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A powder mixture of Bi2O3 and Fe2O3 was mechanically treated in a planetary ball mill in an air from 30 to 720 minutes. It was shown that the mechanochemical formation of BiFeO3 (BFO) phase was initiated after 60 min and its amount increased gradually with increasing milling time. A detailed XRPD structural analysis is realized by Rietveld's structure refinement method. The resulting lattice parameters, relative phase abundances, crystallite sizes and crystal lattice microstrains were determined as a function of milling time. Microstructural analysis showed a little difference in morphology of obtained powders. The primary particles, irregular in shape and smaller than 400 nm are observed clearly, although they have assembled together to form agglomerates with varying size and morphology. Dense BFO ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction at the temperature of 810°C for 1h followed immediately by quenching process [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium(IV) oxide in the form of anatase has proven to be the best choice for photoanodic material in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The aim of the work was to study the influence of binder molecular weight on the morphology of deposited films, and consequently, DSC parameters. For this study, five different TiO2 tape casting slips were prepared from commercially available nanoanatase powder and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a binder. The process of drying and sintering was carefully designed, so that the organic template was slowly decomposed, leaving favorable crack-free, porous structure. It was found that there is an optimal region of binder molecular weight for obtaining homogeneous, non-agglomerated and porous microstructure which is a necessary condition for application of TiO2 films in DSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Th17 cells and interleukin (IL-17), their signature cytokine, have the main role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The effect of glucocorticoids (GC) on expression and production of IL-17 has not been thoroughly tested yet. Also, the site of action of GC is not precisely defined. This paper presents the main results of the Doctoral thesis devoted to studies of GC on the production of IL-17 in the model of EAE, induced in susceptible laboratory animals. Methylprednisolone (MP), a synthetic glucocorticoid, inhibit in vitro production of IL-17 in mitogen-stimulated lymph node cells (LNC) as well as in myelin basic protein (MBP)-stimulated draining LNC in dose- dependent manner. However, under the same conditions inhibitory effect of the MP on production and expression of the genes for IFN-γ, a cytokine that TH1 cells generate, is significantly more pronounced. Interestingly, when we analyzed effects of MP applied in vivo in EAE, the same phenomenon was observed: the proportion of IFN-γ producing, but not all of IL-17 cells were reduced in cells isolated from MP treated rats in comparison to control rats which indicates that MP achieves its effects not only in the peripheral lymphoid tissues, but also in target tissue. Different sensitivities of Th1 and Th17 cells that are major cellular sources of IFN-γ or IL-17 in the effect of the GC has been observed in other animal models and in human disease. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the relative resistance of Th17 cells on the operation of GC is very important for the development of new strategies in the treatment of those forms of autoimmune and chronic diseases that are resistant to the effect of glucocorticoids.

Background/Aim. Female patients who underwent ceratin treatment forms of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) are at five times greater risk for disease relapse in comparison to the rest of female population. The aim of the study was to investigate validity of human papillomavirus (HPV) typization and cytology in detection of relapse. Methods. The prospective clinical investigation included 35 patients with relapse and 30 ones without it after adequate treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. HPV typization using PCR methods and cytological test (conventional Pap smear) were performed in all the patients. Validation of tests applied was performed by determining their sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. Results. More severe degrees of CIN relapse occur significantly more often in patients which remain HPV positive despite of the treatment. The patients which remain positive on HPV type 18 or, on both HPV types 18 and 16, have more often CIN relapses of more severe degree in relation to those just positive on HPV type 16. HPV typization has higher predictive value for diagnosis of the rezidual disease in older patients. Sensitivity of HPV typization for diagnosis all CIN relapse degrees is 68.57%, for more severe degrees (HSIL and MIC) 90.47%, specificity is 93.33%, while positive and negative predictive values are 90.47% and 93.53%, respectively. Sensitivity of cytology for diagnosis of more severe CIN relapses is 80.95%. HPV typization used along with cytology ofters the highest sensitivity (95.23%). Conclusion. Both tests, HPV typization and Pap smear, offer satisfactory sensitivity and high specificity in detection of relapse, parcticularly those with more severe degree. The highest sensitivity in detection of CIN relapse is obtained by using both tests.

Background/Aim. Bethesda system of classification of cytological findings was introduced in 2001 two subcategories in the category of atypical squamous cells (ASC) findings: ASC of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and ASC which cannot exclude high-grade intraepithelial lesions (ASC-H). The aim of our study was to assess a possible association of these two subcategories with pathologic biopsy finding and to find out the best further diagnostic proceedings. Methods. At the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Niš 130 patients with ASC findings were analyzed. Colposcopy was performed in all study participants. Patients with pathological colposcopic findings underwent cervical biopsy. In 10 patients with pathologic histologic and 15 with benign findings human papilloma virus (HPV) typization was done using the Hybrid Capture method. Results. Patients with ASC-H finding had significantly more pathologic biopsies compared with patients with ASC-US finding (57.84: 20.72). Conclusion. Colposcopy was exhibited somewhat higher sensitivity compared to HPV typization (94.7 : 90), but lower sensitivity (79.27 : 86.6). The usage of HPV typization in the triage of patients with ASC cytologic smear induces statistically significant reduction of unnecessary percentage of cervical biopsies.

Background/Aim. The prevalence of endometrial polyps (EPs) in the general female population is about 24%. Abnormal uterine bleeding is frequently the presenting symptom of EPs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of EPs in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Methods. The prevalence and characteristics of EPs were investigated in 961 patients with abnormal uterine bleeding who underwent dilatation and curettage between January and December 2006. Regarding histopathological features of EPs (presence of atypical hyperplasia or endometrial carcinoma), patients were divided into two groups: group A - patients who had EPs and EPs with hyperplasia without atypia (n = 204) and group B - patients who had EPs with atypical hyperplasia and EPs with carcinoma (n = 7). Results. In 211 (21.94%) patients EPs were found with abnormal uterine bleeding. Histopathologically, there were 175 (82.94%) EPs, 29 (13.74%) EPs with hyperplasia without atypia, 5 (2.37%) EPs with atypical hyperplasia, and 2 (0.95%) EPs with endometrial carcinoma. Contrary to the patients with EPs and EPs with hyperplasia without atypia (group A), patients who had EPs with atypical hyperplasia and EPs with carcinoma (group B) were older (p < 0.05), and more commonly postmenopausal (p < 0.05) and with hypertension (p < 0.05), all of statistical significance. Conclusion. The prevalence of endometrial polyps in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding according to our data was 21.95%. Atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma were rarely confined to a polyp. Older age, postmenopausal period and hypertension may increase the risk of premalignant and malignant changes in endometrial polyps.

Background/Aim. Ovary is the organ of the female reproductive system most commonly affected by metastases. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and features of metastatic ovarian tumors (MOT) depending on the site of the primary malignant tumor. Methods. The study group consisted of 488 patients with histopathologically confirmed ovarian cancers treated at the Clinic of Oncology, Clinical Center Niš, in the period from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2005. MOT were found in 41 patients. Regarding the site of the primary malignant tumor, those with secondary ovarian tumor were divided into two groups: group A - primary malignant tumor involving the genital organs (n = 30) and group B - primary malignant tumor of extragenital origin (n = 11). Results. MOT were confirmed in 8.40% (41/488) of the patients. Secondary ovarian malignancies were the consequence of endometrial carcinoma spreading in 73.17%, breast carcinoma in 19.51%, stomach carcinoma in 4.88% and colon carcinoma in 2.44% of the cases. No significant differences were found between the group A and group B by the factors of age, body mass index, parity and menopausal status. Contrary to the group A, metastatic tumors in the group B patients were more commonly asymptomatic (p < 0.001), bilateral (p < 0.05), with larger ovarian diameter (p < 0.05), associated with ascites (p < 0.001) and abdominal metastases (p < 0.01), all of statistical significance. Conclusions. Metastatic tumors made up 8.40% of ovarian neoplasmas. With non-genital primary tumors, secondary ovarian deposits were frequently asymptomatic, bilateral, associated with larger ovarian diameter, ascites and abdominal metastatic deposits, compared to malignant tumors of genital origin.

Breast cancer (BC) is a disease underlined by a complex aetiology, natural history and disease behaviour. Age is the greatest risk factor, which coupled with genetic predisposition, hormonal phenotype, reproductive profile and extrinsic factors, make BC the commonest malignancy in women (23%). The most frequent presenting symptom of BC is a hard, painless, irregular lump. Profile of BC, respective of it's growth and invasiveness capacity is diverse. Principle prognostic indicators are nodal status, tumour size histological grade and hormonal receptor status. Diagnosis is achieved by the combination of physical examination, FNAC or core biopsy and breast imaging (mammography/ ultrasound). Surgery remains the mainstay of BC treatment, with or without radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal manipulation, and state-of-the-art targeted treatment. Even in this day-and-age, less than 55% of BC sufferers have an overall survival longer than 5 years. This raises an alarm to bring the long awaited and much researched patient-tailored treatment to the clinic at the fastest possible pace.

Background/Aim. Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of the female genital tract in developed countries. Endometrioid carcinoma represents about three-fourths of all endometrial carcinoma. The aim of this study was to examine pathologic parameters, age, and the 5-year survival of the patients with FIGO stage I endometrial carcinoma of endometrioid type and to assess the prognostic utility of age, depth of myometrial invasion, hystologic type (endometrioid or variant), histologic grade, nuclear grade, and lymph-vascular space invasion. Methods. Age, pathologic parameters, and survival data were retrospectively collected on 236 patients with FIGO stage I endometrial carcinoma of endometrioid type. All the patients underwent hysterectomy between 1996 and 2000 and follow-up until December 2005. Results. A total of 236 patients (mean age 58.0, range 40−79) were analyzed. During the 5-year period of follow-up, 59 (25.0%) patents died from the disease. An univariate analysis revealed that age, depth of myometrial invasion, histologic grade, nuclear grade, and lymph-vascular space invasion were associated significantly with the 5-year survival of the patients. A multivariate analysis revealed that age, lymph-vascular space invasion, and depth of myometrial invasion were associated significantly with the 5-year survival. Conclusion. Age, lymph-vascular space invasion, and depth of myometrial invasion are independent prognostic parameters for the 5-year survival of the patients with FIGO stage I endometrial carcinoma of endometrioid type.

Peritonitis carcinomatosa, indicating the presence of malignant cells in the peritoneal cavity, is a well- known complication of malignant disease. The collection of intraperitoneal fluid in a patient with ovarian cancer is most likely due to intraperitoneal spread of disease. The recognition of small quantities of intraperitoneal fluid may have staging and prognostic significance, while symptomatic large collections may reflect end-stage disease, which permits only palliative therapeutic options. In this paper we dis- cussed the pathogenesis of malignant ascites in ovarian cancer patients and suggested potential new treatment approaches.

Light radiation is a part of the electromagnetic radiation, and it consists of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation. UV radiation energy is absorbed in the form of photons in biomolecules (chromophores) and induces various cellular reactions, out of which photochemical and photosensitizing are the most significant. In contact with the skin UV radiation incites protection mechanisms: the most important are stratum corneum thickening and melanin synthesis (melanogenesis). Basic role of melanin is absorption and scattering of UV rays and neutralization of free radicals. In this review physical characteristics of UV radiation, its biological effects, and relation to melanogenesis and carcinogenesis are discussed.

Numerous malignant diseases reach their incidence peak in female fertile years. That is the reason why these diseases are the second most common cause of death of women in their generative age. However, neoplastic processes are rarely diagnosed in pregnancy and there are no clear-cut guidelines on whether the pregnancy should be terminated in order that a proper treatment could be applied. We have not enough knowledge jet about the consequences for both the mother and her child if the pregnancy is allowed to continue despite the diagnosis of malignancy. Melanoma is one of the most common tumours diagnosed in pregnancy (8% of all diagnosed neoplasms). Some studies present the data on successfully terminated pregnancies in these women but also point out the risks the fetus is exposed to due to possible application of cytotoxic therapy, as well as the danger of transplacental spread of this process to the placenta and fetus.

Background: Colon and rectal cancers (CRC) accounted for 783.000 new disease cases (9.7% of the world total), and was a cause of 437 000 deaths (8.4% of the world total). Unlike the situation with most disease sites, incidence and mortality were not much different between men and women (ratio 1.05:1.00). In terms of incidence, CRC rank thirds in frequency in men (after prostate and lung) and third in women (after breast and lung). Methods: In the Hospital Cancer Registry of the Clinic of oncology Niš, for the period 1998-2002 there were 7873 registered new cancer cases. The authors searched the registry with aim to establish the number of patients affected with colorectal cancer for the observed 5-year period, to establish the most frequent cancer site, histopathologic diagnosis, age distribution of the disease, and tumor burden in the registered cases. Results: CRC participates with 10.24% of all cancers cases. There were 1329 gastrointestinal cancer cases, out of which 806 (61%) colorectal cancer cases. CRC ranks first in frequency in men (18% at all cancers in men), and fifth in women (5.96% at all cancers in women). The disease was predominant in male population (504/806 men and 302/806 women; ratio 1.67:1.00). The youngest two cases were in the group of patients aged from 20 to 24 years. The number of CRC increases with age for both genders (68 men and 39 women aged 50-54 years), and the highest number of patients were observed among persons aged from 65-69 years (95 men and 52 women). Colorectal cancers most frequently arise in the rectosigmoid colon portion (89 cases; 22%), then in the colon transversum (72 cases; 18%), colon ascendens (73 cases; 18%) cecum (48 cases; 12%), sigmoid colon (31 cases; 7.7%), hepatic flexura (26 cases; 6.5%), lineal flexura (12 cases; 3%) and colon descendens (8 cases 2%). The most common histopathologic diagnoses are: Adenocarcinoma 685 (85%), Ca papillare 69 (8.6%), Ca mucinosum 43 (5.3%), Ca planocellulare 8 (1%), Ca lucidocellulare 4 (0.5%), and sarcoma 2 (0.2%). Conclusion: The analysis of the period showed the increase of the number of cases (133 patients in 1999 and 241 cases in 2002). CRC makes up 61 % of all gastrointestinal cancers. The most frequent localization was rectum (393/806; 49 %) These tumors most commonly occur in rectum and sigmoid colon (89/401). Colon descendens is rarely affected (8/401). The most predominant type was adenocarcinoma (685/806). CRC was 1.67 times more frequent among men then among women.

Titanium(IV) oxide in the form of anatase has proven to be the best choice for photoanodic material in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The aim of the work was to study the influence of binder molecular weight on the morphology of deposited films, and consequently, DSC parameters. For this study, five different TiO2 tape casting slips were prepared from commercially available nanoanatase powder and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a binder. The process of drying and sintering was carefully designed, so that the organic template was slowly decomposed, leaving favorable crack-free, porous structure. It was found that there is an optimal region of binder molecular weight for obtaining homogeneous, nonagglomerated and porous microstructure which is a necessary condition for application of TiO2 films in DSCs. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III45007]

In this article the solid state reaction of BaTiO3 formation from a mechanically activated BaCO3-TiO2 system has been investigated. An equimolar mixture of BaCO3 and TiO2 powders was activated in a planetary ball mill in a continual regime for 0, 30 and 90 min, pressed and thermally treated up to 1200oC. The effect of the milling and firing regime on the phase formation was investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Deconvolution of the experimental DTA curve corresponding to the BaTiO3 synthesis process has been performed. The influence of the activation time on the change of characteristic temperature for each elementary step in the complete solid-state reaction of BaTiO3 formation, was analyzed. These results were correlated with the ones obtained by SEM characterization and by XRD analysis.

Amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) is becoming an increasingly important technological material. Transport in this material is conceptualized as the heavy disorder of the material causing a conduction or mobility band-edge that randomly varies and undulates in space across the entire system. Thus, transport is envisioned as being dominated by percolation physics as carriers traverse this varying band-edge landscape of "hills" and "valleys". It is then something of a missed opportunity to model such a system using only a compact approach-despite this being the primary focus of the existing literature-as such a system can easily be faithfully reproduced as a true microscopic TCAD model with a real physically varying potential. Thus, in this work, we develop such a "microscopic" TCAD model of a-IGZO and detail a number of key aspects of its implementation. We then demonstrate that it can accurately reproduce experimental results and consider the issue of the addition of non-conducting band-tail states in a numerically efficient manner. Finally, two short studies of 3D effects are undertaken to illustrate the utility of the model: specifically, the cases of variation effects as a function of device size and as a function of surface roughness scattering.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of an ischemic stroke on the amplitude and latency of the P300 wave and evaluate their changes over a prospective 1-year follow-up period. We recorded the P300 wave using an auditory oddball paradigm in 60 consecutive brain infarct patients at baseline (i.e., within 4 weeks after the stroke), after 3 months, after 12 months and in 30 healthy control subjects. The P300 latencies in stroke patients were significantly longer and the P300 amplitudes were significantly smaller than those of the control group. The latency of P300 showed a highly significant average improvement 12 months after the stroke compared to the baseline. There was no significant change observed for the P300 amplitude during the same period. The P3 latency is initially more increased in the patients with hemispheric brain infarction but shows a better recovery compared to the patients with brainstem infarction. Also, the results of the P300 latency of patients with the left-sided lesions was significantly longer compared to the patients with right-sided lesions on the beginning of the study but not 3 and 12 months after the stroke. The results of our study show the importance of P300 event-related potentials in the detection and follow-up of cognitive changes after ischemic stroke.

We present a model based on k  ·  p theory which is able to capture the subband structure effects present in ultra-thin strained silicon nanowires. For electrons, the effective mass and valley minima are calculated for different crystal orientations, thicknesses, and strains. The actual enhancement of the transport properties depends highly on the crystal orientation of the nanowire axis; for certain orientations strain and confinement can play together to give a significant increase of the electron mobility. We also show that the effects of both strain and confinement on mobility are generally more pronounced in nanowires than in thin films. We show that optimal transport properties can be expected to be achieved through a mix of confinement and strain. Our results are in good agreement with recent experimental findings.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the CNS. Albino Oxford (AO) rats are resistant to the induction of EAE, while the disease can be readily induced in Dark Agouti (DA) rats. Here we investigated a potential contribution of the CNS milieu in the limitation of the encephalitogenic autoimmune response. EAE was induced by immunization of the respective rat strains with spinal cord homogenate emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. AO rats did not exhibit clinical signs after immunization while DA rats developed severe neurologic deficits. Infiltration of immune cells into spinal cords (SC) was evident in both strains 12-14 days after the immunization. EAE lesions of AO rats contained substantially lower numbers of CD4+ T cells and CD11b+ cells compared to those in DA rats. This went together with lower levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17 in the cells isolated from SC. We found a dramatic increase of CXCL12 expression in SC tissue and microvessels of AO rats, whereas DA rats markedly decreased the expression of this chemokine within their CNS. Administration of the CXCL12 antagonist AMD3100 to a substrain of AO rats that developed a weak EAE led to earlier onset and exacerbation of the disease. These results suggest a role of CXCL12 in down-regulating autoimmune processes in AO rats during EAE. Therapeutic modulation of CXCL12 could be a promising strategy for the treatment of CNS autoimmunity., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a model of multiple sclerosis. Dark Agouti rats immunized with spinal cord homogenate (SCH) and carbonyl iron (CI), as an adjuvant, develop severe hyperacute form of EAE. They succumb to EAE earlier and have higher clinical scores and lethality rate in comparison to counterparts immunized with SCH + complete Freund's adjuvant. There is no difference in the number of cells or in histological presentation of the CNS infiltrates of rats immunized with the two adjuvants. However, there are more granulocytes, NK and NKT cells, and less CD4(+) T cells in the spinal cord infiltrates of SCH + CI-immunized animals. Nitric oxide (NO)-generating enzyme inducible NO synthase have higher expression in spinal cord of SCH + CI-immunized rats, and this corresponds to more intensive nitrotyrosine formation in the CNS tissue of these rats. Abundant infiltration of granulocytes and NK cells into the CNS and excessive generation of peroxynitrite within the CNS of SCH + CI-immunized rats might account for the severe neurological deficits induced by immunization with CI. These factors should be closely examined in the fulminant forms of multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, as they could represent a promising targets for therapy., (© 2011 The Authors. Journal of Neurochemistry © 2011 International Society for Neurochemistry.)

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the histopathological findings in curettage and hysterectomy specimens, to evaluate the accuracy of histopathological diagnosis in curettage specimens, and to determine the frequency of coexisting endometrial carcinoma in patients with histopathological diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia., Material and Methods: Curettage and hysterectomy specimens of 135 female patients with initially diagnosed endometrial hyperplasia were retrospectively analyzed and compared., Results: Simple hyperplasia was found in 49 patients (36.3%), complex hyperplasia in 14 (10.4%), simple atypical hyperplasia in 24 (17.8%), and complex atypical hyperplasia in 48 (35.5%) patients. After hysterectomy, 59 (43.7%) patients were found to have simple hyperplasia, 12 (8.9%) complex hyperplasia, 15 (11.1%) simple atypical hyperplasia, 18 (20.7%) complex atypical hyperplasia, and 21 (15.5%) endometrial carcinoma. The accuracy of histopathological diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia in curettage specimens was 82.2-89.6% and dependent on the types of hyperplasia. The frequency of coexisting endometrial carcinoma was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with atypical hyperplasia than in patients with hyperplasia without cytological atypia. After hysterectomy, coexisting endometrial carcinoma was found in 27.8% of patients with histopathological diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia in curettage specimens. In contrast to simple atypical hyperplasia, the frequency of coexisting endometrial carcinoma was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in complex atypical hyperplasia., Conclusion: The frequency of coexisting endometrial carcinoma in hysterectomy specimens in patients with histopathological diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia in curettage specimens was relatively high and it should be taken into account when planning therapy.

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the female genitals in developed countries. The differences noted in epidemiology, presentation, and biological behaviors of endometrial carcinoma suggest that there are two fundamentally different pathogenic types of the disease: type I (estrogen related, endometrioid type) and type II (non-estrogen related, non-endometrioid type). The first type is more common and represents about two-thirds of cases. It occurs in women with hyperlipidemia, obesity, and signs of hyperestrogenism, including anovulatory uterine bleeding, infertility, late onset of menopause, ovarian stromal hyperplasia, and endometrial hyperplasia. The second type occurs in the absence of these features. Pathohistologically, type I tumors are composed of endometrioid carcinoma whereas type II tumors are composed of serous or clear cell carcinoma. Atypical hyperplasia is recognized as the precursor for the endometrioid type of endometrial carcinoma and endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (EIC) as the precursor of serous carcinoma, the most common non-endometrioid type of endometrial carcinoma. In endometrioid type of endometrial carcinoma, it appears that PTEN mutation may be central to the initiation of endometrial proliferative lesions by which damage in other genes is then accumulated (e.g., DNA mismatch repair genes, K-ras, p53) in the progression to carcinoma. In contrast to endometrioid type, p53 mutations appear to be important in the conversion of atrophic endometrium to EIC and serous adenocarcinoma. Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) has been a recently defined precursor for the endometrioid type of endometrial carcinoma.

The authors made a report on a case of generalized neurofibromatosis (GN) in a patient, 21 years old, and her father, 59 years old, pointing to the family character of illness. They especially emphasized the presence of numerous family disseminated tumors of the neurofibroma type, on the skin of the torso and extremities, as well as the presence of simultaneous combination of these tumors with pigmented skin of the naevi spili (cafe au lait) type. In the reported cases no damages on other systems and organs have been found. Reports on such cases from the clinical practice may be important for education of young physicians of different medical fields.

The authors review some of the epidemiological characteristics of epithelioma basocellulare (EB) of the skin, showing the incidence of 2.39% of the cases treated for EB of the skin from 1984 to 1990, derived from the total of 61,384 initial examinations carried out in this period at the Department of Dermatovenereal Diseases in Novi Sad. The mean age of the patients was 64.42, the male-female ratio was slightly in favor of the females, 1:1.25. As for localization, EB of the skin were most frequently found on the face, head and neck (87.16%). Regarding occupation of the patients on the top were retired people (47.17%) and agricultural workers (33.02%) and regarding the place of living, most were found in the rural population (68.07). The mean time the treated patients came for a check-up was 1.26 year after the onset of the tumor. Relapses were found in 18 cases (1.23%). The mean time of their occurrence after the rtg therapy was 1.9 year. Familial predisposition for skin tumors was detected in 232 cases (15.79%).

The authors present a case of Favre-Racouchot syndrome (elastoidosis nodularis cystica et comedonica) in a male mason aged 65, associated with nodular-ulcerative type of basocellular skin neoplasm and seboroic keratosis of the irritative type. A special reference is given to nodular cystic elastoidosis (NCE) with concurrent numerous skin changes characteristic for chronic actinic skin lesions which were clinically evidenced. An objective examination of the patient revealed the presence of multiple follicular comedones, black in colour, the size of a pinhead, and of yellowish follicular papulas, 2-5 mm in size, of solid consistency, on the top of which is a formation similar to comedone. These eflorescences are densely disseminated in periorbital, zygomatic and temporal regions of the face, sparsely on the nose, forehead and preauricularly. In other regions of the face and neck other manifestations of chronic actinic skin lesions with characteristics of "citrine skin", cutis rhomboidalis nuchae and elastoma Dubreuilh are present as wall. In the right nasolabial furrow a clearly edged tumefaction, 1.2 x 0.8 cm, which belongs to the nodular-ulcerative type of basocellular skin neoplasm is seen. Seboroic keratosis of the irritative type was observed on the skin in the middle of the upper lip was histologically verified.