Incorporating resident research into the dermatology residency program.

Programmatic changes for the dermatology residency program at The University of Texas Medical Branch were first introduced in 2005, with the faculty goal incorporating formal dermatology research projects into the 3-year postgraduate training period. This curriculum initially developed as a recommendation for voluntary scholarly project activity by residents, but it evolved into a program requirement for all residents in 2009. Departmental support for this activity includes assignment of a faculty mentor with similar interest about the research topic, financial support from the department for needed supplies, materials, and statistical consultation with the Office of Biostatistics for study design and data analysis, a 2-week elective that provides protected time from clinical activities for the purpose of preparing research for publication and submission to a peer-reviewed medical journal, and a departmental award in recognition for the best resident scholarly project each year.

Pentoxifylline and cyclosporine in the treatment of febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease.

We describe two pediatric cases of febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease (FUMHD) with response to pentoxifylline and cyclosporine therapies. Based on our review of the literature, we are presenting the first case of FUMHD treated with pentoxifylline and the third case of FUMHD successfully treated with cyclosporine. These agents may be of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of FUMHD, in part by suppressing tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which we believe may mediate the disease process.

The dermatology acting internship.

Acting internships are an important component of modern day medical school curriculum. Several specialties outside of internal medicine now offer acting internship experiences to fourth year medical students. We have found that a dermatology acting internship is a valuable experience for fourth year medical students who are interested in pursuing a residency in dermatology.

The imbalanced expression of matrix metalloproteinases in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Background: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) occurs in patients with renal dysfunction and gadolinium exposure. Although little is known about the pathogenesis of this disease, increased expression of transforming growth factor-beta has been recently demonstrated. Other fibrosing conditions have been shown to express an imbalance in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and their corresponding inhibitors.

Type I IFN receptor regulates neutrophil functions and innate immunity to Leishmania parasites.

Type I IFNs exert diverse effector and regulatory functions in host immunity to viral and nonviral infections; however, the role of endogenous type I IFNs in leishmaniasis is unclear. We found that type I IFNR-deficient (IFNAR-/-) mice developed attenuated lesions and reduced Ag-specific immune responses following infection with Leishmania amazonensis parasites. The marked reduction in tissue parasites, even at 3 d in IFNAR-/- mice, seemed to be indicative of an enhanced innate immunity.

Lymphatic invasion detected by D2-40/S-100 dual immunohistochemistry does not predict sentinel lymph node status in melanoma.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy provides important prognostic information with controversial therapeutic advantages. D2-40 is a novel immunohistochemical stain specific for lymphatic endothelium often utilized to study tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic invasion.

Objective: To increase the detection of lymphatic invasion in primary cutaneous melanomas with D2-40/S-100 dual immunohistochemistry, and then apply the technique to melanomas with known sentinel lymph node status.

An evaluation of dapsone gel 5% in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Background: Oral dapsone has been available for over 60 years. Its first clinical use was discovered in 1945, when it was found to be efficacious in inhibiting the progression of leprosy. The combined antibacterial and anti-inflammatory pharmacologic activities of dapsone have made it a widely investigated drug, particularly for use in refractory and unusual dermatologic conditions.

Report of a case: primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin.

Primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin is an extremely rare adnexal tumor that is thought to originate from eccrine sweat glands. The neoplasm usually arises on the head and neck, with the most commonly involved area being the periorbital region. The tumor is typically a solitary, asymptomatic nodule, cyst, or ulcer that is slow growing with low metastatic potential.

Efficacy and safety of dapsone gel 5% for the treatment of acne vulgaris in adolescents.

Two 12-week, randomized, vehicle-controlled. double-blinded pivotal studies and a 12-month. long-term, open-label, noncomparative safety study were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dapsone gel 5% in patients with acne vulgaris.

Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and acute lupus nephritis.

Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy is a recently recognized skin disorder similar in appearance to scleromyxedema but without the systemic involvement. We describe a 14-year-old girl with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and acute lupus nephritis who developed on the lower extremities confluent hyperpigmented, woody, indurated plaques that contained groups of coalescing erythematous papules. Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy was diagnosed histologically.

Drug-induced linear immunoglobulin A bullous dermatosis mimicking Stevens-Johnson syndrome: a case report.

Linear immunoglobulin A (IgA) bullous dermatosis (LABD) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by vesiculobullous mucocutaneous eruptions. LABD also has been reported as a drug-induced reaction. Idiopathic LABD and drug-induced LABD are clinically indistinguishable and can resemble bullous pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, or bullous erythema multiforme.

Tacrolimus ointment 0.03% is safe and effective for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients: results from a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study.

Objective: This study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of tacrolimus ointment 0.03% with vehicle ointment for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in pediatric patients.

Methods: A total of 317 patients (2-15 years of age) with mild to moderate AD were randomized to receive tacrolimus ointment or vehicle ointment twice daily in a 6-week, multicenter, double-blind study.

Development of collagenomas during pregnancy.

Collagenomas are considered to be connective tissue nevi composed predominantly of collagen. Collagenomas have been classified into 4 different entities: familial cutaneous collagenoma, the Shagreen patch of tuberous sclerosis, eruptive collagenoma, and other isolated collagenomas. We describe a patient with multiple collagenomas that appeared and multiplied during gestation and discuss the reported cases of collagenomas that have been linked to pregnancy.

Mutations in GALNT3, encoding a protein involved in O-linked glycosylation, cause familial tumoral calcinosis.

Familial tumoral calcinosis (FTC; OMIM 211900) is a severe autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that manifests with hyperphosphatemia and massive calcium deposits in the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Using linkage analysis, we mapped the gene underlying FTC to 2q24-q31. This region includes the gene GALNT3, which encodes a glycosyltransferase responsible for initiating mucin-type O-glycosylation.