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Introduction: Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer with 2.2 million cases in 2020 and causes 1.8 million deaths. Early lung cancer often has no symptoms and can only be detected by medical imaging. When symptoms do appear, they are often respiratory problems --coughing, breathlessness or chest pain -- and systemic problems -- loss of appetite, weight loss, general weakness, fever and night sweats. There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer (SCLC; 15% of cases) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; 85% of cases). Material and methods: This study included evaluation of CMKLR1, PD-1, B7H3, B7H4 and HHLA2 expression, along with CD8 + T-cell population, TILs and budding in H + E stained slides using IHC. Although there was no clear association between the analysed expressions and the T parameter, this study, which included 22 archived lung adenocarcinoma cases from patients undergoing radical lobectomy, revealed significant negative correla- tions between HHLA2 expression and tumour grade, as well as between CMKLR1 expression and tumour grade. Results: Furthermore, CMKLR1 expression among lymphocytes showed a positive correlation with TILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) constitutes 80% of all lung cancer cases, of which 25–30% are squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC). We investigated the impact of comorbidities and other risk factors on the survival of patients with SCC, including the correlation between symptoms and the maximum tumor size. Materials and methods. The study cohort included 417 patients. The Kaplan-Meier method, the Log-rank test, Gehan’s generalized Wilcoxon test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the t-test and Cox’s model of proportionality of hazards were applied. Results. The maximum tumor size exhibited a significant correlation with the presence of symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, and weight loss. Patients who presented with a positive family history of cancer, a prior history of cancer, respiratory diseases, or hypertension experienced a notably reduced survival time. Conclusions. Patient’s symptoms and their medical history are important in predicting survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignant neoplasms worldwide, responsible for over 900,000 deaths yearly. As the immunotherapies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in CRC are effective only in microsatellite unstable tumours, which are 15% of all CRC cases, new targets of immune evasion are still needed. B7H3 has been reported to mediate immune escape and promote tumour progression in numerous malignancies, but it has yet to be fully elucidated in CRC. The study investigates whether B7H3 expression is related to MSI/MSS status, tumour infiltrating lymphocytes and cytokine composition in CRC. We found that B7H3 expression is upregulated in CRC tumours and independent of MSI/MSS status. B7H3 correlated positively with cytokines supporting tumour growth and was associated with M2-macrophage polarization. Additionally, TCGA analysis showed that high B7H3 expression in CRC tumours is related to decreased survival in CRC patients. Our findings provide a novel insight into B7H3's role in CRC immunity. The study aimed to assess the expression of B7H3 concerning clinicopathological and histological parameters, including MSI/MSS status, CD-8 cells, tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), budding, TNM scale and grading. Moreover, we analyzed the B7H3-related pathways using available online datasets and the immunological context of B7H3 expression, through the 48-cytokine screening panel of cancer tissues homogenates, immunogenic features and immune composition. The study included 158 patients diagnosed with CRC. To assess B7H3 levels, we performed an immunohistochemistry method (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To elucidate the immune composition of colorectal cancer, we performed the Bio-Plex Pro Human 48-cytokine panel. To study biological characteristics of B7H3, we used online databases. Expression of B7H3 was upregulated in CRC tumour tissues in comparison to adjacent noncancerous margin tissues. The concentrations of B7H3 in tumours were positively associated with T parameter of patients and negatively with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes score. Additionally, Principal Component Analysis showed that B7H3 expression in tumours correlated positively with cytokines associated with M2-macrophages and protumour growth factors. The expression of B7H3 in tumours was independent of MSI/MSS status. These findings will improve our understanding of B7H3 role in colorectal cancer immunity. Our study suggests that B7-H3 is a promising potential target for cancer therapy. Further studies must clarify the mechanisms of B7H3 overexpression and its therapeutic importance in colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lung cancer is one of the biggest public health issues due to its high prevalence and mortality. Currently, increasing consideration is given to the incidence of lung cancer in the individuals with no lifetime history of tobacco smoking. However, up-to-date data on the characteristics of a group of non-smokers with lung cancer are limited. The current literature also contains gaps in the differences in the clinical course of lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers. This study aimed to investigate the differences in tumor characteristics, survival rates, and comorbidities between a group of smokers and a group of non-smokers with lung cancer. The presented results may be used in clinical practice and in shaping future lung cancer prevention programs. Changes in smoking trends and changes in lifestyle, together with worldwide data regarding the incidence of lung cancer in the group of patients with no previous history of smoking, leads to consideration of the differences in the course of the disease, the time of cancer diagnosis, the survival rate, and the occurrence of comorbidities in this group of patients. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of non-smokers among patients undergoing anatomical resection of the lung tissue due to lung carcinoma and to investigate the differences between the course of lung cancer, survival, and the comorbidities in the groups of patients with lung cancer depending on the history of tobacco smoking. The study included a cohort of 923 patients who underwent radical anatomical resection of the lung tissue with lung primary adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. The Chi2 Pearson's test, the t-test, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Kaplan–Meier method, the Log-rank test with Mantel correction, and the Cox proportional hazard model were used for data analysis. We observed a significantly higher mean age of smoking patients compared to the mean age of non-smoking patients. The coexistence of former neoplastic diseases was significantly more frequent in the group of non-smokers compared to the group of smoking patients. We did not observe differences depending on smoking status in the tumor stage, grade, vascular and pleural involvement status in the diagnostic reports. We did not observe differences in the survival between smokers vs. non-smokers, however, we revealed better survival in the non-smoker women group compared to the non-smoker men group. In conclusion, 22.11% of the patients undergoing radical anatomical resection of the lung tissue due to lung cancers were non-smokers. More research on survival depending on genetic differences and postoperative treatment between smokers and non-smokers is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate correlations between HHLA2 levels and parameters, including microsatellite instability (MSI) status, CD8+ cells, and histopathological features: budding, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), TNM scale, grading, cytokines, chemokines, and cell signaling moleculesin colorectal cancer (CRC). Furthermore, the immune infiltration landscape and HHLA2-related pathways in colorectal cancer using available online datasets were analyzed. The study included 167 patients diagnosed with CRC. Expression of HHLA2 was detected by immunohistochemistry method (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IHC was used to evaluate the MSI and CD8+ status. The budding and TILs were measured using a light microscope. The concentrations of cytokines, chemokines, and cell signaling molecules were measured to analyze the data by the Bio-Plex Pro Human cytokine screening panel, 48 cytokine assay, and principal component analysis (PCA). Geneset enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to identify HHLA2-related pathways. The biological function of HHLA2 was predicted by Gene Ontology (GO). Analysis of the immune infiltration landscape of HHLA2 in colorectal cancer was made by the web-based tool Camoip. High HHLA2 expression was detected in CRC tumor tissues compared to the adjacent noncancerous tissues. The percentage of HHLA2-positive tumors was 97%. GSEA and GO showed that HHLA2 upregulation correlated with cancer-related pathways and several biological functions. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes score correlated positively with IHC HHLA2 expression level percentage. There was a negative correlation between HHLA2, anti-tumor cytokines and pro-tumor growth factors. This study provides a valuable insight into the role of HHLA2 in CRC. We reveal the role of HHLA2 expression as well as a stimulatory and inhibitory immune checkpoint in colorectal cancer. Further research may verify the therapeutic values of the HHLA2-KIR3DL3/TMIGD2 pathway in colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunotherapies based on ICIs in CRC are nowadays limited to microsatellite unstable tumours which are approximately 15% of all CRC cases. There are a few new immune checkpoints belonging to the B7 family, including B7H4. B7H4 expression is associated with so-called "cold tumours", and its function is linked to the downregulation of various immune cell populations. Our study aimed to investigate whether B7H4 expression is dependent on microsatellite status in CRC and on elucidating the immunological context in which the expression of B7H4 occurs. We enrolled 167 patients in the study. We prepared the homogenates from tumour tissues and healthy adjacent tissue to assess the B7H4 levels and the Bio-Plex Pro Human 48-cytokine panel. We assessed the microsatellite status of the tumour, B7H4 expression, CD8+ T cell population, and the TILs and budding in H + E stained slides by the IHC method. We used an online available database for further exploring the biological characteristics of B7H4. The expression of B7H4 was more frequent in microsatellite stable tumours, and was negatively associated with TILs. B7H4 is positively correlated with antitumour immunosuppressive iTME, thus contributing to the immunosuppressive environment in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The clinical outcomes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) differ widely, indicating the need for accurate prognostic parameters. Because cancer stem cells and matrix metalloproteinases play a key role in carcinogenesis, CD44, MMP-2, and MMP-9 may be the potential prognosticators for RCC. The aim of our study was to analyse whether the immunohistochemical expression of these molecules in association with the histopathological RCC subtype affects patients' survival. Significant differences existed in the degree of MMP expression between clear-cell RCC and non-clear cell RCC cases, which suggests different tumorigenic mechanisms between these subtypes. On multivariate analysis, only the histopathological subtype of clear cell RCC and CD44 expression were independent risk factors for patient death. Thus, CD44 seems to be an independent factor of poor outcomes in patients with RCC regardless of its subtype. It may be useful in the search for new therapeutic methods and in predicting the prognosis of patients with RCC. CD44, MMP-2, and MMP-9 are new potential molecular prognostic markers in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim of the study was to analyze whether the expression of CD44, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in association with the histopathological subtype of RCC affects the survival of patients with renal cancer. The study population included 243 clear cell RCC (ccRCC) and 59 non-ccRCC cases. A total of 302 tumors were examined for CD44, MMP2, and MMP9 expression by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of the proteins were scored by semi-quantitative methods, and the correlation with overall patient survival was verified. We found no significant differences in CD44 expression levels between cc-RCC and non-ccRCC cases; however, significant differences existed in the degree of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression between cc-RCC and non-ccRCC cases. There was significantly higher MMP expression in non-ccRCC than in ccRCC cases. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that increased CD44 expression and histopathological subtype of ccRCC were predictors of shorter overall survival. Moreover, MMP-2 overexpression slightly reduced the risk of patient death, while MMP-9 expression did not show an association with patients' survival. However, on multivariate analysis, only the histopathological subtypes of ccRCC and CD44 expression were independent risk factors for patient death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD44 is the most frequently reported marker of the cancer stem cells in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 are key regulators of tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic and prognostic values of the immunohistochemical expression of CD44, MMP2, MMP9, and Ki-67 in papillary and chromophobe RCCs. In the case of papillary RCC, MMP-2 expression was positively correlated with patient age (p < 0.05), while CD44 expression was positively correlated with tumor stage (τ = 0.26, p < 0.05). Moreover, CD44 expression positively correlated with MMP-9 (τ = 0.39, p < 0.05). In the case of chromophobe RCC, only Ki-67 expression was negatively correlated with tumor stage (τ = −0.44, p < 0.05). During follow-up, a death was documented in 6 patients with papillary RCC. In these patients, CD44 expression was not a significant factor affecting the overall survival of patients (p > 0.05), whereas there was a positive correlation between increased MMP-9 expression and shorter overall survival (p < 0.05). Taken together, carcinogenesis in papillary RCC is probably dependent on both cancer stem cells and metalloproteinases activity. Expression of CD44 and MMP-9 can significantly improve the prediction of papillary RCC prognosis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. There is a great interest and need to find simple, inexpensive, and minimally invasive diagnostic tests. The aim of the study was to analyze the salivary concentrations of chemerin, α-defensin 1, and TNF-α in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and in a healthy control group. The concentration of these proteins was simultaneously determined in the serum of subjects. We also aimed to assess the correlation of these results and selected clinicopathological features. This prospective study was comprised of 39 CRC patients and 40 control group patients. Salivary and serum concentrations were determined by enzyme immunoassays. The salivary and serum concentrations of chemerin, α-defensin 1, and TNF-α were significantly higher in cancer patients compared to the control group. No correlation was found between concentrations of the proteins and the clinical stage of cancer and tumor location. The ROC curve analysis showed that although salivary concentrations of all proteins showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity, serum concentrations of the analyzed proteins were characterized by 100% sensitivity and over 90% specificity. The assessment of chemerin, α-defensin 1, and TNF-α concentrations in saliva seem to have great potential as quick and useful biomarkers in the early diagnosis of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) include gestational hypertension (GH), chronic hypertension (CH), preeclampsia (PE), and preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension (CH with PE). HDP is associated with several short and long-term perinatal and neonatal complications, such as newborn growth restriction and death. This study aimed to establish the association between HDP, newborn growth abnormalities, and neonatal outcome. (2) Methods: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of 63651 singleton deliveries. (3) Results: Univariate analysis showed a significantly increased risk of intrauterine and neonatal death associated with maternal hypertension and growth disorders. There were differences between growth charts used, with the highest risk of stillbirth for SGA defined by the Intergrowth chart (OR 17.2) and neonatal death for newborn growth restriction (NGR) based on Intergrowth (OR 19.1). Multivariate analysis showed that NGR is a stronger risk factor of neonatal death than SGA only. (4) Conclusions: HDP is significantly associated with growth abnormalities and is an independent risk factor of adverse outcomes. The presence of newborn growth restriction is strongly associated with the risk of neonatal death. The choice of growth chart has a substantial effect on the percentage of diagnosis of SGA and NGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are subgroups of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. E2F Transcription Factor 2 (E2F2) could contribute to cancer development, because it plays a critical role in many cellular processes, including the cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation, DNA damage response, and cell death. In the current study, we assessed the associations of five E2F2 polymorphisms (rs6667575, rs3218121, rs3218211, rs3218148, and rs3218203) with OSCC and OPSCC and influence on the TNM staging and grading. This is the first such survey to concern the European population. The study included 94 primary tumour samples following surgical resection from patients, whereas the control group consisted of 99 healthy individuals. We tried a matching of cases and controls for age and sample size. DNA samples were genotyped by employing the 5 ′ nuclease assay for allelic discrimination. Our results suggested that the most significant difference between the control group and the cancer group was the A/G heterozygote for rs3218121. Samples containing this genotype were mostly found in the control group. In our samples, rs6667575, rs3218121, rs3218211, and rs3218148 polymorphisms may affect the course of OSCC and OPSCC, while rs3218203 was not associated with OSCC and OPSCC. However, further studies are warranted to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) suffers from a very poor prognosis because early stages of the disease are asymptomatic and thus diagnosis is delayed until late. Discovering a suitable PDAC biomarker could thereby improve PDAC treatment by having an early diagnosis. The carbohydrate antigen, CA 19-9, currently used for diagnostics, may help in assessing the disease stage, however it is unsuitable for screening purposes. PDAC specific nucleotides can be detected in plasma but not at the early stages of the cancer. Furthermore, measuring circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in patient blood entails high costs and is only useful for advanced stage disease. Other potential PDAC marker candidates are Laminin γ2A, Cyclophilin B and blood circulating adipokines, which seem to hold particular promise. At present, making early PDAC diagnosis is limited. The potential markers described herein might in the future be introduced into clinical practice however further studies are still required. Using combinations of several biomarkers also merit consideration, which may increase the overall sensitivity and specificity of PDAC detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Assessment of RANTES level and concentrations of inflammatory cytokines: programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), interferon gamma IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growht factor β (TGF-β) (and angiogenesis factors: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF C) in tumor and margin tissues of colorectal cancer (CRC,) and evaluation of RANTES influence on histopathological parameters (microvessel density (MVD), budding, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)), in relation to patients' clinical features. Materials and Methods: The study used 49 samples of tumor and margin tissues derived from CRC patients. To determinate the concentration of RANTES, PD-L1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β, VEGF-A, and VEGF-C, we used the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Additionally, RANTES and PD-L1 expression was assessed with the use of IHC staining in both tumor cells and TILS in randomly selected cases. MVD was assessed on CD34-stained specimens. The MVD and budding were assessed using a light microscope. Results: We found significantly higher levels of RANTES, PD-L1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β, VEGF-A, and VEGF-C in the tumor in comparison with the margin. The RANTES tumor levels correlated significantly with those of PD-L1, TNF-α, TGF-β, VEGF-A, and VEGF-C. The RANTES margin levels were significantly associated with the margin levels of all proteins investigated—PD-L1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β, VEGF-A, and VEGF-C. Additionally, we observed RANTES- and PD-L1-positive immunostaining in TILs. In a group of 24 specimens, 6 different CRC tumors were positive for RANTES and PD-L1 immunostaining. The IFN-gamma concentration in both tumor and margin and TGF-β in tumor correlated with TILs. TILs were negatively associated with the patients' disease stage and N parameter. Conclusions: RANTES activity might be associated with angiogenesis, lymphogenesis, and immune escape in CRC. RANTES is an important chemokine that is a part of the chemokine–cytokine network involved in the modulation of TME composition in CRC. Further research may verify which processes are responsible for the associations observed in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: To assess the periostin level and the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines: TNFα, IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-17 in tumor and marginal tissues of CRC and to investigate the influence of periostin on angiogenesis by MVD (microvessel density) and concentration of VEGF-A in relation to clinicopathological parameters of patients. Materials and Methods: The study used 47 samples of tumor and margin tissues derived from CRC patients. To determinate the concentration of periostin, VEGF-A, TNFα, IFNγ, IL-1β and IL-17, we used the commercially available enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay kit. MVD was assessed on CD34-stained specimens. The MVD and budding were assessed using a light microscope Results: We found significantly higher concentrations of periostin, VEGF-A, IFN-γ, IL-1 β, IL-17 and TNFα in the tumor samples compared with surgical tissue margins. The tumor concentrations of periostin were correlated with tumor levels of VEGF-A, IFN-γ, IL-1β and TNFα. We observed significant correlation between margin periostin and VEGF-A, IFN-γ, IL-17 and TNFα in tumor and margin specimens. Additionally, we found a significantly negative correlation between periostin tumor concentration and microvessel density at the invasive front. Tumor periostin levels were also correlated positively with tumor budding. Conclusions: Periostin activity may be associated with pro-inflammatory cytokine levels: TNFα, IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-17. Our results also suggest the role of periostin in angiogenesis in CRC and its upregulation in poorly vascularized tumors. Further research on the regulations between periostin and cytokines are necessary to understand the interactions between tumor and immune tumor microenvironment, which could be helpful in the development of new targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Angiogenesis is crucial for cancer growth, infiltration of surrounding tissues, and metastasis and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of CRC. Chemerin/chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) is one of the biochemical pathways involved in the regulation of angiogenesis in solid tumors. The aim of the study was to assess the CMKLR1 level in tumor and margin tissues of CRC in relation to histopathological parameters: microvessel density (MVD), budding, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), TNM scale, and grading. Materials and Methods: The study involved 43 samples of tumor and margin tissues obtained from CRC patients. To assess the concentration of CMKLR1 a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used. For 35 cases, we performed CD34 immunostaining. The MVD, budding, and TILs were assessed using a light microscope. Results: The levels of CMKLR1 in both tumor and margin were negatively correlated with MVD and budding. CMKLR1 concentration in margin was higher in tissues with lymphocytic infiltration. Conclusions: Low vascularity and low budding are associated with higher CMKLR1 expression. CMKLR1 might play a multifunctional role in CRC pathogenesis by influencing tumor budding and peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous reports describe the association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12722 and rs13946 in the COL5A1 gene and injuries, such as Achilles tendon pathology, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and tennis elbow. Hence, there were no studies investigating COL5A1 and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between COL5A1 rs12722 and rs13946 SNPs and TMJ articular disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR). In this case-control study, the study group consisted of 124 Caucasian patients of both sexes. Each patient had a history of ADDwoR no more than 3 months prior. The control group comprised 126 patients with no signs of TMD according to DC/TMD. Genotyping of the selected SNPs was performed by real-time PCR using TaqMan probes. The significance of the differences in the distribution of genotypes was analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test. Logistic regression modeling was performed to analyze the influence of the 164 investigated SNPs on ADDwoR. The COL5A1 marker rs12722 turned out to be statistically significant (p-value = 0.0119), implying that there is a difference in the frequencies of TMJ ADDwoR. The distribution of rs12722 SNPs in the study group TT(66), CC(27), CT(31) vs. control group TT(45), CC(26), CT(51) indicates that patients with CT had an almost 2.4 times higher likelihood of ADDwoR (OR = 2.41) than those with reference TT (OR = 1), while rs13946 genotypes were shown to be insignificant, with a p-value of 0.1713. The COL5A1 rs12722 polymorphism is a risk factor for ADDwoR in the Polish Caucasian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of two different occlusal devices and their impact on the pressure pain threshold (PPT) values among patients who reported to the Dental Prosthetics Outpatient Clinic of Pomeranian Medical University (Szczecin, Poland) and who were diagnosed with probable bruxism. Two groups were formed (A and B) to which patients were assigned randomly. Each group used a different occlusal splint for bruxism management. The occlusal appliance by Okeson, or the bimaxillary splint, was used overnight by each patient for 30 days of the study. The PPT was measured twice, at the first visit and after 30 days of using each occlusal device, with Wagner Paintest FPX 25 algometer. Bruxism was diagnosed based on data from the patient's medical history and from the physical examination. Nocturnal Bruxism Criteria according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (Third Edition) was used for the patient's evaluation. Results: similar pain factor (PF) reduction was observed in both the examined groups, regardless of the device used; canine guidance and no guidance were similarly effective in terms of increasing pain resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kinesio Taping (KT) is a non-invasive therapy commonly used in physiotherapy (PT). However, the available data on its effectiveness in patients with symptomatic temporomandibular disorders (TMD) remains scarce and contradictory., Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the analgesic and myorelaxant effects of KT in TMD patients with limited mandibular mobility., Material and Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted among female patients aged 20-45 years with Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) group Ib, using a parallel group design and equal randomization (1:1). All patients underwent surface electromyography (sEMG) of the masseter muscle (MAS), pain intensity was assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and temporomandibular joint mobility was measured before and after 6 and 12 days of treatment. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire was administered on the first and last days of treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mauchly's sphericity test determined changes over time and between groups for variables with a normal distribution. Bonferroni's correction was used for post hoc multiple comparisons. Variables with a non-normal distribution were analyzed using the nparLD package and multiple comparison post hoc test, while correlations were assessed using Spearman's coefficient., Results: Each treatment had a significant effect on the bioelectrical sEMG parameters (p = 0.05). Kinesio Taping had a superior analgesic effect compared to the controls (p < 0.001). The combination of KT with therapeutic exercise (TE) proved to be a more effective therapy for improving the maximal mouth opening (MMO) and reducing perceived stress than monotherapy (p < 0.001). Minimally significant clinical differences were observed for sEMG, MMO and PSS-10 parameters after both therapies., Conclusions: Kinesio Taping combined with TE may be considered an effective complementary noninvasive treatment modality for TMD, either as a stand-alone or as part of the therapeutic process in patients experiencing pain and limited mandibular ROM. Additionally, the use of KT and TE was found to have a beneficial effect on perceived stress levels.

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and cervical spine problems are a growing public health issue, as they increase the risk of disability in people with hypermobility joint syndrome (HJS)., Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of TMD symptoms, and cervical spine and TMJ disability in HJS patients., Material and Methods: A survey was conducted among physical therapy students (mean age: 21 years). The study comprised 2 stages. The 1st one was HJS assessment (the Beighton scale and the Brighton criteria). Based on the assessment, 56 HJS subjects were enrolled for the study. The control group (CG) consisted of 60 HJS-free subjects, according to the aforementioned criteria. The 2nd stage of the study involved conducting a self-administered questionnaire on the prevalence of TMD symptoms. Both the TMD disability questionnaire (TMD-Q) and the neck disability index (NDI) scores were recorded. Pain intensity was assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS)., Results: The HJS group showed higher NRS scores (p < 0.001). Headache, neck and shoulder girdle pain, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain were found to be more severe in almost each patient from the HJS group as compared to CG. Those individuals had a greater degree of disability on the TMD-Q and the NDI scales (p < 0.001). The HJS group showed significant positive correlations between the TMD-Q and NDI scores (p = 0.0035), and between the TMD-Q and TMJ symptom questionnaire scores (p = 0.0047). A significant positive correlation between the NDI and TMJ symptom questionnaire scores was found both in the HJS group (p < 0.001) and CG (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The HJS bearers tended to obtain higher TMJ and cervical spine disability scores, at the same time reporting increased headache, neck and shoulder girdle pain, and TMJ pain intensity. Therefore TMJs should be carefully examined for possible signs of dysfunction in HJS subjects prior to dental or prosthetic treatment. According to our data, TMJ and cervical spine disability assessment should be included as a routine practice in the case of HJS patients, who should remain under the long-term care of a multidisciplinary team of doctors and therapists.

Colorectal cancer is the second and third most common cancer in females and males, respectively. The PD-L1/PD-1 immune checkpoint is an important source of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment and is associated with IFNγ. Recent studies have revealed that a significant number of tumor suppressive miRNAs can regulate the expression of PD-L1.                The objective quantification of selected microRNAs using the miREIA method in CRC tissue was performed. We investigated the roles of miR-93-5p and miR-142-5p expression and the levels of IFNγ in regulating the expression of PD-L1 in tumor and margin tissues of CRC in relation to the histological grade, TNM classification, and tumor localization. 37 samples of tumor and margin tissues from CRC patients were evaluated. MiR-93-5p and miR-142-5p levels were measured by a method for quantitative measurement of human microRNA (miREIA). The concentrations of PD-L1 and IFNγ were determined by the ELISA kit. We found higher concentrations of miR-93-5p, PD-L1 and IFNγ in tumor samples compared to tumor margin samples. A significant correlation was found between PD-L1 and IFNγ in tumor and margin specimens; between miR-142-5p and miR-93-5p levels  in tumor and margin specimens. A higher level of miR-93-5p was found in tumor margin tissues on the left side of the colon. Patients with distant metastases were characterized by higher miR-93-5p concentration compared to patients without metastases. CRC is an important source of PD-L1, IFNγ and miR-93-5p expression. Understanding the mechanisms underlying intratumoral PD-L1 expression may open new opportunities for targeted immunotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a valuable, safe and widely used method for preoperative diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC is dependent on the quality and yield of the aspirate, as well as the experience and knowledge of the cytopathologist. 247 cases of FNAC of salivary gland lesions were performed in our 4-year retrospective study. FNAC diagnoses were divided into non-neoplastic lesions, benign and malignant neoplasms. Histopathologic confirmation was done in 101 cases. The cases with discrepancies between the FNAC and histopathologic results were reviewed to establish possible reasons for discordance. The measures of diagnostic validity of FNAC in diagnosing non-neoplastic , benign and malignant lesions were evaluated. Of the 247 FNAC samples, 135 cases were diagnosed as benign neoplasms, 15 as malignant neoplasms, and 97 as non-neoplastic lesions. Out of the 101 cases with histopathologic confirmation, discordant results between cytologic and histopathologic diagnosis were observed in 15 cases. Our study showed no false positive and 4 false negative results for cancer. Cystic presentation of a lesion was a common reason for diagnostic pitfall. Sensitivity of FNAC in various types of salivary gland lesions ranged from 75%-100%, specificity 81-100%, diagnostic accuracy 85-96%, PPV 31-100% and NPV 60-96%. FNAC is a highly sensitive and specific method for diagnosis of most salivary gland lesions. Despite the fact that histopathology remains the gold standard, preoperative FNAC should be considered for preliminary investigation. Due to the diagnostic pitfalls, FNAC should be used in conjunction with clinical information, physical examination, and radiologic findings to reach the right diagnosis., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2021.)

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents 90% of renal malignancies and is the most lethal neoplasm of the urologic system. RCC is not a single entity but rather a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with varying genetic, morphologic and clinical features and outcome. The aim of this study was to correlate pathologic features of RCC that can be helpful during the decision-making process. We present a retrospective analysis of 249 RCCs (203 clear cell, 32 papillary and 14 chromophobe RCCs). We found that 77.8% of tumors of ≤4 cm and only 28.8% of RCC of >7 cm were limited to the kidney. The likelihood of lymphovascular invasion, fibrous renal capsule/perinephric fat/renal sinus fat, and vascular infiltration increased dramatically with increasing tumor size, particularly over 4.5 cm. Fat tissue was more often invaded through the renal sinus than through the renal capsule. Nuclear grade was significantly related to the pT stage, tumor size, percentage of necrotic area, lymphovascular invasion, fibrous renal capsule/perinephric fat/renal sinus fat and vascular infiltration. Tumor size represents one of the most important factors determining biological behavior of renal cancer. Renal sinus and perinephric fat should be carefully investigated, particularly in case of tumors >4-5 cm. Despite increasing acceptance for partial nephrectomy in tumors >7 cm, these cancers invade renal sinus fat 11 times more often and perinephric fat 5.6 times more often than smaller ones., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2020.)

Background: Diagnosis of lung cancer can be made in two ways: histopathological and cytopathological. Cytological methods in the diagnosis of lung lesions are generally thought to be one of the most successful tactics., Aims: This study aimed at comparing the efficiency of selected cytological techniques in lung lesions by correlating them with histopathological diagnosis. In addition, we had answered the question whether any of the cytological methods can replace histopathology., Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 633 patients and 1085 cytological specimens. Cytology samples included: induced sputum, bronchial washing (BW), bronchial brushing (BB), fine needle aspiration (FNA), and cell block (CB). In every case of CB immunocytochemistry (ICC) was performed. For each cytological method sensitivity, specificity, effectiveness, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were assessed., Results: BW and BB showed the lowest diagnostic parameters. The most valuable diagnostic procedure was CB based on FNA. Close by CB, FNA had the highest diagnostic rate. However, possibility to evaluate tumor cell structure and apply the ICC, give CB an advantage over FNA. Using only morphologic criteria, we had subclassified nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) as 60.04% of SCC and 32.52% of AC. The use of CB and ICC decreased the NSCLC diagnoses from 22.1% to 2.8% while the percentage of AC and SCC diagnoses increased from 4.11% to 12.64% and from 6.64% to 11.06%, respectively. Metastatic lung tumors were diagnosed based on both the cell morphology and according to the ICC results., Conclusion: Despite the limitations of the cytological procedures, we recommend using CB and ICC to evaluate cytological samples derived from FNA. It can in many cases replace a conventional histopathology., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Cytology.)

Purpose: The current study aimed to examine the association between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and infection with different human papillomavirus virus (HPV) subtypes, including analysis of promoter methylation of several genes (APC, CDKN2A, MGMT, CDH1 and TIMP3) and the correlation with their mRNA expression in tumours and surgical margins., Methodology: In 47 patients with a primary tumour of the oral cavity, HPV detection and identification of 33 subtypes was performed after previous DNA isolation using a GenoFlow HPV Array Test Kit., Results: Fifteen patients (31.92 %) were HPV [+] and the following HPV types were detected: 16 (46.67 %), 18 (6.67 %) and 43/44 (40 %). This study is the first to describe HPV 43/44 subtypes in HNSCC in a Polish population. We noted no clinical significance of HPV [+] HNSCC compared to HPV [-], however, this differed among HPV subtypes. CDKN2A promoter methylation was more frequent in HPV-16/18 patients compared to HPV43/44 patients, but there was no difference in gene expression level between HPV [+] and [-] patients., Conclusion: We detected HPV infection in 31.92 % of oral cancer cases. HPV 16, along with HPV 43/44, were the most frequent subtypes. Knowledge of HPV [+] HNSCC biology may be useful in establishing the prognosis and developing novel therapies in future.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by very poor prognosis. It is caused by asymptomatic course of the disease at early stage. Symptomatic PDAC means usually advanced stage of the disease, making radical treatment impossible. Finding of biological PDAC marker could improve PDAC treatment through early diagnosis. In our study, we investigated two adipokines: omentin and chemerin concentration in PDAC, chronic pancreatitis (CP) and healthy individuals. We examined 27 PDAC patients, 10 CP patients and 36 controls. To determine concentration of adipokines we used ELISA immunoenzymatic assay. Level of both adipokines was increased when comparing control group to PDAC patients. Additionally, chemerin concentration in CP group was elevated comparing to control. To evaluate both adipokines as potential PDAC biomarkers we performed ROC analysis. Chemerin (AUC = 0.913) displayed better discriminant ability than omentin-1 (AUC = 0.73). Some authors believe that chemerin may promote tumour growth by stimulating angiogenesis and is supposed to be a factor recruiting mesenchymal stroma cells (MSC) in tumour regions. Omentin-1 can inhibit tumourigenesis by TP53 stimulation. On the other hand, according to some studies, omentin-1 may promote cancer proliferation via Akt signalling pathway. Results from our study showed significantly elevated level of chemerin and omentin-1 in PDAC patients. Therefore, we believe that both investigated adipokines may provide promising and novel pharmacological insights for oncological diagnosis in the near future.

For the past few years adipokines have been a center of appreciation and interest. They are biologically active molecules causing pleiotropic effects. They assist in angiogenesis, adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation, and modulate tissue sensitivity for insulin. Adipokines are produced in adipose tissue, so an abnormal quantity of this tissue leads to impaired levels of these factors. Because of their different concentrations in various conditions, it would be plausible to use them as markers for individual conditions, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, gastric cancer, lung cancer or colon cancer. Such adipokines as leptin, resistin, visfatin, adiponectin, and apelin are subjects of research. In our study we focused on the function and significance of chemerin and omentin in metabolic syndrome and cancers. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, both chemerin and omentin enhance the body sensitivity to insulin, which results in increased glucose uptake. However, in diabetic patients, serum concentration of omentin decreases, while that of chemerin increases. A similar trend was observed in obese patients. As a cancer marker, chemerin turned out to be helpful in diagnosis of gastric cancer, mesothelioma, and polycystic ovary syndrome, which can lead to endometrial cancer. An elevated concentration of omentin was noted in colon cancer, and increased expression of the omentin gene was reported in nasal polyps and mesothelioma.