Changes in the Mechanical Properties of Alginate-Gelatin Hydrogels with the Addition of Pygeum africanum with Potential Application in Urology.

New hydrogel materials developed to improve soft tissue healing are an alternative for medical applications, such as tissue regeneration or enhancing the biotolerance effect in the tissue-implant-body fluid system. The biggest advantages of hydrogel materials are the presence of a large amount of water and a polymeric structure that corresponds to the extracellular matrix, which allows to create healing conditions similar to physiological ones. The present work deals with the change in mechanical properties of sodium alginate mixed with gelatin containing Pygeum africanum. The work primarily concentrates on the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the hydrogel materials produced by the sol-gel method. The antimicrobial activity of the hydrogels was investigated based on the population growth dynamics of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, as well as the degree of degradation after contact with urine using an innovative method with a urine flow simulation stand. On the basis of mechanical tests, it was found that sodium alginate-based hydrogels with gelatin showed weaker mechanical properties than without the additive. In addition, gelatin accelerates the degradation process of the produced hydrogel materials. Antimicrobial studies have shown that the presence of African plum bark extract in the hydrogel enhances the inhibitory effect on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The research topic was considered due to the increased demand from patients for medical devices to promote healing of urethral epithelial injuries in order to prevent the formation of urethral strictures.

EVs from BALF-Mediators of Inflammation and Potential Biomarkers in Lung Diseases.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been identified as key messengers of intracellular communication in health and disease, including the lung. EVs that can be found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) are released by multiple cells of the airways including bronchial epithelial cells, endothelial cells, alveolar macrophages, and other immune cells, and they have been shown to mediate proinflammatory signals in many inflammatory lung diseases. They transfer complex molecular cargo, including proteins, cytokines, lipids, and nucleic acids such as microRNA, between structural cells such as pulmonary epithelial cells and innate immune cells such as alveolar macrophages, shaping mutually their functions and affecting the alveolar microenvironment homeostasis. Here, we discuss this distinct molecular cargo of BALF-EVs in the context of inducing and propagating inflammatory responses in particular acute and chronic lung disorders. We present different identified cellular interactions in the inflammatory lung via EVs and their role in lung pathogenesis. We also summarize the latest studies on the potential use of BALF-EVs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of lung diseases, especially of lung cancer.

The Relationship between Fine Particle Matter (PM2.5) Exposure and Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases.

PM2.5 is one of the most harmful components of airborne pollution and includes particles with diameters of less than 2.5 µm. Almost 90% of the world's population lives in areas with poor air quality exceeding the norms established by the WHO. PM2.5 exposure affects various organs and systems of the human body including the upper respiratory tract which is one of the most prone to its adverse effects. PM2.5 can disrupt nasal epithelial cell metabolism, decrease the integrity of the epithelial barrier, affect mucociliary clearance, and alter the inflammatory process in the nasal mucosa. Those effects may increase the chance of developing upper respiratory tract diseases in areas with high PM2.5 pollution. PM2.5's contribution to allergic rhinitis (AR) and rhinosinusitis was recently thoroughly investigated. Numerous studies demonstrated various mechanisms that occur when subjects with AR or rhinosinusitis are exposed to PM2.5. Various immunological changes and alterations in the nasal and sinonasal epithelia were reported. These changes may contribute to the observations that exposure to higher PM2.5 concentrations may increase AR and rhinosinusitis symptoms in patients and the number of clinical visits. Thus, studying novel strategies against PM2.5 has recently become the focus of researchers' attention. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the effects of PM2.5 on healthy upper respiratory tract mucosa and PM2.5's contribution to AR and rhinosinusitis. Finally, we summarize the current advances in developing strategies against PM2.5 particles' effects on the upper respiratory tract.

Levels of small extracellular vesicles in patients treated with hyperbaric oxygenation.

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy involves the inhalation of pure oxygen in a pressure chamber under increased ambient pressure. Recent research indicates that circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) play important roles in human physiology and pathology. Therefore, the objective of this pilot study was to monitor the impact of HBO2 therapy on the levels of circulating sEVs in the serum of patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTI), aseptic bone necrosis (ABN) or idiopathic sudden sensory neural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Material and methods: Serum-derived sEVs were isolated and quantified in 80 patients before and after HBO2 therapy applied for NSTI, ISSNHL and ABN patients as well as in normal controls who received neither HBO2 therapy nor steroids. Results: We observed a significant increase of circulating sEVs in patients with ISSNHL after HBO2 therapy (p < 0.05), as well as significantly elevated levels of sEVs after HBO2 therapy compared to patients with NSTI (p < 0.05) and ABN (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The increase in the levels of sEVs in ISSNHL may be evidence for both the intended reduction of inflammation as a result of steroid therapy and the inhibitory effect of oxidative stress induced by HBO2 therapy. Thus, sEVs released during HBO2 therapy might play an important biological role in mediating the response to therapy and might be a promising approach to gain further insights into the therapeutic efficacy of HBO2 therapy.

HMGB1 Carried by Small Extracellular Vesicles Potentially Plays a Role in Promoting Acquired Middle Ear Cholesteatoma.

Cholesteatoma is a specific medical condition involving the abnormal, non-cancerous growth of skin-like tissue in the middle ear, potentially leading to a collection of debris and even infections. The receptor for advanced glycation (RAGE) and its ligand, high-mobility box 1 (HMGB1), are both known to be overexpressed in cholesteatoma and play a potential role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, we investigated the role of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in carrying HMGB1 and inducing disease-promoting effects in cholesteatoma. No significant differences in the concentration of isolated sEVs in the plasma of cholesteatoma patients (n = 17) and controls (n = 22) were found (p > 0.05); however, cholesteatoma-derived sEVs carried significantly higher levels of HMGB1 (p < 0.05). In comparison to sEVs isolated from the plasma of controls, cholesteatoma-derived sEVs significantly enhanced keratinocyte proliferation and IL-6 production (p < 0.05), potentially by engaging multiple activation pathways including MAPKp44/p42, STAT3, and the NF-κB pathway. Thus, HMGB1(+) sEVs emerge as a novel factor potentially promoting cholesteatoma progression.

Immunosuppressive Extracellular Vesicles as a Linking Factor in the Development of Tumor and Endometriotic Lesions in the Gynecologic Tract.

Both gynecological tumors and endometriosis require for their development a favorable environment, termed in the case of tumors a "pre-metastatic niche" and in case of endometriosis a "pro-endometriotic niche". This is characterized by chronic inflammation and immunosuppression that support the further progression of initial lesions. This microenvironment is established and shaped in the course of a vivid cross-talk between the tumor or endometrial cells with other stromal, endothelial and immune cells. There is emerging evidence that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in this cellular communication, mediating both in tumors and endometriosis similar immunosuppressive and pro-inflammatory mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the latest findings about EVs as immunosuppressive factors, highlighting the parallels between gynecological tumors and endometriosis. Furthermore, we outline their role as potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers as well as their future in therapeutic applications.

Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles from Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Plasma of Patients with Lung Lesions Using Fluorescence Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis.

The current lack of reliable methods for quantifying extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from complex biofluids significantly hinders translational applications in EV research. The recently developed fluorescence nanoparticle tracking analysis (FL-NTA) allows for the detection of EV-associated proteins, enabling EV content determination. In this study, we present the first comprehensive phenotyping of bronchopulmonary lavage fluid (BALF)-derived EVs from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients using classical EV-characterization methods as well as the FL-NTA method. We found that EV immunolabeling for the specific EV marker combined with the use of the fluorescent mode NTA analysis can provide the concentration, size, distribution, and surface phenotype of EVs in a heterogeneous solution. However, by performing FL-NTA analysis of BALF-derived EVs in comparison to plasma-derived EVs, we reveal the limitations of this method, which is suitable only for relatively pure EV isolates. For more complex fluids such as plasma, this method appears to not be sensitive enough and the measurements can be compromised. Our parallel presentation of NTA-based phenotyping of plasma and BALF EVs emphasizes the great impact of sample composition and purity on FL-NTA analysis that has to be taken into account in the further development of FL-NTA toward the detection of EV-associated cancer biomarkers.

Potential Roles of Tumor Cell- and Stroma Cell-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles in Promoting a Pro-Angiogenic Tumor Microenvironment.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are produced and released by all cells and are present in all body fluids. They exist in a variety of sizes, however, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), the EV subset with a size range from 30 to 150 nm, are of current interest. They are characterized by a distinct biogenesis and complex cargo composition, which reflects the cytosolic contents and cell-surface molecules of the parent cells. This cargo consists of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids and is competent in inducing signaling cascades in recipient cells after surface interactions or in initiating the generation of a functional protein by delivering nucleic acids. Based on these characteristics, sEVs are now considered as important mediators of intercellular communication. One hallmark of sEVs is the promotion of angiogenesis. It was shown that sEVs interact with endothelial cells (ECs) and promote an angiogenic phenotype, ultimately leading to increased vascularization of solid tumors and disease progression. It was also shown that sEVs reprogram cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and act in a functionally cooperative fashion to promote angiogenesis by a paracrine mechanism involving the differential expression and secretion of angiogenic factors from other cell types. In this review, we will focus on the distinct functions of tumor-cell-derived sEVs (TEX) in promotion of angiogenesis and describe their potential as a therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic therapies. Also, we will focus on non-cancer stroma-cell-derived small extracellular vesicles and their potential role in stimulating a pro-angiogenic TME.

MicroRNAs and Long Noncoding RNAs in Coronary Artery Disease: New and Potential Therapeutic Targets.

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs, play an important role in coronary artery disease onset and progression. The ability of ncRNAs to simultaneously regulate many target genes allows them to modulate various key processes involved in atherosclerosis, including lipid metabolism, smooth muscle cell proliferation, autophagy, and foam cell formation. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of the most important ncRNAs in coronary artery disease. Moreover, various other promising microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs that attract substantial scientific interest as potential therapeutic targets in coronary artery disease and merit further investigation are presented.

MicroRNAs as Biomarkers of Systemic Changes in Response to Endurance Exercise-A Comprehensive Review.

Endurance sports have an unarguably beneficial influence on cardiovascular health and general fitness. Regular physical activity is considered one of the most powerful tools in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. MicroRNAs are small particles that regulate the post-transcription gene expression. Previous studies have shown that miRNAs might be promising biomarkers of the systemic changes in response to exercise, before they can be detected by standard imaging or laboratory methods. In this review, we focused on four important physiological processes involved in adaptive changes to various endurance exercises (namely, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac myocyte damage, fibrosis, and inflammation). Moreover, we discussed miRNAs' correlation with cardiopulmonary fitness parameter (VO2max). After a detailed literature search, we found that miR-1, miR-133, miR-21, and miR-155 are crucial in adaptive response to exercise.