Influence of potting geometry of inserts load-carrying capability in sandwich structure

The work was supported from European Regional Development Fund-Project „Research and Development of Intelligent Components of Advanced Technologies for the Pilsen Metropolitan Area (InteCom)” (No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/17_048/0007267) and from project SGS-2019-009 of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports

Cytoarchitecture modifications of the human uterine endocervical mucosa in long-term three-dimensional organotypic culture

We assayed the effects of phenol red (pr), estrogen (Es), and progesterone (Pg) in three-dimensional organotypic cultures of human uterine endocervix. Small intact fragments deposited on sponges submerged in DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum were cultured in three different conditions: with pr (DMEM(pr+)), without pr (DMEM(pr-)), and without pr but with the addition of physiological concentrations of Es and Pg [DMEM(pr-)(Es+Pg)]. Cell viability and cellular responses were assayed after 4, 10, and 21 days using immunohistochemistry for the expression and distribution of the following markers: mucins and mucopolysaccharides (PAS staining), pan-cytokeratins (AE1/AE3), CK19, p63, Ki-67, vimentin, estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha), and progesterone receptor (PR). The fragments cultivated in DMEM(pr+) showed a cuboidal, poorly differentiated epithelial phenotype and signs of stroma degeneration. In DMEM(pr-), both tissue architecture and cellular heterogeneity were much better preserved: epithelial cells showed a more columnar shape, and stroma was very well conserved, maintaining cell density. The addition of Es and Pg further improved the histology and physiology of the fragments: in DMEM(pr-)(Es+Pg), epithelial cells retained a columnar shape, secreted mucins, and formed areas of squamous hyperplasia

Secondary central nervous system lymphoma: spectrum of morphological MRI appearances

Hana Malikova,1,2 Miroslava Burghardtova,1 Eva Koubska,3 Vaclav Mandys,4 Tomas Kozak,5 Jiri Weichet1 1Radiology Department, Third Faculty of Medicine, Faculty Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; 2Institute of Anatomy, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; 3Radiology Department, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic; 4Pathology Department, Third Faculty of Medicine, Faculty Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; 5Hematooncology Department, Third Faculty of Medicine, Faculty Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Background: Secondary central nervous system lymphoma (SCNSL) is a rare and aggressive disease, which is defined as secondary central nervous system (CNS) involvement in patients with systemic lymphoma. According to previous reports, SCNSL presents mostly with leptomeningeal spread; however, our experience differs. In the present study, we demonstrate the diversity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns in SCNSL.Patients and methods: Initial morphological MRI findings in 21 patients (10 women and 11 men with mean age 62.3±16.2 years) with SCNSL were retrospectively evaluated. All patients suffered from neurological symptoms and underwent MRI, and all cases were histologically verified. Twelve patients were treated by corticosteroids at the time of the initial MRI.Results: Parenchymal lesions were present in 18 of 21 cases (85.7%), solitary meningeal infiltration was present in 1 patient (4.8%), leptomeningeal infiltration in combination with hypophyseal involvement in 1 patient (4.8%), and solitary involvement of the sixth cranial nerve (CN) was found in 1 patient (4.8%). Multiple lesions were present in 11 of 21 cases (52.4%). Diffusion restriction in all or part of the lesion was detected in 14 of 18 cases (77.8%). All parenchymal lesions had an infiltrative appearance and most enhanced homogenously (11 of 17 cases; 64.7%). A combination of parenchymal and meningeal involvement was found in 10 of 21 cases (47.6%). Infiltration of the CNs, basal ganglia, corpus callosum, and ependyma was present in 8 of 21 cases (38.1%) for each of the abovementioned structures; hypothalamic–hypophyseal axis was affected in 7 of 21 cases (33.3%).Conclusion: In contrast to previous reports, SCNSL presented as parenchymal disease. MRI is not sufficient for differentiation between primary and secondary CNS lymphoma. Keywords: brain, parenchymal lesions, magnetic resonance, tumo