Up to 100 million individuals may be infected by the dengue virus each year. The virus is transmitted through arthropod bites (usually mosquitoes). Population increase makes control of mosquito population difficult as breeding sites (stagnant waters) are more numerous and less detectable (roofs…). Infection ranges from asymptomatic infection to dengue fever with/without hemorrhagic fever and…
Newer treatments against psoriasis are targeted and are called „biologics“ as a group. However biologics can be divided into two groups, based on their molecular target. The newer ones target Il-17 and include secukinumab and ustekinumab The « older » ones include etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab (which bind tumor necrosis factor (TNF)) Anti-TNF medication is known to…
The authors sought to measure the effects of Cannabis sativa, (-)-cannabidiol (CBD) (a recreational drug) Results of the study show that: administration of CBD to cultured human sebocytes (cells that secrete sebum) and human skin organ culture inhibited the lipogenic actions of various compounds, including including testosterone. CBD suppresses sebocyte proliferation via the activation of…
Strategies for early melanoma detection: Approaches to the patient with nevi. Goodson AG, Grossman D. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 May;60(5):719-35; quiz 736-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.10.065. Mole checks are the « bread and butter » of many dermatologists. The article summarizes the concepts of practical situations that arise when checking the skin or moles for melanoma: Should we…
Neurofibromatosis type 1. Boyd KP, Korf BR, Theos A. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Jul;61(1):1-14; quiz 15-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.12.051. Neurofibromatosis is also called Von Recklinghausen’s disease and affects one individual out of 3500. It is part of the phacomatoses and is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion (mutation on chromosome 17) The review goes through…
Selection criteria for genetic assessment of patients with familial melanoma. Leachman SA, Carucci J, Kohlmann W, Banks KC, Asgari MM, Bergman W, Bianchi-Scarrà G, Brentnall T, Bressac-de Paillerets B, Bruno W, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, de Snoo FA, Debniak T, Demierre MF, Elder D, Goldstein AM, Grant-Kels J, Halpern AC, Ingvar C, Kefford RF, Lang J, MacKie…
Pain associated with aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy of skin disease. Warren CB, Karai LJ, Vidimos A, Maytin EV. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Dec;61(6):1033-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.03.048. Photodynamic Therapy (or PDT) is a treatment involving the application of a photosensitizing substance (aminolevulinic acid (ALA), methyl-aminolevulinate MAL) for a few hours before shining a light for a few…
Pruritus in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: a review. Ahern K, Gilmore ES, Poligone B. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Oct;67(4):760-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.12.021. Skin lymphomas (CYCL) generate a lot of itching and despite being able to target these cancers effectively, often pruritus remains. The review begins with the pathways involved in pruritus as well as the substances…
The skin microbiome: current perspectives and future challenges. Chen YE, Tsao H. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Jul;69(1):143-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.01.016. Different bacteria, fungi and viruses live on the skin. The type of microorganisms as well as their density depends on « environmental » factors. « Tropical » areas include the skin folds such as axillae, inquinal folds… ‘Desert » areas…
Erlotinib-related skin toxicities: treatment strategies in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Kiyohara Y, Yamazaki N, Kishi A. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Sep;69(3):463-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.02.025. Targeted treatments against cancers have enhanced therapeutic properties as compared with older treatments. But with this also comes an array of new unwanted side-effects which are the results…
