The Clinical Utility of Circulating HPV DNA Biomarker in Oropharyngeal, Cervical, Anal, and Skin HPV-Related Cancers: A Review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is recognized as being related to a wide variety of known cancers: cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, vaginal, penile, and skin. For some of these cancers, rigorous algorithms for screening, therapeutical interventions, and follow-up procedures have been established. Vaccination using the nonvalent anti-HPV vaccine, which prevents infection regarding the most frequently involved high-risk HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) and low-risk HPV types (6 and 11), has also extensively prevented, controlled, and even eradicated HPV infections. Still, even with all of these multidisciplinary interventions, the burden of HPV cancers is still high worldwide. The circulating DNA of HPV-induced cancers is thought to be an adequate biomarker for optimizing the control of these virus-related cancers. We analyzed the literature published in the last 5 years regarding ctDNA and four of the above-mentioned cancers. The most frequently used assay for ctDNA detection was the droplet digital PCR assay, used for the management of therapy in the late stages of cancer. ctDNA could not be used for early detection in any of the studied cancers. The OPSCCs were the most frequent cancers analyzed via ctDNA assays. Larger, properly designed cohort studies might establish the clinical utility of this biomarker.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Psychiatric Disorders.

The role of the gut microbiome in mental health has been of great interest in the past years, with several breakthroughs happening in the last decade. Its implications in several psychiatric disorders, namely anxiety, depression, autism and schizophrenia, are highlighted. In this review were included relevant studies on rodents, as well as human studies. There seems to be a connection between the gut microbiome and these pathologies, the link being emphasized both in rodents and humans. The results obtained in murine models align with the results acquired from patients; however, fewer studies regarding anxiety were conducted on humans. The process of sequencing and analyzing the microbiome has been conducted in humans for several other pathologies mentioned above. Additionally, the possible beneficial role of probiotics and postbiotics administered as an aid to the psychiatric medication was analyzed.

The Optimal Management of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the most frequent etiologic agents of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). Untreated asymptomatic gonococcal infection in women can lead to spreading of the infection in the sexually active population and could lead to late consequences, such as sterility or ectopic pregnancies. One important issue about N. gonorrhoeae is its increasing resistance to antibiotics. This paper summarized the newest molecular antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection assays for Neisseria gonorrhoeae connected with the latest therapeutic antimicrobials and gonococcal vaccine candidates. The assays used to detect AMR varied from the classical minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) detection to whole-genome sequencing. New drugs against multi drug resistant (MDR) N. gonorrhoeae have been proposed and were evaluated in vivo and in vitro as being efficient in decreasing the N. gonorrhoeae burden. In addition, anti-N. gonorrhoeae vaccine candidates are being researched, which have been assessed by multiple techniques. With the efforts of many researchers who are studying the detection of antimicrobial resistance in this bacterium and identifying new drugs and new vaccine candidates against it, there is hope in reducing the gonorrhea burden worldwide.

Cytokines and Chemokines in Breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2 Infected or COVID-19 Vaccinated Mothers.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 disease and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were accompanied by alterations in several inflammatory markers. The aim of our research was to check to what extent such cytokines are transferred to infants via the breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2-infected or vaccinated mothers. Thus, we wanted to check if breastfeeding is safe during SARS-CoV-2 infection or after COVID-19 mRNA-vaccination. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The Luminex Multiplexing Assay was used for quantifying 10 cytokine in the human breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2-infected or COVID-19-vaccinated mothers, compared with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG naïve mothers. Two milk samples were collected at 30 and 60 days either after the booster dose or afterthe onset of symptoms. A single milk sample was collected from the mothers within the control group. RESULTS: The cytokine concentrations were mostly found within the reference intervals for all mothers. The status of the vaccinated/infected mother, the age of the breastfed child, the parity of the mother and the maternal age were variation factors of the above-mentioned cytokine concentrations. The type of birth and the presence of IgG in the milk had no influence on these cytokine concentrations in milk. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were recorded between the cytokine concentrations of the two milk samples. CONCLUSION: Our study provides data that support the safety of breastfeeding in the case of mild COVID-19 infection or after Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations.