Diagnostic value of PPARδ and miRNA-17 expression levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

The PPARδ gene codes protein that belongs to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family engaged in a variety of biological processes, including carcinogenesis. Specific biological and clinical roles of PPARδ in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not fully explained. The association of PPARα with miRNA regulators (e.g. miRNA-17) has been documented, suggesting the existence of a functional relationship of all PPARs with epigenetic regulation. The aim of the study was to determine the PPARδ and miR-17 expression profiles in NSCLC and to assess their diagnostic value in lung carcinogenesis. PPARδ and miR-17 expressions was assessed by qPCR in NSCLC tissue samples (n = 26) and corresponding macroscopically unchanged lung tissue samples adjacent to the primary lesions served as control (n = 26). PPARδ and miR-17 expression were significantly lower in NSCLC than in the control (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0178; respectively). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated the diagnostic potential in discriminating NSCLC from the control with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.914 for PPARδ and 0.692 for miR-17. Significant increase in PPARδ expression in the control for current smokers vs. former smokers (p = 0.0200) and increase in miR-17 expression in control tissue adjacent to adenocarcinoma subtype (p = 0.0422) were observed. Overexpression of miR-17 was observed at an early stage of lung carcinogenesis, which may suggest that it acts as a putative oncomiR. PPARδ and miR-17 may be markers differentiating tumour tissue from surgical margin and miR-17 may have diagnostic role in NSCLC histotypes differentiation.

Drug susceptibility of fungi isolated from ICU patients

Candida species can be a reason of infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. The risk of invasive candidosis for patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) is increased due to immunosuppressive states, prolonged length of stay, broad-spectrum antibiotics and Candida colonization. The aim of the study was to determine selected properties of fungi isolated from patients treated in the ICUs of hospitals in Lodz. The materials were collected from the oral cavity, the tracheostomy or endotracheal tube and urine from 16 children and 35 adult. In total, 127 samples were examined to differentiate the fungal strains with used morphological and biochemical methods. Candida species were isolated from adult patients (82.9%), but were not isolated from any of the children; C. albicans was the predominant fungus (61.7%), much less frequent were C. glabrata (12.8%), C. tropicalis (6.4%) and C. kefyr, C. dubliniensis (4.3% each).The susceptibility of fungi to antimycotic drugs revealed that almost all of the strains were susceptible to nystatin (97.9%) and to amphotericin B (72.3%), and resistant to fluconazole (72.3%) and ketoconazole (57.5%). No isolation of fungi from children remaining in ICU may be an evidence of high sanitary regime at these wards; fungi from the genus Candida are the etiological factors for ICU infections; 3/5 of them are caused by C. albicans, mostly of the code 2 576 174, characteristic for strains isolated from hospitalized patients; it is necessary to determine the species of the fungus and its susceptibility to drugs, which allows to conduct effective therapy; prophylactic administration of fluconazole leads to an increase in the number of strains resistant to this chemotherapeutic agent; in the antifungal local treatment, nystatin should be a drug of choice as the drug to which most fungi are susceptible.

Adherence of Candida sp. to host tissues and cells as one of its pathogenicity features.

The ability of Candida sp. cells to adhere to the mucosal surfaces of various host organs as well as synthetic materials is an important pathogenicity feature of those fungi which contributes to the development of infection. This property varies depending on the species of the fungus and is the greatest for C. albicans. The process of adhesion depends on plenty of factors related to the fungal and host cells as well as environmental conditions. The main adhesins present on the fungal cell wall are: Als, Epa, Hwp1, but also Eap1, Sun41, Csh1 and probably Hyr1; for adhesion significant are also secreted aspartyl proteases Sap. Various researchers specify a range of genes which contribute to adhesion, such as: CZF1, EFG1, TUP1, TPK1, TPK2, HGC1, RAS1, RIM101, VPS11, ECM1, CKA2, BCR1, BUD2, RSR1, IRS4, CHS2, SCS7, UBI4, UME6, TEC1 and GAT2. Influence for adherence have also heat shock proteins Hsp70, Mediator Middle domain subunit Med31 and morphological transition. Among factors affecting adhesion related to host cells it is necessary to mention fibronectins and integrins (receptors for Candida sp. adhesins), type of epithelial cells, their morphology and differentiation phase. To a lesser degree influence on adhesion have non-specific factors and environmental conditions.

Selected pathogenic characteristics of fungi from the genus Candida.

The prevalence of fungi from the genus Candida in humans is increasing, but the mere fact of their detection does not allow, in general, to diagnose a disease. In fact the development of fungal infection depends on several factors of the host-pathogen relationship. The occurrence of symptoms and the course of the disease are associated, inter alia, with general and immunological conditions of an infected person as well as the properties of strains. Differences between the strains responsible for asymptomatic and symptomatic invasion have been shown. Thus the determination of their pathogenicity parameters is an important element leading to proper identification, both mycological and clinical, which allows for the implementation of therapeutic intervention. There are several virulence factors that are essential for surviving in host's organism and play important role in each phase of fungal infection. This review provides an update on selected pathogenicity features: formation of hyphae and/or pseudohyphae, phenotypic switching, tropic reactions and biofilm production.

[Interspecies differentiation of Candida albicans (Robin, 1853) Berkhout, 1923 strains from multifocal invasions--their identity or similarity parameters]. / Róznicowanie wewnatrzgatunkowe szczepów Candida albicans (Robin, 1853) Berkhout, 1923 z inwazji wieloogni- skowych--parametry ich identycznosci lub podobienstwa.

The subject of analysis is a pathogenic species of fungi that has the highest prevalence in the word--Candida albicans. The aim of this study was to determine the identity and similarity of strains for the diagnosis of multifocal (concerning two or more organs) invasions. The material was comprised of 210 strains isolated from 83 women from 6 various ontocenoses: in group I--from the vagina, oral cavity and rectum, in group II--from the vagina and oral cavity, in group III--from the oral cavity, oesophagus, stomach, duodenum and rectum. Three tests were used in this study; API 20 C and API 20 AUX tests were used to differentiate interspecies biochemical features, and identify the codes of individual strains, while the API ZYM test was used to evaluate extracellular hydrolase activity and compare their enzymograms. Strain biotyping was also conducted with the use of binomial distribution 1:4:6:4:1. Comparing the codes of strains from successive sections of the alimentary tract identified pentafocal, tetrafocal, trifocal and bifocal invasions. The analysis of the enzymograms from all strains allowed the diagnosis of trifocal and bifocal candidosis. Consecutive hydrolase activity and biotyping evaluation demonstrated the similarity of strains from various ontocenoses. Interspecies differentiation of Candida albicans strains is relevant for the determination of the identity and similarity of strains, leading to multifocal infection diagnosis and localization, as well as choosing appropriate treatment.