Clinical and histopathological spectrum of genital lichen sclerosus in 133 cases: Focus on the diagnosis of pre-sclerotic disease.

Background Early inflammatory lesions of lichen sclerosus are histopathologically difficult to diagnose until the hallmark of the disease i.e., papillary sclerosis becomes visible in histological sections.

Immune modulation by dendritic-cell-based cancer vaccines.

The interplay between host immunity and tumour cells has opened the possibility of targeting tumour cells by modulation of the human immune system. Cancer immunotherapy involves the treatment of a tumour by utilizing the recombinant human immune system components to target the pro-tumour microenvironment or by revitalizing the immune system with the ability to kill tumour cells by priming the immune cells with tumour antigens. In this review, current immunotherapy approaches to cancer with special focus on dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer vaccines are discussed.

Retraction notice to: Validity of existing CD 4+ classification in North Indians, in predicting immune status [J Infect 51 (2005) 41-46].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).

Anatomical segmentations in all forms of vitiligo: A new dimension to the etiopathogenesis.

Background: We have reported segmented lesions in acral vitiligo as well as in generalized vitiligo and thereby proposed somatic mosaicism as a predisposing feature in all forms of vitiligo. This study is a further attempt to characterize and understand such segmented lesions by screening a large series of patients.

Methods: We searched our electronic archives (from 2002 to 2014) and identified/reviewed the photos of 615 vitiligo patients inclusive of all clinical types.

Acral Vitiligo and Lichen Sclerosus - Association or a Distinct Pattern?: A Clinical and Histopathological Review of 15 Cases.

Background: Acral or acrofacial vitiligo (AFV) with bilateral lesions over the extremities and face is considered as a transitional form that may progress to generalized vitiligo. Oral and genital mucosal lesions are often integral to this pattern. Lichen sclerosus (LS) in a milder expression, results in oral and genital vitiligoid depigmentation without textural changes and thus needs to be differentiated from AFV.

Segmental and generalized vitiligo: both forms demonstrate inflammatory histopathological features and clinical mosaicism.

Background: Segmental vitiligo (SV) and generalized vitiligo (GV) are perceived to evolve by different mechanisms, the former with unspecified neural mechanisms and the latter by melanocyte specific autoimmune mechanisms. However, the two diverse mechanisms are difficult to reconcile in cases of "mixed vitiligo". To test the possibility of a common pathogenesis, we reviewed clinical and histopathological features of SV and GV.

The codon 399 Arg/Gln XRCC1 polymorphism is associated with lung cancer in Indians.

Background: The XRCC1 (X-ray repair cross complimenting group-I) gene in BER (base excision repair) pathway is essential for DNA repair process. Polymorphisms in this gene are associated with variations in the repair efficiency which might predispose individuals to development of various cancers. Two variants of XRCC1gene (at codon 399), Gln/Gln and Arg/Gln, have been shown to be related to lowered DNA repair capacity and increased genomic instability in multiple studies.

Lichen sclerosus of lips: a clinical and histopathologic study of 27 cases.

Background & Methods: Oral lichen sclerosus (LS) has been considered uncommon and involvement of lips extremely rare. We reviewed the clinical and histologic features of 72 cases of LS with oral/genital involvement, seen in our institute from 2002 to 2007.

Results: Lichen sclerosus was diagnosed with exclusive genital lesions in 45, exclusive lip involvement in 20, and orogenital involvement in seven cases.

Influence of postoperative complications on relapse-free survival in gastrointestinal malignancies.

Objective: A variety of preoperative variables-such as perforation prior to surgery, poor nutritional status, and comorbid conditions such as diabetes-are already known to shorten relapse-free survival in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. However, the significance of postoperative events in gastrointestinal malignancies is still debated and has not been studied in the population of southern India.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, India, from September 2004 to 2006.

An interesting case of lung mass.

A 46-year-male smoker presented with cough and fever to a chest physician, who on the basis of chest X-ray started him on antitubercular treatment. However, further evaluation suggested that the patient was suffering from a rare disease, i.e.

Bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma: need for reappraisal of treatment.

Bone is an uncommon site of metastasis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and often overlooked. We report two cases that had isolated bone metastasis; one of them had prolonged disease-free survival. The present series, along with the literature review, reinforces the idea that HCC should be considered in the differential diagnoses in patients presenting with metastases in bone.

Lichenoid inflammation in vitiligo--a clinical and histopathologic review of 210 cases.

Background: '"Inflammatory vitiligo" cases with clear lichenoid infiltrates have been reported. However, the inflammatory nature of common vitiligo has not gained wide acceptance because of its benign appearance and scanty cellular infiltrates. We have observed in our patients a few lesions with mild erythema, scaling and marginal hyperpigmentation which were suspected to be inflammatory.

Vitiligoid lichen sclerosus: a reappraisal.

Background: Many case studies of lichen sclerosus (LS) have reported an association of vitiligo. However, such an association is not reported from larger case studies of vitiligo, which happens to be a common disease. Autoimmune etiology suspected in both LS and vitiligo has been considered as the reason for their association in some patients.

Irreversible sensorineural hearing loss due to Imatinib.

Objective: We report probably the first case of bilateral irreversible sensorineural hearing loss caused by Imatinib.

Method: A review of the world literature, concerning Imatinib toxicity is presented.

Results: We report a case of bilateral irreversible sensorineural hearing loss, in a 19-year-old male patient of chronic myeloid leukemia after 3 months of Imatinib therapy.

Treatment outcome and cost-effectiveness analysis of two chemotherapeutic regimens (BEP vs. VIP) for poor-prognosis metastatic germ cell tumors.

Background: In patients with small-volume disseminated disease of germ cell tumors, cure can be achieved with four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP). However, around 20% of these cases are not curable. Strategies to improve cure rates have shown that none of the currently available modalities were superior to the others.

Malignant myelomatous pleural effusion with good response to combination chemotherapy.

Malignant pleural effusion in myeloma is a rare terminal event with 91 cases reported so far. Majority of the patients survive less than 4 months. We are presenting a short series of four such cases, who had a good clinical response to combination chemotherapy.

A case of primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the breast.

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the breast is a rarely reported in adults, and it occurrence is mostly observed in children. We report a case of primary rhabdomyosarcoma of breast in a 40-year-old lady, who presented in early stage and is in complete remission after one year of treatment.

Surgical resection for locally invasive renal cell carcinoma: Is it worthwhile?

Background: Many patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) present with disease involving the adjacent viscera. Although survival in such patients is poor, surgery remains the only proven modality of treatment. We describe our experience with radical nephrectomy for locally invasive RCC over a five-year period.

Imatinib-induced optic neuritis in a patient of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Imatinib is presently the commonest prescribes drug for patients of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP) worldwide. Its ocular side effects are little known. Optic neuritis caused by this drug has not been reported (Medline search).

Unusual metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Metastasis from colorectal carcinoma occurs by either lymphatic or hematogenous spread. The most common sites of colorectal metastasis are the liver and lung. Involvement of the skin, muscles and bones are quite rare.