Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in notalgia paresthetica: Treatment outcomes in five patients.

Numerous treatment modalities have been tried with diverse results for pruritus due to notalgia paresthetica (NP). Corticosteroids suppress ectopic neural discharges from injured nerve fibers and also have short-lived suppressive effect on transmission in normal C-fibers. Herein, we evaluated the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of NP.

Historical background of itch.

Itch as a disease, and especially as a symptom, was the object of medical and scientific curiosity for centuries. The reluctance of historians to focus on the history of itch relates to its nature as a subjective symptom. After all, how can historians have known what itch really felt like in previous centuries? Since the establishment of dermatology as an independent discipline of medicine in the middle of the nineteenth century, itch has become a subject of investigation in its own right.

Systemic kappa opioid receptor agonists in the treatment of chronic pruritus: a literature review.

Chronic pruritus is frequently refractory to currently available treatments. Studies suggest that pruritus may arise from an imbalance of the mu- and kappa-opioid receptor system activity in either the skin or the central nervous system. Stimulation of kappa-opioid receptors by their agonists inhibits pruritus in both animals and humans.

Topical imiquimod or fluorouracil therapy for basal and squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review.

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review to determine clearance rates and adverse effects of topical imiquimod or fluorouracil therapy in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers such as basal (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and to develop recommendations for the use of topical imiquimod or fluorouracil to treat BCC and SCC.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, and Cochrane databases.

Study Selection: Prospective, retrospective, and case studies in English containing a minimum of 4 subjects and a 6-month follow-up or posttreatment histologic evaluation.

Fate of manuscripts declined by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Background: Submissions to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) undergo a rigorous peer-review process. However, little is known regarding the fate of manuscripts declined by the JAAD.

Objective: We sought to: (1) determine the proportion of manuscripts declined by the JAAD that are subsequently published elsewhere; (2) identify the journals in which they were published; and (3) study whether the authors of declined manuscripts adopted in their final publications the changes suggested by the JAAD reviewers.

Clinical classification of itch: a position paper of the International Forum for the Study of Itch.

Chronic itch is a common and distressing symptom that arises from a variety of skin conditions and systemic diseases. Despite this, there is no clinically based classification of pruritic diseases to assist in the diagnosis and cost-effective medical care of patients with pruritus. The proposed classification focuses on clinical signs and distinguishes between diseases with and without primary or secondary skin lesions.

Noxious heat and scratching decrease histamine-induced itch and skin blood flow.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of thermal stimuli or distal scratching on skin blood flow and histamine-induced itch in healthy volunteers. Twenty-one healthy volunteers participated in the study. Baseline measurements of skin blood flow were obtained on the flexor aspect of the forearm.

Itch and pruritus: what are they, and how should itches be classified?

Itch and pruritus are two terms for the same thing. In this essay I will argue that casting about for a distinction between them creates only confusion. Once that matter is settled, it is still necessary to come up with a clinical classification for itches of different types.

Willan's itch and other causes of pruritus in the elderly.

Itch in the elderly presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. A thorough history, review of systems, and physical examination are critical to determining its cause. Examination of the skin may be misleading.

Brachioradial pruritus: cervical spine disease and neurogenic/neuropathic [corrected] pruritus.

Background: The main cause of brachioradial pruritus (BRP) is not known but there is evidence to suggest that BRP may arise in the nervous system. Cervical spine disease may be an important contributing factor.

Objective: Our aim was to determine whether spine pathology is associated with BRP.