Revolutionizing Skin Cancer Triage: The Role of Patient-Initiated Teledermoscopy in Remote Diagnosis.

Introduction: Teledermatology, defined as the use of remote imaging technologies to provide dermatologic healthcare services to individuals in a distant setting, has grown considerably in popularity since its widespread implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teledermoscopy employs a smartphone dermatoscope attachment paired with a smartphone camera to visualize colors and microstructures within the epidermis and superficial dermis that cannot be seen with the naked eye ABCD criteria alone.

Methods: Our retrospective observational cohort and case-control study evaluated the utility of loaning a smartphone dermatoscope attachment to patients for remote triage of self-selected lesions of concern for skin cancer.

Recent Advances in Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis and Morphea.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) and morphea are autoimmune sclerosing diseases that cause significant morbidity, and in the case of SSc, mortality. The pathogenesis of both SSc and morphea share vascular dysfunction, auto-reactive T cells and Th2-associated cytokines, such as interleukin 4, and overproduction of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). TGFβ stimulates fibroblast collagen and extra-cellular matrix production.

Current Utilization of Qualitative Methodologies in Dermatology: A Scoping Review.

The focus of this review was to determine how qualitative methods are used in dermatology research and whether published manuscripts meet current standards for qualitative research. A scoping review of manuscripts published in English between January 1, 2016 and September 22, 2021 was conducted. A coding document was developed to collect information on authors, methodology, participants, research theme, and the presence of quality criteria as outlined by the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.

The Keloid Area and Severity Index (KASI): an objective tool for the evaluation of keloids.

To aid in the standardization of evaluating patients with multiple keloids, a Keloid Area and Severity Index (KASI) was developed using patient feedback, previous literature, and clinical expertise. The system was validated using intrarater and interrater reliability assessments. Here, we present a verified, reliable method of assessing keloid area and severity in clinical and research settings.

Autoantigen microarrays reveal myelin basic protein autoantibodies in morphea.

Background: Morphea is an autoimmune, sclerosing skin disorder. Despite the recent emphasis on immune dysregulation in morphea, the role of autoantibodies in morphea pathogenesis or utility as biomarkers are poorly defined.

Methods: Autoantigen microarray was used to profile autoantibodies from the serum of participants from the Morphea in Adults and Children (MAC) cohort.

Linear morphea: Clinical characteristics, disease course, and treatment of the Morphea in Adults and Children cohort.

Background: Prospective, longitudinal studies examining the features of linear morphea are limited.

Objective: To utilize the Morphea in Adults and Children cohort to determine clinical characteristics, impact on life quality, and disease course of linear morphea in a prospective, longitudinal manner.

Methods: Characteristics of linear morphea versus other subtypes were compared in a cross-sectional manner.

Natural history of disease activity and damage in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Background: Long-term studies characterizing disease course of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) patients on standard-of-care treatments are lacking.

Objective: We characterized and compared disease course of CLE patients using Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI).

Methods: In total, 83 CLE patients with CLASI scores collected from ≥3 study visits within 2 years had disease activity and damage trends calculated by average change scores (ACS).

Skin mapping for the classification of generalized morphea.

Background: Generalized morphea lacks cohesive clinical features, limiting its clinical and investigative utility.

Objective: We sought to use computerized lesion mapping to objectively subtype morphea.

Methods: We conducted a 2-part cross-sectional study.

Phototherapy for sclerosing skin conditions.

Phototherapy is an effective treatment strategy for a variety of sclerosing skin conditions. There are a number of phototherapeutic modalities used for the treatment of sclerosing skin conditions, including ultraviolet (UV)A1, broadband UVA, psoralen plus UVA, and narrowband UVB phototherapy. As controlled trials with validated outcome measures are lacking for these therapies, existing evidence is largely level II for morphea and is even more minimal for scleroderma and other sclerosing disorders (scleroderma, lichen sclerosus, and chronic graft-versus-host disease, among others).

A subset of CD163+ macrophages displays mixed polarizations in discoid lupus skin.

Introduction: Lesional skin of patients with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) contains macrophages, whose polarization has yet to be investigated. To test our hypothesis that M1 macrophages would be increased in DLE skin, we examined transcriptome alterations in immune cell gene expression and macrophage features in DLE and normal skin by using gene expression and histochemical approaches.

Methods: Gene expression of RNA from DLE lesional and normal control skin was compared by microarrays and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Prospective comparison of subtalar arthroereisis with lateral column lengthening for painful flatfeet.

We prospectively compared subtalar arthroereisis with lateral column calcaneal lengthening for the treatment of painful flatfeet. Twenty-four feet (mean age of patients 12.8 years) were treated.