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The Ink4a/Arf (CDKN2a) locus encodes two proteins that regulate two of the most important tumor suppressor pathways represented by p53 and Rb.(1) Loss of either p16(INK4a) or p19(ARF) was recently reported to reduce the ability of mouse cells to repair UV-induced DNA damage and to induce a UV-mutator phenotype. This observation was independent of cell cycle effects incurred by either p16(INK4a) and/or p19(ARF) loss, as it was demonstrable in unirradiated cells using UV-treated DNA. We suggest that this might explain why germ line mutations of INK4a/ARF predispose mainly to malignant melanoma, a UV-induced skin cancer, and provides a molecular explanation for the link between melanomagenesis and impaired DNA repair. It also further demonstrates that regulation of cell cycle check points and DNA repair in response to genomic insults, such as ultraviolet irradiation are intricately interwoven processes. Differences in the apoptotic response to ultraviolet light between melanocytes and keratinocytes might explain why INK4a/ARF mutations predispose to malignant melanoma, but not to keratinocyte-derived skin cancers.

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Objective: To collect data on the current reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) fellowship interview process so that it may be improved in the future. Design: Web-based cross-sectional survey. In addition, fellowship program directors and coordinators were contacted by e-mail. Setting: Survey data were collected after completion of the 2018 REI fellowship interview season. Patient(s): Not applicable. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Number of days used for interviews, missed opportunities to interview, frequency of travel to the same city, average money spent, recommendations for how the interview process could be improved. Result(s): There were 44 survey respondents. The mean number of interviews attended was 12.6 (range, 1-22). On average 13.4 (0-30) days off work were used to interview. About 68.1% (n ¼ 30) missed an opportunity to interview at a program they were interested in. The most common reasons were the interview date was the same day as another interview, could not attend due to geographic location, and cost was too high. About 72% (n ¼ 31) traveled to the same city more than once for an interview. The average cost per interview was $478