Evidence suggests low-carbohydrate diets (LCHF) may assist in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD); however, gaps exist in the literature. We conducted a small 24-week pilot study to investigate the effects of an LCHF diet on motor and nonmotor symptoms, health biomarkers, anxiety, and depression in seven people with PD. We also captured patient experiences during the process (quality of life [QoL]).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ketogenic diet has grown in popularity as an alternative or adjunct to medication therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). Traditional medication therapies often fail to produce desired improvements in PD symptoms and can have little or no effect on symptoms of depression and anxiety that often accompany a PD diagnosis. We document a case study involving a 68-year-old female with PD stage I and a history of mild symptoms of anxiety and depression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo evaluate a low carbohydrate/healthy fat/ketogenic diet (LCHF/KD) on symptoms, depression, anxiety and biomarkers in adults with Parkinson's disease (PD). 16 adults ages 36-80 with PD participated in the intervention for 12 weeks. The study provided pre-post-study comparisons of biomarkers, weight, waist measurement, united Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Parkinson's Anxiety Scale (PAS) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised-20 (CESD-R-20) Depression Scale.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of a community-based exercise program for adults with Parkinson's disease (PD). This one-group pretest and post-test design involved 22 participants with PD who participated in two to three exercise sessions per week for 8 weeks. Outcomes assessed for statistical significance included balance, mobility, cognition, activities of daily living, sleep and quality of life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActinic, or solar, keratosis is caused by chronic ultraviolet-induced damage to the epidermis. In the UK, 15-23% of individuals have actinic keratosis lesions. Risk factors include: advanced age; male gender; cumulative sun exposure or phototherapy; Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-II; long-term immuno-suppression and genetic syndromes e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLipodermatosclerosis (LDS) is a well-recognized form of fibrosing panniculitis. Although chronic cases are readily diagnosed, early and evolving lesions may be clinically mistaken for cellulitis and other forms of panniculitis. Most pathologists are familiar with a pseudomembranous type of fat necrosis as a useful feature of chronic LDS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe specific histopathologic diagnosis of a primary acantholytic disorder takes into account the distribution and extent of acantholysis, presence or absence of dyskeratosis, nature of the dermal inflammatory cell infiltrate, and immunofluorescence findings. Herpes virus infection is a common cause of secondary acantholysis where distinctive viral cytopathic changes aid in making it a clear-cut diagnosis in majority of cases. We present a case of coexistence of Hailey-Hailey disease and herpes simplex virus infection to compare and contrast their histopathologic features.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHidradenitis suppurativa affects the apocrine-bearing areas of the skin. The onset is variable but usually occurs in the second and third decades of life, coinciding with development of the apocrine glands. The condition is characterised by painful, inflammatory papules and nodules which frequently progress to form abscesses, sinus tracts and hypertrophic scars.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is no standard definition regarding the severity of psoriasis, and a number of factors should be considered, including the extent and stability of skin disease, involvement of joints, response to treatment, and impact on quality of life. Erythrodermic psoriasis and pustular psoriasis are severe conditions and the patient may be systemically unwell and febrile. NICE recommends that four key areas should be evaluated and recorded when assessing patients: severity, using the static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA); disease impact on physical, psychological and social wellbeing using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI); the presence of psoriatic arthritis; and comorbidities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDermatophyte fungi are confined to the keratin layer of the epidermis and include three genera: Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton. These infections can be transmitted by human contact (anthropophilic), from the soil (geophilic) and by animal (zoophilic) spread. Dermatophyte infections usually present as an erythematous, scaly eruption, which may or may not be itchy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPractitioner
December 2015
Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are clinically and pathologically distinct and both are locally invasive. However, while BCCs rarely metastasise, SCCs have the potential to do so especially when they arise on the ears or lips. UV radiation is the most important risk factor for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTopical antiseptics are frequently used in dermatological management, yet evidence for the efficacy of traditional generic formulations is often largely anecdotal. We tested the in vitro bactericidal activity of four commonly used topical antiseptics against Staphylococcus aureus, using a modified version of the European Standard EN 1276, a quantitative suspension test for evaluation of the bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics. To meet the standard for antiseptic effectiveness of EN 1276, at least a 5 log10 reduction in bacterial count within 5 minutes of exposure is required.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrticaria is characterised by transient wheals that consist of a swollen palpable centre often surrounded by an erythematous flare, associated with itching or, less commonly, a burning sensation. Individual wheals usually disappear within 1 to 24 hours leaving normal skin. Wheals may be accompanied by angioedema, a more deep-seated flesh-coloured or erythematous swelling of skin or mucous membrane, which may last longer than 24 hours.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRosacea is more common in women than men and occurs more frequently in fair-skinned individuals, usually in the middle years of life. It tends to localise to the cheeks, forehead, chin and nose, sometimes showing marked asymmetry. Only very occasionally does it involve areas other than the face.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeborrhoeic dermatitis usually starts at puberty with a peak incidence at 40 years of age and is more common in males. Patients develop symmetrical, well demarcated, dull or yellowish red patches and plaques with overlying adherent, yellowish greasy scales. Seborrhoeic dermatitis has a distinctive distribution in areas rich in sebaceous glands - the scalp, eyebrows, glabella, nasolabial and nasofacial folds, cheeks, peri-auricular skin, pre-sternal and interscapular areas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We reviewed all cases of Mycobacterium chelonae infection seen in our department between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012.
Objectives: To review the epidemiology, clinical features and management of cutaneous M. chelonae in South-East Scotland, and to compare prevalence data with the rest of Scotland.
Alopecia areata is a chronic inflammatory non-scarring condition affecting the hair follicle that leads to hair loss ranging from small well defined patches to complete loss of all body hair. In about 80% of affected individuals there is spontaneous regrowth within a year. It can present at any age, although 60% of patients develop their first episode of hair loss before the age of 20.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScabies is caused by infestation with a parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. The itch and rash appear to be largely the result of a delayed (type IV) allergic reaction to the mite, its eggs and excreta. Scabies is spread by a mite transferring to the skin surface of an unaffected person, usually by skin to skin contact with an infested person, but occasionally via contaminated bed linen, clothes or towels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPsoriasis is a heterogeneous inflammatory disorder that targets the skin and joints. It affects 1.3-2% of the population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScurvy is caused by prolonged dietary deficiency of vitamin C, the plasma concentration of which appears inversely related to mortality from all causes. Its clinical importance relates principally to its role as a cofactor in a number of enzyme reactions involved in collagen synthesis, dysfunction of which disrupts connective tissue integrity, resulting in impaired wound healing and capillary bleeding. In the UK, overt scurvy is diagnosed only rarely.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 7-year-old boy developed severe toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) secondary to carbamazepine and was transferred to our center after further deterioration despite receiving one dose of intravenous immunoglobulin. After administration of one dose of infliximab, there was a clear halting of progression of blistering and an apparent dramatic improvement. We consider it likely that the administration of infliximab led to the improvement in this child and that anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy may be a logical treatment for TEN, given the possible underlying pathologic process.
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