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Abstract Background Testis is an immune privileged organ, which prevents the immune response against sperm antigens and inflammation. Testicular cells responsible for immune tolerance are mainly Sertoli cells, which form the blood-testis barrier and produce immunosuppressive factors. Sertoli cells prevent inflammation in the testis and maintain immune tolerance by inhibiting proliferation and inducing lymphocyte apoptosis. It has been shown that 9-cis-retinoic acid (9cRA) blocks ex vivo apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes and promotes the differentiation of Treg cells in the gut. However, the role of retinoid signaling in regulating the immune privilege of the testes remains unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether 9cRA, acting via the retinoic acid receptors (RAR) and the retinoic X receptors (RXR), controls the immunomodulatory functions of Sertoli cells by influencing the secretion of anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory factors, lymphocyte physiology and Treg cell differentiation. Methods Experiments were performed using in vitro model of co-cultures of murine Sertoli cells and T lymphocytes. Agonists and antagonists of retinoic acid receptors were used to inhibit/stimulate retinoid signaling in Sertoli cells. Results Our results have demonstrated that 9cRA inhibits the expression of immunosuppressive genes and enhances the expression of pro-inflammatory factors in Sertoli cells and lymphocytes, increases lymphocyte viability and decreases apoptosis rate. Moreover, we have found that 9cRA blocks lymphocyte apoptosis acting through both RAR and RXR and inhibiting FasL/Fas/Caspase 8 and Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase 9 pathways. Finally, we have shown that 9cRA signaling in Sertoli cells inhibits Treg differentiation. Conclusion Collectively, our results indicate that retinoid signaling negatively regulates immunologically privileged functions of Sertoli cells, crucial for ensuring male fertility. 9cRA inhibits lymphocyte apoptosis, which can be related to the development of autoimmunity, inflammation, and, in consequence, infertility.

Introduction and aim. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, autoimmune disorder that may affect every organ. The use of immunosuppression has changed a natural course of the disease. Thereupon mortality in SLE is not only associated with implications of disease activity and its impact on cardiovascular system but also with treatment-related complications like cytopenia or increased risk of infection, which can lead to a life-threatening sepsis. Description of the case. We present a case of a 60-year-old Caucasian female patient with a long-time history of active SLE, who has first developed nephrotic syndrome and then acute lupus myocarditis (LM) complicated by dilated cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: The appearance of LM and its complications seem to be a landmark event in the further course of disease.

For a couple of years, Europe has been observing changes in the structure of the age of its population, which include a growing par-ticipation of elderly people and a decreasing percentage of people at productive age. The demand for care services is increasing, which results not only from the ageing society, but also from the large number of disabled people at post-productive age. The GivingCare project – Empowering caregivers and personal assistants by developing technical, soft, and digital skills – has taken place from the year 2020 to 2023 within the Erasmus+ programme, funded by the European Commission. The participants comprise 7 institutions from 5 European countries, namely Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Poland, and Belgium. The leader of the project is the Santa Maria Health School in Portugal. The tasks realised within the GivingCare project are of international dimension. The area of the studies are target-chosen institutions from the participating countries, including healthcare facilities and universities. The main goal of the project was to strengthen the position of formal and informal caregivers for care-dependent people as well oth-er healthcare workers by developing technical, soft, and digital skills. The project fulfils the deficiency of higher education pro-grammes by creating and implementing innovative training programmes, as well as developing materials/resources, based on inde-pendent modules. The results and methodology of the GivingCare project aim at promotion of a holistic approach and popularisation of influence in particular target groups, i.e. the group of formal and informal caregivers.

Objectives The diverse list of tasks and needs related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may lead to different professional experiences in nurses working with patients infected with and not infected with SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study was to measure the professional challenges of nurses working during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Poland. Material and Methods The study was conducted in 2021 in a group of 151 nurses. The following scales were used: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R), the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ-SF), the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (MBIHSS). Results Nurses working with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed a positive correlation between workload and emotional exhaustion (ρ = 0.26, p = 0.02), as well as positive correlations among control, community and depersonalization (ρ = 0.25, p = 0.02; ρ = 0.23, p = 0.04). Among nurses working with uninfected patients, positive correlations were found among control, community, fairness and emotional exhaustion (ρ = 0.40, p = 0.000; ρ = 0.41, p = 0.000; ρ = 0.25, p = 0.03), as well as correlations between control and depersonalization (ρ = 0.33, p = 0.01), and among control, community and personal accomplishment (ρ = 0.23, p = 0.05; ρ = 0.27, p = 0.02). Conclusions Nurses working during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with infected and uninfected patients both experienced a variety of psychosocial challenges in coping with the demands of their work, social relationships and personal life. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):112–24

The goal of this study was to assess the safety of nab-paclitaxel in patients with ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer who had an allergic reaction to paclitaxel. We performed a retrospective review of patients with endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer with an allergic reaction to paclitaxel who were subsequently treated with nab-paclitaxel at the Mayo Clinic Florida from January 2016 to June 2023. A total of 43 patients with ovarian cancer (31) or endometrial cancer (12) and a paclitaxel allergic reaction were identified. All patients were pre-medicated against allergic reactions prior to paclitaxel and subsequent nab-paclitaxel. Allergic reactions to paclitaxel were mild in fourteen patients (33%), moderate in twenty-five patients (58%) and severe in four (9%) patients. None of the 43 patients had an allergic reaction to subsequent nab-paclitaxel. Our data suggests that the administration of nab-paclitaxel to endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer patients with allergic reactions to paclitaxel is safe and should be considered a preferable treatment option in this clinical situation.