ROUTINE PROCEDURES AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN TISSUE BANKING AND CELL THERAPY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Following the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, this article describes routine procedures and preventive measures for tissue banking and cell therapy in University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice” in the Republic of Croatia. This paper describes our current practice for preventing contamination and microbiological environmental monitoring of cleanrooms, the protection of healthcare personnel as well as patients from SARS-CoV-2. These measures are based on the recommendations obtained from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Institute of Public Health and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. We also present data on samples collected and treated in this period in comparison to normal work conditions before COVID-19

Prognostic significance of Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in Endometrial Cancer

We investigated the prognostic significance of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP 2) and 9 (MMP 9) in endometrial cancer (EC). The expression of MMP 2 and MMP 9 was analyzed immunohistochemically in 73 primary EC patients. In most cases, the gelatinases were predominantly localized to epithelial cell of tumor origin. In univariate analysis histological type, tumor grade, FIGO (1988) surgical stage and high stromal MMP 2 expression were identified as a significant determinant for EC recurrence, while epithelial MMP 2 expression and epithelial and stromal MMP 9 expression were not. Multivariate analysis revealed a subgroup of patient age ³63.6 years with endometrioid adenocarcinoma and papillary serous carcinoma, all FIGO (2009) stage I disease where strong staining of stromal MMP 2 increase risk of EC recurrence (p=0.037)