The Alopecia Areata Severity and Morbidity Index (ASAMI) Study: Results From a Global Expert Consensus Exercise on Determinants of Alopecia Areata Severity.

Importance: Current measures of alopecia areata (AA) severity, such as the Severity of Alopecia Tool score, do not adequately capture overall disease impact.

Objective: To explore factors associated with AA severity beyond scalp hair loss, and to support the development of the Alopecia Areata Severity and Morbidity Index (ASAMI).

Evidence Review: A total of 74 hair and scalp disorder specialists from multiple continents were invited to participate in an eDelphi project consisting of 3 survey rounds.

Biophotonic Therapy with Fluorescent Light Energy Decreases Facial Erythema, Improves Signs and Symptoms of Rosacea, and Increases Patient Satisfaction: A Postmarket Study.

Background: Rosacea is a difficult-to-manage chronic inflammatory skin condition reported to have a negative psychosocial impact on patients. Novel approaches are sought to target the many signs and symptoms of the condition while also improving the quality of life of patients.

Objective: We assessed the efficacy of the Kleresca biophotonic platform (KLOX Technologies Inc.

A Global eDelphi Exercise to Identify Core Domains and Domain Items for the Development of a Global Registry of Alopecia Areata Disease Severity and Treatment Safety (GRASS).

Importance: A recent expert consensus exercise emphasized the importance of developing a global network of patient registries for alopecia areata to redress the paucity of comparable, real-world data regarding the effectiveness and safety of existing and emerging therapies for alopecia areata.

Objective: To generate core domains and domain items for a global network of alopecia areata patient registries.

Evidence Review: Sixty-six participants, representing physicians, patient organizations, scientists, the pharmaceutical industry, and pharmacoeconomic experts, participated in a 3-round eDelphi process, culminating in a face-to-face meeting at the World Congress of Dermatology, Milan, Italy, June 14, 2019.

The Alopecia Areata Consensus of Experts (ACE) study part II: Results of an international expert opinion on diagnosis and laboratory evaluation for alopecia areata.

Background: We previously reported the Alopecia Areata Consensus of Experts study, which presented results of an international expert opinion on treatments for alopecia areata.

Objective: To report the results of the Alopecia Areata Consensus of Experts international expert opinion on diagnosis and laboratory evaluation for alopecia areata.

Methods: Fifty hair experts from 5 continents were invited to participate in a 3-round Delphi process.

The Alopecia Areata Consensus of Experts (ACE) study: Results of an international expert opinion on treatments for alopecia areata.

Background: A systematic review failed to identify any systemic therapy used in alopecia areata (AA) where use is supported by robust evidence from high-quality randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To produce an international consensus statement on the use and utility of various treatments for AA.

Methods: Fifty hair experts from 5 continents were invited to participate in a 3-round Delphi process.

Genome-wide association study in frontal fibrosing alopecia identifies four susceptibility loci including HLA-B*07:02.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a recently described inflammatory and scarring type of hair loss affecting almost exclusively women. Despite a dramatic recent increase in incidence the aetiopathogenesis of FFA remains unknown. We undertake genome-wide association studies in females from a UK cohort, comprising 844 cases and 3,760 controls, a Spanish cohort of 172 cases and 385 controls, and perform statistical meta-analysis.

The Relation of Arm Exercise Peak Heart Rate to Stress Test Results and Outcome.

Purpose: Arm exercise is an alternative to pharmacologic stress testing for >50% of patients unable to perform treadmill exercise, but no data exist regarding the effect of attained peak arm exercise heart rate on test sensitivity. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to characterize the relationship of peak arm exercise heart rate responses to abnormal stress test findings, coronary revascularization, and mortality in patients unable to perform leg exercise.

Methods: From 1997 until 2002, arm cycle ergometer stress tests were performed in 443 consecutive veterans age 64.

A prognostic scoring system for arm exercise stress testing.

Objective: Arm exercise stress testing may be an equivalent or better predictor of mortality outcome than pharmacological stress imaging for the ≥50% for patients unable to perform leg exercise. Thus, our objective was to develop an arm exercise ECG stress test scoring system, analogous to the Duke Treadmill Score, for predicting outcome in these individuals.

Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort study, arm exercise ECG stress tests were performed in 443 consecutive veterans aged 64.

Cardiovascular mortality prediction in veterans with arm exercise vs pharmacologic myocardial perfusion imaging.

Background: No data exist comparing outcome prediction from arm exercise vs pharmacologic myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) stress test variables in patients unable to perform treadmill exercise.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 2,173 consecutive lower extremity disabled veterans aged 65.4 ± 11.

Arm exercise myocardial perfusion imaging for prognostication of long-term outcome.

Introduction: Pharmacologic evaluations constitute ≥50% of imaging stress tests, but exercise reduces adverse effects, improves myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) quality and diagnostic results, and provides powerful prognostic and clinically important information on exercise capacity and cardiovascular responses to the relevant physiologic stress of exercise. Thus, our purpose was to determine whether arm exercise and MPI variables predict long-term outcome in patients who cannot perform leg exercise.

Methods: We performed arm exercise MPI stress tests in 253 consecutive patients age 64.

Arm exercise as an alternative to pharmacologic stress testing: arm exercise stress testing and outcome.

Background: Treadmill exercise variables are powerful predictors of all-cause mortality but are unobtainable in at least 50% of patients because of disabilities precluding lower extremity exercise. Arm exercise stress testing is a potentially cost-effective alternative, but no long-term outcome data are available.

Methods: We performed arm ergometer stress tests on 446 veterans aged 64.

Arm exercise stress perfusion imaging predicts clinical outcome.

Treadmill exercise capacity in resting metabolic equivalents (METs) and stress hemodynamic, electrocardiographic (ECG), and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) responses are independently predictive of adverse clinical events. However, limited data exist for arm ergometer stress testing (AXT) in patients who cannot perform leg exercise because of lower extremity disabilities. We sought to determine the extent to which AXT METs, hemodynamic, ECG, and MPI responses to arm exercise add independent incremental value to demographic and clinical variables for prediction of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), or late coronary revascularization, individually or as a composite.

The role of risk perceptions in the risk mitigation process: the case of wildfire in high risk communities.

An important policy question receiving considerable attention concerns the risk perception-risk mitigation process that guides how individuals choose to address natural hazard risks. This question is considered in the context of wildfire. We analyze the factors that influence risk reduction behaviors by homeowners living in the wildland-urban interface.

Arm exercise testing predicts clinical outcome.

Background: Treadmill exercise testing provides prognostic and clinical information that is not available for patients with lower extremity disabilities who undergo pharmacologic stress tests. We sought to determine whether arm ergometer (AXT) exercise capacity in resting metabolic equivalents (METs) and hemodynamic and electrocardiographic responses to AXT are predictors of survival, myocardial infarction (MI), or coronary revascularization, individually or as a composite.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 359 veterans aged 63 +/- 11 (SD) years, who were unable or unwilling to perform treadmill exercise, underwent AXT stress testing for clinical reasons between 1997 and 2002 and were followed for 63 +/- 24 months to an end point of death or December 31, 2006.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus: a brief update.

First described in 1990, paraneoplastic pemphigus is an autoimmune condition that causes considerable morbidity, is resistant to therapy and is frequently fatal. Clinical heterogeneity is being recognized as more cases are reported and the documented auto-antigen profile is also increasing. Target antigens are now known to be not restricted to the skin, suggesting that this condition is part of a paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome.

The effect of diabetes on outcomes of patients with advanced heart failure in the BEST trial.

Objectives: This was a retrospective analysis to determine the effect of diabetes on outcome in patients with advanced heart failure (HF), and to determine the effect of beta-blockade in patients with HF with and without diabetes mellitus.

Background: In chronic HF the impact on clinical outcomes and therapeutic response of the prevalent comorbid condition diabetes mellitus has not been extensively investigated.

Methods: We assessed the impact of diabetes on prognosis and effectiveness of beta-blocker therapy with bucindolol in patients with HF enrolled in the Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST).

Cognitive behavioral therapy and aerobic exercise for Gulf War veterans' illnesses: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Gulf War veterans' illnesses (GWVI), multisymptom illnesses characterized by persistent pain, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms, have been reported by many Gulf War veterans. There are currently no effective therapies available to treat GWVI.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exercise, and the combination of both for improving physical functioning and reducing the symptoms of GWVI.

Persistent depigmented regrowth after alopecia areata.

We report a case of persistent depigmented hair regrowth from the site of a patch of alopecia areata. It is well known that hair may regrow unpigmented from a site of alopecia areata; however, it was previously thought that this was temporary, lasting no longer than the first hair cycle.