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Background: Breslow tumor thickness and mitotic rate are standardly used for risk stratification of patients with malignant melanoma. However, their prognostic value is relatively limited and a need for improved prognostication has been advocated. We aimed to screen the tumor tissue proteome in a search for potentially useful prognostic factors in early-stage cutaneous head and neck melanoma. ----- Methodology and findings: Proteomic profiles of archival formalin-fixed tissue samples of 31 patients (age 23-90 years) with early-stage head and neck cutaneous malignant melanoma (American Joint Committee on Cancer, AJCC, stage I/II) were determined and expression intensities were compared to those of melanocytic nevi, yielding ratios used in data analysis. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed to determine time elapsed since diagnosis to disease-specific death or censoring. In a multivariate recursive partitioning analysis (as per AJCC guidelines), higher expression levels of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M (hnRNP M) [n = 18, HR = 1.94 vs. the entire cohort; HR = 5.95 (95%CI 2.43-14.5) for "high" vs. "low" (n = 13)] and of heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP 90α) [n = 17, HR = 2.09 vs. the entire cohort; HR = 4.59 (95%CI 1.87-11.2) for "high" vs. "low" (n = 14)] were each independently strongly associated with higher mortality (accounting for clinical and standard pathohistological features). Higher Breslow thickness and mitotic rate were associated with higher mortality only when proteomic data were disregarded. ----- Conclusions and significance: Data suggest that tumor tissue expression of hnRNP M and/or of HSP 90α deserve further investigation and clinical validation as potential novel risk stratification aids in patients with stage I-II cutaneous head and neck malignant melanoma.

Postojeći komercijalni procesi dobivanja biodizela uglavnom se zasnivaju na homogenoj bazno kataliziranoj metanolizi biljnih ulja. Najčešće se kao katalizatori primjenjuju NaOH i KOH i NaOCH3. U ovom radu istraživana je mogućnost primjene hidratiziranog vapna, komercijalnog proizvoda koji se prije svega primjenjuje u građevinarstvu, kao katalizatora u procesu metanolize suncokretova ulja. Ispitivan je utjecaj procesnih parametara; mase katalizatora, omjera ulja i metanola te duljine trajanja na prinos metilnog estera i na osnovne karakteristike dobivenog biodizela. Rezultati dobiveni istraživanjima u okviru ovog rada pokazuju da se hidratizirano vapno može upotrebljavati kao učinkovit, jeftin i ekološki prihvatljiv katalizator za metanolizu suncokretova ulja. Ovo djelo je dano na korištenje pod licencom Creative Commons Imenovanje 4.0 međunarodna., Existing commercial processes for the production of biodiesel are mainly based on homogeneous base catalysed methanolysis of vegetable oils. The most commonly used catalysts are NaOH, KOH and NaOCH3. In this paper, the possibility of using hydrated lime, a commercial product used primarily in construction, as a catalyst in the process of methanolysis of sunflower oil, was investigated. The influence of process parameters was examined; the catalyst mass, the ratio of methanol/oil, and the time of reaction on the methyl ester yield and on basic characteristics of the resulting biodiesel. The results obtained by the research in this paper show that hydrated lime can be used as an efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly catalyst for the methanolysis of sunflower oil. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Identification of bacteria in aquatic and environmental applications, for monitoring purposes and research, for health assessments and therapy considerations of farmed and free- living aquatic organisms, still relies on conventional phenotypic and biochemical protocols. Although molecular techniques based on DNA amplification and sequencing are finding ways into diagnostic laboratories, they are time-consuming, costly and difficult in the case of multiplex assays. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid and accurate proteomic method reliable for identification of unknown bacteria to the genus and species level. Upon extension of databases, it will certainly find its position in environmental sciences. The paper presents an overview of the principle of the method, its effectiveness in comparison with conventional and molecular identification procedures, and applicability on environmental and aquatic isolates, discussing its advantages and shortcomings, as well as possible future implementations.

Cilj: Cilj je ovog rada prikazati dijagnostički postupak rezidualnog melanoma prsta ruke. Prikaz slučaja: U laboratorij Zavoda za patologiju iz kirurške ambulante primljen je isječak kože četrdesetčetverogodišnjeg muškarca pod dijagnozom tumora četvrtog prsta desne ruke u vidu kupolastog odignuća površine kože najvećeg promjera od 1 centimetra. Lezija je bila boje kože i u cijelosti je preuzeta za patohistološku analizu koja je pokazala da diferencijalno dijagnostički u obzir dolazi melanocitna lezija. S obzirom na izostanak epidermalne komponente lezije bila je potrebna dodatna molekularna analiza za isključivanje svjetlostaničnog sarkoma. Iz naknadno primljenih kliničkih podataka zaključuje se da se zapravo radi o rezidui melanoma koji je prethodno odstranjen bez popratne patohistološke analize. Zaključak: Patohistološka dijagnoza može, općenito, pa tako i u slučaju melanoma, biti otežana zbog nedostatka kliničkih podataka. Suvremena patohistološka dijagnostika ima dobre pomoćne alate za postavljanje točne dijagnoze koja rukovodi daljnji dijagnostički i terapijski protokol pacijenta. No, klinički dermatološki pregled suspektne pigmentne lezije upotpunjen patohistološkom dijagnostikom nezaobilazan je korak, nužan za pravovremeno postavljanje dijagnoze, čime se izbjegava odgađanje početka terapije važne za ishod pacijenta., Objective: The objective of this paper is to present a diagnostic procedure in a case of residual melanoma of the finger. Case report: We received a dome shaped, skin specimen from a forty-four year old man. The skin sample was taken from the fourth finger of his right hand and it was 1 cm in diameter. The skin coloured lesion was serially sectioned and submitted for histopathologic analysis. Microscopic examination showed that it was melanocytic lesion and considering it had no epidermal component, additional molecular analyses were needed to exclude a clear cell sarcoma. A diagnosis of residual melanoma was made, from subsequently received clinical data, however there was no accompanying histopathological analysis from the first excision. Conclusion: A histopathological diagnosis, in general, as well as in the case of melanoma may be difficult due to the lack of clinical data. Contemporary histopathological diagnostics has a good support tools for establishing an accurate diagnosis, which governs the further diagnostic and therapeutic patient’s protocol. However, clinical dermatological examination of doubtful pigmented lesions, complemented by histopathologic diagnostics is a crucial step important for timely diagnosis in order to avoid delay in the therapy which is important for patient’s disease outcome.