Publications by authors named "Barbara Mc Cormack"

Background: the association between ovarian endometriosis (OE) and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC) is extensively documented, and misfunction of the immune system might be involved. The primary objective of this study was to identify and compare the spatial distribution of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) in OE and EAOC. Secondary objectives included the analysis of the relationship between immunosuppressive populations and T-cell exhaustion markers in both groups.

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The association between the immune system and tumor progression has attracted much interest in the research community in recent years [...

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Introduction: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the second most frequent gynecological malignancy but the most lethal, partially due to the spread of the disease through the peritoneal cavity. Recent evidence has shown that, apart from their role in immune defense through phagocytosis and degranulation, neutrophils are able to participate in cancer progression through the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in a process called NETosis. NETs are composed of DNA, histones, calprotectin, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase and the NETosis process has been proposed as a pre-requisite for the establishment of omental metastases in early stages of HGSOC.

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Article Synopsis
  • Personalized medicine tailors healthcare treatments to the individual characteristics of each patient, enhancing the effectiveness of therapies.
  • This approach considers genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors to optimize disease management for various conditions.
  • As personalized medicine evolves, it aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce adverse effects by moving away from a one-size-fits-all methodology.
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Article Synopsis
  • Endometriosis is a painful condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, and current treatments often fail to alleviate the symptoms.
  • Researchers tested the effects of urolithins A (UA) and B (UB) on endometriotic-like lesions in a mouse model, finding that UA completely prevented the lesions while UB reduced their size.
  • Both treatments did not impact the mice's body weight or reproductive cycles, suggesting they could offer a promising therapeutic option for managing endometriosis.
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Study Question: What are the effects of plant-derived antioxidant compounds urolithin A (UA) and B (UB) on the growth and pathogenetic properties of an in vitro endometriosis model?

Summary Answer: Both urolithins showed inhibitory effects on cell behavior related to the development of endometriosis by differentially affecting growth, adhesion, motility, and invasion of endometriotic cells in vitro.

What Is Known Already: Endometriosis is one of the most common benign gynecological diseases in women of reproductive age and is defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. As current pharmacological therapies are associated with side effects interfering with fertility, we aimed at finding alternative therapeutics using natural compounds that can be administered for prolonged periods with a favorable side effects profile.

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Cyclic AMP has been implicated as second messenger in a wide range of cellular processes. In the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, cAMP is involved in the development of the parasite's life cycle. While cAMP effectors have been widely studied in other eukaryotic cells, little is known about cAMP's mechanism of action in T.

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