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Introduction: A tumor microenvironment plays an important role in bladder cancer development and in treatment response., Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess how the components of the microenvironment affect tumor recurrence and to find the potential biomarkers for immunotherapy in NMIBC., Methods: The study group consisted of 55 patients with primary NMIBC. Immunohistochemistry was performed on sections of primary papillary urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Cox proportional hazard multiple regression analysis was performed to characterize tumors with the highest probability of an unfavorable outcome., Results: Multivariate analysis confirmed that the CD4 ( p = 0.001), CD20 ( p = 0.008) and PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells ( p = 0.01) were independently associated with the risk of recurrence of bladder cancer. Patients with weak CD4 + cell infiltration (<4.6%) and severe CD20 + infiltration (>10%) belong to the group with a lower risk of recurrence. The cancer in this group also frequently recurs after 12 months ( p = 0.0005)., Conclusions: The evaluation of CD4 + and CD20 + cells in the tumor microenvironment, in addition to PD-L1 on tumor cells, facilitates the determination of a group of patients with a low risk of recurrence.

Bladder cancer (BC) can be divided into two subgroups depending on invasion of the muscular layer: non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Its aggressiveness is associated, inter alia, with genetic aberrations like losses of 1p, 6q, 9p, 9q and 13q; gain of 5p; or alterations in the p53 and p16 pathways. Moreover, there are reported metabolic disturbances connected with poor diagnosis-for example, enhanced aerobic glycolysis, gluconeogenesis or haem catabolism.Currently, the primary way of treatment method is transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT) with adjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for NMIBC or radical cystectomy for MIBC combined with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. However, intravesical BCG immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors are not efficient in every case, so appropriate biomarkers are needed in order to select the proper treatment options. It seems that the success of immunotherapy depends mainly on the tumour microenvironment (TME), which reflects the molecular disturbances in the tumour. TME consists of specific conditions like hypoxia or local acidosis and different populations of immune cells including tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, natural killer cells, neutrophils and B lymphocytes, which are responsible for shaping the response against tumour neoantigens and crucial pathways like the PD-L1/PD-1 axis.In this review, we summarise holistically the impact of the immune system, genetic alterations and metabolic changes that are key factors in immunotherapy success. These findings should enable better understanding of the TME complexity in case of NMIBC and causes of failures of current therapies., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella spp., is an emerging problem of food safety. Antimicrobial use can result in selection of resistant organisms. The food chain is considered a route of transmission of resistant pathogens to humans. In many European countries, sulfonamides are one of the most commonly used antimicrobials. The aim of our investigation was to assess the prevalence of sul genes and plasmid occurrence among sulfonamide-resistant Salmonella spp. Eighty-four sulfonamide-resistant isolates were collected in 2008 and 2013 from retail products in Poland. Minimal inhibitory concentration of all of these isolates was ≥1024 μg/mL. Resistant isolates were tested for the presence of sul1, sul2, sul3, and int1 genes by using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. In total, 44.0% (37/84) isolates carried the sul1 gene, 46.4% (39/84) were sul2 positive, while the sul3 gene was not detected in any of the sulfonamide-resistant isolates tested. It was found that 3.6% (3/84) of resistant Salmonella spp. contained sul1, sul2, and intI genes. All 33 intI-positive isolates carried the sul1 gene. Eleven of the sulfonamide-resistant isolates were negative for all the sul genes. Most of the sulfonamide-resistant Salmonella spp. harbored plasmids; only in eight isolates were no plasmids detected. Generally, the size of the plasmids ranged from approximately 2 kb to ≥90 kb. Our results revealed a relatively a high prevalence of sulfonamides-resistant Salmonella spp. isolated from retail food. Additionally, we have detected a high dissemination of plasmids and class 1 integrons that may enhance the spread of resistance genes in the food chain.

The effects of low-level laser light irradiation are debatable and the mechanisms of its action are still unclear. This study was conducted to test the effects of low-level laser irradiation on human blood cells: erythrocytes, granulocytes, and lymphocytes. Whole blood obtained by phlebotomy was irradiated at 632.8 nm by using energy fluences 0.6 J/cm2. An analysis of blood gases revealed an increase in PO2 and SaO2 (P<0.001) in irradiated blood. No shifts in PCO2 and pH were recorded. Spontaneous synthesis of DNA in T and B blood lymphocytes decreased significantly after laser irradiation (P<0.02 and P<0.04, respectively). Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced proliferation of T cells and SAC proliferation of B cells, expressed as a stimulation index, were statistically higher in the samples of irradiated than in non-irradiated blood (P<0.01). Chemiluminescence of fMLP-stimulated granulocytes from irradiated blood increased in comparison with non-irradiated samples (P<0.001). No changes of spontaneous and stimulated chemiluminescence kinetics in irradiated samples were observed. These results reveal the influence of photodynamic reactions on the ability of blood to transport oxygen and on immunomodulatory effects on leukocytes.

The aim of the study was to produce of no-maturating fermented sausage with addition of inulin and probiotic strains. The study included production of sausages with addition of probiotics strains, growth promoting and texture inulin, determination of growth of probiotic bacteria in a final product during its storage period, determination of influence of synbiotic on undesired microflora and organoleptic quality of product. Microbial quality of sausages has been satisfactory. The number of undesired rods didn't exceed admissible standards. Amount of probiotic bacteria, which had been added to 3 types of products, achieved the level up to 1.010(6) cfu/g in all samples of sausages stored at different temperature. No significant differences in number of probiotic bacteria have been noted as a result of prebiotic addition. In organoleptic evaluation a beneficial effect of synbiotics on sensory properties, especially their structure and consistency has been observed.

The aim of the studies was to determine the antibacterial and fungistatic effects of experimental yogurts containing: 5% and 10% of P. jensenii and P. acidipropionic, cultures, centrifuged cells from P. acidipropionici culture and supernatant. Test strains were 14 strains of rods from the family Enterobacteriaceae, five strains of mold and three strains of yeast. The control yogurt contained no additives. It was found that adding 5% of cultures of both strains to the experimental yogurts had no influence on their antibacterial and antifungal activity. The growth of the majority of test rods was inhibited by the yogurt containing 10% of P. acidipropionici culture. This yogurt inhibited also the growth of most fungal strains for seven to ten days, and its sensory properties were acceptable. The yogurt with biomass of P. acidipropionici cells was characterized by the strongest antibacterial and antifungal effects--it inhibited the growth of all rods and the majority of fungal strains for eight to ten days. However, its taste was rather unpleasant, strong and sour. The yogurt containing supernatant showed antifungal activity, delaying the growth of most fungi, but had no influence on the development of test rods.

Application of starter cultures in fermented food industry results in obtaining high quality products, standardized sensory properties and allows to shorten a time of production. Employment of appropriate starter cultures indices the possibility of develop a new assortment of fermented products which can not be obtain in traditional way. The aim of study was to produce fermented vegetable juices using starter cultures with different quantitative and qualitative composition. Parsley, celery and tomato juices have been fermented using 0.25-5.0% addition of starter culture. The most acceptable sensory properties exhibited juices produced with 0.25-3.0% addition of starter culture composed of Lactobacillus brevis 6, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis 5K and Lactobacillus plantarum 5, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis 4K. The value of pH of fermented juices varied from 3.8 to 3.6. Concentration of lactic acid was at a level from 0.8 to 1.2%. Stability of fermented juices at a temperature of 6 degrees C was 4 weeks.

CD20 determinant expressed on B precursors is associated with regulation of proliferation, apoptosis and maturation of these cells. The acute lymphoblastic leukemia "common" type (cALL) based on expression of CD20 is subdivided in type I and II. However, the clinical significance of CD20 expression on cALL and significance of cALL type I and II discernment are not fully elucidated. The association of CD20 expression with the expression of multidrug resistance molecule (MDR), CD34, atypical immunophenotypes of leukemia cells and response to induction therapy were determined in the group of 147 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) B progenitor type (ALL-proB -14 patients) and common type (cALL-133 patients). The expression of CD20 on leukemia cells was studied routinely at diagnosis before the therapy. This expression was noted on leukemia cells of 6 ALL-proB patients (42.8%) and 66 cALL patients (49.6%). The expression of CD20 showed no association with the expression of CD34, CD22 and MDR. The reverse association was observed between CD20 expression and the presence of co-expression of myeloid (CD13, CD33, CD65, CD15) and T lymphoid determinants (CD2, CD5, CD7) on leukemia cells. The effect of induction therapy analyzed as time of blast cells cytoreduction in peripheral blood and time of reaching the complete remission showed the slower clearance of peripheral blood from blast cells associated with expression of CD20. There was no association of CD20 expression with the time of reaching the hematological remission. The above results suggested a "protective" role of CD20 against co-expression of other determinants (myeloid and lymphoid) and no association with the results of induction therapy.

It was established that high level of BCL-2 antigen inhibited suicidal cell death and prevented apoptosis induced by antitumor drugs. Due to the fact that evaluation of BCL-2 expression in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells could be an important prognostic factor in patients with malignant hematopoietic diseases, we decided to study the number of BCL-2+ nuclear cells and assess this antigen expression in the cells. Using monoclonal FITC-conjugated antibody, antigen BCL-2 was found in peripheral blood cells in children with both lymphoblastic (ALL) and non-lymphoblastic leukemia (NLL). At the same time the percentage of PCNA+ blood nuclear cells was investigated. The cells were analysed with a flow cytometer. The study carried out in a group of 12 ill and 7 healthy children showed significantly increased percentage of lymphocytes and neutrophiles PCNA+ and BCL-2+ in ALL, in comparison with a healthy control group. Exclusively an increased percentage of BCL-2+ lymphocytes and neutrophiles was observed in NLL patients. Due to a relatively small group of investigated patients we can not make a certain conclusion but preliminary analysis suggests a correlation between a high number of BCL-2+ cells and a long time without remission.

"The paper presents the problem of mortality in the Lodz area and the city of Lodz in 1993. The basis for this description is comparisons across voivodeships, and these between large and medium-sized cities in Poland. The comparisons were made allowing for the basic demographic features such as sex and age of the dead. Levels of mortality were identified for voivodeships and cities using fractional death rates for five year age groups, with the deaths among infants treated as a separate group.", (excerpt)