The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on organised cervical cancer screening: The first results of the Slovenian cervical screening programme and registry.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the impact of cervical cancer screening and global cervical cancer elimination goals. As cervical cancer screening programmes were adjusting to the new situation, we evaluated the intensity, quality, and outcomes of cervical cancer screening in Slovenia in the first seven months of the pandemic.

Methods: Historical observational study on data from a population-based cervical cancer screening registry.

Alterations in geometry, biomechanics, and mineral composition of juvenile rat femur induced by nonplanar PCB-155 and/or planar PCB-169.

Exposure to widespread lipophilic and bioaccumulative polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) induces diverse biochemical and toxicological responses in various organs, including the bone. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in growth rate, geometry, serum, and bone biochemical parameters and biomechanics of juvenile rat femur induced by lactational exposure to nonplanar PCB-155 and planar PCB-169 individually and in combination. Fifteen lactating Wistar rats were divided into four groups (PCB-169, PCB-155, PCB-155+169, and control), and PCBs were administered intraperitoneally at different time points after delivery.

Optimization and validation of immunocytochemical detection of oestrogen receptors on cytospins prepared from fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples of breast cancer.

Objective: To optimize and validate immunocytochemical (ICC) assessment of oestrogen receptors (ERs) on cytospins prepared from fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples.

Methods: Optimal conditions and variability in ICC detection of ERs were established on cytospins prepared from the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Protocols that yielded adequate results were further validated on 52 FNA samples of resected breast cancer tumours using analysis of concordance with the ER status, determined by standard immunohistochemistry on corresponding formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPET).

A homodyne quadrature laser interferometer for micro-asperity deformation analysis.

We report on the successful realization of a contactless, non-perturbing, displacement-measuring system for characterizing the surface roughness of polymer materials used in tribological applications. A single, time-dependent, scalar value, dubbed the collective micro-asperity deformation, is extracted from the normal-displacement measurements of normally loaded polymer samples. The displacement measurements with a sub-nanometer resolution are obtained with a homodyne quadrature laser interferometer.

Electrogene therapy with interleukin-12 in canine mast cell tumors.

Background: Mast cell tumors (MCT) are the most common malignant cutaneous tumors in dogs with extremely variable biological behaviour. Different treatment approaches can be used in canine cutaneous MCT, with surgical excision being the treatment of choice. In this study, electrogene therapy (EGT) as a new therapeutic approach to canine MCTs, was established.

Review of negative and low-grade cervical smears in women with invasive cervical cancer after the first 3 years of the national cervical screening programme in Slovenia.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to perform a national review of negative, low-grade and inadequate smears reported during the latest screening period before cervical cancer diagnosis in 2006, after the first 3 years of the screening programme.

Methods: Among 162 new cervical cancer cases there were 47 (29%) without previous cytology, 47 (29%) with one high-grade smear prior to diagnosis and 68 (42.0%) with at least one previous negative, low-grade, atypical or inadequate smear 1-40 months before diagnosis.

Establishing and functional characterization of an HEK-293 cell line expressing autofluorescently tagged beta-actin (pEYFP-ACTIN) and the neurokinin type 1 receptor (NK1-R).

This study focused on establishing and making a comprehensive functional characterization of an HEK-293-transfected cell line that would coexpress the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein-actin (pEYFP-actin) construct and the neurokinin type 1 receptor (NK1-R), which is a member of the seven transmembrane (7TM) receptor family. In the initial selection procedure, the cloning ring technique was used alone, but failed to yield clones with homogenous pEYFP-actin expression. Flow cytometry sorting (FCS) was subsequently used to enrich the pEYFP-actin-expressing subpopulation of cells.

Local and systemic antitumor effect of intratumoral and peritumoral IL-12 electrogene therapy on murine sarcoma.

Soft tissue sarcomas pose a challenge for successful treatment with conventional therapeutic methods, therefore newer therapeutic approaches are considered. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor effect of IL-12 electrogene therapy (EGT) on murine SA-1 fibrosarcoma. The therapeutic plasmid was injected either intratumorally into subcutaneous SA-1 nodules or intradermally into the peritumoral region.

Beta-arrestin-based Bret2 screening assay for the "non"-beta-arrestin binding CB1 receptor.

CB1 receptor (CB1R) antagonists have been demonstrated to be effective in treating obesity and related disorders. This study has been focused on establishing a beta-arrestin 2-based screening assay for the CB1R using BRET2 technology. When the existing BRET2 screening platform was applied to the CB1R, the authors discovered that the receptor interacted weakly with beta-arrestin 2, resulting in unsatisfactory assay performance.

Expression of oestrogen receptor alpha during development of the skeleton in mice fetuses: immunohistochemical study.

Sequential pattern of ossification and expression of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) during development of the skeleton in male and female mice fetuses was investigated. Twenty-seven mice fetuses of gestational age between 14.5 and 18.

Efficient electrotransfection into canine muscle.

Two different types of electroporation protocols have been developed for efficient electrotransfer of plasmid DNA into skeletal muscle of experimental animals. At first, only low voltage electric pulses have been used, but lately, a combination of high and low voltage pulses has been suggested as more efficient. Up to date, in dogs, this type of electroporation protocol has never been used for muscle targeted plasmid DNA electrotransfection.

Ultrasonographically and stereotactically guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of non-palpable breast lesions: cyto-histological correlation.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonographically (US) and stereotactically guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for the diagnosis of non-palpable breast lesions.

Patients And Methods: From January 2002 to December 2004, 470 women with 478 mammographically detected non-palpable breast lesions had US or stereotactically guided FNAC of the breast lesion. Subsequent histological evaluation of the same lesion was performed at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Evidence for a role of caveolin-1 in neurokinin-1 receptor plasma-membrane localization, efficient signaling, and interaction with beta-arrestin 2.

This study was focused on the relationship between the plasma-membrane localization of neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1-R) and its endocytic and signaling properties. First, we employed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to study the domain structure of HEK-293 cells and NK1-R microlocalization. EPR spectra and the GHOST condensation routine demonstrated that NK1-R was distributed in a well-ordered domain of HEK-293 cells possibly representing lipid raft/caveolae microdomains, whereas the impairment of caveolae changed the NK1-R plasma-membrane distribution.

Myosin heavy chain isoform transitions in canine skeletal muscles during postnatal growth.

To gain a better understanding of the normal characteristics of developing canine muscles, myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression was analysed in the axial and limb skeletal muscles of 18 young dogs whose ages ranged from the late prenatal stage to 6 months. We compared the results of immunohistochemistry using ten monoclonal antibodies, specific to different MHC isoforms, and enzyme-histochemical reactions, which demonstrate the activity of myofibrillar ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH). In the skeletal muscles of fetuses and neonatal dogs the developmental isoforms MHC-emb and MHC-neo were prevalent.

Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma of sheep in Slovenia.

SUMMARY Clinicopathological and electron microscopical findings of eight cases of enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma of sheep, diagnosed solely in one big flock in Slovenia between years 2001 and 2003 are described. All affected sheep were female, their mean age was 4.5 +/- 1.

Role of ultrasound in the preoperative staging of patients with breast cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of axillary ultrasound (US) and US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to detect axillary LN metastases. Between January 2001 and September 2003, axillary US was performed in 165 patients with cytologically or histologically proven breast cancer and clinically non-palpable axillary LNs. In patients with US suspicious LNs, US-guided FNAB was performed and patients with cytologically proven malignant LNs proceeded directly to the ALND.

Excretion pattern of co-planar and non-planar tetra- and hexa-chlorobiphenyls in ovine milk and faeces.

This study employed the gas chromatography with electron capture detection to determine residual levels and excretion patterns of two pairs of structurally diverse polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (IUPAC Nos. 54, 80, 155, and 169) administered to lactating sheep by intramuscular injection. PCB levels and excretion patterns in blood, milk, and faeces were time-dependent and differed from the composition of PCB congeners administered.

The reliability and accuracy of intraoperative imprint cytology of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.

Objective: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a new component of the surgical treatment of breast cancer that accurately predicts axillary status. In this study the authors evaluated the accuracy of intraoperative imprint cytology (IC) in comparison with definitive histologic evaluation of SLN in breast cancer patients.

Methods: A total 413 women with breast carcinoma and clinically negative axillary nodes underwent breast surgery and SLN biopsy.

Prognostic factors in anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid-a multivariate survival analysis of 188 patients.

Background: Multivariate studies concerning the prognosis of patients with anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland are scarce. The aim of our study was to determine the prognostic factors associated with survival of patients with anaplastic carcinoma in Slovenia, an iodine-deficient region.

Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on a group of 188 patients (130 female, 58 male; median age 68 years) with anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid who had been treated at a tertiary care centre from 1972 to 2003.

The role of preoperative ultrasonography in reducing the number of sentinel lymph node procedures in melanoma.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the most effective method to nodally stage patients with melanoma. However, SLN metastases are an indication for a complete regional lymphadenectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of ultrasound (US) and US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) to reduce the number of patients requiring a second surgical procedure.

An attempt to estimate students' workload.

Following the recent introduction of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) into several European university programs, a new interest has developed in determining students' workload. ECTS credits are numerical values describing the student workload required to complete course units; ECTS has the potential to facilitate comparison and create transparency between institutional curricula. ECTS credits are frequently listed alongside institutional credits in course outlines and module summaries.

Development of a BRET2 screening assay using beta-arrestin 2 mutants.

This study has focused on enhancing the signal generated from the interaction between a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and beta-arrestin 2 (beta-arr2), measured by the bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET(2)) technology. Both class A (beta(2)-adrenergic receptor [beta(2)-AR]) and class B (neurokinin-type 1 receptor [NK1-R]) GPCRs, classified based on their internalization characteristics, have been analyzed. It was evaluated whether the BRET(2) signal can be enhanced by using (1) beta-arr2 phosphorylation-independent mutant (beta-arr2 R169E) and (2) beta-arr2 mutants deficient in their ability to interact with the components of the clathrin-coated vesicles (beta-arr2 R393E, R395E and beta-arr2 373 stop).

Analysis of routine cytopathologic reports in 1,598 histologically verified benign breast lesions.

This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of cytopathologic diagnosis and of correct classification of benign breast diseases. A total of 1,598 FNABs were identified to have met the study criteria; of these, 1,258 (78.7%) cases were cytologically benign, 88 (5.

Low sensitivity of the touch imprint cytology of the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer patients--results of a large series.

Background And Objectives: Touch imprint cytology (TIC) was reported to be a sensitive method of intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) assessment. The objective of our study was to assess the value of the TIC as an intraoperative SLN evaluation method and to determine a subgroup of patients in whom TIC should not be indicated.

Methods: In 250 breast cancer patients with SLN biopsy, TIC of SLNs was performed intraoperatively.

Cytopathology in Slovenia.

Cytopathology started in Slovenia in the early 50s with exfoliative cytology, while fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was introduced some 10 years later. Today cytopathology is a well accepted diagnostic method in Slovenia and there are currently 20 cytopathological laboratories and 17 cytopathologists. The number of specimens examined in 2001 was 26 230 FNABs, 13 355 exfoliative non cervical and 323 888 cervical smears.