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Introduction: Elastic fibers are constituents of the dermal extracellular matrix, determining the histoarchitecture of the dermal connective tissue. Organization and density of elastic fibers change as skin ages. The aim of this paper was to determine the similarities and differences between the photo-aging and the physiological aging of skin by examining organization and quantifying the elastic fibers in the dermis during aging. The material included samples of photoexposed and photoprotected skin, obtained from 90 cadavers aged 0-82 years. The samples were classified into five age groups: newborns, young age, middle age, mature age and the oldest age. Skin samples were stained using the Halmi modification of Aldehyd fucshin staining method, as well as Alcian blue staining (the Spicer method). Volume density (VD) of the elastic fibers was measured using Image J program. Results: In the skin of newborns and young age group (neck and abdomen) elastic fibers appeared to form a network structure. In the photoexposed skin of the mature age and the oldest group, elastic fibers showed tendency to fragment, while the elastic material exhibited tendency to accumulate. VD of elastic network in the skin of the neck in the middle, mature and the oldest age group was greater than VD of abdominal skin of the respective age groups (3.66±0.28%, 5.61±0.22%, 6.24±0.21% respectively). Age-related statistically significant increase in VD of the elastic network in the skin of the neck, as well as a statistically significant reduction of elastic network VD in the abdominal skin, has been observed (middle age - oldest). Conclusion: Correlation of the organization and quantity of elastic fibers with age exhibits different pattern in photoexposed compared to photoprotected skin. A quantitative evaluation of the volume density of elastic fibers correlates with clinically visible signs of photo-aging, primarily with solar elastosis.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, the pathogenesis of which involves different innate immune system as well as adaptive immune system cells, including macrophages. Macrophages are professional phagocytes whose primary role is ingestion and destruction of microorganisms. Apart from phagocytosis, these cells are engaged in production of proinflammatory cytokines and antigen presentation to T cells, and therefore are considered to be the key cells of the innate immune response. Our study focused on distribution and density of macrophages in healthy and inflamed gingiva with the purpose of evaluating their relevance to pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The material used for this purpose were gingival biopsies taken from 96 patients assorted in 4 groups: the healthy gingiva, gingivitis, moderate periodontal disease and severe periodontal disease. The immunohistochemical staining method based on the use of monoclonal antibodies anti-CD68 was used for identification of macrophages. Our study showed that the density of macrophages is higher in gingivitis and periodontal disease compared to healthy gigiva. There were no significant differences found regarding the density of macrophages in gingivitis and periodontal disease. Grouping of macrophage populations close to partially lysed collagen fibers in periodontal disease indicates their collagenic activity. The increase in the number of macrophages in inflamed gingival tissue could be linked to bone resorption due to the fact that these cells are capable of differentiating into osteoclasts.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable chronic diseases, which is the combined action of genetic factors, environmental factors and lifestyle. Specific conditions occur in the oral cavity in the course of diabetes that cause changes in all oral tissues with different symptoms and signs. Increased salivary glucose level is followed by increased accumulation of dental plaque and decreased resistance to noxious agents. The most common oral manifestations in diabetic patients include higher prevalence of periodontal desease, burning mouth syndrome, disruption in salivary flow, opportunistic infections, higher prevalence of denture stomatitis, oral lichen planus, fissured tongue, angular cheilitis etc. Dental interventions in patients with well-controlled diabetes are not different from those applied to nondiabetic patients. Regular monitoring of these patients is required because of the complications that can occur.

29 - year Lichen planus is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune skin disease, that is often manifested, except on the skin, in the oral cavity in a variety of clinical forms. The prevalence of the disease in the general population is about 1-2%. Etiopathogenesis is not still well understood. Histopathology, in addition to the basic methods, anamnesis and physical examination, is vital for proper diagnosis of oral lichen planus (OLP). Very diverse and loaded histological findings are common for all forms of oral lichen planus. We reported the case of oral lichen planus in a 49 years old male patient, who presented to the Dentistry clinic of Medical faculty of Priština with burning and itching symptoms and changes in the buccal mucosa. Histopathological analysis of biopsy tissue conformed clinical diagnosis of lichen planus. Due to the possibility for malignant transformation of lesions, the long-term follow-up of patients with this disease is of great importance.