The present issue of “Postępy Nauk Medycznych” (“Progress in Medicine”) contains two original articles and series of reviews concerning relevant problems of clinical and experimental medicine.

Two original articles came from Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Silesian Medical University

The authors of the first original article presented the assessment of effectiveness and safety of the third autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) in 4 patients with recurrent, chemo-sensitive multiple myeloma. They concluded that this procedure seems to be safe, but due to a small number of studied patients it is difficult to draw unambiguous conclusions on long-term efficacy of AHSCT.

The second original article contains report on the use plerixafor, a CXCR4 (chemokine 4) antagonist, as mobilization regimen of hematopoietic stem cells in lymphoma and myeloma patients. The study involved 21 patients treated over 2 year period. According to the results achieved by these authors treatment with plerixafor is effective method of stem cell mobilization, especially in those patients requiring autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in which mobilization with G-CSF in combination with chemotherapy failed.

Next article concerns an interesting issue of interaction between immune system and microenvironment of cancer cells. The author presented pro- and anti-cancer mechanisms of immune systems. The role of numerous immune cells in the development of cancer and metastasis as well as in the neoplasm angiogenesis was discussed in details. Moreover, the author emphasized macrophage significance in the process cancerogenesis including anti-cancer role of type 1 macrophages and pro-cancer action of type 2 macrophages. In addition, an impact on cancer development of adhesion molecules and cytokines derived from immune cells was presented.

The current concepts of multiple sclerosis pathogenesis were presented by authors from Department of Neurology (Warsaw Medical University) and Department of Clinical Physiology (Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education). The role of immune system in development of this disease was discussed. A therapy with natulizumab, monoclonal antibody anti integrin VLA4, was elaborated as well. Due to the fact that multiple sclerosis etiology has not been explained completely, the environmental factors and genetic predisposition are under study. In the article, the association of vitamin D deficiency and a risk of multiple sclerosis was evaluated. Finally, there was discussed a new controversial theory by Zamboni of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency as multiple sclerosis development factor.

Two articles came from Department of Vascular Surgery and Angiology (Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education). The first one concerns pathomechanisms and treatment of venous leg ulcers. The authors highlighted the role of venous hypertension, chronic vein insufficiency and inflammation in the process of cutaneous changes and ulceration. Moreover, diagnostic problems were also discussed. Second aim of this article was to review methods of treatment of venous ulceration. Essential part of this publication is a review of treatment methods including conservative and surgical methods. The authors concluded that the most important problem is prevention of ulceration recurrence.

In the second article the authors from Department of Vascular Surgery and Angiology reviewed the ability to assess perfusion abnormalities in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The available diagnostic techniques with all limitations were presented. A major limitation is an imprecise detection of oxygen consumption rate in tissues. The authors suggested that near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) may be useful in the assessment of this parameter.

The authors from Medical University of Poznań presented controversies over the role of estrogens in pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis. Based on the literature, they indicated the correlation of age of menarche and lower risk of scoliosis progression in adolescence.

Current concepts are analyzed and possible impacts of estrogens on the onset and progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are discussed. They concluded that the fact that muscle and bone tissue respond to estrogens on cell and tissue levels combined with estrogen interaction with calmodulin and melatonin may become important element in etiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

All articles from the current issue of Progress in Medicine concern wide spectrum of clinical problems. The authors made their presentation in clear, concise and logical way, using the newest literature. I deeply believe that all manuscript would be useful in your everyday practice.