Application of electrochemotherapy in the management of primary and metastatic cutaneous malignant tumours: a systematic review and meta-analysis Electrochemotherapy is becoming a promising technique for the management of malignancies of skin and non-skin origin. The current review aims to clarify current knowledge on administration of electrochemotherapy for the treatment of various skin tumours. A systematic literature search was performed, up to the end of 2016, on studies in which the application of electrochemotherapy for management of primary and metastatic cutaneous malignant tumours was assessed. Having selected appropriate studies, pooled estimates of mean objective (complete) responses, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated to assess treatment efficacy. Finally, the main emerging themes from the papers were discussed in more detail. From 465 records identified through database searching, a total of 128 studies were screened, of which 70 were included for review. After a pooled analysis, the estimate for mean objective response following electrochemotherapy was 84.02% (95% CI: 80.08-87.61). Furthermore, the pooled estimate of objective treatment response of evaluated studies was 83.91% (95% CI: 79.15-88.17%) for bleomycin and 80.82% (95% CI: 66.00-92.36%) for cisplatin. Electrochemotherapy is a feasible, inexpensive, fast and easy technique to perform local treatment, regardless of tumour type, with a low level of adverse effects and patient discomfort. This method can be applied alone for patients with primary cutaneous lesions, or local or locoregional metastases, or as an additional treatment modality in patients with distant metastases.

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Background:Occupation related stress such as military parachuting has been considered to be a potentially important cardiovascular risk factor. The present study was performed to determine structural and functional changes of the left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV) and aorta by echocardiographic assessment of Iranian military parachutists compared to the normal population. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on the echocardiographic fi ndings of 95 military parachutists, compared to 92 healthy workers with normal range of activities and no previous history of heart and other diseases. Information regarding demographic and lifestyle were obtained from each subject. Arterial blood pressure (BP), weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured by standard methods. Then transthoracic echocardiography was performed for two groups. Results: Systolic BP, diastolic BP, LV end systolic diameter, septal wall thickness, posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass (LVM), LVM index, ascending aorta systolic and diastolic diameter and aortic stiffness were signifi cantly higher in parachutists whereas, pulse pressure, LV ejection fraction, RV tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, aortic distensibility and pulmonary acceleration time were signifi cantly lower in parachutists. Conclusion: War-related stressors and high intensity physical activities are associated with cardiac events and morphologic and functional alteration. Echocardiographic evaluations could clarify these differences.

Hidradenitis suppurativa has a substantial negative effect on quality of life of affected persons. Diagnosis is based mainly on clinical examination. However, physical examination alone might underestimate disease severity compared with imaging modalities. We report here the application of non-contrast-enhanced 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging using surface-coil and sonography for assessment of hidradenitis suppurativa lesions based on topographic assessment of skin lesions. In addition, we review the literature regarding the application of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in hidradenitis suppurativa.