Interscalene brachial plexus block for shoulder arthroscopic surgery: Prospective randomised controlled study of effects of 0.5% ropivacaine and 0.5% ropivacaine with dexamethasone.

Background And Aims: Various adjuvants have been used to prolong the duration of local anaesthetic action after peripheral and regional nerve blocks. We evaluated the effect of dexamethasone on the duration of pain relief in shoulder arthroscopic surgeries performed under interscalene brachial plexus using ropivacaine as local anaesthetic.

Methods: After Ethical Committee approval and informed consent from patients we performed a prospective, randomised, comparative study on patients scheduled for arthroscopic shoulder surgery under interscalene block (ISB).

Assessment of attitudes towards sun-protective behaviour in Australians: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards sun protection measures in a sample of Australian adults.

Methods: A multicentre, cross-sectional study was undertaken during 2014 using a population-based survey of 416 individuals over the age of 18. The knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards sun protection measures in this group of adults were assessed.

The skin microbiome: Associations between altered microbial communities and disease.

A single square centimetre of the human skin can contain up to one billion microorganisms. These diverse communities of bacteria, fungi, mites and viruses can provide protection against disease, but can also exacerbate skin lesions, promote disease and delay wound healing. This review addresses the current knowledge surrounding the healthy skin microbiome and examines how different alterations to the skin microbial communities can contribute to disease.

Comparative evaluation of femoral nerve block and intravenous fentanyl for positioning during spinal anaesthesia in surgery of femur fracture.

Background: Spinal anaesthesia is the preferred technique to fix fracture of the femur. Extreme pain does not allow ideal positioning for this procedure. Intravenous fentanyl and femoral nerve block are commonly used techniques to reduce the pain during position for spinal anaesthesia however; results are conflicting regarding superiority of femoral nerve block over intravenous fentanyl.

The influence of age and gender in knowledge, behaviors and attitudes towards sun protection: a cross-sectional survey of Australian outpatient clinic attendees.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sun protection in different age groups and between men and women.

Method: A multicenter cross-sectional study using a population-based survey of 416 individuals over the age of 18 years was undertaken during 2014.

Results: Of individuals aged 18-30 years, 94% had experienced at least one episode of sunburn in the previous year.

Role of nanocrystalline silver dressings in the management of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and TEN/Stevens-Johnson syndrome overlap.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are severe mucocutaneous eruptions. There is currently no defined optimal approach to wound care. The objective of this study was to evaluate silver dressings in the wound-care management of TEN and SJS/TEN syndrome overlap with a retrospective case review of nine patients with TEN and SJS/TEN overlap presenting to our institution.

Vulvovaginal pyoderma gangrenosum secondary to rituximab therapy.

Rituximab is being used increasingly for the treatment of B-cell malignancies and nonmalignant conditions. Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis, which can be either idiopathic or associated with underlying systemic inflammatory conditions. We present a series of 4 patients who presented with ulcerative pyoderma gangrenosum in the vulvovaginal area after treatment with rituximab.

Vulval papules: a case for diagnosis.

You are asked to examine a 68-year-old woman with a 3-year history of multiple bilateral and largely asymptomatic white papules on her labia majora. Based on the history and photographs, what is your diagnosis?

A case of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus as a result of ranibizumab (Lucentis) treatment.

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a previously undiagnosed side-effect of ranibizumab. Here, we present a case of an 82-year-old female Caucasian patient with wet age-related macular degeneration. Following a single intraocular injection of Lucentis (ranibizumab), she developed a subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus which, with treatment, took nearly 12 months to resolve.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis as a chronic disease: diagnostic criteria and definition.

Objective: Although recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is defined as 4 or more discrete attacks of vulvovaginal candidiasis per year, there is no diagnostic nomenclature or definition for the many women who are chronically symptomatic. This study aims to establish and propose a definition and a set of diagnostic criteria, which would enable clinicians to promptly identify and treat women with chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis (CVVC).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Haemorrhagic purpura in an elderly man. BHD.

You are asked to review an 85 year old man with bullous lesions on the torso and limbs (as shown), which developed after treatment with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH), unfractionated heparin (UFH), and furosemide. Based on the given history and the clinical and histological images, what is your diagnosis?

A case series of 11 patients with hormone-responsive sebaceous adenitis of the labia minora.

Sebaceous adenitis, an idiopathic inflammation of the sebaceous gland, is a condition that is well described in animals but has been reported only thrice previously in humans. We present a series of 11 cases of sebaceous adenitis that presented as tender nodular lesions clinically similar to hidradenitis suppurativa, but was confined to the labia minora. All cases responded to tetracyclines and anti-androgen therapy.

Ice anaesthesia in procedural dermatology.

This article presents findings from a survey of Australian dermatologists who were questioned about their preferred pain control methods when carrying out injectable procedures. We also present, what is to the best of our knowledge, the first proof-of-concept experiment exploring the relationship between ice-to-skin contact time and skin surface temperature, using both ice wrapped in latex and ice wrapped in aluminium foil. Of 79 dermatologists 32 responded to the survey (41% response rate): 31 (97%) injected botulinum toxin type A (BTA) for dynamic lines, 26 (81%) injected BTA for hyperhidrosis, and 24 (75%) injected skin fillers.

Management of nonsexually acquired genital ulceration using oral and topical corticosteroids followed by doxycycline prophylaxis.

Background: Data regarding the treatment of nonsexually acquired genital ulceration (NSAGU) are limited.

Objective: We sought to provide evidence for the safety and efficacy of topical and systemic corticosteroids followed by doxycycline prophylaxis for acute and recurrent NSAGU.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with NSAGU treated in a private dermogynecology practice.

A vesicular variant of pseudoverrucous papules and nodules in the genital area of an incontinent 4-year-old.

Irritant contact dermatitis is a common cause of chronic vulvitis in patients wearing diapers and incontinence garments. In most cases the diagnosis is obvious; however, atypical presentations may mimic more serious dermatoses. We present a 4-year-old girl who presented at birth with cloacal atresia corrected surgically and resulting in chronic incontinence requiring full-time diapers.

Recurrent menstrual toxic shock syndrome despite discontinuation of tampon use: is menstrual toxic shock syndrome really caused by tampons?

Menstrual toxic shock syndrome (MTSS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening illness. We present a case of recurrent MTSS initially associated with tampon use that continued to recur when tampons were discontinued, which was successfully treated with rifampicin and clindamycin.

Atypical meningiomas--a case series.

Meningiomas, in particular the Atypical (grade 2), vary greatly in their behaviour and prognosis. Over a 19 year period, we operated on 169 meningiomas (on 86 patients) and of those, 9 cases of atypical meningiomas were found which met the 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The 9 patients represented 5.