Atopic skin diathesis rather than atopic dermatitis is associated with specific contact allergies.

BACKGROUND: The association of atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic contact dermatitis has been a matter of considerable uncertainty. Study results range from lack of any association to increased sensitization for multiple allergens, but fail to identify consistent allergen associations. OBJECTIVE: We studied a large patch test cohort of patients stratified by their atopic skin diathesis using the Erlangen Atopy Score (EAS), independent of active skin disease. METHODS: Retrospective multi-center data analysis from five departments of dermatology in Germany with 4,509 patients. Patients were grouped as "no atopic skin diathesis" (n = 2,165) and "atopic skin diathesis" (n = 1,743), according to EAS. RESULTS: Significantly more individuals with atopic skin diathesis showed at least one positive patch test reaction to the baseline series compared to individuals without atopic skin diathesis (49.1 % vs. 38.3 %). In logistic regression analyses, atopic skin diathesis was associated with a significantly higher risk of sensitization to methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (OR 2.383) and methylisothiazolinone (OR 1.891), thiuram mix (OR 1.614), as well as nickel (OR 1.530), cobalt (OR 1.683), and chromium (OR 2.089). CONCLUSIONS: Atopic skin diathesis proved to be the most important intrinsic risk factor for contact sensitization to few, specific allergens. Past or present AD was a less relevant variable.

Axillary sentinel node biopsy in prone position for melanomas on the upper back or nape.

In patients with melanomas on the upper back or nape, axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB), when performed in the traditional supine position, is often disturbed by scattered radiation emitted from the primary tumor site. The results from the present study suggestthat axillary SLNB performed in the prone position can solve this problem. We compared two consecutive groups of patients with melanomas of the dorsal trunk or nape who received axillary SLNB performed either in the supine (n = 119) or in the prone position (n = 130). The number of SLNs detected and excised was significantly higher in prone position group (2.4 ± 1.5 SLNs versus 1.9 ± 0.95 SLNs, p = 0.002). Using the prone position, intra-operative repositioning of the patient for excision of a primary site of the upper back or neck was not necessary. The SLN identification rates and the SLN-positivity rates did not differ significantly between the two types of intraoperative patient positioning. There were no significant differences in survival outcomes or false-negative rates. In conclusion, axillary SLNB in prone position yields a higher number of excised SLNs in patients with melanomas of the upper back or nape. Axillary SLNB in prone position is easy to perform and reliable. Intraoperative repositioning of the patient is not necessary, which saves time and resources.

Detailed analysis of clonal evolution and cytogenetic evolution patterns in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and related myeloid disorders.

Clonal cytogenetic evolution (CE) (i.e., acquisition of new chromosomal aberrations over time) is relevant for the progression of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We performed detailed analysis of CE in 729 patients with MDS and related disorders. Patients with CE showed shorter survival (median OS 18.0 versus 53.9 months; P < 0.01), higher leukemic transformation rate (48.0% versus 21.4%; P < 0.01) and shorter intervals to leukemic transformation (P < 0.01). Two main CE patterns were detected: early versus late CE (median onset 5.3 versus 21.9 months; P < 0.01) with worse survival outcomes for early CE. In the case of CE, del (7q)/-7 (P = 0.020) and del (17p) (P = 0.002) were especially unfavorable. Extending the evolution patterns from Tricot et al. (1985) forming five subgroups, prognosis was best (median OS not reached) in patients with "transient clones/changing clone size", whereas those with "CE at diagnosis" showed very poor outcomes (P < 0.01 for comparison of all). Detailed sequential cytogenetic analysis during follow-up improves prognostication in MDS patients and acknowledges the dynamic biology of the disease. Evidence, time-point, and patterns of cytogenetic clonal evolution should be included into future prognostic scoring systems for MDS.