Non-adherence to malaria prophylaxis: The influence of travel-related and psychosocial factors.

Background: The effectiveness of malaria chemoprophylaxis is limited by a lack of compliance in travellers. This study assesses the demographic, travel-related, and psychosocial determinants of non-compliance with chemoprophylaxis.

Methods: 715 adults, who received a pre-travel malaria prophylaxis prescription, were invited to complete a post-travel digital questionnaire on non-compliance, demographics, travel-related and psychosocial variables.

A norovirus outbreak triggered by copper intoxication on a coach trip from the Netherlands to Germany, April 2010.

We report an unusual outbreak of norovirus infection on a coach trip. Overall, 30 of 40 people (including drivers and crew) developed nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhoea, 11 of them on the first day of the trip. The incidence epidemic curve showed a first peak on Day 1 and a second on Day 4.

Ultrastructural proof of polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma tumour cells and its absence in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Background: A new virus called the Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) has recently been found in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). MCC is a rare aggressive small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma primarily derived from the skin, morphologically indistinguishable from small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). So far the actual presence of the virus in MCC tumour cells on a morphological level has not been demonstrated, and the presence of MCPyV in other small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas has not been studied yet.

[Angio-oedema and urticaria as side effects of frequently used drugs].

Angio-oedema and urticaria can be symptoms of both allergic (IgE-mediated) and non-allergic drug hypersensitivity reactions. Non-allergic drug reactions, that may have a similar clinical presentation as allergic drug reactions, are not caused by an IgE-mediated immune mechanism. Because of unfamiliarity with non-allergic drug reactions and the unclear time course between drug use and reactions, the relationship with the responsible drug is often not recognized, leading to unnecessary patient risks.

Profiling of apoptosis genes identifies distinct types of primary cutaneous large B cell lymphoma.

Two distinct primary cutaneous large B cell lymphomas are recognized: primary cutaneous follicle centre lymphoma (PCFCL), characterized by an excellent prognosis, and primary cutaneous large B cell lymphoma, leg-type (PCLBCL leg-type), with an unfavourable prognosis. To determine whether inhibition of the apoptosis pathways may underlie the difference in clinical outcome between PCFCL and PCLBCL leg-type, we investigated the expression of only apoptosis-related genes by microarray expression profiling. Unsupervised cluster analysis was carried out using 169 genes involved in apoptosis on a group of 21 previously untreated patients diagnosed with primary cutaneous large B cell lymphoma.

Results of radiotherapy in 153 primary cutaneous B-Cell lymphomas classified according to the WHO-EORTC classification.

Objective: To evaluate the results of radiotherapy in patients with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) classified according to the criteria of the World Health Organization-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (WHO-EORTC) classification.

Design: Multicenter, 20-year, retrospective, cohort analysis.

Setting: Eight dermatology departments collaborating in the Dutch Cutaneous Lymphoma Group.

Reclassification of 300 primary cutaneous B-Cell lymphomas according to the new WHO-EORTC classification for cutaneous lymphomas: comparison with previous classifications and identification of prognostic markers.

Purpose: In the new WHO-European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (WHO-EORTC) classification for cutaneous lymphomas three major groups of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) are distinguished: primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (PCMZL) and primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma (PCFCL) with a good prognosis, and primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (PCLBCL-LT), with an intermediate-level prognosis. This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of the new classification compared with previous classification schemes (EORTC 1997; WHO 2001) and to define prognostic factors within the newly defined categories.

Patients And Methods: In the present study clinical data and histologic sections of 300 patients with CBCL, formerly classified according to the EORTC classification, were reviewed and reclassified according to the WHO and the new WHO-EORTC classification schemes.

Expression of B-cell transcription factors in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.

Expression patterns of eight transcription factors involved in different stages of B-cell development were investigated in a large group of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas and compared with expression patterns during normal B-cell development. The following transcription factors were investigated: Pax-5, PU.1, Oct2, BOB.

The genotypic inhibitory quotient and the (cumulative) number of mutations predict the response to lopinavir therapy.

For 95 protease inhibitor-experienced HIV-1-infected patients, the genotypic inhibitory quotient (GIQ; trough level/number of mutations) was calculated for lopinavir. Three different sets of mutations showed equal predictive value. However, the use of cumulative numbers of mutations for calculation of the GIQ showed significantly better association with the virological response.

Role of the inhibitory quotient in HIV therapy.

A systemic review is presented of all studies that have evaluated the inhibitory quotient (IQ). The IQ is defined as the ratio between (trough) drug concentration and level of drug resistance of the HIV isolate. From the studies presented, it can be concluded that for protease inhibitors (PIs) and efavirenz, the phenotypic IQ is associated with virological response.

Array-based comparative genomic hybridization analysis reveals recurrent chromosomal alterations and prognostic parameters in primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical relevance of genomic aberrations in primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma (PCLBCL).

Patients And Methods: Skin biopsy samples of 31 patients with a PCLBCL classified as either primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma (PCFCL; n = 19) or PCLBCL, leg type (n = 12), according to the WHO-European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) classification, were investigated using array-based comparative genomic hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and examination of promoter hypermethylation.

Results: The most recurrent alterations in PCFCL were high-level DNA amplifications at 2p16.

Primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma: clinical and therapeutic features in 50 cases.

Background: Primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (PCMZL) is a low-grade B-cell lymphoma that originates in the skin, with no evidence of extracutaneous disease. Studies focusing on the optimal treatment of PCMZL have not been published thus far. We describe 50 patients with PCMZL to further characterize clinical characteristics and outcome and, in particular, to evaluate our current therapeutic approach.

FISH analysis of MALT lymphoma-specific translocations and aneuploidy in primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma.

Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphomas (PCMZL) share histological and clinical characteristics with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas suggesting a common pathogenesis. A number of recurrent structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations have been described in MALT lymphoma, but their incidence in PCMZL is largely unknown, as is their relation with clinical and pathological data. In this study, the incidence of t(11;18)(q21;q21), t(1;14)(p22;q32), two different t(14;18)(q32;q21), involving either IGH/MALT1 or IGH/BCL2, and numerical aberrations of chromosomes 3, 7, 12 and 18 were analysed in 12 patients with PCMZL, with follow-up of up to 10 years.

Distinct types of primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma identified by gene expression profiling.

In the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) classification 2 types of primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma (PCLBCL) are distinguished: primary cutaneous follicle center cell lymphomas (PCFCCL) and PCLBCL of the leg (PCLBCL-leg). Distinction between both groups is considered important because of differences in prognosis (5-year survival > 95% and 52%, respectively) and the first choice of treatment (radiotherapy or systemic chemotherapy, respectively), but is not generally accepted. To establish a molecular basis for this subdivision in the EORTC classification, we investigated the gene expression profiles of 21 PCLBCLs by oligonucleotide microarray analysis.

Solar lentigines are strongly related to sun exposure in contrast to ephelides.

Solar lentigines and ephelides are different types of pigmented skin lesions predominantly present on sun-exposed skin. Both lesions are risk indicators for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Solar lentigines are considered as a sign of photodamage although well-conducted epidemiological studies are lacking on this subject.

Bcl-2, Bcl-6 and CD10 expression in cutaneous B-cell lymphoma: further support for a follicle centre cell origin and differential diagnostic significance.

Background: Primary cutaneous follicle centre cell lymphomas (PCFCCLs) are the most common type of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. There is ongoing discussion on the origin of the neoplastic B cells in these PCFCCLs, and consequently on their relation to the groups of primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (PCMZLs) and nodal follicular lymphomas.

Objectives: To define better the neoplastic B cells in PCFCCLs, and to find out if differences in the expression of the antiapoptopic protein Bcl-2, and Bcl-6 and CD10, molecules which are normally expressed by the neoplastic B cells in nodal follicular lymphomas, might have diagnostic or prognostic significance in cutaneous B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders.

Long-term safety aspects of systemic therapy with fumaric acid esters in severe psoriasis.

Background: Therapy with fumaric acid esters (FAE) has been shown to be safe and effective in patients with severe psoriasis in several clinical studies with limited follow-up periods. In view of the chronic character of psoriasis, long-term safety aspects are of major importance in determining the suitability of a drug during prolonged periods of treatment.

Objectives: To investigate adverse events of therapy with systemic FAE with follow-up periods of up to 14 years, in order to determine safety aspects of their long-term use in patients with severe psoriasis.

Expression of co-stimulatory and adhesion molecules and chemokine or apoptosis receptors on acute myeloid leukaemia: high CD40 and CD11a expression correlates with poor prognosis.

The expression of adhesion and co-stimulatory molecules, and chemokine and death receptors such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and FAS on acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) may influence the biology of the disease and response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In this study, we analysed the expression of these molecules in 99 AML patients using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry, and correlated the expression with French-American-British (FAB) classification and survival. The following molecules were studied: the co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD86 and CD40; the adhesion molecules CD11a-c, CD31, CD43, CD50, CD54, CD102, CD58 and CD62L; the chemokine receptor CXCR4; and the death receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 and FAS.

Differences in age, site distribution, and sex between nodular and superficial basal cell carcinoma indicate different types of tumors.

Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are among the most common cancers in white subjects. Etiologic factors include ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, chemical carcinogens, and possibly infection with human papillomaviruses. Because of clinical and histologic differences, differential pathogenetic mechanisms have been suggested for different BCC subtypes.

[Side effects of minocycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris].

Minocycline is the most commonly used systemic antibiotic in the long-term treatment (weeks to months) of severe acne vulgaris. Currently much attention is being paid in the Dutch and international literature to the safety of minocycline, after several reports on serious adverse events. The clinical efficacy of minocycline in the treatment of acne vulgaris is better than that of tetracycline and equal to that of doxycycline.