The aim of the study was to assess the expression of MGMT, p16, and APC genes in tumors and matching surgical margin samples from 56 patients with primary OSCC. We also analyzed the association of the clinical variables with the expression of the studied genes. After RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis gene expression levels were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR. Two-sided parametrical Student's t-test for independent groups with equal/unequal variances showed no statistically significant differences in genes' expression in tumor compared to margin samples. No association was found between the genes' expression and clinical parameters, except for MGMT, whose low expression was probably associated with smoking (0.87 vs 1.34, p=0.065). 'Field cancerization' is an area with genetically or epigenetically altered cells and at the same time a risk factor for cancer. Disturbances in gene expression could also be the source of damages leading to cancerization. In conclusion, it is important to mention that the field remaining after a surgery may pose an increased risk of cancer development. It may be suggested that the diagnosis and treatment of cancers should not be concentrated only on the tumor itself, but also on the cancer field effect. Therefore, further molecular analysis on surgical margins and additional research regarding their assessment are required.
A phenomenon of increasing resistance of Candida spp. to azoles has been observed for several years now. One of the mechanisms of lack of sensitivity to azoles is associated with CDR1, CDR2, MRD1 genes (their products are active transport pumps conditioning drug efflux from pathogen's cell), and ERG11 gene (encoding lanosterol 14α-demethylase). Test material was 120 strains of Candida albicans (60 resistant and 60 susceptible to azole drugs) obtained from clinical samples. The first stage of experiment assessed the expression of CDR1, CDR2, MDR1 and ERG11 genes by Q-PCR. The impact of ERG11 gene's mutations on the expression of this gene was analysed. The final stage of the experiment assessed the level of genome methylation of Candida albicans strains. An increase in the expression of CDR2, MDR1 and ERG11 was observed in azole-resistant strains of Candida albicans in comparison to strains sensitive to this class of drugs. Furthermore, 19 changes in the sequence of ERG11 were detected in tested strains. Four of the discovered mutations: T495A, A530C, G622A and A945C led to the following amino acid substitutions: D116E, K128T, V159I and E266D, respectively. It has also been found that statistically five mutations: T462C, G1309A, C216T, C1257T and A945C affected the expression of ERG11. The applied method of assessing the level of methylation of Candida albicans genome did not confirm its role in the development of resistance to azoles. The results indicate however, that resistance of Candida albicans strains to azole drugs is multifactorial.
Introduction: Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. is a tick‑transmitted spirochaete, which can cause acute or chronic infection, either symptomatic or occult. The result depends on spirochaete species’ interaction with individual human immunity. Material and methods: The survey was conducted in the group of 1104 Silesia inhabitants (age 3‑96 years; mean 44.9±19.2) who remembered tick‑bite episode in the past and had not had recognized chronic borreliosis. The anamnestic data were focused on erythema episode and confirmation of erythema migrans by physician. The analysis of anti‑Borrelia IgM and IgG antibodies in serum with ELISA method, and verification of positive or uncertain results with Western blot analysis were conducted. Results: Erythema after tick‑bite exposition was noticed in 22.5%; 70% of them realized medical consultation and erythema migrans was confirmed in ¾ of cases. Twenty‑five percent of those without erythema asked for medical help and early borreliosis was diagnosed in 4.2% of them. In the group of patients with erythema migrans confirmed in the past 55% had positive ELISA tests results while in the group with exclusion – over 40%. Coincidence of results obtained with ELISA and Western blot methods expressed by Kendall’s τ coefficient was low: 0.256. Conclusions: In persons with tick‑bites in anamnesis and none of chronic borreliosis diagnosed the serological tests positive results seems to be not enough for disease confirmation. Because of low ELISA and Western blot tests results compatibility, the final diagnosis should be based on perceptive analysis of individual clinical picture.
PL
Wstęp: Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. jest przenoszonym przez kleszcze krętkiem, mogącym powodować ostrą lub przewlekłą infekcję, zarówno objawową, jak i bezobjawową. Wynik zakażenia jest pochodną interakcji genogatunku krętka z układem odpornościowym gospodarza. Materiał i metody: Badanie przeprowadzono w grupie 1104 mieszkańców Śląska (wiek 3‑96 lat, średnia 44,9±19,2), którzy pamiętali epizod ukłucia kleszcza w przeszłości i nie mieli rozpoznanej przewlekłej boreliozy. Dane anamnestyczne obejmowały wystąpienie rumienia i potwierdzenie rumienia wędrującego przez lekarza. Przeprowadzono oznaczenie obecności przeciwciał klasy IgM i IgG przeciwko krętkom Borrelia metodą ELISA oraz zweryfikowano wyniki pozytywne i wątpliwe testem Western blot. Wyniki: Rumień po ekspozycji na ukłucie kleszcza odnotowano u 22,5% badanych. W grupie tej 70% zasięgnęło porady lekarskiej, a rumień wędrujący został potwierdzony w ¾ przypadków. Dwadzieścia pięć procent bez widocznego rumienia zgłosiło się po pomoc medyczną, a wczesną boreliozę rozpoznano u 4,2% tej grupy. W grupie osób z potwierdzonym w przeszłości rumieniem wędrującym u 55% stwierdzono obecność badanych przeciwciał, natomiast w grupie z wykluczonym – u 40%. Zgodność wyników badań wykonanych testami ELISA i Western blot, wyrażona współczynnikiem τ Kendalla, była niska i wyniosła 0,256. Wnioski: U osób z ukłuciem przez kleszcza w wywiadzie i bez rozpoznania przewlekłej boreliozy pozytywne wyniki badań serologicznych wydają się niewystarczające do rozpoznania choroby. Ze względu na niską zgodność wyników testów ELISA i Western blot ostateczne rozpoznanie powinno być oparte na wnikliwej analizie indywidualnego obrazu klinicznego.
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