The recent, fast development of nanotechnology is reflected in the medical sciences. Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) are an excellent example. Thanks to their superparamagnetic properties, SPIONs have found application in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and magnetic hyperthermia. Unlike bulk iron, SPIONs do not have remnant magnetization in the absence of the external magnetic field; therefore, a precise remote control over their action is possible. This makes them also useful as a component of the advanced drug delivery systems. Due to their easy synthesis, biocompatibility, multifunctionality, and possibility of further surface modification with various chemical agents, SPIONs could support many fields of medicine. SPIONs have also some disadvantages, such as their high uptake by macrophages. Nevertheless, based on the ongoing studies, they seem to be very promising in oncological therapy (especially in the brain, breast, prostate, and pancreatic tumors). The main goal of our paper is, therefore, to present the basic properties of SPIONs, to discuss their current role in medicine, and to review their applications in order to inspire future developments of new, improved SPION systems.

Among the vast variety of plant-derived phytochemicals, the group of carotenoids has continuously been investigated in order to optimize their potential application in the area of dietary intervention and medicine. One organ which has been especially targeted in many of these studies and clinical trials is the human prostate. Without doubt, carotenoids (and their endogenous derivatives—retinoids and other apo-carotenoids) are involved in intra- and intercellular signaling, cell growth and differentiation of prostate tissue. Due to the accumulation of new data on the role of different carotenoids such as lycopene (LC) and β-carotene (BC) in prostatic physiology and pathology, the present review aims to cover the past ten years of research in this area. Data from experimental studies are presented in the first part of the review, while epidemiological studies are disclosed and discussed in the second part. The objective of this compilation is to emphasize the present state of knowledge regarding the most potent molecular targets of carotenoids and their main metabolites, as well as to propose promising carotenoid agents for the prevention and treatment of prostatic diseases.

Among the vast variety of plant-derived phytochemicals, the group of carotenoids has continuously been investigated in order to optimize their potential application in the area of dietary intervention related to chronic diseases. One organ that has been especially targeted in many of these studies and clinical trials is the human prostate. Without doubt, carotenoids (and their endogenous derivatives—retinoids and apo-carotenoids) are involved in a plethora of intra- and intercellular signaling, cell growth, and differentiation of prostate tissue. Due to the accumulation of new data on the role of different carotenoids, such as lycopene (LYC) and β-carotene (BC), in prostatic physiology and pathology, the present review aimed to cover the past ten years of research in this regard. Data from experimental studies are presented in the first part of the review, while epidemiological studies are disclosed in this second part. The objective of this compilation was to emphasize the present state of knowledge about the most potent molecular targets of carotenoids, as well as to propose promising carotenoid agents for the prevention and possible treatment of prostatic diseases.

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common tumor in males. The search for appropriate therapeutic options against advanced PC has been in process for several decades. Especially after cessation of the effectiveness of hormonal therapy (i.e., emergence of castration-resistant PC), PC management options have become scarce and the prognosis is poor. To overcome this stage of disease, an array of natural and synthetic substances underwent investigation. An interesting and promising class of compounds constitutes the derivatives of natural retinoids. Synthesized on the basis of the structure of retinoic acid, they present unique and remarkable properties that warrant their investigation as antitumor drugs. However, there is no up-to-date compilation that consecutively summarizes the current state of knowledge about synthetic retinoids with regard to PC. Therefore, in this review, we present the results of the experimental studies on synthetic retinoids conducted within the last decade. Our primary aim is to highlight the molecular targets of these compounds and to identify their potential promise in the treatment of PC.

Background: Revascularisation strategy in patients with multi-vessel coronary disease and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains challenging. One of the potential treatment options is complete percutaneous revascularisation during index hospitalisation. This strategy could positively influence left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF). Aim: To investigate the long-term changes in LVEF and clinical outcome among patients with AMI after complete coronary revascularisation (CCR). Methods: Records of 171 patients with a diagnosis of AMI and multi-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) on index angiography, in whom CCR was performed as a staged procedure during initial hospitalisation, were analysed. Clinical data were collected from in-hospital medical records and discharge letters. Cardiac ultrasound (CU), with particular assessment of LVEF, was performed one day before discharge. Follow-up (FU) CU was collected from the out-patient department at least six months ± one week after discharge. Follow-up data, including major adverse cardiac events (MACE), were collected during follow-up visits by telephone. Depending on the LVEF change during the follow-up period, patients were divided into two groups. Patients with a decrease in the LVEF (D-LVEF group) were compared with patients with no changes (preserved) or improvement regarding LVEF (P/I-LVEF). Results: The median duration of the follow-up was 19 months (14–24 months). The median change in LVEF during observation was –5.0p% (IQR (–7.0)–(-2.75p.%)) in the D-LVEF group and +4.0% (IQR 1.0–5.0p%) in the P/I-LVEF group. Among patients in the P/I-LVEF group, there was a sub-group of patients with no change in LVEF (28 patients), and one demonstrating improvement in LVEF (104 patients). In the subgroup of patients with improved LVEF, the median change in LVEF was 4.5p% (IQR 2–6.25p%). Among patients with decreasing LVEF, there was a significantly higher risk of MACE (15 vs. 2.3%, p = 0.031), especially non-fatal AMI (10 vs. 0%, p = 0.017). We found the following among predictors concerning increased risk of MACE occurrence: urgent PCI (p = 0.004), hospitalisations regardless of cause (p = 0.028), EF worsening (p = 0.025), fasting glucose serum concentration (p = 0.024) and fasting triglyceride serum concentration (p = 0.027). Conclusions: Complete revascularisation (CR) at baseline (one stage) in patients with AMI and multi-vessel disease is associated with LVEF improvement and MACE rate reduction. Patients with worse LVEF have poor clinical outcome and a higher rate of MACE.

Therapeutic percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the treatment of choice in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). If optimally performed, PCI reduces myocardial injury and improves the likelihood of a positive clinical outcome. Therefore, the equal quality of PCI throughout both day and night shifts is of paramount importance. Our aim was to compare urgent diagnostic and therapeutic coronary interventions performed during day and night shifts. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 144 patients who underwent coronary angiography for AMI over six months in a tertiary referral center working in 24/7 mode. The patients’ characteristics, procedural data and the operator’s experience in interventional cardiology were compared according to the time of intervention during a day shift (8 a.m. until 8 p.m., group A, n = 106) and night shift (from 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. next day, group B, n = 36). The baseline characteristics of the subjects of groups A and B were similar, except for a higher proportion of AMI without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTEMI) in patients who underwent coronary angiography during regular working hours compared to off-hours (58% vs. 34%, p < 0.05). The average time of diagnostic coronary angiography was longer by about 5 min during the day shift (28.5 ± 12.2 vs. 23.8 ± 8.9 min, p < 0.05), while other procedural data, including the arterial access route, the number of catheters needed and the contrast-medium volume, were similar. The use of additional diagnostic tools for coronary lesion assessment (intracoronary ultrasound or fractional flow reserve measurement) was almost twice as frequent during regular working hours (15% vs. 8%). Urgent therapeutic PCI on the culprit artery was performed in 79% and 89% of group A and B patients, respectively. The groups did not differ in procedural characteristics regarding the total interventional session, including both diagnostic angiography and therapeutic PCI, such as total procedure duration, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, stenting technique and total stent length. Coronary thrombectomy or rotational atherectomy were more frequently used in group A (27% vs. 15%, p = 0.16). The percentage of doctors with the least experience in interventional cardiology was, albeit insignificantly, lower during day shifts (31% vs. 42%). In conclusion, the majority of clinical and periprocedural characteristics appeared to be independent of intervention time, except for a longer duration of diagnostic coronary angiography during daytime. This finding could probably result from a higher proportion of NSTEMI patients frequently requiring additional angiographic projections and special techniques to properly identify the infarct-related artery during the day shift. Whether a tendency of less frequent use of additional tools at off-hours may also be due to a lower percentage of NSTEMI interventions at night, or whether this can be linked to lower availability of experienced operators, remains to be validated in a large study. The latter possibility, if confirmed, might encourage public health authorities and healthcare organizers to improve off-hours cathlab staffing with experienced interventionalists. Finally, additional obligatory training in special diagnostic and therapeutic invasive techniques might be advisable for the least experienced operators scheduled to work night shifts.