Comprehensive Analysis of Correlations in the Expression of miRNA Genes and Immune Checkpoint Genes in Bladder Cancer Cells

Personalised medicine is the future and hope for many patients, including those with cancers. Early detection, as well as rapid, well-selected treatment, are key factors leading to a good prognosis. MicroRNA mediated gene regulation is a promising area of development for new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, crucial for better prospects for patients. Bladder cancer is a frequent neoplasm, with high lethality and lacking modern, advanced therapeutic modalities, such as immunotherapy. MicroRNAs are involved in bladder cancer pathogenesis, proliferation, control and response to treatment, which we summarise in this perspective in response to lack of recent review publications in this field. We further performed a correlation-based analysis of microRNA and gene expression data in bladder cancer (BLCA) TCGA dataset. We identified 27 microRNAs hits with opposite expression profiles to genes involved in immune response in bladder cancer, and 24 microRNAs hits with similar expression profiles. We discuss previous studies linking the functions of these microRNAs to bladder cancer and assess if they are good candidates for personalised medicine therapeutics and diagnostics. The discussed functions include regulation of gene expression, interplay with transcription factors, response to treatment, apoptosis, cell proliferation and angiogenesis, initiation and development of cancer, genome instability and tumour-associated inflammatory reaction

Early post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder with central nervous system involvement and EBV infection following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation

Potransplantacyjna choroba limfoproliferacyjna (PTLD) jest poważnym powikłaniem po transplantacji narządów litych lub allogenicznym przeszczepieniu krwiotwórczych komórek macierzystych (allo-HSCT). Patogeneza PTLD jest związana z zakażeniem wirusem Epstein-Barr (EBV). Leczenie PTLD rozpoczyna się od zmniejszenia immunosupresji lub zastosowania immuno-, chemio- czy radioterapii. W pracy przedstawiono przypadek 32-letniego chorego po allo-HSCT z rozpoznaniem PTLD-EBV w postaci zespołu mononukleozopodobnego według klasyfikacji Światowej Organizacji Zdrowia z 2008 roku, z zajęciem ośrodkowego układu nerwowego i obecnym antykoagulantem toczniowym (LA), u którego ograniczenie immunosupresji nie było możliwe ze względu na równocześnie rozpoznaną chorobę przeszczep przeciw gospodarzowi (GvHD). W tej złożonej sytuacji u chorego zastosowano leczenie rytuksymabem i foskarnetem w skojarzeniu z leczeniem immunosupresyjnym, co okazało się skuteczną terapią PTLD-EBV i GvHD; obserwowano również eliminację LA z osocza.Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) is a serious complication following solid organ transplantation or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Pathogenesis of PTLD indicates a strong association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Clinical improvement is observed with reduction in immunosuppression intensity alone or administration of immuno-, chemo- and radiotherapy. We present a case of a 32-year-old man with EBV-associated PTLD as mononucleosis-like syndrome according to the 2008 World Health Organization classification with central nervous system involvement and presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA) following allo-HSCT, where decreasing the immunosuppression was not possible because of concurrent graft versus host disease (GvHD). In this situation rituximab and foscarnet in combination with immunosuppressive therapy improved PTLD and GvHD; at the same time disappearance of lupus anticoagulant was observed

Czego dowiedzieliśmy się o COVID-19 w 2020 roku? 10 hipotez wyjaśniających różnice w zachorowalności i śmiertelności z powodu COVID-19 między krajami

Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is one of the most difficult challenges for modern medicine and health care. Since the beginning of its outbreak in different regions of the world, researchers have noticed differences in incidence and mortality rates. We herein present ten hypotheses that were a topic of scientific discussions and might explain this observation. Cultural, demographic, sociological characteristics of societies, differences in healthcare systems and vaccination schedules, genetic polymorphism, and other factors can serve as variables affecting the pandemic’s course in the world’s different regions. Further study of those hypotheses might provide us with valuable insight and broaden knowledge in this unprecedented epidemiological situation.Pandemia choroby koronawirusowej 2019 jest jednym z najtrudniejszych wyzwań dla współczesnej medycyny i systemów ochrony zdrowia. Od początku jej wybuchu w różnych częściach świata zaobserwowano różnice w zapadalności i śmiertelności. W artykule omówione zostało 10 hipotez, które były tematem dyskusji naukowych i mogą wyjaśniać tę obserwację. Czynniki kulturowe, demograficzne oraz socjologiczne, różnice w systemach opieki zdrowotnej i harmonogramach szczepień, polimorfizm genetyczny mogą stanowić zmienne wpływające na przebieg pandemii w różnych regionach świata. Dalsze badanie tych hipotez może dostarczyć cennych informacji i poszerzyć dostępną wiedzę w tej bezprecedensowej sytuacji epidemiologicznej

Challenges of the Immunotherapy: Perspectives and Limitations of the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment

Immunotherapy is a quickly developing type of treatment and the future of therapy in oncology. This paper is a review of recent findings in the field of immunotherapy with an emphasis on immune checkpoint inhibitors. The challenges that immunotherapy might face in near future, such as primary and acquired resistance and the irAEs, are described in this article, as well as the perspectives such as identification of environmental modifiers of immunity and development of anti-cancer vaccines and combined therapies. There are multiple factors that may be responsible for immunoresistance, such as genomic factors, factors related to the immune system cells or to the cancer microenvironment, factors emerging from the host cells, as well as other factors such as advanced age, biological sex, diet, many hormones, existing comorbidities, and the gut microbiome

Should Emergency Medical Service Stuff Use Respirators with Filtered Valve during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Performing medical procedures with the use of personal protective equipment may reduce the efficiency of medical procedures performed [...