Interest in a psycho-educational group intervention among out-patients with malignant melanoma in relation to their need: which patients are likely to participate?

The aim of this study was to examine the interest which patients with malignant melanoma may have in a six week psycho-educational group intervention and determine factors that are associated with their degree of interest. Of 144 outpatients, 121 (84%) agreed to participate in the interview (78 women, 66 men, mean age 59, SD=15; mean time since surgery=57 months, SD=55). About one-third (29%) of the sample had either nodal or in-transit metastases.

Effects of whole-body UVB irradiation on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from stage I melanoma patients.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes significant impairment of immunological function in human skin. The immunosuppressive effects of UV radiation are thought to be due to local release of cytokines by human keratinocytes, leading to impaired function of epidermal antigen-presenting cells (APC) and failure to induce cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions. Recent studies have shown that individuals susceptible to UV-induced suppression of DTH may be more prone to develop skin cancer including malignant melanoma (MM).

[Painful ischemia of the extremities with T-cell lymphoma].

Two years after the diagnosis of Sézary syndrome, a 50-year old female patient experienced attacks of painful ischemia of both hands and feet, leading to acral necrosis. Another 59-year old patient presented with severe pain in his feet, secondary to ischemia. This was the first symptom of a T-cell-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Fotemustine and interferon alpha2b in metastatic malignant melanoma.

The efficacy of treatment with fotemustine and interferon (IFN) alpha was evaluated in metastatic melanoma. A group of 50 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with a combination of IFNalpha2b and the nitrosourea fotemustine. The patients received 10 MU IFN three times weekly for 3 weeks and fotemustine at a dose of 100 mg/m2 on days 8, 15 and 22.

Stage-dependent expression of CD7, CD45RO, CD45RA and CD25 on CD4-positive peripheral blood T-lymphocytes in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Flow cytometric analysis of T-cell surface markers in peripheral blood has revealed abnormal patterns in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). Here we investigated CD7, CD25, CD45RO and CD45RA expression on CD4+ T-lymphocytes in patients with CTCL stage I/II and III/IV and in patients with severe inflammatory skin diseases (ISD), as well as in healthy controls. Only late stage CTCL (III/IV) showed a lymphocytosis with a distinct surface marker pattern: CD3+, CD4+, CD8-, CD7-, CD45RO+, CD45RA-.

Successful treatment of primary progressive follicular mucinosis with interferons.

Follicular mucinosis is a primary idiopathic disease or a secondary, lymphoma-associated dermatosis. An effective standard therapy for the benign group is unknown. We describe a patient with primary benign disseminated progressive follicular mucinosis who was successfully treated with recombinant interferon alfa-2b and interferon-gamma.

[Excretion of methylated nucleosides in the initial therapy phase in a case of anorexia nervosa].

The urinary excretion of six methylated ribonucleosides was measured in a case of anorexia nervosa during the first eight weeks of therapy. Four phases can be distinguished. Highly elevated values are found in a clearly catabolic situation.