Evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of etanercept compared to triamcinolone acetonide for the intralesional treatment of keloids.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokine that inhibits degradation of collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Etanercept, a recombinant TNF-alpha receptor fusion protein, may decrease excessive fibrous tissue in keloids.

Objective: To evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of etanercept as compared to triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) for the treatment of keloids.

Compression modalities and dressings: their use in venous ulcers.

Among the standard of care for venous ulcer treatment are the use of compression therapy to reverse the effect of venous hypertension and the use of occlusive dressings to maintain a moist wound-healing environment and for treatment of abnormalities of the ulcer bed. The use of multilayered elastic bandages for compression in patients with normal arterial flow currently provides the treatment with the highest level of evidence for treatment of venous ulcers. Additionally, treatment of the ulcer bed, especially with cadexemer iodine dressings, is also supported by evidence from randomized controlled trials, whereas newer dressings provide less well proven alternative opportunities to speed the healing of venous ulcers.

Treatment of Venous Ulcers.

Underlying the pathogenesis of venous ulceration is venous hypertension. Therefore, the use of multilayered compression therapy is the gold standard in the treatment of a venous ulcer. As treatment progresses, an important determinant of response is wound assessment, which should be performed on initial visit and subsequently thereafter.

Self-warming lidocaine/tetracaine patch effectively and safely induces local anesthesia during minor dermatologic procedures.

Background: Dermatologic procedures often cause some degree of pain. A self-warming patch containing lidocaine and tetracaine (L/T) was developed to provide topical local anesthesia prior to painful procedures.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a self-warming L/T patch to provide anesthesia in adult patients undergoing minor dermatologic procedures.

Managing the patient with venous ulcers.

Venous disease is the most common cause of leg ulcers. The refractory nature of venous ulcers affects the quality of life and work productivity of those persons afflicted. This, in combination with the high costs of long-term therapy, makes venous ulcers a major health problem in developed countries.

Human herpesviruses 6 and 7.

Human herpesviruses 6 and 7 are newly discovered viruses that belong to the genus Roseolavirus within the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae. These ubiquitous viruses may cause primary or chronic persistent infection or remain in a state of latency for many years, until a decrease in the immunologic state of the host leads to reactivation of infection. Several diseases have been linked with HHV-6 and HHV-7.