Diagnostic accuracy of reflectance confocal microscopy using VivaScope for detecting and monitoring skin lesions: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Patients with suspicious skin lesions are assessed clinically with/without dermoscopy, and lesions still considered suspicious are then surgically removed or have the diagnosis confirmed by a punch biopsy. AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the in vivo VivaScope© reflective confocal microscopy (RCM) system, a noninvasive technology designed to provide a more accurate presurgical diagnosis, leading to fewer biopsies of benign lesions, or to provide greater accuracy for lesion margins. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify studies evaluating dermoscopy plus RCM, or RCM alone, with histopathology as the reference test. Clinical experts were also contacted for information on unpublished studies. RESULTS: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria but were too heterogeneous to be combined by meta-analysis. Results indicated that VivaScope subsequent to dermoscopy may improve diagnostic accuracy of malignant melanomas compared with dermoscopy. For margin delineation, the data suggest that mapping using VivaScope 1500 for lentigo maligna (LM) and LM melanoma may improve accuracy in terms of complete excision of lesions compared with dermoscopically determined margins. For basal cell carcinoma, the limited data show high diagnostic accuracy with both VivaScope 1500 and VivaScope 3000. Evidence on the effectiveness of VivaScope in diagnosing cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas was very limited. CONCLUSION: The use of VivaScope 1500 following dermoscopy may improve patient care and management of suspicious skin lesions, although the generalizability of these results to the UK population remains unclear.

Cochrane Airways Group reviews were prioritized for updating using a pragmatic approach.

OBJECTIVES: Cochrane Reviews should address the most important questions for guideline writers, clinicians, and the public. It is not possible to keep all reviews up-to-date, so the Cochrane Airways Group (CAG) decided to prioritize updates and new reviews without requesting additional resources. The aim of the objective was to develop pragmatic and transparent prioritization techniques to identify 25 to 35 high-priority updates from a total of 270 CAG Reviews and become more selective over which new reviews we publish. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We used elements from existing prioritization processes, including existing health care uncertainties, expert opinion, and a decision tool. We did not conduct a full face-to-face workshop or an iterative group decision-making process. RESULTS: We prioritized 30 reviews in need of updating and aimed to update these within 2 years. Within the first 18 months, nine of these have been published. CONCLUSION: A pragmatic approach to prioritization can indicate priority reviews without an excessive drain on time and resources. The steps provide us with better control over the reviews in our scope and can be built on in the future.

[Hip dysplasia and spinal osteochondritis (Scheuermann's disease) in a girl with type II manifesting collagenopathy]. / Hüftdysplasie und Morbus Scheuermann bei einem Mädchen mit Typ-II-Kollagenopathie.

OBJECTIVES: This paper describes the natural course of irritable hip pain associated with spinal rigidity and pain in the thoracic region with subsequent development of mild kyphosis in a girl with a mutation in the collagen 2 alpha 1 gene (type II collagenopathy). METHODS: Phenotypic and genotypic characterization was carried out in a 14-year-old girl to identify the underlying pathology of severe irritable hip pain associated with thoracic spinal rigidity and pain. Detailed clinical examination, skeletal survey and genetic testing were performed accordingly. Bernese periacetabular osteotomy was used to alleviate pain and to improve the anatomical correlation of the acetabular and femoral heads. RESULTS: Short stature associated with acetabulo-femoral dysplasia, spinal osteochondritis (Scheuermann's disease) and mild thoracic kyphosis were the most prominent abnormalities. Genetic analysis showed a heterozygous mutation in the collagen type II gene (COL2A1-c.1636G>A, p. G546S). A Bernese periacetabular osteotomy was performed to improve the clinical status of the patient. There was significant improvement in the extrusion index, the acetabular index and the lateral center-edge angle. CONCLUSIONS: Hip dysplasia and Scheuermann's osteochondritis have never been reported in connection with a mutation in COL2A1 (collagenopathy type II). Awareness is needed for careful phenotypic and genotypic characterization in patients with irritable hip pain and spinal stiffness.

Heparin and structurally related polymers attenuate eotaxin-1 (CCL11) release from human airway smooth muscle.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The glycosaminoglycan heparin has anti-inflammatory activity and is exclusively found in mast cells, which are localized within airway smooth muscle (ASM) bundles of asthmatic airways. Interleukin (IL)-13 induces the production of multiple inflammatory mediators from ASM including the eosinophil chemoattractant chemokine, eotaxin-1. Heparin and related glycosaminoglycan polymers having structurally heterogeneous polysaccharide side chains that varied in molecular weight, sulphation and anionic charge were used to identify features of the heparin molecule linked to anti-inflammatory activity. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Cultured human ASM cells were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-13 in the absence or presence of heparin and related polymers. Eotaxin-1 was quantified using chemokine antibody arrays and ELISA. KEY RESULTS: Unfractionated heparin attenuated IL-13-dependent eotaxin-1 production and this effect was reproduced with low molecular weight heparins (3 and 6 kDa), demonstrating a minimum activity fragment of at least 3 kDa. N-desulphated, 20% re-N-acetylated heparin (anticoagulant) was ineffective against IL-13-dependent eotaxin-1 production compared with 90% re-N-acetylated (anticoagulant) or O-desulphated (non-anticoagulant) heparin, suggesting a requirement for N-sulphation independent of anticoagulant activity. Other sulphated molecules with variable anionic charge and molecular weight exceeding 3 kDa (dextran sulphate, fucoidan, chondroitin sulphate B) inhibited IL-13-stimulated eotaxin-1 release to varying degrees. However, non-sulphated dextran had no effect. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of IL-13-dependent eotaxin-1 release by heparin involved but did not depend upon sulphation, though loss of N-sulphation reduced the attenuating activity, which could be restored by N-acetylation. This anti-inflammatory effect was also partially dependent on anionic charge, but independent of molecular size above 3 kDa and the anticoagulant action of heparin.