Polish validation of the University of Washington "quality of life" questionnaire in patients with cancer of the larynx.

The University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire version 4 (UW-QoLv4), in English, is used worldwide to assess the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer. The use of such a questionnaire in other languages requires translation and validation in that language, and our aim was to translate it into Polish (which we did) and validate it in a group of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer who had been considered free of disease for at least six months during routine follow-up visits to the Lower Silesian Oncology Center, Wroclaw. Using the Polish version of the questionnaire, 66 patients filled in the translated version of UW-QoLv4 and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaires, which were compared and analysed. Results showed good reliability, which was confirmed by internal consistency (Cronbach's' α=0.765-0.809). The construct validity was confirmed, with strong relations between the UW-QoLv4 and the EORTC scale (p<0.05). We conclude that the Polish version of the UW-QoLv4 questionnaire seems to have been translated well, is valid, and is valuable for the assessment of quality of life among Polish patients with cancers of the head and neck.

[The determination of Cu, Cd, Pb, Co and Ni in material with the use of the ICB-AES method]. / Oznaczanie sladowych ilosci Cu, Cd, Pb, Co i Ni w materiale roslinnym technika ICP-AES.

The purpose of the study was utilization of emission atomic absorption spectrometry with excitation in induction-coupled plasma for determination of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Co(II) i Ni(II) in plant material. The possibility of using inorganic carrier for separation of trace amounts of heavy metals from aqueous solution is presented. Optimal conditions for coprecipitation of metal ions with Mg(OH)2 as well as for their determination by means of the ICP-AES method are described. The conditions of heavy metals separation and concentration make possible determination of the metals in the concentration from 0.01 to 0.20 microgram/ml by the ICP-AES. As a result simple method was elaborated for group concentration and determination of the above mentioned metals in samples of plant material. The studied food products were mineralized with concentrated HNO3, HClO4 and perhydrol. The method of preconcentration and determination was used for metals determination in dairy products in concentrations about 5 x 10(-5)%. As a result simple and economical method was elaborated for group preconcentration and determination of the above mentioned metals in samples of plant material.

Environmental programming of heritable epigenetic changes in paramutant r-gene expression using temperature and light at a specific stage of early development in maize seedlings.

Different heritable expression-states were programmed into R alleles from R/R-1st heterozygotes under different temperature conditions applied during a developmental period in which flowering is induced. At maturity, R-allele expressions in test crosses of male gametes derived from R/R-1st seedlings raised 15 days in 32 degrees and continuous light conditions differed significantly from those of sib seedlings raised for 15 days in 22 degrees and continuous light conditions and shifted to six 12-hr light-dark cycles, day 16-21. This experiment provides the first evidence in higher organisms that environmental conditions, applied at a specific stage of development cause a heritable change in a specific allele expression. My earlier evidence required a statistical analysis for demonstrating heritable change; I present photographic evidence of this environmental effect on four R alleles.

[Determination of lead (II) in food using the ICP-AES method after condensation on the lanthanum carrier]. / Oznaczanie olowiu (II) w zywnosci metoda ICP--AES po zageszczeniu na nosniku lantanowym.

The purpose of the study was utilization of emission atomic absorption spectrometry with excitation in induction-coupled plasma, and molecular spectrometry for determination of lead in milk and dairy products after condensation in ammonia atmosphere. Two methods were proposed for lead condensation on lanthanum carrier--in form of hydroxide or sulphide. By coprecipitation of lead on lanthanum in ammonia atmosphere lead separated and selectively condensed. Other metals (Zn, Cd, Cu) coexistent in food products remained as amino complexes in the solution. The sediment remaining after lead condensation was dissolved in 2 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid solution. The selected conditions of lead separation and condensation make possible determination of the metal in the concentrations from 0.01 mcg/ml to 0.2 mcg/ml by the ICP-ARS and dithizone methods. The method of condensation and determination was used for lead determination in milk and dairy products in concentrations below 1.5 x 10(-5)%. The studied food products were mineralized with concentrated HNO3, H2SO4 and perhydrol. This mineralization method makes it possible to determine in one mineralisate directly copper and zinc by ICP-ARS and dithizone methods, and lead after condensation. The obtained results were precise and reproducible.