Marcin Jóźwik

Bisphenol A (BPA) surrounds us nowadays and this exposure is known to cause numerous health problems, cancer included. Since BPA is structurally similar to natural Estradiol-17β, it acts as a xenoestrogen overstimulating estrogen receptors. This triggers multiple pathways, mainly via inflammatory responses, that may lead to the progression of cancer. For hormone-sensitive cancers such as type 1 endometrial cancer, this is especially true. This article examined the most common pathways cited that involve inflammation leading to the formation, maintenance and aggressiveness of cancer stem cells, with the inflammation linked to BPA exposure. Other pathways were also examined where BPA may be involved in mutagenesis. The results and detailed discussions of the pathways are presented, along with clarifying tables. Cancer stem cell formation and maintenance are affected by chronic BPA exposure leading to type 1 endometrial cancer, but with some evidence gaps that still need to be resolved. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) formation is a key step, directly damaging DNA, causing oncogene formation, disabling proofreading genes, and triggering tumorigenesis. The known key pathways relevant to the formation and progression of endometrial cancer, and mechanisms concerning how BPA may trigger the process are discussed.

Neurodegenerative disorders and epilepsy remain major clinical challenges, due to complex etiologies involving protein misfolding, excitotoxicity, metabolic dysregulation, and impaired cellular resilience. These unmet medical needs have stimulated interest in small-molecule modulators capable of targeting multiple pathogenic pathways. Cyclitols, a diverse family of inositol stereoisomers, play essential roles in cellular signaling and brain metabolism; among them, scyllo-inositol (SCI) has gained attention due to its distinct stereochemistry, capacity to cross the blood–brain barrier, and emerging neuroactive properties. Current pharmacokinetic data indicate that SCI exhibits dose-dependent systemic exposure, and good penetration into the central nervous system. Moreover, its supplementation seems to be well-tolerated. In experimental studies both on animals and humans, SCI has been shown to modulate amyloid-β aggregation, stabilize neuronal homeostatic pathways, and reduce network hyperexcitability, suggesting relevance for both neurodegenerative and epileptic phenotypes. Despite promising results, there is still a need for further analyses to define dosing, transporter involvement, and brain exposure thresholds. Collectively, the available data position SCI as a compelling candidate for translational development, warranting further investigation into its therapeutic window and disease-modifying potential across neurological disorders.

Background: Anxiety is a frequent clinical problem that becomes disabling when excessive or persistent. Cyclitols are naturally occurring polyhydroxy compounds, and inositols are the most abundant cyclitols in eukaryotic cells; several stereoisomers have been proposed as candidates for CNS-relevant effects. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using a structured search of biomedical bibliographic databases. The search was centered on myo-inositol, scyllo-inositol, and D-chiro-inositol in relation to anxiety-related outcomes. Results: The retrieved literature suggests some biological plausibility for anxiolytic effects of selected inositol stereoisomers through pathways related to intracellular signaling and neurotransmission. However, the available evidence is uneven and remains limited. The most informative findings concern myo-inositol and include both preclinical and clinical studies, whereas data on scyllo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are scarce, particularly in relation to anxiety-related outcomes. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests a possible anxiolytic role of selected inositol stereoisomers; however, the existing data are limited and heterogeneous, and do not allow for definitive clinical conclusions. Further research is required.

Detailed analysis of gene expression by real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) has become a widespread method. To normalize the expression of target genes, this approach relies on constitutively expressed internal controls known as housekeeping genes (HKGs). Their proper selection is a critically important methodological step, since all the studied gene expression will be recalculated based on HKG expression. This concise review aims to discuss the selection of HKGs for endometrial cancer (EC) studies. We draw attention to the fact that the commonly used gene glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is unsuitable as a HKG for research on the normal endometrium, EC, as well as many other tissues. In contrast, accumulating evidence suggests that GAPDH is a pan-cancer marker and an EC marker. Work on GAPDH overexpression in EC in relation to overall and relapse-free survival is lacking. Both original research and overviews indicate that at least two HKGs should be used for target gene expression recalculations, a rarely applied technical aspect of final data processing. The insufficiently careful selection in many studies of only one HKG, e.g., GAPDH, can be held responsible for broad discrepancies in published results obtained by this RT-qPCR technique. We provide an account of the discrepancies reported for sex hormone receptors expression in EC. Achieving consensus on the selection and validation of HKGs for research on this cancer is of crucial importance. Ideally, this trusted gene combination should be universal for any EC histotype and grade, irrespective of the final anatomopathological result.

Background/Objectives: Bisphenol A (BPA) is found throughout the environment and exposure to it has been shown to cause several health problems, including cancer. The problem with BPA is that it is a xenoestrogen that is chemically very similar to 17β-estradiol. Chronic exposure to BPA overstimulates the estrogen receptors and leads to inflammation that triggers several pathways leading to cancer progression. This is especially true in the case of hormone-sensitive breast cancers. This article reviewed the main pathways thought to be involved in the formation and/or progression of the most common forms of hormone-sensitive breast cancers due to BPA exposure. The main results were compiled and presented in tables along with a more detailed discussion of each pathway within the text. In most cases, chronic BPA exposure led to inflammation, which then triggered pathways leading to cancer stem cell formation and maintenance. In other cases, BPA exposure led to the formation of reactive oxygen species that damaged DNA and caused the formation of mutated p53 and tumorigenesis. Conclusions: The article summarizes the key pathways that are currently known, pertaining to how BPA leads to the progression and maintenance of breast cancer. The article then concludes by discussing how prenatal and perinatal BPA exposure may also predispose women to hormone-sensitive breast cancers later in life.

Background/Objectives: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic compound used in producing polycarbonates and epoxy resins found in products such as food containers, disposable bottles, CDs, and DVDs. Its structure resembles that of endogenous estrogen, which classifies BPA as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). BPA has been associated with various health abnormalities, including cancer and reproductive system cancer. In this study, we examine the association between BPA exposure, BPA levels in blood serum, and the occurrence of breast cancer and reproductive system cancer. Methods: A total of 84 females were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants completed a questionnaire assessing BPA exposure and underwent a blood test to measure BPA levels in serum. Results: Analysis of the lifestyle questionnaire revealed behavioral differences potentially associated with BPA exposure. A statistically significant difference was observed for responses to Question 13, related to food preparation methods, while responses to Questions 5, 6, and 17 showed trends approaching statistical significance in cancer groups. Serum BPA concentrations were significantly higher in patients with reproductive system cancer compared to the control group (p = 0.045), while a non-significant trend was observed between breast cancer patients and patients with reproductive system cancer (p = 0.0884). Conclusions: In summary, our study demonstrated significantly elevated serum BPA levels in patients with reproductive system cancer compared to controls. These results suggest the hypothesis that higher exposure to BPA may influence or be associated with the development of estrogen-dependent cancers such as breast and endometrial cancer. However, due to the cross-sectional design of the study, causality cannot be established, and further longitudinal studies are warranted.

Background: Scyllo-inositol (SCI) is a naturally occurring carbocyclic sugar implicated in many biological processes. Studies have highlighted the potential of using SCI in Alzheimer’s therapy. However, in order to fully use this compound in the treatment of neurovegetative diseases, its pharmacokinetics must be thoroughly understood. Objectives: We undertook the task of analyzing SCI in a Wistar rat animal model. The aim of this study was to observe the changes in SCI concentration after oral administration. Methods: All rats received 10 mg/kg of SCI as a solution in distilled water by oral gavage. Estimated parameters were based on the serum concentration of SCI observed in six individual rats with regard to time. Results: The first peak concentration appeared at 30 min for SCI. Thereafter, the serum SCI concentration increased rapidly and reached its highest level after approximately 1.5 h. There was no second peak in SCI concentration. The elimination half-life was determined to be 10.07 h and the mean residence time was 14.52 h. There were no side effects of SCI supplementation noticed during the study. Conclusions: Although our results present an analysis of SCI immediately after oral administration up to 48 h, further studies are necessary.

Background/Objectives: COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, emerged in late 2019 and rapidly became a global pandemic, affecting over 200 countries. The pandemic has had profound impacts on global health, the economy, and mental health, leading to increased anxiety and more cases of posttraumatic stress disorder in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the long-term psychological effects, both positive and negative, seen in the late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland (starting in the second half of 2021). It combined specific COVID-19 anxiety factors with a broader general mental health assessment to identify significant associations. Methods: Data were collected from 416 participants through paper-based and online questionnaires, with 235 valid responses gathered in total. This study utilized the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale; General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28); and, to study Positive Trauma Effects (PTEs) and Negative Trauma Effects (NTEs), the Changes in Outlook Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the R language and a Generalized Additive Model analysis was also performed. Results: The study found generally low levels of COVID-19 anxiety and mental distress among participants. Significant predictors of NTEs included COVID-19 anxiety and general mental health status, which explained 47% of the variance. PTEs were significantly associated with gender, with women experiencing higher PTE levels relative to men. Conclusions: The findings indicate that combining specific ailment anxiety measurements with general mental health assessments enhances our ability to predict Negative Trauma Effects. Addressing mental health symptomatology and well-being during mass health crises is crucial to mitigate long-lasting psychological damage.

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common disorder among postmenopausal women but is rare in very young patients. It can affect various compartments of the pelvic floor. In severe forms, vaginal/uterine and rectal prolapse can occur concurrently. Methods: The aim of this report is to present a rare case of a young patient with an extreme postpartum uterine and rectal prolapse and our stepwise surgical approach to achieve complete repair while preserving the ability to carry future pregnancies. Results: A 31-year-old patient was admitted with extreme postpartum uterine and rectal prolapse. She underwent three separate surgeries to regain full anatomic reconstruction. Initially, laparoscopic lateral suspension (LLS) according to Dubuisson’s technique was performed in 2017. A combined vaginal-laparoscopic repair followed again in 2017 and included extensive posterior vaginal and perineal repair with absorbable mesh (SeraSynth) attached to the sacrouterine ligaments and laparoscopic hysterosacropexy (HySa) with a non-absorbable PVDF DynaMesh-CESA implant. Finally, in 2019, the DynaMesh-CESA implant was replaced with a T-shaped non-absorbable Albis Posterior Mesh for rectal prolapse, fixed bilaterally to the sacral bone at the S3 level. Additionally, the Dubuisson suspension was adjusted using Noé’s pectopexy for the implant’s reattachment to the pectineal ligaments. Conclusions: Severe uterine and rectal prolapse in young patients is rare and demands a tailored approach. Uterus-preserving surgery should be the priority. In the present case, a resorbable posterior mesh failed in rectal prolapse repair, while a combined rectal prolapse repair and hysteropexy with a non-resorbable posterior mesh proved effective.