Surgical intervention of pilonidal sinus: impact on patients' postoperative satisfaction and return to work time.

BACKGROUND: Pilonidal sinus (PS) is a chronic inflammatory process accompanied by psychological strain and a high rate of work incapacity. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the impact of PS surgery on individual patients' satisfaction (SAT) and economic impacts on work capability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 40 PS patients regarding SAT and return to work time (RTW) in relation to various factors, using multivariate analysis and Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: We found a significant negative correlation between SAT and RTW (p<0.01), both correlated equally strongly with duration between first diagnosis and surgery (p<0.01) and with loss of weight (p<0.05). RTW correlated with duration of painkiller intake (p<0.01). SAT correlated with gender (p<0.01), smoking cessation (p<0.05) and quantity of painkiller intake (p<0.01). Satisfaction correlated with gender (p<0.01), smoking cessation (p<0.05), and quantity of painkiller intake (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: RTW after PS surgery is influenced by factors that can be influenced prior to surgery, leading to better economic results for patients and employers as well as society.

PAX2 regulates ADAM10 expression and mediates anchorage-independent cell growth of melanoma cells.

PAX transcription factors play an important role during development and carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated PAX2 protein levels in melanocytes and melanoma cells by Western Blot and immunofluorescence analysis and characterized the role of PAX2 in the pathogenesis of melanoma. In vitro we found weak PAX2 protein expression in keratinocytes and melanocytes. Compared to melanocytes increased PAX2 protein levels were detectable in melanoma cell lines. Interestingly, in tissue sections of melanoma patients nuclear PAX2 expression strongly correlated with nuclear atypia and the degree of prominent nucleoli, indicating an association of PAX2 with a more atypical cellular phenotype. In addition, with chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, PAX2 overexpression and PAX2 siRNA we present compelling evidence that PAX2 can regulate ADAM10 expression, a metalloproteinase known to play important roles in melanoma metastasis. In human tissue samples we found co-expression of PAX2 and ADAM10 in melanocytes of benign nevi and in melanoma cells of patients with malignant melanoma. Importantly, the downregulation of PAX2 by specific siRNA inhibited the anchorage independent cell growth and decreased the migratory and invasive capacity of melanoma cells. Furthermore, the downregulation of PAX2 abrogated the chemoresistance of melanoma cells against cisplatin, indicating that PAX2 expression mediates cell survival and plays important roles during melanoma progression.