Emerging Approaches for Cardiovascular Stem Cell Imaging

Stem cell therapies offer potential therapeutic alternatives for coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. To a lesser extent, stem cell transplantations are used for experimental treatment of congenital heart conditions, atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease, and other cardiovascular pathologies. The efficacy of stem cell transplants on the aforementioned diseases has been inconsistent, and the specific regenerative mechanisms by which stem cells work are not well understood. Thus, a reliable and efficient method of cell tracking and monitoring would be beneficial. The different imaging strategies and modalities for cell tracking, as well as the latest approaches to cell labeling in this field, are reviewed in the hope that this will foster a better understanding of the best methods to treat cardiovascular diseases with cellular therapeutics.     

Parachute mitral valve in a young adult with recurrent pulmonary oedema

A parachute mitral valve is a rare congenital malformation resulting from fusion of the mitral chordae tendineae and their attachment to the one prominent papillary muscle. It can be found either as an isolated lesion or, more often, associated with left heart obstructive lesions, patent ductus arteriosus or ventricular septal defect. Congenital mitral stenosis usually presents with severe symptoms in early childhood, otherwise remains stable and hardly ever requires surgical intervention. We present a case of a young adult with severe stenosis of a parachute mitral valve and history of recurrent pulmonary oedema treated by mitral commissurotomy.     

Genome protective effect of metformin as revealed by reduced level of constitutive DNA damage signaling

We have shown before that constitutive DNA damage signaling represented by H2AX-Ser139 phosphorylation and ATM activation in untreated normal and tumor cells is a reporter of the persistent DNA replication stress induced by endogenous oxidants, the by-products of aerobic respiration. In the present study we observed that exposure of normal mitogenically stimulated lymphocytes or tumor cell lines A549, TK6 and A431 to metformin, the specific activator of 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and an inhibitor of mTOR signaling, resulted in attenuation of constitutive H2AX phosphorylation and ATM activation. The effects were metformin-concentration dependent and seen even at the pharmacologically pertinent 0.1 mM drug concentration. The data also show that intracellular levels of endogenous reactive oxidants able to oxidize 2',7'-dihydro-dichlorofluorescein diacetate was reduced in metformin-treated cells. Since persistent constitutive DNA replication stress, particularly when paralleled by mTOR signaling, is considered to be the major cause of aging, the present findings are consistent with the notion that metformin, by reducing both DNA replication stress and mTOR-signaling, slows down aging and/or cell senescence processes.     

Cerebral tuber count and its impact on mental outcome of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex

Purpose: The aim of the study was to reveal the relationships between the tuber count of the brain found in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and their cognitive outcome. Methods: A single‐center, retrospective analysis was performed of patients with documented TSC seen from 1988 to 2010 at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland. Key Findings: Sixty‐two patients were analyzed, and there was a significant correlation between younger age at the first seizure and developmental delay. The patients who did not develop seizures had normal development, despite some presenting with higher tuber load than those with seizures. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the number of tubers within the right temporal lobe and cognition. Significance: Our findings confirm our hypothesis that the cognitive outcome in TSC is more dependent on the age of the seizure onset rather than on the tuber count.     

Validation analysis of the Polish version of the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire (MusiQoL)

Background and purposeThe aim of this study was to perform a validation analysis of the Polish adaptation of the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life Questionnaire, MusiQoL.Material and methodsValidation analysis included the translation of the original English version into Polish according to translation principles and the analysis of convergent validity, internal reliability and reproducibility of the Polish version of MusiQoL. The study included 150 randomly chosen patients (109 women and 41 men) with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosed according to McDonald criteria. Mean age of patients was 41 ± 10 years and mean disease duration was 11.7 ± 7.2 years. The patients completed the examined MusiQoL, the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29). Data regarding sociodemographic status and MS history were collected. The disability of the patients was assessed according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The examination was repeated after 28 ± 4 days.ResultsThe internal reliability, convergent validity and reproducibility of MusiQoL were satisfactory. The dimensions of the scale exhibited high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha from 0.67 to 0.90). The MusiQoL correlated with FAMS (positive correlations), EDSS and MSIS-29 (negatively).ConclusionsPsychometric-statistical analysis showed that the Polish version of MusiQoL is a valuable measure to examine the health-related quality of life of Polish MS patients.     

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children as the result of aseptic meningitis - a report of two cases

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammation of the spinal cord and brain. Diagnosis of ADEM, due to its rare occurrence and lack of definite laboratory indices, is difficult and is never totally certain. The clinical criterion required for the diagnosis is presence of acute symptoms from the brain and/or spine with fever, occurring after viral or bacterial infection, vaccination or serum administration. Differentiation between ADEM and acute multiple sclerosis in children is difficult, and diagnosis of ADEM may only be confirmed after years of observation, especially as multiple sclerosis is more common than ADEM. The most useful tool in differentiation between the two diseases is MRI. The aim of the study was to present two cases of ADEM with unknown aetiology after aseptic meningitis in children.     

Surgical treatment of a ruptured giant renal artery aneurysm--case report and literature review

Renal artery aneurysms are the second most common visceral artery aneurysms after splenic artery aneurysms, and before hepatic artery aneurysms. The study presented a case of a ruptured giant right renal artery aneurysm in a female patient. The presented case is worth mentioning, due to the giant size of the lesion. The diameter of the aneurysm exceeded 10 cm. Available literature data mentioned single reports of such large aneurysms located in the renal arteries. In spite of the fact that renal artery aneurysms are the second most common visceral artery aneurysms, their management is accompanied by some controversy. Literature data mentioned the dominance of endovascular techniques. However, surgical treatment remains to be the most effective and radical method.     

Residual choledocholithiasis: modern realities

In 748 patients, ageing 28-80 yrs, residual calculi of common biliary duct were removed, using various methods. Transfistular removing of biliary calculi was the method of choice in presence of external drain and endoscopic papillosphincterotomy (EPST) - in its absence. Efficacy of the first variant have had constituted 95.2% and of the second--88%. In 9.5% patients the reoperations were performed--open or laparoscopic. Late results in majority of patients were studied in terms not less than 3 years. Good late results of transdrainage nonoperative elimination of calculi in the first 3 years have had constituted 90% and in the next 6-10 years--99%; while in EPST--accordingly, 85 and 88%. In spite of constantly widening possibilities of the residual choledocholithiasis elimination the main task for modern biliary surgery--the prophylaxis of this not rare complication of cholelithic disease--persist.