BRAF V600E Mutation in Malignant Melanoma-A Romanian Research Experience.

: The most common mutation in malignant melanoma (MM) is the single-point mutation of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) oncogene. Our study aims to evaluate BRAF V600E mutation, highlighting its frequency differences in primary versus metastatic MM. : The study group comprised 133 patients diagnosed with MM in several county hospitals of the north-eastern region of Romania who have been assigned for investigation into BRAF V600E mutation in the private medical system.

Significance of the Galectin-8 Immunohistochemical Profile in Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) still registers a high prevalence in female gynecological pathology. Given the aggressiveness of the tumor and the lack of response to conventional therapies, a current research interest is the identification of new prognostic markers. Gal-8, a member of the galectin family of molecules, involved in tumorigenesis, disease progression, and metastasis, has been assigned as a valuable tumor prognostic factor, and its inhibition may open new perspectives in cancer therapeutic management.

Insights into molecular pathways of endometriosis and endometriosis-related ovarian carcinoma.

Background: Endometriosis is a benign estrogen-dependent gynecological disease involving components of the female genital tract (uterus, Fallopian tubes, ovaries, large, round, and utero-sacral ligaments) and intra- and extraperitoneal regions. Since the moment of its etiopathogeny has been identified, the intrinsic capacity of endometriosis malignant transformation has been hypothesized.

Patients, Materials And Methods: Our study included a total number of 50 patients diagnosed with endometriosis (31 cases) and endometriosis-related ovarian carcinoma (EOC) (19 cases).

Novel titanium-apatite hybrid scaffolds with spongy bone-like micro architecture intended for spinal application: In vitro and in vivo study.

Titanium alloy scaffolds with novel interconnected and non-periodic porous bone-like micro architecture were 3D-printed and filled with hydroxyapatite bioactive matrix. These novel metallic-ceramic hybrid scaffolds were tested in vitro by direct-contact osteoblast cell cultures for cell adhesion, proliferation, morphology and gene expression of several key osteogenic markers. The scaffolds were also evaluated in vivo by implanting them on transverse and spinous processes of sheep's vertebras and subsequent histology study.

The endometrial regeneration frontiers: from mechanisms to applications in regenerative medicine.

The endometrium is a unique and remarkable tissue characterized by a constant regeneration activity and this has been speculative for scientists, regarding its mechanism, regulatory factors, and their significance for fertility and endometrial pathology. Relatively recent scientific progresses due to genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics have changed the knowledge in respect with endometrial regeneration and uterine-derived diseases. Our review is designed to highlight the recent progresses in understanding the endometrial physiology and its alterations involvement in uterine-derived diseases, addressing the current paradigm regarding endometrial regeneration, based on endometrial regenerative cells.

Adipocytes spectrum - From homeostasia to obesity and its associated pathology.

Firstly identified by anatomists, the fat tissue is nowadays an area of intense research due to increased global prevalence of obesity and its associated diseases. Histologically, there are four types of fat tissue cells which are currently recognized (white, brown, beige, and perivascular adipocytes). Therefore, in this study we are reviewing the most recent data regarding the origin, structure, and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of adipocytes.

Clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of myoinvasive patterns in endometrial endometrioid carcinoma.

Endometrioid endometrial carcinoma has an overall good prognosis. However, variable five-year survival rates (92%-42%) have been reported in FIGO stage I, suggesting the involvement of other factors related to tumor biological behavior. These may be related to the role played by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells in endometrial carcinogenesis.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of XRCC3 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma - relationship with clinicopathological features.

Recent studies support the involvement of XRCC3 gene polymorphisms in carcinogenesis. Our study focuses on the identification of polymorphic variants of XRCC3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and an analysis of the relationship between these polymorphic variants and clinicopathological (including the genotype specific risk) and survival characteristics. Fifty cases of HCC were genotyped using molecular biology techniques for Thr241Met, rs861539 (c.

Heterogeneous Periostin Expression in Different Histological Variants of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Periostin (PN) epithelial and stromal overexpression in tumor pathology has been studied according to tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis, but a limited number of studies address PN in thyroid tumors.

Aim: Our study aimed to analyze PN expression in different histological variants of PTC and to correlate its expression with the clinicopathological prognostic factors.

Material And Methods: PN expression has been immunohistochemically assessed in 50 cases of PTC (conventional, follicular, oncocytic, macrofollicular, and tall cell variants), in tumor epithelial cells and intratumoral stroma.

Pointing at Ito cell, from structure to function (⃛ or Cinderella story in liver histology).

For more than 130 years, the hepatic stellate cells (also known as Ito cells) have been the object of numerous studies that aimed at their characterization both in normal and postlesional status, where they play a key role in fibrosis progression specific for chronic hepatic pathology. Converged studies on their histophysiology have revealed other functions, namely the involvement in liver embryological development and regeneration, metabolisms regulation, modulation of local inflammatory and immune reactions. Ito cells plasticity is surprising, as they are able to provide the connection between the complex sinusoidal and parenchymal microenvironment, influencing by autocrine and paracrine mechanisms the extracellular matrix content in tight correlation to growth and repair necessities.

Morphological changes in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis - a quantitative approach.

Our study aimed to investigate the quantitative profile of the renal corpuscle components in membranoproliferative glomerulinephritis (MPGN). We have analyzed digital color images corresponding to relevant microscopic fields from renal biopsies (10 cases type I MPGN and 10 cases type II MPGN). A computerized morphometric algorithm was designed and applied in both red-green-blue (RGB) and hue-lightness-saturation (HLS) color spaces, allowing the automated measurement of areas for the following morphological characteristics of the renal corpuscles (RCs): glomerulus, Bowman space, cells, mesangial matrix and glomerular basement membranes, and capillaries.

Prognostic significance of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in liver metastases.

Our research focuses both on the correlations between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 and classical clinicopathological factors and on the prognostic value of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 for survival. The study group included 52 patients diagnosed with hepatic metastases. The tissue specimens have been specifically processed for immunohistochemical exam, by using anti-MMP-9 and anti-TIMP-1 antibodies.

Conventional cytology versus liquid based cytology in cervical pathology: correspondences and inconsistencies in diagnosis, advantages and limits.

Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) has replaced Papanicolaou standard cytology due to its practical advantages. Our study aimed to analyze the diagnosis correlations and differences between the conventional and liquid based cytology. The study group has been composed by 104 patients, diagnosed in the Laboratory of Cytology, Galati County Hospital, Romania by using both methods on the same patients group.

Hepatic steatosis background in chronic hepatitis B and C - significance of similarities and differences.

The aim of our study was to investigate comparatively the steatotic background in viral chronic hepatitis B, C and mixed types, in correlation with the severity degree of specific liver lesions. The study group consisted of 1206 liver biopsy specimens, etiologically diagnosed as hepatitis C - 1021 (84.66%) cases, hepatitis B - 100 (8.

Macrophage profile in primary versus secondary liver tumors.

Macrophages are important components of the tumor-associated infiltrate and are qualified as one of the major players of the cancer-related inflammation. It was shown that tumor cells can either stimulate or mediate apoptosis of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). To date, there is no general agreement regarding the influence of TAMs and their numbers on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic metastases (HM).