No seroconversion in a retrospective study analyzing QuantiFERON TB-gold testing in pediatric psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa patients taking biologic therapy at an academic center in New York City.

Guidelines are inconsistent regarding annual QuantiFERON® TB Gold (QFT) tests in children taking biologics for dermatological conditions, and there is limited research on seroconversion, especially in regions with high tuberculosis (TB) prevalence. A retrospective review of pediatric patients taking biologic treatment for psoriasis or hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) who had one baseline and at least one follow-up QFT test was conducted to assess for seroconversion during treatment. Thirty-two patients were included, with no instances of seroconversion.

A case of rapid fingernail growth associated with nail psoriasis: A case report.

Overall, 80%-90% of patients with psoriasis will have nail involvement at some point during their lifetime, and nail changes, on average, are more common in patients with longer disease duration. Since there is accelerated keratinocyte proliferation and cell turnover in cutaneous psoriasis plaques compared to normal skin, it has been hypothesized that psoriasis increases nail growth rate. We describe a case of a 44-year-old male with a 10-year history of cutaneous and nail psoriasis, with acceleration in nail growth rate for 2 years prior to presentation.

Knead a Hand? Use of a Portable Massager to Reduce Patient Pain and Anxiety During Nail Surgery.

Pain and anxiety are common in patients undergoing nail surgery, and injection of local anesthetic is the most uncomfortable part of the procedure. Using a portable massager on the ipsilateral limb during nail injection can reduce pain and decrease patient anxiety. It is a simple and safe way to improve the patient experience during nail surgery.

Adult and Pediatric Nail Unit Melanoma: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Nail unit melanoma (NUM) is an uncommon form of melanoma and is often diagnosed at later stages. Approximately two-thirds of NUMs are present clinically as longitudinal melanonychia, but longitudinal melanonychia has a broad differential diagnosis. Clinical examination and dermoscopy are valuable for identifying nail findings concerning malignancy, but a biopsy with histopathology is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of NUM.

Is Clear Always Clear? Comparison of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) in Psoriasis Clearance.

Introduction: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) are the most widely used outcome measures in clinical trials of biologics to treat psoriasis; however, these outcome measures vary in both their reliability and validity. As newer biologics approach complete clearance of psoriasis, it becomes important to have standardized, reproducible forms of measure to accurately compare treatment efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of and reasons for variation between PASI and PGA scores used in clinical trials.