The ability of adults and children to visually identify peanuts and tree nuts.

Background: Peanuts and tree nuts are common food allergens and are the leading cause of fatalities from food-induced anaphylaxis. Dietary avoidance is the primary management of these allergies and requires the ability to identify peanuts or tree nuts.

Objectives: To investigate the ability of adults and children to visually identify peanuts and tree nuts.

The role of airborne proteins in atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic skin condition. A subpopulation of patients may have cutaneous exposure to common airborne proteins exacerbating their disease through direct proteolytic activity, direct activation of proteinase-activated receptor-2 itch receptors, and immunoglobulin E binding. The most common airborne proteins significant in atopic dermatitis include house dust mites, cockroach, pet dander, and multiple pollens.

Patch testing practices of American Contact Dermatitis Society members.

Background: Patch testing is an important part of diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis although there is much variability in methodology among practitioners.

Objective: We surveyed members of the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) to quantify time spent with patients with contact dermatitis; to characterize patch testing practices, including the Thin-Layer Rapid Use Epicutaneous (T.R.

A New Kid on the Block: IL-10+ Regulatory B Cells and a Possible Role In Psoriasis.

The pivotal role of T cells in the etiology of psoriasis has been elucidated; however, the mechanisms that regulate these T cells are unclear. Recently, it has been shown that an IL-10 producing B cell population may downregulate T cell function and it has been hypothesized that depletion of this B cell population may lead to exacerbation of T-cell mediated autoimmune disease. We present the case of an adolescent male with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) being treated with the anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody rituximab in addition to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who developed a psoriasiform rash on his hands following mechanical trauma with concomitant severely decreased B cell count.

Infectious complications in patients with psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis treated with antitumor necrosis factor agents and methotrexate.

Treatment of patients with moderate-severe psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis includes systemic biologic, antimetabolite, and immunosuppressive therapy. However, adverse events such as serious infectious complications must be considered before starting therapy and throughout treatment. The authors describe the case of a male on combination etanercept and methotrexate for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis for years who developed a spontaneous epidural abscess with resulting quadriplegia.

The role of Malassezia in atopic dermatitis affecting the head and neck of adults.

Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic skin condition. A subset of patients with head and neck dermatitis may have a reaction to Malassezia flora fueling their disease. Although there are no documented differences in Malassezia species colonization, patients with head and neck atopic dermatitis are more likely to have positive skin prick test results and Malassezia-specific IgE compared with healthy control subjects and patients with atopy without head and neck dermatitis.

A comparison of the characteristics of injuries between obese and non-obese inpatients.

Objective: The objective was to compare characteristics of injuries between a sample of U.S. obese and non-obese inpatients.

Efalizumab-associated thrombocytopenia.

There have been multiple reports of thrombocytopenia associated with efalizumab therapy for the treatment of psoriasis. The current recommendations are to check platelet counts monthly for the first 3 months of efalizumab therapy, then every 3 months for the duration of therapy. We report a case of efalizumab-associated thrombocytopenia that occurred between 10 and 16 weeks after therapy was initiated.

Pediatric eye injury-related hospitalizations in the United States.

Objective: An estimated 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States each year, with nearly 35% of injuries among persons aged 17 years or less. Although previous research has identified some of the characteristics of pediatric eye injuries, many studies focused only on a specific patient population or type of eye injury or relied on self-reported data.

Nonfatal injuries among middle-school and high-school students in Guangxi, China.

Objectives: We described nonfatal injuries and calculated injury rates among middle-school and high-school students in Guangxi, China.

Methods: Students were selected using multistage randomizing techniques, and nonfatal injuries in 1840 students from February 2002 to January 2003 were monitored with standardized injury forms. Risk factors for injury were identified in multivariate analyses.

Nonfatal injuries among US children with disabling conditions.

Objectives: We investigated the risk of nonfatal injury in US children with disabilities. Disability was defined as a long-term reduction in the ability to conduct social role activities, such as school or play, because of a chronic physical or mental condition.

Methods: Among 57 909 children aged 5-17 years who participated in the 2000-2002 National Health Interview Survey, we identified 312 children with vision/hearing disabilities, 711 with mental retardation, 603 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/HD), and 403 with chronic asthma.

Health care access after injury by insurance type in a pediatric population.

Objectives: Previous studies demonstrate discrepancies in health care access by insurance status for routine, discretionary care. It is unknown whether these discrepancies in health care utilization by insurance status persist in urgent/emergent circumstances. We used injury as a sentinel event to represent urgent/emergent medical conditions to examine the relationship with insurance type.

Obesity and risk of nonfatal unintentional injuries.

Background: Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases. Yet, it is unclear whether obesity is also associated with an increased risk of nonfatal unintentional injury.

Methods: A population-based survey was conducted among adults aged > or = 18 years from January 1999 through October 2000.

Characteristics of water skiing-related and wakeboarding-related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2001-2003.

Background: Water skiing and wakeboarding are popular sports with high potential for injury due to rapid boat acceleration, lack of protective gear, and waterway obstacles. However, trends in water skiing- and wakeboarding-related injuries in the United States have not been described using national data.

Hypothesis: The number of injuries, injury diagnoses, and body regions injured vary by sport.

Characteristics of ice hockey-related injuries treated in US emergency departments, 2001-2002.

Objective: Ice hockey, a popular sport in some regions, has potential for injury due to the velocities of players, pucks, and sticks. Previous studies conducted worldwide have shown that the rate of injury increases as the size and the speed of players increase, as well as when checking is allowed. However, national data about the annual number and types of injuries among ice hockey players are lacking.