Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent human malignancy and at the same time the most frequent periocular malignancy, representing almost 80% of all non-melanoma skin cancers and 90% of eyelid cancers. The study included 50 cases of eyelid BCC, out of which 41 were nodular BCC (NBCC) and nine were infiltrative BCC (IBCC), with various Breslow scores (BS) and primary tumor (pT) category. We analyzed the immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1 and 13 in the tumoral epithelial component (TEC) and inflammatory stromal component (ISC) of BCC in relation to the two histopathological parameters. The immunoreaction for MMP-1 was identified in 41 (82%) cases and for MMP-13 in 46 (92%) cases both in the TEC and ISC of both types of BCC. The statistical analysis revealed that both collagenases had positive/high scores significantly associated with advanced BS. For MMP-1, there were statistical associations in TEC related to IBCC and high pT category, while MMP-13 only revealed statistical association in ISC with high pT. The presence of collagenase MMP-1 and MMP-13 expression in a high number of cases, both in TEC and ISC, confirms their intervention in the tumor progression and proposes these MMPs as potential targets in antineoplastic therapy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main primary liver malignancy, being associated with both health and economic burden worldwide. Recently, novel molecular markers and possible therapeutic targets were identified. Different adhesion molecules, as well as possible angiogenesisassociated targets can be prime candidates when investigating novel therapies. Considering these premises, our goal was to study the coexistence of E-cadherin and aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in a series of HCC diagnosed patients. Utilizing archived tissue fragments from 17 patients diagnosed with well-to-moderate and poorly differentiated HCC, as well as four samples of normal liver tissue and using a highly specific biotinfree tyramide amplification technique, we have assessed here the expression of E-cadherin and AQP1 during HCC carcinogenesis. Moreover, as we have observed that some of the AQP1 expression seems membrane-bound, we have sought to evaluate their co-localization. Our data showed, as expected, that E-cadherin decreases from control tissue to low-grade and respectively, high-grade HCC. AQP1 was expressed, also as already known, at the level of endothelial blood vessels and bile ducts epithelia, however, we have showed here for the first time that this water pore is also expressed in the cytoplasm and membranes of hepatocytes, both in control and HCC tissue. Moreover, AQP1 expression parallels the decrease of E-cadherin expression during carcinogenesis, but together with this downregulation, we have also found a spatial decrease in the colocalization of the two proteins. Altogether, utilizing a biotin-free tyramide signal amplification technique, this study shows for the first time that AQP1 is expressed at the level of liver epithelia, in both control and HCC tissue.

Tissue healing is a complex, dynamic process, characterized by the replacement of devitalized and absent cell and tissue structures. This can be obtained by different methods, these being found in the "reconstructive scale", which although it is very rich does not offer a universally valid solution for closing skin wounds. In plastic surgery, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has proven effective in the treatment of skin graft donor areas, burn wounds, skin grafts, tendons, or varicose ulcers. Also, hyaluronic acid (HA) has found its utility in different areas of medicine, other than the esthetics field, with satisfactory results after its use in various lesions. The aim of our study was to find a method of healing wounds with skin defect that shortens the time of complete epithelialization compared to native healing, which is accessible to any patient both by its simplicity and by the lowest possible costs. So, we decided to test a preparation consisting of PRP and granular HA in this type of wounds on a group of 30 Wistar rats. Corroborating the macroscopic data with the microscopic ones, an important similarity can be observed between the healing of the adjuvant-treated lesion at 14 days postoperatively and the healing of the lesion left to natural healing at 21 days, thus shortening the healing period by seven days.

Wireless capsule endoscopy is currently considered the gold standard in the investigation of the small bowel. It is both practical for physicians and easily accepted by patients. Prior to its development, two types of imaging investigations of the small bowel were available: radiologic and endoscopic. The first category is less invasive and comfortable for patients; it presents the ensemble of the small bowel, but it may imply radiation exposure. Images are constructed based on signals emitted by various equipment and require special interpretation. Endoscopic techniques provide real-time colored images acquired by miniature cameras from inside the small bowel, require interpretation only from a medical point of view, may allow the possibility to perform biopsies, but the investigation only covers a part of the small bowel and are more difficult to accept by patients. Wireless capsule endoscopy is the current solution that overcomes a part of the previous drawbacks: it covers the entire small bowel, it provides real-time images acquired by cameras, it is painless for patients, and it represents an abundant source of information for physicians. Yet, it lacks motion control and the possibility to perform biopsies or administer drugs. However, significant effort has been oriented in these directions by technical and medical teams, and more advanced capsules will surely be available in the following years. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Brief history of small bowel investigation 3. A brilliant idea 4. Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) 5. WCE systems 6. Uses for WCE 7. The future of WCE

Immunohistochemical expression of p53, Ki67, α-SMA, CD44 and CD31 in different histological subtypes of basal cell carcinomaANCA COJOCARU 1,2) , CARROL BÎRJOVANU 3) , ANA-MARIA CIUREA 4) , DRAGOŞ NICULESCU 5) , OLGUŢA-ANCA ORZAN 2,6) , ANA ION 2) , DRAGOŞ OVIDIU ALEXANDRU 7) , IONICA PIRICI 8) , ELENA JANINA VÎLCEA 9) , ELENA-ALEXANDRA MARINESCU 10) , MARIUS EUGEN CIUREA 10)