC with a basaloid phenotype. The chemotherapy regimens suggested in the treatment of MpBC are platin in the epithelial subgroup and high-dose anthracycline in the mesenchymal subgroup. There is a need of new studies that evaluate different choices of treatment as MpBC has a bad prognosis and an aggressive nature.