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

BACKGROUND: Rapamycin is known to induce autophagy, promote cell survival and inhibit the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the role of autophagy in the treatment of DN with rapamycin to provide the basis for the DN treatment with rapamycin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human mesangial cells (HMC) were cultured in a constant temperature incubator with 5% CO2, at 37°C and saturated humidity...

BACKGROUND: Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) is considered a unique technique for retinoblastoma (Rb) management and has widespread applicability as a first-line or second-line treatment due to the high globe survival rates. OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of IAC approach among patients with Rb. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study outlined the most recent research on IAC effectiveness in Rb treatment. We carried out a systematic search for published papers examining IAC treatment among patients with Rb using electronic search engines, including Embase, Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, OVID, and Google Scholar, until October 2021...

B10 cells, a specialized subset of regulatory B cells, have been identified in both mice and humans. These cells are characterized by their regulatory impact on immune dynamics, principally through their secretion of interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cytokine known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The pivotal role of immune mediators such as B10 cells is to maintain a delicate equilibrium between antitumor immunity and tumor-promoting responses. Emerging studies have cast B10 cells as key suppressors in the antitumor immune arsenal...

BACKGROUND: Aberrant circular RNA (circRNA) acts as an oncogene or suppressor during neoplasm initiation and development. However, the functions of most circRNAs in osteosarcoma (OS) remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the expression, molecular functions and mechanisms underlying circRNAs in OS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Network interaction, pathway enrichment and regression analyses were performed to determine differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs)...

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) in the general population are rare diseases. However, from the perspective of general pediatrics and pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), they are becoming a significant challenge both diagnostically and therapeutically. Clinically, there is a useful division of IEMs with neurological manifestations into 2 categories: acute and progressive encephalopathies. The extent of individual IEMs in these 2 groups varies, requiring different diagnostic strategies. Despite progress in development of diagnostic tools in IEM, initial diagnosis is made on the basis of basic laboratory tests, neuroradiological findings and metabolic screening...

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PC) prevention is effectively achieved through its inhibition. Oridonin (ORD), an active diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescens, has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on PC cells, although its impact on PC is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The present work investigated the actions and probable mechanisms of ORD on cellular proliferation, apoptosis, PC, and the wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 2 (Wnt)/β-catenin signaling pathway using the androgen-independent PC-3 cell line...

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) is a major problem that increases the mortality and disability rate worldwide. With an increase in the aging population, OP has become a major public threat to human health. Searching for effective and suitable targets for drug treatment in OP has become an urgent need. OBJECTIVES: Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and density as well as micro-architectural deterioration. Icariin is a flavonoid extracted from plants of the genus Epimedium and has been shown to exert potential anti-OP activity...

Percutaneous treatment of calcified coronary lesions is still a challenge in modern interventional cardiology practice. Coronary angiography is limited to the precise and quantitative assessment of calcium in coronary arteries. Intracoronary imaging (ICI) modalities, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), produce a very detailed image of calcifications and could help in proper percutaneous treatment. Intracoronary imaging indicates the need to use additional tools and improves the final effect of an intervention...

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have indicated the engagement of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in various cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the functional and mechanistic roles of lncRNAs in CRC remain largely elusive. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the function and mechanism of lncRNA BVES-AS1 in CRC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The expression levels of BVES-AS1 were validated in CRC tissues and paired normal samples using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) Subsequently, the biological functions of BVES-AS1 in CRC cells were investigated both in vitro and in vivo...

BACKGROUND: Diaphragmatic dysfunction is a common problem in patients who have been mechanically ventilated. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on diaphragm muscle thickness and function in mechanically ventilated patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-blind trial was conducted. Twenty patients were randomly assigned to either the conventional physiotherapy (CP) group or to the IMT group for 5 days following extubation...

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disabling neurodegenerating disorder characterized by chronic neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment and memory loss. Current treatment options for AD offer limited benefits, underscoring the urgent need for alternative therapeutics. Despite the promising effects of ginsenosides in neurodegenerative diseases, the therapeutic potential of ginsenoside compound Mc1 (GCMc1) in AD remains to be thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of GCMc1 in rats with AD and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for its effects...

BACKGROUND: Parthenolide (PN), a key active ingredient of feverfew, has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. However, the mechanism of the cytotoxic effect exerted by PN on tumor cells has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVES: To study the cytotoxic effect of PN on human gastric cancer cells, the specific death mode, and gene expression changes induced by PN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, MGC-803 cells were used to study PN-induced cytotoxicity as a gastric cancer cell line...

BACKGROUND: Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience a lot of mental and emotional stress, which can lead to the development of depressive disorders. The prevalence of depressive disorders in CKD children is estimated to be between 7% and 35%. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of depression and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with CKD treated conservatively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in 73 CKD children aged 8-18 and in 92 of their parents...

BACKGROUND: In response to the high-glucose environment in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), trophoblast cells undergo a series of pathological changes. Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit pi (GABRP) is involved in the development of pregnancy-related diseases and regulation of blood glucose. OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between GABRP and hyperglycemia stimulation in GDM patients, and to provide preliminary experimental evidence for whether GABRP has the potential as a molecular target for the treatment of GDM...

BACKGROUND: Maintaining biosafety in dental practice involves the effective elimination of aerosols produced during dental treatment. OBJECTIVES: To assess the quantity of aerosols and aerobic bacteria in the air during the treatment of caries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 60 patients with a total of 60 molar teeth (n = 60) in the mandible who were divided into 2 groups based on caries treatment method. Group 1 (G1, n = 30) received treatment with a conventional dental turbine (W&H Synea TA-98LC; W&H, Burmoos, Austria), while group 2 (G2, n = 30) underwent treatment with an Er:YAG (erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet) laser (LightWalker, Fotona, Slovenia)...

BACKGROUND: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can suppress the inflammatory response in adults, but its role in pregnant women and newborns is poorly studied. While the adult immune system is considered mature, it is immature in neonates and suppressed in pregnancy. Since the immune response differs in these 3 groups, the use of IVIG could differentially modulate the immune response. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the effect of IVIG on myeloid blood cells from non-pregnant women, pregnant women and newborns...

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation in the anterior region requires specific conditions for success, such as the presence of papilla, emergence profile, and balance between pink and white esthetic. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the esthetic risk associated with immediate implant placement with immediate restoration in the anterior superior area, where the facial bone plate may be absent or deficient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The search was done in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Lilacs, Scopus, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases...

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a critical situation, and its treatment and reduction are important clinical issues. Antibiotics are a routine treatment option, but their adverse effects are a concern in pediatric patients, especially infants. Prebiotics might be an alternative option. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide an updated systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of prebiotics for sepsis in infants, which could assist clinicians in deciding whether to use this treatment...

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, or celecoxib have a well-established and unquestionable role in the human therapeutic arsenal, but still new perspectives are being discovered. This review presents new anti-inflammatory mechanisms of NSAIDs action, other than the classical one, i.e., the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms leading to the prostanoids synthesis blockage. Literature data show that this group of drugs can activate anti-inflammatory peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), inhibit pro-inflammatory nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation or modulate the components of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway...

BACKGROUND: Dendritic cells (DCs) are a key class of immune cells that migrate to the draining lymph nodes and present processed antigenic peptides to lymphocytes after being activated by external stimuli, thereby establishing adaptive immunity. Moreover, DCs play an important role in tumor immunity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate whether MCT1 gene silencing in DCs affects their ability to mount an immune response against cervical cancer cells...