Background: Calciphylaxis is a thrombotic vasculopathy characterized by painful necrotic ulcerations. There are no Food and Drug Administration approved therapies despite high mortality.
Objective: To compare mortality and wound healing outcomes in patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in addition to intravenous sodium thiosulfate (IV STS) versus patients who received IV STS only.
The emergency department (ED) is a frequent source of care for pediatric patients with dermatologic conditions, possibly owing to limited access to routine and urgent outpatient dermatology appointments. The demographics, clinical characteristics, follow-up scheduling practices, and attendance rates of 50 pediatric and 142 adult patients evaluated by the dermatology consult service in the ED were reviewed. High rates of follow-up attendance were observed in the pediatric and adult populations, with the majority receiving an appointment within 2 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The pathogenesis of infantile hemangioma (IH) is not fully understood. It has been suggested that angiogenic factors increase in the proliferative stage, decreasing subsequently in the regression phase.
Objectives: To evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels, according to infantile hemangioma (IH) growth stages and size, and to compare these levels in patients with IH and control subjects.
Background: Eosinophilia is a typical finding of the acute/juvenile form of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. This clinical form is characterized by depressed cellular immune response and production of Th2 cytokines. Moreover, it has been shown that the increased number of eosinophils in peripheral blood of patients returns to normal values after antifungal treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChemokines may contribute to local and systemic inflammation in patients with psoriasis. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of chemokine ligands and receptors in the recruitment of T cells into psoriatic lesional skin and synovial fluid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of Th1-related chemokines in psoriasis and to investigate any association with disease severity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Acne is a common disease of the face, chest and back, initially triggered by androgens. 3mg Drospirenone (DRSP)/0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol (EE), an oral contraceptive and antiandrogen, has been effective in treatment studies of facial acne in women, but investigations on its efficacy for truncal acne are limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Probl Dermatol
January 2014
Life course epidemiology is very important in the evaluation of chronic diseases and their long term physical, psychological, cognitive and social consequences. However, chronic dermatologic diseases can have a different impact on quality of life depending on patients' cultures and medical systems. Conversely, cultural, social and economic factors over life may lead to even greater health disparities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArthritis Care Res (Hoboken)
April 2013
Objective: To develop and pilot test a screening tool to identify cases of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) among patients exposed to gadolinium-containing contrast agents.
Methods: Sixty English-speaking subjects were enrolled: 10 subjects diagnosed as having NSF, 10 subjects with other fibrosing skin diseases, 20 subjects with nonfibrosing skin diseases, and 20 subjects without a skin disease. Subjects answered a questionnaire with 8 closed-ended (yes/no) questions focusing on cutaneous and musculoskeletal manifestations of NSF.
Background: Ingestion of multiple antioxidants may result in synergistic increases in skin protection.
Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, controlled study, the authors evaluated the effect of an antioxidant combination product in women with mild-to-moderate photoaging over 20 weeks. Changes on Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity levels and Minimal Erythema Dose were measured throughout the study.
Background: Papulopustular acne rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition which can be difficult to treat. Many patients are unwilling to use systemic medications, and single topical agents alone may not address all the symptoms of rosacea. A combination topical clindamycin phosphate 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPsoriasis is an inflammatory disease that affects women in their reproductive years. Other similar diseases have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We sought to assess whether pregnant women with psoriasis are at higher risk of developing complications, such as preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune, T-cell mediated, inflammatory disease. An improved understanding of the pathogenesis of the autoimmune response has led to the development of targeted biologic therapies. Briakinumab is a human monocolonal antibody that blocks the activity of the cytokines IL-12 and IL-23.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of biologics in dermatology has increased rapidly. Although most are relatively safe when correctly used and monitored, there are known side effects and adverse events that occur. Selection of patients should be done on a case-by-case basis.
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