Incidence of BRAF mutations in cutaneous melanoma: histopathological and molecular analysis of a Ukrainian population

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the incidence of BRAF mutation in cutaneous melanoma in the Ukrainian population with respect to clinical and histopathological data.

Materials & methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled 299 primary CM with known BRAF status assessed by RT-PCR.

Results

The overall BRAF mutation rate was 56.5% in CM and demonstrated a link with the younger age (p < 0.001), anatomical site (p < 0.001) and histological type of CM (p = 0.022). BRAF-positive CM possessed a slightly higher mitotic rate (p = 0.015) and Breslow thickness (p = 0.028) but did not relate to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Conclusion

The high rate of BRAF mutations in CM patients in the Ukrainian cohort was associated with superficial spreading histology, higher depth of invasion and proliferation.

Ensuring the continuity of medical care at the stage of patients rehabilitation

The problems of ensuring continuity of medical care are considered. Information and cybernetic issues of continuity, in particular information standards, resource management systems of a medical institution, are analyzed. It emphasizes the need to develop standards for the continuity of care. It is concluded that long-term continuity of medical measures in rehabilitation is one of the main components of the effectiveness of medical care. Further qualitative research is needed, including some types of rehabilitation services (e. g. specialized medical care). At the same time the most important factors for ensuring continuity at the current stage of medicine development are the use of ontologies, representing the most general conceptual concepts of the modeled field of medicine, completely abstracted from specific models of knowledge representation and practical implementation. It is also shown that the specification of the patient management model in the rehabilitation period of treatment is provided by a wide application of telemedicine consultations. The index of continuity of medical aid is also proposed. It represents a simple additive function that reflects the change in the probability of an unfavorable outcome.