The objective of this study was to investigate if delivering multiple doses of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) post-surgery in addition to pre-incisional administration significantly impacts the wound healing process in a rat model. Full-thickness skin incisions were carried out on the dorsum of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats in six locations. Fifteen minutes prior to the incision, half of the sites were treated with a control solution, with the wounds on the contralateral side treated with solutions containing 0.015%, 0.03% and 0.045% of NAC. In the case of the NAC treated group, further injections were given every 8 h for three days. On days 3, 7, 14 and 60 post-op, rats were sacrificed to gather material for the histological analysis, which included histomorphometry, collagen fiber organization analysis, immunohistochemistry and Abramov scale scoring. It was determined that scars treated with 0.015% NAC had significantly lower reepithelization than the control at day 60 post-op (p = 0.0018). Scars treated with 0.045% NAC had a significantly lower collagen fiber variance compared to 0.015% NAC at day 14 post-op (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04) and a lower mean scar width than the control at day 60 post-op (p = 0.0354 and p = 0.0224). No significant differences in the recruitment of immune cells and histological parameters were found. The results point to a limited efficacy of multiple NAC injections post-surgery in wound healing.

Background/Objectives: Patients suffering from rare diseases are particularly vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency. The role of vitamin D status in rare disease management remains insufficiently investigated and employed in routine clinical practice. Methods: This review analyses current data on vitamin D status in selected rare diseases of organs involved in vitamin D metabolism: skin (epidermolysis bullosa, morphea), liver (autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis), kidney (Alport syndrome, Fabry disease), and cystic fibrosis as a model of a systemic rare disease. Additionally, this review critically examines potential drug–vitamin D interactions in the context of rare disease patient polypharmacy. Results: Evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in rare disease patient populations, often at once exacerbating and being simultaneously exacerbated by the underlying condition. Vitamin D deficiency correlates with worse clinical outcomes and lower quality of life across the examined diseases. Immunoregulatory properties of vitamin D appear relevant for rare diseases with autoimmune components. Conclusions: An urgent need for developing disease-specific clinical practice guidelines, implementing routine vitamin D monitoring in rare disease patient care, and introducing tailored supplementation under the principles of precision medicine is emphasized.

MiRNAs are small molecules which influence cellular function by regulating the expression of mRNA. They control various stages of the cell’s existence, including differentiation, proliferation and finally death. In cancer cells, miRNAs can become dysregulated, enabling the cell to escape growth suppression and resist apoptosis, as well as adapt to new niches for metastasis. In breast cancer, miR-218 has been shown to play an important role, however, data is conflicting as to its oncogenic or tumour-suppressive impact. Our review aims to assess these differences and identify their potential causes. On one hand, research shows that miR-218 allows breast cancer cells to proliferate and migrate through activation of the EGFR/ErbB2 signalling pathway, as well as metastasize especially to bone tissue, by disrupting the osteogenesis-osteolysis equilibrium. However, data suggesting a tumour-suppressive function point to the role of miR-218 as an enhancer of chemo- and radiosensitivity, as well as an inhibitor of cell proliferation by acting on mTOR. Several studies correlate higher miR-218 expression with better outcomes in patients. It is also part of a subtle network of RNA regulator systems through its interplay with long-noncoding RNA. We hypothesize that these differences in the directionality of miR-218 stem mainly from the cell’s internal state, as well as interactions with its environment. Factors affecting different miRNA expression may include nutrient availability and phenotypic characteristics of the cancer. Therefore, to increase the viability of miR-218 as a therapeutic target, its exact role and context-dependence must be determined.

Background: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by a preoccupation with perceived appearance flaws. It is highly prevalent among aesthetic surgery candidates and can negatively impact surgical outcomes. The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ) is used for BDD screening, but objective validation is limited. This study aimed to determine whether individuals screening positive for BDD exhibit different visual perception patterns of their own and model faces compared to controls, using eye-tracking technology. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 79 participants, including psychiatric patients and medical students. Participants completed the BDDQ and underwent eye-tracking while evaluating standardized photographs of models and their own faces. Gaze fixation patterns were recorded across pre-defined facial areas of interest. Perception and aesthetic assessment differences between the BDDQ-positive and BDDQ-negative groups were studied. Results: Participants focused most frequently on the nose, eyes and eyebrows. Compared to model faces, more attention was directed toward their own chin and cheeks. However, BDDQ screening results did not significantly influence fixation patterns or eye-tracking metrics. Psychiatric patients, regardless of BDDQ status, exhibited more numerous and shorter fixations than students. All participants rated model faces as significantly more attractive (i.e., higher aesthetic rating) than their own, with the largest difference observed in the BDDQ-positive group. Conclusions: While individuals screening positive for BDD reported lower self-attractiveness, eye-tracking patterns did not differ significantly from those of healthy participants. These findings suggest that BDDQ remains a useful screening tool for subjective dissatisfaction but may not correspond to objective differences in facial visual processing.