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Katarzyna Sołkiewicz,1 Izabela Kokot,1 Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska,2 Justyna Dorf,2 Ewa Maria Kratz1 1Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Division of Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, PolandCorrespondence: Ewa Maria Kratz; Katarzyna Sołkiewicz, Email ewa.kratz@umw.edu.pl; katarzyna.solkiewicz@umw.edu.plIntroduction: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) glycosylation affects its effector functions and is essential in many steps of the inflammatory cascade. Therefore, it may be an important parameter for assessing the body’s immune response during the course of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019).Methods: The N- and O-glycosylation of serum IgG in severe COVID-19 patients (n=87), convalescents (n=50), and healthy subjects (n=65) were examined using a modified lectin-ELISA method with specific biotinylated lectins. The obtained data were analyzed using STATISTICA 13.3PL software.Results: We showed significantly higher expression of Lewisx oligosaccharide structures in severe COVID-19 patients than in the other two groups. Moreover, significantly lower expression of Lewisy sugar structures in IgG glycans was observed in the convalescents when compared with COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects. The lowest expression of highly branched N-glycans in cases of severe COVID-19 indicates that the development of the disease is associated with the presence of typical IgG biantennary N-glycans. The lack of significant differences in the expression of Tn antigen in IgG between studied groups and the significantly lower expression of T antigen in convalescents compared to the patients with severe COVID-19 and healthy subjects indicates a decrease in the content of the T antigen in IgG O-glycans in subjects recovered from COVID-19. Substantially higher reactivities of IgG O-glycans with Jacalin observed in COVID-19 patients

Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka,1 Justyna Dorf,2 Joanna Matowicka-Karna,2 Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska,2 Marzena Wojewódzka-Żeleźniakowicz,3 Piotr Żukowski,4 Anna Zalewska,5 Łukasz Dąbrowski,6 Mateusz Maciejczyk7 1Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 3Department of Emergency Medicine and Disasters, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 4Department of Restorative Dentistry, Croydon University Hospital, London, UK; 5Independent Laboratory of Experimental Dentistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 6Medical Laboratory, “Diagnostyka” Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland; 7Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, PolandCorrespondence: Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka, Email blanka.wolszczak@uwm.edu.plAim: COVID-19 triggers the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which, in combination with a weakened antioxidant barrier, can lead to protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, the overall redox potential, and protein and lipid peroxidation products in COVID-19 patients, convalescents, and healthy subjects, and to the determine the diagnostic applicability of these parameters in COVID-19 patients.Materials and Methods: The study involved 218 patients with COVID-19, 69 convalescents, and 48 healthy subjects who were selected for the research based on age and sex. The study was conducted between 20 February 2021 and 20 November 2021 in Białystok, Poland. The antioxidant barrier, redox status, and oxidative damage products were assessed in serum/plasma samples with the use of colorimetric and spectrophotometric assays.Results: Glutathione reductase (GR) activity was highe

Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka,1 Justyna Dorf,2 Marzena Wojewódzka-Żelezniakowicz,3 Małgorzata Żendzian-Piotrowska,4 Violetta Joanna Dymicka-Piekarska,2 Joanna Matowicka-Karna,2 Mateusz Maciejczyk4 1Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, 10-900, Poland; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-089, Poland; 3Department of Emergency Medicine and Disasters, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-089, Poland; 4Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-089, PolandCorrespondence: Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka, Email blanka.wolszczak@uwm.edu.plIntroduction: In coronavirus disease (COVID-19), inflammation takes center stage, with a cascade of cytokines released, contributing to both inflammation and lung damage. The objective of this study is to identify biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting the severity of COVID-19.Materials and Methods: Cytokine levels were determined in the serum from venous blood samples collected from 100 patients with COVID-19 and 50 healthy controls. COVID-19 patients classified based on the Modified Early Warning (MEWS) score. Cytokine concentrations were determined with a multiplex ELISA kit (Bio-Plex Proâ„¢ Human Cytokine Screening Panel).Results: The concentrations of all analyzed cytokines were elevated in the serum of COVID-19 patients relative to the control group, but no significant differences were observed in interleukin-9 (IL-9) and IL-12 p70 levels. In addition, the concentrations of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2Rα, IL-6, IL-12 p40, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) were significantly higher in symptomatic patients with accompanying pneumonia without respiratory failure (stage 2) than in asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic patients (stage 1).Conclusion: The study revealed that IL-1ra, IL-2Rα, IL-6, IL-8

Jakub Wiktor KosidÅ‚o,1 Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka,2,3 Joanna Matowicka-Karna,4 Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska,4 Justyna Dorf4 1Students’ Scientific Club at the Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 2Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland; 3Warmia and Mazury Oncology Center of the Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Olsztyn, Poland; 4Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, PolandCorrespondence: Justyna Dorf, Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 15a St., 15-269, Bialystok, Poland, Tel +48 85 8 31 87 16, Email justyna.dorf@umb.edu.plAbstract: Nowadays, society is increasingly struggling with infectious diseases that are characterized by severe course and even death. Recently, the whole world has faced the greatest epidemiological threat, which is COVID-19 caused by SARS CoV-2 virus. SARS CoV-2 infection is often accompanied by severe inflammation, which can lead to the development of different complications. Consequently, clinicians need easily interpreted and effective markers of inflammation that can predict the efficacy of the treatment and patient prognosis. Inflammation is associated with changes in many biochemical and hematological parameters, including leukocyte counts and their populations. In COVID-19, changes in leukocytes count populations such as neutrophils, lymphocytes or monocytes are observed. The numerous research confirm that indicators like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelets-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and systemic inflammatory index (SII) may prove effective in assessment patient prognosis and choosing optimal therapy. Therefore, in this review, we would like to summarize the latest knowledge about the diagnostic utili

Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka,1 Justyna Dorf,2 Anna Milewska,3 Mateusz Łukaszyk,4 Wojciech Naumnik,4 Jakub Wiktor Kosidło,5 Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska2 1Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, 10-082, Poland; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-269, Poland; 3Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-295, Poland; 4Temporary Hospital No 2 of Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, 1 St Department of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-540, Poland; 5Students Scientific Club at the Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 15-269, PolandCorrespondence: Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka, Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, 10-082, Poland, Email blanka.wolszczak@gmail.comIntroduction: Various diagnostic tools are used to assess the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and the risk of mortality, including laboratory tests and scoring indices such as the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS). The diagnostic value of inflammatory markers for assessing patients with different severity of COVID-19 symptoms according to the MEWS was evaluated in this study.Materials and Methods: The concentrations of CRP (C-reactive protein) (immunoassay) and IL6 (interleukin 6) (electrochemiluminescence assay) were determined, and CRP/IL6, CRP/L, and LCR ratios were calculated in blood serum samples collected from 374 COVID-19 patients.Results: We demonstrated that CRP, IL6, CRP/IL6, CRP/L, LCR inflammatory markers increase significantly with disease progression assessed based on the MEWS in COVID-19 patients and may be used to differentiating patients with severe and non-severe COVID-19 and to assess the mortality.Conclusion: T

Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska,1,* Justyna Dorf,1,* Anna Milewska,2 Mateusz Łukaszyk,3 Jakub Wiktor Kosidło,4 Joanna Kamińska,1 Blanka Wolszczak-Biedrzycka,5 Wojciech Naumnik3 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland; 2Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland; 3Temporary Hospital No 2 of Clinical Hospital in Bialystok, 1st Department of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland; 4Students Scientific Club at the Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 5Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska, Email piekarskav@yahoo.comAim: The aim of our retrospective study was search for new prognostic parameters, which can help quickly and cheaply identify patients with risk for severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Materials and Methods: The following peripheral blood combination biomarkers were calculated: NLR (neutrophil/lymphocytes ratio), LMR (lymphocyte/monocyte ratio), PLR (platelet/lymphocyte ratio), dNLR (neutrophils/(white blood cells − neutrophils)), NLPR (neutrophil/(lymphocyte × platelet ratio)) in 374 patients who were admitted to the Temporary Hospital no 2 of Clinical Hospital in Bialystok (Poland) with COVID-19. The patients were divided into four groups depending on the severity of the course of COVID-19 using MEWS classification.Results: The NLR and dNLR were significantly increased with the severity of COVID-19, according to MEWS score. The AUC for the assessed parameters was higher in predicting death in patients with COVID-19: NLR (0.656, p=0.0018, cut-off=6.22), dNLR (0.615, p=0.02

Blanka Wolszczak Biedrzycka,1,2 Anna Bieńkowska,1,2 Elwira Smolińska-Fijołek,3 Grzegorz Biedrzycki,4 Justyna Dorf5 1Department of Psychology and Sociology of Health and Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, 10-082, Poland; 2The Oncology Center of the Region of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Olsztyn, 10-228, Poland; 3Department of Physiology, Medical University in Gdańsk, Gdańsk, 80-211, Poland; 4Hospital Dispensary, Regional Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, 10-561, Poland; 5Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Białystok, Bialystok, 15-269, PolandCorrespondence: Blanka Wolszczak Biedrzycka, Tel +48-505-970-699, Email blanka.wolszczak@gmail.comIntroduction: A global vaccination program was implemented in late 2020 to end the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, the immune response elicited by the vaccines proved to be insufficient due to the rapid emergence of new viral mutations. Therefore, the factors influencing cellular and humoral immune responses after the administration of different vaccines against SARS-CoV2 need to be identified.Materials: In the present study, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were analyzed 20 to 50 days after the administration of a third (booster) dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in 192 residents of the city of Olsztyn (Poland) primed with two AstraZeneca or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines.Methods: Antibody titers were determined in venous blood serum in the ECLIA test using the Cobas e411 Roche analyzer.Results: The study revealed that persons who received three doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine had significantly higher antibody titers than those who received two doses of AstraZeneca and a booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech.Keywords: vaccination, COVID-19, BNT162b2, ChAdOx1, anti-SARS-CoV-2

Justyna Dorf,1 Konrad Zaręba,2 Joanna Matowicka-Karna,1 Anna Pryczynicz,3 Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz,3 Anna Zalewska,4 Mateusz Maciejczyk5 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 2 2nd Clinical Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 3Department of General Pathomorphology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 4Independent Laboratory of Experimental Dentistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 5Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, PolandCorrespondence: Justyna Dorf, Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 15a St, Białystok, 15-269, Poland, Tel +48 85 8 31 87 16, Email justyna.dorf@umb.edu.plPurpose: Overproduction of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) causes the nitrosative stress, which plays a vital role in the development of metabolic, inflammatory, and cancerous diseases. However, the role of nitrosative and carbonyl stress in the biology of colorectal cancer (CRC) is still not well understood. Therefore, this study evaluated nitrosative stress, protein and DNA oxidation/glycoxidation, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in CRC patients compared with healthy controls.Patients and Methods: Fifty-five CRC patients (21 women, 34 men) and 55 healthy controls matched for sex and age were included in the experiment. Nitrosative stress parameters (nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite, S-nitrosothiols, and nitrotyrosine), protein oxidation (total thiols) and glycoxidation products (kynurenine N-formylkynurenine, dityrosine, Amadori products, and amyloid), and DNA damage markers (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)), as well as levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, were measured in serum or plasma samples.Results: The levels of NO, peroxynitrite, S-nitrosothiols, nitrotyrosine, total thiols, kyn