Background Breast cancer contains heterogeneous malignant, immune, and stromal compartments that influence biomarker performance and response to targeted therapy. Cysteine cathepsins and legumain regulate tissue remodeling, immune function, and intracellular processing of protease-cleavable antibody-drug conjugates, but their cellular distribution and functional activity in human breast tumors remain incompletely defined. We aimed to map protease abundance and activity across systemic and intratumoral breast cancer ecosystems and to evaluate their relevance for biomarker-informed patient stratification. Methods Peripheral blood and breast tumor specimens from 66 patients were analyzed. Whole-blood leukocytes and dissociated tumors were profiled by high-dimensional mass cytometry, plasma soluble mediators by multiplex bead assay, intact tissue sections by imaging mass cytometry, and active cathepsin B by a mass cytometry-compatible activity-based probe (TOF-probes). Breast cancer cell lines were used to test human HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugates. Unsupervised analyses included principal component analysis, k-means clustering, viSNE, FlowSOM, and hierarchical clustering. Associations and group differences were assessed using Spearman rank correlation and two-sided Welch tests. Results Peripheral immune profiling identified two patient clusters associated mainly with neoadjuvant therapy and nodal status, with distinct cytokine and circulating protease patterns. Tumor single-cell profiling revealed marked interpatient heterogeneity in epithelial, stromal, endothelial, and immune compartments. Protease profiling identified reproducible, cell type-associated modules, including cathepsin B/L-cystatin C and legumain-cystatin E/M axes. Cathepsins B and L were enriched in tumor-infiltrating immune cells and variably expressed in epithelial cells, whereas cathepsin D was broadly distributed and cathepsin S was more restricted to antigen-presenting cell-like populations. In epithelial tumor cells, high human HER2 expression did not consistently coincide with high cathepsin B or L abundance, defining only limited subgroups with combined target-high/protease-high states. Spatial imaging localized cathepsins to tumor-stroma interfaces and macrophage-rich niches, and activity-based imaging confirmed catalytically active cathepsin B in human breast tumor tissue. Conclusions Cysteine cathepsins are spatially and cellularly organized components of breast cancer ecosystems. Integrating target antigen expression with protease abundance, protease activity, or lysosomal state may improve biomarker-guided selection and design of protease-cleavable antibody-drug conjugates.
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain requiring emergency surgical intervention. While appendectomy has long been the standard treatment, recent evidence has explored the use of antibiotics as a non-operative alternative, particularly for uncomplicated cases. In this study, we want to compare the effectiveness, safety, and long-term outcomes of antibiotic therapy versus surgical appendectomy in the management of acute appendicitis. A comprehensive review of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including the APPAC and CODA trials, as well as meta-analyses, was conducted to evaluate treatment success rates, recurrence, complications, costs, and patient preferences. Results: Antibiotic therapy successfully avoided surgery in most of the cases (approximately 73%) of patients within one year,. However, recurrence rates reached up to 39%. Surgical treatment was associated with lower recurrence (<5%) but higher direct costs and longer recovery. Antibiotic therapy resulted in shorter hospital stays and reduced overall treatment costs. Patient-centered decision-making was found to play a crucial role in selecting the appropriate therapy. Conclusions: Antibiotic therapy represents a safe and cost-effective alternative to appendectomy for selected patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis. However, shared decision-making and proper patient selection are essential to optimize outcomes and minimize risks. Further research is needed to refine the criteria for non-operative management and ensure long-term safety. The aim of the study: This study aims to compare the effectiveness, safety, and long-term outcomes of antibiotic therapy versus surgical appendectomy in the management of acute appendicitis.
The process of determining risk factors and direct causes that contributed to the development of mental health disorders is not yet completely understood and it is considered multifactorial. Numerous studies have examined the correlation between lifestyle factors, health habits, vitamin levels or consumed supplements with the development of depression. Therefore, observed associations established the importance of dietary patterns, deficiencies of vitamin D or B-complex vitamins (B6, B9, B12) in patients with depressive symptoms. Moreover, these vitamins are involved in essential neurobiological processes such as neurotransmitter synthesis, homocysteine metabolism, neuroinflammation regulation, and oxidative stress reduction. Studies have also shown that the supplementation of the essential nutrients provide promising benefits and may improve the quality of life and well-being. Acknowledging the nutritional impact on mental health can contribute to a better understanding of its etiology and plan more effective treatment strategies.
Objective: Article’s aim is to characterize what a balneology is, what it consists of. To picture actual usage of balneotherapy in different fields of medicine; its possibilities and restrictions. Methods: A vast literature review was conducted using PubMed database. Reviewed articles included systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, observational studies and meta-analyses. Keywords included “balneology”, “balneotherapy”, “peloid baths”, “water baths”, “balneotherapy dermatology”, “balneotherapy rheumatology”. Conclusions: Although balneotherapy might be considered as antiquated and according to some physicians, not scientifically proven, is efficient in reducing symptoms of some dermatological and rheumatological conditions due to its anti-inflammatory, keratolytic, antimicrobial, analgesic and myorelaxant effects. Albeit its role as complement therapy, it can achieve very good results alleviating pain and reducing amount of painkillers used, extending periods of remission or quality of live and well-being improvement.
W grudniu 2023 roku Dolnośląskie Centrum Zdrowia Psychicznego (DCZP) przeprowadziło kampanię pod nazwą "Nie Jesteś Ofiarą Swojej Traumy — Jesteś Bohaterem Swojej Historii". Bohaterami kampanii byli mieszkańcy Dolnego Śląska, którzy zaniedbali leczenie swoich traum, dopóki skutki tych doświadczeń nie zaczęły kompletnie zakłócać ich życia. Historie ich życia pokazały, że trauma nie musi niszczyć — może budować lepsze i bardziej satysfakcjonujące życie, jeśli jest rozpoznana i leczona. W ramach kampanii DCZP zorganizowało cykl innowacyjnych warsztatów skierowanych do grup zawodowych, często stykających się z osobami dotkniętymi traumą, takich jak pracownicy MOPS, nauczyciele i personel medyczny. Podczas ośmiu czterogodzinnych spotkań specjaliści DCZP — lekarze psychiatrzy i psycholodzy nie tylko dostarczyli wiedzy, ale również uczyli praktycznych umiejętności, pomagając uczestnikom rozpoznawać i skutecznie reagować na ostrą reakcję stresową oraz zespół stresu pourazowego. Na stronie internetowej Dolnośląskiego Centrum Zdrowia Psychicznego udostępniono materiały edukacyjne na temat pomocy osobom dotkniętym traumą.
