1. Hepatic splenosis mimicking liver metastases in a patient with history of childhood immature teratomaSara Jereb, Blaž Trotovšek, Breda Škrbinc, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: Hepatic splenosis is rare condition, preceded by splenectomy or spleen trauma, the term refers to nodular implantation of normal splenic tissue in the liver. In patients with history of malignancy in particular, it can be mistaken for metastases and can lead to unnecessary diagnostic procedures or inappropriate treatment. Case report. Twenty-two-year old male was treated for immature teratoma linked to undescended right testicle after birth. On regular follow-up examinations no signs of disease relapse or long-term consequences were observed. He was presented with incidental finding of mature cystic teratoma after elective surgery for what appeared to be left-sided inguinal hernia. The tumour was most likely a metastasis of childhood teratoma. Origin within remaining left testicle was not found. Upon further imaging diagnostics, several intrahepatic lesions were revealed. Based on radiologic appearance they were suspicious to be metastases. The patient underwent two ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Cytologic diagnosis was inconclusive. Histology of laparoscopically obtained tissue disclosed presence of normal splenic tissue and led to diagnosis of hepatic splenosis. Conclusions. Though hepatic splenosis is rare, it needs to be included in differential diagnosis of nodular hepatic lesions. Accurate interpretation of those lesions is crucial for appropriate management of the patient. If diagnosis eludes after cytologic diagnostics alone, laparoscopic excision of nodular lesion is warranted before considering more extensive liver resection. Keywords: hepatic splenosis, teratoma, metastases, laparoscopy Published in DiRROS: 30.04.2024; Views: 50; Downloads: 5 Full text (543,98 KB) |
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3. Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in breast cancer : correlation with traditional prognostic factorsMaja Lampelj, Darja Arko, Nina Čas-Sikošek, Rajko Kavalar, Maja Ravnik, Barbara Jezeršek Novaković, Sarah Dobnik, Nina Fokter Dovnik, Iztok Takač, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Background. Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) play a key role in tumour invasion and metastasis. High levels of both proteolytic enzymes are associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between traditional prognostic factors and uPA and PAI-1 expression in primary tumour of breast cancer patients. Patients and methods. 606 primary breast cancer patients were enrolled in the prospective study in the Department of gynaecological oncology and breast oncology at the University Medical Centre Maribor between the years 2004 and 2010. We evaluated the traditional prognostic factors (age, menopausal status, tumour size, pathohistological type, histologic grade, lymph node status, lymphovascular invasion and hormone receptor status), together with uPA and PAI-1. We used Spearman%s rank correlation, Mann Whitney U test and X2 test for statistical analysis. Results. Our findings indicate a positive correlation between uPA and tumour size (p < 0.001), grade (p < 0.001), histological type (p < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.01) and a negative correlation between uPA and hormone receptor status (p < 0.001). They also indicate a positive correlation between PAI-1 and tumour size (p = 0.004), grade (p < 0.001), pathohistological type (p < 0.001) and negative correlation between PAI-1 and hormone receptor status (p = 0.002). Conclusions. Our study showed a relationship between uPA and PAI-1 and traditional prognostic factors. Their role as prognostic and predictive factors remains to be further evaluated. Keywords: urokinase plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor, breast cancer Published in DiRROS: 17.04.2024; Views: 87; Downloads: 47 Full text (571,67 KB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Characterization and Mechanical Properties of Sintered Clay MineralsSara Tominc, Vilma Ducman, Jakob Koenig, Srečo D. Škapin, Matjaž Spreitzer, 2024, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The need to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint generated by firing ceramics has stimulated research to develop sintering processes carried out at lower temperatures(ideally not above 300 °C) and high pressures (up to 600 MPa), the so-called cold sintering process (CSP) (Grasso et al., 2020, Maria et al., 2017). To evaluate the applicability of CSP to clays, we focused on two representative clay minerals, kaolinite and illite, and on the natural clay material obtained from a Slovenian brick manufacturer. The selected clay materials were characterized on the basis of mineralogical-chemical composition (XRD, XRF) and particle size distribution (SEM analysis, PSD, BET). The powders of clay minerals and natural clay material were first sintered in a heating microscope to determine the sintering conditions and then in a laboratory furnace at 1100 °C for 2 hours and additionally at 1300 °C for kaolinites. The effect of compression of the initial powders on their final properties was also investigated. Keywords: conventional sintering, cold sintering, clay minerals, characterization, mechanical properties Published in DiRROS: 29.03.2024; Views: 130; Downloads: 59 Full text (681,81 KB) This document has many files! More... |
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6. The Sierpiński product of graphsJurij Kovič, Tomaž Pisanski, Sara Sabrina Zemljič, Arjana Žitnik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: In this paper we introduce a product-like operation that generalizes the construction of the generalized Sierpiński graphs. Let $G$, $H$ be graphs and let $f: V(G) \to V(H)$ be a function. Then the Sierpiński product of graphs $G$ and $H$ with respect to $f$, denoted by $G\otimes_f H$, is defined as the graph on the vertex set $V(G) \times V(H)$, consisting of $|V(G)|$ copies of $H$; for every edge $\{g, g'\}$ of $G$ there is an edge between copies $gH$ and $g'H$ of form $\{(g, f(g'), (g', f(g))\}$. Some basic properties of the Sierpiński product are presented. In particular, we show that the graph $G\otimes_f H$ is connected if and only if both graphs $G$ and $H$ are connected and we present some conditions that $G, \, H$ must fulfill for $G\otimes_f H$ to be planar. As for symmetry properties, we show which automorphisms of $G$ and $H$ extend to automorphisms of $G\otimes_f H$. In several cases we can also describe the whole automorphism group of the graph $G\otimes_f H$. Finally, we show how to extend the Sierpiński product to multiple factors in a natural way. By applying this operation $n$ times to the same graph we obtain an alternative approach to the well-known $n$-th generalized Sierpiński graph. Keywords: Sierpiński graphs, graph products, connectivity, planarity, symmetry Published in DiRROS: 19.03.2024; Views: 128; Downloads: 50 Full text (533,30 KB) This document has many files! More... |
7. CD133/prominin1 is prognostic for GBM patient's survival, but inversely correlated with cysteine cathepsine' expression in gliobastoma derived spheroidsSeyed Yousef Ardebili, Irena Zajc, Boris Gole, Benito Campos, Christel Herold-Mende, Sara Drmota Prebil, Tamara Lah Turnšek, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction. CD133 is a marker for a population of glioblastoma (GBM) and normal neural stem cells (NNSC). We aimed to reveal whether the migratory potential and differentiation of these stem cells is associated with CD133 expression and with cathepsin proteases (Cats). Materials and methods. The invasiveness of normal NNSC, GBM/CD133+ cell lines and GBM spheroids was evaluated in 3D collagen, as well as of U87-MG and normal astrocytes (NHA) grown in monolayers in 2D Matrigel. Expression of Cats B, L and S was measuredat mRNA and activity levels and their relation to invasiveness, to CD133 mRNA in 26 gliomas, and to the survival of these patients. Results. The average yield of CD133+ cells from GBM samples was 9.6%. Survival of patients with higher CD133 mRNA expression was significantly shorter (p< 0.005). Invasion, associated with proteolytic degradation of matrix, was higher in normal stem cells and GBM spheroids and cells than in isolated GBM CD133+ cells. In glioma samples, there was no correlation between CD133 mRNA expression and Cat mRNAs, but there was an inverse correlation with Cat activities. Conclusions. The study confirms CD133 as a prognostic marker for the survival of GBM patients. We demonstrated that NNSC have higher invasion potential and invade the collagen matrix in a mode different from that of GBM,initiating stem cell spheres. This result could have implications for the design of new therapeutics, including protease inhibitors that specifically target invasive tumour stem cells. Increased activity of cathepsins in CD133- cells suggests their role in the invasive behaviour of GBM. Published in DiRROS: 19.03.2024; Views: 125; Downloads: 32 Full text (1,00 MB) |
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10. Inflammatory, oxidative stress and small cellular particle response in HUVEC induced by debris from endoprosthesis processingZala Jan, Matej Hočevar, Veno Kononenko, Sara Michelini, Neža Repar, Maja Caf, Boštjan Kocjančič, Drago Dolinar, Slavko Kralj, Darko Makovec, Aleš Iglič, Damjana Drobne, Monika Jenko, Veronika Kralj-Iglič, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: endoprosthesis failure, corundum, cytokines, reactive oxygen species, lipid droplets Published in DiRROS: 02.02.2024; Views: 186; Downloads: 74 Full text (4,34 MB) This document has many files! More... |