Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Level in Cystic Fibrosis Patients.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has long been implicated in both the physiology and pathophysiology of the respiratory tract. The objective of our study was to determine the serum concentration of alpha CGRP (αCGRP) in cystic fibrosis (CF) that arises from mutations in the gene responsible for encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. Currently, there are not many data in the literature about the role of CGRP in CF. The serum level of αCGRP was estimated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay among 64 patients with CF and 31 healthy controls. The αCGRP concentration in the CF group was 62.51 ± 15.45 pg/mL, while in the control group it was 47.43 ± 8.06 pg/mL (p < 0.001). We also compared the level of αCGRP in CF patients according to the type of CFTR mutation. Homozygotes for ΔF508 had higher αCGRP levels than heterozygotes (67.9 ± 10.2 vs. 54.5 ± 18.3 pg/mL, p < 0.01). The level of this neuropeptide was statistically higher in patients with severe disease than in those with mild CF (p = 0.003) when patients were divided into three groups by spirometry results. αCGRP concentration was not correlated with age, sex, clinical parameters, and pulmonary function test results in the study participants. The results of our study suggest a significant increase in the concentration of αCGRP in the serum of patients with CF compared to the control group. This observation opens interesting possibilities for understanding the role of αCGRP in the context of CF pathophysiology.

Shedding light on the shadows: oxidative stress and its pivotal role in prostate cancer progression.

Objectives: Data on oxidative protein damage, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid peroxidation in progression of prostate cancer remain elusive. So far, the influence of the presence of perineural invasion on the level of oxidative stress has not been described. Additionally, there is limited data on the level of oxidative stress in patients' urine. Methods: We compared the levels of oxidative stress markers in serum and urine in 50 patients with prostate cancer depending on the tumor stage and histological grade, the Gleason score, and the presence of perineural invasion. Results: We found a significantly de-creased level of serum thiol groups and TAC in participants with prostate cancer. Similarly, serum Amadori products and malondialdehyde (MDA) were higher in patients than in healthy men. There was a significantly decrease in TAC and a significantly increased MDA in the urine of prostate cancer patients. As the stage of cancer increased, a decrease in the thiol group concentration and TAC as well as an increase in the concentration of lipid peroxidation products in the serum was observed. The serum level of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) increased in the group with Gleason scores greater than 7. Furthermore, serum thiol groups and TAC were reduced in the group with Gleason >7 as compared to Gleason <7. The presence of perineural invasion significantly reduced serum and urinary TAC and increased urinary AOPP concentration. Conclusions: These results indicate a significant role for oxidative damage in prostate carcinogenesis and its progression. Characterizing oxidative and nitrosative damage to proteins may be useful in designing targeted therapies for prostate cancer patients.

Molecular functions of moonlighting proteins in cell metabolic processes.

Moonlighting proteins have more than one physiologically significant role within one polypeptide chain. The multifunctionality of proteins was first described in 1987 by Joram Piatigorsky and Graeme Wistow. Cells can benefit from involvement of these proteins in biological processes in several ways, e.g. at the energy level. Furthermore, cells have developed a number of mechanisms to change these proteins' functions. Moonlighting proteins are found in all types of organisms, including prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and even viruses. These proteins include a variety of enzymes that serve as receptors, secreted cytokines, transcription factors, or proteasome components. Additionally, there are many combinations of functions, e.g. among receptors and transcription factors, chaperones and cytokines, as well as transcription factors within the ribosome. This work describes enzymes involved in several important metabolic processes in cells, namely cellular respiration, gluconeogenesis, the urea cycle, and pentose phosphate metabolism.

Serum Levels of Hormones Regulating Appetite in Patients with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Prenatal alcohol exposure is the cause of impaired growth and a wide range of developmental and behavioral disorders in the child. Improper eating patterns are commonly associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and may contribute to poor nutrition and growth restriction. To date, there have been only a few studies investigating the hormonal regulation of appetite in patients with FASD. We analyzed the levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), Agouti signaling protein (ASP), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), and kisspeptin (KISS1) in 57 patients with FASD and 23 healthy controls. A comparison of the hormone levels studied was also performed in subgroups of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND PAE), as well as in males and females. We have found no differences in hormone levels tested between affected individuals and the controls and between FASD subgroups. In addition, sex had no effect on hormone levels. However, we identified some associations between hormone concentrations and parameters describing the clinical status of patients with FASD. Most of them concerned ASP, which has shown a positive correlation with age and hormones involved in appetite and metabolism, such as proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). We have also found a negative correlation of α-MSH with age, BMI percentile, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Furthermore, we found a weak negative correlation of NPY with HbA1c. Although FASD has been associated with impaired child growth and development, including nutrition and puberty onset, we did not identify differences in the levels of the hormones studied, which may suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure does not affect the levels of these metabolites.

Bioleptin as a useful marker of metabolic status in children with diabetes mellitus type 1.

Introduction: The purpose of our study was tomeasure the level of leptin and biologically active leptin (bioLEP) in children with type 1 diabetes, depending on the duration of diabetes and its degree of metabolic control. Methods: The study included 94 children (58 boys and 36 girls). In a group of children with diabetes, 40 patients were newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 40 children who have diabetes for more than a year (20 with good metabolic control and 20 with poor metabolic control). The control group consisted of 14 healthy children. The serum level of leptin and bioLEP was measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe bioLEP levels among diabetic children with different forms of disease control. Results: Lower levels of leptin were found in children with diabetes compared to healthy children. Furthermore, we found a statistically higher concentration of leptin in the group of children with newly diagnosed diabetes compared to children from the diabetic group with poor metabolic control and lower than healthy children (11.19 vs. 7.84 and 20.94 ng/mL). Moreover, children in the metabolically well-controlled group had statistically lower levels of this hormone (5.11 ng/mL) than healthy children. Leptin concentrations differed significantly between underweight, overweight, and obese children. Discussion: In our study, the level of bioLEP differed significantly between children in the newly diagnosed diabetes group and children in the long-term, poorly controlled diabetes group and healthy controls. Despite many studies published in recent years, many aspects of leptin secretion, action, and mechanisms of its influence on carbohydrate and fat metabolism are still to be clarified. In our opinion, studies evaluating the status of bioLEP in diabetes can also contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating metabolism.

Serum Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Markers in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Oxidative stress is believed to be a factor in the development and progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The identification of the oxidative and nitrosative modification of proteins and the definition of their roles in clear cell RCC (ccRCC) may be helpful in the elaboration of targeted therapeutic approaches to mitigate protein damage. This study aimed to investigate the status of oxidative/nitrosative stress and to explore its role in the development and progression. The studied group consisted of 48 newly diagnosed ccRCC and 30 healthy controls. Serum levels of oxidative stress markers-advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), thiol groups, Amadori reaction products, 3-nitrotyrosine, nitrate/nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)-were determined. Additionally, associations between tumour stage assessed according to TNM classification, histological grade, and the effect of the presence of angioinvasion on the level of stress markers were evaluated. The levels of Amadori products, 3-nitrotyrosine, and nitrate/nitrite were elevated, while the levels of thiol groups and TAC decreased in the ccRCC group. The levels of AOPP, Amadori, and 3-nitrotyrosine increased, and thiol groups and TAC levels decreased with the increasing pathological stage of the tumour. In the case of advanced histological assessment of the tumour, we found decreasing levels of thiol groups and increasing levels of MDA. In patients with angioinvasion, nitrate/nitrite and MDA levels were significantly elevated compared to those in patients without angioinvasion. Oxidative stress increased with the progression of the disease assessed according to the TNM and histological grade. These results demonstrate systemic oxidative stress in ccRCC, suggesting the therapeutic application of antioxidants.

Biomarkers of nitrosative stress in exhaled breath condensate and serum among patients with cystic fibrosis.

PURPOSE: The measurement of biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) offers a non-invasive way to assess airway disease and can be easily done in a clinical setting among patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The role of oxidative and nitrosative stress in the complex pathophysiology of CF is widely accepted and biomarkers of oxidative and nitrosative stress can be measured in the serum and EBC. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess markers of nitrosative stress in EBC and serum, collected simultaneously from the CF patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Paired EBC and serum samples were collected from 36 stable patients with CF and 14 healthy controls. Markers of nitrosative stress ‒ 3-nitrotyrosine and nitrate/nitrite were measured in the EBC and serum using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We found no differences in 3-nitrotyrosine and nitrate/nitrite in the EBC of patients with CF as compared to healthy controls (125.37 â€‹± â€‹3.29 vs. 126.24 â€‹± â€‹2.21 â€‹nmol/L, p â€‹= â€‹0.218; 12.66 â€‹± â€‹7.23 vs. 8.79 â€‹± â€‹4.83 â€‹µmol/L, p â€‹= â€‹0.133, respectively). Furthermore, 3-nitrotyrosine and nitrate/nitrite were significantly higher in the serum of patients with CF as compared to the healthy controls (0.13 â€‹± â€‹0.02 vs. 0.11 â€‹± â€‹0.01 â€‹nmol/mg protein, p â€‹= â€‹0.003; 70.78 â€‹± â€‹22.55 vs. 53.08 â€‹± â€‹8.5 â€‹µmol/L, p â€‹= â€‹0.009, respectively). No correlations were found between the markers determined in the EBC and serum. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the EBC nitrosative stress biomarkers should be interpreted with caution, especially in patients with stable disease, as the EBC values may be independent on levels of circulating markers that are elevated in the serum of patients with stable CF.

Clinical Characteristics of Headache in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Primary headaches are known to be associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), but previous studies concerning this relationship are not conclusive. Nowadays, there are no studies assessing the prevalence of headaches in Polish MS patients. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and characterise headaches in MS patients treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). In a cross-sectional study of 419 consecutive RRMS patients, primary headaches were diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria. Primary headaches were observed in 236 (56%) of RRMS patients, with a higher prevalence in women (ratio of 2:1). The most common was migraine 174 (41%) (migraine with aura 80 (45%), migraine without aura 53 (30%), and probable migraine without aura 41 (23%); less frequent was tension-type headache 62 (14%). Female sex was a risk factor for migraines but not for tension-type headaches (p = 0.002). Migraines mostly started before MS onset (p = 0.023). Migraine with aura was associated with older age, longer disease duration (p = 0.028), and lower SDMT (p = 0.002). Longer DMT time was associated with migraine (p = 0.047), particularly migraine with aura (p = 0.035). Typical for migraine with aura were headaches during clinical isolated syndrome (CIS) (p = 0.001) and relapses (p = 0.025). Age and type of CIS, oligoclonal band presence, family MS history, EDSS, 9HTP, T25FW, and type of DMT did not correlate with headache. Headaches are present in more than half of MS patients treated with DMTs; migraines occur almost three times more frequently than tension-type headaches. Migraines with aura headaches during CIS and relapses are typical. Migraine in MS patients had high severity and typical migraine characteristics. DMTs had no correlation with the presence or type of headache.

Serum Appetite-Regulating Hormone Levels in Cystic Fibrosis Patients: Influence of the Disease Severity and the Type of Bacterial Infection-A Pilot Study.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) belongs to the most common inherited diseases. The severity of the disease and chronic bacterial infections are associated with a lower body index, undernutrition, higher number of pulmonary exacerbations, more hospital admissions, and increased mortality. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of the severity of the disease and the type of bacterial infection in 38 CF patients on the serum level of appetite-regulating hormones including leptin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y, agouti-signaling protein, proopiomelanocortin, kisspeptin, putative protein Y, and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The patients were divided according to the severity of the disease according to spirometry and the type of chronic bacterial infection. We found that leptin level was significantly higher in patients with severe CF than in patients with mild disease (20.02 ± 8.09 vs. 12.38 ± 6.03 ng/mL, p = 0.028). Furthermore, leptin level was elevated in patients with chronic infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to uninfected participants (15.74 ± 7.02 vs. 9.28 ± 1.72 ng/mL, p = 0.043). The severity of the disease and the type of bacterial infection did not affect the levels of other appetite-regulating hormones. Moreover, we found a positive correlation between pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 and leptin level (p = 0.0426, R = 0.333). Taken together, our results indicate that both the severity of the disease and the type of bacterial infection are associated with elevated leptin levels in CF patients. Future CF treatment strategies should consider possible disturbances in the hormones that regulate appetite and the factors that influence their levels.

The Association of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis with Appetite Regulation in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).

Prenatal alcohol exposure causes growth impairment and a wide range of developmental, physical, and cognitive disorders in children, collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). In the course of FASDs, abnormalities can also affect eating behavior and nutritional status, but these problems have received little attention. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the levels of hormones involved in the action of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: proopiomelanocortin (POMC), cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), in the serum of patients with FASDs. To our knowledge, none of these hormones studied have yet been evaluated in FASDs to date. We investigated 62 FASD patients and 23 healthy controls by applying an enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (ELISA). Fasting POMC levels were significantly lower in patients with FASDs (10.97 vs. 18,57 ng/mL, p = 0.039) compared to controls. However, there were no differences in cortisol concentrations. Additionally, the sex and subgroup status (fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND-PAE), and FASD risk) did not affect hormone levels. POMC was positively correlated with some clinical parameters such as age, BMI percentile, carbohydrate biomarkers, and ACTH. A positive correlation was observed between ACTH and cortisol levels, as well as ACTH and cholesterol levels. Data analysis showed no HPA axis abnormalities in the form of elevated serum cortisol and ACTH levels. Differences in POMC concentration may indicate the involvement and/or impairment of central nervous system structures in hormonal alterations in FASD individuals, caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Hormonal dysregulation in FASDs can contribute to reduced growth and development, as well as many other disturbed processes, including neurological/neurodevelopmental dysfunctions. Further insightful studies involving a larger group of patients are needed to determine the potential impact of the measured hormones.

Oxidative Stress Markers in Urine and Serum of Patients with Bladder Cancer.

Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalanced state of the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant capacity that causes oxidative damage to biomolecules, leading to cell injury and finally death. Oxidative stress mediates the development and progression of several cancer diseases, including bladder cancer. The aim of our study was to determine markers of levels of the oxidative stress in serum and urine in the same patients in parallel in serum and urine. Furthermore, we tried to estimate the associations between oxidative stress markers and the type of cancer, its clinical stage and grade, as the well as correlations between serum and urinary markers in patients with bladder cancer. Sixty-one bladder cancer and 50 healthy volunteers as a control group were included. We determined the serum and urine levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), Amadori products, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative status index (OSI), and malondialdehyde. We confirm that almost all markers are elevated in serum and urine from patients with bladder cancer than from healthy subjects. Moreover, we did not find differences in the level of oxidative stress markers and the type of tumor, its clinical stage, and grade. We noted correlations between serum and urinary biomarkers, in particular TOS and OSI. Our results clearly indicate the participation of oxidative stress in the development of bladder cancer.

Two faces of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl) - An antioxidant or a toxin?

2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, commonly known as TEMPO, is one of the compounds called nitroxides that are used in the chemical industry for synthesis of many organic compounds as well as for electrodes in all-organic radical batteries. Additionally, TEMPO is a widely used antioxidant in scientific studies. Technological progress and simultaneous care for the environment leads to resorting to new industrial methods which require the use of compounds that have not been fully tested for their impact on living organisms. Therefore, TEMPO may be an environmental pollutant and its effect on living organisms is not fully understood. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of TEMPO on the physiology, chronological lifespan and wide transcription changes of a eukaryotic model organism, namely the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. For this purpose, we used the BY4741 wild-type and isogenic mutants with a disorder in the response to oxidative stress (sod1Δ, sod2Δ, yap1Δ) and repair of DNA damage (rad52Δ). We showed that supplementation with TEMPO inhibited the cell growth rate of all analyzed strains while simultaneously slowing down the aging of post-mitotic cells in the yeast population. In addition, TEMPO-treated yeast cells manifested a significantly increased level of metabolism in the wild-type and sod2Δ strains. TEMPO also displayed genoprotective effect by reducing the number of DNA double-strand breaks in cells. Here, we are the first to show the widespread effect of TEMPO on yeast. In conclusion, we have shown that, contrary to the commonly accepted notion, TEMPO has also a toxic effect, especially on active mitotic cells. We hypothesize that translation impairment or ribosome biogenesis disorder is likely to be considered secondary effects of TEMPO toxicity related to cell cycle arrest. Therefore, despite the growing interest in the use of this compound in the chemical industry, its toxic effect on the environment, especially biosphere, should be taken into account.

Serum kisspeptin and proopiomelanocortin in cystic fibrosis: a single study.

The determination of hormonal biomarkers is of increasing interest in many diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF). Hormones that have not been estimated and described so far in CF include kisspeptin (KISS) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC), which are involved in the regulation of many processes, including appetite and fertility. Therefore, the aim of our study was to estimate the level of KISS and POMC in sera from CF patients and to determine the correlation between these hormones and clinical parameters. For this purpose, we estimated the levels of KISS and POMC in 38 CF patients and 16 healthy participants with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found significantly reduced levels of KISS and POMC in people with CF compared to healthy subjects (1.76 ± 0.46 vs. 2.27 ± 0.56 ng/mL, p < 0.05 and 6.25 ± 4.36 vs. 14.74 ± 6.24 ng/mL, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the level of both hormones was negatively correlated with age. The hormones studied did not correlate with the results of spirometry and each other. Thus, decreased KISS and POMC levels may be associated with lower body weight and delayed puberty in patients with CF.

Serum levels of hormones regulating appetite in patients with cystic fibrosis - a single-center, cross-sectional study.

Cystic fibrosis (CF), which is the most common inherited genetically determined disease caused by a mutation in the gene for the CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein. Pulmonary failure is the leading cause of death in this population, while the dysregulation of endocrine system creates significant disorders, including malnutrition, underweight, and CF-related diabetes. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine the following hormones in the serum of patients with CF: ghrelin, putative peptide YY (PYY), Agouti-signaling protein (ASP), and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). To our knowledge, serum levels of PYY, ASP, and α-MSH have not yet been assessed in CF. For this purpose, we measured hormone levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 38 patients from the local CF care center, as well as 16 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Moreover, we estimated the correlations between the tested hormones and the parameters of the patients' clinical status. In this study, we found sinificantly reduced serum levels of ghrelin and ASP in patients with CF (p<0.01). There was no difference in PYY and α-MSH levels between participants with CF and healthy subjects. Furthermore, there was no difference in hormone levels between females and males with CF. The type of gene mutation (homozygous or heterozygous for ΔF508) had no effect on hormone levels. Ghrelin was negatively correlated with age, body mass index, and C-reactive protein. PYY was negatively associated with the age of the patients. Hormone dysregulation in CF may contribute to decreased appetite, as well as many other disturbed processes. Therefore, ghrelin appears to play a key role in the regulation of energy management of CF. Future multicenter and multidisciplinary studies should focus on an unequivocal understanding of the role of these hormones in CF.

Serum leptin and neuropeptide Y in patients with cystic fibrosis-A single center study.

Along with the significant elongation in the average life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), there are still significant discrepancies in the height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of patients compared to controls without CF. The correlation between hormones that regulate appetite and body fat mass may be an additional factor in weight loss or poor weight gain in CF patients. Our objective was to estimate serum concentrations of leptin and neuropeptide Y in patients with CF as well as to assess correlations between studied hormones and the clinical parameters of CF. Leptin and neuropeptide Y serum concentrations after an overnight fast were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All study participants had anthropometric tests and spirometry. In addition, fasting serum lipid profile was also analyzed. Fasting leptin levels in CF were significantly higher in patients with CF patients (13.9 ± 6.9 vs. 6.5 ± 2.6 ng/mL, p < 0.001) compared to controls. There were no differences in leptin concentration between female and male CF participants (15.7 ± 7.8 vs. 12.2 ± 5.6 ng/mL, p = 0.13). Leptin was correlated with age (R = 0.64, p < 0.001), BMI (R = 0.65, p < 0.001), spirometry results (R = -0.49, p < 0.01), and body fat (R = 0.5, p < 0.05). There were no differences in neuropeptide Y concentration between participants with CF and controls as well as neuropeptide Y was not correlated with any studied parameters. The results of our study suggest that weight loss may be associated with a decreased level of leptin, while reduced pulmonary function in CF may be related to an elevated level of leptin.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in Atopic Dermatitis and Chronic Urticaria.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic urticaria (CU) are common skin diseases with an increasing prevalence and pathogenesis that are not fully understood. Emerging evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a role in AD and CU. The aim of the single-center cross-sectional study was to compare markers of oxidative stress in 21 patients with AD, and 19 CU patients. The products of protein oxidation, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and markers of lipid peroxidation were estimated in the serum. AD patients had a higher level of advanced protein oxidation products and a lower level of thiol groups than healthy participants. However, CU patients had statistically higher levels of AOPP and 3-nitrotyrosine than healthy subjects. The level of thiol groups and serum TAC decreased significantly in patients with CU. There was no difference in serum concentration of lipid peroxidation products, Amadori products, ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione, and ability of albumin to binding cobalt between AD or CU patients compared to healthy subjects. We found a moderate positive significant correlation between AOPP and age in patients with AD. In patients with CU, TAC was negatively correlated with age. These results may shed light on the etiopathogenesis of AD or CU, and confirm an oxidative burden in these patients. Furthermore, our study could be useful in developing new therapeutic methods that include using antioxidants in dermatological diseases.

Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Teenagers and Adults with Atopic Dermatitis.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a non-invasive biomarker of eosinophilic airway inflammation and therapeutic response to corticosteroid treatment of respiratory diseases. Atopic dermatitis (AD), one of the most common allergic conditions of the skin, is a factor influencing the increase of FeNO. The main aim of this study was to determine differences between levels of FeNO in patients with AD and healthy controls as measured by an electrochemical analyzer. In total, 54 teenagers and adults with AD were recruited and compared with 34 healthy volunteers. The measurements of FeNO were taken using the Hyp'Air FeNO in participants. FeNO was statistically significantly higher in patients with AD than in healthy controls (60.5 ± 35.1 vs. 14.8 ± 5.1 ppb, p < 0.001). We found a strong positive significant correlation between FeNO and the number of positive skin prick tests among AD patients (R = 0.754, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between FeNO and duration of disease as well as SCORAD index among patients. Moreover, we also found no FeNO difference between the mild and moderate forms of AD. The presence of AD and the increasing number of positive skin prick tests increase FeNO, so the results of this measurement should be interpreted with caution in patients with respiratory diseases suffering from AD.

Links between Disease Severity, Bacterial Infections and Oxidative Stress in Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common, yet fatal genetic diseases in Caucasians. The presence of a defective CF transmembrane conductance regulator and the massive neutrophils influx into the airways contribute to an imbalance in epithelial cell processes and extracellular fluids and lead to excessive production of reactive oxygen species and intensification of oxidative stress. The study included 16 controls and 42 participants with CF aged 10 to 38. The products of protein oxidation, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and markers of lipid peroxidation were estimated in the serum of the subjects. Furthermore, we compared the level of oxidative stress in patients with CF according to the severity of disease and type of bacterial infection. Thiol groups and serum TAC decreased significantly in patients with CF (p < 0.05). Elevated levels of 3-nitrotyrosine, malondialdehyde and 8-isoprostane were observed in CF subjects (p < 0.05). Furthermore, as the severity of the disease increased, there was a decrease in the thiol groups and TAC levels, as well as an increase in the concentration of 3-nitrotyrosine and 8-isoprostane. CF participants infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa had elevated 3-nitrotyrosine concentration levels (p < 0.05), while those infected with Staphylococcus aureus noted a decrease in thiol groups (p < 0.05). Elevated levels of oxidative stress markers were found in the serum of CF patients. Furthermore, oxidative stress progressively increased over the years and along with the severity of the disease. The presence of bacterial infection with P. aeruginosa or S. aureus had a slight effect on oxidative stress, while co-infection by two species did not affect the level of oxidative stress.

Renal Function in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: A Single-Center Study.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common incurable autosomal recessive disease affecting the Caucasian population. As the prognosis for life extension of CF patients improves, co-morbidities, including kidney disease, become more common. Identifying those at the highest risk of kidney injury is therefore extremely important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomarkers of renal function in 50 CF patients using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on creatinine and cystatin C equation as well as serum creatinine (sCr), serum cystatin C (CysC), serum urea and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) concentrations. sCr, CysC, urea and uNGAL were estimated. eGFR was calculated according to the CKD-EPI formula. CysC was significantly increased, while eGFR was significantly lower in the CF group than in the controls (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference in the sCr, urea and uNGAL concentrations between patients with CF and healthy subjects. For the purpose of our analysis, in order to assess renal function in patients with CF in clinical practice, the concentration of serum CysC and eGFRCKD-EPI should be determined. Patients with CF presented with renal function impairment pictured by increased serum CysC and decreased eGFR values compared to controls. Unchanged uNGAL concentrations suggested preserved tubular function despite aminoglycoside treatment. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify whether kidney impairment observed in the course of CF progresses.

Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes in Poland.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive inherited monogenic disease in Caucasians. As medical technology progresses and the quality of patient care improves, the survival time of patients with CF has increased, which results in more frequent comorbidities such as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). CFRD is the result of abnormal glucose metabolism characterized primarily by insulin deficiency, exacerbated periodically by insulin resistance. The aim of our study was to analyze the epidemiology of patients with CFRD in Poland on the basis of data collected from six CF treatment centers. Analyses were performed on 1157 CF patients who were treated at one of the six CF care centers. CFRD was diagnosed according to standard criteria. All data including demographics, types of CFTR mutations, CFRD duration, and microorganisms in the sputum were obtained from the patients' medical history. Our study indicates that the prevalence of CFRD in Poland is 12.9%. CFRD was most often diagnosed between the ages of 11 and 20 (60% of patients), while 23% of patients were diagnosed between 21 and 30 years of age. Furthermore, we observed that approximately 3-5% of patients under the age of 10 had CFRD. We found out that the type of mutation did not affect the frequency of CFRD development. Factors that increased the risk of developing CFRD include underweight and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Due to the extended lifespan of CF patients, the number of CFRD patients is currently increasing. We believe that the results of our study may complement information from other studies or may be useful in planning health policy in Poland.