Clinical Outcomes and Early Postoperative Complications in Boston Type I Keratoprosthesis Implantation: A Retrospective Study.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes and early postoperative complications in patients undergoing Boston type I keratoprosthesis (BKPro) implantation, with a specific focus on the onset and nature of ocular surface disorders during the early postoperative period. This retrospective study included 77 eyes that underwent BKPro implantation between 2019 and March 2022. Patients were treated at the Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Centre, Sosnowiec, Poland, and District Railway Hospital, Katowice, Poland.

Assessment of the Concentration of Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1-3 in Degenerated Intervertebral Discs of the Lumbosacral Region of the Spine.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the expression profile of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β-1-3) to assess the progression of L/S spine degenerative disease. The study group consisted of 113 lumbosacral (L/S) intervertebral disc (IVD) degenerative disease patients from whom IVDs were collected during a microdiscectomy, whereas the control group consisted of 81 participants from whom IVDs were collected during a forensic autopsy or organ harvesting. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to exclude degenerative changes in the IVDs collected from the control group.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Pre-Emptive Peribulbar Blocks with Different Local Anesthetics or Paracetamol Using the Adequacy of Anesthesia Guidance for Vitreoretinal Surgeries: A Preliminary Report.

Background/objectives: Precisely selected patients require vitreoretinal surgeries (VRS) performed under general anesthesia (GA) when intravenous rescue opioid analgesics (IROA) are administered intraoperatively, despite a risk of adverse events, to achieve hemodynamic stability and proper antinociception and avoid the possibility of intolerable postoperative pain perception (IPPP). Adequacy of anesthesia guidance (AoA) optimizes the titration of IROA. Preventive analgesia (PA) techniques and intravenous or preoperative peribulbar block (PBB) using different local anesthetics (LAs) are performed prior to GA to optimize IROA.

Evaluation of Selenium Concentrations in Patients with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Background/objectives: In this study, serum selenium levels in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were evaluated to identify potential predictive markers of disease activity. Conducted in 100 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients (54 CD, 46 UC) and 100 healthy controls, this research provides novel insights through focusing on the regional selenium status of people with IBD in the Polish population, a demographic with limited existing data.

Methods: Selenium concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

miRNAs in Signal Transduction of SMAD Proteins in Breast Cancer.

The aim of this study was to identify miRNAs that could potentially influence the activity of SMAD proteins involved in TGFβ signal transduction in five types of breast cancer in Polish women. Patients with five breast cancer subtypes were included in the study: luminal A ( = 130), luminal B HER2- ( = 100), luminal B HER2+ ( = 96), non-luminal HER2+ ( = 36), and TNBC ( = 43). During surgery, tumor tissue was removed along with a margin of healthy tissue (control).

Assessment of OCT and Angio-OCT Parameters in Keratoconus Patients with and without Penetrating Keratoplasty.

Keratoconus (KC) is a bilateral eye disease characterized by corneal thinning and cone-like deformation, leading to visual impairment. This study evaluated the radial peripapillary capillaries (RPCs) in keratoconus patients with and without penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) using OCT and angio-OCT, comparing the results to a control group. This retrospective study included 149 eyes, 97 from patients who underwent PKP between January 2018 and February 2023 and 52 from patients who did not undergo PKP.

Expression profile of messenger and micro RNAs related to the histaminergic system in patients with five subtypes of breast cancer.

Disparities in estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki67 proliferation indices facilitate the categorization of breast cancer into four principal subtypes: luminal A, luminal B, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Preclinical studies investigating the therapeutic potential of histaminergic system targeting in breast cancer have shown promising results. This study aimed to assess the expression profiles of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and micro RNA (miRNA) related to the histaminergic system in five subtypes of breast cancer among Polish women.

Variances in the Expression Profile of Circadian Clock-Related Genes in Astrocytic Brain Tumors.

This study explores the role of circadian clock genes in the progression of astrocytic tumors, a prevalent type of brain tumor. The aim was to assess the expression patterns of these genes in relation to the tumor grade. Using microarray analysis, qRT-PCR, and methylation-specific PCR, we examined gene expression, DNA methylation patterns, and microRNA interactions in tumor samples from 60 patients.

Expression Profiles of Dopamine-Related Genes and miRNAs Regulating Their Expression in Breast Cancer.

This study aimed to assess the expression profile of messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) related to the dopaminergic system in five types of breast cancer in Polish women. Patients with five breast cancer subtypes were included in the study: luminal A ( = 130), luminal B ( = 196, including HER2-, = 100; HER2+, = 96), HER2+ ( = 36), and TNBC ( = 43); they underwent surgery, during which tumor tissue was removed along with a margin of healthy tissue (control material). The molecular analysis included a microarray profile of mRNAs and miRNAs associated with the dopaminergic system, a real-time polymerase chain reaction preceded by reverse transcription for selected genes, and determinations of their concentration using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Evaluation of differences in expression pattern of three isoforms of the transforming growth factor beta in patients with lumbosacral stenosis.

The study investigates molecular changes in the lumbosacral (L/S) spine's yellow ligamentum flavum during degenerative stenosis, focusing on the role of transforming growth factor beta 1-3 (TGF-β-1-3). Sixty patients with degenerative stenosis and sixty control participants underwent molecular analysis using real-time quantitative reverse transcription reaction technique (RTqPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis (IHC). At the mRNA level, study samples showed reduced expression of and , while increased by only 4%.

Assessment of Changes in Cap and Residual Stromal Thickness Values during a 6-Month Observation after Refractive Lenticule Extraction Small Incision Lenticule Extraction.

: In this study, the changes in corneal cap and residual stromal thickness (RST) values during a 180-day observation period after refractive lenticule extraction small incision lenticule extraction (ReLEx SMILE) were assessed. Fifty patients underwent ReLEx SMILE using the VisuMax 500 femtosecond laser, with corneal imaging conducted pre and post procedure via anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Cap thickness in the center and 1.

Serum Selenium Concentration as a Potential Diagnostic Marker for Early-Stage Colorectal Cancer: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND Selenium deficiency is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine selenium levels in blood samples obtained from colorectal cancer patients compared with the levels of this element in the blood of patients who had undergone hernia repair and cholecystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study group consisted of 49 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer at our institution.

Gene expression profile of mitogen-activated kinases and microRNAs controlling their expression in HaCaT cell culture treated with lipopolysaccharide A and cyclosporine A.

Studies indicate that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are activated and overexpressed in psoriatic lesions. The aim of the study was to assess changes in the expression pattern of genes encoding MAPKs and microRNA (miRNA) molecules potentially regulating their expression in human adult low-calcium high-temperature (HaCaT) keratinocytes exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide A (LPS) and cyclosporine A (CsA). HaCaT cells were treated with 1 µg/mL LPS for 8 h, followed by treatment with 100 ng/mL cyclosporine A for 2, 8, or 24 h.

The impact of wound-healing assay, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation and siRNA-mediated FURIN gene silencing on endogenous retroviral ERVW-1 expression level in U87-MG astrocytoma cells.

Purpose: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are ubiquitous genomic sequences. Normally dormant HERVs, undergo reactivation by environmental factors. This deregulation of HERVs' transcriptional equilibrium correlates with medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Impacts of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration of the Spine, Alcohol Consumption, Smoking Tobacco Products, and Glycemic Disorders on the Expression Profiles of Neurotrophins-3 and -4.

In the etiology of discogenic pain, attention is paid to the role of neurotrophic factors, which include classic neurotrophins (NTs). This study aimed to assess changes in the concentrations of NT-3 and NT-4 in the intervertebral discs (IVDs) of the lumbosacral (L/S) spine depending on the advancement of degenerative changes, pain severity, habits, and comorbidities. The study group included 113 patients who underwent microdiscectomy due to degenerative IVD disease of the L/S spine.

Effects of Spherical and Rod-like Gold Nanoparticles on the Reactivity of Human Peripheral Blood Leukocytes.

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are widely used in the technological and biomedical industries, which is a major driver of research on these nanoparticles. The main goal of this study was to determine the influence of GNPs (at 20, 100, and 200 μg/mL concentrations) on the reactivity of human peripheral blood leukocytes. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the respiratory burst activity and pyroptosis in monocytes and granulocytes following incubation with GNPs for 30 and 60 min.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome and Microbial Dysbiosis in Common Skin Diseases.

Dermatoses are an increasingly common problem, particularly in developed countries. The causes of this phenomenon include genetic factors and environmental elements. More and more scientific reports suggest that the gut microbiome, more specifically its dysbiosis, also plays an important role in the induction and progression of diseases, including dermatological diseases.

Possibility of Using Surgical Pleth Index in Predicting Postoperative Pain in Patients after Vitrectomy Performed under General Anesthesia.

Adequacy of anesthesia concept (AoA) in the guidance of general anesthesia (GA) is based on entropy, and it also reflects the actual depth of anesthesia and the surgical pleth index (SPI). Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the potential existence of relationships between SPI values at certain stages of the AoA-guided GA for vitreoretinal surgeries (VRS) and the incidence of intolerable postoperative pain perception (IPPP). A total of 175 patients were each assigned to one of five groups.

Evaluation of the Concentration of Selected Elements in the Serum of Patients with Degenerative Stenosis of the Lumbosacral Spine.

In humans, 23 elements have been shown to have biological activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) in the serum of patients diagnosed with lumbar degenerative stenosis when compared to the concentrations of those elements in the serum of healthy volunteers. The study group consisted of 60 patients who were diagnosed with degenerative stenosis of the lumbosacral spine and who qualified for hemilaminectomy.

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery under the Guidance of Adequacy of Anesthesia or Pupillometry with Intravenous Propofol/Remifentanil.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) constitutes an adverse event after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) under general anesthesia (GA) with intravenous opioids, such as remifentanil (RMF). Monitoring the nociception/antinociception balance using the surgical pleth index (SPI) or pupillary dilatation reflex (PRD) helps guide intravenous RMF infusion. We aimed to investigate whether their employment could help reduce the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing ESS.