Monitoring of telomere dynamics in peripheral blood leukocytes in relation to colorectal cancer patients' outcomes.

We investigated the possible associations between leukocyte telomere length, therapy outcomes, and clinicopathological features in patients with colorectal cancer. Additionally, telomerase reverse transcriptase () expression was evaluated. Telomere length was measured using singleplex qPCR in 478 consecutive leukocyte DNA samples from 198 patients.

Histopathological assessment of the microscopic activity in inflammatory bowel diseases: What are we looking for?

Advances in diagnostics of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and improved treatment strategies allowed the establishment of new therapeutic endpoints. Currently, it is desirable not only to cease clinical symptoms, but mainly to achieve endoscopic remission, a macroscopic normalization of the bowel mucosa. However, up to one-third of IBD patients in remission exhibit persisting microscopic activity of the disease.

GABBR1 monoallelic de novo variants linked to neurodevelopmental delay and epilepsy.

GABA receptors are obligatory heterodimers responsible for prolonged neuronal inhibition in the central nervous system. The two receptor subunits are encoded by GABBR1 and GABBR2. Variants in GABBR2 have been associated with a Rett-like phenotype (MIM: 617903), epileptic encephalopathy (MIM: 617904), and milder forms of developmental delay with absence epilepsy.

Serum and Mucosal CD30 in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Useful Biomarker for Diagnosis and Disease Activity Monitoring?

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) frequently manifest in pediatric age, but may have atypical clinical, histological and laboratory features. Their underlying immune pathophysiology is incompletely understood, rendering quick diagnosis followed by tailored therapy difficult. The tumor necrosis factor superfamily receptor CD30 has been proposed as a potential marker of ulcerative colitis (UC) and has also been associated with elevated Th2 helper T cells.

Nationwide observational study of paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) in the Czech Republic.

The worldwide outbreak of the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to recognition of a new immunopathological condition: paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS-TS). The Czech Republic (CZ) suffered from one of the highest incidences of individuals who tested positive during pandemic waves. The aim of this study was to analyse epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of all cases of paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS-TS) in the Czech Republic (CZ) and their predictors of severe course.

Tuberculosis dissemination in kidney transplant recipient treated with anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody: a case report.

Background: Tuberculosis (TBC) in solid organ transplant recipients represents a severe complication. The incidence among transplant recipients is higher than in the general population, and the diagnosis and treatment remain challenging. We present a case of active disseminated tuberculosis in a kidney transplant recipient treated with an anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody, who had been previously exposed to an active form of the disease, but latent tuberculosis (LTBI) was repeatedly ruled out prior to transplantation.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness and Sarcopenia.

Skeletal muscle is a highly adaptable organ, and its amount declines under catabolic conditions such as critical illness. Aging is accompanied by a gradual loss of muscle, especially when physical activity decreases. Intensive care unit-acquired weakness is a common and highly serious neuromuscular complication in critically ill patients.

High leptin status indicates an increased risk of mortality and heart failure in stable coronary artery disease.

Background And Aims: Leptin is an adipocyte-derived peptide involved in energy homeostasis and body weight regulation. The position of leptin in cardiovascular pathophysiology remains controversial. Some studies suggest a detrimental effect of hyperleptinemia on the cardiovascular (CV) system, while others assume the role of leptin as a neutral or even protective factor.

The Associations of Selenoprotein Genetic Variants with the Risks of Colorectal Adenoma and Colorectal Cancer: Case-Control Studies in Irish and Czech Populations.

Background: Selenium manifests its biological effects through its incorporation into selenoproteins, which play several roles in countering oxidative and inflammatory responses implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. Selenoprotein genetic variants may contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) development, as we previously observed for SNP variants in a large European prospective study and a Czech case-control cohort.

Methods: We tested if significantly associated selenoprotein gene SNPs from these studies were also associated with CRC risk in case-control studies from Ireland (colorectal neoplasia, i.

Digital tools in allergy and respiratory care.

Patient care in the allergy and respiratory fields is advancing rapidly, offering the possibility of the inclusion of a variety of digital tools that aim to improve outcomes of care. Impaired access to several health care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic has considerably increased the appetite and need for the inclusion of e-health tools amongst end-users. Consequently, a multitude of different e-health tools have been launched worldwide with various registration and access options, and with a wide range of offered benefits.

Neonatal Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (nSOFA) Score within 72 Hours after Birth Reliably Predicts Mortality and Serious Morbidity in Very Preterm Infants.

The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of the neonatal sequential organ failure assessment score (nSOFA) within 72 h after delivery as a predictor for mortality and adverse outcome in very preterm neonates. Inborn neonates <32 weeks of gestation were evaluated. The nSOFA scores were calculated from medical records in the first 72 h after birth and the peak value was used for analysis.

Impact of Brain Metastases on Treatment Patterns and Outcomes With First-Line Durvalumab Plus Platinum-Etoposide in Extensive-Stage SCLC (CASPIAN): A Brief Report.

Introduction: In the phase 3 study involving the use of durvalumab with or without tremelimumab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy in untreated extensive-stage SCLC (CASPIAN study), first-line durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide (EP) significantly improved overall survival (OS) versus EP alone ( = 0.0047). We report exploratory subgroup analyses of treatment patterns and outcomes according to the presence of baseline brain or central nervous system metastases.

Bladder Microbiota Are Associated with Clinical Conditions That Extend beyond the Urinary Tract.

Background: Since the discovery of the human urinary microbiota (UM), alterations in microbial community composition have been associated with various genitourinary conditions. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine possible associations of UM with clinical conditions beyond the urinary tract and to test some of the conclusions from previous studies on UM.

Methods: Catheterised urine samples from 87 men were collected prior to endoscopic urological interventions under anaesthesia.

Oxidative Damage in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer: Molecular Mapping of Base Excision Repair Glycosylases MUTYH and hOGG1 in Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage and resulting mutations play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Impaired equilibrium between DNA damage formation, antioxidant status, and DNA repair capacity is responsible for the accumulation of genetic mutations and genomic instability. The lesion-specific DNA glycosylases, e.

Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor of the Uterus: A Report of Molecularly Confirmed Case with EWSR1-WT1 Fusion.

We report a case of a 49-year-old female with desmoplastic small round cell tumor of the uterus (DSRCT). Histologically, in some areas the tumor showed typical features with ample desmoplastic stroma, while in other areas the tumor cells diffusely infiltrated myometrium with only focal desmoplastic reaction. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells showed diffuse positivity for desmin, CD56, CD57, EMA and cyclin D1.

Comorbidity burden and survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the EMPIRE registry study.

Background: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) frequently have multiple comorbidities, which may influence survival but go under-recognised in clinical practice. We therefore report comorbidity, antifibrotic treatment use and survival of patients with IPF observed in the multi-national EMPIRE registry.

Methods: For this prospective IPF cohort, demographics, comorbidities, survival and causes of death were analysed.

Long-term evaluation of the safety and efficacy of recombinant human pentraxin-2 (rhPTX-2) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF): an open-label extension study.

Background: Recombinant human pentraxin-2 (rhPTX-2) significantly decreased decline in percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and stabilized 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) during the 28-week, placebo-controlled, randomized period of the Phase II PRM-151-202 study. Interim (76-week) data from the open-label extension (OLE) demonstrated sustained safety and efficacy with rhPTX-2 treatment. Here, we present the entire long-term OLE safety and efficacy data to 128 weeks.

The cytokeratin 17 expression in primary ovarian tumors has diagnostic but not prognostic significance.

We assessed the value of cytokeratin 17 (CK17) expression for the differential diagnosis between primary ovarian mucinous tumors and metastases from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the significance of CK17 expression in a broad spectrum of primary ovarian tumors with respect to their prognosis. The sample set consisted of 554 primary ovarian tumors and 255 GIT tumors. In the primary ovarian tumors, a higher CK17 expression (in > 10% of tumors cells) was present only in 0-11.

Physical exercise, immune response, and susceptibility to infections-current knowledge and growing research areas.

This review presents state-of-the-art knowledge and identifies knowledge gaps for future research in the area of exercise-associated modifications of infection susceptibility. Regular moderate-intensity exercise is believed to have beneficial effects on immune health through lowering inflammation intensity and reducing susceptibility to respiratory infections. However, strenuous exercise, as performed by professional athletes, may promote infection: in about half of athletes presenting respiratory symptoms, no causative pathogen can be identified.

Neutrophil phenotypes in bronchial airways differentiate single from dual responding allergic asthmatics.

Introduction: Allergic asthmatics with both an early (EAR) and a late allergic reaction (LAR) following allergen exposure are termed 'dual responders' (DR), while 'single responders' (SR) only have an EAR. Mechanisms that differentiate DR from SR are largely unknown, particularly regarding the role and phenotypes of neutrophils. Therefore, we aimed to study neutrophils in DR and SR asthmatics.

Worse Prognosis in the Symptomatic Patients With Lung Cancer - Czech Multicentric Study.

Background/aim: This study aimed at contributing to a better diagnosis of lung cancer by analyzing the patient's symptoms and their linkage to other characteristics.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed the data of 3,322 patients from LUCAS (LUngCAncerfocuS) National Registry of the Czech Republic. Overall survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.