Regenerative medicine is a dynamically developing field of human and veterinary medicine. The animal model was most commonly used for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) treatment in experimental and preclinical studies with a satisfactory therapeutic effect. Year by year, the need for alternative treatments in veterinary medicine is increasing, and other applications for promising MSCs and their biological derivatives are constantly being sought. There is also an increase in demand for other methods of treating disease states, of which the classical treatment methods did not bring the desired results. Cell therapy can be a realistic option for treating human and animal diseases in the near future and therefore additional research is needed to optimize cell origins, numbers, or application methods in order to standardize the treatment process and assess its effects. The aim of the following work was to summarize available knowledge about stem cells in veterinary medicine and their possible application in the treatment of chosen musculoskeletal disorders in dogs and horses.

Erythroprotein-producing human hepatocellular carcinoma receptors (Eph receptors) compose a subfamily of transmembrane protein-tyrosine kinases receptors that takes part in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Eph family receptor-interacting proteins (Ephrins) are ligands for those receptors. Eph/ephrin system is responsible for the cytoskeleton activity, cell adhesion, intercellular connection, cellular shape as well as cell motility. It affects neuron development and functioning, bone and glucose homeostasis, immune system and correct function of enterocytes. Moreover Eph/ephrin system is one of the crucial ones in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. With such a wide range of impact it is clear that disturbed function of this system leads to pathology. Eph/ephrin system is involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Although the idea of participation of ephrin in carcinogenesis is obvious, the exact way remains unclear because of complex bi-directional signaling and cross-talks with other pathways. Further studies are necessary to find a new target for treatment.

Pilonidal cyst is a troublesome condition affecting usually young people. It significantly influences quality of life and causes low self-esteem. Despite its known pathophysiology and numerous therapeutic methods available, pilonidal cysts still constitute a significant problem in general surgery. A large number of surgical techniques indicates the lack of a single method that ensures therapeutic success, and frequent complications cause both patient's dissatisfaction and frustration of the operator. In many cases, therapy is based on methods developed in a given healthcare center and their efficacy is usually not scientifically verified. Search for optimal strategy is also impeded by lack of an unambiguous clinical classification. In this article, we reviewed publications on various methods of managing pilonidal cyst, and we also presented surgical treatment used in our department. However, we did not manage to point out a surgical method with efficacy high enough to become standard treatment. It indicates the need for further search for new techniques that will give chances for successful treatment of pilonidal cyst.

BackgroundOne of the most important prognostic indicators in gastric cancer is the presence of metastases in lymph nodes. Even now, little is known about lymphangiogenesis in neoplastic tissue, and little is also known about the transmission of a neoplastic cell from the tumor mass into a lymphatic vessel.MethodsThis study examined the relationships between the density of lymphatic vessels (LVD) stained immunohistochemically with lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1) and D2-40 (podoplanin) antibodies, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C/D, selected clinical and pathomorphological factors, and the 5-year overall survival of gastric cancer patients.ResultsStatistical analysis showed no impact of increased intratumoral or peritumoral LVD on gastric cancer patient survival, irrespective of the protein used to stain lymphatic vessels. Analysis showed that the probability of overall survival was decreased in the cases with enhanced VEGF-D immunoreactivity (P = 0.0045).ConclusionThe study showed that the studied markers cannot be used to determine the required extent of the surgical procedure, as they have no statistically significant correlation with the degree of progression of the cancer, the stage of the disease assessed according to the TNM 5th classification of malignant tumors, clinicopathological features, and patient survival. VEGF-D is the only marker that can be regarded as an unfavorable prognostic indicator for patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Introduction An adequate level of nutrition is important in the period of reconvalescence in patients undergoing major surgery, in particular due to neoplastic disease. Bioelectrical impedance (BIA - Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) is a widely used technique for assessing body composition. BIA measurement is easy, fast, cheap and repeatable. Material and methods The body composition of 56 patients (25 women and 31 men) was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysys. All patients was hospitalized and operated in the Department of General and Oncological Surgery, Wrocław Clinical University Hospital in 2017-2018. Results The average weight loss on the 4th postoperative day is 1.32%, and at discharge from hospital 4.23% of body weight in relation to body weight at admission to the ward. The percentage of fat tissue (FM-Fatt Mass) in patients admitted to the ward is above the normal range. The change in body weight composition in hospitalized patients is mainly related to the amount of adipose tissue and the amount of extra- and intracellular water (ECW-Extracellular Water, ICW-Intracellular Water). Conclusions Bioelectrical impedance can be an easy and effective method to assess body composition and its change in patients undergoing major surgery. Patients operated on due to pancreatic cancer lose the highest percentage of body weight until discharge from the ward in relation to body weight at the time of admission to the ward from the analyzed groups. Weight loss mainly occurs as fat loss (FM).