Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine : Official Organ Wroclaw Medical University

BACKGROUND: Despite the wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, breast cancer is responsible for many deaths each year. One of the original and novel cancer therapeutic approaches is gene therapy based on recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors. Among the molecular factors with the potential to become useful diagnostic biomarkers, microRNA (miRNA) molecules are being considered for personalized therapies. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the utility of miRNA profiling in the design of personalized recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based gene therapy for breast cancer patients...

Treatment for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine primarily aims to decompress neural structures and preserve the former height of the disc space and foramina. Popular methods include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using cages with plates or without plates (standalone cages). However, it is still debatable whether a plate is necessary for enhanced treatment outcomes. This paper reviews current literature reports, adding insights from the authors' experience. A literature search was performed with keywords related to ACDF with or without cervical plating...

BACKGROUND: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer, and while advancements in diagnosis, surgery, radiotherapy, and molecular therapy have improved clinical prognosis, the long-term survival rate and quality of life of patients remain unsatisfactory. Therefore, identifying new prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets is crucial. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the role of anoikis-related gene characteristics in LUAD...

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) may play an important role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Increased plasma levels of Lp-PLA2 may predict future cardiovascular (CV) events in type 2 diabetes (T2D). The potential beneficial effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on ASCVD have been widely investigated. However, the impact of different PUFA concentrations on Lp-PLA2 remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the intergender differences in a population of patients with both T2D and ASCVD regarding Lp-PLA2 mass and the association between Lp-PLA2 mass and plasma levels of PUFA...

BACKGROUND: Non-standardized insulin injection has an impact on the efficacy of glucose control. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to explore the effectiveness of a nursing project in improving the insulin self-injection accuracy of diabetes mellitus patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 200 type 2 diabetes patients who received insulin therapy with an insulin pen were recruited at the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (Chongqing, China)...

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal brain tumor with high mortality and morbidity. Nerolidol (NRD) is a sesquiterpene alcohol sequestered from the essential oils of aromatic florae with potent antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective activity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the underlying cell-cycle mechanisms of NRD-mediated antiproliferative and apoptosis activities in GBM using human U-251 cells...

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is a pleomorphic cancer that frequently affects children and teenagers. Although several chemotherapy regimens have been utilized for many years, the best therapeutic option for the treatment of osteosarcoma has not yet been determined. OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis was designed to assess the clinical efficacy of a high-dose methotrexate, doxorubicin and cisplatin (MAP) regimen and compare its survival outcomes with those of other chemotherapy strategies in patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma...

BACKGROUND: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hucMSC)-derived exosomes have been reported to be effective in the treatment of cancer. The miR-214-3p is a suppressor miRNA that has been extensively studied and has been proposed as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in some cancers. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the regulatory mechanism of hucMSC-derived exosomal miR-214-3p with GLUT1 and ACLY affects the proliferation and apoptosis of gallbladder cancer (GBC) cells...

BACKGROUND: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is considered one of the most common causes of irreversible blindness among elderly patients. Neovascular AMD, which accounts for 10% of all AMD cases, can cause devastating vision loss due to choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The clinical effects and safety of intravitreal injection of conbercept in patients suffering from neovascular AMD have not been fully evaluated. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of conbercept in patients with neovascular AMD with different levels of inflammation...

BACKGROUND: Headaches (HAs) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) are common comorbidities, and the presence of one of them in a patient increases the incidence of the other. The relationship between these 2 conditions may involve common pathophysiological processes. Considering the topicality of the problem, it is justified to conduct research in this field. In this study, we assessed HA type and severity in people with TMD. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to conduct qualitative and quantitative assessments of HAs in people with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders...

BACKGROUND: Skeletal anchorage has been the subject of study for many years. Recently, orthodontic mini-implants (MIs) were described as effective tools for anchorage and were named temporary anchorage devices (TADs). The success of MIs depends on their primary stability, which is defined as the lack of mobility in the bone after implant insertion, and the relevant factors affecting primary stability. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the primary stability of used self-drilling (SD) and self-tapping (ST) MIs with unused ones by performing the insertion torque measurement, Periotest and pull-out test...

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, bringing tremendous pressure to the healthcare system and patients. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main subtype of EC in the Chinese population. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to extend the neoadjuvant therapy cycle to 4 cycles and evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of resectable ESCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The enrolled patients received neoadjuvant camrelizumab (200 mg, day 1), nab-paclitaxel (260 mg/m2, day 1) and carboplatin (area under curve; 5 mg/mL/min) every 21 days for 4 cycles, and surgery was performed within 4-6 weeks after the first day of the 4th treatment cycle...

BACKGROUND: The focus on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in medical research is becoming more and more intensive, with attention being paid to the patient's subjective feelings and assessment of one's health status. Smell disorders can significantly impact human life. The Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) is a self-monitoring questionnaire that provides subjective information about olfactory disorders. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to check the reliability and validation of the Polish version of QOD (QOD-PL) for use in patients with olfactory impairment in Poland...

Atherosclerosis is a complex process involving endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, angiogenesis, and calcification. One of the pathomechanisms of atherosclerosis is the upregulation of Wnt signaling. This study aimed to summarize the current knowledge regarding the role of Wnt signaling and sclerostin in atherosclerosis, vascular calcification, aneurysms, and mortality based on the PubMed database. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendation and identified 160 papers that were included in this systematic review...

This editorial discusses graphical abstracts (GAs) as a relatively new tool used to concisely summarize a scientific paper and promote it on social media to boost the visibility of research and the number of citations. This article attempts to define GA as clearly as possible and to explain the role of GAs as scientific communication tools in medical journals. A clear definition of a GA is lacking. Several definitions from the literature are presented, which illustrates that the terms "visual abstract" and "graphical abstract" can be used interchangeably...

On July 6, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lecanemab (Leqembi) for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) patients. In 2 clinical trials, lecanemab reduced amyloid in the brain and slowed cognitive decline. Here, I review in detail the clinical trial by van Dyck et al. (2023) entitled "Lecanemab in early Alzheimer's disease", published in The New England Journal of Medicine on January 5, 2023. In this 18-month trial, lecanemab did not slow cognitive decline in women. This is especially significant because women have a twofold increased risk of AD compared to men, that is, there are 2 times more women than men living with AD...

Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a common surgical complication that can result in bladder overdistension, urinary tract infection and an extended hospital stay. Although neostigmine is an effective therapy for POUR, its usage remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of neostigmine in improving POUR after surgery. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were reviewed. A methodical search approach was used for data extraction, while meta-analysis and bias analysis employed Review Manager 5...

BACKGROUND: Available statistical data from 2015 show that 28% of pregnancies in developed countries end in cesarean section (CC). Discomfort associated with the scar after surgery is a common complication. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the structure of the cesarean scar after the application of a scheme of manual therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 15 women in the treatment group (TG) and 15 in the control group (CG)...

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly observed as regulatory factors for the initiation and progression of varying kinds of cancers. However, studies on lncRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression are currently lacking. OBJECTIVES: We intended to determine the role of lncRNA LINC00472 and its downstream regulatory mechanism in NSCLC, thus providing novel ideas for targeted therapies for NSCLC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The target signaling axis comprising the lncRNA/microRNA/mRNA was identified through bioinformatics analysis...

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are currently the reference drugs for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but symptoms often recur after their withdrawal. Moreover, whether prokinetics or barrier drugs used alongside PPIs are more effective remains under debate. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of different therapeutic approaches to GERD treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 211 grade A reflux esophagitis patients who consented to participate in this non-randomized, open-label trial...