Short-fragment PCR assay for highly sensitive broad-spectrum detection of human papillomaviruses in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and normal mucosa: clinico-pathological evaluation

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and genotypes of HPV infection in laryngeal cancer specimens, normal mucosa obtained from the surgical margin and laryngeal nodules using a novel high sensitive and specific SPF10 HPV DNA test, PCR/DEIA method and INNO-LiPA genotyping assay. The correlation between HPV presence and clinico-pathological features was analyzed. Tissue samples were collected from 93 primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), 49 specimens of normal mucosa and from 22 specimens of laryngeal nodules serving as control group. HPV DNA was amplified by the short PCR fragment (SPF10) primer set using HPV DNA enzyme immunoassay (DNA/DEIA) method and INNO-LiPA HPV genotyping assay. Human papillomavirus was detected in 33 (35.5%) of the 93 samples from LSCC, in 4 (8.2%) of 49 samples of the normal mucosa and it was not detected in any of the sample from the control group. Twenty-eight of 33 (81.8%) were positive for HPV-16, 6 of 33 (18.2%) were positive for HPV-18 and 5 of 33 (15.1%) were positive for HPV-33. Multiple infection was found in 5 of 33 (15.1%); 3 samples were positive for HPV-16 and HPV-33, 2 samples for HPV-16 and HPV-18. There was a statistically significant correlation between the presence of HPV in LSCC tumors and in control group samples and between the presence of HPV in the tumors and normal mucosa from the free surgical margin. The presence of HPV infection in 35.5% of the cases suggests a possible role in the etiology of laryngeal cancer and supports the role of high-risk types of HPV (16, 18 and 33) in LSCC. HPV infection is not likely to influence survival rates as an independent prognostic factor in patients with laryngeal cancer

Usefulness and efficiency of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens from laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in HPV detection by IHC and PCR/DEIA.

The use of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues for HPV DNA detection by PCR from biopsy materials is not entirely clear in retrospective studies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness and efficiency of FFPE tissues from laryngeal cancer (LSCC) in HPV detection by immunohistochemistry reaction (IHC) and PCR-DNA enzyme immunoassay method (PCR/DEIA) and to compare with HPV detection from DFT. HPV-DNA was amplified from 54 FFPE tissues from LSCC specimens by the short PCR fragment (SPF10) primer set using PCR/DNA method and monoclonal anti Human Papillomavirus antibodies in IHC. In the same patients 54 specimens were collected and immediately deep-frozen and stored at (-70°C) to (-80°C). All the FFPE and deep-frozen tissue (DFT) specimens were positive for β-globin amplification. HPV was detected by two methods (SPF10 PCR/DEIA and IHC) in 14 (25.92%) out of 54 specimens from FFPE. Significant differences were found between the HPV detection using PCR/DEIA method and IHC method in FFPE tissues. The comparative analysis of the 54 samples after assuming PCR method in FFPE tissues showed accuracy of 92.6%, sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 93.9%. The FFPE tissues method has high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy when used to detect HPV DNA by PCR reaction and it is comparable to DFT results. DNA quality of FFPE samples is adequate and it can be used in HPV-DNA detection and in retrospective studies on LSCC

Occurrence of BK Virus and Human Papilloma Virus in colorectal cancer

Introduction and objective Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. In Poland, it is the second most common cancer, regardless of gender. The aim of study was to analyze the incidence of HPV and BKV in the tissue of colorectal cancer and to determine the relationship between the presence of these viruses and the development of this cancer. Material and Methods The experiments were conducted using 50 colorectal cancer tissues collected from histological sections. The clinical material was embedded in paraffin blocks. Next, DNA extraction was performed. Isolates of colorectal cancer tissue were tested for the presence of HPV DNA. BKV DNA was detected by PCR using specific primers and then differentiated from JCV by digestion with BamHI enzyme. Results In clinical specimens taken from patients with colorectal cancer, HPV DNA was detected in 20% of cases. In 10% of cases the presence of HPV type 18 was confirmed, in the other 90% of the samples HPV type 16 was detected, while the presence of BKV was confirmed in 30% of cases. Coinfection with HPV and BKV was shown in 12% of patients. In one case, BK virus coexisted with HPV type 18, in the remaining 5 cases with HPV type 16. Conclusions Developing colorectal cancer can show no symptoms, even for many years. This is why it is so important to become familiar with as many etiological factors as possible. The development of many human neoplasms is often initiated by exposure to infectious agents – such as bacterial or viral infections. Similar to the human papillomavirus, the BK virus was detected in clinical specimens. It seems that HPV and BKV infections can contribute to the neoplastic process, which requires detailed studies on a larger group of patients

Determination of the Primary Molecular Target of 1,2,4-Triazole-Ciprofloxacin Hybrids

We have synthesized and examined the antibacterial activity, toxicity and affinity towards bacterial type II topoisomerases of a series of 1,2,4-triazole-ciprofloxacin hybrids. A number of these compounds displayed enhanced activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria when compared to ciprofloxacin. The toxic concentrations of the obtained derivatives, evaluated on HEK-293 cells using MTT assay, were much higher than concentrations required to produce antibacterial effect. Finally, the results of enzymatic studies showed that the analyzed compounds demonstrated other preferences as regards primary and secondary molecular targets than ciprofloxacin.This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education under Iuventus Plus grant No. IP2014 037473. Tomasz Plech is a recipient of the Fellowship for Young Researchers with Outstanding Scientific Achievements from the Medical University of Lublin (Lublin, Poland)

Ocular involvement of sars-cov-2 in a polish cohort of covid-19-positive patients

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the current human COVID-19 pandemic has shown tropism toward different organs with variable efficiency, eyes included. The purpose of this study has been to investigate the presence of detectable SARS-CoV-2 infection in ocular swabs in patients affected by COVID-19. A consecutive series of 74 COVID-19-positive patients (age 21–89) were enrolled at two Polish COVID-19 hospitals for 4 months and were characterized by PCR for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in nasopharyngeal (NP) and ocular swabs, while their respiratory and ocular symptoms were noted. Almost 50% of them presented with severe/crit-ical respiratory involvement, and some degree of eye disease. No tight correlation was observed between the presence of ocular and respiratory symptoms. Three male patients presenting with severe/critical lung disease tested positive in ocular swab, however with mild/moderate ocular symptoms. In conclusion, our study lends further support to the view that overt ocular infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is not such a frequent occurrence

False Positive Immunoglobulin M Antibody to Cytomegalovirus in Child with Infectious Mononucleosis Caused by Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

A 16-month-old boy was admitted because of cough that had lasted for 10 days. The patient showed severe hepatomegaly incidentally, and dual positivity of Immunoglobulin (Ig) M to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigen (VCA) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). On the basis of seroconversion to Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) Ig G positivity and reduced CMV Ig M titer with persistently negative CMV Ig G, a definite diagnosis of EBV-induced infectious mononucleosis was established 1 year 2 month later

Molecular evolution and phylogenetic implications in clinical research

A phylogenetic tree shows graphically the evolutionary relationships among various organisms. The dynamic development of molecular biology and bioinformatics has led to a revolution in our knowledge of biological evolution and the kinships between living organisms and viruses. Nowadays, the available laboratory techniques and computer software allow reconstruction of the actual changes which occurred in the evolutionary process. The derivation of molecular evolution models and several methods for building phylogenetic trees have played a huge role in that enterprise. The emergence of new infectious agents is a problem afflicting mankind since prehistoric times. The study of phylogenetic implications among pathogenic microorganisms allows tracking the process of evolution, the indirect understanding of their biology, and thus facilitates the implementation of treatment. The presented article demonstrates the basic methods for constructing phylogenetic trees, as well as the benefits of reconstructing the evolution process and kinship with the study of microorganisms; in particular, viruses are considered from the clinical aspect