Krzysztof Jerzy Kułak

Dr. Krzysztof Jerzy Kułak

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

11Years (2016-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 August 2023 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
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MSMałgorzata Satora
Małgorzata Satora
Arkadiusz GrunwaldArkadiusz Grunwald
Arkadiusz Grunwald
BZBartłomiej Zaremba
Bartłomiej Zaremba
KFKarolina Frankowska
Karolina Frankowska
KŻKlaudia Żak
Klaudia Żak
KKKrzysztof Jerzy Kułak
Krzysztof Jerzy Kułak
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common condition associated with discomfort in affected women. Due to the presence of different forms of the disease, diverse treatment regimens are developed; the newest ones include oteseconazole and ibrexafungerp. Here, we focus on the most up-to-date recommendations regarding VVC treatment, as well as novel treatment options. Topical and oral azoles are the drugs of choice in uncomplicated mycosis. The efficacy of probiotics and substances such as TOL-463 and chlorhexidine is indicated as satisfactory; however, there are no relevant guidelines. Although the majority of researchers agree that the treatment of non-albicans VVC should be long-lasting, the recommendations are inconsistent. Another clinical problem is the treatment of VVC with azole intolerance or resistance, for which literature proposes the use of several drugs including oteseconazole, ibrexafungerp, and voriconazole. The treatment schedules for recurrent VVC include mainly fluconazole; however, alternative options such as immunotherapeutic vaccine (NDV-3A) or designed antimicrobial peptides (dAMPs) were also described. We also focused on VVC affecting pregnant women, which is a substantial challenge in clinical practice, also due to the heterogeneous relevant guidelines. Thus far, few precise recommendations are available in the literature. Future studies should focus on atypical VVC forms to elucidate the inconsistent findings.

MLMilena Leziak
Milena Leziak
KŻKlaudia Żak
Klaudia Żak
KFKarolina Frankowska
Karolina Frankowska
AZAleksandra Ziółkiewicz
Aleksandra Ziółkiewicz
WPWeronika Perczyńska
Weronika Perczyńska
KKKrzysztof Jerzy Kułak
Krzysztof Jerzy Kułak
Ectopic pregnancy, that is, a blastocyst occurring outside the endometrial cavity of the uterus, affects nearly 2% of pregnancies. The treatment of ectopic pregnancy is surgical or pharmacological. Since surgical management is associated with numerous serious side effects, conservative treatment is sought. The treatment of choice in the majority of cases is based on pharmacotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) in a single- or multi-dose regimen. Although the efficacy of methotrexate reaches between 70 and 90%, its use requires specific conditions regarding both the general condition of the patient and the characteristic features of the ectopic pregnancy. Moreover, MTX can cause severe adverse effects, including stomatitis, hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression. Therefore, clinicians and researchers are still looking for a less toxic, more effective treatment, which could prevent surgeries as a second-choice treatment. Some studies indicate that other substances might constitute a good alternative to methotrexate in the management of ectopic pregnancies. These substances include aromatase inhibitors, especially letrozole. Another promising substance in EP treatment is gefitinib, an inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine domain which, combined with MTX, seems to constitute a more effective alternative in the management of tubal ectopic pregnancies. Other substances for local administration include KCl and absolute ethanol. KCl injections used in combination with MTX may be used when foetal heart function is detected in cervical ectopic pregnancies, as well as in heterotopic pregnancy treatment. Absolute ethanol injections proved successful and safe in caesarean scar pregnancies management. Thus far, little is known about the use of those substances in the treatment of ectopic pregnancies, but already conducted studies seem to be promising.

28 January 2023 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
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ARAnna Maria Rzewuska
Anna Maria Rzewuska
MŻMonika Żybowska-Męczyńska
Monika Żybowska-Męczyńska
ISIlona Sajkiewicz
Ilona Sajkiewicz
ISIzabela Anna Spiechowicz
Izabela Anna Spiechowicz
KŻKlaudia Żak
Klaudia Żak
RTRafał Tarkowski
Rafał Tarkowski
Endometriosis is a chronic disease, in which endometrial-like tissue is found outside the uterine cavity. Lesions are typically located in the true pelvis but can be found, in addition to extragenital endometriosis, in the respiratory system, the diaphragm, the pleura or the pericardium. As the extrauterine endometrial lesions undergo the menstrual cycle, they cause many symptoms, including pain, and besides infertility, they all mostly affect the quality of the patient’s life. Pharmacological management of endometriosis significantly increases in importance either as a first-line treatment or as a complementary therapy after surgery. Yet, current research on antagonists of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has revealed their potential benefits in endometriosis treatment. Their mechanism of action is to down-regulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and therefore induce a hypoestrogenic state. The resulting reduction of estrogen levels prevents disease progression and diminishes the recurrence rate after surgical removal of endometriosis. The present review summarizes recent reports of the role oral GnRH antagonists have as a significant treatment option for pain reduction in endometriosis patients.

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NPNatalia Picheta
Natalia Picheta
JPJulia Piekarz
Julia Piekarz
OBOliwia Burdan
Oliwia Burdan
MSMałgorzata Satora
Małgorzata Satora
RTRafał Tarkowski
Rafał Tarkowski
KKKrzysztof Jerzy Kułak
Krzysztof Jerzy Kułak
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a real gynecological problem among women of reproductive age from 15 to 49. A recent analysis showed that 75% of women will have an occurrence at least once per year, while 5% are observed to have recurrent vaginal mycosis—these patients may become unwell four or more times a year. This pathology is caused in 85–90% of cases by fungi of the Candida albicans species. It represents an intractable medical problem for female patients due to pain and pruritus. Due to the observation of an increasing number of strains resistant to standard preparations and an increase in the recurrence of this pathology when using local or oral preferential therapy, such as fluconazole, an analysis was launched to develop alternative methods of treating VVC using herbs such as dill, turmeric, and berberine. An in-depth analysis of databases that include scientific articles from recent years made it possible to draw satisfactory conclusions supporting the validity of herbal therapy for the pathology in question. Although phytotherapy has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it appears to be a promising therapeutic solution for strains that are resistant to existing treatments. There is research currently undergoing aimed at comparing classical pharmacotherapy and herbal therapy in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis for the purpose of increasing medical competence and knowledge for the care of the health and long-term comfort of gynecological patients.

12 December 2025 in Annals of Medicine
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DŻDominika Żyła
Dominika Żyła
DKDominika Kuzmiuk
Dominika Kuzmiuk
MRMartyna Rynkowska
Martyna Rynkowska
MSMałgorzata Satora
Małgorzata Satora
KKKrzysztof Jerzy Kułak
Krzysztof Jerzy Kułak
RTRafał Tarkowski
Rafał Tarkowski
Progestins are a group of substances with a wide range of applications. They are classified into pregnanes, estranes, and gonanes, and further divided into four generations based on their testosterone (TE) or progesterone (P4) origin. This study reviews the existing literature on the clinical use of progestins. A literature review was conducted by PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and ClinicalTrials. The following search terms and their combinations were used when reviewing the aforementioned databases: (progestogen OR progestogens OR progestin OR progestins) AND (women OR woman OR men OR man OR adult). The analyzed publications about progestins were dated from 2005 to 2024. Progestins are used in both women and men, either alone (progestin-only contraception, POC) or combined with other substances (combined hormonal contraception, CHC). They are primarily used for contraception but also offer therapeutic benefits for conditions like abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, secondary amenorrhea, infertility, and endometrial hyperplasia. In women with a uterus, balancing progestin with estrogen is crucial to prevent endometrial cancer. Progestins are also used in menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to alleviate menopausal symptoms and can help prevent premature deliveries. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring their broader potential. Progestins have diverse therapeutic uses, with promising applications in various diseases. However, off-label use may present legal risks for healthcare providers, highlighting the need for clearer guidelines, particularly in non-gynecological treatments.

Verified
Journal Article
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OBOliwia Burdan
Oliwia Burdan
NPNatalia Picheta
Natalia Picheta
JPJulia Piekarz
Julia Piekarz
KDKarolina Daniłowska
Karolina Daniłowska
FGFilip Kazimierz Gajewski
Filip Kazimierz Gajewski
RTRafał Tarkowski
Rafał Tarkowski
Endometriosis involves oestrogen-dependent chronic inflammation and the abnormal proliferation of ectopic endometrial tissue. Conventional hormonal therapies suppress systemic oestrogen, but do not fully address local oxidative and inflammatory signalling. This review provides a mechanistic synthesis of recent molecular evidence. This evidence is on four FDA-recognized (Food and Drug Administration) medicinal plants. These are Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Silybum marianum. The review highlights their capacity to modulate key intracellular pathways. These pathways are implicated in endometriosis. The review covers the integration of phytochemical-specific actions within NF-κB- (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells), COX-2-(Cyclooxygenase-2), PI3K/Akt-(PI3K/Akt signaling pathway), Nrf2/ARE-(Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2) and ERβ-(Estrogen receptor beta) mediated networks, which jointly regulate cytokine secretion, apoptosis, angiogenesis and redox balance in endometrial lesions. Curcumin downregulates COX-2 and aromatase while activating Nrf2 signalling, shogaol from ginger suppresses prostaglandin synthesis and induces caspase-dependent apoptosis, isoliquiritigenin from liquorice inhibits HMGB1-TLR4–NF-κB (High Mobility Group Box 1, Toll-like receptor 4) activation, and silymarin from milk thistle reduces IL-6 (Interleukin-6) and miR-155 (microRNA-155) expression while enhancing antioxidant capacity. Together, these phytochemicals demonstrate pharmacodynamic complementarity with hormonal agents by targeting local inflammatory and oxidative circuits rather than systemic endocrine axes. This mechanistic framework supports the rational integration of phytotherapy into endometriosis management and identifies redox-inflammatory signalling nodes as future translational targets.