Fat graft – the natural choice for reconstructive, regenerative and aesthetic surgery

The search for appropriate filler, which can be used for aesthetic and reconstructive operations is currently one of challenges for plastic surgery. The application of absorbable and permanent artificial fillers may cause adverse events. Thus, autologous fat grafting can be a safe alternative. Moreover, fat tissue is rich in adipose-derived stem cells (ASC), which can be successfully used for regenerative procedures. The paper reviews reports on fat grafting procedures, which indicate risks and their possible prophylactic.Adipose tissue is a much more prolific source of ASCs than bone marrow. Basically, ASC are characterized by a spectrum of markers: CD11b-CD45-CD13+CD73+CD90+, which can be widened by CD36+CD-106-CD10+CD26+CD49d+CD49e+CD3-D49f -PODXL- to improve phenotyping. It is suggested to use at least two negative markers and two positive markers during the same phenotyping analysis. Fat transfer requires appropriate approach, planning and technique to make it clinically successful.Fat grafting fulfills the expectations for ideal injectable agent, which can be used for aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. To improve the survival of fat graft, careful decisions on donor site, local anesthetic administration, liposuction method, processing and placement methods need to be made. Moreover, fat is the source of adipose-derived stem cells which can be used for regenerative procedures. A proper transformation and identification of those cells is required to improve clinical effects.

Tadeusz Stefan Kurkiewicz (1885-1962) – His Important Contribution to Contemporary Cardiology

Tadeusz Stefan Kurkiewicz (1885-1962) belongs to the well-known Polish histologists and embryologists. His scientific activity started in the Department of Biology and Embryology of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, which was chaired by professor Emil Godlewski (1875-1944), famous Polish embryologist. Between years 1908-1911, under supervision of the pioneer of the Polish histology, professor Stanisław Maziarski (1873-1959) T. Kurkiewicz continued researches in the Department of Histology of the Jagiellonian University. In 1909 he published results of studies on the development of cardiac muscle in the chick and on the basis of this publication on July 21, 1911 Tadeusz Kurkiewicz received Ph.D. from the Jagiellonian University. Between 1922 and 1959 (with the exception of the period of German occupation) Tadeusz Kurkiewicz was the head of the Department of Histology and Embryology of the Faculty of Medicine of the Poznań University and Academy of Medicine in Poznań (at present: Poznań University of Medical Sciences). His Ph.D. thesis demonstrated that the epicardium originates from pericardial villi, it means from extracardiac source. This great scientific achievement has been confirmed by recent studies. In this article we present curriculum of Tadeusz Kurkiewicz and impact of his discovery on contemporary cardiology.

Can iron work for pigs as a booster?

Iron deficiency is a common health problem in mammals, especially in growing piglets hence iron administration to suckling piglets is a routine practice in swine production.A total number of 160 weaners were allotted to two experimental groups according to body weight (I – cachectic underweight piglets; II – piglets with appropriate weaning body weight). Additionally, each group was divided into two subgroups, with iron administered to piglets in subgroups IA and IIA on the first day of the experiment. In order to monitor the weight gains in pigs, they were weighed twice. To estimate the haematological status, blood samples were taken on the weaning day from selected piglets (10 in each subgroup). Haematological analyses were conducted using Hb, Ht, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC as early anaemia indicators. Additionally plasma iron (PI) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were assessed as parameters of the actual and potential circulating extracellular iron.The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of additional postweaning Fe supplementation on production results. A lower concentration of PI was noted in weaker piglets (Group IA and IB). Throughout the experiment higher daily gains were noted in Group II; differences between Group IIA and IA as well as IB were statistically confirmed at p≤ 0,01.It might be expected that an additional Fe dose applied in weaning piglets can be used as a growth promoter. On the other hand, in case of cachectic animals toxicity of supplemental iron must be taken into consideration.

Analysis of fructose and mannose – regulatory peptides signaling pathway in porcine epithelial oviductal cells (OECs) primary cultured long-term in vitro

The morphological and biochemical modification of oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) belongs to the compound process responsible for proper oocytes transport and successful fertilization. However, the main mechanisms which regulated this process are still not entirely known. Moreover, the OECs metabolism, which may be identified as the “cellular activity” marker, is poorly recognized. In this study we investigated the fructose and mannose metabolic pathway in porcine OECs primary long-term cultured in vitro.In our study, we employ a primary long term in vitro culture (IVC) and microarray approach (the Affymetrix microarray were used for analysis of transcriptomic profile of OECs) for expression levels analysis.We found that from the whole analyzed transcriptome, 1537 genes were upregulated and 995 were down regulated after 7 days of culture, 1471 genes were upregulated and 1061 were downregulated after 15 days of culture and 1329 genes were upregulated and 1203 were downregulated after 30 days of culture. Moreover, the differential expression of SORD, FPGT, PFKFB4, TPI1, MPI, ALDOC, HK2 and PFKFB3 at 24 hours, 7 day, 15 day and 30 day, was also observed.We suggested that fructose and mannose metabolism may be important molecular bio-marker of porcine OECs capability in in vitro model. The metabolic profile is significantly accompanied by cells proliferation in vitro. The transcriptomic profile of SORD, FPGT, PFKFB4, TPI1, MPI, ALDOC, HK2 and PFKFB3 expression may be identified as “fingerprint” of fructose and mannose metabolism in OECs as well as involved in cellular in vitro developmental capacity in pigs.

The blood vessels development, morphogenesis and blood circulation are three ontologic groups highly up-regulated in porcine oocytes before in vitro maturation

The mammalian oocytes undergo significant biochemical and structural modifications during maturation both in vitro and in vivo. These changes involve chromatin reorganization and modification within metabolic status of cytoplasmic organelles. After oocytes’ successful maturation the substantially increased storage of RNA was observed. Moreover, the early embryo interaction with maternal endometrial tissue after fertilization is up to now considered as the main marker of proper embryo implantation and early growth. In this study, we first investigated the expression profile of genes involved in blood vessel formation and blood circulation in porcine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation.The cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from pubertal Landrace gilts and classified as before in vitro maturation (in Vivo) or after in vitro maturation (in Vitro). The RNA was isolated from these two experimental groups and analyzed using Affymetrix microarrays.We found an increased expression of genes involved in ontological groups such as “blood circulation” (TPM1, ECE1, ACTA2, EPHX2, EDNRA, NPR2, MYOF, TACR3, VEGFA, GUCY1B3), “blood vessel development” (ANGPTL4, CYR61, SEMA5A, ID1, RHOB, RTN4, IHH, ANGPT2, EDNRA, TGFBR3, MYO1E, MMP14), and “blood vessels morphogenesis” (ANGPT2, as well as other common transcripts) in in Vivo group as compared to decreased expression of these genes in in Vitro group of oocytes.It has been suggested that investigated genes undergo significant expression before in vitro maturation, when enhanced storage of large amount of RNA takes place. Creating templates for synthesis of proteins is required for formation of fully mature gametes and early embryo growth. Therefore we hypothesized that the processes of vascularization and/or angiogenesis reach a high activity in immature oocytes and are distinct from achievement of maturational stage by oocytes in pigs.

Recent Findings of the Types of Programmed Cell Death

Summary Cell death plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of multicellular organisms. It can occur in a controlled manner by apoptosis or autophagy. Cell death which occurs regardless of regulatory factors include necrosis, mitotic catastrophe or oncosis. Apoptosis and necrosis are cellular process that leads to cell death. However their mechanisms are different, although factors triggering them can be similar. Necrosis and apoptosis have many different characteristics in terms of biochemistry and morphology. There are two main pathways of apoptosis induction signal: receptor - dependent and mitochondrial. The outsider apoptotic pathway is induced by external factors stimulating membrane receptors having an intracellular domain called death domain. Mitochondrial apoptotic pathway is activated by increased concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage, disorders electrolyte transport and an increase in the concentration of the calcium ions in the cytoplasm. In response to stress-factors, mitochondrial channels are opened, so that is released into the cytoplasm cytochrome C. This work is aimed at an overall description of exchanged processes.

Does Porcine Oocytes Maturation in Vitro is Regulated by Genes Involved in Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor Signaling Pathway?

Summary The oocyte growth and development in follicular environment are substantially accompanied by surrounding somatic cumulus (CCs) and granulosa cells (GCs). During these processes, the mammalian gametes reach full maturational stage and may be further successfully fertilized by single spermatozoon. These unique mechanisms are regulated by expression of clusters of genes and their biochemical signaling pathways. In this article we described differential expression pattern of transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) gene superfamily in porcine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation (IVM). We performed Affymetrix® microarray assays to investigate the TGFB-related genes expression profile in porcine immature oocytes and gametes cultured for 44h in vitro. In results we found 419 different genes, 379 genes with lower expression, and 40 genes characterized by increased RNA profile. Moreover, significant up-regulation of 6 genes belonging to TGFB signaling pathway such as: TGFBR3, SMAD4, FOS, KLF10, ID1, MAP3K1 in immature porcine oocytes (before IVM), was also observed. It may be suggested that genes involved in TGFB-related signaling pathway are substantially regulated before IVM. Furthermore, these genes may play a significant role during early stages of nuclear and/or cytoplasmic porcine oocytes maturation. The investigated transcripts may be also recommended as the markers of oocytes maturational capability in pigs.

Resveratrol and Its Analogues – Is It a New Strategy of Anticancer Therapy?

SummaryResveratrol (RSV) is one of the polyphenols - metabolites common in plants,however it does not occur in animals. It occurs mainly in grape skin (Vitisvinifera), peanuts (Arachis hypogeal) and in the roots of (Polygonumcupidatum) a traditional Chinese curative plant.RSV has a preventive property against the most serious diseases of modern world such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Due to pleiotropy, RSV is currently the main object of many research teams′ interest, which is shown by the significant number of publications devoted to this subject.Animal and human conducted studies have shown very low bioavailability of RSV (approx. 2%), which is the result of rapid biotransformation to sulphate and to a lesser extent, to the glucuronide conjugates as well. The studies on the improvement of RSV bioavailability, which have beencarried out for many years, have contributed to the synthesis of the analogues of more chemopreventive and more desirable pharmacokinetic properties. In order to enhance antiproliferative activity and RSV bioavailability, series of methyl analogues were synthesized and this will be described later in more detail. An example of such a derivative is DMU-212 (3,4,4’5-tetramethoxystilbene).

Positive Regulation of Macromolecule Metabolic Process Belongs to the Main Mechanisms Crucial for Porcine Oocytes Maturation

SummaryThe mammalian oocytes maturation is the compound process that involves morphological and molecular changes. These modifications include storage of macromolecules, which are crucial for proteins biosynthesis during periimplantation stages of embryo development. This study was aimed to investigate the genes expression profile encoding macromolecules important for regulation of proper porcine oocytes maturation.The porcine oocytes were collected from large ovarian follicles and analyzed both before and after in vitro maturation (IVM). Additionally, to check the developmental competence status, brilliant crezyl blue test (BCB) was performed. The obtained cDNA was used for biotin labeling and fragmentation by AffymetrixGeneChip® WT Terminal Labeling and Hybridization (Affymetrix). The preliminary analysis of the scanned chips was performed using AffymetrixGeneAtlasTM Operating Software. The created CEL files were imported into downstream data analysis software.In results, we found expression of 419 different genes, 379 genes were down-regulated and 40 genes were up-regulated in relation to the oocyte transcriptome before in vitro procedure. We observed up-regulation of all genes involved in “positive regulation of macromolecule metabolic process” before IVM as compared to transcriptional profile analyzed after IVM.In conclusion, we suggested that genes encoding proteins involved in macromolecule metabolism are important for achieving of porcine oocytes maturational stage. Moreover, the “activity of macromolecules metabolism” is much more increased in immature oocytes.

Problems of Cancer Treatment. Part 2. Treatment Based on Modification of Anticancer Immunological Responses in Therapy

SummaryHere we present the concept of making own patient’s anti-cancer treatment more efficient and starting at testing the efficacy of immunological system. The respective tests are suggested, with special attention devoted to tumour-induced microenvironmental changes. The tumour should be considered to represent a complex tissue in which the cancer cells communicate directly and indirectly with the surrounding cellular immunological surrounding and develope traits that promote their own survival. The results of tests allow to propose a rational, individually profiled treatment of a patient, especially directed to elimination of blocks inhibiting the immunological system due to effects of cancer cells. The elimination can be implemented using commercially available antibodies, targeted at the cell surface receptors for inhibitors of T lymphocytes (CTLA-4 and PD-1). Outcome of the therapy is slow to appear and the results used to be selective. Some patients gain long term improvement and respective predictive markers are now tested. It is assumed that the future anti-cancer therapy will be individually targeted, based on individual tests and an assistance of own immunological system of the cancer patient.