Are agricultural and natural sources of bio-products important for modern regenerative medicine? A review

Introduction and objectives As tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have continued to evolve within the field of biomedicine, the fundamental importance of bio-products has become increasingly apparent. This true not only in cases where they are derived directly from the natural environment, but also when animals and plants are specially bred and cultivated for their production. Objective The study aims to present and assess the global influence and importance of selected bio-products in current regenerative medicine via a broad review of the existing literature. In particular, attention is paid to the matrices, substances and grafts created from plants and animals which could potentially be used in experimental and clinical regeneration, or in reconstructive procedures. Summary Evolving trends in agriculture are likely to play a key role in the future development of a number of systemic and local medical procedures within tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This is in addition to the use of bio-products derived from the natural environment which are found to deliver positive results in the treatment of prospective patients

Evaluation of the quality of sleep in relation to serotonin and melatonin levels in patients with liver cirrhosis

Sleep disorders occur in people who suffer from liver cirrhosis, this usually involves a change in the rhythm of melatonin secretion and its metabolism. Delayed sleep phase syndrome does not always correlate with the degree of liver damage, indicating the involvement of other factors in its pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to estimate the correlation between the night secretion of the serotonin and melatonin and the degree of sleep disorders. There were 60 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 healthy subjects (control group) included in the study. Compared to the control group, in the first stage of hepatic encephalopathy (according to West Haven Scale) at 2 o’clock a.m. a low serum melatonin level was observed (57.5±10.2 pg/mL and 41.2±9.4 pg/mL, p<0.05) and even lower concentration of serotonin (171.2±45.0 and 108.4±29.3 μg/mL, p<0.01). These results negatively correlated with the degree of sleep disorders. The obtained results indicate that in patients with liver cirrhosis the changes in the homeostasis of both serotonin and melatonin occur, which can cause sleep disorders.U osób z marskością wątroby występują zaburzenia snu, co zwykle wiąże się ze zmianą rytmu wydzielania melatoniny i jej metabolizmu. Zespół opóźnionej fazy snu nie zawsze koreluje ze stopniem uszkodzenia wątroby, co wskazuje na udział innych czynników w jego patogenezie. Celem badania było określenie zależności między nocnym wydzielaniem serotoniny i melatoniny a stopniem zaburzeń snu. Do badań włączono 60 osób z marskością wątroby (grupa badana) i 30 osób zdrowych (grupa kontrolna). W porównaniu do grupy kontrolnej, u chorych z pierwszym stopniem encefalopatii wątrobowej (wg skali West Haven) o godzinie 2:00 stwierdzono niższe stężenie melatoniny w surowicy (odpowiednio 57,5±10,2 pg/mL i 41,2±9,4 pg/mL, p<0,05), zaś u osób z drugim stopniem encefalopatii - niższe stężenie serotoniny (odpowiednio 171,2±45,0 i 108,4±29,

The effect of melatonin supplementation on the quality of sleep and weight status in postmenopausal women

Aim of the study : We evaluated the effect of melatonin supplementation on the nutritional status of postmenopausal women. Material and methods: The study included 56 women (51-65 years) and 25 healthy women (27-36 years). The emotional state was assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the quality of sleep using Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were also calculated. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group I (control) – 25 women with normal body weight, group II – 26 postmenopausal women with normal body weight, group III – 30 postmenopausal women with high body weight. In women from group II and III, routine laboratory tests, levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), 17-estradiol, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the concentration of 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate (6-HMS) in day/night urine fractions were determined. On the day of the examination, women remained on a liquid diet (1800 kcal). Next, a balanced diet of 1500 kcal and 5 mg of melatonin administration were recommended. The follow-up examinations were performed after 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks. Results : The patients from groups II and III showed similar mild levels of anxiety and depression and a significant degree of sleep disorders. In group III, lower urinary 6-HMS excretion was observed at night. In both groups a negative correlation was found between urinary 6-HMS excretion and the degree of sleep disorders. After 24 weeks, a statistically significant improvement of quality of sleep was obtained. A negative correlation was detected between urinary 6-HMS excretion and BMI. Conclusion : Melatonin supplementation contributed to body weight reduction

Are agricultural and natural sources of bio-products important for modern regenerative medicine? A review

Introduction and objectives As tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have continued to evolve within the field of biomedicine, the fundamental importance of bio-products has become increasingly apparent. This true not only in cases where they are derived directly from the natural environment, but also when animals and plants are specially bred and cultivated for their production. Objective The study aims to present and assess the global influence and importance of selected bio-products in current regenerative medicine via a broad review of the existing literature. In particular, attention is paid to the matrices, substances and grafts created from plants and animals which could potentially be used in experimental and clinical regeneration, or in reconstructive procedures. Summary Evolving trends in agriculture are likely to play a key role in the future development of a number of systemic and local medical procedures within tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This is in addition to the use of bio-products derived from the natural environment which are found to deliver positive results in the treatment of prospective patients

Understanding the role of mesenchymal stem cells in urinary bladder regeneration—a preclinical study on a porcine model

Abstract Background The tissue engineering of urinary bladder advances rapidly reflecting clinical need for a new kind of therapeutic solution for patients requiring urinary bladder replacement. Majority of the bladder augmentation studies have been performed in small rodent or rabbit models. Insufficient number of studies examining regenerative capacity of tissue-engineered graft in urinary bladder augmentation in a large animal model does not allow for successful translation of this technology to the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in regeneration of clinically significant urinary bladder wall defect in a large animal model. Methods ADSCs isolated from a superficial abdominal Camper’s fascia were labeled with PKH-26 tracking dye and subsequently seeded into bladder acellular matrix (BAM) grafts. Pigs underwent hemicystectomy followed by augmentation cystoplasty with BAM only (n = 10) or BAM seeded with autologous ADSCs (n = 10). Reconstructed bladders were subjected to macroscopic, histological, immunofluoresence, molecular, and radiological evaluations at 3 months post-augmentation. Results Sixteen animals (n = 8 for each group) survived the 3-month follow-up without serious complications. Tissue-engineered bladder function was normal without any signs of post-voiding urine residual in bladders and in the upper urinary tracts. ADSCs enhanced regeneration of tissue-engineered urinary bladder but the process was incomplete in the central graft region. Only a small percentage of implanted ADSCs survived and differentiated into smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Conclusions The data demonstrate that ADSCs support regeneration of large defects of the urinary bladder wall but the process is incomplete in the central graft region. Stem cells enhance urinary bladder regeneration indirectly through paracrine effect

Does the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Source Influence Smooth Muscle Regeneration in Tissue-Engineered Urinary Bladders?

A variety of tissue engineering techniques utilizing different cells and biomaterials are currently being explored to construct urinary bladder walls de novo, but so far no approach is clearly superior. The aim of this study was to determine whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from different sources, (bone marrow [BM-MSCs] and adipose tissue [ADSCs]), differ in their potential to regenerate smooth muscles in tissue-engineered urinary bladders and to determine an optimal number of MSCs for urinary bladder smooth muscle regeneration. Forty-eight rats underwent hemicystectomy and bladder augmentation with approximately 0.8 cm graft. In the first and second groups, urinary bladders were reconstructed with small intestinal submucosa (SIS) seeded with 10 × 10 or 4 × 10 ADSCs/cm , respectively. In the third and fourth groups, urinary bladders were augmented with SIS seeded with 10 × 10 or 4 × 10 BM-MSCs/cm , respectively. In the fifth group, urinary bladders were augmented with SIS without cells. The sixth group (control) was left intact. Smooth muscle regeneration was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and histological examinations. Histologically, there were no significant differences between urinary bladders augmented with ADSCs and BM-MSCs, but there was a marked increase in smooth muscle formation in bladders augmented with grafts seeded with MSCs in higher density (10 × 10 /cm ) compared to lower density (4 × 10 /cm ). Molecular analysis revealed that bladders reconstructed with ADSC-seeded grafts expressed higher levels of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, caldesmon, and vinculin. Bladders augmented with unseeded SIS were fibrotic and devoid of smooth muscles. ADSCs and BM-MSCs have comparable smooth muscle regenerative potential, but the number of MSCs used for graft preparation significantly affects the smooth muscle content in tissue-engineered urinary bladders

Is the poly (L- lactide- co- caprolactone) nanofibrous membrane suitable for urinary bladder regeneration?

The purpose of this study was to compare: a new five-layered poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLC) membrane and small intestinal submucosa (SIS) as a control in rat urinary bladder wall regeneration. The five-layered poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) membrane was prepared by an electrospinning process. Adipose tissue was harvested from five 8-week old male Wistar rats. Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) were seeded in a density of 3×10(6) cells/cm2 onto PLC membrane and SIS scaffolds, and cultured for 5-7 days in the stem cell culture medium. Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five equal groups. Augmentation cystoplasty was performed in a previously created dome defect. Groups: (I) PLC+ 3×10(6)ADSCs; (II) SIS+ 3×10(6)ADSCs; (III) PLC; (IV) SIS; (V) control. Cystography was performed after three months. The reconstructed urinary bladders were evaluated in H&E and Masson's trichrome staining. Regeneration of all components of the normal urinary bladder wall was observed in bladders augmented with cell-seeded SIS matrices. The urinary bladders augmented with SIS matrices without cells showed fibrosis and graft contraction. Bladder augmentation with the PLC membrane led to numerous undesirable events including: bladder wall perforation, fistula or diverticula formation, and incorporation of the reconstructed wall into the bladder lumen. The new five-layered poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) membrane possesses poorer potential for regenerating the urinary bladder wall compared with SIS scaffold

Contact angle measurements: untreated poly (lactydo-<i>co</i>-caprolactone) (PLC) membrane, 110° (A), NaHCO₃ treated PLC membrane: unmodified side- 97° (C) and modified side- 72° (B).

<p>Contact angle is the angle between the baseline of the drop (marked in red) and the tangent at the drop boundary (marked in yellow).</p

Analysis of poly (lactydo-<i>co</i>-caprolactone) (PLC) and small intestinal submucosa (SIS) cytotoxicity using Real Time Cell Analyzer (RTCA).

<p>Adipose derived stem cells were treated with 75%, 50% and 25% extracts of PLC (PLC75, PLC50, PLC25 respectively) and SIS (SIS75, SIS50, SIS25 respectively). The results are presented as: cell growth curves (A), mean cell index ± standard deviation after 96 hours of cell incubation with extracts. The statistical significance is shown as * p<0.05 (B)</p

Cystography.

<p>Urinary bladders augmented with poly (lactydo-<i>co</i>-caprolactone) membrane (A) and small intestinal submucosa seeded with adipose derived stem cells (B). The arrows point out the reconstructed area.</p