The role of CD44H molecule in the interactions between human monocytes and pancreatic adenocarcinoma-derived microvesicles

Introduction. CD44H is a transmembrane molecule important for cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. In monocytes, CD44H is implicated in phagocytosis of particles coated by hyaluronan (HA). HA fragments were shown to induce chemokine secretion by monocytes. Tumour derived microvesicles (TMVs), which are small membrane fragments derived from tumour cells can carry fragments of HA. The aim of the study was to examine whether monocyte’s CD44H is involved in the engulfment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma-derived microvesicles and in the production of chemokines induced by TMVs. Materials and methods. TMVs engulfment and chemokines’ secretion stimulated with TMVs were determined in control human monocytes and cells incubated with anti-CD44H monoclonal antibody (mAb) by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Phosphorylation of STAT3, transcription factor essential for chemokines’ production and CD44 signal transduction, was determined by Western blotting. Results. Blocking of CD44H by anti-CD44H mAb on monocytes decreased the engulfment of TMVs and thesecretion of CCL4 and CCL5, but had no effect on CCL2, CCL3 and CXCL8. STAT-3 phosphorylation inmonocytes incubated with TMVs after CD44 blocking was also reduced. Conclusion. The results suggest that tumour-derived microvesicles (TMVs) may carry bioactive cargo(s) which induces STAT3 dependent signalling pathway in human monocytes via CD44 molecules

Osteopontin as a marker of endometriosis — the current state of knowledge

Endometriosis is a disease affecting mainly women of childbearing age, where ectopic endometrial lesions occur outside the uterine cavity. Its main symptoms are chronic pain, infertility and dysmenorrhea. These symptoms significantly reduce the quality of life of patients suffering from this disease. Despite advanced research, the exact etiopathogenesis of endometriosis is still unknown and various theories explaining its origin are postulated in the course of research. Osteopontin is a protein originally discovered in the bone matrix and then in various tissues and organs of the body such as the kidneys, lungs, reproductive organs, vascular epithelial cells or some cancer cells. It is involved in processes such as cell adhesion and migration, angiogenesis and the promotion of tumor cell metastasis. These processes play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, hence intensive research on the role of osteopontin in the development of this disease is an interesting research direction

Postoperative gynecologic oncology admissions to intensive care unit in the tertiary care center: an eight-year retrospective study

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to analyze the cohort of gynecologic oncology patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective study including all ICU postoperative admissions related to adult female patients with gynecological malignancies diagnosis treated in the tertiary care center between Jan 1, 2007, and Dec 31, 2014. Results: A total of 666 women were admitted to ICU. It accounted for 2 % of all tertiary care center gynecology admissions. The mean age was 62.4 ± 12.7 years, and the mean length of stay was 8.9 ± 9.6 days. One hundred seventeen women (17.5%) required mechanical ventilation, and 220 women (33%) vasoactive drug infusion. The most common malignancy in the observed cohort of patients was ovarian cancer 326 (48.9%), followed by endometrial cancer 206 (30.9%). The patients with respiratory or circulatory insufficiency were older (mean age 64.9 ± 11.8 vs 60.8 ± 13; p < 0.001) and had longer mean ICU stay (13.1 ± 13.9 vs 6.3 ± 3.5 days; p < 0.001). We found a decrease in ICU admissions of patients without respiratory and circulatory failure after elective major surgery (Spearman: r = –1, p = 0.017). We report 21 patients’ deaths (3.1% in the cohort; 0.06% of all admissions). Conclusions: Ovarian cancer patients were the largest group in the study, representing almost half of ICU admissions in the gynecology oncologic population. Older age was the risk factor of respiratory and circulatory insufficiency. Availability of intermediate care facilities could reduce ICU admissions after major surgery

Male factor infertility in the Comprehensive Procreational Health Protection Program at the University Hospital in Cracow

Objectives: Quality of semen is one of the most important factors contributing to couples' chance of natural conception. There are many confirmed or potential factors that influence semen analysis results. To estimate the incidence and analyze male factor infertility. Material and methods: The retrospective observational study was in the Clinical Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Gynecology, University Hospital in Krakow. The study included men from subfertile population, aged ≥ 18 years, without prior diagnosis and obvious cause of infertility, whose initial seminograms were used to characterize the population. Seminograms of men remaining in the follow-up were used to analyze the variability of sperm parameters in relation to lifestyle modification and the use of fertility supplements containing antioxidants. Control semen tests were performed at 1-3-month intervals. Results: The study included 870 men. In 68.5% of men, at least one abnormal sperm parameter was found and 40.7% had complex sperm abnormalities. Averaged values of sperm parameters of men from subfertile couples were within the WHO reference ranges, except for the normal morphology, whose median was 3.8%. No significant differences in the selected sperm parameters after the implementation of conservative management were observed. The percentage of pregnancies not resulting from IVF in the follow-up population was 7.7%. Conclusions: One semen sample is representative of an individual in the diagnostics of male infertility. Expectant management and lifestyle modification should not be proposed as first-line treatment when more effective procedures are available