Polymorphisms of Antioxidant Enzymes SOD2 (rs4880) and GPX1 (rs1050450) Are Associated with Bladder Cancer Risk or Its Aggressiveness.

Background and Objectives: Oxidative stress induced by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production plays an important role in carcinogenesis. The entire urinary tract is continuously exposed to numerous potentially mutagenic environmental agents which generate ROS during their biotransformation. In first line defense against free radicals, antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) both have essential roles. Altered enzyme activity and decreased ability of neutralizing free oxygen radicals as a consequence of genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding these two enzymes are well described so far. This study aimed to investigate the association of GPX1 (rs1050450) and SOD2 (rs4880) genetic variants with the urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) risk independently and in combination with smoking. Furthermore, we aimed to determine whether the UBC stage and pathological grade were influenced by GPX1 and SOD2 polymorphisms. Material and Methods: The study population included 330 patients with UBC (mean age 65 ± 10.3 years) and 227 respective controls (mean age 63.4 ± 7.9 years). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of GPX1 (rs1050450) was analyzed using the PCR-RFLP, while SOD2 (rs4880) SNP was analyzed using the q-PCR method. Results: Our results showed that UBC risk was significantly increased among carriers of at least one variant SOD2 Val allele compared to the SOD2 Ala16Ala homozygotes (OR = 1.55, p = 0.03). Moreover, this risk was even more pronounced in smokers with at least one variant SOD2 Val allele, since they have even 7.5 fold higher UBC risk (OR = 7.5, p < 0.001). Considering GPX1 polymorphism, we have not found an association with UBC risk. However, GPX1 genotypes distribution differed significantly according to the tumor stage (p ˂ 0.049) and pathohistological grade (p ˂ 0.018). Conclusion: We found that SOD2 genetic polymorphism is associated with the risk of UBC development independently and in combination with cigarette smoking. Furthermore, we showed that GPX1 genetic polymorphism is associated with the aggressiveness of the disease.

Role of Healthcare Professionals and Sociodemographic Characteristics in COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance among Uro-Oncology Patients: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

At the time when mass COVID-19 vaccination began, providing appropriate vaccination advice to uro-oncology patients became a challenge. This was a single-center cross-sectional observational study aimed to investigate the rate of COVID-19 vaccination among uro-oncology patients receiving systemic therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Furthermore, we aimed to assess patients' attitudes and identify factors influencing their decision to vaccinate against COVID-19. Data on patients' sociodemographic characteristics, vaccination status, and awareness and attitudes about COVID-19 vaccination were collected from questionnaires completed by the patients. A total of 173 patients were enrolled in this study, and 124 (71.7%) of them completed the COVID-19 vaccination. Significantly higher vaccination rates were found in male patients, and also in older patients, highly educated patients, and those who lived with one household member. Furthermore, we found significantly higher vaccination rates in patients who had consulted with doctors involved in their treatment, particularly with urologists. A significant association was observed between COVID-19 vaccination and doctor's advice, family member influence, and personal beliefs toward the vaccination. Our study showed multiple associations of patients' sociodemographic characteristics with vaccination rates. Furthermore, consultation with doctors who are particularly involved in oncology treatment and advice received from them were associated with significantly higher vaccination rates among uro-oncology patients.

Predictive Value of Inflammatory and Nutritional Indexes in the Pathology of Bladder Cancer Patients Treated with Radical Cystectomy.

In recent years, the focus of numerous studies has been the predictive value of inflammatory and nutritional parameters in oncology patients. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between the inflammatory and nutritional parameters and the histopathological characteristics of patients with bladder cancer. A retrospective study included 491 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer between 2017 and 2021. We calculated the preoperative values of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), the systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI). Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between NLR, dNLR, SII, SIRI, and PLR and the pathological stage of the tumor. We observed statistically significant inverse correlations for LMR, PNI, and GNRI with the tumor stage. SIRI was identified as an independent predictor of the presence of LVI. dNLR was identified as an independent predictor of positive surgical margins. GNRI was identified as an independent predictor of the presence of metastases in the lymph nodes. We noticed the predictive value of SIRI, dNLR, and GNRI in the pathology of bladder cancer patients.

The Impact of Variant Histology in Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma Treated with Radical Cystectomy: Can We Predict the Presence of Variant Histology?

Considering the divergent biological behaviors of certain histological subtypes of urothelial carcinoma, it would be of great importance to examine the impact of variant histology and to predict its presence in patients with bladder cancer. A single-center cohort study included 459 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma between 2017 and 2021. Patients were followed up with until July 2022. We compared clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic characteristics and the overall survival between patients with pure urothelial carcinoma and variant histologies. Our results showed that the patients with variant histology were older and preoperatively more frequently had hydronephrosis and higher values of leukocytes and neutrophils. Also, we found a significant association between variant histology and an advanced stage of tumor disease, the presence of lymphovascular invasion, positive surgical margins, and metastases in surgically resected lymph nodes. The number of neutrophils was identified as an independent preoperative predictor of the presence of variant histology after a radical cystectomy. The overall survival of the patients with variant histology was significantly lower compared to the patients with pure urothelial carcinoma. According to our results, the presence of variant histology represents a more aggressive form of the disease. Preoperative neutrophil counts may indicate the presence of variant histology of urothelial carcinoma in patients with bladder cancer.

The role of osteoarthritis severity, BMI and age on clinical efficacy of bone marrow aspirate concentrate in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess whether BMI, severity of knee osteoarthritis, age and gender have any influence on the final clinical results of bone marrow aspirate concentrate injection. Method: A total of 111 study participants with painful knee osteoarthritis and different characteristics concerning before mentioned factors underwent bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) therapy and were followed up for 1 year. Result: Significant pain and functional improvement were observed in all participant groups. Participants' age and BMI did not influence the clinical outcome, but there was an influence of OA severity, especially among older patients. Conclusion: This study shows that BMAC therapy is effective. Younger patients with milder OA changes could be better candidates for long-lasting and more efficient BMAC therapy. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03825133 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Superelectrophilic amidine dications: dealkylation by triflate anion.

Superelectrophiles: Formamides were designed that when treated with triflic anhydride would be transformed into superelectrophilic amidine dications. These dications were so electrophilic that they underwent in situ dealkylation by the triflate anion (see scheme; Tf = trifluoromethanesulfonyl). DFT calculations were used to determine the mechanistic details of the dealkylation reaction.