Extended surgical safety margins and ulceration are associated with an improved prognosis in pleomorphic dermal sarcomas.

Background: Pleomorphic dermal sarcomas (PDS) are frequent UV-induced sarcomas of the skin of intermediate grade malignant potential. Despite the fact that PDS have a noteworthy potential to recur (up to 28%) as well as to metastasize (up to 20%), there are no specific clinical guidelines with respect to follow-up these patients. Moreover, little is known about clinical, histological or molecular prognostic factors in PDS.

Increase of scabies in Germany and development of resistant mites? Evidence and consequences.

Scabies has been diagnosed surprisingly frequently in Germany in recent years, and the use of acaricides has risen markedly. Present figures indicate an increase in the prevalence/incidence of scabies, but do not prove or quantify it for the following reasons: (a) scabies is not a notifiable disease in Germany; (b) the diagnosis is not always confirmed lege artis by means of light microscopy or dermatoscopy (which may lead to a comparatively high proportion of false‐positive diagnoses due to the low overall prevalence of scabies); (c) repeated treatments of the same patient and treatment of contact persons are included in the total number of prescriptions. Therefore, there are no valid data on disease occurrence, either in the current situation or from previous periods.

Cutavirus Infection in Primary Cutaneous B- and T-Cell Lymphoma.

This virological study examines the association of cutavirus DNA with different types of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in lesional skin samples.

CD30-positive primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma with coexistent pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia.

CD30-positive primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (C-ALCL) is an indolent type of cutaneous lymphoma with favourable clinical prognosis. Pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia (PCH) is a rare benign epithelial condition that can resemble invasive squamous cell carcinoma both clinically and histopathologically. PCH predominantly occurs in CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorders.

PD-L1 status does not predict the outcome of BRAF inhibitor therapy in metastatic melanoma.

Background: Targeted therapies with BRAF plus MEK inhibitors (BRAFi; MEKi) represent the major treatment strategy for patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma (MM). Previous analyses suggested a correlation between programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumour tissues and the outcome of targeted therapies. This study investigated PD-L1 as a potential predictive biomarker of BRAFi-based targeted therapies in MM patients.

The histone demethylase Jumonji domain-containing protein 3 (JMJD3) regulates fibroblast activation in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) fibroblasts remain activated even in the absence of exogenous stimuli. Epigenetic alterations are thought to play a role for this endogenous activation. Trimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3K27me3) is regulated by Jumonji domain-containing protein 3 (JMJD3) and ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat on chromosome X (UTX) in a therapeutically targetable manner.

Left-sided laterality of Merkel cell carcinoma in a German population: more than just sun exposure.

Background: Lateral distribution of cancer has been observed previously. Most evident is this laterality in ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin cancer, based on an unequally distributed UV exposure.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore whether patients from Germany also show asymmetrical lateral distribution of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

Prognostic relevance of high atonal homolog-1 expression in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background: It has recently been reported that atonal homolog 1 (ATOH1) gene is down-regulated in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and thus may represent a tumor suppressor gene.

Objectives: We aimed to test for ATOH1 gene mutations and expression levels in MCC tissues and cell lines.

Methods: Genomic DNA isolation and amplification via PCR was successfully performed in 33 MCCs on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and three MCC cell lines, followed by Sanger sequencing of the whole ATOH1 gene to detect genomic aberrations.

High-grade Dysplasia in Anogenital Warts of HIV-Positive Men.

Importance: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced anogenital lesions are very frequent in men who have sex with men (MSM) who are HIV-positive (HIV+). Anogenital warts (AGWs) are considered benign lesions caused by low-risk HPV-types, whereas anogenital dysplasias are potential cancer precursors associated with high-risk HPV-types. Both types of lesions can usually be distinguished clinically.

Usage of a self-adhesive mesh in TAPP hernia repair: A prospective study based on Herniamed Register.

Introduction: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide in general surgery. The transabdominal laparoscopic (TAPP) approach in the therapy of inguinal hernia seems to be a suitable alternative to classical open inguinal hernia repair mainly in the hands of an experienced surgeon. TAPP repair offers the possibility of gentle dissection with implantation of the mesh and the possibility of non-invasive fixation of the implanted mesh.