CT quantification of COVID-19 pneumonia extent to predict individualized outcome.

Objectives:  This study aimed to predict individual COVID-19 patient prognosis at hospital admission using artificial intelligence (AI)-based quantification of computed tomography (CT) pulmonary involvement.

Background: Assessing patient prognosis in COVID-19 pneumonia is crucial for patient management and hospital and ICU organization.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 559 patients with PCR-verified COVID-19 pneumonia referred to the hospital for a severe disease course.

Analysis of transcriptomics data from COVID-19 patients: a pilot research.

During SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus transforms the infected host cell into factories that produce new viral particles. As infection progresses, the infected cells undergo numerous changes in various pathways. One of these changes is the occurrence of a cytokine storm, which leads to severe symptoms.

Long COVID Complicated by Fatal Cytomegalovirus and Aspergillus Infection of the Lungs: An Autopsy Case Report.

After the acute phase of COVID-19, some patients develop long COVID. This term is used for a variety of conditions with a complex, yet not fully elucidated etiology, likely including the prolonged persistence of the virus in the organism and progression to lung fibrosis. We present a unique autopsy case of a patient with severe COVID-19 with prolonged viral persistence who developed interstitial lung fibrosis complicated by a fatal combination of cytomegalovirus and infection.

The Potential of Liquid Biopsy in Detection of Endometrial Cancer Biomarkers: A Pilot Study.

Endometrial cancer belongs to the most common gynecologic cancer types globally, with increasing incidence. There are numerous ways of classifying different cases. The most recent decade has brought advances in molecular classification, which show more accurate prognostic factors and the possibility of personalised adjuvant treatment.

Evaluation and limitations of different approaches among COVID-19 fatal cases using whole-exome sequencing data.

Background: COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in various disease symptoms and severity, ranging from asymptomatic, through mildly symptomatic, up to very severe and even fatal cases. Although environmental, clinical, and social factors play important roles in both susceptibility to the SARS-CoV-2 infection and progress of COVID-19 disease, it is becoming evident that both pathogen and host genetic factors are important too. In this study, we report findings from whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 27 individuals who died due to COVID-19, especially focusing on frequencies of DNA variants in genes previously associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the severity of COVID-19.

Pericardial malignant infiltration as the cause of sudden death of a patient with metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with atezolizumab.

Background: Muscle-infiltrating urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is the most common genitourinary cancer. Immunotherapeutic agents targeting protein-1 programmed death or protein-1 programmed death ligand are currently considered the standard treatment in patients with either inoperable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (MUC) after platinum-based chemotherapy failure.

Case Presentation: Here we report the case of a Caucasian male patient with metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with second-line atezolizumab within a trial who achieved complete response by computed tomography (CT), but suddenly died due to cardiac tamponade resulting from malignant pericardial infiltration.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of potential molecular targets of desmoid-type fibromatosis.

Desmoid-type fibromatosis is locally aggressive tumor rare in general population, although commonly present in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, significantly contributing to the morbidity and mortality of patients. To optimize and individualize the management of patients it is necessary to better understand the biology of these tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis of β-catenin, VEGF, hormone receptors ERβ, ERα and PR, COX-2, APC protein, EGFR, c-kit (CD117), bcl-2 and HER2 expression, potential therapeutic targets, was carried out on 15 archival biopsy samples together with APC gene mutational screening.

Intrauterine Fetal Demise After Uncomplicated COVID-19: What Can We Learn from the Case?

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women can lead to placental damage and transplacental infection transfer, and intrauterine fetal demise is an unpredictable event.

Case Study: A 32-year-old patient in her 38th week of pregnancy reported loss of fetal movements. She overcame mild COVID-19 with positive PCR test 22 days before.

Chemotherapy-triggered changes in stromal compartment drive tumor invasiveness and progression of breast cancer.

Background: Chemotherapy remains a standard treatment option for breast cancer despite its toxic effects to normal tissues. However, the long-lasting effects of chemotherapy on non-malignant cells may influence tumor cell behavior and response to treatment. Here, we have analyzed the effects of doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PAC), commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, on the survival and cellular functions of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), which comprise an important part of breast tumor microenvironment.

Hyperbilirubinemia Maintained by Chronic Supplementation of Unconjugated Bilirubin Improves the Clinical Course of Experimental Autoimmune Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic multisystem disease, therapy of which remains a challenge for basic research. The present work examined the effect of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) administration in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA)-an experimental model, in which oxidative stress (OS), inflammation and inadequate immune response are often similar to RA. Male Lewis rats were randomized into groups: CO-control, AIA-untreated adjuvant-induced arthritis, AIA-BIL-adjuvant-induced arthritis administrated UCB, CO-BIL-control with administrated UCB.

Gynecological lesions in hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes.

Hereditary tumor syndromes with a possible manifestation in the female internal genital tract represent a heterogeneous group of diseases. The two most common entities are the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, and the Lynch syndrome. The less common syndromes include the rhabdoid tumor predisposition syndrome, Cowden syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, DICER1 syndrome, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, von Hippel-Lindau disease, and hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome.

The value of immunohistochemical methods in diagnosing endometrial carcinoma.

The goal of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the significance of immunohistochemical methods in diagnosing endometrial carcinoma. The main points discussed include: the use of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of the main histological types of endometrial carcinoma, the difference between primary serous endometrial carcinoma and the involvement with high grade serous carcinoma of another primary source, the diagnosis of undifferentiated/dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma, and diagnosing tumours with neuroendocrine differentiation. The role of p53 expression evaluation is also emphasized as a special area of interest, not only in the context of differential diagnosis, but also from the point of view of the prognosis and prediction of endometrial carcinoma as an ancillary marker for subtypization of these tumours.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the colon - a case report.

Background: Primary squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the colon are extremely rare and occur predominantly in the fifth decade of life, with a slight prevalence in men. The most common anatomical sites are the rectum and the proximal colon. Clinical signs and common dia-gnostic methods cannot clearly distinguish SCC from adenocarcinoma.

Ivabradine Ameliorates Kidney Fibrosis in L-NAME-Induced Hypertension.

Hypertension-induced renal injury is characterized by structural kidney alterations and function deterioration. Therapeutics for kidney protection are limited, thus novel renoprotectives in hypertension are being continuously sought out. Ivabradine, an inhibitor of the I current in the sinoatrial node reducing heart rate (HR), was shown to be of benefit in various cardiovascular pathologies.

Complete Response to Chemotherapy in Metastatic Pancreatic Carcinoma Associated with Double Heterozygous Germline Mutation in BRCA2 and CHEK2 Genes - a Case Report.

Background: Metastatic pancreatic carcinoma is an aggressive disease with adverse prognosis. Despite slight advances in chemotherapy, complete remission of the disease is extremely rare.

Case: In this article we present a case of a patient with initially metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, associated with double heterozygous germline mutation in BRCA2 and CHEK2 genes, with the description of clinical, radiological and histomorphological characteristics of the disease as well as the dia-gnostic and therapeutic procedure.

Aspiration thrombectomy as the first-line treatment of M2 occlusions.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was (i) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of aspiration thrombectomy in patients with M2 occlusions and (ii) to compare outcome of treatment of occlusion of different M2 segments.

Materials And Methods: Between March 2016 and June 2019, 82 patients with acute ischemic stroke and isolated M2 occlusions were treated in cerebrovascular stroke center with aspiration thrombectomy as the first-line treatment. Functional outcomes of patients with different types of M2 occlusions were statistically compared.

Neurointerventionalist and Patient Radiation Doses in Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Purpose: To evaluate the patient and the neurointerventionalist radiation dose levels during endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke, and to analyze factors affecting doses.

Materials And Methods: From October 2017 to January 2019, we prospectively collected patient radiation data and neurointerventionalist data from real-time dosimetry from all consecutive thrombectomies. Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze patient total dose area product (DAP) and neurointerventionalist dose variability in terms of clinical characteristics and the technical parameters of thrombectomies.

Accumulation of α-2,6-sialyoglycoproteins in the Muscle Sarcoplasm Due to . Invasion.

The sialylation of the glycoproteins in skeletal muscle tissue is not well investigated, even though the essential role of the sialic acids for the proper muscular function has been proven by many researchers. The invasion of the parasitic nematode in the muscles with subsequent formation of Nurse cell-parasite complex initiates increased accumulation of sialylated glycoproteins within the affected area of the muscle fiber. The aim of this study is to describe some details of the α-2,6-sialylation in invaded muscle cells.

Pacinian collagenoma: A distinct form of sclerotic fibroma.

Sclerotic fibroma (storiform collagenoma) is a rare benign skin tumor. A solitary tumor, as well as multifocal lesions, are found either sporadically, or associated with Cowden syndrome. The tumor usually presents as clinically asymptomatic, slowly growing papule or nodule on the skin of the head, neck, and upper extremities.

Alteration of renal Na,K-ATPase in rats following the mediastinal γ-irradiation.

Na,K-ATPase represents the key enzyme that maintains the homeostasis of sodium and potassium ions in the cells. It was documented that in directly irradiated organs the activity of this enzyme is decreased. The aim of present study was to clarify the remote effect of irradiation in mediastinal area on the activity of the Na,K-ATPase in kidneys in rats.

Rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) ameliorates the CCl4-induced injury to mitochondrial respiratory function and energy production in rat liver.

The rooibos tea (RT) is a source of valuable dietary dihydrochalcones  aspalathin, and nothofagin and other polyphenols. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that RT flavonoids have strong antioxidant effect and significantly reduce oxidative stress. We investigated the antioxidant activity and protective effect of an aqueous extract of RT on the liver mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced (CCl4-induced) liver damage.

Histopathology of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the Gastrointestinal System.

Background: Tumors arising from neuroendocrine cells are defined as epithelial neoplasms with predominantly neuroendocrine differentiation. They comprise a distinct group of tumors with a characteristic histological structure and functional properties that develop at various sites, particularly the gastrointestinal system (67%) and lungs (25%). Although such tumors are usually slow-growing and indolent, almost all have malignant potential and most can produce active hormones.

Effect of metabolic syndrome on neural plasticity and morphology of the hippocampus: correlations of neurological deficits with physiological status of the rat.

Fat-rich diet (FRD) triggers health complications like hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, known as the risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which may result in neurological deficits. The impact of MetS on neuronal functions and brain morphology are poorly understood. We induced MetS-like conditions by exposing hypertriacylglycerolemic (HTG) rats to FRD for eight weeks with the aim to study possible neurological dysfunctions.