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Mucosal melanomas are rare and only a small portion bear BRAF mutations while cutaneous melanomas have a much higher prevalence and often harbor BRAF mutations. We present two cases in which, after a malignant melanocytic mucosal lesion with a BRAF mutation was found, the primary cutaneous source was identified and clonality confirmed between the lesions. In both cases, primary lesions occurred on the scalp, an often-overlooked site. Both lesions showed signs of regression implying that in due time these lesions could have been fully regressed and might never have been detected. In that case, the metastatic mucosal lesion would erroneously be identified as a BRAF-mutated mucosal melanoma. These cases give warrant; a careful dermatological inspection should be instigated when confronted with a BRAF-mutated mucosal melanoma. We hypothesize that some BRAF-mutated mucosal melanomas might actually represent metastases of regressed cutaneous melanomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Natural moisturizing factor (NMF) is used as genotypic and phenotypic biomarker in diagnostics. This study is a side-to-side comparison of two different methods to determine NMF in atopic dermatitis patients: Raman microspectroscopy and stratum corneum tape stripping followed by HPLC. Results:Measured NMF values were significantly correlated (R2 = .61;p < .0001), both methods demonstrated a concentration-depth dependence of NMF and reduced NMF levels in the carriers of filaggrin null mutations. Good agreement between measurements of left and right arms indicated robustness and good reproducibility of both methods. Conclusions:Both methods showed comparable performance, choice of method will rather be influenced by practical consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports on the results of a case study which showed the potential of the bacterium acidophilus as a treatment for drug-induced diarrhea. Sources of acidophilus; Description of diarrhea patients' condition.