Vitamins in Gynecologic Malignancies.

The combination of vitamin A and D derivatives with classical chemotherapeutic treatments results in more satisfactory outcomes. The use of drug combinations, such as 9cUAB130 with carboplatin and cisplatin with TAC-101, shows enhanced cytotoxic effects and reductions in ovarian tumor volume compared to single-drug treatments. Combining cisplatin with calcitriol and progesterone increases VDR expression, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of anticancer therapy in ovarian cancer. The effectiveness of vitamin derivatives in anticancer treatment may vary depending on the characteristics of the tumor and the cell line from which it originated. An increase in thiamine intake of one unit is associated with an 18% decrease in HPV infection. Higher intake of vitamin C by 50 mg/day is linked to a lower risk of cervical neoplasia. Beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E are associated with risk reductions of 12%, 15%, and 9% in endometrial cancer, respectively. A balanced daily intake of vitamins is important, as both deficiency and excess can influence cancer development. It has been observed that there is a U-shaped relationship between group B vitamins and metabolic markers and clinical outcomes.

Estrogen α and ß Receptor Expression in the Various Regions of Resected Glioblastoma Multiforme Tumors and in an In Vitro Model.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant tumor with a higher prevalence in men and a higher survival rate in transmenopausal women. It exhibits distinct areas influenced by changing environmental conditions. This study examines how these areas differ in the levels of estrogen receptors (ERs) which play an important role in the development and progression of many cancers, and whose expression levels are often correlated with patient survival. This study utilized two research models: an in vitro model employing the U87 cell line and a second model involving tumors resected from patients (including tumor core, enhancing tumor region, and peritumoral area). ER expression was assessed at both gene and protein levels, with the results validated using confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Under hypoxic conditions, the U87 line displayed a decrease in ERß mRNA expression and an increase in ERα mRNA expression. In patient samples, ERß mRNA expression was lower in the tumor core compared to the enhancing tumor region (only in males when the study group was divided by sex). In addition, ERß protein expression was lower in the tumor core than in the peritumoral area (only in women when the study group was divided by sex). Immunohistochemical analysis indicated the highest ERß protein expression in the enhancing tumor area, followed by the peritumoral area, and the lowest in the tumor core. The findings suggest that ER expression may significantly influence the development of GBM, exhibiting variability under the influence of conditions present in different tumor areas.

The Clinical Significance and Involvement in Molecular Cancer Processes of Chemokine CXCL1 in Selected Tumors.

Chemokines play a key role in cancer processes, with CXCL1 being a well-studied example. Due to the lack of a complete summary of CXCL1's role in cancer in the literature, in this study, we examine the significance of CXCL1 in various cancers such as bladder, glioblastoma, hemangioendothelioma, leukemias, Kaposi's sarcoma, lung, osteosarcoma, renal, and skin cancers (malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma), along with thyroid cancer. We focus on understanding how CXCL1 is involved in the cancer processes of these specific types of tumors. We look at how CXCL1 affects cancer cells, including their proliferation, migration, EMT, and metastasis. We also explore how CXCL1 influences other cells connected to tumors, like promoting angiogenesis, recruiting neutrophils, and affecting immune cell functions. Additionally, we discuss the clinical aspects by exploring how CXCL1 levels relate to cancer staging, lymph node metastasis, patient outcomes, chemoresistance, and radioresistance.

An Evaluation of Plasma TNF, VEGF-A, and IL-6 Determination as a Risk Marker of Atherosclerotic Vascular Damage in Early-Onset CAD Patients.

Background: The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is multifactorial and diverse. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in these processes. It is suggested that inflammation may represent a novel and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study aimed to gain insight into the relationship between plasma concentrations of TNF, VEGF, IL-6, and radiological parameters of atherosclerosis progression in patients with early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Seventy clinically stable patients were included in the study group. The age range for men was no more than 50 years, while for women, it was no more than 55 years. Fasting blood samples were obtained for plasma TNF, VEGF, and IL-6 protein measurements. Plasma cytokine concentrations were measured via ELISA. Doppler ultrasound of the carotid and peripheral arteries was performed in all patients. Results: After Bonferroni correction, there were no significant correlations between any cytokine and radiological parameters of atherosclerosis progression in our patients. Conclusions: The determination of plasma TNF, IL-6, and VEGF levels may not be a reliable marker for the vascular condition, and the measurement of these cytokines in plasma cannot replace the classical radiological examination of the vessels.

Could Tumor Necrosis Factor Serve as a Marker for Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients with Early-Onset Coronary Artery Disease?

Introduction: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, can be produced by cardiomyocytes, leading to metabolic disorders in the myocardium. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between plasma levels of the TNF cytokine and the presence of known biochemical and clinical risk factors for cardiovascular disease, along with the parameters of cardiac morphology in patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) at a young age. Materials and Methods: The study group included 75 men aged up to 50 years and 25 women aged up to 55 years. The plasma TNF concentration was measured by use of the ELISA assay. Echocardiography and electrocardiographic examinations were performed in all patients. Results: We observed positive correlations for TNF with the BMI ratio, weight, waist and hip circumference. We also found negative correlations for TNF with HDL levels and ApoA concentrations, and positive correlations with the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, Apo B, IL6, LDL and TG concentrations. These results suggest an association between higher plasma TNF concentrations and components of metabolic syndrome, including dyslipidemia. TNF may be a potential risk factor for impaired diastolic function. Conclusions: While TNF may be useful for diagnosing certain risks in CAD patients, the TNF measurement cannot be used as a surrogate test for echocardiography.

The Effect of Prenatal and Neonatal Fluoride Exposure to Morphine-Induced Neuroinflammation.

Physical dependence is associated with the formation of neuroadaptive changes in the central nervous system (CNS), both at the molecular and cellular levels. Various studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory and proinflammatory properties of morphine. The resulting neuroinflammation in drug dependence exacerbates substance abuse-related behaviors and increases morphine tolerance. Studies prove that fluoride exposure may also contribute to the development of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative changes. Morphine addiction is a major social problem. Neuroinflammation increases tolerance to morphine, and neurodegenerative effects caused by fluoride in structures related to the development of dependence may impair the functioning of neuronal pathways, change the concentration of neurotransmitters, and cause memory and learning disorders, which implies this element influences the development of dependence. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the inflammatory state of selected brain structures in morphine-dependent rats pre-exposed to fluoride, including changes in cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression as well as microglial and astroglial activity via the evaluation of Iba1 and GFAP expression. We provide evidence that both morphine administration and fluoride exposure have an impact on the inflammatory response by altering the expression of COX-1, COX-2, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule (Iba1), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in brain structures involved in dependence development, such as the prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and cerebellum. We observed that the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in morphine-dependent rats is influenced by prior fluoride exposure, and these changes vary depending on the specific brain region. Additionally, we observed active astrogliosis, as indicated by increased GFAP expression, in all brain structures of morphine-dependent rats, regardless of fluoride exposure. Furthermore, the effect of morphine on Iba1 expression varied across different brain regions, and fluoride pre-exposure may influence microglial activation. However, it remains unclear whether these changes are a result of the direct or indirect actions of morphine and fluoride on the factors analyzed.

Neurotrophic and Neuroprotective Effects of Hericium erinaceus.

Hericium erinaceus is a valuable mushroom known for its strong bioactive properties. It shows promising potential as an excellent neuroprotective agent, capable of stimulating nerve growth factor release, regulating inflammatory processes, reducing oxidative stress, and safeguarding nerve cells from apoptosis. The active compounds in the mushroom, such as erinacines and hericenones, have been the subject of research, providing evidence of their neuroprotective effects. Further research and standardization processes for dietary supplements focused on H. erinaceus are essential to ensuring effectiveness and safety in protecting the nervous system. Advancements in isolation and characterization techniques, along with improved access to pure analytical standards, will play a critical role in achieving standardized, high-quality dietary supplements based on H. erinaceus. The aim of this study is to analyze the protective and nourishing effects of H. erinaceus on the nervous system and present the most up-to-date research findings related to this topic.

Autologous Blood Injections in Temporomandibular Hypermobility: A Systematic Review.

The injection of autologous blood (AB) is one of the methods of treatment of recurrent dislocations in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). Due to the low invasiveness of this technique, it is reasonable to evaluate it in accordance with the standards of evidence-based medicine. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify primary studies on AB injection for the treatment of TMJ hypermobility and assess the therapy for effectiveness. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the current "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" guidelines. Controlled randomized trials comparing dislocation episode rates, range of motion in the TMJ, or articular pain intensity were adopted as the eligibility criteria. Final searches were conducted on 11 June 2023 using Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, Elsevier Scopus, and the National Library of Medicine: PubMed. Trials were assessed using the "Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence" scale and "A revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials". The results of the individual studies were tabulated, syntheses were illustrated in graphs. Twenty two studies involving 982 patients were included in the qualitative analysis, of which seven studies involving 390 patients were subject to quantitative analysis. None of the included randomized controlled trials presented a high risk of bias, 75% of them raised some concerns. In a three-month observation, administration of AB was more efficient in limiting temporomandibular dislocations than hypertonic dextrose (1 study, 32 patients, relative risk = 0.33, odds ratio = 0.29) and no difference in outcomes was observed between intracavitary and pericapsular administration compared to pericapsular injection alone (2 studies, 70 patients, relative risk = 1.00, odds ratio = 1.00). Injections of AB into the temporomandibular joints are effective in preventing further TMJ dislocation episodes in 75-94% of patients. This study received no funding.

Bioinformatic Analysis of the CXCR2 Ligands in Cancer Processes.

Human CXCR2 has seven ligands, i.e., CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL5, CXCL6, CXCL7, and CXCL8/IL-8-chemokines with nearly identical properties. However, no available study has compared the contribution of all CXCR2 ligands to cancer progression. That is why, in this study, we conducted a bioinformatic analysis using the GEPIA, UALCAN, and TIMER2.0 databases to investigate the role of CXCR2 ligands in 31 different types of cancer, including glioblastoma, melanoma, and colon, esophageal, gastric, kidney, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. We focused on the differences in the regulation of expression (using the Tfsitescan and miRDB databases) and analyzed mutation types in CXCR2 ligand genes in cancers (using the cBioPortal). The data showed that the effect of CXCR2 ligands on prognosis depends on the type of cancer. CXCR2 ligands were associated with EMT, angiogenesis, recruiting neutrophils to the tumor microenvironment, and the count of M1 macrophages. The regulation of the expression of each CXCR2 ligand was different and, thus, each analyzed chemokine may have a different function in cancer processes. Our findings suggest that each type of cancer has a unique pattern of CXCR2 ligand involvement in cancer progression, with each ligand having a unique regulation of expression.

The Role of CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR5, and CXCR6 Ligands in Molecular Cancer Processes and Clinical Aspects of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of leukemia known for its unfavorable prognoses, prompting research efforts to discover new therapeutic targets. One area of investigation involves examining extracellular factors, particularly CXC chemokines. While CXCL12 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 have been extensively studied, research on other CXC chemokine axes in AML is less developed. This study aims to bridge that gap by providing an overview of the significance of CXC chemokines other than CXCL12 (CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR5, and CXCR6 ligands and CXCL14 and CXCL17) in AML's oncogenic processes. We explore the roles of all CXC chemokines other than CXCL12, in particular CXCL1 (Gro-α), CXCL8 (IL-8), CXCL10 (IP-10), and CXCL11 (I-TAC) in AML tumor processes, including their impact on AML cell proliferation, bone marrow angiogenesis, interaction with non-leukemic cells like MSCs and osteoblasts, and their clinical relevance. We delve into how they influence prognosis, association with extramedullary AML, induction of chemoresistance, effects on bone marrow microvessel density, and their connection to French-American-British (FAB) classification and FLT3 gene mutations.

Assessment of Serum Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe Concentration in Women with Endometrial Cancer and Different Endometrial Pathologies.

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence on the effect of specific micronutrient concentration and cancer risk. In this study, we investigated the differences in serum zinc, copper, iron, and manganese levels and different endometrial pathologies, including endometrial cancer. METHODS: 110 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of endometrial cancer, benign uterine conditions (endometrial polyp, endometrial hyperplasia, uterine myoma), or normal endometrium were included in the study and assessed in terms of endometrial cancer risk factors. The measurements of serum micronutrients were conducted using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. RESULTS: When assessing for differences between serum concentrations of trace metals, we found significant differences in the distribution of Mn (p < 0.001) and Fe (0.034). There was also a significant difference in Cu/Zn ratio between the analyzed groups (p = 0.002). Patients' BMI was found to influence Cu concentration, with obese patients having higher mean copper concentration (p = 0.006). Also, patients' menopausal status was shown to influence Cu concentration with postmenopausal patients having higher Cu levels (p = 0.001). The menopausal status was found to influence Cu/Zn ratio (p = 0.002). Univariable regression analysis did not confirm that any of the micronutrients significantly influence the risk of endometrial cancer. CONCLUSION: The concentration of specific trace metals varies between different histopathological diagnoses of endometrial pathologies. Menopausal status and patient BMI are endometrial cancer risk factors impacted by the concentrations of Cu and Zn and their ratio.

Macroelement and Microelement Levels in the Urine in Experimental Acanthamoebiasis.

Free-living amoebas can impact the excretion of macroelements and microelements in urine. The aim of the present study was to examine the concentrations of macroelements, including calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg), as well as microelements such as manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and chromium (Cr), in the urine during acanthamoebiasis while considering the host's immunological status. This is the first study to show an increase in urinary excretion of Ca, Mn, Cu, Fe, Na, and Cr, along with a decreased excretion of K, in immunocompetent mice 16 days post Acanthamoeba sp. infection. In the final phase of infection (24 dpi), there was a further decrease in urinary K excretion and a lower level of P in Acanthamoeba sp. infected immunocompetent hosts. During acanthamoebiasis in immunosuppressed hosts, increased excretion of Zn, Fe, and Cr was observed at the beginning of the infection, and increased Na excretion only at 16 days post Acanthamoeba sp. infection. Additionally, host immunosuppression affected the concentration of Fe, Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Ca in urine.

The Clinical Significance and Role of CXCL1 Chemokine in Gastrointestinal Cancers.

One area of cancer research is the interaction between cancer cells and immune cells, in which chemokines play a vital role. Despite this, a comprehensive summary of the involvement of C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) chemokine (also known as growth-regulated gene-α (GRO-α), melanoma growth-stimulatory activity (MGSA)) in cancer processes is lacking. To address this gap, this review provides a detailed analysis of CXCL1's role in gastrointestinal cancers, including head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)), cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma), and colorectal cancer (colon cancer and rectal cancer). This paper presents the impact of CXCL1 on various molecular cancer processes, such as cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, lymph node metastasis, angiogenesis, recruitment to the tumor microenvironment, and its effect on immune system cells, such as tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN), regulatory T (Treg) cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and macrophages. Furthermore, this review discusses the association of CXCL1 with clinical aspects of gastrointestinal cancers, including its correlation with tumor size, cancer grade, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and patient prognosis. This paper concludes by exploring CXCL1's potential as a therapeutic target in anticancer therapy.

Current Clinical Research Directions on Temporomandibular Joint Intra-Articular Injections: A Mapping Review.

This mapping review aims to identify and discuss current research directions on intracavitary temporomandibular joints (TMJs) injections. The inclusion criteria allowed studies published in the last full six years, based on patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs), treated by TMJ intra-articular injections. Medical databases covered by the Association for Computing Machinery, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, PubMed, and Elsevier Scopus engines were searched. The results were visualized with tables, charts, and diagrams. Of the 2712 records identified following the selection process, 152 reports were qualified for review. From January 2017, viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid (HA) was the best-documented injectable administered into TMJ cavities. However, a significant growing trend was observed in the number of primary studies on centrifuged blood preparations administrations that surpassed the previously leading HA from 2021.

Preliminary Study of Iron Concentration in the Human Placenta in Twin Pregnancies.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy significantly increases the demand for iron (Fe) in the female body to facilitate maternal blood volume expansion, placental development, and fetal growth. As Fe flux in pregnancy is significantly influenced by the placenta, the aim of this study was to determine the dependencies between the Fe concentration in the placenta, the infant's morphometric parameters and the woman's morphological blood parameters in the last trimester. METHODS: The study was conducted on 33 women with multiple (dichorionic-diamniotic) pregnancies from whom the placentas were drawn, and their 66 infants, including pairs of monozygotic (n = 23) and mixed-sex twins (n = 10). Fe concentrations were determined based on inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) using ICAP 7400 Duo, Thermo Scientific. RESULTS: The results of the analysis showed that lower placental Fe concentrations were associated with deteriorated morphometric parameters of infants, including weight and head circumference. Although we found no statistically significant dependencies between Fe concentration in the placenta and the women's morphological blood parameters, higher Fe concentration in the placenta of mothers supplemented with Fe correlated with better morphometric parameters in infants compared to those whose mothers received no Fe supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: The research adds additional knowledge for placental iron-related processes during multiple pregnancies. However, many limitations of the study do not allow detailed conclusions to be assessed, and statistical data should be assessed conservatively.

The Trace Element Concentrations and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Afterbirths from Women with Multiple Pregnancies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intensity of oxidative stress by measuring the concentrations of lipid peroxidation products (LPO) in fetal membrane, umbilical cord, and placenta samples obtained from women with multiple pregnancies. Additionally, the effectiveness of protection against oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR). Due to the role of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) as cofactors for antioxidant enzymes, the concentrations of these elements were also analyzed in the studied afterbirths. The obtained data were compared with newborn parameters, selected environmental factors, and the health status of women during pregnancy to determine the relationship between oxidative stress and the health of women and their offspring during pregnancy. The study involved women (n = 22) with multiple pregnancies and their newborns (n = 45). The Fe, Zn, and Cu levels in the placenta, umbilical cord, and fetal membrane were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) using an ICAP 7400 Duo system. Commercial assays were used to determine SOD, GPx, GR, CAT, and LPO activity levels. The determinations were made spectrophotometrically. The present study also investigated the relationships between trace element concentrations in fetal membrane, placenta, and umbilical cord samples and various maternal and infant parameters in women. Notably, a strong positive correlation was observed between Cu and Zn concentrations in the fetal membrane (p = 0.66) and between Zn and Fe concentrations in the placenta (p = 0.61). The fetal membrane Zn concentration exhibited a negative correlation with shoulder width (p = -0.35), while the placenta Cu concentration was positively correlated with placenta weight (p = 0.46) and shoulder width (p = 0.36). The umbilical cord Cu level was positively correlated with head circumference (p = 0.36) and birth weight (p = 0.35), while the placenta Fe concentration was positively correlated with placenta weight (p = 0.33). Furthermore, correlations were determined between the parameters of antioxidative stress (GPx, GR, CAT, SOD) and oxidative stress (LPO) and the parameters of infants and maternal characteristics. A negative correlation was observed between Fe and LPO product concentrations in the fetal membrane (p = -0.50) and placenta (p = -0.58), while the Cu concentration positively correlated with SOD activity in the umbilical cord (p = 0.55). Given that multiple pregnancies are associated with various complications, such as preterm birth, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and placental and umbilical cord abnormalities, research in this area is crucial for preventing obstetric failures. Our results could serve as comparative data for future studies. However, we advise caution when interpreting our results, despite achieving statistical significance.

Reduced Expression of Very-Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Synthetases SLC27A4 and SLC27A6 in the Glioblastoma Tumor Compared to the Peritumoral Area.

This study aimed to analyze solute carrier family 27 (SLC27) in glioblastoma tumors. The investigation of these proteins will provide insight into how and to what extent fatty acids are taken up from the blood in glioblastoma tumors, as well as the subsequent fate of the up-taken fatty acids. Tumor samples were collected from a total of 28 patients and analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The study also sought to explore the relationship between SLC27 expression and patient characteristics (age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and smoking history), as well as the expression levels of enzymes responsible for fatty acid synthesis. The expression of SLC27A4 and SLC27A6 was lower in glioblastoma tumors compared to the peritumoral area. Men had a lower expression of SLC27A5. Notably, a positive correlation was observed between the expression of SLC27A4, SLC27A5, and SLC27A6 and smoking history in women, whereas men exhibited a negative correlation between these SLC27s and BMI. The expression of SLC27A1 and SLC27A3 was positively correlated with the expression of ELOVL6. In comparison to healthy brain tissue, glioblastoma tumors take up fewer fatty acids. The metabolism of fatty acids in glioblastoma is dependent on factors such as obesity and smoking.

Assessment of Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) Blood Concentration on the Risk of Endometrial Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are heavy metals with carcinogenic potential. Their increased concentration has been correlated with a risk of malignancies, including breast, lung, kidney, gastrointestinal, and gynecological cancers. Most of the studies have evaluated tissue heavy metal concentration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate blood Cd and lead levels in different uterine pathologies and the risk of endometrial cancer. METHODS: This study included 110 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of endometrial cancer, endometrial polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, uterine myoma, and normal endometrium. The patients included in the study were assessed in terms of their endometrial cancer risk factors and blood heavy metal levels. The analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the Cd and Cd/Pb ratio among the different groups of patients (p = 0.002), with higher a median Cd concentration among the endometrial cancer patients. The differences in Pb concentration were not significant (p = 0.717). There were also no differences in the Cd and Pb concentrations based on the patients' menopausal status nor BMI index. The univariate logistic regression showed a blood cadmium concentration above the median to be associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer (OR = 5.25; 95% CI 1.56, 17.72). No significant associations were observed between the Pb concentration or Cd/Pb ratio and endometrial cancer risk. CONCLUSION: The concentration of Cd varies in patients diagnosed with different uterine pathologies. Increased blood cadmium concentration seems to be a risk factor for endometrial studies. Further research on greater populations, accounting for environmental and lifestyle heavy metal exposure, is required to validate our findings.

Association between Psychopathological Symptoms and Aggression and Selected Biochemical Parameters in Adolescents with Behavioural and Emotional Disturbances.

Behavioural and emotional disturbances (F92.8) are the most recognized disorders in a developmental psychiatry. As the problem is still alarmingly increasing, the searches for their etiopathogenesis and more effective preventing and therapy methods are required. The aim of the study was to assess the association between the quality of life, some psychopathological features, concentrations of selected immunoprotective (brain-derived neurotrophin, BDNF), and endocrine (cortisol, F) factors while adolescent disturbances. The study was performed in 123 inpatients of a psychiatric ward with F92.8 diagnosis, aged 13-18 years. The complete patients' interview, physical examination, and routine laboratory tests, including serum F and BDNF tests, were performed. All patients completed standardized questionnaires to estimate: the severity of psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90), the level of aggression (Buss-Perry). The changes in the plasma BDNF and F concentrations were shown in patients raised in foster homes and institutions. The significantly lower BDNF was observed in youth from foster and suicide-experienced families. The more severe psychopathological symptoms, especially aggression and hostility, were found in these ones, who abused alcohol, attempted suicide, had lower self-esteem and cognitive processes, and were lacking safety in dysfunctional families.

Involvement in Tumorigenesis and Clinical Significance of CXCL1 in Reproductive Cancers: Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Prostate Cancer.

C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) is a member of the CXC chemokine subfamily and a ligand for CXCR2. Its main function in the immune system is the chemoattraction of neutrophils. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews summarizing the significance of CXCL1 in cancer processes. To fill this gap, this work describes the clinical significance and participation of CXCL1 in cancer processes in the most important reproductive cancers: breast cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer. The focus is on both clinical aspects and the significance of CXCL1 in molecular cancer processes. We describe the association of CXCL1 with clinical features of tumors, including prognosis, ER, PR and HER2 status, and TNM stage. We present the molecular contribution of CXCL1 to chemoresistance and radioresistance in selected tumors and its influence on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells. Additionally, we present the impact of CXCL1 on the microenvironment of reproductive cancers, including its effect on angiogenesis, recruitment, and function of cancer-associated cells (macrophages, neutrophils, MDSC, and Treg). The article concludes by summarizing the significance of introducing drugs targeting CXCL1. This paper also discusses the significance of ACKR1/DARC in reproductive cancers.