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On the basis of large cardiovascular clinical trials of lipid-lowering agents that showed a considerable decrease in the incidence of primary melanomas in the active agent arm, we have carried out a randomized, double-blind clinical trial examining the impact of lovastatin on various biomarkers of melanoma pathogenesis. Subjects with at least two clinically atypical nevi were randomized to receive oral lovastatin or placebo for a 6-month period. Clinical, histopathologic, and molecular biomarkers were evaluated for change in the two groups. Eighty subjects were randomized, evaluable, and included in the analyses. Lovastatin showed no benefit in comparison with placebo in the primary endpoint of decreasing the level of histopathologic atypia, nor in any of the secondary endpoints of decreasing clinical atypia, impact on nevus number, nor in showing significant changes in any of the molecular biomarkers. There were no significant differences in adverse event profiles for lovastatin compared with placebo. The lovastatin arm did show a significant and considerable decrease in total serum cholesterol and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels compared with placebo, an expected result. This finding bolsters confidence in subject compliance. Given the results of this trial, it is concluded that if lovastatin were to lower the incidence of melanoma, it would appear not to be doing so by reversing atypia of precursor atypical nevi over the 6-month time frame studied. Further research into the pathogenesis of melanoma and in other potential chemopreventive agents is needed. ©2014 AACR.

Purpose: Skin disease is the most common clinically important manifestation of onchocerciasis. Ivermectin, a newly available drug, is well tolerated and effective in Onchocerca volvulus infection. However, little information is available regarding its effect on onchocercal skin disease. The purpose of this study was to examine, in patients with well-characterized onchodermatitis, the effect of a single dose of ivermectin.Subjects and Methods: Twenty-one persons with severe onchodermatitis were followed over a 6-month period. In order to evaluate the effect of ivermectin on their skin lesions, photographic transparencies were made before treatment and at 3 and 6 months after treatment. These were then evaluated in a blinded fashion.Results: Following a single dose of 150 micrograms/kg, there was a significant improvement in dermatitis in the first 3 months after treatment. All 14 persons with the worst skin disease showed improvement. The drug had no demonstrable effect on depigmented lesions over the period of observation. Treatment was well tolerated.Conclusion: Single-dose ivermectin shows promise as the first acceptable treatment for severe onchocercal dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) on accessory function of human blood adherent mononuclear cells (ADH) for antigen and mitogen-induced responses, and production by ADH of the amplifying cytokine interleukin I (lL-1) were examined. Responder lymphocytes were rendered accessory cell dependent by treatment of nunadherent cells with OKIal+comptenient. UV-B depressed accessory function of ADH in a dose-dependent manner. UV-B at 5 ml/cm² decreased accessor) function of 2 × 104 ADH for tetanus toxoid-induced responses (measured as incorporation of ³H-thymidine) by 84% (P<0.001, n =6) and phytohaemagglutinin-induced responses 91% (P<0.001. n = 4). UV-B also decreased accessory activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells but not Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells for a PPD-reactive T cell line. Viability was approximately 90% 0-72 h after exposure of ADH to 5 mJ/cm² of UV-B. Interleukin I (IL-1) activity of supernatants of ADH was assayed on C3H/HeJ mouse thymocytes. Pretreatment of ADH with 5 mJ/cm- UV-B decreased lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IL-1 activity from 169±34 (mean U/ml±s.e.) to4±1 (P<0.01, n = 4). Lysates of UV-B irradiated, LPS-stimulated ADH had no discernible IL-1 activity. Addition of I L-l partially restored accessory activity of UV-B irradiated ADH for lymphocyte responses to TT. Exposure of ADH to TT or PHA for 30 min before irradiation blocked the inhibitory effect of UV-B on accessory activity. Thus, low doses of UV-B are deleterious to accessory function and to production of lL-1 by ADH. Interference with production of cytokines and with initial interactions of accessory ceils with antigen and mitogen may be critical to the effects of UV-B on immunoregulatory function of ADH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here the clinical and immunological findings in two patients with molluscum contagiosum poxvirus infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These cases support earlier evidence that the molluscum contagiosum virus may act as an opportunistic pathogen. There is now evidence that members of all five families of double stranded DNA-containing human viruses have been associated with unusual clinical manifestations in AIDS patients, and the significance of DNA virus infections in patients with AIDS is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]