Postoperative Infections in Dermatologic Surgery: The Role of Wound Cultures.

Background: Dermatologic surgery is associated with low postoperative infection rates, averaging from approximately 1% to 4.25%. Often, postoperative infections are treated empirically based on clinical diagnosis of infection, given it can take 48 to 72 hours for a wound culture to identify a pathogen.

Horrendous, Treatment-resistant Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Solved With a Change in Vehicle.

Severe atopic dermatitis can have an enormous impact on a child and the child's caregivers. Topical corticosteroids can be highly effective, but not all patients respond. If atopic dermatitis does not improve with a topical corticosteroid, poor adherence should be strongly considered as the cause of treatment failure.

Ipilimumab Therapy in Patients With Advanced Melanoma and Preexisting Autoimmune Disorders.

Importance: Ipilimumab and other immune therapies are effective treatment options for patients with advanced melanoma but cause frequent immune-related toxic effects. Autoimmune diseases are common, and the safety and efficacy of ipilimumab therapy in patients with preexisting autoimmune disorders is not known.

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of ipilimumab therapy in patients with advanced melanoma with preexisting autoimmune disorders.

Incidence, risk factors, and preventative management of skin cancers in organ transplant recipients: a review of single- and multicenter retrospective studies from 2006 to 2010.

Background: Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) taking immunosuppressants are at high risk of skin cancer, which is the most common malignant condition in OTRs, so dermatologic surveillance is important for OTRs.

Objectives: To characterize the most common skin cancers arising from chronic immunosuppression in OTRs.

Methods: A PubMed search for retrospective single- and multicenter studies reporting skin cancer incidence from 2006 to 2010 was undertaken.

Interleukin-23 and interleukin-17: importance in pathogenesis and therapy of psoriasis.

Emerging data in mice and humans reveals a critical contribution of Th17-associated cytokines, particularly interleukin-(IL)-23 and IL-17, in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The IL-23/Th17 pathway is a therapeutic target for biologic agents and systemic therapies in psoriasis treatment. A literature search was performed to review and summarize the current evidence on IL-17 and IL-23 as a basis for understanding the use of anti-IL-17 and anti-IL-23 agents for psoriasis therapy.

Therapeutic modalities for localized psoriasis: 308-nm UVB excimer laser versus nontargeted phototherapy.

UVB phototherapy is an effective treatment modality for psoriasis. For patients with localized plaque-type lesions, 308-nm excimer laser phototherapy offers rapidly delivered, targeted, high UVB doses, while sparing adjacent healthy skin. We aimed to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the 308-nm xenon chloride (XeCI) UVB excimer laser with nontargeted broadband UVB (BB-UVB), narrowband UVB (NB-UVB), and psoralen plus UVA (PUVA) phototherapies.

A review of protocols for 308 nm excimer laser phototherapy in psoriasis.

Background: 308 nm excimer laser phototherapy is efficacious in the treatment of localized psoriasis. Different approaches regarding dose fluency, number of treatments, and maintenance have been utilized, and there is yet to be a consensus on standard protocol.

Objective: To characterize treatment parameters for 308 nm excimer laser phototherapy.

A review of targeted ultraviolet B phototherapy for psoriasis.

Targeted ultraviolet (UV) B phototherapy devices provide a practical means to treat localized psoriasis while sparing harmful effects to unaffected skin. The objective of this study was to characterize the efficacy and safety of targeted phototherapy devices for psoriasis. We conducted a PubMed search for broadband UVB, narrowband UVB, and localized phototherapy, and a Google search for handheld phototherapy.

Palliative cancer care ethics: principles and challenges in the Indian setting.

Palliative cancer treatment is a system of care that seeks to relieve suffering in patients with progressive cancer. Given the intractable symptoms with which certain malignancies manifest, palliative care offers a practical approach towards improving the patient's quality of life. However, there are an array of ethical issues associated with this treatment strategy such as particular methods of pain relief, a reliable assessment of suffering, autonomy, and multi-specialist care.

The economic impact of non-melanoma skin cancer: a review.

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer in the United States. Cost of NMSC care primarily depends on 2 factors: care settings and treatment modalities. However, the cost efficacy of NMSC care has been insufficiently addressed in previous literature.