Background The important role that the immune system plays in malignant diseases is well known. The action of interleukin-7 (IL-7) as a cytokine has been observed in many cellular processes, both in normal cells of the immune system and in some cancer cells. The aim of this study has been to explore whether there is any elevation of interleukin-7 serum levels in early invasive breast cancer (EIBC) patients in comparison with healthy controls. In addition, the correlation between the IL-7 serum level and the histopathological characteristics of the tumor has been evaluated. Methods This cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study included 213 consecutive patients with EIBC (113 from Croatia and 100 from Kosovo) and 62 healthy participants as the control group (30 from Croatia and 32 from Kosovo). Blood samples have been taken from patients confirmed with breast cancer (BC) by biopsy, prior to surgical intervention and other oncological treatments, as well as from healthy participants. A serum IL-7 level has been measured, using the “Sandwich” ELISA Immunoenzyme test. In addition, after the surgical intervention, histopathological specimen examinations and immunohistochemistry have been performed and analyzed. The differences in the distribution of the numerical variables have been analyzed with the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA test. Correlations have been tested with Pearson coefficients. A P-value < 0.05 has been accepted as statistically significant. Results The serum level of IL-7 in EIBC patients was significantly higher than in control cases (P 0.001). Patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) seem to have a lower IL-7 serum level compared to other histological subtypes, and the difference has been significant (P = 0.043). There has been no correlation between IL-7 serum level and histopathological characteristics of the tumor, with neither age nor menopausal status of the patients. Conclusions Noting the significant increase in the IL-7 serum level in the EIBC patients as compared to the healthy control group, the use of IL-7 as a potential diagnostic indicator for BC, as well as in the follow-up of the patients after treatment, can be assumed. The lack of correlation with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and all other histopathological characteristics of the tumor questions its use as a prognostic indicator.

After a three-year quarantine from the deadliest global pandemic of the last century, ASTES is organizing to gather all health professionals in Tirana, The 6th Albanian Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery(ACTES 2022) on 11-12 November 2022, with the topic Trauma & Emergency Surgery and not only...with the aim of providing high quality, the best standards, and the best results, for our patients ...ACTES 2022 is the largest event that ASTES (Albanian Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery) has organized so far with 230 presentations, and 67 foreign lecturers with enviable geography, making it the largest national and wider scientific event.The scientific program is as strong as ever, thanks to the inclusiveness, where all the participants with a mix of foreign and local lecturers, select the best of the moment in medical science, innovation, and observation.The scientific committee has selected all the presentations so that the participants of each medical discipline will have something to learn, discuss, debate, and agree with updated methods, techniques, and protocols.I hope you will join us on Friday morning, and continue the journey of our two-day event together.

Background The aim of this study was to explore the clinical, patohistological and molecular characteristics of primary operable breast cancer in patients from Croatia and Kosovo, in order to compare disease stage at the time of diagnosis, in country with implemented mammography screening and early diagnostic methods with country without it. Methods The study prospectively included 213 female patients with breast cancer (BC) ranging from 28 to 87 years of age, from which 100 from Kosovo and 113 from Croatia. Age and menopausal status of the patients were recorded before surgery. Subsequent to surgery, histopathology and immunohistochemistry analysis was carried out and data were statistically analysed. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square analysis and presented as frequencies and percentages. For non-parametric data, Mann-Whitney U test was used in order to compare means of two independent groups. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results There were larger tumors, more patients with metastatic axillary lymph nodes and more stage III patients in Kosovo cohort. In addition, the rate of lympho-vascular invasion (LVI) and the expression of progesteron receptor (PR) were significantly higher in Kosovar patients. The other histological and immunohistochemical features were not found to be any different in the two cohorts. Conclusions The results of this study from two university hospitals from Croatia and Kosovo demonstrate that the BC patients in Kosovo have more advanced stage of disease at the time of diagnosis compared to Croatia.

We present a case of malignant melanoma in the middle ear in a 63-year-old woman who presented with severe pain on the right side of her face and head, tinnitus, photophobia, and hemorrhagic discharge from the right ear, as well as right facial nerve paralysis. After more than two years of conservative treatment for otitis media and sclerotic mastoiditis, a pathologically enlarged lymph node on the right side of the neck appears. It is removed, and the histopathological examination reveals that it is metastatic malignant melanoma. Imaging examinations reveal a tumoral lesion in the middle ear with bone infiltration. The right middle ear is operated on, and the tissue sent for testing reveals melanoma. The patient was treated with Nivolumab after the operation and is now in sustainably good condition.