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Diagnostic indications of knee joint fluid – current state ofknowledge

Synovial fluid (synovia) plays a complex role in the knee joint due to the multi-stage physiologicalprocesses taking place there. The biomechanics of the knee joint is based on the jointfluid as the main shock absorber in the system of friction forces. The diagnosis of synovialfluid is of particular importance in the process of treatment and diagnosis of the disease. Itturns out to be helpful not only to surgeons and orthopedists, but also to clinical physiotherapists.Any pathologies within the knee joint therefore directly affect the composition andbiorheology of the synovial fluid.The literature review consisted of articles collected in the following databases: PubMed and CochraneLibrary regarding changes in the composition of knee joint fluid over the last 20 years.The collected articles were divided into groups with the greatest clinical significance: cytokines, immune system cells, mesenchymal stem cells, collagen, biomarkers, enzymes, nitric oxide(NO), neurotransmitters. Each group presents the latest data on individual groups of compoundspresent in the composition of the synovial fluid of the knee joint, quantitative data ofthese substances and the role they play in the pathophysiological processes of the joint.The collected research reports allow us to observe trends in the progress of research on thesynovial fluid of the knee joint and to distinguish groups of compounds that are the area ofresearch interest in modern synovial fluid diagnostics. Cytokines that are involved in inflammatoryand immunomodulatory processes are of the greatest interest. The most importantof them belong to the groups of interleukins, extracellular matrix metalloproteinases and fibroblastgrowth factor. Studies on collagen breakdown and markers of its degradation duringosteoarthritis and in the initial stages of joint injury are also the subject of broader researchinterest in the pathophysiology of knee joint fluid. The fewest scientific reports concernedenzymes and neurotransmitters, of which only acetylcholine and choline transporters (CTL,OCT) were sparsely described in the world literature.

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Comparison of selected lipid parameters in young subjectswith normal weight and overweight

<br><b>Introduction:</b> Dyslipidemia is currently the most common risk factor for cardiovascular disease.Population-based studies have confirmed a relationship between dyslipidemia and overweightand obesity, resulting from the pro-inflammatory activity of excessive adipose tissue.</br><br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of study was to compare selected lipid parameters and the prevalence of dyslipidemiain young, healthy normal-weight and overweight subjects.</br><br><b>Material and methods:</b> Study included 60 individuals aged 25-40 years, non-smokers, withnormal fasting blood glucose. The group was divided by BMI value. In all subjects fasting plasmaglucose, TC, TG, HDL-C, apolipoprotein AI and B were measured and the values of LDL-C,non-HDL-C concentrations.</br><br><b>Results:</b> In overweight subjects, higher concentrations of TC, TG, LDL-C, apoB, non-HDL-C andTG:HDL-C were found than in normal weight individuals. In the overweight group, positive correlationswere observed between WHR and TC, waist circumference and non-HDL-C. In normalweight subjects, positive correlations were found between BMI and TC, waist circumferenceand TG. Over 46% of the subjects had hypercholesterolemia, and over 50% had elevated LDL-Clevels. Increased incidence of hypertriglyceridemia, elevated apoB were observed in overweightsubjects, compared to the normal weight.</br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> The prevalence of dyslipidemia is higher in overweight and abdominally obesesubjects, which indicates a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in this group. However, due tothe limitations of the study, primarily the small study group, the results require confirmation ina large population-based study.</br>

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The quality of microbiological diagnostics in Poland based onthe results of external laboratory quality control programmes

<br><b>Introduction:</b> The article describes the results of the 29th edition of the Polish NationalExternal Quality Assessment Scheme in Microbiology POLMICRO created by the Centre ofQuality Control in Microbiology (CQCM).</br><br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of the scheme is the evaluation of the reliability of the results of microbiologicaltests performed by Polish medical laboratories, which includes e.g. identification andassessment of antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial etiological agents of infections,together with the detection of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.</br><br><b>Materials and methods:</b> The assessment of external quality control programmes organised byCQCM is based on the analysis of the results of participants of the POLMICRO, POLMICRO/MIKOLOGIA and POLMICRO/SSE programmes in a full annual cycle.</br><br><b>Results:</b> In 2022, 96.00% of POLMICRO participants, as well as 99.22% of laboratories participatingin POLMICRO/SSE and all participants of POLMICRO/MIKOLOGIA, obtained positiveresults.</br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> The results of external quality control programmes conducted by CQCM showthat medical laboratories in Poland have been maintaining a high level of microbiologicaldiagnostics.</br>

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Diagnosis of liver fibrosis using digital analysis

Liver fibrosis is a pathological process in which excessive deposition of connective tissueoccurs in the liver. It is a response to chronic liver damage caused by viral agents, alcoholabuse, drug abuse, or autoimmune diseases. Diagnosis and assessment of liver fibrosisare important in staging the disease, prognosticating its progression, and making treatmentdecisions. The diagnosis of liver fibrosis involves clinical interview, laboratory tests, imaging, and – the “gold diagnostic standard” – histopathological examination. Biopsyingthe liver allows for precise assessment of fibrosis and potential identification of other liverdiseases; however, it is an invasive procedure and may carry some risk of complications. Inaddition, pathomorphological interpretation is often subjective. In order to minimize errorsand improve the accuracy of diagnosis, digital image analysis and artificial intelligencetechnologies are being developed for histopathological examinations. In recent years, AIbasedmethods have been designed to support the assessment of liver fibrosis throughanalysis of imaging and clinical data. AI can help automatically recognize patterns characteristicof liver fibrosis, which could contribute to faster and more precise diagnosis.However, the final decision on the diagnosis and treatment of liver fibrosis should still bemade by a qualified specialist.

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Cancer and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies –association of autoantibodies with carcinogenesis

The relationship between cancer development in the course of idiopathic inflammatorymyopathies (IIM) has already been noticed at the beginning of the 20th century. However, theunderlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. Risk factors for carcinogenesis in patientswith IIM include male sex, older age, and the presence of specific subtypes of inflammatorymyopathies and clinical manifestations, including dermatomyositis, dysphagia, severe skinchanges, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, acute disease onset and immunosuppressive therapyresistance. The presence of certain autoantibodies in the serum of patients with IIM is a factorof considerable importance in the stratification of cancer risk. Anti-TIF1γ autoantibodies, which might be present in even 38-80% of cancer cases in adult IIM patients, are antibodies with a wellstudiedrelationship with carcinogenesis. The relationship of other antibodies found in IIM withthe risk of carcinogenesis is still discussed. This group includes anti-NXP2, anti-HMGCR, anti-SAE1 and anti-Mi2 antibodies. Due to the contrary reports on the role of these antibodies incancer development and their relatively low prevalence in IIM, the unambiguous classificationas risk factors requires further research in larger study groups. The potential autoantibodiesutility in cancer screening in IIM patients could help detect cancer early, improving prognosisand long-term survival.

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Infection of Epstein-Barr virus in children in NortheasternPoland

<br><b>Introduction:</b> Infectious mononucleosis is an acute, mild infection occurring mainly in childrenand adolescents. A characteristic feature is the presence of a symptomatic which includedfever, cervical or generalized lymphadenopathy, tonsillitis, coryzam and characteristic whitecoating on the surface. Laboratory tests show changes in the amount of leukocytes and theappearance of virocytes in peripheral blood as well as an increase in liver enzymes. The virusmainly infects epithelial cells and B lymphocytes. In B lymphocytes it intensively multiplies,leading to their transformation into plasma cells and, as a result, the production of specificIgM class antibodies. The produced antibodies activate T lymphocytes (CD8+). During theinfection, the humoral response is also activated. It works by producing antibodies directedagainst early antigen (EA), nuclear antigen (EBNA) and capsid antigen (VCA).</br><br><b>Aim:</b> The objective of the current study was to assess the occurrence of IgM and IgG antibodiesagainst the Epstein-Barr virus in children hospitalized in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.</br><br><b>Material and methods:</b> The levels of antibody were determined in serum patients serum usingthe ELFA method (Enyzme Liked Fluorescent Assay) using the VIDAS analyzer.</br><br><b>Results:</b> Based on preliminary studies, it shown that children aged 4-10 and 15-18 are the mostvulnerable group. The analysis of the conducted studies also showed that the acute phase ofinfectious mononucleosis is more often observed in female children.</br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> In order to better illustrate the seroepidemiological status of EBV infection,similar analysis should be performed in children all over Poland. In order to precisely identifythe target age group of children for possible vaccination, these studies should be extended.</br>

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