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Abstract: The rapidly evolving field of digital microscopy supports the efficient exploitation of inherent information from stained glass slides to offer widespread utilization in breast histopathology. Digital image signals can be accurately measured, integrated into databases and shared through computer networks. Therefore, digital microscopy can boost telepathology-consultation, gradual- and postgradual teaching, proficiency testing, intra- and interlaboratory validation of biomarker screening interpretation, and automated image analysis of biomarker expression for both diagnostics and research applications. This is a brief highlight of the potential of digital microscopy in breast pathology applications.

Corneal wound repair was investigated in rabbits following excimer laser ablation of a 6mm diameter and 90μm deep disc. In the healing process particular attention was focused on the epithelium where gap junction expression and the rearrangement of desmosomes and hemidesmosomes were correlated with cell proliferation and epidermal growth factor receptor expression. Immunofluorescence-based confocal laser scanning microscopy, semithin resin section morphology and electron microscopy were utilized. In resting cornea two isotypes of gap junctions, confined to different regions in the same basal epithelial cells, were detected. Particulate connexin43 (α1) immunostaining was concentrated on the apical while the connexin26 type (β2) in the baso-latheral cell membranes. This is the first report of connexin26 in the cornea. Connexin43 was found also in corneal keratocytes and endothelial cell. Since the two connexins do not form functioning heteromeric channels and have selective permeabilities they may serve alternative pathways for direct cell-cell communication in the basal cell layer. During regeneration both connexins were expressed throughout the corneal epithelium including the migrating cells. They also showed transient up-regulation 24hr after wounding in the form of overlapping relocation to the upper cell layers. At this time, basal epithelial cells at the limbal region, adjacent to the wound and those migrating over the wounded area all expressed membrane bound epidermal growth factor receptor and they were highly proliferating. In conclusion, like in other stratified epithelia connexin26 is also expressed in the cornea. Transient up-regulation and relocation of connexins within the regenerating epithelium may reflect the involvement of direct cell–cell communication in corneal wound healing. Mitotic activity in the migrating corneal epithelial cells is also a novel finding which is probably the sign of the excessive demand for new epithelial cells in larger wounds not met alone by the proliferating limbal stock.