Skin cancer screening and primary prevention: facts and controversies.

Skin cancer is both common and responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Opportunities for both primary and secondary prevention are available to both dermatologists and non-dermatologists. Counseling selected patients about ultraviolet avoidance and proper use of sunscreens is recommended.

US-National Institutes of Health-funded research for cutaneous wounds in 2012.

Chronic cutaneous wounds are a major burden on patients, healthcare providers, and the US healthcare system. This study, carried out in part by the Wound Healing Society's Government Regulatory Committee, aimed to evaluate the current state of National Institutes of Health funding of cutaneous wound healing-related research projects. National Institutes of Health Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures & Results system was used to identify wound healing projects funded by the National Institutes of Health in the 2012 fiscal year.

Unilateral livedoid vasculopathy associated with involutional phase of cutaneous infantile hemangioma: the connection to coagulation disorders.

Livedoid vasculopathy is a bilateral painful and recurrent cutaneous ulcerative disorder of the legs that leads to atrophie blanche, atrophic white-porcelain scars, and is associated with disorders of fibrinolysis and/or coagulation. We present a young boy with an association between livedoid vasculopathy in the area of a previous involuted cutaneous hemangioma. We found 4 uncommon abnormalities associated with thrombo-occlusive events: heterozygous 20210 A→G genotype of prothrombin, reduced activity of anticoagulation proteins C and S, and elevated lipoprotein (a).

Livedoid vasculopathy: an in-depth analysis using a modified Delphi approach.

Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) is a noninflammatory thrombotic condition presenting in a primary idiopathic or secondary subtype associated with abnormal coagulation factors. Different from atrophie blanche (AB), which is a clinical manifestation of certain scars, LV may have AB in combination with recurrent livedo reticularis with chronic and painful skin ulcers particularly around the ankle region, and at the back of the feet. Histology is characterized by segmental hyalinizing changes at the subintimal region of small dermal vessels with thrombotic occlusions.

Topical and biologic therapies for diabetic foot ulcers.

Chronic DFUs are a growing global health concern due to the implied high rates of morbidity and mortality. Standard-of-care modalities sometimes are not sufficient for some recalcitrant ulcers. The use of adjuvant topical therapies including advanced dressings and biologic therapies should be considered in patients whose DFU did not reduce in size after receiving standard care for a period of 4 weeks.

Durability of healing from spray-applied cell therapy with human allogeneic fibroblasts and keratinocytes for the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers: a 6-month follow-up.

Patients who participated in a Phase 2 trial of HP802-247 for venous leg ulcers were invited to participate in this 24-week follow-up study to assess the durability of healing, document additional ulcer closures, and evaluate posttreatment safety. Consent was given by 90% (206/228), with 80% (183/228) completing all visits. Blinding was retained from the previous trial in which subjects had been randomized to vehicle or one of four cell therapy regimens.

Angioinvasive lymphomatoid papulosis: another case of a newly described variant.

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a chronic recurrent lymphoproliferative disorder characterized clinically by self-regressing cutaneous lesions. Histologically, it is recognized by clusters of CD30 atypical lymphocytes in the background of mixed inflammatory infiltrate. It has been classified as type A, B, C, and D.

Maintenance of Certification in dermatology: requirements for diplomates.

Since 2006, after completing a cognitive certifying or recertifying examination, dermatologists are automatically enrolled into Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and can access a personalized electronic table (at www.abderm.org) that presents the requirements over the 10-year cycle.

Maintenance of Certification in dermatology: what we know, what we don't.

Participation in Maintenance of Certification is a reality for the majority of board-certified physicians in the United States. It consists of 4 parts that focus the attention of participants on knowledge assessment, practice performance, communication skills, and patient safety. This continuing medical education article reviews the development and possible future of the program, data regarding Maintenance of Certification, what is currently not known about Maintenance of Certification, and how to navigate the requirements for dermatologists.

The influence of patient and wound variables on healing of venous leg ulcers in a randomized controlled trial of growth-arrested allogeneic keratinocytes and fibroblasts.

Objective: To examine patient and wound variables presumed to influence healing outcomes in the context of therapeutic trials for chronic venous leg ulcers.

Methods: This double-blind, vehicle-controlled study was conducted with randomized assignment to one of four cell therapy dose groups (n = 46, 43, 44, 45) or vehicle control (n = 50). A 2-week run-in period was used to exclude rapid healers and those with infection or uncontrolled edema.

Wound biofilms: lessons learned from oral biofilms.

Biofilms play an important role in the development and pathogenesis of many chronic infections. Oral biofilms, more commonly known as dental plaque, are a primary cause of oral diseases including caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Oral biofilms are commonly studied as model biofilm systems as they are easily accessible; thus, biofilm research in oral diseases is advanced with details of biofilm formation and bacterial interactions being well elucidated.

Quality assessment of tissue specimens for studies of diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) represent an important clinical problem resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Ongoing translational research studies strive to better understand molecular/cellular basis of DFU pathology that may lead to identification of novel treatment protocols. Tissue at the non-healing wound edge has been identified as one of major contributors to the DFU pathophysiology that provides important tool for translational and clinical investigations.