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Currently, atherosclerosis, which affects the vascular bed of all vital organs and tissues, is considered as a leading cause of death. Most commonly, atherosclerosis involves coronary and peripheral arteries, which results in acute (e.g., myocardial infarction, lower extremities ischemia) or chronic (persistent ischemia leading to severe heart failure) consequences. All of them have a marked unfavorable impact on the quality of life and are associated with increased mortality and morbidity in human populations. Lower extremity artery disease (LEAD, also defined as peripheral artery disease, PAD) refers to atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities, where partial or complete obstruction of peripheral arteries is observed. Decreased perfusion can result in ischemic pain, non-healing wounds, and ischemic ulcers, and significantly reduce the quality of life. However, the progressive atherosclerotic changes cause stimulation of tissue response processes, like vessel wall remodeling and neovascularization. These mechanisms of adapting the vascular network to pathological conditions seem to play a key role in reducing the impact of the changes limiting the flow of blood. Neovascularization as a response to ischemia induces sprouting and expansion of the endothelium to repair and grow the vessels of the circulatory system. Neovascularization consists of three different biological processes: vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and arteriogenesis. Both molecular and environmental factors that may affect the process of development and growth of blood vessels were analyzed. Particular attention was paid to the changes taking place during LEAD. It is important to consider the molecular mechanisms underpinning vessel growth. These mechanisms will also be examined in the context of diseases commonly affecting blood vessel function, or those treatable in part by manipulation of angiogenesis. Furthermore, it may be possible to induce the process of blood vessel development and growth to treat peripheral vascular disease and wound healing. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in regulation of essential cellular signaling pathways such as cell differentiation, proliferation, migration and apoptosis. With regard to the repair processes taking place during diseases such as LEAD, prospective therapeutic methods have been described that could significantly improve the treatment of vessel diseases in the future. Summarizing, regenerative medicine holds the potential to transform the therapeutic methods in heart and vessel diseases treatment.

Transcriptional analysis and live-cell imaging are a powerful tool to investigate the dynamics of complex biological systems. In vitro expanded porcine oral mucosal cells, consisting of populations of epithelial and connective lineages, are interesting and complex systems for study via microarray transcriptomic assays to analyze gene expression profile. The transcriptomic analysis included 56 ontological groups with particular focus on 7 gene ontology groups that are related to the processes of differentiation and development. Most analyzed genes were upregulated after 7 days and downregulated after 15 and 30 days of in vitro culture. The performed transcriptomic analysis was then extended to include automated analysis of differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC) images obtained during in vitro culture. The analysis of DIC imaging allowed to identify the different populations of keratinocytes and fibroblasts during seven days of in vitro culture, and it was possible to evaluate the proportion of these two populations of cells. Porcine mucosa may be a suitable model for reference research on human tissues. In addition, it can provide a reference point for research on the use of cells, scaffolds, or tissues derived from transgenic animals for applications in human tissues reconstruction.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic endocrinopathy characterized by oligo- or anovulation, clinical and/or biochemical markers of hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, and it is associated with an increased prevalence of depression. Research conducted on psychiatric patients has shown correlations between depression and decreased cognitive function. The aim of this study was to examine the possible mediation of the time perspective (TP) in the development of depressive symptoms in patients with PCOS. Methods: A study was conducted on 83 patients with PCOS and 65 healthy women. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory—BDI-II) and time perspective (Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory—ZTPI). Results: Our study revealed an indirect influence of depressive symptoms on PCOS through the positive future time perspective. In the logistic regression model, which included depression and a given time perspective as predictors of PCOS, only the future TP (β = −0.004, p < 0.003, OR = 1.004, 95% CI [1.001, 1.008]) was significantly independently related to the occurrence of PCOS. Conclusions: Our result is another argument for the role of psychoeducation and appropriate communication with a patient from the risk group in a way that builds hope and allows to regain influence on life situation.

OBJECTIVES: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic endocrinopathy associated with a wide range of psychological disorders. Recent literature suggests a correlation between PCOS and cognitive linguistics disorders. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sex hormones, metabolic markers, and cognitive linguistic performance in patients with PCOS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 48 women with PCOS and 56 healthy control women were included in the study. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess depressive symptoms [the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)] and linguistic capability [the Wechsler Vocabulary Subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) test and “Łatysz” non-word reading test]. Baseline cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Laboratory tests included measurements of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), glucose, insulin, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC). Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results were also obtained. RESULTS: We observed significant differences in testosterone, DHEA-S, SHBG, insulin, insulin measured in 120-minute post-OGTT, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) values between women with and without PCOS. A negative correlation was found between the Wechsler Vocabulary Subtest of the WAIS-R test and testosterone, LDL, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Our study revealed a negative correlation between “Łatysz” non-word reading test and testosterone and a positive correlation between \"Łatysz\" non-word reading test and 120-minute post-OGTT blood glucose concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that there is a relationship between hormonal, metabolic markers, and cognitive functions in patients suffering from PCOS.

More than 80 diseases are currently classified as autoimmune, with a rising prevalence throughout the world. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is classified as a systemic autoimmune disorder, but the exact pathogenesis of SLE remains elusive. Currently available treatment strategies offer only the possibility for disease remission making it essential to develop more effective and safer strategies for treatment. Recently MSCs are gaining attention as attractive therapeutic tools for autoimmune disease treatment. Special focus should be given to MSCs originated from perinatal tissues such as Wharton's jelly, as they present unique immunomodulatory properties and remarkably low immunogenicity. MSCs exert their immunomodulatory effects via direct cell-to-cell communication as well as in a paracrine manner, creating possibility to apply secretome of MSCs as an individual therapeutic tool. Although the secretome of MSCs has not yet been utilized in SLE treatment, its efficacy has been suggested in other disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's disease. Regular administration of paracrine factors derived from MSCs could potentially effect in significant reduction of SLE symptoms and in maintenance of disease remission.

The methylated resveratrol analogue 3′-hydroxy-3,4,5,4′-tetramethoxystilbene (DMU-214) has been revealed to exert the anti-cancer activity by a block of the cell cycle at the G2/M phase, apoptosis induction, and metastasis inhibition. These biological events may be involved in crosstalk with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which belongs to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Several cancer therapeutic approaches employ small molecules capable of inhibiting tyrosine kinases (e.g., gefitinib). According to more recent reports, combining gefitinib with chemotherapeutics, such as cisplatin, seems to be more effective than monotherapy. The present study aimed to assess the molecular mechanism of the potential anti-proliferative activity of individual and combined treatments with DMU-214 and gefitinib in SCC-25 and CAL-27 human tongue cancer cell lines. We showed for the first time the anti-cancer effects of DMU-214, gefitinib, and their combination in tongue cancer cells triggered via cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and inhibition of the EGFR signaling pathway. The anti-proliferative effects of DMU-214 and gefitinib are also suggested to be related to the EGFR and EGFRP (phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor) expression status since we found significantly weaker cytotoxic activity of the compounds tested in SCC-25 cells, which overexpressed EGFR and EGFRP proteins.