Introduction: The aim of the study was to describe the levels of circulating monocyte/macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) and an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and healthy controls. Materials and Methods:The study was conducted on 15 healthy individuals, 20 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 12 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 15 with CRC (Dukes' stage B). Blood serum cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. Results: The patients with UC had significantly higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and of circulating IL-10 than the healthy controls. The patients with CD and CRC had the same specific pattern of serum cytokines of significantly elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, but the IL-10 levels were within the range found in the healthy individuals. Conclusions: Thus our results demonstrate that both IBD and CRC are linked with an intensified production of a wide array of monocyte/macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokines which is not accompanied by elevated levels of circulating IL-10, except for its insufficiently inhibitory elevation in UC patients.

IntroductionThyroid nodular disease (TND) is a very common disorder. However, since the rate of malignancy is reported to be 3-10%, only a minority of patients require aggressive surgical treatment. As a result, there is a need for diagnostic tools which would allow for a reliable differentiation between benign and malignant nodules. Although a number of conventional ultrasonographic (US) features are proved to be markers of malignancy, Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) is considered to be an improvement of conventional US. The aim of this study was to compare conventional US markers and SWE diagnostic values in the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Materials and MethodsAll patients referred for thyroidectomy, irrespective of the indications, underwent a US thyroid examination prospectively. Patients with TND were included into the study. Results of the US and SWE examinations were compared with post-surgical histopathology. ResultsOne hundred and twenty two patients with 393 thyroid nodules were included into the study. Twenty two patients were diagnosed with cancer. SWE turned out to be a predictor of malignancy superior to any other conventional US markers (OR=54.5 using qualitative scales and 40.8 using quantitative data on maximal stiffness with a threshold of 50 kPa). ConclusionsAlthough most conventional US markers of malignancy prove to be significant, none of them are characterized by both high sensitivity and specificity. SWE seems to be an important step forward, allowing for a more reliable distinction of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Our study, assessing SWE properties on the highest number of thyroid lesions at the time of publication, confirms the high diagnostic value of this technique. It also indicates that a quantitative evaluation of thyroid lesions is not superior to simpler qualitative methods.

Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), poses a challenge for regenerative medicine. iPSC technology might lead to a breakthrough due to the possibility of directed cell differentiation delivering a new powerful source of human autologous cardiomyocytes. One of the factors supporting proper cell maturation is in vitro culture duration. In this study, primary human skeletal muscle myoblasts were selected as a myogenic cell type reservoir for genetic iPSC reprogramming. Skeletal muscle myoblasts have similar ontogeny embryogenetic pathways (myoblasts vs. cardiomyocytes), and thus, a greater chance of myocardial development might be expected, with maintenance of acquired myogenic cardiac cell characteristics, from the differentiation process when iPSCs of myoblastoid origin are obtained. Analyses of cell morphological and structural changes, gene expression (cardiac markers), and functional tests (intracellular calcium transients) performed at two in vitro culture time points spanning the early stages of cardiac development (day 20 versus 40 of cell in vitro culture) confirmed the ability of the obtained myogenic cells to acquire adult features of differentiated cardiomyocytes. Prolonged 40-day iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) revealed progressive cellular hypertrophy; a better-developed contractile apparatus; expression of marker genes similar to human myocardial ventricular cells, including a statistically significant CX43 increase, an MHC isoform switch, and a troponin I isoform transition; more efficient intercellular calcium handling; and a stronger response to β-adrenergic stimulation.

We present revised Polish guidelines regarding the management of patients harbouring neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) of the small intestine and appendix. The small intestine, especially the ileum, is the most common origin of these neoplasms. Most of them are well differentiated with slow growth. Rarely, they are less differentiated, growing fast with a poor prognosis. Since symptoms can be atypical, the diagnosis is often accidental. Typical symptoms of carcinoid syndrome occur in less than 10% of patients. The most useful laboratory marker is chromogranin A; 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid is helpful in the monitoring of carcinoid syndrome. Ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, colonoscopy, video capsule endoscopy, balloon enteroscopy and somatostatin receptors scintigraphy are used in the visualisation. A histological report is crucial for the proper diagnostics and therapy of NENs, and it has been extensively described. The treatment of choice is surgery, either radical or palliative. Somatostatin analogues are crucial in the pharmacological treatment of the hormonally active and non-active small intestine NENs and NENs of the appendix. Radioisotope therapy is possible in patients with a good expression of somatostatin receptors. Chemotherapy is not effective in general. Everolimus therapy can be applied in patients with generalised NENs of the small intestine in progression and where there has been a failure or an inability to use other treatment options. Finally, we make recommendations regarding the monitoring of patients with NENs of the small intestine and appendix. (6) w mniej niż 10% przypadków. W diagnostyce laboratoryjnej najbardziej przydatne jest oznaczenie stężenia chromograniny A, badanie stężenia kwasu 5-hydroksyindolooctowego jest pomocne w monitorowaniu zespołu rakowiaka. W obrazowaniu stosuje się ultrasonografię, tomografię komputerową, rezonans magnetyczny, kolonoskopię, wideoendoskopię kapsułkową, enteroskopię dwubalonową, scyntygrafię receptorów somatostatynowych. Szczegółowe badanie histologiczne jest kluczowym dla właściwego rozpoznania i leczenia chorych z NEN jelita cienkiego i wyrostka robaczkowego. Leczeniem z wyboru jest postępowanie chirurgiczne, radykalne lub paliatywne. W leczeniu farmakologicznym czynnych i nieczynnych hormonalnie NEN jelita cienkiego i wyrostka robaczkowego podstawowe znaczenie mają analogi somatostatyny. Terapia radioizotopowa u chorych z dobrą ekspresją receptorów somatostatynowych stanowi kolejną opcję terapeutyczną. Chemioterapia jest na ogół nieskuteczna. U pacjentów z rozsianym NEN jelita cienkiego i progresją choroby oraz nieskutecznością innych metod terapii można zastosować ewerolimus. Przedstawiono także zalecenia odnośnie monitorowania chorych z NEN jelita cienkiego i wyrostka robaczkowego. (Endokrynol Pol 2013; 64 (6): 444-493)

Cytotoxic activity of NK cells was estimated as related to IL-10 and TGF-β1 serum levels and Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric cancer patients. Moreover, we sought to determine whether human gastric adenocarcinoma cells in vitro release IL-10, TGF-β1 or factor(s) affecting NK cytotoxicity. The studies were conducted on 42 patients with gastric cancer (14 with I-II stage—group 1; 28 with III-IV stage—group 2) and on 20 healthy volunteers. The cytotoxicity was tested on NK cells isolated from peripheral blood. IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels were determined by ELISA. H. pylori was detected in cultures of gastric mucosa biopsies and in direct preparations. In 71.4% patients of group 1 NK cytotoxicity and IL-10 serum levels remained within a normal range while in 68% patients of group 2 a marked decrease was noted in cytotoxic function of NK cells, accompanied by increased levels of IL-10 in serum. In turn, in most patients of either group, independently of NK cytotoxicity and stage grouping in the patients, elevated serum levels of TGF-β1 were detected. Presence of H. pylori infection manifested no relationship with NK cytotoxicity, IL-10, or the TGF-β1 serum levels. In cultures of tumour cells presence of IL-10 and TGF-β1 was demonstrated. Nevertheless, supernatants of the cultures did not change cytotoxic activity of NK cells. Development of gastric carcinoma is accompanied by markedly decreased cytotoxic function of NK cells and by elevated IL-10 and TGF-β1 serum levels. Gastric carcinoma cells may release IL-10, the suppressive activity of which may in a secondary manner decrease NK cytotoxicity.