Vacuum mammotomy under ultrasound guidance

Background: Breast ultrasound is a non-invasive method of breast examination. You can use it also for fine needle biopsy, core needle biopsy, vacuum mammotomy and for placing the "wire" before open surgical biopsy. Material/Methods: 106 patients (105 women and 1 man) aged 20-71 years (mean age 46.9) were treated in Cancer Institute in Cracow by vacuum mammotomy under ultrasound guidance. The lesions found in ultrasonography were divided into three groups: benign lesions (BI RADS II), ambiguous lesions (BI RADS 0, III and IVa), and suspicious lesions (BI RADS IV B, IV C and V). Then lesions were qualified to vacuum mammotomy. Results: According to USG, fibroadenoma or "fibroadenoma-like" lesions were found in 75 women, in 6 women complicated cysts, in 6 women cyst with dense fluid (to differentiate with FA), and in 19 patients undefined lesions. Fibroadenoma was confirmed in histopathology in 74% patients among patients with fibroadenoma or "fibroadenoma-like" lesions in ultrasound (in others also benign lesions were found). Among lesions undefined after ultrasound examination (total 27 patients) cancer was confirmed in 6 % (DCIS and IDC). In 6 patients with complicated cysts in ultrasound examination, histopathology confirmed fibroadenoma in 4 women, an intraductal lesion in 1 woman and inflamatory process in 1 woman. Also in 6 women with a dense cyst or fibroadenoma seen in ultrasound, histopathology confirmed fibroadenoma in 3 women and fibrosclerosis in 3 women. Conclusions: Any breast lesions undefined or suspicious after ultrasound examination should be verified. The method of verification or kind of operation of the whole lesion (vacuum mammotomy or "wire") depends on many factors, for example: lesion localization; lesion size; BI RADS category

Characterization of cross-linked collagen matrices

Trójwymiarowe, porowate materiały kolagenowe są intensywnie badane jako rusztowania dla inżynierii tkankowej. Ich zadaniem jest zastąpienie macierzy zewnątrzkomórkowej (ECM), zapewnienie odpowiedniego wsparcia mechanicznego oraz środowiska biologicznego dla komórek oraz nowo formującej się tkanki. Właściwości tych materiałów, takie jak wytrzymałość mechaniczna, porowatość i podatność na degradację mogą być modyfikowane przez sieciowanie. Z tego względu celem pracy było otrzymanie oraz scharakteryzowanie trójwymiarowego materiału z neutralizowanego kolagenu usieciowanego za pomocą N-hydroksyimidu kwasu bursztynowego (NHS). Stwierdzono, że średni rozmiar porów, stopień spęcznienia, odporność na degradację oraz wytrzymałość mechaniczna uzyskanych materiałów maleje wraz z wydłużeniem czasu sieciowania NHS. Wszystkie próbki wykazują zadowalające właściwości biologiczne, choć uwagę zwraca fakt, że komórki zasiedlają tylko powierzchnię materiału i nie migrują w głąb skafoldu.The three-dimensional, porous, collagen scaffolds have been extensively investigated as matrices for tissue engineering. Their task is to replace the extracellular matrix (ECM), provide mechanical support and a biological environment for cells and newly formed tissue. The properties of the materials such as mechanical strength, porosity and susceptibility to degradation can be modified by cross-linking process. For this reason the aim of our work was to obtain and characterize neutralized, 3-D collagen scaffold cross-linked using N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) during different time periods. It was found, that average pore size, swelling degree, the susceptibility to degradation and mechanical properties declined with longer cross-linking time. All samples were well tolerated by the cells. However the cells were distributed only on the surface of the material and did not migrate into the structure of the scaffolds

The basolateral amygdaloid complex - its development, morphology and functions

For many years the amygdaloid body hss been an object of numerous investigations on different species, because the basolateral complex, being the main part of the amygdaloid body, is regarded ss "sensory input " to this structure. It plays a very important role in so called emotional memory and learning, what is particularly important in early developmental stages. Impairment at this time may cause psychiatric problems in later life, like neurosis, phobia, unconscious fear or panic attacks. Complicated functions of the basolateral complex equire precise control and modulation especially in early development. In this review the morphological changes during the development and maturation will be discussed and compared with neurotransmitter as well as with the expression of the calcium bindig proteins at various stages of the development