A distinctive translocation carcinoma of the kidney [“rosette-like forming,” t(6;11), HMB45-positive renal tumor]

Objective  Recently, a novel renal carcinoma with specific clinical and histological characteristics and translocation t(6;11)(p21.1;q12 or q13) has been identified. We have found 11 cases in the literature, and we are adding another 3 cases. Materials and methods  Three cases were found in the Plzeň pathological register with approximately 15,000 cases of kidney tumors. There were two females and 1 male, aged 22, 24, and 39 years. Results  The sizes of the tumors were 40, 136, and 10 mm. Two tumors were found incidentally; the biggest one was self-palpated by a 24-year-old pregnant patient. Patients are without any signs of disease 42, 20, and 17 months after surgery. Conclusion  This tumor is a distinctive and rare translocation carcinoma of the kidney [t(6;11), HMB45 positive]. All cases with known clinical data arose in younger people. The malignant potential is probably low. The work was supported by Czech government research project MSM 0021620819.     

Experience with radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of unresectable pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer

More than half of colorectal cancers are located in the rectum, and the number of such cancers is increasing. In Hungary colorectal cancers are diagnosed predominantly in advanced stages. In the last five years 736 patients with colorectal cancer were operated on at our Department, with the following stage distribution: Dukes A 10%, BI 10%, B2 31%, C 36% and D 13%. The local recurrence rate is decreasing since the introduction of total mesorectal excision and preoperative radiation. Effective treatment options are however poor for unresectable pelvic recurrences. Chemo- and radiotherapy have severe limitations in this advanced stage cancer. In recent years there are a few publications on the minimal-invasive radiofrequency tumour ablation (RFTA) technique, which is an effective treatment for primary and metastatic liver carcinomas and is a new palliative for the local treatment of pelvic recurrence. The aim of this study was to assess the response to treatment using ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation in two patients with unresectable pelvic recurrent rectal cancer.     

Fatal neonatal nephrocutaneous syndrome in 18 Roma children with EGFR deficiency

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane glycoprotein with tyrosine-kinase signaling activity, involved in many cellular functions including cell growth and differentiation. Germ line loss-of-function mutations in EGFR lead to a severe neonatal skin disorder (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man #131550). We report 18 premature Roma children from 16 families with birthweights ranging 440–1470 g and multisystem diseases due to the homozygous mutation c.1283G˃A (p.Gly428Asp) in EGFR. They presented with thin, translucent, fragile skin (14/15), skin desquamation (10/17), ichthyosis (9/17), recurrent skin infections and sepsis (9/12), nephromegaly (10/16) and congenital heart defects (7/17). Their prognosis was poor, and all died before the age of 6 months except one 13-year-old boy with a severe skin disorder, dentinogenesis imperfecta, Fanconi-like syndrome and secondary hyperaldosteronism. Management of ion and water imbalances and extremely demanding skin care may improve the unfavorable outcome of such patients.     

Back to the basics: Propolis and COVID‐19

The epidemiological burden of COVID‐19 is a healthcare challenge throughout the world, not only in terms of testing the limits of medical capacities, but also as an enigma considering preventive strategies and methods. The upper respiratory tract mucosa is the first line of defense, as a physical barrier, as well as through multiple innate and adaptive immune mechanisms which are crucial for efficient antiviral responses. Identifying methods able to reduce or prevent colonization, viral adhesion, and promote virus shedding on mucous membranes or have the ability to inactivate pathogens and thus reduce virus dose and/or increase immune response would be essential in the management of COVID‐19 outbreak and help in flattening the curve. We review the effects of propolis, an old remedy with proven antiviral properties, as a possible low‐cost inhibitor of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the oropharyngeal niche, prophylaxis, or adjuvant therapy.     

Siebenj?hrige erfahrungen mit der ?dintraoperativen maschinellen autotransfusion? und ?pr?operativen plasmapherese? bei chirurgischorthop?dischen eingriffen

Zusammenfassung Bericht über ?dintraoperative maschinelle autotransfusion?, kombiniert mit ?pr?operativer plasmapherese?. Mit maschineller autotransfusion kann intraoperativer blutverlust durch rückführung eigener erythrozyten halbiert werden. In kombination mit pr?operativer plasmapherese werden weitere fremdblutkonserven eingespart. übertragung von infektionskrankheiten und erzeugung irregul?rer antikōrper kōnnen verhindert werden. Bei der derzeitigen AIDS-situation wird das infektionsrisiko auf null reduziert.      

The use of fibrin adhesive in the repair of chondral and osteochondral injuries

Fibrin adhesive proved to be useful in the reattachment of chondral and osteochondral fragments. Its use is based on sound biological principles. It offers a number of advantages over internal fixation; it causes no further damage to the cartilage, even small chondral fragments can be reattached and a second operation for the removal of metalwork is unnecessary. Its bonding strength provides only contact stability, so that immobilization in plaster for 3 weeks is always necessary. In the last 5 years we have used fibrin adhesive in 28 patients for the fixation of 39 chondral or osteochondral fragments. Of these, 26 cases were followed up for periods of 6 months to 5 years. Twelve patients were examined arthroscopically; 9 of them showed complete healing of the fragments, and only 3 slight localized degenerative changes. In 15 cases we were able to see radiological healing. All except two showed union of the fragments and restoration of the joint surface. In view of our results fibrin adhesive can be recommended for the operative management of cartilage injuries.     

Actin-binding protein fascin expression in skin neoplasia

BACKGROUND: Fascin containing actin bundles provide mechanical support to cellular protrusions and stress fibers. In cancers, some malignant cells (e.g. subsets of breast and ovarian carcinomas) express fascin. In skin cancer, the role of fascin is unknown. METHODS: Cases of 61 keratocytic neoplasms, 35 melanocytic neoplasms, nine extramammary Paget's disease (four with adenocarcinoma) and five sarcomas (angiosarcoma and atypical fibroxanthoma) were examined by immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal antihuman fascin antibody, clone 55 k-2 (Dako Corporation, Carpinteria, CA, USA). RESULTS: Fascin labeled all sarcomas and all keratinocytic neoplasms except for pagetoid pattern Bowen's disease. The regions of most intense fascin labeling were seen in the basal cells of infiltrative tumor margins. A minority of Merkel cell carcinomas exhibited weak or absent immunoreactivity. All melanocytic nevi except for some junctional nests of dysplastic melanocytic nevi expressed fascin. However, pagetoid cells of melanoma in situ and epithelioid cells of invasive melanoma weakly expressed or did not express fascin, whereas melanoma cells exhibiting spindle cell morphologies labeled intensely with fascin. Lastly, all cells of extramammary Paget's disease and most associated adenocarcinomas cells did not or were faintly labeled by fascin antibodies. Decreased or absent fascin expression was significantly associated with skin cancers with a high risk for metastasis (e.g. melanoma) vs. those with a low risk (e.g. basal cell carcinoma) (24% vs. 100% with > 50% immunoreactivity; p = 0.0001, chi-squared test). CONCLUSION: Fascin is expressed by skin tumors that locally infiltrate and replace surrounding tissues indicating a role for fascin in cell adhesion, cell motility and invasiveness. No or weak fascin expression is exhibited by cancers with pagetoid intraepidermal spread and by invasive tumors with a high risk of metastasis. Downregulation or loss of fascin's actin-bundling properties, probably associated with disorganization of cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts, may be a crucial step in the progression from locally invasive to widely disseminating cancers.     

Terbinafine (Lamisil) treatment of toenail onychomycosis in patients with insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: a multicentre trial

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects an estimated 175 million people world-wide. Approximately one-third of patients with DM have toenail onychomycosis. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of terbinafine treatment of toenail onychomycosis in patients with DM receiving insulin and/or oral antidiabetic agents. Special interest was focused on potential drug interactions with oral hypoglycaemic substances. METHODS: In a multicentre trial, patients suffering from insulin-dependent DM (IDDM) or non- insulin-dependent DM (NIDDM) with toenail onychomycosis were treated for 12 weeks with oral terbinafine 250 mg daily and followed up to 48 weeks. In addition to clinical, mycological and laboratory investigations, blood glucose levels were monitored. RESULTS: At the end of the trial (week 48), a mycological cure rate of 73% was achieved. The rates of clinical cure and complete cure (mycological cure plus clinical cure) were 57% and 48%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the NIDDM and IDDM groups with respect to the cure rates (P > 0.05). No hypoglycaemic episode was reported and none of the patients had hypoglycaemia during the treatment phase. CONCLUSIONS: With excellent cure rates and a good tolerability profile, terbinafine should continue to be a drug of choice for the treatment of toenail onychomycosis in the rising number of NIDDM patients receiving multiple medication.