Thrombosis-related miR-16-5p predicts the disease severity in patients hospitalised for COVID-19

Introduction

SARS-CoV-2 tropism for the ACE2 receptor, along with the multifaceted inflammatory reaction, is likely to drive the generalized hypercoagulable state seen in patients with COVID-19.

Methodology

Using the original bioinformatic workflow and network medicine approaches we reanalyzed four coronavirus-related expression datasets and performed co-expression analysis focused on thrombosis and ACE2 related genes. We identified microRNAs (miRNAs) which play role in ACE2-related thrombosis in coronavirus infection and further, we validated the expressions of those miRNAs in 79 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 32 healthy volunteers by PCR and monitored miRNAs patterns during the acute phase of COVID-19, as well as the prognostic potential of these miRNAs as biomarkers.

Results

We identified EGFR, HSP90AA1, APP, TP53, PTEN, UBC, FN1, ELAVL1 and CALM1 as regulatory genes which could play a pivotal role in COVID-19 related thrombosis. We also found miR-16-5p, miR-27a-3p, Let-7b-5p and miR-155-5p as regulators in coagulation and thrombosis process. We observed in separate cohort of COVID-19 patients and healthy controls that (i) expression of miR-16-5p, miR-27a-3p and miR-155-5p increased during observation, compared to the baseline measurement; (ii) a low baseline miR-16-5p expression presents predictive utility in assessment of the hospital length of stay or death in follow-up as a composite endpoint (AUC: 0.810, 95% CI, 0.71–0.91, p<0.0001); (iii) low baseline expression of miR-16-5p and diabetes mellitus are independent predictors of increased length of stay or death according to a multivariate analysis (OR: 9.417; 95% CI, 2.647–33.506; p=0.0005 and OR: 6.257; 95% CI, 1.049–37.316; p=0.044, respectively).

Conclusion

This study enabled us to better characterize changes in gene expression and signaling pathways related to COVID-19 thrombosis. In this study we identified, characterized and validated miRNAs which could serve as novel, thrombosis-related biomarkers of the COVID-19, can be used for early stratification of patients and prediction of severity of infection development in an individual.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Medical University of Warsaw

Diagnostic ability of miR-19a and Let-7f along with platelet and leukocyte extracellular vesicles in acute ischemic stroke patients

Background

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the most frequent causes of death. Since miRNAs have been illustrated to play an important role in various processes through regulation of multiple genes, and platelet function, their utility as novel biomarkers should be determined.

Purpose

We aimed to analyze the circulating platelet-derived miR-19a-3p, miR-186-5p, Let-7f, platelet-extracellular vesicles (EVs), leukocyte-EVs, and endothelial-EVs levels 24-h and 7-days after IS as novel diagnostic and prognostic/predictive biomarkers in 28 acute IS and 35 control patients.

Methods

Blood samples of 28 patients diagnosed with acute IS with hyper platelet reactivity were collected 24-h and 7-days after stroke and 35 age- and gender-matched individuals free of stroke with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Platelet reactivity was assessed by AA-, TRAP-, ADP-induced platelet aggregometry. PlasmaRNA was extracted; quality RNA was assessed: fluorometric assay; RT-PCR for miRNAs expression measurement and flow-cytometry for EVs determination p&lt;0.05.

Results

Patients with IS on day-1 had significantly higher platelet reactivity assessed by AA-induced platelet aggregometry compared to controls (p=0.001). Patients with normal platelet activation had significantly higher miR-186-5p expression levels compared to patients with HPR at day-1 acute-stroke (p=0.034). Seven days after acute stroke, expression levels of miR-186-5p significantly decreased in the same patients with normal platelet reactivity (p=0.036). Patients with HPR had significantly elevated platelet-EVs (CD62) concentration compared to patients with normal platelet reactivity at the day of 1 acute-stroke (p=0.012). Similarly, patients with HPR had significantly higher leukocyte-EVs (CD45) concentration compared to patients with normal platelet function at day-1 acute-stroke (p=0.002). Diagnostic values of baseline miRNAs and EVs were evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. ROC curve showed that pooling the miR-19a-3p expressions, platelet-EVs, and leukocyte-EVs concentration yielded a higher AUC than the value of each individual biomarker as AUC was 0.893 (95% CI, 0.79–0.99). Patients with moderate stroke had significantly elevated miR-19a-3p expression levels compared with patients with minor stroke at the day of acute IS. AUC in ROC curve analysis was 0.867, (95% CI, 0.74–0.10) p=0.001.

Conclusions

Our analysis showed alteration of circulating miRNAs and EVs after IS. Combination of miR-19a-3p, Let-7f, platelet-EVs and leukocyte-EVs might have a diagnostic value for acute stroke and miR-19a-3p can predict the severity of stroke in IS patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Science Centre - Narodowe Centrum Nauki

Circulating miRNAs as independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miR) are essential gene expression regulators involved in numerous biological processes and diseases including type 2 diabetes (DM).

Purpose

We aimed to determine the predictive value of selected circulating miRNAs for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and their potential usefulness as biomarkers in DM patients.

Method

Two hundred fifty-two patients with diabetes were enrolled in the study. Among the patients included, 26 (10.3%) patients died during a median follow-up of 71 months (5.9 years). Plasma miR-191 and miR-16 expressions were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and compared between the patients who survived and those who died.

Results

Patients who died from cardiovascular-related death had significantly higher expression of miR-191 and miR-16 as compared with patients who survived (p=0.003, p=0.001, respectively). The study population was divided into two subgroups by using ROC curve analysis for each miRNA, i.e., low or high value of single miRNAs. Kaplan Meier and Cox regression were performed for survival analysis. High expression levels of miRNAs were associated with cardiovascular mortality, when the models included one single miRNA and other covariates: miR-191 (HR = 4.793, 95% CI: 1.48–15.579; p=0.009) and miR-16 (HR = 4.66, 95% CI: 1.48–14.75; p=0.009). Furthermore, miRNAs expression between clopidogrel and the whole acetylsalicylic acid groups (i.e., 75 mg +150 mg), miR-191 expressions was significantly higher in the clopidogrel subgroup (p=0.010), whereas miR-16 did not differ (p=0.127).

Conclusion

To conclude, miR-191 and miR-16 expression are strong and independent predictors of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with T2DM. Moreover, miR-191 and miR-16 present significant interactions with antiplatelet treatment regimens and clinical outcomes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Medical University of Warsaw

Increased symmetric dimethyl-arginine is a predictor factor of decreased platelet reactivity and increased bleeding risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background

One of the promising biomarkers in CVD are asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), which are products of L-arginine methylation and are both involved in endothelial dysfunction. ADMA, SDMA and L-homoarginine, have emerged as biomarkers linked to cardiovascular outcomes [1].

Purpose

To investigate the association of SDMA with platelet reactivity and bleeding risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with potent P2Y12 inhibitors prasugrel and ticagrelor.

Methods

Our prospective observational study enrolled 292 patients with ACS undergoing percuteneus coronary intervention [2]. Plasma concentrations of SDMA were measured during the hospitalization for ACS. Impedance aggregometry was used. The primary study endpoint was the concentration of metabolites and platelet reactivity. The primary clinical outcome endpoint was the incidence of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) bleeding events (major, minor and minimal). The efficacy endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE: stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiac death).

Results

There was an inverse correlation between SDMA serum levels and platelet reactivity (r=−0.25; p&lt;0.000). The ADP+PGE1-induced platelet reactivity was 33% lower among patients with the highest SDMA quartile (4th) as compared to those with the 1–3rd SDMA quartile (8 [0–29] vs 12 [0–126] U; p&lt;0.001). The AA-induced platelet reactivity was 56% lower among patients with the highest SDMA quartile (4th) as compared to those with the 1–3rd SDMA quartile (4 [0–48] vs 9 [0–133]; p&lt;0.001). In a multivariate model, the highest SDMA (4th) quartile was found to be an independent predictor of the lowest ADP+PGE1 and AA induced platelet aggregation (OR: 2.666, 95% CI [1.184–5.999], p=0.018).

Conclusions

Our study shows that high plasma concentration of SDMA, but not ADMA, is independently associated with low platelet reactivity to ADP and AA and is associated with major and minor bleeding events in patients with ACS on potent antiplatelet therapies. Therefore, SDMA might have a potential to be further evaluated as a blood biomarker for individualization of duration and potency of antiplatelet therapies in an ACS population at high risk of bleeding complications.

Acknowledgment

I-COMET research team

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1Table 1

MicroRNAs as disease specific diagnostic biomarkers for neoplastic aetiology-related and inflammatory-related pericardial fluid effusion

Background and aim

Malignant involvement of the pericardium is seen in 1 to 20 percent of autopsies in patients with cancer. The most common metastatic tumor involving the pericardium is lung cancer [1]. We aimed to distinguish the origin of the pericardial fluid effusion (i.e. pericarditis vs cancer) based on miRNAs expression in peripheral blood plasma.

Method

8 patients hospitalized for collection of pericardial fluid with pericardial effusion of neoplastic aetiology (lung cancer). Control group includes 8 patients with effusion of inflammatory aetiology. Plasma RNA was extracted by mirVANAPARISKit and quality of RNA was assessed by fluorometric assay. GEP analysis was performed using the Clariom D pico chips, analysed on the Affymetrix platform. Statistical analysis by TAC software. Additional analyses were performed in and R using Signal information obtained from the TAC output. We performed the following tests using log2 transformed data and all comparison groups (A-F). Additional FDR correction, logistic regression, Mann-whitney t-test was used depending of the variables. We calculated Area under the curve using ROCp R package. Scores were ranging from 0 to 1. Co-expression analysis to identify genes authentically expressed was performed using Spearman correlation (cutoff = 0.9, Rpval = 0.05). In order to identify the targets of DE miRNAs we used our wizbionet R package and previously developed pipelines [2,3]. We performed target screening using multimiR package, selecting top 20% predictions from all available databases.

Results

We analyzed targets for all mature versions, and if DE miR was identified as pre-miR we generated -3p and -5p version for it. We also screened DisgeNet database for genes associated with cancer and pericarditis, we identified 2823 and 157 such genes. After identification of the targets of DE miRNAs we performed data aggregation, summarization and obtained information how many targets overall and targets associated with IS are regulated by each DE miRNA. Additionally we identified top targets regulated by the top miRNAs. MiR-5695, miR-4446-5p, miR-572, miR-3131 and miR-4784 were found the most significantly differentially expressed miRNAs in blood plasma for patients with malignancy compared to pericarditis. MiR-22-3p, miR-642a, miR-6771, miR-140-3p, and miR660-5p were found the most significantly differentially expressed miRNAs in pericardial fluid plasma for patients with malignancy compared to pericarditis. Importantly, miR-500b, miR-5188, miR-490, miR-24-3p, miR-383-3p were found the most promising differentially diagnostic biomarkers for malignancy and inflammatory-related pericardial fluid effusion.

Conclusions

For the first time our results indicate the differentially diagnostic power of miRNAs based on comparison of circulating in peripheral blood and pericardial fluid in patients having excessive pericardial fluid effusion due to different etiologies.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1Figure 2

High concentrations of plasma trimethylamine-n-oxide is associated with long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide [1]. Patients who experienced ACS are at high risk of future cardiovascular events and death [2–4]. Identification of reliable predictive tools could potentially improve the risk stratification [5]. Numerous studies revealed that intestinal microbial organisms (microbiota) and its metabolites, as TMAO (trimethylamine-N-oxide) may play a pathogenic role in a cardiovascular disease (CVD) and ACS [6]. Elevated concentration of circulating TMAO has been associated with increased risk of CVD and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, major bleeding and all-cause mortality [7].

Purpose

To investigate the association of liver metabolite TMAO with cardiovascular disease (CV)-related and all-cause mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods

Our prospective observational study enrolled 292 patients with ACS. Plasma concentrations of TMAO were measured during the hospitalization for ACS. Observation period lasted 7 years in the median. Adjusted Cox-regression analysis was used for prediction of mortality.

Results

ROC curve analysis revealed that increasing concentrations of TMAO levels assessed at the time point of ACS significantly predicted the risk of CV mortality (c-index=0.78, p&lt;0.001). The cut-off value of &gt;4 μmol/L, labeled as high TMAO level (23% of study population), provided the greatest sum of sensitivity (85%) and specificity (80%) for the prediction of CV mortality and was associated with a positive predictive value of 16% and a negative predictive value of 99%. A multivariate Cox regression model revealed that high TMAO level was a strong and independent predictor of CV death (HR=11.62, 95% CI: 2.26–59.67; p=0.003). High TMAO levels as compared with low TMAO levels were associated with the highest risk of CV death in a subpopulation of patients with diabetes mellitus (27.3% vs 2.6%; p=0.004). Although increasing TMAO levels were also significantly associated with all-cause mortality, their estimates for diagnostic accuracy were low.

Conclusions

High TMAO level is a strong and independent predictor of long-term CV mortality among patients presenting with ACS. TMAO concentration of 4 μmol/L may be a cut-off value for prognosis of ACS patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier curvesTable 1

Fingerprint of novel circulating microRNAs identify patients with stroke-embolic stroke of undetermined source

Background

Stroke is the second-most common cause of death worldwide. Circulating levels of selected microRNAs (miRNAs) were found to be modulated both in animal experimental models and in patients with stroke, opening up new avenues for the identification of more effective and specific biomarkers to identify and risk-stratify stroke patients. Aim of the present study is to identify all circulating miRNAs that are modulated in patients with stroke, to select specific miRNAs to be used as disease biomarkers to improve prognosis.

Methods

48 patients with stroke- ESUS were involved in the study. We have divided the patient groups based on patients who had a second stroke or TIA and did not have (safety vs safety control). Total RNA was extracted from plasma samples quality of extracted material was assessed using a fluorometric electrophoretic assay. MiRNA profiling was performed using the Affymetrix platform using. Statistical analysis was performed in TAC software. Additional analyses were performed in and R using Signal information obtained from the TAC output. We performed the following tests using log2 transformed data and all comparison groups (A-F). We performed additional FDR correction, logistic regression, Mann-whitney test t-test depending if variances were equal or differing. We calculated Area under the curve using ROCp R package. Scores were ranging from 0–1. Co-expression analysis to identify genes authentically expressed was performed using Spearman correlation (cutoff=0.9, Rpval=0.05). In order to identify the targets of DE miRNAs we used our wizbionet R package and previously developed pipelines [1,2]. We performed target screening using multimiR package, selecting top 20% predictions from all available databases.

Results

MiR-4786, miR-1205, miR-548ar-3p and miR-518e-3p were found the most differentially expressed miRNAs between the groups. So far, miR-4786 was studied only in patients with acute leukemia [3]. Several studies showed the importance of miR-1205 in cell carcinoma and ovarian cancer progression [4]. Moreover, so far only one study showed the regulation of miR-548ar-3p in breast cancer [5]. Finally only one study showed the alteration of miR-518e-3p in Parkinsons disease patients [6]. Besides, our enrichment analysis showed Interleukin-2 signaling pathway, Lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, BDNF signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Intellectual Disability, Alzheimer's Disease are significantly related to ESUS- patients.

Conclusions

Any of those miRNAs were never studied in stroke before, our results identified several novel circulating prognostic biomarkers miRNAs that are down- of up-regulated in ESUS-stroke patients (who had only one vs multiple stroke). Among those several miRNAs were identified that are known to play a role in the pathophysiology of neurovascular diseases, paving the way to a new class of smart pathophysiology-based biomarkers in stroke.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Polish National Science Center OPUS Figure 1Figure 2

Increased Let-7e expression is associated with long-term all-cause mortality and antiplatelet treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

In the light of growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), efforts are made to discover novel biomarkers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs-miR) are non-coding RNAs used in various processes involved in regulating gene expression which play a role in platelet function.

Purpose

To analyze the ability of platelet-derived miRNAs in prediction of mortality and response to antiplatelet treatment among T2DM-patients.

Methods

252 diabetic subjects were enrolled and were receiving either acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) 75mg (65%) or 150 mg (15%) or clopidogrel (19%). Plasma miR-126, miR-223, miR-125a-3p and Let-7e expressions were assessed by qRT-PCR and compared between the patients who survived and those who died. Median observation time was 5.9 years. Adjusted Cox-regression analysis was used for prediction of mortality. Differential miRNAs expression due to different antiplatelet treatment was analyzed.

Results

ROC curve analysis revealed increasing concentrations of miR-126, Let-7e and miR-125a-3p levels had a diagnostic ability for prediction of long-term all-cause mortality (c-index=0.75, p&lt;0.001; 0.72, p&lt;0.001; 0.72, p=0.001, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression model revealed high miR-126 and Let-7e expressions which were strong and independent predictors of all-cause long-term mortality (HR=5.08, 95% CI: 1.92–13.43; p=0.001; HR=5.94, 95% CI: 1.98–17.79; p=0.001,respectively). After including all miRNAs into one multivariate Cox regression model, only Let-7e was predictive of future occurrence of long-term all-cause death (HR=7.83, 95% CI: 1.2–51.1; p=0.032). MiR-126, Let-7e and miR-223 expressions in the clopidogrel group were significantly higher than in the ASA group (p=0.014; p=0.013; p=0.028, respectively).

Conclusions

Let-7e expression is a strong and independent predictor of long-term all-cause mortality among patients with T2DM. MiR-223, miR-126 and Let-7e present significant interactions with antiplatelet treatment and clinical outcomes.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1Table 1

MicroRNA-223 might be a predictive biomarker for major adverse cardiovascular events prognosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an emerging invasive therapeutic strategy for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) significantly enhancing not only quality-of-life measures but also improving short-and long-term survival rates.

Purpose

For these purposes we aimed to analyze correlation between expression levels of platelet-derived microRNAs in patients with heart failure (HF) due to AS who underwent TAVI procedure and assess their association with primary major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined by all cause mortality and secondary MACE defined as cardiovascular mortality, ischemic stroke, and non-fatal myocardial infarction.

Methods

61 patients before and after the TAVI procedure were included. PlasmaRNA was extracted by mirVANA PARIS Kit and quality of RNA was assessed by fluorometric assay. GEP analysis was performed using the Clariom D pico chips, analyzed on the Affymetrix platform. RT-PCR was performed in order to validate the miRNAs in 61 patients by using the Taqman advanced protocol. MiRNA related to platelet function/antiplatelet treatment were chosen among those with the most relevant modulation between the groups. Wilcoxon test was performed for miRNAs comparison before and after TAVI. Calculations were performed using SPSS version 22.0, p&lt;0.05 (IBM Corporation, Chicago, USA).

Results

We have found that miR-223, miR-125b and miR-125a were significantly increased in patients after the TAVI procedure. ROC analysis showed that increased miR-223 expression after the TAVI procedure might slightly have protective value against MACE outcome.

Conclusions

Our analysis showed alteration of circulating miRNAs after the TAVI procedure and miR-223 might have a predictive value for MACE prognosis in patients with HF due to AS who underwent TAVI procedure.

Acknowledgment

I-COMET research team

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1Figure 2

Not chronic exercise but acute exercise is related with increased cell survival, enhanced cell proliferation and decreased cell apoptosis

Background

Endurance training can be described as long-time activity characterized by high dynamic and low to high power and was proven beneficial in CVD prevention. Nevertheless, studies reported that excessive endurance training can act as double-edged sword inducing the inflammatory response and cell apoptosis. This negative effect can be the reason of exercise duration.

Purpose

In order to investigate the effect of the training duration we compared and analysed acute vs chronic exercise by using in silico technique and we performed two different bioinformatics analysis: tissue-specific and cardiovascular process specific.

Materials

Bioinformatics analysis miRNA targets predictions, data filtering and visualization as interaction networks were performed. We used multiMiR 1.4 R package, hemopoiesis, angiogenesis, cardiac muscle functions, muscle hypertrophy process was performed a screening of the GO terms for the presence of the key words using the biomaRt package in R, Gene-gene interaction data were retrieved from String App, Cytoscape. Enrichment analysis of Reactome and KEGG pathways using String App. p&lt;0.05.

Results

Enrichment analysis of Reactome and Kegg pathways revealed strong regulation of senescence-related pathways, RUNX1 expression and activity, Ca2+ signaling involving AGO genes. For the first time our in silico analysis showed that AGO, HMGA2 genes may be associated with adaptive changes in response to exercise. Importantly, we found, that PI3K/AKT signalling (pathway incusing cell survival, growth, and proliferation) was present only in acute but not in chronic exercise.

Conclusions

In our analysis long-term training miRNA-gene target interaction was different than the short-term training. As PI3K/AKT signaling was present only in acute exercise, we suggest that not long-term but short-term training can be related with increased cell survival, enhanced cell proliferation, and decreased cell apoptosis.

Genes associated cardiac muscle function

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): “Preludium” from the National Science Center, Poland

Ultra-marathon training induces vasculoprotector microRNA-125a-5p expression

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization data, they are responsible for approximately 31% of deaths annually. It is estimated that nearly 80% of premature CVDs are preventable by modification of lifestyle including regular physical activity. Endurance training can be described as long-time activity characterized by high dynamic and low to high power and was proven beneficial in CVD prevention. Several miRNAs, including miR-125a-5p had been reported to be regulated in response to exercise in healthy humans. Additionally, Let-7 family members are involved in initiation and development of inflammatory response and up-regulated after training.

Aim of study

Our aim was to determine the differences in inflammatory-related miRNA expression between ultramarathon runners and healthy controls.

Materials and methods

Three circulation inflammation-related miRNA related were chosen based on literature search. RNA was extracted from plasma samples using the mirVANA PARIS Kit and quality of extracted material was assessed using a fluorometric assay. RT-PCR was performed using the Taqman advance protocol on a high throughput thermal cycler. Mann Whitney U test was used for unpaired comparison and Spearman's Correlation was used for the database analysis with miRNA expressions, p&lt;0.05.

Results

Let-7e, miR-125a-5p, and miR-126 were measured in 40 patients (31 ultra-marathon runners vs 9 control volunteers) We found that control volunteers had significantly lower miR-125a-5p expression levels than ultra-marathon runners (p=0.03). Additionally, miR-125a-5p showed strong positive correlation with number of ultra-marathons run in life, and number of runs exceeding 100km (r=0.473, p=0.01 and r=0.403, p=0.03, respectively). Besides, Let-7e was positively correlated with VE max (maximum ventilation) (r=0.449, p=0.01).

Conclusions

Our study showed that endurance training can increase the miR-125a-5p expression and this result is in the line of previous observation since miR-125a-5p reported as vasculoprotector and were elevated in response to all-out high-intensity running.

Figure 1. MicroRNAs expression comparison

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): “Preludium” from the National Science Center, Poland