Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Aug 2020
Comparative analysis of exosome markers and extracellular vesicles between colorectal cancer and cancer-associated normal colonic mucosa.
Exosomes are currently considered as the new biomarkers of colorectal cancer (CRC). Tetraspanins (CD9, CD63) belong to the well‑known exosome markers, but can also be found on other subtypes of extracellular vesicles (EVs). ⋯ Exosome markers and EVs were more pronounced in the CRC samples compared with controls. Immunohistochemical evaluation of tetraspanins reflects the results obtained by the NTA. Exocytosis appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of CRC. To the best of our knowledge, such analysis was carried out for the first time.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Aug 2020
Serum concentration of selected biochemical markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation in patients with varying activities of inflammatory bowel disease.
Endothelial dysfunction leads to an increased expression of cell adhesion molecules, leukocyte diapedesis, vascular smooth‑muscle tone, excessive permeability of vascular walls, and increased procoagulant activity. ⋯ E‑selectin, P‑selectin, sCD40L, MCP‑1, and microparticle levels do not significantly differ between patients with the varying activity of IBD. However, due to the observed correlations, further studies of a larger patient group should be conducted to confirm our observations.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) is an infectious disease that became a global health emergency. This review focuses on the aspects of COVID‑19 pertaining to rheumatology, including signs and symptoms akin to those observed in rheumatic disorders, risk of infection or severe course of the disease in patients with a pre‑ existing rheumatic disease and those receiving antirheumatic or immunosuppressive medication, as well as potential use of antirheumatic or anticytokine therapeutic strategies that are already applied in rheumatology (among others, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, tocilizumab, and baricitinib) in patients with COVID‑19.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Aug 2020
Blood pressure profile, sympathetic nervous system activity and subclinical target organ damage in patients with polycythemia vera.
Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare myeloproliferative disease associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension and increased risk of cardiovascular complications. However, the precise mechanisms leading to the elevation of blood pressure (BP) and secondary target organ damage remain poorly understood. ⋯ Patients with PV, characterized by high hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit levels had lower sympathetic nervous activity and decreased BP variability as compared with controls. There was no relationship between hemoglobin plasma concentration, hematocrit level, and target organ damage.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Aug 2020
ReviewE-cigarettes and their impact on health: from pharmacology to clinical implications.
Worldwide, cigarette smoking is the major cause of premature mortality and diseases that can be prevented. Given that people continue smoking despite associated health risks, delivering nicotine without combustion should be considered a valuable and much less harmful way to reduce the public health burden caused by smoking. E‑cigarettes could play such a role if they were proven to be less harmful than combustible cigarettes. ⋯ Most studies have indicated so far that e‑cigarettes are less harmful, but this applies only to smokers who completely switched to e‑cigarettes. In the opinion of the authors, good-quality research is crucial to establish the tolerance, safety, efficacy, and harm reduction potential of new technologies. Considering a significant role that physicians and other health providers play in helping smokers, there is an urgent need for evidence‑based guidelines and recommendations for clinical practitioners on potential benefits and risks of e‑cigarette use.