The Terahertz’s wavelength is located between the microwave and the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because it is non-ionizing and non-invasive, Terahertz (THz)-based detection represents a very attractive tool for repeated assessments, patient monitoring, and follow-up. Cancer acts as the second leading cause of death in many regions, and current predictions estimate a continuous increasing trend. Of all types of tumors, digestive cancers represent an important percentage and their incidence is expected to increase more rapidly than other tumor types due to unhealthy lifestyle habits. Because it can precisely differentiate between different types of molecules, depending on water content, the information obtained through THz-based scanning could have several uses in the management of cancer patients and, more importantly, in the early detection of different solid tumors. The purpose of this manuscript is to offer a comprehensive overview of current data available on THz-based detection for digestive cancers. It summarizes the characteristics of THz waves and their interaction with tissues and subsequently presents available THz-based technologies (THz spectroscopy, THz-tomography, and THZ-endoscope) and their potential for future clinical use. The third part of the review is focused on highlighting current in vitro and in vivo research progress in the field, for identifying specific digestive cancers known as oral, esophageal, gastric, colonic, hepatic, and pancreatic tumors.

Melanoma represents the most aggressive skin cancer, with an unpredictable and often treatment resistant behavior. The etiology of melanoma is multifactorial and includes both environmental and genetic factors. Recent evidence indicates that vitamin D has a role in the development and progression of melanoma. The biologically active form of vitamin D/1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 acts by binding to a intranuclear receptor; vitamin D receptor (VDR). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vitamin D receptor gene may alter the expression or the function of the VDR protein leading to various diseases, including melanoma. More than 600 SNPs have been identified in the VDR gene, but only a few have been analyzed in relation to melanoma risk: FokI, TaqI, BsmI, ApaI, Cdx2, EcoRV, and BglI. Individual studies carried on small cohorts of patients reported controversial results. In an attempt to clarify the available data in the literature on this subject, we elaborated a systematic review in which we analyzed the relationship between VDR gene polymorphisms and melanoma risk and progression. We concluded that vitamin D pathway is important for the pathogenesis and the progression of cutaneous melanoma, illustrating the gene-environment interactions, but well-designed prospective studies that include data on both genotypes and phenotypes of vitamin D metabolism are essential in order to understand the mechanisms underlying the association between vitamin D and melanoma.

We have estimated, the total number of EB patients in Romania and we have estimated the incidence and the prevalence of EB. We have also managed to approximate the distribution of EB types in Romania. Moreover, we performed a phenotypic and genotypic characterization in some of the patients included in the EB register.

This study investigated whether somatic markers mediate the effect of serotonin transporter genotype on Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) performance. Participants (N = 135) were genotyped for the insertion/deletion and singlenucleotide (rs25531) polymorphisms in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR). The results of mediation analyses indicated that skin conductance responses that anticipated IGT card selections partially (i.e. 42% of the total effect) mediated the effect of genotype on IGT performance. In comparison with high-functioning 5-HTTLPR genotypes, the lowfunctioning genotypes were associated with higher total IGT scores. This suggests that the higher synaptic availability of serotonin, associated with the low-functioning 5-HTTLPR genotypes, may confer differential susceptibility to decision making under risk, and that almost half of this effect is explained by facilitated somatic markers during IGT.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to assess the role of regression and other clinical and histological features for the prognosis and the progression of cutaneous melanoma.Material/MethodsBetween 2005 and 2016, 403 patients with melanoma were treated and followed at our Department of Dermatology. Of the 403 patients, 173 patients had cutaneous melanoma and underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and thus were included in this study.ResultsHistological regression was found in 37 cases of melanoma (21.3%). It was significantly associated with marked and moderate tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) and with negative SLN. Progression of the disease occurred in 42 patients (24.2%). On multivariate analysis, we found that a positive lymph node and a Breslow index higher than 2 mm were independent variables associated with disease free survival (DFS). These variables together with a mild TIL were significantly correlated with overall survival (OS). The presence of regression was not associated with DFS or OS.ConclusionsWe could not demonstrate an association between regression and the outcome of patients with cutaneous melanoma. Tumor thickness greater than 2 mm and a positive SLN were associated with recurrence. Survival was influenced by a Breslow thickness >2 mm, the presence of a mild TIL and a positive SLN status.