Histological analysis of forearm superficial veins structure

Background: The connection between the basilic and cephalic veins of the forearm shows considerable interindividual variation. Depending on its form, the most common types of venous connections are M-, N- or Y-shaped. This study aims to compare the metric traits of the basilic and cephalic veins and the relative content of smooth muscle/collagen fibers/elastic fibers in their walls and to determine the differences between the forearm venous systems. Materials and methods: The study was performed on 42 veins collected from 26 deceased individuals between the ages of 19 and 50 years. Vein sections were fixed, embedded in paraffin blocks and used to prepare histological slides, stained according to pentachrome Movat's method. Venous metrics were assessed and the percentage of muscle, elastic and collagen fibers was determined using the Trainable Weka segmentation. Statistical analysis compared the M-type vein with the Y- and N-types, which were combined into one category. Results and Conclusions: Analysis showed a greater tunica media thickness in the M-type vein, with a greater lumen circumference in the Y/N types. Correlation analysis showed a correlation of vein metrics with elastic fibre content and a weak inverse correlation with the tunica media thickness. It can be hypothesized that the increased performance of N- and Y-types may be related to elastic fibers content

Chitin scaffolds derived from the marine demosponge Aplysina fistularis stimulate the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells

The use of stem cells for tissue regeneration is a prominent trend in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In particular, dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have garnered considerable attention. When exposed to specific conditions, DPSCs have the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and odontoblasts. Scaffolds are critical for cell differentiation because they replicate the 3D microenvironment of the niche and enhance cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. The purpose of this study is to present the biological responses of human DPSCs to a purified 3D chitin scaffold derived from the marine demosponge Aplysina fistularis and modified with hydroxyapatite (HAp). Responses examined included proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation. The control culture consisted of the human osteoblast cell line, hFOB 1.19. Electron microscopy was used to examine the ultrastructure of the cells (transmission electron microscopy) and the surface of the scaffold (scanning electron microscopy). Cell adhesion to the scaffolds was determined by neutral red and crystal violet staining methods. An alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay was used for assessing osteoblast/odontoblast differentiation. We evaluated the expression of osteogenic marker genes by performing ddPCR for ALP, RUNX2, and SPP1 mRNA expression levels. The results show that the chitin biomaterial provides a favorable environment for DPSC and hFOB 1.19 cell adhesion and supports both cell proliferation and differentiation. The chitin scaffold, especially with HAp modification, isolated from A. fistularis can make a significant contribution to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Cardiovascular Risk and Endothelial Dysfunction in Primary Sjogren Syndrome Is Related to the Disease Activity

The aim of our study was to evaluate if endothelial-dysfunction (ED) occurs in patients with primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS) and whether it is associated with the disease characteristics and activity. A total of 46 patients with pSS and 30 controls, without known cardiovascular disease, were enrolled in this study. A flow-mediated-dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, plasma concentrations of the nitric oxide (NO) metabolic pathway (ADMA, L-arginine, SDMA, cGMP), and markers of endothelial inflammatory function (PAI-1, sE-selectin) and angiogenesis (angiostatin, VEGF) were analyzed. The FMD was significantly lower in pSS patients (7.56 ± 3.08 vs. 10.91 ± 1.02%, p = 0.043) and positively correlated with the Ro/SS-A-antibodies (r = 0.34, p = 0.03), pulmonary involvement (r = 0.52, p = 0.001) and inversely with ADMA (r = −0.35, p = 0.04). Plasma ADMA, L-arginine and angiostatin levels were significantly higher in pSS patients (0.39 ± 0.08 vs. 0.36 ± 0.06 µmol/L, p = 0.05; 29.07 ± 6.7 vs. 25.4 ± 5.23 µmol/L, p = 0.01; 152.25 ± 60.99 vs. 120.07 ± 38.7 pg/mL, p = 0.0, respectively). ADMA was associated with ESSDAI (r = 0.33, p = 0.02), SCORE (r = 0.57, p = 0.00003) and focus score (r = 0.38, p = 0.04). In the multiple regression analysis, the ESSDAI was significantly and independently associated with plasma ADMA levels (β = 0.24, p = 0.04). Moreover, plasma cGMP concentrations were negatively correlated with the disease duration (r = −0.31, p = 0.03). Endothelial function is impaired in patients with pSS and associated with the measures of disease activity, which supports the key-role of inflammation in developing and maintaining accelerated atherosclerosis

Symmetry and Asymmetry of the Antegonial Notch

The symmetry of a human organism’s structure is an expression of the general law of development regarding organic life. Assessing the symmetry of the face and its individual components is one of the most important factors when it comes to the overall assessment of a patient’s stomatognathic system and is essential in the planning of orthodontic and prosthetic treatment. The aim of this study is to assess the symmetry of the occurrence and the measurement parameters of the pre-angular notch of the mandible. The study included computed tomography scans of 187 patients who all exhibited a visible pre-angular notch in the mandible. There was a noticeable and measurable asymmetry in the length of the angle of the notches as well as in the area of the notch angles. The differentiation of the right- and left-side measurements points to the existence of a fluctuating asymmetry. Other measurements which describe the pre-angular notch of the lower jaw do not show asymmetry

New Molecular Markers Involved in Regulation of Ovarian Granulosa Cell Morphogenesis, Development and Differentiation during Short-Term Primary In Vitro Culture—Transcriptomic and Histochemical Study Based on Ovaries and Individual Separated Follicles

Nowadays, science has a lot of knowledge about the physiology of ovarian processes, especially folliculogenesis, hormone production and ovulation. However, the molecular basis for these processes remains largely undiscovered. The cell layer surrounding the growing oocyte—granulosa cells—are characterized by high physiological capabilities (e.g., proliferation, differentiation) and potential for growth in primary cultures, which predisposes them for analysis in the context of possible application of their cultures in advanced methods of assisted reproduction. In this study, we have used standard molecular approaches to analyze markers of these processes in primarily in vitro cultured porcine granulosa, subjected to conditions usually applied to cultures of similar cells. The material for our research came from commercially slaughtered pigs. The cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion of tissues and in vitro culture in appropriate conditions. The obtained genetic material (RNA) was collected at specific time intervals (0 h—before culture; reference, 48, 98, 144 h) and then analyzed using expression microarrays. Genes that showed a fold change greater than |2| and an adjusted p value lower than 0.05 were described as differentially expressed. Three groups of genes: “Cell morphogenesis”, “cell differentiation” and “cell development” were analyzed. From 265 differently expressed genes that belong to chosen ontology groups we have selected DAPL1, CXCL10, NEBL, IHH, TGFBR3, SCUBE1, DAB1, ITM2A, MCOLN3, IGF1 which are most downregulated and PDPN, CAV1, TMOD1, TAGLN, IGFBP5, ITGB3, LAMB1, FN1, ITGA2, POSTN genes whose expression is upregulated through the time of culture, on which we focused in downstream analysis. The results were also validated using RT-qPCR. The aim of our work was to conduct primary in vitro culture of granulosa cells, as well as to analyze the expression of gene groups in relation to the proliferation of follicular granulosa cells in the model of primary culture in real time. This knowledge should provide us with a molecular insight into the processes occurring during the in vitro cultures of porcine granulosa cells, serving as a basic molecular entry on the extent of the loss of their physiological properties, as well as gain of new, culture-specific traits

Quantitative Phase Imaging Detecting the Hypoxia-Induced Patterns in Healthy and Neoplastic Human Colonic Epithelial Cells

Hypoxia is a frequent phenomenon during carcinogenesis and may lead to functional and structural changes in proliferating cancer cells. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common neoplasms in which hypoxia is associated with progression. The aim of this study was to assess the optical parameters and microanatomy of CRC and the normal intestinal epithelium cells using the digital holotomography (DHT) method. The examination was conducted on cancer (HT-29, LoVo) and normal colonic cells (CCD-18Co) cultured in normoxic and hypoxic environments. The assessment included optical parameters such as the refractive index (RI) and dry mass as well as the morphological features. Hypoxia decreased the RI in all cells as well as in their cytoplasm, nucleus, and nucleoli. The opposite tendency was noted for spheroid-vesicular structures, where the RI was higher for the hypoxic state. The total volume of hypoxic CCD-18Co and LoVo cells was decreased, while an increase in this parameter was observed for HT-29 cells. Hypoxia increased the radius and cell volume, including the dry mass of the vesicular content. The changes in the optics and morphology of hypoxic cells may suggest the possibility of using DHT in the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs)

Identifying the Molecular Mechanisms and Types of Cell Death Induced by <i>bio</i>- and <i>pyr</i>-Silica Nanoparticles in Endothelial Cells

The term “nanosilica” refers to materials containing ultrafine particles. They have gained a rapid increase in popularity in a variety of applications and in numerous aspects of human life. Due to their unique physicochemical properties, SiO2 nanoparticles have attracted significant attention in the field of biomedicine. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the cellular response to stress which is induced by the exposure of cells to both biogenic and pyrogenic silica nanoparticles and which may lead to their death. Both TEM and fluorescence microscopy investigations confirmed molecular changes in cells after treatment with silica nanoparticles. The cytotoxic activity of the compounds and intracellular RNS were determined in relation to HMEC-1 cells using the fluorimetric method. Apoptosis was quantified by microscopic assessment and by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the impact of nanosilica on cell migration and cell cycle arrest were determined. The obtained results compared the biological effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles extracted from Urtica dioica L. and pyrogenic material and indicated that both types of NPs have an impact on RNS production causing apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Although mesoporous silica nanoparticles did not cause cell cycle arrest, at the concentration of 50 μg/mL and higher they could disturb redox balance and stimulate cell migration

New Gene Markers Expressed in Porcine Oviductal Epithelial Cells Cultured Primary In Vitro Are Involved in Ontological Groups Representing Physiological Processes of Porcine Oocytes

Changes that occur within oviducts after fertilization are dependent on post-ovulation events, including oocyte-oviduct interactions. Although general processes are well-defined, the molecular basis are poorly understood. Recently, new marker genes involved in ‘cell development’, ‘cell growth’, ‘cell differentiation’ and ‘cell maturation’ processes have been identified in porcine oocytes. The aim of the study was to assess the expression profile of genes in primary in vitro cultured oviductal epithelial cells (OECs), clustered in Gene Ontology groups which enveloped markers also identified in porcine oocytes. OECs (from 45 gilts) were surgically removed and cultured in vitro for ≤ 30 days, and then subjected to molecular analyses. The transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of cells cultured during 7, 15 and 30 days were investigated. Additionally, morphological/histochemical analyzes were performed. The results of genes expression profiles were validated after using RT-qPCR. The results showed a significant upregulation of UNC45B, NOX4, VLDLR, ITGB3, FMOD, SGCE, COL1A2, LOX, LIPG, THY1 and downregulation of SERPINB2, CD274, TXNIP, CELA1, DDX60, CRABP2, SLC5A1, IDO1, ANPEP, FST. Detailed knowledge of the molecular pathways occurring in the OECs and the gametes that contact them may contribute both to developments of basic science of physiology, and new possibilities in advanced biotechnology of assisted reproduction

Human Granulosa Cells—Stemness Properties, Molecular Cross-Talk and Follicular Angiogenesis

The ovarian follicle is the basic functional unit of the ovary, comprising theca cells and granulosa cells (GCs). Two different types of GCs, mural GCs and cumulus cells (CCs), serve different functions during folliculogenesis. Mural GCs produce oestrogen during the follicular phase and progesterone after ovulation, while CCs surround the oocyte tightly and form the cumulus oophurus and corona radiata inner cell layer. CCs are also engaged in bi-directional metabolite exchange with the oocyte, as they form gap-junctions, which are crucial for both the oocyte’s proper maturation and GC proliferation. However, the function of both GCs and CCs is dependent on proper follicular angiogenesis. Aside from participating in complex molecular interplay with the oocyte, the ovarian follicular cells exhibit stem-like properties, characteristic of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Both GCs and CCs remain under the influence of various miRNAs, and some of them may contribute to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) occurrence. Considering increasing female fertility problems worldwide, it is of interest to develop new strategies enhancing assisted reproductive techniques. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider GCs as ovarian stem cells in terms of the cellular features and molecular pathways involved in their development and interactions as well as outline their possible application in translational medicine