[Is it a sexually transmitted disease?].

STD-associated questions and symptoms are submitted frequently to general practitioners and STD outpatient-clinics. In this teaching article we address 10 important clinical questions regarding epidemiology, risk assessment, testing policy, diagnostics and prevention. STD's form a separate category of infectious diseases because of the role of sexuality.

Case report of a clinically indolent but morphologically high-grade cutaneous mast cell tumor in an adult: Atypical cutaneous mastocytoma or mast cell sarcoma?

We present a case of an adult male with a solitary mast cell tumor of the skin with unusual nuclear pleomorphism and mitotic activity. The tumor was excised, recurred within 2 years, was reexcised after 4 years and did not recur >6 years after diagnosis. The tumor showed progressive cytonuclear atypia and a high mitotic and proliferation rate by Ki67-staining from the onset.

[Skin-coloured vulvar papules].

We report a 43-year-old woman with asymptomatic vulvar papules. Histopathology showed ducts with luminal differentiation and eosinophil debris with a tadpole shape. Based on these findings, the diagnosis vulvar syringoma was made.

Clinical Presentation of Laboratory Confirmed Neurosyphilis in a Recent Cases Series.

Objective: The worldwide increase in the incidence of syphilis necessitates alertness to the occurrence of neurosyphilis. Early recognition of neurosyphilis allows for timely treatment, leading to a better treatment outcome. This retrospective study aims to describe the clinical presentation of neurosyphilis in a recent series of neurosyphilis patients.

Rush immunotherapy for wasp venom allergy seems safe and effective in patients with mastocytosis.

Background: Patients with mastocytosis and wasp venom allergy (WA) may benefit from venom immunotherapy (VIT). However, fatal insect sting reactions have been described in mastocytosis patients despite previous immunotherapy. We investigated the safety and efficacy of (rush) VIT in patients with mastocytosis and WA.

Acquired cutis laxa in childhood Sweet's syndrome.

In Sweet's syndrome, the essential features are the characteristic morphology of the lesions, their histologic appearance, the dramatic response to corticosteroids and the absence of scarring. We report an 8-month-old infant in whom Sweet's syndrome was diagnosed and who developed acquired cutis laxa in the skin lesions.

Narrowband ultraviolet B and medium-dose ultraviolet A1 are equally effective in the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

Background: Phototherapy may be effective in atopic dermatitis (AD). Medium-dose (MD) ultraviolet (UV) A1 was introduced for the treatment of AD. Few immunohistochemical data are available pertaining to phototherapy in AD.

No effect of anti-interleukin-5 therapy (mepolizumab) on the atopy patch test in atopic dermatitis patients.

Background: The atopy patch test (APT) is an in vivo model to study the induction of eczema by inhalant allergens in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody to interleukin-5, which reduces peripheral blood eosinophils. Previously, we reported that mepolizumab treatment did not result in clinical improvement in AD.

Modulation of the atopy patch test: tacrolimus 0.1% compared with triamcinolone acetonide 0.1%.

Background: The atopy patch test (APT) is an in vivo model to study the induction of eczema by inhalant allergens in atopic dermatitis patients. We studied the effect of pretreatment with topical tacrolimus 0.1% on APT in nonlesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Anti-IL-5 recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (mepolizumab) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Background: Eosinophils may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Interleukin-5 is essential for eosinophil growth, differentiation and migration. A monoclonal antibody to human interleukin-5 (mepolizumab) was developed for atopic diseases.

Atopy patch test in patients with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome: comparison of petrolatum and aqueous solution as a vehicle.

Background: The atopy patch test (APT) is an in vivo model to study the induction of eczema by inhalant allergens. This study was designed to compare two commonly used APT methods.

Methods: In the first method, the allergen is dissolved in aqueous solution, which is applied on tape-stripped skin.

Cladribine therapy for systemic mastocytosis.

Patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) can suffer from disabling symptoms related to mast cell mediator release or mast cell infiltration, requiring mast cell eradication. In the present absence of any curative therapy, a recent case report describing the efficacy of cladribine showed promising results. In a pilot study, the efficacy of cladribine (0.

Report of an international summer school--oncology for medical students--in 1996 in Groningen, The Netherlands.

An international summer school session, Oncology for Medical Students, was held in 1996 at Groningen University Hospital in The Netherlands. It was sponsored and organized by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Cancer Education-Groningen. The central focus of the two-week course was cancer in general health care.

A retrospective comparative study evaluating the results of mild hyperthermic versus controlled normothermic perfusion for recurrent melanoma of the extremities.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mild hyperthermia (39-40 degrees C) in isolated cytostatic perfusion for patients with recurrent melanoma of the extremities. A total of 218 patients treated with mild hyperthermic perfusion was compared to 166 patients perfused under controlled normothermic conditions (37-38 degrees C). Only patients whose lesions had been excised before or at the moment of perfusion were eligible for this study.

Functional morbidity of hyperthermic isolated regional perfusion of the extremities.

Background: Isolated regional perfusion (IRP) of an extremity is a major operation. The therapeutic value for stage I melanoma is still controversial and is presently being investigated in a prospective, randomized study by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. So far there are no reliable data available concerning the morbidity of IRP.

Development and test of an extendable endoprosthesis for bone reconstruction in the leg.

A malignant bone tumour may develop in the femur of a child. In the majority of cases it will be necessary to resect the bone involved, growth plate and adjacent tissues. A modular endoprosthetic system has been developed which can be extended non-invasively to bridge the defect resulting from such a resection.

Positron emission tomography with fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose for the evaluation of therapeutic isolated regional limb perfusion in a patient with soft-tissue sarcoma.

Methods: The treatment of a patient with soft-tissue sarcoma was evaluated with FDG-PET. A limb-saving complete remission of a locally advanced liposarcoma of the left thigh was achieved with isolated regional perfusion of the limb with tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma and melphalan.

Results: PET with 18F-FDG before perfusion showed high glucose consumption in the tumor.