The importance of self-examination in the earliest diagnosis of multiple primary cutaneous melanomas: a report of 47 cases

BACKGROUND: Development of more than one primary melanoma in a patient is a relatively uncommon but well-recognized phenomenon. Its frequency has ranged from 1.2% to 8.2% in several series. This subgroup of patients with multiple primary lesions has not been characterized sufficiently. We report the experience of the Melanoma Unit of University Hospital Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy. METHOD: Study subjects were drawn from 1240 patients with histologically confirmed melanoma, including melanoma in situ. From this group, multiple melanomas developed in 47 patients (3.79%). Every one of our patients has been taught to perform self-examination of the skin to detect suspicious pigmented lesions. RESULTS: Of the 47 patients described in this study, 38 had two primary melanomas, 7 had three melanomas and 2 had 5 and 10 melanomas, respectively. Mean age at first diagnosis was 46.2 years. The majority of subsequent melanomas (74.5%) were removed within 5 years of the initial operation. Synchronous lesions were found in 10 patients. In male patients, the lesion appeared most frequently on the trunk; in female patients, melanoma appeared mostly on the lower extremities. The second primary melanomas developed in the same anatomic region from the first in 53.2% of our patients. The proportion of in situ to invasive melanomas was greater for the second melanomas compared with the first melanomas. Regarding invasive melanomas, the mean thickness of the first melanomas was 1.31 mm compared with 0.66 mm for the second ones. Dividing patients into two groups, of more and less than 50, it is highlighted that in older patients synchronous lesions appear more frequently (36.4% vs. 8.0%); the median time interval between sequential melanomas is longer (84 vs. 63.7 months); and the ratio between the primary and secondary melanoma mean thickness is lower (1.21 : 1.08 vs. 1.43 : 0.63 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that second primary melanoma is usually thinner than the first lesion, and it is more common in the same region of the body as the initial melanoma. The highest risk for a second melanoma is during the first 5 years, but a much longer time interval of 28 years is possible. Continued medical follow-up with complete skin examinations seems prudent, but it is very important to promote self-skin evaluation in patients to detect not only metastases but also subsequent primary melanomas in their earliest phases.     

Amino acid levels in elderly nursing home residents

We have compared levels of albumin and serum amino acids in a group of 87 recent admissions to a nursing home, average age 83 years, with a group of healthy moderately old subjects, average age 69 years. We found that the nursing home group was characterized by decreased levels of albumin, by increased total levels of the measured amino acids, and by increased levels of the nonessential amino acids. In contrast, there were no significant group differences in the essential amino acids. Among the nursing home patients, there was a negative correlation between essential amino acids and disability, consistent with nutritional deficits in the more disabled patients, and a positive correlation between essential amino acids and subjective complaints of pain, suggesting that pain is associated with breakdown or mobilization of endogenous protein stores. Though the nursing home patients had decreased serum levels of tryptophan, there was no association between serum tryptophan or other variables that could be related to the availability of tryptophan for transport into brain, with ratings of either depression or pain. Glutamine levels were significantly increased in the nursing home residents, and among these patients they were positively correlated with measures of cognitive impairment.     

Critical ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a coasted in-vitro fertilization patient

We report an instance of critical ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a highly responsive in-vitro fertilization patient despite the preventive measure of a 4 day 'coast' interval during which no gonadotrophins were administered while gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist therapy continued until serum oestradiol concentrations fell below 3000 pg/ml.      

Group C rotavirus associated with fatal enteritis in a family outbreak

A family outbreak of gastroenteritis involving three adults and three children is described in which diarrhoea and vomiting were the main clinical features. One infant died in whom no pathogens could be detected in either small or large intestinal postmortem samples. Stool samples from two symptomatic siblings contained rotaviruses as demonstrated by electron microscopy. Both of these faecal samples were negative when assayed in a group A specific rotavirus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and subsequent genomic analysis of these rotaviruses was suggestive of group C rotavirus. Serological evidence showed that these atypical rotaviruses were members of serogroup C. Other atypical rotaviruses in faecal samples from sporadic cases in symptomatic children were detected over a similar time period and location. These had electrophoretic RNA profiles similar to those in the family outbreak. Furthermore, seroepidemiological studies detected group C rotavirus antibody in blood donors resident in the location of the family outbreak.     

Colour Doppler changes and thromboxane production after ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Doppler flow variations which occur following the use of different protocols of ovarian stimulation in an IVF programme, and to investigate the thromboxane production by cultured endometrial cells and its influence on embryo implantation. A total of 60 patients underwent three different ovarian stimulation protocols: long gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), short GnRH-a and no GnRH-a. Transvaginal ultrasonography and colour Doppler analysis were performed before and during the treatment. On the day that the Doppler examination took place, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, plasma oestradiol and thromboxane concentrations were assayed. On the day of oocyte retrieval, endometrial cells were collected and cultured, and their thromboxane production evaluated. No significant differences in hormonal, ultrasonographic or Doppler parameters were observed between the three groups. Ten out of 56 patients who had a successful embryo transfer became pregnant. In the group of pregnant women the pulsatility index values of both uterine and spiral arteries was lower than in non-pregnant patients, and was associated with significantly lower thromboxane concentrations from cultured endometrial cells. It is concluded that thromboxane plays a role in embryo implantation, and that Doppler flow analysis of uterine and spiral arteries in infertile patients may be important in the management of ovarian stimulation.      

Morphological and antigenic relationships between viruses (rotaviruses) from acute gastroenteritis of children, calves, piglets, mice, and foals.

The reovirus-like particles present in the feces of young pigs and foals with acute enteritis and the virus causing epizootic diarrhea of infant mice were found to be indistinguishable morphologically from each other, from the South African SA. 11 and "O" viruses, and from the rotaviruses of children and calves. The inner capsid layer of each of these viruses reacted seriologically with sera of children, calves, mice, piglets, and foals convalescent from infection with their respective rotaviruses. These sera reacted by immunofluorescence with human, bovine, porcine, and murine rotaviruses, SA.11, and "O" viruses in tissue cultures and with human bovine, procine, nad murine viral antigens by complement fixation and gel diffusion. However, the antisera differed in their ability to react serologically with the outer capsid layer of the viruses investigated and in their ability to neutralize tissue culture-adapted calf virus. These two tests may demonstrate strain or host specificity among rotaviruses. Since the porcine, murine, and equine viruses are closely related serologically to and are morphologically identical to the human and bovine viruses, they should be included in the group of viruses for which the term "rotavirus" has been suggested. All known members of this proposed group of viruses share a common antigen, probably situated within the inner capsid layer; thus, any one of the viruses may be used for the preparation of antigen or antibody for diagnostic tests, and this will aid in the diagnosis of virus infection in those species from which a rotavirus has not been cultured.     

A longitudinal study of maternal serum inhibin-A, inhibin-B, activin-A, activin-AB, pro-alphaC and follistatin during pregnancy

Maternal serum concentrations of inhibin-A, inhibin-B, activin-A, activin-AB, pro-alphaC-related inhibin forms, total follistatin, steroids and gonadotrophins were measured longitudinally in six normal singleton pregnancies. Maternal venous blood was collected randomly during a spontaneous follicular phase prior to donor insemination, at 5, 7, 9, 11, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 and 36 weeks after the first missed menses and in the early puerperium. Steroid and gonadotrophin profiles conformed to previous reports. While at week 5 of gestation inhibin-A, activin-A and follistatin concentrations were similar to those at the follicular phase, all three increased progressively (P < 0.001) to maximal concentrations in week 36: approximately 48-fold (3740 +/- 1349 ng inhibin-A/ml), approximately 22-fold (6109 +/- 1443 ng activin-A/ml) and approximately 10-fold (3563 +/- 418 ng follistatin/ml) higher. Pro- alphaC concentrations reached a maximum in weeks 5 (approximately 5- fold, P < 0.001) and 36 (1027 +/- 174 pg/ml, P < 0.01). Inhibin-B (71 +/- 23 pg/ml prior to pregnancy) was undetectable (<12 pg/ml) between week 5-16 of gestation but increased slightly in the third trimester (26 +/- 7 pg/ml in week 36). Activin-AB was undetectable throughout pregnancy. Post-partum concentrations of inhibin-A (41 +/- 12 ng/ml), inhibin-B (<12 pg/ml), activin-A (950 +/- 149 pg/ml), pro-alphaC (128 +/- 22 pg/ml) and follistatin (990 +/- 79 ng/ml) were substantially lower than at week 36 of gestation. The activin-A:follistatin ratio increased from 0.5 in week 5 to 1.8 in week 36, suggesting that more free activin-A is available in the maternal circulation during late pregnancy.      

Hoechst staining and exposure to UV laser during flow cytometric sorting does not affect the frequency of detected endogenous DNA nicks in abnormal and normal human spermatozoa

Controlling the sex of offspring by the separation of X and Y chromosome-bearing spermatozoa using flow cytometry has been reported as a clinical technique aiding prevention of X-linked diseases. Although this technique has resulted in several hundred normal births in animals and at least one human birth, there is still concern over its genetic safety due to the involvement of two potentially mutagenic agents: UV light and the fluorochrome dye, Hoechst 33342 (H33342). Human spermatozoa, particularly those considered abnormal, may be more likely to suffer DNA damage following exposure to mutagenic agents, compared with other mammalian species. The stability of normal fresh and decondensed human spermatozoa were examined after exposure to a range of levels of UV and H33342 staining, using an assay that detects endogenous nicks in the DNA of spermatozoa. The stability of abnormal and normal, fresh and frozen-thawed human spermatozoa was examined following UV laser, H33342 staining and flow cytometry treatments utilizing the same assay. There was an increase in the presence of endogenous nicks when spermatozoa were decondensed compared with fresh spermatozoa. There was no increase in the incidence of nicks in any group of spermatozoa after UV and fluorochrome exposure compared with controls without exposure.