Molecular aspects of pancreatic cancer: focus on reprogrammed metabolism in a nutrient-deficient environment and potential therapeutic targets.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still burdened with high mortality (5-year survival rate < 9%) due to late diagnosis, aggressiveness, and a lack of more effective treatment methods. Early diagnosis and new therapeutic approaches based on the reprogrammed metabolism of the tumor in a nutrient-deficient environment are expected to improve the future treatment of PDAC patients. Research results suggest that genetic and metabolic disorders may precede the onset of neoplastic changes, which should allow for earlier appropriate treatment.

The relationship between the degree of malnutrition and changes in selected parameters of the immune response in critically ill patients.

Patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk of malnutrition and the resulting homeostasis, metabolic, histological and immunological disorders, especially leading to organ failure and increased susceptibility to infection. In 163 patients with malnutrition [mild in 33 (19.6%), moderate in 69 (42.

The soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 as a potential early diagnostic and prognostic markers in intensive care unit patients with severe infections.

Introduction: Substantial causes of high mortality (30-50%) of people with severe infections treated in intensive care units (ICUs) are still inadequately known in terms of mechanisms and insufficient diagnostic tools for immune responses in sepsis.

Material And Methods: The aim of this study was to establish a practical value of determining the concentration of chosen proteins (by ELISA) in peripheral blood as potential in early diagnostics of severe infections, paying special attention to their prognostic values.

Results: In 163 patients treated in ICUs, changes were assessed in the concentration of chosen proteins relating to the TLR4 receptor signalling pathway, including its effectors of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1Ra, TNF-α, sTNFR1, IL-6, IL-10, sTLR4, MyD88, TNFAIP3/A20, HSP70, and HMGB1).

Infection-induced innate antimicrobial response disorders: from signaling pathways and their modulation to selected biomarkers.

Severe infections are a major public health problem responsible for about 40-65% of hospitalizations in intensive care units (ICU). The high mortality (30-50%) of persons diagnosed with severe infection is caused by largely unknown mechanisms of sepsis-induced immune system response. Severe infections with dynamic progress are accompanied with SIRS (systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome) and CARS (compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome), and require a biological treatment appropriate to the phase of immune response.