A Low Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Diet Decreases Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 among Adults with Moderate and Severe Acne: A Short-Duration, 2-Week Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: A high glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) diet may stimulate acne proliferative pathways by influencing biochemical factors associated with acne. However, few randomized controlled trials have examined this relationship, and this process is not completely understood.

Objective: This study examined changes in biochemical factors associated with acne among adults with moderate to severe acne after following a low GI and GL diet or usual eating plan for 2 weeks.

Differences in Dietary Glycemic Load and Hormones in New York City Adults with No and Moderate/Severe Acne.

Background: Glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) may be implicated in acne pathogenesis.

Objective: This cross-sectional study examined differences between GI/GL and biological factors associated with acne among adults with and without moderate/severe acne. Secondary objectives included examining differences between food-aggravated acne beliefs and acne-specific quality of life among adults with and without moderate/severe acne.

Relationships of self-reported dietary factors and perceived acne severity in a cohort of New York young adults.

Background: Recent observational and experimental evidence suggests that diet may contribute to acne prevalence.

Objectives: To examine the differences in select dietary factors (glycemic index [GI], total sugar, added sugar, fruit/fruit juice, fruit/vegetables, vegetables, saturated fat, trans fat, and number of milk and fish servings per day) between groups of self-reported acne severity. Secondary objectives were to investigate the differences in food-aggravated acne beliefs and acne-specific quality-of-life between groups of self-reported acne severity.

Small vessel vasculitis associated with cocaine use.

We report a case of cocaine-induced small vessel vasculitis in a 51-year-old woman. We postulate that levamisole, an adulterant of cocaine, likely is the cause of this increase in cocaine-induced vasculitis. Based on a literature review, we suggest some helpful tests to differentiate cocaine-induced vasculitis from true autoimmune vasculitis in the setting of midline destructive nasal lesions.

Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.

Acne is a common disease in Westernized nations, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Acne has substantial effects on quality of life, making treatment essential. Medical nutrition therapy as a potential treatment for acne is not new, although the literature examining diet and acne during the past 100 years is mixed.

The debate between gadolinium versus erythropoietin in a renal transplant patient with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), previously known as nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy, is a debilitating skin condition that causes fibrotic changes in the setting of renal failure. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA), erythropoietin (EPO), and vascular intervention are the most widely known associated factors in the pathogenesis. A 53-year-old female with chronic renal insufficiency secondary to fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) presented with generalized hardening of skin 1 week after her renal transplant.

Superantigens in dermatology.

Superantigens (SAgs) are virulent polypeptides that are produced by a variety of infectious organisms. They are capable of causing nonspecific T cell activation by circumventing normal antigen processing in the human host. The genetic makeup of the host plays a role in conferring susceptibility or protection against SAgs.

Medical students educate teens about skin cancer: what have we learned?

Skin cancer is a serious societal problem, and public awareness outreach, including to youth, is crucial. Medical students have joined forces to educate adolescents about skin cancer with significant impacts; even one 50-min interactive outreach session led to sustained changes in knowledge and behavior in a cohort of 1,200 adolescents surveyed. Medical students can act as a tremendous asset to health awareness public outreach efforts: enthusiastic volunteerism keeps education cost-effective, results in exponential spread of information, reinforces knowledge and communication skills of future physicians, and can result in tangible, life-saving benefits such as early detection of melanoma.