Nation-wide surveillance of tick (Acari: Ixodidae) infestations of humans in Singapore.

Ticks are an increasingly important threat to public health in Southeast Asia, due to the role of many tick species as parasites of humans and as vectors of zoonotic pathogens. Singapore is a densely populated Southeast Asian nation with a rich tick fauna and a significant mosaic of city and greenspace. However, apart from occasional case reports, the human-biting ticks in Singapore have received little attention from researchers.

Autologous Fascia Nerve Wrap in a Rodent Primary Epineurial Repair Model and Preliminary Case Series.

Background: Nerve wraps composed of various autologous and bioengineered materials have been used to bolster nerve repair sites. In this study, we describe the novel use of autologous fascia nerve wraps (AFNW) as an adjunct to epineurial repair and evaluate their effect on inflammatory cytokine expression, intraneural collagen deposition and end-organ reinnervation in rats and use of AFNW in a patient case series.

Methods: Lewis rats received sciatic transection with repair either with or without AFNW, sciatic-to-common peroneal nerve transfer with or without AFNW, or sham surgery (n=14/group).

Patterns of reconstruction following margin-controlled surgery for melanoma of the lentigo maligna type of the head and neck.

Melanoma of the lentigo maligna (LM) type is most commonly located on the head and neck region. This subtype of melanoma poses surgical challenges due to its location on anatomically sensitive areas and frequent presence of subclinical extension. To analyze the reconstruction patterns of LM patients undergoing margin-controlled surgery.

Genomic analysis of conjugative and chromosomally integrated mobile genetic elements in oral streptococci.

This study aimed to investigate the diversity of conjugative and chromosomally integrated mobile genetic elements (cciMGEs) within six oral streptococci species. cciMGEs, including integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) and integrative and mobilizable elements (IMEs), are stably maintained on the host cell chromosome; however, under certain conditions, they are able to excise, form extrachromosomal circles, and transfer via a conjugation apparatus. Many cciMGEs encode "cargo" functions that aid survival in new niches and evolve new antimicrobial resistance or virulence properties, whereas others have been shown to influence host bacterial physiology.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in skin of colour: a review.

Skin cancer generally causes disproportionate morbidity and mortality in people of colour. Although skin cancers occur most frequently in White individuals overall, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is an exception. CTCL is a rare skin cancer comprising several subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma; each contains a unique clinical profile that varies with race.

Growth Factors to Enhance Nerve Regeneration: Approaching Clinical Translation.

Following nerve injury, growth factors (GFs) are transiently upregulated in injured neurons, proliferating Schwann cells, and denervated muscle and skin. They act on these same cells and tissues to promote nerve regeneration and end-organ reinnervation. Consequently, much attention has been focused on developing GF-based therapeutics.

An improved synthesis of guanosine TNA phosphoramidite for oligonucleotide synthesis.

The chemical synthesis of guanosine nucleosides generates both the and regioisomers, which require careful separation to obtain the desired isomer. To preferentially obtain the isomer, a bulky diphenylcarbamoyl (DPC) group can be installed at the position of guanine. However, installation of the DPC group presents a challenging task due to low solubility of the -acetyl protected guanine.

Jet-injection assisted photodynamic therapy for superficial and nodular basal cell carcinoma: A pilot study.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical δ-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has efficacy in treating basal cell carcinoma (BCC) but is limited by incomplete penetration of ALA into the deeper dermis. This prospective open-label pilot trial investigated the safety and efficacy of photosensitizer jet injection for PDT (JI-PDT) for BCC treatment. It was performed with 15 patients (n = 15) with histologically confirmed, untreated, low-risk nodular BCCs at a single institution.

FACE-Q for Measuring Patient-reported Outcomes after Facial Skin Cancer Surgery: Cross-cultural Validation.

Background: Facial skin cancer and its surgical treatment can affect health-related quality of life. The FACE-Q Skin Cancer Module is a patient-reported outcome measure that measures different aspects of health-related quality of life and has recently been translated into Dutch. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the translated version in a Dutch cohort using modern psychometric measurement theory (Rasch).

The diagnostic difficulties of juvenile vulvar pemphigoid.

Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a rare autoimmune disease affecting mucosal surfaces. Pediatric cases are exceptionally rare, one subtype being vulvar pemphigoid. Juvenile vulvar pemphigoid can be challenging to diagnose due to its rarity and subtle initial symptoms.

Exploring trainee perspectives on barriers and facilitators in serious mental illness doctoral training.

Although there have been momentous and critical advancements in serious mental illness (SMI) psychology doctoral training models and competencies, there is still much systemic change needed to increase access to evidence-based SMI training for psychologists. In the last decade, there has been little to no growth or expansion of SMI training opportunities in clinical psychology doctoral programs in the United States, and psychologists are underrepresented in serving clients with SMI. As trainees and trainers committed to careers in SMI, the contributors aimed to identify barriers and facilitators throughout each stage of the SMI doctoral training pathway, including pregraduate school, graduate school, and internship to reflect critically on systemic issues that have impeded trainees from accessing the appropriate tools for SMI training.

Diversity in online resources for breast reconstruction: What do patients see?

Background: Online resources are commonly used by patients to obtain information on breast reconstruction. Despite the key role of these resources in patient decision-making, their visual content has not yet been evaluated. This study sought to 1) characterize the presence and content of visual aids in online patient education breast reconstruction resources and 2) determine if the women represented in these visual aids reflect the breast reconstruction patient population in the United States.

Family Planning Experiences and Challenges of Mohs Fellowship Trainees.

Background: There is a paucity of literature describing family planning challenges faced by Mohs fellows.

Objective: To characterize perceptions about and experiences with family planning, fertility, lactation, and parental leave and identify ways to support parental health and family planning for Mohs fellows.

Materials And Methods: A voluntary, anonymous survey was distributed to Mohs surgeons who recently completed fellowship.

Dupilumab-induced psoriasiform dermatitis in two pediatric cardiac transplant patients.

Dupilumab is an interleukin-4 receptor antagonist important in the treatment of refractory atopic dermatitis (AD), particularly among pediatric patients. Two boys with a history of AD and cardiac transplant who developed psoriasiform dermatitis in response to dupilumab therapy are reported. These patients paradoxically developed an immune-mediated adverse drug reaction despite taking systemic immunosuppressive agents.

Patient Satisfaction Following Primary Closure or Second Intention Healing After Conventional Nasal Skin Cancer Excision: A Cross-sectional Cohort Study.

Background: Nasal reconstruction after conventional surgical excision (CSE) of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) can be challenging. After excision and before the pathologic report, a simple reconstruction is favored. Yet, little is known about patient satisfaction after primary closure and second intention healing.

Quality of Life Before and After Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage Keratinocyte Carcinoma: A Longitudinal Analysis.

Purpose: Little is known about patient-reported quality of life (QOL) before and after radiotherapy (RT) for early keratinocyte carcinoma (KC). The present study tested the hypothesis that QOL is hypothesized to deteriorate soon after RT, with subsequent improvement of a magnitude similar to other KC treatments.

Methods And Materials: This observational study assessed prospectively collected longitudinal patient-reported QOL data at a single center.

Quantitative Benefit of Inpatient Dermatology Services on Hospital Length of Stay in an Academic Hospital.

Background: Dermatologic disease has been shown to have high rates of diagnostic and treatment discordance between dermatologists and non-specialists. Inpatient dermatology consultative services have the potential to improve patient care, but there is a paucity of data evaluating the quantitative effects of such services. This study aimed to evaluate the impact a newly established inpatient dermatology service had on quantitative patient care outcomes.