Evaluation of histopathological changes in control biopsies which taken 48 sessions after NBUVB phototherapy for early-stage mycosis fungoides

A Systematic Approach to the Cutaneous Lymphoid Infiltrates: A Clinical, Morphologic, and Immunophenotypic Evaluation

CONTEXT.—

The evaluation of cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates, both neoplastic and inflammatory, occurs very frequently in routine dermatopathologic examination and consultation practices. The "tough" cutaneous lymphoid infiltrate is feared by many pathologists; skin biopsies are relatively small, whereas diagnostic possibilities are relatively broad. It is true that cutaneous lymphomas can be difficult to diagnose and that in many circumstances multiple biopsies are required to establish a correct diagnostic interpretation. As a reminder, one should understand that low-grade cutaneous lymphomas are indolent disorders that usually linger for decades and that therapy does not result in disease cure. It is also important to remember that in most circumstances, those patients will die from another process that is completely unrelated to a diagnosis of skin lymphoma (even in the absence of specific therapy).

OBJECTIVE.—

To use a clinicopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular approach in the evaluation of common lymphocytic infiltrates.

DATA SOURCES.—

An in-depth analysis of updated literature in the field of cutaneous lymphomas was done, with particular emphasis on updated terminology from the most recent World Health Organization classification of skin and hematologic tumors.

CONCLUSIONS.—

A diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates can be adequately approached using a systematic scheme following the proposed ABCDE system. Overall, cutaneous T- and B-cell lymphomas are rare and "reactive" infiltrates are more common. Evaluation of lymphoid proliferations should start with a good sense of knowledge of the clinical presentation of the lesions, the clinical differential considerations, and a conscientious and appropriate use of immunohistochemistry and molecular tools.

A rapid ultrasound particle agglutination method for HIV antibody detection: Comparison with conventional rapid HIV tests

We present the results of the feasibility and preliminary studies on analytical performance of a rapid test for detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies in human serum or plasma that is an important advance in detecting HIV infection. Current methods for rapid testing of antibodies against HIV are qualitative and exhibit poor sensitivity (limit of detection). In this paper, we describe an ultrasound particle agglutination (UPA) method that leads to a significant increase of the sensitivity of conventional latex agglutination tests for HIV antibody detection in human serum or plasma. The UPA method is based on the use of: 1) a dual mode ultrasound, wherein a first single-frequency mode is used to accelerate the latex agglutination process, and then a second swept-frequency mode of sonication is used to disintegrate non-specifically bound aggregates; and 2) a numerical assessment of results of the agglutination process. The numerical assessment is carried out by optical detection and analysis of moving patterns in the resonator cell during the swept-frequency mode. The single-step UPA method is rapid and more sensitive than the three commercial rapid HIV test kits analyzed in the study: analytical sensitivity of the new UPA method was found to be 510-, 115-, and 80-fold higher than that for Capillus™, Multispot™ and Uni-Gold™ Recombigen HIV antibody rapid test kits, respectively. The newly developed UPA method opens up additional possibilities for detection of a number of clinically significant markers in point-of-care settings.