The impact of selected food additives on the gastrointestinal tract in the example of nonspecific inflammatory bowel diseases.

Various types of food additives are widely used in the food industry. Due to their properties extending the usefulness for consuming food products, they give them different colours, consistency, or taste. The products are marked 'E' and the code is assigned to the subscription used. Many of the supplements affect human health negatively. Emulsifiers or stabilizers can lead to epithelial loads and the development of inflammation. Sucrose and other sweeteners may change the composition of the intestinal microflora and thus lead to intestinal blockage. Some additives classified as preservatives are available and may predispose to intestinal dysbiosis. Available substances belonging to food dyes may predispose to genotoxic and cytotoxic effects and cause inflammation in the intestines. Substances added to food can also cause disorders of intestinal homeostasis.

Nadir CA-125 has prognostic value for recurrence, but not for survival in patients with ovarian cancer.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nadir CA-125 in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. A total of 168 patients who achieved complete remission (no clinical and radiological signs, CA-125 ≤ 35 U/ml) after first-line treatment were enrolled in the study. The relationship between CA-125 and survival was examined by applying generalized additive models to the Cox proportional hazards model. The median CA-125 concentration after the treatment was 10 U/ml (2.7-35 U/ml). The nadir CA-125 was related to progression-free survival but not to overall survival. The risk of recurrence in patients with 11-25 U/ml and 26-35 U/ml compared to patients with ≤ 10 U/ml was 1.87 (p < 0.0024) and 2.17 (p < 0.018), respectively. An increased risk of recurrence according to the nadir CA-125 (≤ 10 U/ml vs. 11-25 U/ml and ≤ 10 U/ml vs. 26-35 U/ml) was found in patients with high-grade tumours (hazard ratio, HR = 2.08 and 2.59, respectively), advanced disease (HR = 2.38 and 2.03, respectively), serous histology (HR = 2.08 and 2.43, respectively) and after complete cytoreduction (HR = 2.7 and 2.72, respectively). No correlation between the CA-125 nadir and recurrence risk was found in patients with early-stage disease or those receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy or bevacizumab.

Patterns of Oral Microbiota in Patients with Apical Periodontitis.

In this study, microbial diversity of the root canal microbiota related to different endodontic infections was investigated. In total, 45 patients with endo-perio lesions (8 patients), chronic periapical periodontitis (29 patients) and pulp necrosis (8 patients) were recruited. In 19 (42.2%) patients there was secondary infection of root canals. Microbial specimens were collected from root canals of non-vital teeth with or without changes in periapical area visible in X-ray. Then, oral microbiota were detected and identified using the culture method and real-time PCR amplification primers and hydrolysis-probe detection with the 16S rRNA gene as the target. Overall, 1434 species/genes from 41 different genera of 90 various microbial species were retrieved. Of the major reported phyla, Firmicutes (62.9%), Actinobacteria (14.0%), Bacteroidetes (12.1%), Proteobacteria (9.1%) and Fusobacteria (4.2%) were detected. Of the bacterial species, 54.6% were strict anaerobes. Corynebacterium matruchotii (p = 0.039) was present significantly more frequently in chronic periapical periodontitis. Moreover, the higher values of Decayed, Missing and Filled Permanent Teeth index were positively correlated with relative abundance of Actinomyces spp. (p = 0.042), Lactobacillus spp. (p = 0.006), Propionibacterium spp. (p = 0.024) and Rothia spp. (p = 0.002). The multivariate analyses revealed differences in total root canal samples, where components that affected grouping of root samples into four main categories were identified. Anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria predominated in root canals of teeth with pulp necrosis and periapical lesions. Facultative anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria predominated in canals with secondary infections. All detected members of mixed population groups that might serve as keystone species contributed to the entire community in its clinical relevance.

Rising serum CA-125 levels within the normal range is strongly associated recurrence risk and survival of ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice alterations in CA-125 concentration within normal range in patients with ovarian cancer after first-line treatment are common. Even minor increase in CA-125 concentration is associated with patients' anxiety and difficult interpretation and counselling for clinicians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of CA-125 fluctuations within reference level in patients who suffered from ovarian cancer with complete response after first-line treatment. RESULTS: 168 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, who achieved complete remission after first line treatment were enrolled in the study. CA-125 concentration assessment was carried out during follow up visits. The recurrence of the disease was diagnosed on the first appearance of symptoms: clinical, radiological or histopathological/cytological. PFS and 5-year survival rate was calculated with Kaplan-Meier plots. Statistical analysis was performed with SAS / STAT® 9.4 / 14.4, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA, 2017. Median concentration of CA-125 after first-line therapy was 10 U/ml. Increasing CA-125 concentration by > 5 U/ml, 3 and 6 months after the treatment was associated with higher risk of relapse (HR = 7.6, p < 0.0001 and HR = 5.29, p < 0.0001 respectively). 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in patients with increased CA-125 by 5 U/ml, 3 and 6 months after therapy (56.79% vs 0 and 50.62% vs 15.55%). CONCLUSIONS: Increased concentration of CA-125 by > 5 U/ml within normal range, 3 and 6 months after treatment was unfavorable prognostic factor in ovarian cancer patients with complete response to primary therapy.

The Influence of Nutrients on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Inflammatory bowel diseases is a group of inflammatory diseases. The pathogenesis of diseases is multifactorial, which may include a Western-type diet. Diseases occur with periods of recurrence and remission. Many factors can have a beneficial effect on reducing the frequency of recurrence and prolonging the remission period. Such ingredients include dietary fibre, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, certain vitamins (D, C, and E), flavonoids, and minerals such as zinc and selenium. Properly selected nutrition might be an integral part of the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.