Germination Study of Some Protein-Based Gels Obtained from By-Products from the Leather Industry on Tomato and Pepper Seeds.

This study aimed to evaluate the biostimulant effects of three protein-based gels, GHC 1-B (20% gelatin (GPU-B) obtained by thermal hydrolysis from residual untanned leather and 80% collagen hydrolysates (HCE-B) obtained by alkaline-enzymatic hydrolysis from residual bovine-tanned leather), GHC 2-B (40% keratin hydrolysate (HKU-B) obtained by alkaline-enzymatic hydrolysis from sheep wool + 40% HCE-B + 20% GPU-B), and GHC 3-B (20% GPU-B + 80% hydrolyzed collagen (HPU-B) obtained by thermal and enzymatic hydrolysis from residual untanned leather). A germination study was carried out on pepper and tomato seeds at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 10%. As a result of the study, it was found that all three protein-based gels showed a stimulatory effect on the tomato seeds at a 1% concentration, where the Gi (germination index) was ˂100%. The GHC 2-B variant had the highest stimulatory effect (Gi-190.23%). Pepper seeds have proven to be more sensitive to the gel's composition. The concentration at which it proved to be non-inhibitory (Gi-88.29%) was 1% in the case of GHC 2-B. It was found that the presence of hydrolyzed keratin in the composition can be a plus compared to the other two protein gels tested due to its composition, which is richer in phytonutrient compounds (e.g., sulfur molecules).

Innovative Protein Gel Treatments to Improve the Quality of Tomato Fruit.

This study aims to establish the effect of biostimulatory protein gels on the quality of tomato. One of the most consumed vegetables, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is a rich source of healthy constituents. Two variants of protein gels based on bovine gelatin and keratin hydrolysates obtained from leather industry byproducts were used for periodical application on the tomato plant roots in the early stage of vegetation. The gels were characterized by classical physicochemical methods and protein secondary structure was obtained by FTIR band deconvolution. After ripening, tomato was analyzed regarding its content of quality indicators (sugars and organic acids) and antioxidants (lycopene, ß-carotene, vitamin C, polyphenols). The results emphasized the positive effects of the protein gels on the quality parameters of tomato fruit. An increase of 10% of dry matter and of 30% (in average) in the total soluble sugars was noted after biostimulant application. Also, lycopene and vitamin C recorded higher values (by 1.44 and 1.29 times, respectively), while ß-carotene showed no significant changes. The biostimulant activity of protein gels was correlated with their amino acid composition. Plant biostimulants are considered an ecological alternative to conventional treatments for improving plant growth, and also contributing to reduce the intake of chemical fertilizers.

Collagen and Keratin Hydrolysates to Delay the Setting of Gypsum Plaster.

Leather and wool waste represent a high concern due to the low level of valorization and circular economy demands for upcycling of biomass resources. Both biomasses can be easily processed as protein hydrolysates and used as functional additives due to the amphiphilic and tunable properties of collagen and keratin proteins. The chemical, physical, and structural investigations of collagen and keratin hydrolysate properties showed that the chelating abilities due to carboxylic groups can be exploited for gypsum retardant additives. The molecular weights and amino acid compositions of three different hydrolysates showed only slight influences on the setting time of gypsum; all three proteins delayed the setting time of gypsum between 60 and 120 min, as compared to the commercial plaster with a 30 min setting time. Higher molecular weight and more carboxylic active groups showed slight improvements in the setting time of mortars. The improved properties of keratin hydrolysate as compared to low molecular collagen hydrolysate were attributed to foaming and conductive properties. The mechanism of mortar setting delaying through calcium ions complexation by protein hydrolysates was shown by electric conductivity evolution of plasters with and without protein additives over time, supported by foaming properties, amino acid, and functional groups' composition. Lower bending strength values for the higher concentration of proteins do not reduce the potential to use the protein hydrolysates as retardant additives in mortar fabrication.

Reversal of brain aging by targeting telomerase: A nutraceutical approach.

Telomeres, the protective caps of chromosomes, shorten with age, as telomerase, the enzyme responsible for the compensation of telomere erosion, is inactive in the majority of cells. Telomere shortening and subsequent cell senescence lead to tissue aging and age­related diseases. Neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by the progressive loss of neurons among other hallmarks of aged tissue, and poor cognitive function, have been associated with a short telomere length. Thus, telomerase activity has emerged as a therapeutic target, with novel agents being under investigation. The present study aimed to examine the effects of a novel natural telomerase activator, 'Reverse™', containing Centella asiatica extract, vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D3 on the brains of 18­month­old rats. The administration of the 'Reverse™' supplement for 3 months restored telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression in the brains of rats, as revealed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. In addition, the findings from PCR­ELISA demonstrated an enhanced telomerase activity in the cerebellum and cortex cells in the brains of rats treated with the 'Reverse™' supplement. The histopathological findings confirmed a structural reversibility effect close to the differentiation observed in the young control group of rats treated with two capsules/kg body weight of the 'Reverse™' supplement. On the whole, the findings of the present study provide a strong indication that an increased telomerase activity and TERT expression may be achieved not only in the postnatal or embryonic period, but also in the brains of middle­aged rats through nutraceutical supplementation. The use of the 'Reverse™' supplement may thus contribute to the potential alleviation of a number of central nervous system diseases.

Wool Keratin Hydrolysates for Bioactive Additives Preparation.

The aim of this paper was to select keratin hydrolysate with bioactive properties by using the enzymatic hydrolysis of wool. Different proteolytic enzymes such as Protamex, Esperase, and Valkerase were used to break keratin molecules in light of bioactive additive preparation. The enzymatic keratin hydrolysates were assessed in terms of the physico-chemical characteristics related to the content of dry substance, total nitrogen, keratin, ash, cysteic sulphur, and cysteine. The influence of enzymatic hydrolysis on molecular weight and amino acid composition was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. Antimicrobial activity of keratin hydrolysates was analysed against Fusarium spp., a pathogenic fungus that can decrease the quality of plants. The bioactivity of enzymatic hydrolysates was tested on maize plants and allowed us to select the keratin hydrolysates processed with the Esperase and Valkerase enzymes. The ratio of organised structures of hydrolysate peptides was analysed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) deconvolution of the amide I band and may explain the difference in their bioactive behaviour. The most important modifications in the ATR spectra of maize leaves in correlation with the experimentally proven performance on maize development by plant length and chlorophyll index quantification were detailed. The potential of enzymatic hydrolysis to design additives with different bioactivity was shown in the case of plant growth stimulation.

The perioperative effect of anesthetic drugs on the immune response in total intravenous anesthesia in patients undergoing minimally invasive gynecological surgery.

BACKGROUND: The specific mechanism of action of each anesthetic drug on the immune system is still incompletely known. It is important to know how the various anesthetics used in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) act on the inflammatory response because the choice of the anesthetic agent can influence the patient's immune system. AIM: Evaluation of the effect of anesthetic drugs used for total intravenous anesthesia (Propofol and Midazolam) on the inflammatory response after minimally invasive gynecological surgery. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: The inflammatory response in 20 female patients who underwent minimally invasive gynecological surgery under which intravenous anesthesia was performed. Depending on the combination of anesthetics used, we subdivided the study group into two groups, Group 1 consisting of the patients (n=10) who were given for total intravenous anesthesia, the combination with Midazolam+Fentanyl, and Group 2 (n=10) the patients who received the combination of Propofol+Fentanyl, respectively. Surgical interventional procedures included day surgery: diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy, endometrial ablation, surgical treatment of vulvar disorders. Serological profiling of patients was performed by dosing the serum concentration of nucleotide-binding domain (NOD) and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-10 before and two hours after the surgical procedure. RESULTS: In our study, we found that in both groups of patients (Midazolam+Fentanyl - Group 1, Propofol+Fentanyl - Group 2), NLRP3 and cytokines concentrations in the serum were higher after MIS than those before MIS. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that both Midazolam and Fentanyl and Propofol and Fentanyl have an immunomodulatory action due to the anti-inflammatory effect of both anesthetics. Therefore, anesthesiologists must choose an anesthetic method that uses individualized anesthetic agents, depending on the patient's immune status and disease.

New Nanofibers Based on Protein By-Products with Bioactive Potential for Tissue Engineering.

Concentrated collagen hydrolysate (HC10CC), rabbit collagen glue (RCG), and keratin hydrolysate (KH) were investigated in terms of their extraction from mammalian by-products and processing by electrospinning. The electrospun nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and indentation tests. The cytotoxicity of the electrospun nanofibers was conducted on L929 fibroblast cells using MTT and LDH assays and cell morphology observations. The electrospun RCG and KH nanofibers morphology showed an average size of nanofibers ranging between 44 and 410 nm, while the electrospun HC10CC nanofibers exhibited higher sizes. The ATR-FTIR spectra performed both on extracted proteins and electrospun nanofibers showed that the triple helix structure of collagen is partially preserved. The results were in agreement with the circular dichroism analysis for protein extracts. Furthermore, the viscoelastic properties of electrospun KH nanofibers were superior to those of electrospun RCG nanofibers. Based on both in vitro quantitative and qualitative analysis, the electrospun nanofibers were not cytotoxic, inducing a healthy cellular response. The results of new electrospun protein-based nanofibers may be useful for further research on bioactive properties of these nanofibers for tissue engineering.

Ovarian ectopic pregnancy: the role of complex morphopathological assay. Review and case presentation.

Ovarian ectopic pregnancy (OEP) represents the rarest type of ectopic pregnancy, accounting for 1-3% of this pathology. The diagnosis of this pathology is challenging due to the non-specific clinical aspects and the ultrasound examination hampered by the lack of visible gestational sac in the presence of hematocele and hemoperitoneum. The purpose of the extended histopathological (HP) examination was to identify particular aspects of the OEP trophoblast and to highlight potential local ovarian modifications which can determine pregnancy fixation at this level. The patient presented local favorable conditions for intraovarian nidation, conditions confirmed by the HP classical examination and by the immunohistochemical evaluation. We identified, using classical Hematoxylin-Eosin, Masson's trichrome and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS)-Hematoxylin, necrotic hemorrhage, accentuated vascular thrombosis and high density lymphoplasmocytary infiltrate. These modifications increased local adhesivity and cell destruction through hypoperfusion. Anti-cluster of differentiation antibodies (CD34, CD38, tryptase) revealed the low number of intravillous vessels and the high number of macrophages and mastocytes involved in the local inflammatory process heighten. We identified the presence of trophoblast tissue in the ovarian structure using anti-cytokeratin AE1∕AE3 (CK AE1∕AE3)/anti-cytokeratin 7 (CK7) antibodies. The anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and anti-vimentin (VIM) antibodies displayed the density of myofibroblasts and intravillous stromal cells and with the aid of anti-progesterone receptor (PR) antibody, we identified the corpus luteum hormonal response in the OEP. The placental villosities present a blocked multiplication process at the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein, confirmed by the Ki67 cell proliferation and tumor protein 63 (p63) immunomarkers. Anti-neuron specific enolase (NSE), anti-calretinin and anti-inhibin A antibodies showed the particular aspects of the granulosa and internal theca cells, which may be involved in oocyte release blockage, intraluteal and extraluteal fecundation of the OEP.

Triple immunohistochemistry for assessing the inflammatory, vascular and progression of adenomyosis.

Adenomyosis is a benign pathology, common to both women at reproductive age as well as later during menopause. This condition is accompanied by a strong symptomatology, which has induced intense research on this topic. From a morphological point of view, it is represented by the existence of endometrial glands and, sometimes, of the periglandular stroma (endometriosis) in the structure of the myometrium, at a significant distance from the normal endometrium. Various inflammatory, vascular and mechanical factors accentuate the symptoms and evolution of this pathology. Our study included a total number of 32 patients, eight cases for each of the following histopathological subtypes: endometrium - proliferative phase, endometrium - secretory phase, myometrium with endometrial glands (adenomyosis), and myometrium with hyperplastic transformation of endometrial glands (hyperplastic adenomyosis), respectively. We have conducted clinical, morphological and morphopathological studies of the structures in question. Using the classical histological technique (Hematoxylin-Eosin), we identified the glandular structures; utilizing immunohistochemistry, we have labeled the endometrial epithelium with the anti-cytokeratin 7 (CK7) antibody and we analyzed the periglandular cell types of the immune system: T-lymphocytes using anti-cluster of differentiation (CD) 3 antibody, macrophages using anti-CD68 antibody, mast cells using anti-tryptase antibody, periglandular vascularization with the reaction using anti-CD34∕anti-CD31 antibodies, thus demonstrating their involvement in the development of adenomyosis. The interesting aspect of this study is the technique of simultaneously labeling of the inflammatory, vascular and epithelial elements.

Correlations between clinical and placental histopathological and immunohistochemical features in women with and without hereditary thrombophilia.

AIM: The primary objective of this study was to correlate hereditary thrombophilia (high- or low-risk) with specific placental histopathological (HP) and∕or immunohistochemical (IHC) changes, for confirming∕ruling out a possible linkage between these two biological parameters. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a 3-year prospective study conducted between 2016 and 2019 that enrolled 90 women registered in two Clinics of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Craiova, Romania, with personal thrombotic and/or pathological obstetrical history. The HP and IHC analysis of the placenta was performed using monoclonal anti-cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) antibody, anti-hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and anti-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) antibody. RESULTS: There was a high incidence of all thrombophilia (TPh) mutations in Caucasian women with thrombotic and obstetrical complications. Among them, both HP and IHC examination revealed significant changes. These were more severe in the placentas of patients with homozygous Factor V Leiden (FVL) gene mutation and double heterozygous FVL∕PII gene mutation. Multiple placental infarctions with massive fibrinoid necrosis and an increase in syncytial knots are common findings. In the same group, we found by means of IHC examination - intense positive HIF-1α and eNOS immunoexpression, and low positive CD34 expression, especially in fibrinoid necrosis and thrombosis areas. We found no correlation between clinical, HP and IHC changes in patients with low-risk TPh or without TPh. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with obstetric and thrombotic complications, there is a high prevalence of TPh. It appears that hypercoagulability reported in high-risk thrombophilia (HR-TPh) has major effects on placental tissue (fibrinoid necrosis, multiple thromboses, hypoxia and oxidative stress). Significant placental changes were found predominantly in women with HR-TPh. Strategies for TPh screening based on HP/IHC pattern would be, most probably, more cost-effective compared with the extended TPh testing offered in large populations. This way, a smaller number of patients will be tested and in this group a higher proportion of patients will be found as having HR-TPh mutations.

Placental findings in pregnancies complicated with IUGR - histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Placental lesions and placental ischemia are typical elements of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The aim of this study is to analyze histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) changes in the placentas of IUGR fetuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 126 placentas from small for gestational age (SGA) pregnancies (newborns with birth weight <10th percentile) that formed the study group and 31 placentas from pregnancies without SGA representing control group, were included. Placentas were examined according to standard protocol. Histopathological and IHC examinations of placentas were performed for analysis. RESULTS: A certain type of lesion of placental injury is increased in placentas from SGA pregnancies. These placental lesions were placental infarction (over 5%), increased syncytial knots, intervillous fibrinoid deposition, villous thrombohematoma. Other common placental lesions were probably related to fetal adaptation to placental ischemia or represent a placental change characteristic of pregnancy evolution. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that although IUGR∕SGA fetuses are more commonly associated with histological placental abnormalities, it cannot be established whether these abnormalities certainly contribute to IUGR, as there are no specific placental lesions in SGA placentas. Pseudo-angiomatous aspect, associated with increased syncytial knots, was specific for vascular hypoxia. Especially the magnitude of modifications of the placental structure beyond the qualitative modifications, which also lead to functional changes, are involved in this pathology of pregnancy, the onset of lesions being triggered at the level of stem villi.

Morphological and ultrasound findings in multiple pregnancy placentation.

The incidence of multiple pregnancy has significantly increased over the past decades, reaching different statistics to double, triple, or even overcome these numerical orders globally. Zygosity and chorionicity are the key elements in the multiple pregnancy but the placentation issue should be correlated primarily with zygosity, unlike chorionicity that should be correlated with the outcome and complications of multifetal gestation. Multiple pregnancy is by itself a special maternal-fetal condition, and the monochorionic one, moreover, due to specific complications. These aspects make early assessment of chorionicity and amnionicity a priority. Ultrasound is essential in pregnancy but pathological placental examination after delivery is complementary, in order to have a complete overview of potential mechanisms and pathogenesis affecting twin gestation. In this review, we highlight both ultrasound aspects specific to multifetal placentation, complemented by macro and microscopic morphological aspects, which underpin the obstetric imaging.

Status thymicolymphaticus: real or fake?

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexpected death of an infant less than one year of age that remains unexplained after a full investigation. SIDS is the most frequent cause of death of infants between two weeks and one year of age, explaining 35% to 55% of all deaths in this age group. We report a newborn male who died soon after birth. The newborn was cyanotic, bradycardic at first, and then asystolic; without any vesicular murmur, apneic, low amplitude thorax movements, even under conditions of positive pressure ventilation on the endotracheal tube. The microscopic aspect thymus highlighted a corticomedullary ratio quite high in favor of the cortical, rich in lymphocyte population, with the dilated subcapsular sinuses. In this report, we considered that cardiorespiratory failure, which was the immediate cause of death, could have been caused by the thymus hypertrophy. This hypertrophy can be a complication of an intrapartum preexistent condition, most probably of hepatic nature.

Clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical survey in different types of endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a benign pathology, commonly found in women at reproductive age. It is represented by the ectopic presence of the endometrial glandular epithelium in several tissues and organs. This ectopically located tissue can display premalignant or even malignant changes under the influence of certain factors that affect cell structure, function and proliferation. Our study includes a total of 28 patients, with endometriosis of different localizations: ovarian or pelvic endometriosis, adenomyosis or endometriosis of the abdominal wall. We performed a clinical and statistical analysis upon the collected clinical and laboratory data, together with the results obtained by using classical histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) profiling. The classical staining revealed the existence of the ectopic glandular epithelium, while the IHC reactions obtained with the anti-cytokeratin (CK) 7∕anti-CK20, anti-estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)∕anti-progesterone receptor (PR) antibodies, ascertained that these tissues were of endometrial origin. The environmental, hormonal or inflammatory factors influence these areas, so that the ER∕PR scores may be modified, the cellular proliferation might be increased (Ki67+ marker), the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein expression and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) may also be modified. Moreover, tumor protein 53 (p53) was positive in cases with atypia, density of inflammatory cells clearly increased compared to the adjacent normal endometrium, respectively with cluster of differentiation (CD) 3+, CD20+, CD68+, CD79a+, and tryptase+ cells, all of which may influence the cellular structure, histological architecture of the surrounding microenvironment and cause premalignant or even malignant changes in endometriosis outbreaks.

Immunohistochemical reaction of the glandular epithelium in endometrial hyperplasia compared to endometrial carcinoma.

The histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis of endometrial biopsies is used for estimating the risk of progression in endometrial hyperplastic lesions in carcinoma and for guiding the clinical management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), p14, p53, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), Ki67, in patients with endometrial hyperplasia (EH) with/without atypia versus endometrioid endometrial carcinoma type 1. After the histopathological determining of the lesion type at endometrial level, the cases were studied using immunohistochemical methods, namely by the use of an antibody panel. The immunohistochemical staining of PR was nuclearly and cytoplasmatically positive in EH with/without atypia and cytoplasmatically negative in endometrioid carcinoma, and in ER, the immunohistochemical staining was cytoplasmatically negative in the forms of EH without atypia and positive in various stages of intensity in the rest of the cases. The immunohistochemical staining of p14 was moderately expressed in the endometrioid carcinoma and negative in EH without atypia at nuclear level, and at cytoplasm level, it generally had a positive expression. In our study, the nuclear and cytoplasmic study of immunoxpression p53, both in hyperplastic lesions and in the endometroid endometrial carcinoma, was negative, similar to the immunohistochemical expression of PTEN. At nuclear level, the immunohistochemical staining of Ki67 was positive in EH with atypia and in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, while at cytoplasm level, it was positive only in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. The nuclear and cytoplasmic study of this immunohistochemical marker panel shows a different reactivity in EH with÷without atypia and endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.

Correlation of clinical and biological evidence - a dominant therapeutic element of succeeding in ectopic pregnancy.

Tubal pathology, smoking, pelvic inflammatory disease, miscarriage, medical or surgical abortion, usage of intrauterine devices (IUDs) for women with salpingitis latent injuries, older than 40 years, are risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. The objective of this study concerns the correlation of the clinical and biological evidence for the early diagnosis of the ectopic pregnancy and, as soon as possible, for the estimation for eventual risk of complications that may appear. The transvaginal ultrasound test, minimal increases in serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) dynamics and blood counts are investigations of choice in achieving our objective. Overcoming ß-hCG critical level (>1198 IU÷mL), the decrease of platelets and changes in platelet constants announce the imminent risk of ectopic pregnancy rupture and the need to take a quick decision on the course of treatment.

Cervical adenocarcinoma generator of procoagulant status and ischemic stroke.

The procoagulant status of neoplastic patients is well known in medical literature, but in the last years there is attempted a correlation between the histological types of neoplasia and the risk for thrombotic strokes. We present the case of a 44-years-old patient undergoing early menopause, who was diagnosed with cervical tumor of the serous adenocarcinoma type. The patient underwent external radiotherapy, and, in the seventh day of treatment, she suffered a frontal-temporal-parietal ischemic stroke with left hemiplegia. The blood testing highlighted procoagulant products (double fibrinogen compared to normal values, deficit of antithrombin and a high number of thrombocytes). The patient received neurological and rehabilitation treatment, at first with Heparin, followed by the administration of an antiaggregant. During this treatment, the deficit remained unchanged. She continued the neurological and rehabilitation treatment, followed by radiotherapy, with a good evolution. Six months after the stroke, it was decided the surgical tumor ablation of cytoreduction. The post-surgery histological examination highlighted specific changes due to post-surgery radiotherapy, without the presence of any neoplastic cells. The imagistic evaluation, computed tomography (CT) every three months after surgery, did not highlight any suggestive dissemination elements. The occurrence of an ischemic stroke in a patient with endocervical neoplasm of the adenocarcinoma type during radiotherapy imposed the discharge of chemotherapy, with subsequent imaging, biological and histopathological monitoring after surgery. The cause of stroke in this case is determined by the hypercoagulant status in the context of the developed neoplasia, the patient being free of any other risk factors.

The Importance of the Correlation between the Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Endometrium and Histopathological Findings in Patients with Endometrial Hyperplasia and Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate how ultrasonographic evaluation of endometrium and histopathological findings are correlated in a group of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: I have studied 106 premenopausal and postmenopausal women who underwent endometrial biopsy based on results of transvaginal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 52.29±8.14 years. Postmenopausal status <10 years was common in 20 patients (18.86%), postmenopausal status >10 years was common in 21 patients (19.81%), and premenopausal status in 65 patients (61.32%). Transvaginal sonography reported EH in 97 cases (91.50%) and EH was confirmed by pathology in 88 cases (83.01%). CONCLUSION: Endometrial thickness was correlated with histopathological diagnosis much better in postmenopausal women.

Peritumoral inflammatory reaction in non-melanoma skin cancers - histological and immunohistochemical study.

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most frequent types of cancer in white skin populations, all over the world. In the last 40 years, there was observed a rapid increase of their incidence, because of the UV radiations exposure and weather changes. Although its morbidity is a relatively modest one, the direct social costs of NMSCs are quite substantial due to a high incidence. Due to these reasons, numerous studies try to clarify the etiopathogenic mechanisms of NMSCs, to elaborate treatment and prevention measures. In the last years, a special attention was given to the relation between inflammation and skin cancer. In our study, we performed a histological and immunohistological evaluation of the inflammatory reaction on a number of 73 surgical exeresis pieces coming from the patients diagnosed with NMSCs. Of these, 21 were squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 52 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). The peritumoral inflammatory reaction in NMSCs was an extremely variable one in intensity and distribution, from one case to another and even from one area to another within the same tumor, thus proving the complexity of the relations between tumor cells and the cells of the immune system. By comparing the intensity of the inflammatory reaction between the two main types of NMSCs, there was observed that in SCCs the inflammatory reaction was more intense in comparison to BCCs. Also, in SCC there was highlighted a more abundant inflammatory infiltrate in poorly differentiated carcinomas, in comparison to the well-differentiated ones. The presence of the immune system cells (T-lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells) among the tumoral cells, in a direct contact with these, makes us believe that between the two categories of cells there may appear mechanisms of intercellular communication, distinct from the mechanisms of paracrine signaling.

Delayed interval delivery in twin pregnancy - case reports.

The implementation of assisted reproduction has increased the incidence of multiple pregnancies. Prenatal death of one fetus in the second trimester of twin pregnancy confronts the obstetrician with a difficult problem with regard to the management of pregnancy. The scarcity of the condition and the absence of the large-scale studies make it difficult to advise the parents on the prognosis and optimal management. The unavoidable birth or death of one premature neonate has led to the aim of delayed interval delivery for the other twin. We present in this report two cases of twin pregnancies with delayed-interval delivery and favorable outcomes for the surviving twins. The twin pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in HitMed Medical Center, Craiova, Romania. In the first case, one fetus dismiss in utero at 20 weeks of gestation. The second fetus was successfully delivered by Caesarean section, at 36 weeks. In the second case, the first fetus was delivered at 22 weeks. To save the surviving fetus, ligation of the umbilical cord at the cervical level was performed. The second fetus was delivered at 31 weeks by Caesarean section, in good conditions. We describe our management of the cases and the deliveries and the neonatal outcomes. In multiple gestation, prolongation of pregnancy after preterm dismiss in utero or even after delivery of one fetus is feasible in a closely monitored environment.