Background: Nowadays, it is possible to identify a group at increased risk of preeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) using the principles of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF). It has been established for several years that acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) reduces the incidence of PE and FGR in high-risk populations. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of ASA use after the first-trimester screening in a Polish population without chronic hypertension, as well as its impact on perinatal complications. Material and methods: A total of 874 patients were enrolled in the study during the first-trimester ultrasound examination. The risk of PE and FGR was assessed according to the FMF guidelines, which include the maternal history, mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtPI), pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and placental growth factor (PLGF). Among patients with a risk higher than >1:100, ASA was administered at a dose of 150 mg. Perinatal outcomes were assessed among the different groups. Results: When comparing women in the high-risk group with those in the low-risk group, a statistically significantly higher risk of pregnancy complications was observed in the high-risk group. These complications included pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) (OR 3.6 (1.9–7)), any PE (OR 7.8 (3–20)), late-onset PE (OR 8.5 (3.3–22.4)), FGR or small for gestational age (SGA) (OR 4.8 (2.5–9.2)), and gestational diabetes mellitus type 1 (GDM1) (OR 2.4 (1.4–4.2)). The pregnancies in the high-risk group were more likely to end with a cesarean section (OR 1.9 (1.2–3.1)), while the newborns had significantly lower weights (<10 pc (OR 2.9 (1.2–6.9)), <3 pc (OR 10.2 (2.5–41.7))). Conclusions: The first-trimester screening test for PE and FGR is a necessary and effective tool in identifying high-risk pregnancies. ASA prophylaxis among high-risk patients may have the most beneficial effect. Furthermore, this screening tool may significantly reduce the incidence of early-onset PE (eo-PE).

A wide range of options for studying Candida species are available through genetic methods. Twins, particularly monozygotic ones and their families may be fitting subjects for studying those microorganisms. The question is: How specific can yeast flora be in an individual? The study aimed to analyze the strain relatedness among commensal yeasts isolated from various parts of the bodies of healthy people and to compare correlations between the genotypes of the isolates. Yeasts were isolated from 63 twins and their family members (n = 25) from the oral cavity, anus, interdigital space and navel. After species identification, Candida albicans (n = 139), C. parapsilosis (n = 39), C. guilliermondii (n = 25), C. dubliniensis (n = 11) and C. krusei (n = 9) isolates were analyzed using the random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) optimization method. The similarities between the strains were calculated based on the Dice (Sab) coefficient and are displayed graphically as dendrograms. Using cluster analysis, the following relatedness was distinguished: 13 genotypes and three unique (Un) patterns among C. albicans; 10 genotypes and four Un patterns among C. parapsilosis; three genotypes and one Un pattern among C. guilliermondii and C. dubliniensis; and three genotypes among C. krusei isolates. The presence of identical, similar or both genotypes among the strains isolated from family members shows the transmission of yeasts between ontocenoses in the same person and between individuals. The similarity between the genotypes of C. albicans, C. guilliermondii, C. dubliniensis and C. krusei was more remarkable than between the genotypes of C. parapsilosis in the strains isolated from ontocenoses of the same individual and their family members. The degrees of genetic similarity between Candida spp. strains isolated from monozygotic twins and those obtained from their relatives did not differ.

Recently, methods based on the analysis of arbitrarily amplified target sites of genome microorganisms have been extensively applied in microbiological studies, and especially in epidemiological studies. The range of their application is limited by problems with discrimination and reproducibility resulting from a lack of standardized and reliable methods of optimization. The aim of this study was to obtain optimal parameters of the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) reaction by using an orthogonal array as per the Taguchi and Wu protocol, modified by Cobb and Clark for Candida parapsilosis isolates. High Simpson’s index values and low Dice coefficients obtained in this study indicated a high level of interspecies DNA polymorphism between C. parapsilosis strains, and the optimized RAPD method proved useful in the microbiological and epidemiological study.

Progression in understanding the relationships among cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases necessitates reappraising these concepts. Here, this narrative review explains the evolution of the ideas behind cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKMS), focusing both on the impact of kidney disease on the cardiovascular system and metabolic syndrome and, conversely, on the effects of metabolic syndrome on cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Merging these concepts has resulted in a holistic approach more pertinent to managing the increased pressure from civilization diseases. In light of recent guidelines, early laboratory assessment is critical for risk stratification by improved patient classification, enabling individualized therapeutic strategies. Moreover, understanding the molecular mechanisms common to these systemic disorders not only enhances diagnostic accuracy but also facilitates the implementation of preventive measures that target multiple organ pathologies simultaneously. This review summarizes selected laboratory parameters that may support the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, aligning current knowledge with emerging clinical recommendations.

Introduction and objective: Anti-HLA antibodies, especially anti-DSA, are believed to be potentially involved in acute and chronic rejection. New techniques, e.g. flow fluorimetry, can be an excellent supplement to the lymphocytotoxic tests currently used in pre-transplantation practice, and...