Automatic body part identification in real-world clinical dermatological images using machine learning.

Background: Dermatological conditions are prevalent across all population sub-groups. The affected body part is of importance to their diagnosis, therapy, and research. The automatic identification of body parts in dermatological clinical pictures could therefore improve clinical care by providing additional information for clinical decision-making algorithms, discovering hard-to-treat areas, and research by identifying new patterns of disease.

Outlier detection in dermatology: Performance of different convolutional neural networks for binary classification of inflammatory skin diseases.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) represent rising trends in modern medicine. However, comprehensive data on the performance of AI practices in clinical dermatologic images are non-existent. Furthermore, the role of professional data selection for training remains unknown.

Out-of-Pocket Costs in Alopecia Areata: A Cross-Sectional Study in German-speaking Countries.

Alopecia areata is a common skin disease which is associated with psychosocial and financial burden. No curative therapy exists and, hence, affected persons resort to self-financed cosmetic solutions. However, studies on the economic impact of alopecia areata on individuals are limited.

Dermatology and medical law: the effect of legal issues on the treatment of patients in dermatological practices in southern Germany.

Background: Usage of modern therapies in the treatment of chronic dermatological diseases has proven to be effective but associated with high costs. High therapy costs might raise legal issues and even lead to recourse claims.

Objectives: To evaluate dermatologists’ interests and knowledge in medical law and the occurrence of recourse claims, and to assess the impact of medical law on clinical practice.

Adding happiness to complement the Dermatology Quality of Life Index in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis healthcare: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) is the most commonly used quality of life questionnaire in dermatology.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the DLQI to measures of wellbeing and general quality of life in patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study among patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis was conducted at a hospital in Munich, Germany (12/2017-04/2019).

The impact of the first COVID-19 wave on office-based dermatological care in Germany: a focus on diagnosis, therapy and prescription of biologics.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread changes in medical care. However, it is still unclear to what extent the care of patients suffering from moderate-to-severe psoriasis, chronic spontaneous urticaria or atopic dermatitis has been affected.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on medical care in dermatological practices, focusing on physicians’ concerns related to susceptibility to infections in combination with different treatment modalities.

[Atopic dermatitis-identifying needs in the German population by internet search queries].

Background: The internet is one of the most important sources for health-related information for the general population. Therefore, the analysis of internet search engines can help to capture the social interests and needs regarding diseases.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the search queries related to atopic dermatitis (AD) regarding frequency, focus of interest and temporal occurrence in the German federal states in order to identify possible regional differences.

A Structured Intervention for Medical Students Significantly Improves Awareness of Stigmatisation in Visible Chronic Skin Diseases: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

People with visible skin diseases often experience stigmatisation. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a new intervention for medical students to counter the stigmatisation of people with skin diseases. The intervention was evaluated using a randomised controlled design.

Psoriasis and addiction: assessing mental health based on a cross-sectional study in Germany.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease with a high mental burden. Well-known comorbidities include depression, anxiety, as well as alcohol and tobacco addiction, however, there is barely any evidence on other addictions. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the six most common addictions among psoriasis patients in Germany and to determine associated clinical factors.

Happiness and depression in psoriasis: a cross-sectional study in Germany.

Purpose: Prior research on the psychological consequences of skin diseases has focused on assessing mental comorbidities. The aim of this study was to investigate subjective well-being in a large sample of individuals affected by psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and to explore the associations with depression and disease-related parameters such as disease severity.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to June 2019.

Prescription Behaviour and Barriers to Prescription of Biologicals for Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory Skin Diseases in Dermatological Practice in Two German Federal States.

The globally increasing prevalence of chronic inflammatory skin diseases has substantial costs. Biologicals have become available as therapeutic options, but are encumbered with barriers to prescription. The aim of this study was to evaluate the barriers to prescription of biologicals in the treatment of chronic dermatological diseases.

Trotz einer großen Auswahl wirksame Medikamente: Psoriatiker scheinen immer noch untertherapiert zu sein.

Hintergrund Und Ziele: Durch die Entwicklung neuer anti-psoriatischer Medikamente und verbesserte Strukturen zu deren flächendeckender Einführung hat sich die medizinische Versorgung von Psoriasis-Patienten deutlich verbessert. In dieser Studie haben wir die tatsächliche Inanspruchnahme des Gesundheitswesens untersucht und Gründe für die Unzufriedenheit der Betroffenen ermittelt.

Patienten Und Methodik: Diese nicht-interventionelle Querschnittsstudie wurde als anonyme Online-Befragung von 12/2018 bis 01/2019 in Deutschland durchgeführt.

Despite large choice of effective therapies: Individuals with psoriasis still seem undertreated.

Background And Objectives: Due to the development of new anti-psoriatic drugs in combination with improved structures for implementation throughout Germany, the medical care of psoriasis patients has markedly improved. In this study we investigated the real-life utilization of the health care system and identified reasons for dissatisfaction in affected individuals.

Patients And Methods: This non-interventional cross-sectional study was conducted as an anonymous online survey from 12/2018 to 01/2019 in Germany.

Patients with Chronic Urticaria Remain Largely Undertreated: Results from the DERMLINE Online Survey.

Introduction: Chronic urticaria (CU) is an unpredictable disease, with high disease burden and a significant negative impact on quality of life, especially in patients of working age. Many patients are undertreated, and there is poor awareness of strategies to manage patients with CU in the real-world setting. The current study aimed to gain a better understanding of CU from the patients' perspective, including the body areas most affected by wheals and angioedema, the disease burden and current use of the healthcare system.

Retracing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany from a Public Perspective using Google Search Queries Related to "coronavirus".

Aim Of The Study: During pandemics, the whole population is simultaneously confronted with the same health threat, resulting in enormous public interest. The current COVID-19 pandemic has left the world in a unique state of crisis. The aim of this analysis was to explore whether Google searches can be used to retrospectively retrace the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and to detect local outbreaks by reflecting public interest in the virus.

People-centered care for psoriasis and urticaria: Are we overlooking Internet addiction while only considering patients and physician settings?

Psoriasis and chronic urticaria (CU) are chronic skin diseases with a high impact on individuals' life and mental health. Some studies indicate a high prevalence of Internet addiction and many affected individuals seem not to utilize healthcare, but rather search for health-related information online. The aims of the study were to assess Internet addiction as a potential comorbidity in both diseases as well as identify differences in healthcare utilization between individuals with psoriasis and CU.

Stigmatization caused by hair loss - a systematic literature review.

Hair loss is a symptom that can cause stigmatization and severe impairment of quality of life. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the literature on stigmatization of hair loss. Using predefined MeSH terms and keywords, a systematic search was performed in the databases MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, PsycINFO and PsycNET.

Always Online? Internet Addiction and Social Impairment in Psoriasis across Germany.

With the World Health Organization (WHO) demanding further investigation of the social impairment and psychosocial burden of psoriasis, a first study identified a high prevalence of Internet addiction. The aim of this study was to assess social impairment and estimate the occurrence of Internet addiction along with depression, cigarette smoking, and alcohol dependency in individuals with psoriasis recruited online in a people-centered care approach. A cross-sectional online survey was carried out across Germany between March 2019 and June 2019.

Genital Psoriasis and Associated Factors of Sexual Avoidance - A People-centered Cross-sectional Study in Germany.

Patients with genital psoriasis show poorer outcomes regarding quality of life and sexual distress than those without. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of genital psoriasis and to determine factors associated with the avoidance of sexual activities due to psoriasis in a non-clinical setting. A cross-sectional, person-centered, and online-based nationwide survey was conducted in Germany between March and June 2019.

Regional differences in medical needs and care for skin cancer across Bavaria: confronting the gap.

Background: The management of keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) and actinic keratosis (AK) as well as the number of dermatologists differ across the Bavarian counties in Germany.

Objectives: To determine regions with low utilization rates of dermatological care and a high medical need due to AK and KC burden.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2,483 people was carried out during the Munich Oktoberfest in September 2016.

[Effects of an unconventional skin cancer prevention campaign : Impacts on the sun protection behavior of outdoor workers].

Background: The disease burden of actinic keratoses and keratinocyte carcinoma can be reduced by primary and secondary prevention. However, these measures are often poorly received, especially among the high-risk group of outdoor workers.

Objectives: The aim of this follow-up study was to investigate whether an improvement in sun protection and awareness of skin changes could be observed among the study population, especially outdoor workers, one year after a prevention campaign focusing on this topic.