The understanding of microglia function in central nervous system (CNS) immune system has changed the neuroscientists’ view on CNS response to activating stimuli. Once microglia were considered a supporting cell, in the last 2 decades however they have been recognized as the prime component of CNS immune system due to their ability to actively response to both acute and chronic/persistent stimu...

BACKGROUND Dissection during laparoscopic surgery produces smoke containing potentially toxic substances. The aim of the present study was to analyze smoke samples produced during laparoscopic colon surgery using a bipolar vessel sealing device (LigaSuretrade mark). METHODS Four consecutive patients undergoing left-sided colectomy were enrolled in this pilot study. Smoke was produced by the u...

Within our everyday life, we are confronted with a variety of toxic substances of natural or artificial origin. Toxins are already used, e.g. in medicine, but there is still an increasing number of toxic compounds, representing a tremendous potential to extract new substances. Since predictive toxicology gains in importance, the careful and extensive investigation of known toxins is the basis t...

PREFACE The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) mandates that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) shall assess whether adequate information on health effects is available for the priority hazardous substances. Where such information is not available or under development, ATSDR shall, in cooperation with the National Toxicology ...

Chemical terrorism is a new threat to the security of mankind, which scale essentially exceeds the impact of use of the most modem firearms. At present time all over the world threats from different radical elements to use radioactive materials, potent poisonous substances and pathogenic microorganisms for terrorist purposes became more frequent. High-toxic chemical substances can fall in terro...

Cardio-circulatory and neurological complications may appear between the second and seventh day of treatment of severely burnt (greater than 30% of body surface, 3rd degree) patients between the 2nd and 7th day, even if their lesions follow an apparently favorable course. The purpose of the present work was to isolate substances from the sera of such patients which would be responsible for the ...