Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs) have been extensively studied in recent years. Their attractiveness is due to the ease of obtaining clinical material (fat tissue, lipoaspirate) and the relatively large number of AD-MSCs present in adipose tissue. In addition, AD-MSCs possess a high regenerative potential and immunomodulatory activities. Therefore, AD-MSCs have great potential in stem cell-based therapies in wound healing as well as in orthopedic, cardiovascular, or autoimmune diseases. There are many ongoing clinical trials on AD-MSC and in many cases their effectiveness has been proven. In this article, we present current knowledge about AD-MSCs based on our experience and other authors. We also demonstrate the application of AD-MSCs in selected pre-clinical models and clinical studies. Adipose-derived stromal cells can also be the pillar of the next generation of stem cells that will be chemically or genetically modified. Despite much research on these cells, there are still important and interesting areas to explore.

Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of thrombus formation. It is commonly responsible for cerebral stroke whereas less frequently for pulmonary embolism. The aim of the study was to describe the morphology of the left atrial appendage in the human heart with respect to sex, age and weight. Macroscopic examination was carried out on 100 left appendages taken from the hearts of the patients aged 18–77, both sexes. All hearts preserved in 4% water solution of formaldehyde carried neither marks of coronary artery disease nor congenital abnormalities. Three axes of appendage orientation were performed. After the appendage had been cut off, morphological examination was performed in long and perpendicular axes. Measurements of the appendages were taken from anatomical specimens and their silicone casts. We classified the left atrial appendage into 4 morphological groups according to the number of lobes. Most left atrial appendages in female population were composed of 2 lobes. In the male group typically 2 or 3-lobed appendages were observed. The mean left atrial appendage orifice ranged from 12.0 to 16.0 mm and the most significant difference in the orifices between males and females was observed in LAA type 2 (about 3.3 mm). A smaller orifice and narrower, tubular shape of the LAA lobes could explain a higher risk of thrombus formation during nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in women. Knowledge of anatomical variability of the LAA helps diagnose some undefined echoes in the appendage during transesophageal echocardiographic examination.

Introduction: The septomarginal trabecula is a constant element of the anatomy of the human heart, which connects the interventricular septum and the anterior wall of the right ventricle. Considering the diversity of opinions about the structure and numerous studies suggesting its important...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in elderly people, and in many cases it is responsible for stroke or pulmonary embolism. One of the factors facilitating atrial thrombus formation is anatomical morphology of the atria, and especially the appendages. The pharmacological treatment of arrhythmia is generally focused on ventricular rate control. Electrical cardioversion is the preferred treatment method in the majority of clinics but it can occasionally produce the potentially dangerous complication of AF. A macroscopic study was carried out on 40 (25 male [M], 15 female [F]) human hearts, 18-72 years of age, and a microscopic study in a group of 20 human right atrial appendages (RAA) (M 10, F 10), 18-72 years of age. Only hearts without anomalies were included in the study. Classical anatomical studies and statistic analyses were applied. RAA is triangle shaped with a mean area of 2.73 cm2. Muscle fascicules build the wall of RAA and compose a dense net inside a chamber. Sagittal bundle connecting terminal crest with an apex of RAA was observed in all examined hearts. In microscopic specimens longitudinal and perpendicular fascicles were described.

Purpose Knowledge on the normative growth of the spine is critical in the prenatal detection of its abnormalities. We aimed to study the size of T6 vertebra in human fetuses with the crown-rump length of 115–265 mm. Materials and methods Using the methods of computed tomography (Biograph mCT), digital image analysis (Osirix 3.9) and statistics, the normative growth of the T6 vertebral body and the three ossification centers of T6 vertebra in 55 spontaneously aborted human fetuses (27 males, 28 females) aged 17–30 weeks were studied. Results Neither male–female nor right–left significant differences were found. The height, transverse, and sagittal diameters of the T6 vertebral body followed natural logarithmic functions as y = −4.972 + 2.732 × ln(age) ± 0.253 (R ² = 0.72), y = −14.862 + 6.426 × ln(age) ± 0.456 (R ² = 0.82), and y = −10.990 + 4.982 × ln(age) ± 0.278 (R ² = 0.89), respectively. Its cross-sectional area (CSA) rose proportionately as y = −19.909 + 1.664 × age ± 2.033 (R ² = 0.89), whereas its volumetric growth followed the four-degree polynomial function y = 19.158 + 0.0002 × age⁴ ± 7.942 (R ² = 0.93). The T6 body ossification center grew logarithmically in both transverse and sagittal diameters as y = −14.784 + 6.115 × ln(age) ± 0.458 (R ² = 0.81) and y = −12.065 + 5.019 × ln(age) ± 0.315 (R ² = 0.87), and proportionately in both CSA and volume like y = −15.591 + 1.200 × age ± 1.470 (R ² = 0.90) and y = −22.120 + 1.663 × age ± 1.869 (R ² = 0.91), respectively. The ossification center-to-vertebral body volume ratio was gradually decreasing with age. On the right and left, the neural ossification centers revealed the following models: y = −15.188 + 6.332 × ln(age) ± 0.629 (R ² = 0.72) and y = −15.991 + 6.600 × ln(age) ± 0.629 (R ² = 0.74) for length, y = −6.716 + 2.814 × ln(age) ± 0.362 (R ² = 0.61) and y = −7.058 + 2.976 × ln(age) ± 0.323 (R ² = 0.67) for width, y = −5.665 + 0.591 × age ± 1.251 (R ² = 0.86) and y = −11.281 + 0.853 × age ± 1.653 (R ² = 0.78) for CSA, and y = −9.279 + 0.849 × age ± 2.302 (R ² = 0.65) and y = −16.117 + 1.155 × age ± 1.832 (R ² = 0.84) for volume, respectively. Conclusions Neither sex nor laterality differences are found in the morphometric parameters of evolving T6 vertebra and its three ossification centers. The growth dynamics of the T6 vertebral body follow logarithmically for its height, and both sagittal and transverse diameters, linearly for its CSA, and four-degree polynomially for its volume. The three ossification centers of T6 vertebra increase logarithmically in both transverse and sagittal diameters, and linearly in both CSA and volume. The age-specific reference intervals for evolving T6 vertebra present the normative values of potential relevance in the diagnosis of congenital spinal defects.

Introduction : False chordae tendineae are fibrous-muscular bundles which do not interconnect with right atrioventricular valves. The structures have occasionally been described in the right ventricle. There are reports suggesting their influence on electromechanical processes taking place in...