Mobile teledermatology for skin tumour screening: diagnostic accuracy of clinical and dermoscopic image tele-evaluation using cellular phones.

BACKGROUND: The ability to diagnose malignant skin tumours accurately and to distinguish them from benign lesions is vital in ensuring appropriate patient management. Little is known about the effects of mobile teledermatology services on diagnostic accuracy and their appropriateness for skin tumour surveillance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical and dermoscopic image tele-evaluation for mobile skin tumour screening. METHODS: Over a 3-month period up to three clinical and dermoscopic images were obtained of 113 skin tumours from 88 patients using a mobile phone camera. Dermoscopic images were taken with a dermatoscope applied to the camera lens. Clinical and dermoscopic images of each lesion together with clinical information were separately teletransmitted for decision-making. Results were compared with those obtained by face-to-face examination and histopathology as the gold standard. RESULTS: A total of 322 clinical and 278 dermoscopic images were acquired; two (1%) clinical and 18 (6%) dermoscopic pictures were inadequate for decision-making. After excluding inadequate images, the majority of which were dermoscopic pictures, only 104 of the 113 skin tumours from 80 of 88 patients could be tele-evaluated. Among these 104 lesions, 25 (24%) benign nonmelanocytic, 15 (14%) benign melanocytic, 58 (56%) malignant nonmelanocytic and six (6%) malignant melanocytic lesions were identified. Clinical and dermoscopic tele-evaluations demonstrated strong concordance with the gold standard (κ = 0·84 for each) and similar high sensitivity and specificity for all diagnostic categories. With regard to the detailed diagnoses, clinical image tele-evaluation was superior to teledermoscopy resulting in 16 vs. 22 discordant cases. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical image tele-evaluation might be the method of choice for mobile tumour screening.

Short-term effects of physiotherapy on ventilation inhomogeneity in cystic fibrosis patients with a wide range of lung disease severity.

BACKGROUND: Lung clearance index (LCI) is increasingly used as a study endpoint for therapeutic interventions in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. We set out to assess the effect of chest physiotherapy on ventilation inhomogeneity in clinically stable patients with CF lung disease of varying severity. METHODS: In 29 CF patients (7.3-43.7 years) N2MBW (nitrogen multiple breath washout), plethysmography, and spirometry measurements were conducted, followed by 30 min of supervised PEP mask chest physiotherapy and repeated measurements 30 min after therapy. RESULTS: We observed a mean change in LCI after physiotherapy from 15.00 to 14.80 (range, -4.84 to 3.37; p=0.578). In seven patients, LCI decreased, and in ten patients, LCI increased by ≥1. For the whole group, statistically significant improvements were seen in Reff, FEV1, FVC, and MEF50. CONCLUSIONS: By opening up previously poorly ventilated lung regions, physiotherapy may either increase or decrease ventilation inhomogeneity; the short-term effect of physiotherapy on LCI appears to be unpredictable.

Discontinuing long-term Iloprost treatment for Raynaud's Phenomenon and systemic sclerosis: a single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: Iloprost has been reported to reduce Raynaud`s phenomenon (RP) and to inhibit progression of systemic sclerosis (SSc). OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to compare monthly iloprost infusions with placebo in patients treated long-term. METHODS: Seventeen patients, six with RP and 11 with SSc on monthly treatment with iloprost, received either a 3-hour intravenous infusion of iloprost or an equal volume of placebo once per month for 4 months in a monocentric, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Raynaud attacks as measured by diary entries, skin temperature, skin sclerosis, fist closure, mouth opening, and digital ulcers were recorded during the observation period. RESULTS: Whereas mouth opening improved significantly (p = 0.043) in the iloprost-treated group, RS improved in both patient groups. However, no significant differences were found in the outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Although iloprost influences the inflammatory cascade in SSc, no statistical differences were seen in our study, indicating that treatment strategies with iloprost should be modified.

Differences in length and cross-section of semitendinosus and gracilis tendons and their effect on anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a cadaver study.

The purpose of this anatomical study was to explore the morphological variations of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons in length and cross-section and the statistical relationship between length, cross-section, and body height. We studied the legs of 93 humans in 136 cadavers. In 43 specimens (46.2%) it was possible to harvest the tendons from both legs. We found considerable differences in the length and cross-section of the semitendinosus and the gracilis tendons with a significant correlation between the two. A correlation between the length of the femur, reflecting height, and the length of the tendons was only observed in specimens harvested from women. The reason for this gender difference was unclear. Additionally, there was a correlation between the cross-sectional area of the tendons and the length of the femur. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of encountering insufficient length of tendon when undertaking reconstructive surgery as a result of anatomical variations between patients.

Radiofrequency tissue volume reduction of the soft palate and UPPP in the treatment of snoring.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of radiofrequency tissue volume reduction (RFTVR) and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in the treatment of snoring in a prospective clinical trial of 79 patients consecutively undergoing surgery for snoring. Seventy-nine patients with primary snoring or mild OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome) were enrolled in this clinical trial (66 males and 13 females). According to the anatomical findings (the size of the tonsils and uvula), the patients underwent UPPP/TE of the RFTVR of the soft palate. Forty-seven patients had UPPP/TE (age 45.81+/-12.11 years; median AHI: 8; range 1-29). Thirty-two patients were treated with RFTVR of the soft palate (age 48.10+/-10.92; median AHI: 5.0; range 0-26). The average number of treatments was 2.2. All patients underwent preoperative polysomnography to exclude severe OSAS. Pre- and postoperative snoring scores were evaluated from the patients with bed partners. Postoperative follow-up data were collected at a median of 4 months after treatment; 85.1% of the UPPP group and 53.1% of the RFTVR group underwent postoperative polysomnography. Subjective snoring scores of all study participants were evaluated. Preoperatively, there was no statistically significant difference of subjective symptoms, age and BMI between the two groups. The snoring scores improved statistically significantly in both groups (P <0.001 in the UPPP group; P =0.001 in the RFTVR group). After UPPP/TE snoring improved in 37 patients (78.7%), and 29 (61.7%) thereof were free of bothersome snoring; no change was found in 9 patients (19.2%), and 1 (2.1%) worsened. In the RFTVR group, snoring improved in 15 (46.9%), and 9 (28.1%) thereof were free of bothersome snoring; no change was found in 13 patients (50%), and 1 worsened (3.1%). Preoperative AHI was statistically higher (P =0.016) and mean minimal oxygen saturation significantly lower (P =0.002) in the UPPP group. In the UPPP group AHI and HI showed statistically significant improvement postoperatively (P =0.025 and P =0.034, respectively). After RFTVR, no statistically significant change of AHI, HI or oxygen saturation was found. Besides limited mucosal erosions (15%) after RFTVR and foreign body sensations (<10%) after UPPP/TE, no side effects were observed. The success rate of RFTVR of the soft palate is lower compared to the more invasive technique of UPPP. Due to its minimally invasive character, RFTVR is suitable as first-step treatment for snoring, but patients should be counseled about possible success rates and different treatment options.

Evaluating an impression cytology grading system (IC score) in patients with dry eye syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the IC score, a newly developed grading system for the morphological alterations of the ocular surface as a diagnostic tool in relation to type and severity of dry eye disease. METHODS: Impression cytological specimens of 309 patients with simple dry eye (S-DE), 50 patients with Sjögren's syndrome and dry eye (SS-DE), and 39 patients with connective tissue disease and dry eye (CTD-DE) were examined. In all, 10 different morphological parameters were judged with points (IC subscores) and summarized to the IC score. IC score and subscores were correlated to tear function test results and with each other. RESULTS: SS-DE patients had the highest IC scores and IC subscores. IC scores and IC subscores correlated significantly with the fluorescein staining of the cornea in all three patient groups. They were correlated to the rose bengal score in SS-DE and S-DE patients. The analysis of the IC subscores showed that there are significant correlations between most of the morphological alterations investigated. This underlines the importance of each parameter for the summarized IC score. CONCLUSION: The IC score provides detailed information about the morphological alterations of the bulbar conjunctiva. It has proven to be useful for the differentiation of dry eye diseases and might help in the investigation of the pathogenesis of these diseases as well as for follow-up and therapy control.

Feasibility of high-dose interleukin-2 in heavily pretreated pediatric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The administration of high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) seems to be a therapeutic option for children with refractory and metastatic solid malignancies. METHODS: We prospectively studied treatment-related toxicities, quality of life and laboratory parameters in 10 children with progressive or metastatic solid tumors (metastatic osteosarcoma, n=4; neuroblastoma stage IV, n=3; metastatic Ewing's sarcoma, n=2; metastatic Wilms' tumor, n=1) during IL-2 therapy. Patients were scheduled to receive five cycles of high-dose IL-2 by continuous infusion for 5 days every 3 weeks. RESULTS: All patients developed fever >39 degrees C and influenza-like symptoms, with a significant decrease in Karnofsky score. In two patients treatment had to be stopped after three cycles because of severe side-effects. During IL-2 therapy a statistical significant increase in white blood cells (WBC), creatinine, gamma-glutamyltransferase, C-reactive protein, glucose and body weight was observed. In contrast, red blood cells, platelets, protein, albumin and cholinesterase significantly decreased. When results from day 1 of the first and of the fifth cycle were compared, an increase of WBC and a decrease of alkaline phosphatase was shown. No constant quantitative changes in total lymphocytes and subsets were observed during IL-2 therapy. CONCLUSIONS: IL-2 treatment in children with refractory and relapsed solid malignancies is associated with severe, but reversible, side-effects. However, five of the 10 patients with diseases of worst prognosis could be rescued by this treatment.

Sudden infant death syndrome risk questionnaire: a mirror of parental awareness rather than a prospective diagnostic tool.

AIM: In 1989, a scoring system that aimed to identify infants at risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by a structured questionnaire [SIDS risk questionnaire (SRQ)] consisting of 25 items was introduced in Styria (Austria). It was the aim of the study to compare SIDS rates in the population that had access to the SRQ with the population that had no access. Furthermore, for the population receiving the SRQ, the responding (compliant) and non-responding (non-compliant) groups were compared concerning the incidence of SIDS. METHODS: Within the study period, 53 865 births and 57 SIDS cases were recorded (incidence 1.06/1000) and analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of SIDS was significantly higher in the non-responding population (2.36/ 1000) than in the responding group (0.81/1000, p < 0.001). However, the incidence of SIDS was not significantly different in the population that had access to the risk questionnaire (1.29/1000) and the group without access (0.86/1000, p = 0.145). CONCLUSION: The value of any questionnaire used for SIDS prevention may be limited by the existence of a non-compliant population which represents a risk group and should be targeted by other preventive measures.