BACKGROUND Telomerase plays a role in the immortalization of cells and carcinogenesis. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on whether human telomerase RNA (hTER) expression differs in nevi, atypical nevi and melanomas using polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol or in situ hybridization assays. The aim of this study was to evaluate human telomerase...

Intercellular signaling through the EGF receptor (EGFR) patterns the Drosophila egg. The TGF alpha-like ligand Gurken signals from the oocyte to the receptor in the overlying somatic follicle cells. We show that in the dorsal follicle cells this initial paracrine signaling event triggers an autocrine amplification by two other EGFR ligands, Spitz and Vein. Spitz only becomes an effective ligand...

The natural evolution of Spitz-Reed nevi is poorly understood, owing to the lack of studies investigating their longterm clinical evolution and the fact that most of the lesions are surgically excised. The surgical approach is indicated because of the clinical and histopathologic similarities with melanoma that may create diagnostic confusion in some cases. Hence nowadays, due to the low incide...

BACKGROUND In vivo confocal microscopy enables skin visualization with a quasihistopathologic resolution. OBJECTIVE We sought to describe confocal features in melanocytic lesions and to evaluate their diagnostic significance for melanoma (MM) identification. METHODS Thirty seven MMs, 49 acquired nevi, and 16 Spitz/Reed nevi, presenting equivocal clinicodermoscopic aspects were investigated ...