Correlating dermatoscopic features with immunohistochemical markers in basal cell carcinoma: a comprehensive analysis of 100 cases in Caucasian population.

Background: Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer, characterized by its low metastatic potential yet considerable diversity in clinical and dermatoscopic presentation. Advances in dermatoscopy have significantly improved the early detection of BCC, revealing specific patterns that guide diagnosis and management. Parallelly, immunohistochemical markers have been explored for their potential to elucidate the underlying tumor biology and prognosis, with particular focus on angiogenesis, melanocytic activity, and lymphangiogenesis.

Case report: Sequential treatment strategy for advanced basal cell carcinoma in Gorlin-Goltz syndrome: integration of vismodegib, radiotherapy, surgery, and high-intensity focused ultrasound.

Managing advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in patients with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome presents unique clinical challenges due to the tumor's aggressive nature and potential for widespread metastasis. This case study details a sequential treatment regimen for a 68-year-old female patient with an extensive, inoperable BCC. Employing a multimodal approach that integrates radiotherapy, the Hedgehog pathway inhibitor vismodegib, and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), we demonstrate the potential for nearly complete remission in a patient with advanced BCC.

Pilot Study on High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for Basal Cell Carcinoma: Effectiveness and Safety.

The rising incidence of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), especially among individuals with significant sun exposure, underscores the need for effective and minimally invasive treatment alternatives. Traditional surgical approaches, while effective, often result in notable cosmetic and functional limitations, particularly for lesions located on the face. This study explores High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) as a promising, non-invasive treatment option that aims to overcome these challenges, potentially revolutionizing BCC treatment by offering a balance between efficacy and cosmetic outcomes.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (20 MHz) and Cryotherapy as Therapeutic Options for Granuloma Annulare and Other Inflammatory Skin Conditions.

Introduction: In dermatology, inflammatory skin conditions impose a substantial burden worldwide, with existing therapies showing limited efficacy and side effects. This report aims to compare a novel immunological activation induced by hyperthermic 20 MHz high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) with conventional cryotherapy. The bioeffects from the two methods are initially investigated by numerical models, and subsequently compared to clinical observations after treatment of a patient with the inflammatory disease granuloma annulare (GA).

Impact of Bisphosphonate Therapy on Oral Health in Patients with Breast and Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastases: A Comprehensive Study.

This study investigates the impact of bisphosphonate therapy on the stomatognathic system in 80 patients with cancer of the breast and prostate with bone metastases. Bisphosphonates are integral for managing skeletal complications in these malignancies but are associated with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), affecting 0.8-18.

Case report: Exceptional disease progression in a 70-year-old patient: generalized melanosis and melanuria in the course of metastatic melanoma - a case study.

This case study documents an extraordinary disease progression in a 70-year-old patient diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. The patient's condition advanced to an unusual manifestation characterized by generalized melanosis and melanuria, a rare and foreboding complication of metastatic melanoma. The clinical presentation involved rapid-onset skin darkening, primarily affecting the face and torso, along with darkened urine, marking the onset of melanuria.

Assessing Excessive Keratinization in Acral Areas through Dermatoscopy with Cross-Polarization and Parallel-Polarization: A Dermatoscopic Keratinization Scale.

Excessive epidermal hyperkeratosis in acral areas is a common occurrence in dermatology practice, with a notable prevalence of approximately 65% in the elderly, especially in plantar lesions. Hyperkeratosis, characterized by thickening of the stratum corneum, can have various causes, including chronic physical or chemical factors, genetic predispositions, immunological disorders, and pharmaceutical compounds. This condition can significantly impact mobility, increase the risk of falls, and reduce the overall quality of life, particularly in older individuals.

Treatment of Cutaneous Neurofibromas in Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a genetic disorder impacting approximately 2.5 million people worldwide, often leading to development of numerous benign yet disfiguring cutaneous neurofibromas (cNF). Removal of cNF is limited to excision or laser ablation with common post-operation complications and scarring.

Prognostic Role of Prolactin-Induced Protein (PIP) in Breast Cancer.

Prolactin-inducible protein (PIP), also referred to as gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP-15), has been a trending topic in recent years due to its potential role as a specific marker in breast cancer. PIP binds to aquaporin-5 (AQP5), CD4, actin, fibrinogen, β-tubulin, serum albumin, hydroxyapatite, zinc α2-glycoprotein, and the Fc fragment of IgGs, and the expression of PIP has been demonstrated to be modulated by various cytokines, including IL4/13, IL1, and IL6. PIP gene expression has been extensively studied due to its captivating nature.

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to the fentanyl-adulterated drug supply among people who use drugs in Oregon.

Introduction: Nonpharmaceutical fentanyl has reconfigured the U.S. illicit drug market, contributing to a drastic increase in overdose drug deaths.

"It wasn't here, and now it is. It's everywhere": fentanyl's rising presence in Oregon's drug supply.

Background: Illicit fentanyl has contributed to a drastic increase in overdose drug deaths. While fentanyl has subsumed the drug supply in the Northeastern and Midwestern USA, it has more recently reached the Western USA. For this study, we explored perspectives of people who use drugs (PWUD) on the changing drug supply in Oregon, experiences of and response to fentanyl-involved overdose, and recommendations from PWUD to reduce overdose risk within the context of illicit fentanyl's dramatic increase in the recreational drug supply over the past decade.

Treatment of Seborrheic Keratosis by High Frequency Focused Ultrasound - An Early Experience with 11 Consecutive Cases.

Purpose: High intensity focused ultrasound operating at 20 MHz has been demonstrated as a safe and efficient treatment modality for a range of dermatological indications. The method is potentially also applicable to removal of seborrheic keratosis.

Patients And Methods: A total of 54 seborrheic keratoses in 11 volunteer subjects (8 women and 3 men, average age 51.

Increase in obstacles to abortion: the American perspective in 2004.

This paper summarizes the barriers to abortion in the United States, including the determination of viability, cost and insurance coverage, waiting periods and parental consent laws, restrictions on medical abortion, provider unavailability, harassment, targeted regulation of abortion providers laws, refusal clauses, anti choice laws, and the fetal legal rights movement. Federally subsidized abstinence-only sex education, which has not been shown to decrease the rate of unintended pregnancy (and may increase it), has expanded and access to a full range of contraceptive options has been limited. The policies of the current and past administrations have strengthened barriers to abortion both at home and abroad.

Reflections of physician-authors on death: literary selections appropriate for teaching rounds.

Physicians constantly confront to death and respond in a variety of ways to the many deaths that they witness and to their own sense of mortality. Student-doctors should be exposed, prior to and during their clinical training, to these different types of responses, so that they can prepare for their encounters with the "ultimate mystery" and realize that their own reactions, uncertainties and fears are neither unique or unnatural. Writings of physician-authors provide an ideal medium for this exposure.

Mandated tuberculosis screening in a community of homeless people.

Background: To examine the effects of a community program on tuberculosis incidence, prevalence, and transmission requiring users of public facilities to carry cards certifying their compliance with a tuberculosis screening, prophylaxis, and treatment program. Community knowledge of tuberculosis and costs and benefits of the program are described.

Setting: A West Coast "skid row" community with historically high rates of tuberculosis, homelessness, poverty, and use of drugs and alcohol.

The answer is blowing in the wind: a pedunculated tumour with saw tooth flow-volume loop.

Obstructing tumours of the upper airways have been demonstrated to alter the flow volume loop of pulmonary function testing. These alterations could be clues to the nature and location of the obstruction. This report describes a case of a pedunculated squamous cell carcinoma arising in the pharynx whose flow volume loop showed a saw tooth pattern which reflected the location and structure of the tumour.

False names.

A patient's unique, personal name is fundamental in medical relationships. Sometimes, patients may use false names, which obscure family, ethnic, sexual, or billing identities. The means and motivations involved--fraud, concealment, gaining financial or personal advantage, gratifying a psychic need, or changing group assignment--produce a variety of distinct clinical manifestations of false name use.

Occupational injuries among urban recyclers.

In this article, we describe the emergence of urban recycling as a new trade and discuss the new pattern of injuries among its practitioners. We conducted a retrospective chart review and convenience survey at an urban homeless health center. We found a high prevalence of severe, costly injuries, many of which are amenable to prevention.