This review focuses on the frequency of symptoms in COVID-19 in comparison to SARS, influenza and common cold. To evaluate and compare the knowledge about the clinical features, symptoms and differences between patients with COVID-19, SARS, influenza, and common cold. The research can help ear, nose and throat specialists and other health practitioners manage patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The biomedical databases used in the study included PubMed and MEDLINE. Statistical analysis using the Z-score test assessed which symptoms were more characteristic of COVID-19 than other viral diseases. Among individuals with COVID-19, the most frequently reported symptoms were cough (70%), fever (45%), muscular pain (29%), and headache (21%), whereas sore throat (12%), and rhinorrhea (4%) were observed at lower rates. Fever was identified as most frequent in COVID-19 (74%), appearing at a higher rate in those cases than in influenza (68%) or the common cold (40%) (p < 0.05). In comparison to other viral diseases, sore throat was rarely reported in COVID-19 and SARS (12% and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). In influenza and common cold, a cough was identified in 93% and 80% of cases (p < 0.05). Headache, rhinorrhea, muscular pain, and sore throat were more common in influenza (91%, 91%, 94%, and 84%, respectively) and common cold (89%, 81%, 94%, and 84%, respectively) than in COVID-19 (21%, 4%, 29%, and 12%, respectively) and SARS (45%, 12%, 55%, and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The results of the analysis show that a greater number of general symptoms should lead to a diagnosis of influenza or common cold rather than COVID-19.

Defects in the system controlling the cell cycle can lead to an increased proliferation of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to analyse the immunohistochemical expression of chosen cell cycle proteins (P16, cyclin D1 and retinoblastoma protein) and their connection with the clinical course of the disease in laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC). Cancer tissue sections obtained from 58 patients after total laryngectomy served to determine the level of the proteins’ expression using immunohistochemical staining and commercial antibodies. A decreased level of P16 expression in 47 per cent, of retinoblastoma protein in 12 per cent and strong cyclin D1 expression in 48 per cent of cases was revealed. Our results show significant correlation between decreased P16 expression and increased tumour dedifferentiation. Overexpression of cyclin D1 was statistically more common in locally advanced tumours (T₃–T₄). Low expression of retinoblastoma protein was significantly correlated with both positive P16 immunostaining and with strong cyclin D1 expression. Our study confirms that dysfunction of cell cycle regulation is a common event and may play a significant role in the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) comprises a number of genes associated with human skin diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and hyperkeratosis. These genes have also been linked to numerous cancers, among them skin, gastric, colorectal, lung, ovarian and renal carcinomas. The involvement of EDC components encoding S100 proteins, small proline-rich proteins (SPRRs) and other genes in the tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) has been previously suggested. The aim of the study was to systematically analyze the expression of EDC components on the transcript level in HNSCC. Tissue specimens from 93 patients with HNC of oral cavity and 87 samples from adjacent or distant grossly normal oral mucosawere analyzed. 48 samples (24 tumor and 24 corresponding surrounding tissue) were hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip Human 1.0 ST Arrays. For validation by quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) the total RNA from all 180 samples collected in the study was analyzed with Real-Time PCR system and fluorescent amplicon specific-probes. Additional set of samples from 14 patients with laryngeal carcinoma previously obtained by HG-U133 Plus 2.0 microarray was also included in the analyses. The expression of analyzed EDC genes was heterogeneous. Two transcripts (S100A1 and S100A4) were significantly down-regulated in oral cancer when compared to normal mucosa (0.69 and 0.36-fold change, respectively), showing an opposite pattern of expression to the remaining S100 genes. Significant up-regulation in tumors was found for S100A11, S100A7, LCE3D, S100A3 and S100A2 genes. The increased expression of S100A7 was subsequently validated by QPCR, confirming significant differences. The remaining EDC genes, including all encoding SPRR molecules, did not show any differences between oral cancer and normal mucosa. The observed differences were also assessed in the independent set of laryngeal cancer samples, confirming the role of S100A3 and LCE3D transcripts in HNC. In HNC of oral cavity only one family of EDC genes (S100 proteins) showed significant cancer-related differences. A number of other transcripts which showed altered expression in HNC require further validation. Epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) comprises a number of genes associated with human skin diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and hyperkeratosis. These genes have also been linked to numerous cancers, among them skin, gastric, colorectal, lung, ovarian and renal carcinomas. The involvement of EDC components encoding S100 proteins, small proline-rich proteins (SPRRs) and other genes in the tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) has been previously suggested. The aim of the study was to systematically analyze the expression of EDC components on the transcript level in HNSCC. Tissue specimens from 93 patients with HNC of oral cavity and 87 samples from adjacent or distant grossly normal oral mucosawere analyzed. 48 samples (24 tumor and 24 corresponding surrounding tissue) were hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip Human 1.0 ST Arrays. For validation by quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) the total RNA from all 180 samples collected in the study was analyzed with Real-Time PCR system and fluorescent amplicon specific-probes. Additional set of samples from 14 patients with laryngeal carcinoma previously obtained by HG-U133 Plus 2.0 microarray was also included in the analyses. The expression of analyzed EDC genes was heterogeneous. Two transcripts (S100A1 and S100A4) were significantly down-regulated in oral cancer when compared to normal mucosa (0.69 and 0.36-fold change, respectively), showing an opposite pattern of expression to the remaining S100 genes. Significant up-regulation in tumors was found for S100A11, S100A7, LCE3D, S100A3 and S100A2 genes. The increased expression of S100A7 was subsequently validated by QPCR, confirming significant differences. The remaining EDC genes, including all encoding SPRR molecules, did not show any differences between oral cancer and normal mucosa. The observed differences were also assessed in the independent set of laryngeal cancer samples, confirming the role of S100A3 and LCE3D transcripts in HNC. In HNC of oral cavity only one family of EDC genes (S100 proteins) showed significant cancer-related differences. A number of other transcripts which showed altered expression in HNC require further validation.

Vitamin D (VD) and its different analogues, besides their classic role as regulators of calcium and phosphor homeostasis, have emerged as a large family of antiproliferative agents. Such properties suggested VD potential as a therapy for chronic inflammatory diseases, including nasal polyposis (NP). NP growth involves both an inflammatory process and the proliferation of fibroblast as an important factor inducing aberrations in the phenotype of the epithelium. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcitriol) and 1alpha,24(R)-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (tacalcitol) in monotherapy and in combination with budesonid R (BR) on NP fibroblast proliferation. The study involved 26 samples of NP. NP cells were cultured on 96-well plates beginning with a concentration of 5 x 10(3) cells per well with RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with antibiotics and 10% foetal bovine serum. After the fourth to sixth passage the medium was replaced with a nutrient medium with calcitriol or tacalcitol in a defined concentration (from 10(-9) M to 10(-3) M) alone or in combination with BR in 1:1, 1:3 or 3:1 ratios, each at concentrations from 10(-5) M to 10(-3) M. Growth inhibition of nasal fibroblasts exposed to calcitriol or tacalcitol was noted. Significant antiproliferating activity was observed at calcitriol concentrations of 10(-4) M and 10(-3) M after 48 h, and at a concentration of 10(-3) M after 72 h with the percentage of proliferating cells reduced to 30% compared to the control samples (P < 0.05). In cells treated with tacalcitol the maximal effect was seen at 10(-4) M after 48 h and at 10(-3)M after 72 h with a 60% inhibition with respect to the control (P < 0.05). The inhibition of fibroblast proliferation reached the maximal level when they were exposed to calcitriol: BR (1 : 1) or tacalcitol: BR (1 : 1), each at a concentration of 10(-4) M, after 72 h (82% and 69%, respectively). The antiproliferative activity of calcitriol and tacalcitol in NP cultures was confirmed. Because of its lower toxicity and higher activity tacalcitol seems to be the more promising agent in NP therapy, both as a single medication and in treatment protocols with BR.