Background/Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease, characterized by the production of numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which lead to pathophysiological changes in innate and acquired immunity. The existing evidence shows that pro-inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis impact monoaminergic neurotransmission, neurotropic factors, and synaptic activity, which may lead to the development of depression. Materials and Methods: In our study, we explored the association between TNF-α and IL-6, disease activity, and the degree of depression in patients with RA. The association between TNF-α and IL-6 and the Beck and Hamilton depression scales was analyzed in a group of 116 RA patients with depression. We investigated the same correlation in 45 patients with primary depression who represented the control group. Results: A Spearman test showed that IL-6 levels had a positive association with the Beck and Hamilton scales (p < 0.05) and that TNF-α had a positive association with the Hamilton scale (p < 0.05). Also, the Hamilton depression scale was the more sensitive scale in the detection of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Our study indicates that elevated values of pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with the degree of depression in patients with RA. Future preclinical and clinical studies will contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of depression in patients with RA and may serve as the basis for new treatment modalities. By detecting depression promptly, with the help of the HAM-D as the more sensitive scale, we could influence the future modality of treatment, and with a multidisciplinary approach, we could ensure an improvement in the quality of life of patients with RA.

Introduction. Cytological smear tests of the cervix are routine diagnostic methods used for detection of precancerous lesions and tumors of the cervix; they are highly sensitive and specific in the detection of precancerous squamous intraepithelial lesions. Glandular lesions are much less frequently found in the cervical smear. The most common glandular lesions detected in the cervical smear are endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinomas. Cervical metastases are rare, although there are case reports in the literature. Case Report. In this case report, we present a 64-year-old woman with an abnormal cervical smear and postmenopausal metrorrhagia. Numerous accumulations, as well as individual atypical epithelial cells, were detected in the cervical smear and a cytological diagnosis of a highgrade squamous intraepithelial lesion was made based on cytomorphological features suspicious for invasion (Bethesda Classification, 2014) so a cervical biopsy and curettage of the endocervical canal were performed. A high-grade serous adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by histopathological examination of cervical biopsy and cervical canal curettage specimens, after which a transvaginal ultrasound examination was performed, which showed tumors on both ovaries and free fluid in the abdominal cavity. The patient underwent abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Histological examination confirmed high-grade ovarian papillary serous adenocarcinoma with psammoma bodies. Conclusion. The cytological diagnostic features and criteria for serous adenocarcinoma in Papanicolaou smears are still vague and insufficiently defined in the literature, which is the reason for very common errors in the interpretation, so further research on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of this tumor is of great importance.

Breast cancer is a serious health problem. It is the most common cancer in women. The aim of this study was to estimate the concordance between ER, PR receptor and HER-2 immunohistochemistry assessment scores in pared CNB (core needle biopsy) and surgical specimens. Histological grade, oestrogen receptor (ER) status, progesterone receptor (PR) status, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) status were evaluated in a blinded fashion in CNB and in surgical excision specimens. Absolute concordance rate between core needle biopsies and surgical specimens for histological grade was 50% with κ value (0,15) for ER 92% with κ value (0,79), PR 88% with κ value (0,73) and for HER2 96% with κ value (0,91). CNB can provide reliable information in evaluation of ER, PR and HER2 status in an invasive breast carcinoma.

The aim of this paper is the histopathological assessment of the effects of a newly synthesized nanomaterial based on calcium aluminate ALBO-CA on the pulp of rat teeth. In 18 Wistar rats, 54 Class I cavities and exposed pulp of maxillary molars were treated with the tested materials: two experimental materials ALBO-CA (18 teeth), ALBO-CS (18 teeth), and MTA control (18 teeth), and cavities were restored with glass ionomer. The histopathological analysis included the following parameters: presence of pulp inflammation, degree of dentin bridge formation, and presence of bacteria in the pulp. Complete absence of pulp inflammation was noted in 12 (66.67 %) teeth with ALBO-CA , 10 (55.56 %) teeth with ALBO-CS, and 11 (60.95 %) teeth with MTA cement. A statistically significant difference in the results of pulp inflammatory response was found only when comparing the presence of a small number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes between ALBO-CS and MTA cement (Kruskal Wallis H test p=7.8255). A fully formed dentine bridge was recorded only after the application of ALBO-CA with a statistically significant difference compared to ALBO-CS and MTA (F test p=0.519, S-test p=0.656, Man-Whitney test p=2.802, Chi-square test p=4.747). Thirty days after the direct pulp capping with ALBO-CA , ALBO-CS, and MTA cements, bacteria were absent in rat teeth and surrounding tissue. Newly synthesized calcium aluminate ALBOCA showed good reparative abilities and possible use in direct pulp capping therapy.