Sawicka E, Jurkowska K, Piwowar A. Chromium (III) and chromium (VI) as important players in the induction of genotoxicity-current view. Ann Agric Environ Med.

New, more effective and safer therapies in bladder cancer are being developed. Most attention is focused on monoclonal antibody therapies, targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies on the use of the new drugs in bladder cancer are currently in progress. The great hope is associated with monoclonal antibodies, which are immune checkpoint inhibitors. Last year, two drugs from this group (Atezolizumab and Nivolumab) have been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Other monoclonal antibodies in this group such as Pembrolizumab are also in clinical trials. Much attention is also focused on targeted therapies. Inhibitors of: VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), HER-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) and mTOR kinase are examined in bladder cancer. These drugs are often studied as a combination therapy with chemioterapeutic agents. Alternatives for BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) therapy in non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are also being developed. Research on the use of new vaccines and other immunotherapies (e.g. IL-12 therapy) are underway. The aim of this paper is to present the direction of current trends in bladder cancer treatment and what changes in therapy we can expect in the future. The drugs in clinical trials and those already registered in other countries have been reviewed. The latest drug-based therapeutic solutions have been described, which can replace traditional chemotherapy in the future.

The sirtuins (SIRTs) are a family of enzymes from the group of NAD+-dependent deacetylases. Through the reaction of splitting the acetyl group of various transcription factors and histones they regulate many processes in the organism. The activity of sirtuins is linked to metabolic control, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, and they also affect the course of viral infections. For this reason, they may participate in the pathogenesis and development of many diseases, but little is known about their role in the course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which is the subject of this review. In the course of HIV infection, comorbidities such as: neurodegenerative disorders, obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, lipid disorders and cardiovascular diseases, renal and bone diseases developed more frequently and faster compared to the general population. The role of sirtuins in the development of accompanying diseases in the course of HIV infection may also be interesting. There is still a lack of detailed information on this subject. The role of sirtuins, especially SIRT1, SIRT3, SIRT6, are indicated to be of great importance in the course of HIV infection and the development of the abovementioned comorbidities.

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The use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) inhibits the replication of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and thus may affect the functioning of the immune system, e.g., induce changes in the expression of certain cytokines. The aim was to examine the effect of cART on the expression of selected cytokines: interleukin -4, -7 and -15 in HIV-infected subjects. The test material was the plasma of HIV-infected men and healthy men (C, control group). The levels of interleukin were measured by immunoenzymatic method before cART and one year after treatment in relation to the C group. HIV-infected men were analyzed in subgroups depending on the HIV-RNA viral load, CD4+ and CD8+T-cell counts, and the type of therapeutic regimen. A significantly higher level of IL-4 was demonstrated in HIV-infected men before cART compared to those after treatment and in the control group. The use of cART resulted in a significant decrease in the level of IL-7 in HIV-infected men; however, high levels of IL-7 were associated with a low number of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. An increase in the level of IL-15 in HIV-infected men was noted after the use of cART. There was no difference in the expression of interleukins depending on the treatment regimen used. The study showed the effect of cART on the expression of interleukins, especially IL-4 and IL-7. Further research in this direction seems promising, confirming the role of these interleukins in the course of the disease.