Outcomes of Melanoma In Situ Treated With Mohs Micrographic Surgery Compared With Wide Local Excision.

Importance: Melanoma in situ (MIS) is increasing in incidence, and expert consensus opinion recommends surgical excision for therapeutic management. Currently, wide local excision (WLE) is the standard of care. However, Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is now used to treat a growing subset of individuals with MIS. During MMS, unlike WLE, the entire cutaneous surgical margin is evaluated intraoperatively for tumor cells. Objective: To assess the outcomes of patients with MIS treated with MMS compared with those treated with WLE. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective review of a prospective database. The study cohort consisted of 662 patients with MIS treated with MMS or WLE per standard of care in dermatology and surgery (general surgery, otolaryngology, plastics, oculoplastics, surgical oncology) at an academic tertiary care referral center from January 1, 1978, to December 31, 2013, with follow-up through 2015. Exposure: Mohs micrographic surgery or WLE. Main Outcomes and Measures: Recurrence, overall survival, and melanoma-specific survival. Results: There were 277 patients treated with MMS (mean [SD] age, 64.0 [13.1] years; 62.1% male) and 385 treated with WLE (mean [SD] age, 58.5 [15.6] years; P < .001 for age; 54.8% male). Median follow-up was 8.6 (range, 0.2-37) years. Compared with WLE, MMS was used more frequently on the face (222 [80.2%] vs 141 [36.7%]) and scalp and neck (23 [8.3%] vs 26 [6.8%]; P < .001). The median (range) year of diagnosis was 2008 (1986-2013) for the MMS group vs 2003 (1978-2013) for the WLE group (P < .001). Overall recurrence rates were 5 (1.8%) in the MMS group and 22 (5.7%) in the WLE group (P = .07). Mean (SD) time to recurrence after MMS was 3.91 (4.4) years, and after WLE, 4.45 (2.7) years (P = .73). The 5-year recurrence rate was 1.1% in the MMS group and 4.1% in the WLE group (P = .07). For WLE-treated tumors, the surgical margin taken was greater for tumors that recurred compared with tumors that did not recur (P = .003). Five-year overall survival for MMS was 92% and for WLE was 94% (P = .28). Melanoma-specific mortality for the MMS group was 2 vs 13 patients for the WLE group, with mean (SD) survival of 6.5 (4.8) and 6.1 (0.8) years, respectively (P = .77). Conclusions and Relevance: No significant differences were found in the recurrence rate, overall survival, or melanoma-specific survival of patients with MIS treated with MMS compared with WLE.

Effect of the two-layer (University of Wisconsin solution-perfluorochemical plus O2) method of pancreas preservation on human islet isolation, as assessed by the Edmonton Isolation Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Current techniques for isolating islets require that pancreata stored with University of Wisconsin solution (UW) are processed within 12 hours of cold storage. In this study, we hypothesized that the two-layer method (TLM) could extend the acceptable preservation period of pancreata before islet isolation and increase islet yields. METHODS: In the first experimental set, eight pancreata were maintained for an average of 8.3+/-1.2 hours in UW and transferred into the TLM for an additional 14.3+/-1.1 hours for a total cold ischemic period of 22.6+/-1.6 hours (prolonged TLM). Four pancreata were maintained as a control group in UW alone for a total of 21.3+/-2.0 hours. In the second experimental set, six pancreata were maintained for an average of 6.4+/-1.8 hours in UW followed by 4.8+/-0.8 hours with the TLM for a total preservation time of 11.3+/-2.5 hours (short TLM). The control organs for the short TLM group were stored for an average of 9.5+/-1.3 hours in UW alone. Islets were isolated and evaluated according to the Edmonton protocol. RESULTS: Between each group of the two experimental sets, there was no significant difference in donor-related factors (i.e. gender, age, body mass index [BMI], etc.). The TLM as compared with UW preservation resulted in a significant increase in islet yields postpurification for both short (3,353+/-394 islet equivalents [IE] vs. 2,027+/-415 IE; mean+/-SEM) and prolonged (2,404+/-503 IE vs. 514+/-180 IE) periods of storage. Furthermore, islet yields after prolonged storage with the TLM were not significantly different from organs maintained for only a short period with UW (P=0.17). The quality of islets as assessed by size, postculture viability, survival rates, insulin content, and insulin secretion were similar for each of the four groups. CONCLUSION: In comparison with UW organ preservation, exposure of pancreata to the TLM result in greater islet yields and extended preservation times.

A comparative evaluation of culture conditions for short-term maintenance (<24 hr) of human islets isolated using the Edmonton protocol.

Once human islets are isolated, they are typically transplanted into type 1 diabetic recipients within 2 h of isolation. This time restriction makes it difficult for patients to travel from distant locations to receive an islet transplant and it also makes it difficult to complete pre-release quality control assessments (i.e., endotoxin and gram stain) before the expiration of the islet product. Therefore, there were two goals for this study. The first was to measure the stability of islets after a 24 h culture period using CMRL media 1066 (CMRL) supplemented with either fetal bovine serum (FBS); albumin or insulin transferrin and selenium (ITS). The second was to determine the impact of cell concentration and media depth on islet stability. The results of the study indicated that culture recoveries at 37 degrees C with CMRL + ITS (also known as Memphis media) were higher (64.1 +/- 8.3%) than with CMRL supplemented with FBS (38.7 +/- 9.7%) or albumin (47.6 +/- 8.2%) and that post-culture islet viabilities, post-culture purities and stimulation indexes (SIs) were comparable. In the second series of experiments, the results showed that islets recoveries and SIs in cultures with low islet concentrations (300 IE/ml) were significantly better than cultures at high islet concentrations (1500 IE/ml). Additionally, at a shallow media depth (1.4 vs. 7 mm of media) the SI of the islets improved, and this effect was independent of the additive (i.e., FBS, albumin and ITS).

Phenotypic overlap between Blepharo-naso-facial syndrome and Nablus mask-like syndrome. Report from the first Indian family.

We describe two siblings with epiphora, telecanthus, expressionless face, thick facial skin, bulky nose and profound sensorineural hearing loss. Constellation of these features presented a phenotypic overlap with Blepharo-naso-facial syndrome (BNFS) and Nablus mask-like syndrome (NMLS). They in addition had posterior helical pits. The molecular basis of NMLS is known, while BNFS remains an elusive disorder. We report the first Indian family with features having significant overlap between the two but we attempt to summarize the frequency of reported features and bring out the most consistent features for these two syndromes for the treating clinician.

Solitary giant molluscum contagiosum presenting as lid tumor in an immunocompetent child.

We report the case of a three-year-old male child who presented with a single painless subcutaneously located upper lid mass of 1.2 Chi 1.5 cm with a central depression. The mass could be easily separated from overlying skin on complete excision biopsy and showed a never described before whitish brain like appearance consisting of multiple lobes and gyri, which histopathologically proved to be molluscum contagiosum (MC). Tests to investigate underlying immunodeficiency did not show any evidence of immunocompromised state.

Microspherophakia associated with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome.

We report a 13-year-old girl with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome who was also found to have microspherophakia. She developed glaucoma in both eyes and was treated with bilateral pars plana lensectomy. To the best of our knowledge, no such association has been reported previously in the literature.