Secondary prevention of lung cancer in the Czech Republic - pitfalls, risks, benefits.

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the Czech Republic, the prevalence of which is steadily increasing. There is scientific evidence that LC screening through low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces the risk of death from LC. No systematic LC screening strategy has been currently in place in the Czech Republic. Since the beginning of 2022, the methodology of early detection of LC using LDCT has been piloted to test the feasibility of the screening program. The primary purpose of the project is an early and accurate diagnosis of the disease, which, in combination with follow-up treatment, will lead to a reduction in LC mortality. The pilot data will definitely serve as a basis for an expert discussion of the acceptability of the program to the Czech population and its impact on the healthcare system. It is clear that by introducing such a screening program, we will join the countries that, based on scientific data, enable the population to profit from an actively implemented LC prevention strategy. Public awareness of the benefits of early non-invasive LC detection can contribute to higher compliance of at-risk persons and their willingness to participate in the program. The key role in the entire process is played by general practitioners and/or outpatient pulmologists who address at-risk individuals and can positively influence their involvement in the program.

MicroRNAs in pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock.

AIM: Levels of circulating miRNA are considered to be potential biomarkers of acute myocardial infarction and disease progression. METHODS: In this study, the expression levels of circulating miRNA-1, miRNA-133 and miRNA-124a were investigated in a group of patients with acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) compared to controls. RESULTS: During the hospitalization period, miRNA-133 showed a significant up-regulation in the serum of STEMI and CS patients compared to controls, while the expression of miRNA-1 was significantly different only in CS. The expression of miRNA-124 was significantly higher in STEMI and CS. Furthermore, miRNA-1 expression was related to the level of circulating glucose in patients with STEMI. We also found a negative correlation between miRNA-133 and MMP-9 levels. MiRNA-124 expression was significantly related to the level of soluble ST2; the marker correlated to cardiac damage. CONCLUSION: All selected miRNAs are potential markers of cardiac injury in cardiogenic shock, whereas miRNA-124a and -133 are markers of injury in STEMI. MiRNA-1 expression is related to circulating glucose in STEMI. None of miRNAs could be correlated to the extent of injury, progress of the disease, or prognosis of patient outcome. Therefore, the levels of circulating miRNA have no potential for becoming a biomarker of myocardial damage and as such would bring no further benefit compared to current markers (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 47).

[A multifactor epidemiological analysis of risk factors for pancreatic cancer in women]. / Multifaktorová epidemiologická analýza rizikových faktoru karcinomu pankreatu u zen.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: A multifactor analysis of risk factors for pancreas cancer in women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in three centres in the Czech Republic (Olomouc, Ostrava, and Ceské Budejovice) in 2006-2009. In total, 226 women (129 pancreas cancer cases, 97 controls) were included in the study. Statistical analysis was performed, the crude odds ratio (OR) was calculated, and logistic regression analysis was used at a 5% level of statistical significance. RESULTS: A statistically significant inverse association was found between pancreatic cancer and oral contraceptives (OR 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07-0.69). Pregnancy and number of pregnancies or gynecological surgical procedures did not show any association with pancreatic cancer. No significant difference in the first menstrual period was found between pancreatic cancer patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: The study results showed inverse association between pancreatic cancer and oral contraceptives (OR 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07-0.69), controlled alcohol consumption (OR 0.26; 95% CI: 0.12-0.55), and anti-inflamatory drug use (OR 0.10; 95% CI: 0.02-0.41).

Is physical activity a protective factor against pancreatic cancer?

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to analyze an association between selected factors and pancreatic cancer, assuming that knowing the etiology would help influence the incidence of this severe type of cancer through primary prevention. In addition to age, gender, BMI and education, the analysis aimed at assessing occupational and leisure-time physical activities with respect to pancreatic cancer. BACKGROUND: In numerous studies, physical activity is reported to be a protective factor against pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out in three centers in the Czech Republic in 2006-2009. RESULTS: The study comprised a total of 529 individuals, of which 309 were patients with pancreatic cancer and 220 were controls. Leisure-time physical activity showed a statistically significant inverse association with a crude odds ratio of 0.65 (95% CI 0.45-0.93), even after adjustment for other studied factors (OR =0.63, 95% CI 0.43-0.92). Conversely, for occupational physical activity, a positive association was only suggested. CONCLUSIONS: Leisure-time physical activity is a protective factor against the development of pancreatic cancer. Occupational physical activity was not confirmed as a protective factor against pancreatic cancer (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 22).

[Pancreatic cancer and lifestyle factors]. / Karcinom pankreatu a faktory zivotního stylu.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is a serious cancer with unfavorable prognosis. Due to differences in the incidence of pancreatic cancer in different regions, it is clear that factors associated with lifestyle play an important role in the etiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of selected lifestyle factors in relation to pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included a total of 529 subjects, including 309 cases and 220 control subjects. Cases of newly diagnosed patients with pancreatic cancer who lived in the region were selected in hospitals in three centers (University Hospital Olomouc, University Hospital Ostrava, Hospital Ceske Budejovice). The control group was obtained in cooperation with selected general practitioners for adults, and it is a population control group. RESULTS: Analyses compared persons who reported consuming alcohol with those who do not consume alcohol. Results showed a statistically significant inverse association, even after adjustment for the other studied factors (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.89). When assessing leisure time physical activity, results showed statistically significant inverse association and 35% decrease in the risk (crude OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.93), and this inverse association was confirmed after adjustment for other studied factors although the result is on the border of statistical significance (adjusted OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.04). Drinking coffee and tea has only a marginal impact on the occurrence of pancreatic cancer, although the medium and high consumption of black tea was found increased risk by 90 or 44%, respectively. Smoking is considered a causal risk factor for pancreatic cancer, but in this study, a positive association was not found. The study found no statistically significant association between overweight and obesity. CONCLUSION: Physical activity, dietary measures that will lead to weight loss and education to non-smoking can have a significant impact on the primary prevention of cancer.

Characterization of the Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) wblE gene, encoding a homologue of the sporulation transcription factor.

The gene corresponding to the recently identified whiB-paralogous gene wblE in S. coelicolor was found after sequencing the downstream region of the stress-response sporulation-specific sigma-factor gene, sigH, in S. coelicolor A3(2). Sequence analysis has revealed an ORF exhibiting high similarity to sporulation transcription factors WhiB and WhiD. A stable null mutant of the wblE gene was obtained by integrative transformation, via double cross-over. Disruption of the S. coelicolor wblE gene appeared to have no obvious effect on growth, morphology, differentiation, and production of the pigmented antibiotics actinorhodin and undecylprodigiosin. Expression of the wblE gene was investigated during differentiation by S1 nuclease mapping, using RNA prepared from S. coelicolor A3(2) and its isogenic sigF and sigH mutants grown to various developmental stages. A single promoter was identified upstream of the wblE coding region. The wblEp promoter was induced at the beginning of aerial mycelium formation and its activity decreased later in differentiation. No differences in expression of the wblEp promoter were detected in S. coelicolor A3(2) mutants in sigF and sigH genes for sporulation-specific sigma factors. Sequence of the wblEp promoter showed partial similarity to the consensus sequence of the extracytoplasmic sigma factors.