The contemporary theory of the inflammatory-immunological pathomechanism of atherosclerosis includes the participation of interleukin-1β (Il), Il-6, Il-10, Il-12, RANTES, and homocysteine in this process. The knowledge on the direct effect of hyperhomocysteinemia on inflammatory-state-related atherosclerosis is rather scarce. Our study is the first to account for the effects of homocysteine on the secretion of Il-10 and RANTES in vitro conditions. For this purpose, human mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) were cultured in vitro and exposed to homocysteine at high concentrations. Subsequently, the concentrations of cytokines were assayed in the cell culture supernatant using flow cytofluorimetry. It has been shown that, in the presence of homocysteine, the secretion of IL-1, IL-6 and RANTES by PBMNCs was increased, whereas IL-10 concentration was significantly lower than that of the supernatant derived from a mitogen-stimulated cell culture without homocysteine. The secretion of Il-12 by PBMNCs exposed exclusively to mitogen, did not differ from homologous cells also treated with homocysteine. Therefore, in our opinion, high-concentration homocysteine affects the progression of atherosclerosis by increasing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines secreted by PBMNCs, such as Il-1β, Il-6, RANTES, and by attenuating the secretion of Il-10.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of statins on the secretion of angiogenesis mediators by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. The study group comprised 30 participants and included: 10 statin-treated patients with diabetes, 10 statin-free diabetic subjects, and 10 statin-free non-diabetic individuals. PBMCs isolated from the blood were cultured in vitro in standard conditions and in an environment mimicking hyperglycemia. Culture supernatants were evaluated for VEGF, MCP-1, Il-10, and Il-12 by flow cytometry using commercial BD^TM. Cytometric Bead Array tests. The secretion of VEGF, MCP-1 and Il-12 by PBMCs, cultured both in standard and hyperglycemic conditions, was significantly lower in the statin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes in comparison with the statin-free diabetic patients. Conversely, the secretion of Il-10 was higher in the statin-treated than in the statin-free diabetic patients. VEGF, MCP-1 and Il-12 levels in PBMCs supernatants from the glucose-containing medium were higher than those from the standard medium in each of the diabetic groups. The results of the study suggest that statins in low doses exhibit an antiangiogenic activity, reducing the secretion of potent proangiogenic factors, such as VEGF and MCP-1, and increasing the secretion of antiangiogenic Il-10 by PBMCs, also under hyperglycemic conditions characteristic for type 2 diabetes.

Background: The number of publications related to rivaroxaban is growing, making it difficult for scientists to review relevant materials. Objectives: This bibliometric analysis is focused on highlighting hot spots and new trends associated with rivaroxaban studies and provides references and guidance for further research. Methods: A comparison between countries, journals, authors, and organizations was performed. Microsoft Excel 2021 and VOSviewer were used to process and visualize data extracted from Web of Science. The time range was set from 1991 to late 2024. A total of 6979 articles were analyzed and bibliometric maps of co-citations of references and co-occurrences of the keywords were built. Results: Relative research interest increased until 2021, when it started to drop. The new trends in publications related to rivaroxaban are associated with a comparison of NOAC therapy outcomes with previously used vitamin K antagonists (warfarin). The research was focused also on new NOAC representatives, medical conditions treated with NOAC, and safety of the therapy. New trending topics are related to ABCB1, peripheral artery disease, direct-acting oral anticoagulants, PCI, and SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis showed that increasing attention is being paid to the medical conditions treated with NOACs and issues related to the safety of this therapy.

Aim. To investigate the possible effects of Passiflora extract on VEGF and TGF-β1 mRNA expression – growth factors closely related to the development of diabetes in the cardiovascular system. Material and methods. The animal model of type 2 diabetes, rich-fat/STZ Wistar rats, was used. Animals were randomised into four groups: Passiflora-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus model group; metformin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus model group; placebo-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus model group; and placebo-treated non-diabetic control group. Passiflora incarnata leaf extract was administered orally once daily for eight consecutive weeks. mRNA VEGF, VEGF-R1, VEGF-R2 and TGF-β1 expression were measured in the myocardium and the aorta. Results. Passiflora incarnata extract increases VEGF and VEGFR2 mRNA expression in the myocardium of rats with type 2 diabetes and decreases expression in the aortal wall. The expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in both the myocardium and the aorta is reduced in Passiflora incarnata-treated rats with diabetes. Most observed effects are independent of the animals' current metabolic status. Conclusions. The current data provide novel findings on the beneficial effects of Passiflora extract on the myocardium in the context of type 2 diabetes, potentially through mechanisms involving VEGF and TGF-β1. However, the significance of the impact of Passiflora extract on the aorta wall via VEGF and TGF-β1 is uncertain.