Speed rate (SR) as a new dynamic index of melanoma behavior.

Melanomas are skin tumors that show a variety of biological behavior. Some develop very fast and some other grow extremely slow, with metastasis appearing, eventually, many years after the diagnosis. The number of mitoses in primary melanoma has been related to a more aggressive tumor and may have a potential as predictive factor for cutaneous melanoma survival.

Conservative surgical treatment of a thin acral lentiginous melanoma of the thumb with no recurrences: a case report.

Surgical treatment for acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is usually radical and severely invalidating, given its distinctly aggressive nature and poor prognosis. We report on a 76-year-old male patient with ALM of the left thumb who refused total amputation that would limit his gripping function. A "surgical degloving" was consequently performed, followed by plastic reconstruction with a radial antebrachial (the so-called Chinese) flap.

Epidemiology and clinical and pathologic characteristics of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Abruzzo (Italy).

Background: Malignant melanoma incidence has increased worldwide in recent decades. Cancer registry-derived epidemiologic data on malignant melanoma in Italy are available only in some northern regions of the country.

Aim: To report the number and characteristics of incident cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Abruzzo, a central-southern Italian region.

Elevated 8-isoprostane levels in basal cell carcinoma and in UVA irradiated skin.

Isoprostanes are prostaglandin isomers produced from the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the cellular membrane. They have been used as a specific index of cellular lipoperoxidation and as an indirect measure of oxidative stress. However, these molecules also present several biological activities.

Nail psoriasis: combined therapy with systemic cyclosporin and topical calcipotriol.

Background: Nail psoriasis is a common problem in psoriatic patients and often it is difficult to cure. Several treatments have been proposed in the last decade using new molecules like vitamin-D analog and/or immunosoppressive drugs both systemically and locally.

Objective: Our goal was to evaluate a combination of cyclosporin and topical calcipotriol cream versus cyclosporin alone in a matched group of patients treated with cyclosporin alone.