Circulating Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells in Cardiovascular Disease

Very small embryonic-like cells (VSELs) are a population of stem cells residing in the bone marrow (BM) and several organs, which undergo mobilization into peripheral blood (PB) following acute myocardial infarction and stroke. These cells express markers of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), such as Oct-4, Nanog, and SSEA-1, as well as early cardiac, endothelial, and neural tissue developmental markers. VSELs can be effectively isolated from the BM, umbilical cord blood, and PB. Peripheral blood and BM-derived VSELs can be expanded in co-culture with C2C12 myoblast feeder layer and undergo differentiation into cells from all three germ layers, including cardiomyocytes and vascular endothelial cells. Isolation of VSLEs using fluorescence-activated cell sorting multiparameter live cell sorting system is dependent on gating strategy based on their small size and expression of PSC and absence of hematopoietic lineage markers. VSELs express early cardiac and endothelial lineages markers (GATA-4, Nkx2.5/Csx, VE-cadherin, and von Willebrand factor), SDF-1 chemokine receptor CXCR4, and undergo rapid mobilization in acute MI and ischemic stroke. Experiments in mice showed differentiation of BM-derived VSELs into cardiac myocytes and effectiveness of expanded and pre-differentiated VSLEs in improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction

NuTria - system modelowania powierzchni NURBS i powierzchni triangulowanych

The paper presents the idea of a 3D modeller dedicated to bent metal plates modelling, designed as a part of a greater application and destined for small and medium-sized enterprises. The aim of the application is to deliver a simple tool for free form surface modelling in two independent modes: as a rectangular parametric NURBS surface defined by regular net of points or alternatively as a surface smoothly interpolating an irregular set of data points, exposed to the process of triangulation and multiple subdivision of mesh of triangles.W artykule zaprezentowano modeler powierzchni swobodnych zaprojektowany i zaimplementowany z przeznaczeniem do wdrożenia w małych i średnich przedsiębiorstwach. System pracuje w dwóch niezależnych trybach: NURBS i Triangulacja. W trybie NURBS służy do modelowania gładkich powierzchni o ciągłej krzywiźnie, zadanych regularnymi siatkami punktów. W trybie Triangulacja (Mesh) służy do wprowadzania nieregularnych zbiorów punktów i generowania na ich podstawie powierzchni interpolujacej. Zadanie to rozwiązano za pomocą triangulacji, a następnie iteracyjnego zagęszczania siatek (tzw. subdivision) z użyciem zmodyfikowanej metody Butterfly. Zapis wyników działania w obu trybach do postaci plików DXF umożliwia przekazywanie danych do innych aplikacji, w celu ich późniejszego wykorzystania do analiz metodą elementu skończonego, w procesie obróbki zaprojektowanej powierzchni itp

Influence of Internal Carotid Endarterectomy on Patients' Life Quality

Appropriate treatment of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis can reduce ischemic cerebral strokes' risk and in some cases eliminate neurological symptoms. Endarterectomy is the most common surgical treatment.The aim of the study was to examine the influence of carotid endarterectomy on neurological symptoms and patients' life quality.Material and methods. The material comprised of 102 patients who underwent endarterectomy. All of the patients were given a questionnaire with a list of neurological symptoms (vertigos, headaches, left hemiparesis, right hemiparesis, numbness, acroparaesthesia, single syncope, recurrent syncopies, diplopia, tinnitus, concentration disturbances and aphasia) and with a numerical life quality scale to fill in before and a year after the surgery.Results. Vertigo, headache, single and recurrent syncopies and aphasia as well as cerebral stroke and amaurosis fugax were significantly more rarely observed after endarterectomy. The mean value of patients' life quality evaluated on a 10-point Likert scale after the surgery increased (3.9 vs 6.3).Conclusions. A year after carotid endarterectomy patients' life quality improves which is connected with neurological symptoms' regression and no further symptoms' occurrence due to a preventive role of the surgery