Significance of the small subtelomeric area of chromosome 1 (1p36.3) in the progression of malignant melanoma: FISH deletion screening with YAC DNA probes.

The short arm of chromosome 1 (1p), especially the subtelomeric region of 1p36, is a common site for abnormalities in malignant melanoma of the skin. In a recent study nodular melanomas displayed deletions of 1p36 in an augmented percentage of cases. To evaluate the dimension of these deletions and to study their significance for the progression of malignant melanoma we analyzed seven melanoma cell lines, 32 primary tumors, and 32 metastatic tumors by fluorescence in situ hybridization with the DNA probe D1Z2 in 1p36.3 and eight YAC DNA probes hybridizing to 1p36, 1p32, 1p31, and 1p21. All cell lines, 91% of the metastatic tumors and 63% of nodular melanomas showed a deletion of 1p36.3. In the YAC hybridization experiments, the most frequent deletions were found in 1p36 in all cell lines, in 13% of nodular melanoma, and in 44% of metastatic tumors. Deletions in 1p36 were mostly confined to a rather small area near the locus D1Z2. The frequent occurrence of this deletion in melanomas with a high metastatic potential and the abundant accumulation of this deletion in metastasis point to genes located on 1p36, which might be of significance for the metastatic capability of malignant melanoma.

Differences in chromosomal aberrations between nodular and superficial spreading malignant melanoma detected by interphase cytogenetics.

At present, little information is available on specific chromosomal aberrations in malignant melanomas of different subtypes and different growth behaviors. Therefore, we have applied fluorescence in situ hybridization on isolated interphase cells from paraffin sections of 79 primary tumors of malignant melanomas: 47 nodular melanomas and 32 superficial spreading melanomas in various stages. We used centromeric probes for the chromosomes 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, X, and Y and a midisatellite probe localized in 1p36. The number of chromosomal aberrations and the ploidy of the cells rose with the tumor stage in both subtypes, although in superficial spreading melanomas, fewer chromosomal abnormalities were detectable than in nodular melanomas. A deletion in 1p36 could only be found in nodular melanomas (mostly in higher tumor stages), not in superficial spreading melanomas. Our results show that the different histologic subtypes of malignant melanoma of the skin differ also in their chromosomal aberrations. In addition, it seems that there may be a correlation between the growth characteristics and putative tumor suppressor genes on 1p36.

An increased frequency of numerical chromosomal abnormalities and 1p36 deletions in isolated cells from paraffin sections of malignant melanomas by means of interphase cytogenetics.

At present, little information is available on tumor and stage-specific chromosomal aberrations in malignant melanoma. Therefore, we applied fluorescence in situ hybridization on isolated interphase cells from paraffin sections of 25 cases of malignant melanomas, comprising 17 primary tumors (PTs) and 8 metastases (MTs) in various anatomical sites. We used centromeric probes for chromosomes 1, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, X, and Y and a midisatellite probe localized in 1p36. Four of the PTs and 5 of the MTs showed polyploidy for all applied probes. The most frequent type of numerical aberration was an overrepresentation of chromosomes 1 (3 PTs, 5 MTs) and 7 (3 PTs, 1 MT), and an underrepresentation of chromosomes 9 (3 PTs) and 10 (6 PTs, 5 MTs). The Y chromosome was lost in all male tumors. In addition, we observed monosomy 11, 12, 15, 17 or 18, and trisomy 12 or 17. Only 1 PT showed no aberrations for any applied DNA probe. A deletion in the near-telomeric region of 1p36 was found surprisingly often (9 PTs, 7 MTs). Our results suggest that the loss of gene(s) in this region is an important event in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma of the skin.

Case report: detection of parvovirus B19 in a skin biopsy of a patient with erythema infectiosum.

We report the findings on a skin biopsy taken from a child acutely infected with parvovirus B19 showing the typical exanthematous rash. By indirect immunofluorescence with a monoclonal antibody to B19, viral capsid proteins were detected in epidermal cells localized mainly in the stratum basale. Additionally, B19 DNA was detected in epidermal cells of the stratum basale by in situ hybridization using a Dig-labelled B19 DNA probe. The detection of viral capsid proteins and viral DNA suggests the presence of complete viral particles. It is therefore concluded that B19 plays a direct role in the formation of the exanthematous rash in erythema infection.

[Diagnostic value of skin tests in children with bronchial asthma and/or atopic eczema]. / Zum diagnostischen Wert von Hauttestungen bei Kindern mit Asthma bronchiale und/oder atopischem Ekzem.

Positive test results with relevance to the patients' history resp. illness' development were seen in all age groups of patients suffering from asthma. In cases with atopic dermatitis, but without asthma or bronchitis, positive test reactions were not relevant; in these cases hyperreagibility of the skin is supposed. The results confirmed that cutaneous testing is indicated in children suffering from asthma, even in those cases with associated atopic dermatitis provided that testing is carried out in lesion-free skin-area and beyond exacerbation of eczema. Test-results should be interpreted only with regard to the patients' history, clinical picture and its development.

[Dermatophyte infections caused by Microsporum canis and Microsporum audouinii in the Greifswald area]. / Dermatophytosen durch Microsporum canis und Microsporum audouinii in der Umgebung Greifswalds.

Report of serial diseases of dermatophytoses caused by M. canis (5 patients) and M. audouinii (9 patients). Two cats and a dog were the infective source of M. canis-infection. M. audouinii-infection was stated in a children ward; here the infective source had not been detected. Remarkable are the identical morphological lesions of tinea capitis resp. corporis and the affections of adults in the two groups of patients. Griseofulvin therapy and additional veterinary hygienical treatment in case of M. canis-infection the two endemis were dissipated in few weeks.

[Contact eczema caused by pesticides in East Germany]. / Kontaktekzem durch Pestizide in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik.

19 allergic, occupational contact eczemas and 1 irrative contact dermatitis caused by pesticides from 1985-86 in the GDR are described. The 20 casuistic reports are supplemented with data concerning age, sex, exposure time, patch-test results, occupation site and dermatological details. The following pesticides were determined: maneb, zineb, mancozeb, propineb, thiram, demephion, dimethoate, propachlor, metham-Na, benomyl, chloralhydrate with chloralmethylhalbacetal, carbaryl, dinocap captan, phenyl-Hg-acetate and trichlodinitrobenzene. Each individual case adhered to the recommended test concentration for skin tests. Contact eczemas brought about by the pesticides demephion and trichlordinitrobenzene have not yet to be described. Those working in gardening seem to be particularly prone.

[The 100th birthday of Walther Schönfeld: his contribution to the Greifswald University Dermatology Clinic (1920-1935) as the first chairman of dermatology and venereology]. / Zum 100. Geburtstag Walther Schönfelds: Sein Wirken an der Universitäts-Hautklinik Greifswald (1920-1935) als erster Ordinarius für Dermatologie und Venerologie.

Walther Sch+onfeld (1888-1977) was the first professor in ordinary for dermatology and venereology in Greifswald. In this report his merits on dermatology and medical history in Greifswald are pointed out.