Clinical Potential of Misshapen/NIKs-Related Kinase (MINK) 1-A Many-Sided Element of Cell Physiology and Pathology.

Misshapen/NIKs-related kinase (MINK) 1 belongs to the mammalian germinal center kinase (GCK) family. It contains the N-terminal, conserved kinase domain, a coiled-coil region, a proline-rich region, and a GCK, C-terminal domain with the Citron-NIK-Homology (CNH) domain. The kinase is an essential component of cellular signaling pathways, which include Wnt signaling, JNK signaling, pathways engaging Ras proteins, the Hippo pathway, and STRIPAK complexes.

Association of SIGLEC9 Expression with Cytokine Expression, Tumor Grading, KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, AKT Gene Mutations, and MSI Status in Colorectal Cancer.

SIGLEC9 (sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 9) is a molecule thought to have a significant influence on the immune properties of the colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor microenvironment (TME). In our study, we assessed the expression of the SIGLEC9 protein in CRC tissue and the surgical margin tissue. Using RT-PCR, we analyzed mutations in the KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, and AKT genes.

Evaluation of Cardiometabolic Risk in Patients with Non-Functioning Adrenal Adenomas Using the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2) and the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2-Older Persons (SCORE2-OP) Algorithms.

BACKGROUND Non-functioning adrenal adenomas (NFA) are prevalent tumors often associated with metabolic disturbances compared to the general population. This study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in 106 patients with NFA using SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP algorithms. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study sample comprised of 106 patients with NFA.

Mechanisms Behind the Impact of PIWI Proteins on Cancer Cells: Literature Review.

The P-Element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI) group of proteins plays a key role in RNA interference, particularly in the regulation of small non-coding RNAs. However, in recent years, PIWIs have gained attention in several diseases, mainly cancer. Therefore, the aim of this review was to evaluate current knowledge about the impact of PIWI proteins on cancer cells.

Serum Levels of Selected Cytokines and Chemokines and IgG4 in Children With Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections.

Respiratory tract infections are a common health problem. Cytokines/chemokines play a critical role in the regulation of the immune system. Their defective production may predispose to recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRIs), and an excessive immune response may lead to chronic inflammation and cause damage to the respiratory tract.

Assessment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and irisin concentration in children with chronic kidney disease: a pilot study.

Patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) are particularly placed at risk of multiorgan complications. One of them is malnutrition, which adds up to a higher mortality factor among them. This study was designed to determine the usefulness of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and irisin assays in the assessment of CKD development.

Brain disorders in euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of thyroid follicular cells by thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), leading to hypothyroidism. Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is associated with elevated levels of antithyroid antibodies. An important question is whether brain alterations precede the development of HE and are present in euthyroid patients with HT, and what pathomechanisms could be responsible for these changes.

B7H4 Role in Solid Cancers: A Review of the Literature.

Anti-cancer immunotherapies entirely changed the therapeutic approach to oncological patients. However, despite the undeniable success of anti-PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 antibody treatments, their effectiveness is limited either by certain types of malignancies or by the arising problem of cancer resistance. B7H4 (aliases B7x, B7H4, B7S1, VTCN1) is a member of a B7 immune checkpoint family with a distinct expression pattern from classical immune checkpoint pathways.

The Importance of HHLA2 in Solid Tumors-A Review of the Literature.

Cancer immunotherapy is a rapidly developing field of medicine that aims to use the host's immune mechanisms to inhibit and eliminate cancer cells. Antibodies targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, and its ligand PD-L1 are used in various cancer therapies. However, the most thoroughly researched pathway targeting PD-1/PD-L1 has many limitations, and multiple malignancies resist its effects.

Prognostic Value of B7H4 Expression in Patients with Solid Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

V-set domain-containing T-cell activation inhibitor 1 (aliases VTCN1, B7H4) participates in tumour immune escape by delivering inhibitory signals to T cells. The purpose of this article was to assess the B7H4 prognostic value in solid cancers. Three databases were searched for relevant articles.

Prognostic Value of HHLA2 in Patients with Solid Tumors: A Meta-Analysis.

HHLA2 is a checkpoint from the B7 family that can play a co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory role in cancer, depending on the binding receptor. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the relationship between HHLA2 levels and its impact on the prognosis of patients with solid cancers. The study used data from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane and SCOPUS databases.

Blood-based protein biomarkers and red blood cell aggregation in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly malignant with a low 5-year survival rate. Blood biomarkers may be of value for the noninvasive diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Objective: This study assessed blood-based biomarkers and disturbances in red blood cell aggregation associated with pancreatic cancer.

ZAG (Zinc-Alpha 2 Glycoprotein) Serum Levels in Girls with Anorexia Nervosa.

Unlabelled: The objectives of the study were: (1) the evaluation of the blood serum concentration of ZAG (Zinc-alpha 2 Glycoprotein) in girls with anorexia nervosa, as well as in girls with simple obesity and healthy girls; and (2) the valuation of the relationship between the blood level of ZAG and the duration of AN and anthropometric parameters, parameters of the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, thyroid hormones, and cortisol in the blood in all study subjects.

Materials And Methods: The study covered 87 girls (aged 11-17.9 years).

B7H3 Role in Reshaping Immunosuppressive Landscape in MSI and MSS Colorectal Cancer Tumours.

The study aimed to assess the expression of B7H3 concerning clinicopathological and histological parameters, including MSI/MSS status, CD-8 cells, tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), budding, TNM scale and grading. Moreover, we analyzed the B7H3-related pathways using available online datasets and the immunological context of B7H3 expression, through the 48-cytokine screening panel of cancer tissues homogenates, immunogenic features and immune composition. The study included 158 patients diagnosed with CRC.

PiRNA Obtained through Liquid Biopsy as a Possible Cancer Biomarker.

In recent years PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have gained the interest of scientists, mainly because of their possible implications in cancer. Many kinds of research showed how their expression can be linked to malignant diseases. However, most of them evaluated the expression of piRNAs in tumor tissues.

Do Elevated YKL-40 Levels Drive the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer? Assessment of the Association of the Expression of YKL-40, MMP-8, IL17A, and PD-L1 with Coexisting Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, and Active Smoking.

The influence of chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40 or CHI3L1) expression on the immunological properties of the tumor microenvironment, which may affect the effectiveness of immunotherapy, is currently not sufficiently understood in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between YKL-40 expression and the immunological properties of the tumor microenvironment in CRC. We performed in silico analysis, including analysis of immune cell infiltration scores and the immune landscape depending on YKL-40 expression, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and analysis of three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets.

Assessment of Interleukin-15 (IL-15) Concentration in Children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is a chronic glomerular disease in children, characterized by severe proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and/or presence of edema and hyperlipidemia. The pathogenesis, however, has not been yet established. The clinical course of the disease is characterized by frequent relapses.

Overexpression and Role of HHLA2, a Novel Immune Checkpoint, in Colorectal Cancer.

The study aimed to investigate correlations between HHLA2 levels and parameters, including microsatellite instability (MSI) status, CD8+ cells, and histopathological features: budding, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), TNM scale, grading, cytokines, chemokines, and cell signaling moleculesin colorectal cancer (CRC). Furthermore, the immune infiltration landscape and HHLA2-related pathways in colorectal cancer using available online datasets were analyzed. The study included 167 patients diagnosed with CRC.

B7H4 Expression Is More Frequent in MSS Status Colorectal Cancer and Is Negatively Associated with Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes.

The immunotherapies based on ICIs in CRC are nowadays limited to microsatellite unstable tumours which are approximately 15% of all CRC cases. There are a few new immune checkpoints belonging to the B7 family, including B7H4. B7H4 expression is associated with so-called "cold tumours", and its function is linked to the downregulation of various immune cell populations.

Serum concentration of total sialic acids in patients with primary laryngeal carcinoma.

Unlabelled: SummaryPurpose. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum concentrations of total sialic acids (TSA) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx preoperatively and 4 years postoperatively and to compare the results with the serum concentration of sialic acids in patients with non-neoplastic laryngeal lesions.

Methods: The study comprised 52 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and 25 patients with non-neoplastic laryngeal lesions.

Assessment of selected interleukins (IL-6, IL-17A, IL-18, IL-23) and chemokines (RANTES, IP-10) in children with acute and chronic urticaria.

Background: Urticarial lesions develop as a result of the activation of mast cells which, through the release of mediators, influence the formation of local inflammatory infiltrates. Changes in the expression of many cytokines and chemokines are observed in the course of urticaria. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A, IL-18, IL-23, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and interferon (IFN)-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) in children with acute urticaria and exacerbation of chronic urticaria in comparison to healthy volunteers.