Demographics and outcomes of stage I and II Merkel cell carcinoma treated with Mohs micrographic surgery compared with wide local excision in the National Cancer Database.

Background: The optimal surgical approach (wide local excision [WLE] vs Mohs micrographic surgery [MMS]) for treating Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is yet to be determined.

Objective: To compare survival outcomes in patients with early-stage MCC treated with MMS versus with WLE.

Methods: A retrospective review of all cases in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) of MCC of clinical stage I or II MCC treated with WLE or MMS was performed.

Detection of High-Risk Histologic Features and Tumor Upstaging of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers on Debulk Analysis: A Quantitative Systematic Review.

Background: Histologic analysis of tumor debulks from Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) or wide local excision may lead to the detection of adverse features missed on initial biopsy.

Objective: Determine the incidence of (1) high-risk features on debulk analysis compared with initial biopsy and (2) upstaging of tumors on debulk analysis according to the American Joint Committee of Cancer-7th Edition (AJCC-7) and the Brigham and Women's Alternative (BWH) staging criteria.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive search strategy using PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE was conducted to identify articles published from 1960 to present that detail histology of initial biopsy and debulked tumor.

Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Pattern Hair Loss.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a solution derived from whole blood that is enriched in the platelet fraction. Platelets serve as a reservoir of growth factors and cytokines. When platelets are activated in vivo, signaling molecules are released into the immediate microenvironment and activate receptors for various pathways.

Male Body Contouring.

Men are increasingly turning to dermatologists and plastic surgeons to request procedures that correct or enhance physical features. With the advent of this emerging new patient population, alterations in preexisting aesthetic techniques, gender-specific uses of existing devices and overall approaches need to be revisited and adapted to obtain results that are suitable for the male patient. Recently, body contouring has become one of the most sought out procedures by men.

In vitro susceptibility of filamentous fungi from mycotic keratitis to azole drugs.

Objective: The in vitro antifungal activities of azole drugs viz., itraconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole, econazole and clotrimazole were investigated in order to evaluate their efficacy against filamentous fungi isolated from mycotic keratitis.

Methods: The specimen collection was carried out from fungal keratitis patients attending Aravind eye hospital and Post-graduate institute of ophthalmology, Coimbatore, India and was subsequently processed for the isolation of fungi.

In vitro and comparative study on the extracellular enzyme activity of molds isolated from keratomycosis and soil.

Aim: To isolate and identify the molds involved in mycotic keratitis; to isolate corresponding species from soil samples; to compare the extracellular enzyme activity indices of the molds isolated from keratitis cases and the corresponding soil isolates.

Methods: The specimens were collected from the target patients attending the microbiology laboratory of tertiary eye hospital in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu state, India. The isolates were subjected for identification based on the growth on solid media, direct microscopy and lacto phenol cotton blue wet mount preparation.

Keratitis caused by Aspergillus pseudotamarii.

A male patient presented with complaints of redness, pain and defective vision in the left eye. The infiltrate healed completely after two weeks of topical natamycin administration. A polyphasic approach was used to identify the isolate as Aspergillus pseudotamarii, which produced aflatoxins in inducing medium.

Climate and skin function: an overview.

Background: Climates of the world are diverse and produce changes in skin integrity and functioning. Evidence on skin and its response to severe climates is limited, but information can be inferred from data characterizing skin under controlled climate conditions using noninvasive bioengineering techniques.

Methods: A literature search was conducted on the effects on major climate conditions on skin integrity and function.

Epidemiology of Aspergillus keratitis at a tertiary care eye hospital in South India and antifungal susceptibilities of the causative agents.

In recent years, Aspergillus species are reported frequently as aetiological agents of fungal keratitis in tropical countries such as India. Our aim was to evaluate the epidemiological features of Aspergillus keratitis cases over a 3-year period in a tertiary eye care hospital and to determine the antifungal susceptibilities of the causative agents. This study included culture proven Aspergillus keratitis cases diagnosed between September 2005 and August 2008.

c-kit expression identifies cardiovascular precursors in the neonatal heart.

Directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells indicates that mesodermal lineages in the mammalian heart (cardiac, endothelial, and smooth muscle cells) develop from a common, multipotent cardiovascular precursor. To isolate and characterize the lineage potential of a resident pool of cardiovascular progenitor cells (CPcs), we developed BAC transgenic mice in which enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is placed under control of the c-kit locus (c-kit(BAC)-EGFP mice). Discrete c-kit-EGFP(+) cells were observed at different stages of differentiation in embryonic hearts, increasing in number to a maximum at about postnatal day (PN) 2; thereafter, EGFP(+) cells declined and were rarely observed in the adult heart.

IFN-gamma mediates the death of Th1 cells in a paracrine manner.

Th1 cells have different capacities to develop into memory cells based on their production of IFN-gamma. In this study, the mechanism by which a homogenous population of IFN-gamma-producing CD4 T cells was eliminated in vivo was assessed. When such cells were transferred into naive mice and activated with Ag, a striking decrease in the frequency of cells in the spleen and lung was observed.