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Cardiovascular diseases are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in the civilized world. Stenosis or occlusion of blood vessels leads not only to events that are directly life-threatening, such as myocardial infarction or stroke, but also to a significant reduction in quality of life, for example in lower limb ischemia as a consequence of metabolic diseases. The first synthetic polymeric vascular replacements were used clinically in the early 1950s. However, they proved to be suitable only for larger-diameter vessels, where the blood flow prevents the attachment of platelets, pro-inflammatory cells and smooth muscle cells on their inner surface, whereas in smaller-diameter grafts (6 mm or less), these phenomena lead to stenosis and failure of the graft. Moreover, these polymeric vascular replacements, like biological grafts (decellularized or devitalized), are cell-free, i.e. there are no reconstructed physiological layers of the blood vessel wall, i.e. an inner layer of endothelial cells to prevent thrombosis, a middle layer of smooth muscle cells to perform the contractile function, and an outer layer to provide innervation and vascularization of the vessel wall. Vascular substitutes with these cellular components can be constructed by tissue engineering methods. However, it has to be admitted that even about 70 years after the first polymeric vascular prostheses were implanted into human patients, there are still no functional small-diameter vascular grafts on the market. The damage to small-diameter blood vessels has to be addressed by endovascular approaches or by autologous vascular substitutes, which leads to some skepticism about the potential of tissue engineering. However, new possibilities of this approach lie in the use of modern technologies such as 3D bioprinting and/or electrospinning in combination with stem cells and pre-vascularization of tissue-engineered vascular grafts. In this endeavor, sex-related differences in the removal of degradable biomaterials by the cells and in the behavior of stem cells and pre-differentiated vascular cells need to be taken into account. Key words: Blood vessel prosthesis, Regenerative medicine, Stem cells, Footprint-free iPSCs, sr-RNA, Dynamic bioreactor, Sex-related differences.

Introduction: The publication of new guidelines in recent years shows that surgical treatment of inguinal hernia remains topical. The main goal is to improve patient outcomes, specifically to decrease recurrence rates and reduce chronic pain. The main purpose of this article is to summarize the latest recommendations in surgical treatment of the groin hernias, especially in the case of strangulation., Methods: The authors made literature review of all the guidelines published by the hernia societies, including related articles, in the last ten years., Results: The use of the EHS classification system is suggested. In elective operations, mesh repair is recommended. The Lichtenstein technique is the standard in open inguinal hernia repair. Transabdominal preperitoneal and totally extraperitoneal approach have comparable outcomes. Their clear advantages include minimal invasiveness. Mesh repair is recommended also in the case of strangulation, but only in clean and clean-contami-nated operations. A laparoscopic approach should be considered as well. Inter alia, it allows an assessment of bowel viability during the whole procedure. The need of bowel resection is hence lower compared to open surgery. If it is not possible to use the mesh, the Shouldice method is regarded as the best non-mesh repair technique. If there is concern about bowel viability, visualization, either by formal laparoscopy, hernia sac laparoscopy or laparotomy, is recommended. Hernioscopy is a simple and safe procedure that uses the hernia sac for insertion of a port following insufflation and diagnostic examination. It requires less advanced laparoscopic skills than does emergency laparoscopic hernia repair. It can be performed even by surgeons who lack sufficient experience with laparoscopy., Conclusion: In elective procedures, the mesh repair is recommended. It is recommended also in the case of strangulation, but not in a contaminated-dirty surgical field. If there is concern about bowel viability, visualization, either by formal laparoscopy, hernia sac laparoscopy or laparotomy, is needed.

Currently used vascular prostheses are hydrophobic and do not allow endothelial cell (EC) adhesion and growth. The aim of this study was to prepare fibrin (Fb)-based two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) assemblies coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and to evaluate the EC adhesion, proliferation and differentiation on these assemblies in vitro. Coating of Fb with collagen, laminin (LM), and fibronectin (FN) was proved using the surface plasmon resonance technique. On all Fb assemblies, ECs reached higher cell densities than on polystyrene after 3 and 7 days of culture. Immunoflurescence staining showed better assembly of talin and vinculin into focal adhesion plaques, and also more apparent staining of vascular endothelial cadherin on surface-attached 3D Fb and protein-coated Fb assemblies. On these samples, ECs also contained a lower concentration of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Higher concentrations of CD31 (platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1) were found on 3D Fb coated with LM, and higher concentrations of von Willebrand factor were found on 3D Fb coated with type I collagen or LM in comparison to 2D Fb layers. The results indicate that ECM protein-coated 2D and 3D Fb assemblies can be used for versatile applications in various tissue replacements where endothelialization is desirable, for example, vascular prostheses and heart valves., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)