Soft tissue regeneration holds significant promise for addressing various clinical challenges, ranging from craniofacial and oral tissue defects to blood vessels, muscle, and fibrous tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising tool in regenerative medicine due to their unique characteristics and potential to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. This comprehensive review explores the role of MSCs in different aspects of soft tissue regeneration, including their application in craniofacial and oral soft tissue regeneration, nerve regeneration, blood vessel regeneration, muscle regeneration, and fibrous tissue regeneration. By examining the latest research findings and clinical advancements, this article aims to provide insights into the current state of MSC-based therapies in soft tissue regenerative medicine.

Cancer is influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME), which includes factors such as pH, hypoxia, immune cells, and blood vessels. These factors affect cancer cell growth and behavior. The tumor microenvironment triggers adaptive responses such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, unfolded protein response (UPR), and autophagy, posing a challenge to cancer treatment. The UPR aims to restore ER homeostasis by involving key regulators inositol-requiring enzyme-1(IRE1), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Additionally, ER-phagy, a selective form of autophagy, eliminates ER components under stress conditions. Understanding the interplay between hypoxia, ER stress, UPR, and autophagy in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies to overcome drug resistance. Targeting the components of the UPR and modulating ER-phagy could potentially improve the efficacy of existing cancer therapies. Future research should define the conditions under which ER stress responses and ER-phagy act as pro-survival versus pro-death mechanisms and develop precise methods to quantify ER-phagic flux in tumor cells.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) significantly influence tumor progression within the tumor microenvironment (TME). This review examines the pro-tumorigenic roles of ASCs, focusing on paracrine signaling, direct cell–cell interactions, and immunomodulation. ASC-mediated mitochondrial transfer through tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) and gap junctions (GJs) plays a significant role in enhancing cancer cell survival and metabolism. Cancer cells with dysfunctional mitochondria acquire mitochondria from ASCs to meet their metabolic needs and thrive in the TME. Targeting mitochondrial transfer, modulating ASC function, and influencing metabolic pathways are potential therapeutic strategies. However, challenges like TME complexity, specificity, safety concerns, and resistance mechanisms must be addressed. Disrupting the ASC–cancer cell–mitochondria axis offers a promising approach to cancer therapy.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) following Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is associated with an increased risk of complications. ERCP is associated with increased incidence of complications during LC. Surgery may be performed in same anesthesia with ERCP or up to 6 weeks later. We aimed to determine the benefits of performing LC within 72hrs of ERCP. METHODOLOGY: After institutional ethical approval this prospective cross-sectional study was performed at Madinah Teaching Hospital Faisalabad from April 2019 to June 2020. By performing convenience sampling, all patients undergoing LC after uneventful ERCP in our hospital were included. Study population was divided based on interval between ERCP and Cholecystectomy; Group-A had LC within 72hrs of ERCP, Group B had LC in same hospital stay after 72hrs and Group-C patients were discharged after ERCP and readmitted for LC. Data was collected using custom designed questionnaire, tabulated using Microsoft Excel 2016 and subjected to statistical tests to compare outcomes. Primary outcome was incidence of complications, while operative time, hospital stay and cost were considered as secondary outcomes. p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Total 75 patients were included in study, 32 in Group-A, 20 in Group-B and 23 in Group-C. Average age was 44.987 ± 14.819 and study population was predominantly female (86.67%). Complication rate, duration of hospital stay and average cost were less in Group A as compared to other groups (p<0.05). Mean operative time in 3 groups was similar. CONCLUSION: LC within 72hrs after ERCP provides superior results in terms of fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and lesser cost.