Journal of Drugs in Dermatology articles from January 2003

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology archives from January 2003

A letter from the guest editor.
January 1, 2003... It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the guest editor for this issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. It is hard to believe that it was more than two decades ago when I enjoyed a similar honor as a guest editor of the Journal...

Errata.(corrections to "A case of phenytoin hypersensitivity syndrome" in volume 3, pages 331-332, October, 2002 and "Management of obstructive airway hemangiomas in the neonate" in volume 3, pages 331-332, December, 2002)(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2003... THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF JDD INCLUDED A WINNING CASE REPORT BUT INCORRECTLY REPORTED ON ONE OF ITS REFERENCES. "A Case of Phenytoin Hypersensitivity Syndrome," submitted by Drs. Raymond Cornelison, A. Neil Crowson, George Monks, and Mark...

Ivermectin in dermatology.
January 1, 2003... Abstract Ivermectin, a broad-spectrum anti-parasitic agent first used in veterinary medicine, is active against numerous specie of helminths and arthropods. For the past few years, world-wide reports on the use of ivermectin in various...

Oral calcitriol: a new therapeutic agent in cutaneous lichen sclerosis.
January 1, 2003... Abstract Background: Lichen sclerosus remains an elusive disease with an uncertain relationship to morphea and scleroderma. The disorder has been difficult to treat, with no consistent and reproducible efficacious therapy. Recently, a...

Onychomycosis in children: an overview.
January 1, 2003... Abstract Onychomycosis in children is relatively uncommon, with a prevalence of approximately 0.3% worldwide. The most common etiologic organism is Trichophyton rubrum. The oral antifungal agents terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole,...

An update on newer topical therapies for actinic keratoses: advances and applications.
January 1, 2003... Introduction The use of topical agents for treatment of most dermatologic disorders is integral to the practice of dermatology. The innate properties and therapeutic mechanisms of the active component(s) of a topical preparation and the...

Thalidomide as elective treatment in persistent erythema multiforme; report of two cases.
January 1, 2003... Abstract Recurrent erythema multiforme is a rare disorder, clinically characterized by symmetrically distributed, erythematous, and bullous skin and mucous lesions, mainly precipitated by a preceding herpes simplex infection. In rare...

Brittle nails: pathogenesis and treatment.
January 1, 2003... Brittle nails are a common reason why patients consult a dermatologist. The incidence of brittle nails in the European and North American population is approximately 20%, and women suffer from nail brittleness twice as often as men (1). ...

Ciclopirox olamine: head to foot.
January 1, 2003... Introduction Ciclopirox is a hydroxylated pyridone, a unique substance in our topical treatment armamentarium. It first came to market in Europe and has been in use for a number of years (1). Worldwide it is or has been available as a...

Are atomic veterans at higher risk of skin cancer?(Skin Cancer Foundation Update)
January 1, 2003... On August 6, 1945, a 15-kiloton-yield uranium bomb (code name "Little Boy") was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima from an Army Air Corps B29 bomber (named the "Enola Gay" after its pilot's mother). Three days later a 21-kiloton...

Thalidomide and temozolomide in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.(Skin Cancer Foundation Update)
January 1, 2003... Melanoma is the third most common cancer to metastasize to the brain. Due to the extremely poor prognosis (median survival is often less than 6 months) and lack of effective therapy, patients are often excluded from clinical trials. ...

Heads in the sand: teens are tanning again.(Skin Cancer Foundation Update)
January 1, 2003... In the 1990's, the youth of America had started protecting themselves against the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays (UV). But now, a mountain of evidence shows that teenagers are eagerly tanning again. Megastars like Britney Spears are flaunting...

Unregulated alternative medicine.(Focus On)
January 1, 2003... Summary Unconventional (i.e. alternative, traditional, or complementary) treatments are used by many individuals for a variety of symptoms and disorders. Reports on fraudulent products used for unconventional treatments are not uncommon....

Local blistering reaction complicating subcutaneous injection of pegylated interferon in a patient with hepatitis C.(Case Reports)
January 1, 2003... Abstract PEG-Intron is a covalent conjugate of recombinant alpha-2b interferon with monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (PEG). Compared to standard interferon-alpha injections, this preparation has a longer half-life allowing for once-weekly...

Plantar wart treatment with combination Imiquimod and salicylic acid pads.(Case Reports)
January 1, 2003... Abstract Treatment of plantar warts is often difficult and may be painful, often employing destructive treatment modalities. We report the successful treatment of a patient with a large plantar wart using Imiquimod 5% cream under occlusion...

Successful treatment of Extramammary Paget's Disease with imiquimod.(Case Reports)
January 1, 2003... Abstract: Extramammary Paget's Disease (EMPD) is an uncommon neoplasm found in the genital, anorectal, or axillary area. Surgical excision is considered the standard treatment, although possible loss of tissue function and disease...

Linear focal elastosis: histopathologic diagnosis of an uncommon dermal elastosis.(Case Reports)
January 1, 2003... Abstract Background: Linear focal elastosis is an uncommon dermal elastosis that occurs predominantly on the back. Although first described in the lumbar region of elderly white men, more recent reports note similar findings on the trunk...

Arterial embolization caused by Zyplast II.(Case Reports)
January 1, 2003... Introduction Arterial embolization caused by injectable preparations for soft-tissue augmentation may be less uncommon than was previously thought. This Case Report describes and explains an arterial embolization as an adverse reaction in...

Pipeline previews.
January 1, 2003... PIPELINE PREVIEWS PIPELINE PREVIEWS IS A FEATURE THAT WILL APPEAR IN EACH ISSUE. IT WILL BRING TO YOU INFORMATION ON THE NEWEST DRUGS AND MEDICAL PRODUCTS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE TO THE DERMATOLOGICAL COMMUNITY. THESE FEATURES MAY...

Solitary mastocytomas are a rare tumor of mast cells seen mostly in children.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... SOLITARY MASTOCYTOMAS ARE A RARE TUMOR OF mast cells seen mostly in children. This case report highlights the treatment of a two-month-old Korean male infant with a deep solitary mastocytoma using intralesional triamcinolone acetonide. Response...

AGA is a common and distressing condition for many in the population.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... AGA IS A COMMON AND DISTRESSING CONDITION for many in the population. Both topical and oral agents exist for treatment but comparison of their efficacy has been limited. In this study, 100 male patients with AGA of Hamilton grades II to IV...

KID syndrome is rare syndrome that is often difficult to treat.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... KID SYNDROME IS RARE SYNDROME THAT IS OFTEN difficult to treat. This article is a case presentation of a 17-year-old girl who presented with universally ichthyotic red hue on the face, trunk, and extremities along with deafness and keratitis...

Tar based products have long been useful and efficacious in the treatment of psoriasis.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... TAR BASED PRODUCTS HAVE LONG BEEN USEFUL AND efficacious in the treatment of psoriasis. However, their staining of the skin and clothes make them unacceptable to patients. This report introduces a new aqueous gel-based, liposomeentrapped...

Pinch grafting for the treatment of chronic leg ulcers is commonly done.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... PINCH GRAFTING FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC leg ulcers is commonly done. However, few studies exist that evaluate the efficacy of this treatment in an ambulatory care setting. In this retrospective study, a total of 199 pinch graft...

Topical antibiotic resistance in patients treated for acne vulgaris over long periods is a concern.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... TOPICAL ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN PATIENTS TREATED for acne vulgaris over long periods is a concern. In this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study, 208 patients with acne vulgaris patients were enrolled in a 24-week study to determine...

Long-chain sphingoid bases, present in the statum corneum, can strongly inhibit the growth of microorganisms.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... LONG-CHAIN SPHINGOID BASES, PRESENT IN THE statum corneum, can strongly inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of different phytosphingosine preparations against Malassezia furfur...

Barrier function is impaired in patients with atopic dermatitis.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... BARRIER FUNCTION IS IMPAIRED IN PATIENTS WITH atopic dermatitis. This study investigated the benefits of rice starch added to bath water in healthy volunteers and patients with atopic dermatitis. The forearm skin of healthy volunteers was...

Corticosteroid-induced skin atrophy is one of the well-known side effects of topical corticosteroids.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... CORTICOSTEROID-INDUCED SKIN ATROPHY IS ONE OF the well-known side effects of topical corticosteroids. However, few if any treatments exist for this complication. Thyroid hormones are known to have stimulatory effects on skin biology. In this...

This study examines the causative components of insulin allergy along with the value of skin tests for diagnosis.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE CAUSATIVE COMPONENTS of insulin allergy along with the value of skin tests for diagnosis. Eleven patients with insulin allergy and 53 patients receiving insulin but without an insulin allergy were included as controls....

Monotherapy with calcipotriol or betamethasone have both been useful in the treatment of psoriasis.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... MONOTHERAPY WITH CALCIPOTRIOL OR BETAMETHASONE have both been useful in the treatment of psoriasis. This study evaluates the efficacy of a new combination ointment containing both calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate compared with...

Leukemia cutis is a B-cell tumor of the skin and is uncommon.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... LEUKEMIA CUTIS IS A B-CELL TUMOR OF THE SKIN and is uncommon. This case report shows the successful use of the chemotherapeutic agent cladribine in the treatment of leukemia culls. After four courses, the patient was free of cutaneous tumors....

Anal canal condyloma (ACC) can be a difficult disease to treat and often has a high recurrence rate.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... ANAL CANAL CONDYLOMA (ACC) CAN BE A DIFFICULT disease to treat and often has a high recurrence rate. In this study, researchers evaluated the possible benefits of imiquimod as adjuvant treatment for ACC. After ablation of ACC, 10 male patients...

This study compares the efficacy of tacalcitol plus PUVA, tazarotene plus PUVA and PUVA, monotherapy in patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... THIS STUDY COMPARES THE EFFICACY OF TACALCITOL plus PUVA, tazarotene plus PUVA and PUVA, monotherapy in patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis. Duration of remission of each regimine was also evaluated. 31 patients with chronic plaque-type...

Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a rare skin disease seen most commonly on the lower extremities of patients with diabetes mellitus.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... NECROBIOSIS LIPOIDICA (NL) IS A RARE SKIN DISEASE seen most commonly on the lower extremities of patients with diabetes mellitus. Effective treatments for this disease are lacking. Preliminary studies in patients with NL have shown a clinical...

Peptide T (PT) is an octapeptide derived from the V2 region of HIV-1 gp120, an exterior envelope glycoprotein that is a target for host immune responses.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... PEPTIDE T (PT) IS AN OCTAPEPTIDE DERIVED FROM the V2 region of HIV-1 gp 120, an exterior envelope glycoprotein that is a target for host immune responses. It has been shown to resolve psoriatic lesions. The antiinflammatory mechanisms are...

Alopecia areata can be refractory to topical immunetherapy.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... ALOPECIA AREATA CAN BE REFRACTORY TO TOPICAL immunetherapy. In this study, investigators evaluated the efficacy of SADBE (squaric acid dibutylester) topical immunotherapy combined with topical dry ice cryotherapy, carpronium chloride (a...

Classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare indolent cutaneous malign proliferative disease affecting predominantly elderly men of Mediterranean and Jewish origin.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... CLASSIC KAPOSI'S SARCOMA (KS) IS A RARE INDOLENT cutaneous malign proliferative disease affecting predominantly elderly men of Mediterranean and Jewish origin. Treatment of disseminated disease can be difficult. This case report presents a...

Finasteride is used in the treatment of adrogenetic alopecia (AGA) and has been shown to have minimal adverse effects.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... FINASTERIDE IS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ADROGENETIC alopecia (AGA) and has been shown to have minimal adverse effects. In this study, researchers evaluated the effect of finasteride on mood disturbance. 23 patients were treated with...

Pemphigoid gestationis (PG) is a rare autoimmune bullous disease of pregnancy and postpartum.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... PEMPHIGOID GESTATIONIS (PG) IS A RARE AUTOIMMUNE bullous disease of pregnancy and postpartum, which relapses more seriously and earlier during following pregnancies. PG also occurs in association with trophoblastic tumours or contraceptive...

Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory disease.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... LICHEN PLANUS (LP) IS AN INFLAMMATORY DISEASE. Topical calcipotriol, which mainly stimulates differentiation and inhibits proliferation of keratinocytes, also has immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory functions. This study investigates the...

Imiquimod 5% cream has been shown to be effective in the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas (sBCCs).(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... IMIQUIMOD 5% CREAM HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE effective in the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas (sBCCs). In this study, investigators evaluated the efficacy, safety and compliance of imiquimod 5% cream for the treatment of sBCCs and...

Benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin are the two most widely prescribed topical antimicrobials in the treatment of acne.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... BENZOYL PEROXIDE AND CLINDAMYCIN ARE THE TWO most widely prescribed topical antimicrobials in the treatment of acne. This study compared the antimicrobial efficacy, in vivo, of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin against Propionibacterium acnes....

Tacrolimus (FK 506) inhibits T-cell activation.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... TACROLIMUS (FK 506) INHIBITS T-CELL ACTIVATION by inhibiting the production of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, TNFa, and GM-CSF. Given the inflammatory basis of many skin diseases, topical tacrolimus has been tried in a myriad of cutanteous dermatoses. This...

Treatment of Raynaud's phenomemnon can be challenging.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... TREATMENT OF RAYNAUD'S PHENOMEMNON CAN BE challenging. This article presents the case report of a 56-year-old female patient with severe Raynaud symptoms, treated with prostaglandin E1 ethyl ester in a transdermal drug delivery system. ...

Antihistamines are the mainstay of treatment for allergic skin diseases.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... ANTIHISTAMINES ARE THE MAINSTAY OF TREATMENT for allergic skin diseases. However, few studies exist comparing the various antihistamines available. In this study, investigators evaluated the extent of the distribution of H(1) antihistamines...

The immunomodulator tacrolimus has shown success in the treatment of psoriasis.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... THE IMMUNOMODULATOR TACROLIMUS HAS SHOWN success in the treatment of psoriasis. The newer immunomodulator pimecrolimus may also be a useful treatment for psoriasis. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of oral pimecrolimus in the...

Permethrin 5% cream is active against human ectoparasites.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... PERMETHRIN 5% CREAM IS ACTIVE AGAINST HUMAN ectoparasites. Given that Demodex folliculorum appears to play a role in rosacea, investigators evaluated the efficacy of permethrin cream in the treatment of papulopustular rosacea. 63 patients...

Few studies exist comparing efficacy of oral antifungal therapies for tinea pedis.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... FEW STUDIES EXIST COMPARING EFFICACY OF ORAL antifungal therapies for tinea pedis. In this study, investigators reviewed the literature of oral antifungals in the treatment of tinea pedis. This was a systemic review of the literature. The...

Researchers in this study evaluated the efficacy of the lidocaine patch 5% (LP) for the treatment of all common neuropathic pain conditions.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... RESEARCHERS IN THIS STUDY EVALUATED THE efficacy of the lidocaine patch 5% (LP) for the treatment of all common neuropathic pain conditions. This study demonstrated that LP reduces the intensity of all common neuropathic pain qualities and...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease.(Washington Whispers)
January 1, 2003... ATOPIC DERMATITIS (AD) IS A CHRONIC, RELAPSING, inflammatory skin disease. Minimizing replapses is a goal in maintenance treatment. In this study, investigators compared an intermittent dosing regimen of fluticasone propionate (FP) cream 0.05%...

Little data exist on the cross-reactivity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase inhibitors.(Washington Whispers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... LITTLE DATA EXIST ON THE CROSS-REACTIVITY OF nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase inhibitors. These innvestigators evaluated the safety of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor rofecoxib in a patient population with...

Clinical trial review.
January 1, 2003... 1. BIOENGINEERED SKIN AND WOUND HEALING This study is currently recruiting patients. Sponsored by: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) This study will look at whether a graft of...