Current concepts for oil decontamination of crush injuries: a review.

This anecdotal, non-systematic review serves to explore the principles and methods of effective oil decontamination from cutaneous wounds, particularly crush injuries. The current expansion of the petroleum industry is necessary to meet increasing world demands for oil. Most stages of oil refining and applications involve significant injury risks, particularly for crush injuries that become contaminated with petroleum compounds. A literature review regarding a standard of care for effective cutaneous oil decontamination is lacking. Based on case reports, animal models, and in vitro studies identified in our expert opinion review, standard water and soap cleansing may not be an appropriate approach. Instead, the principle of 'like dissolves like' guides the use of lipophilic, petroleum-derived solvents to attract and subsequently dissolve the petroleum contaminant from the skin injury. Limitations include paucity of and dated literature sources regarding the topic as well as no models specifically addressing crush injuries. Our literature review found that oil decontamination of cutaneous injuries may be best accomplished with oil-based cleansers. Certainly, this topic has significant importance for the potentially carcinogenic petroleum compounds that pervade virtually every aspect of modern human life.

Social networking sites: emerging and essential tools for communication in dermatology.

IMPORTANCE: The use of social media by dermatology journals and professional and patient-centered dermatology organizations remains largely unknown and, to our knowledge, has yet to be fully evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify the extent of involvement of dermatology journals, professional dermatology organizations, and dermatology-related patient advocate groups on social networking sites. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We obtained an archived list of 102 current dermatology journals from SCImago on the World Wide Web and used the list to investigate Facebook, Twitter, and individual journal websites for the presence of social media accounts. We identified professional and patient-centered dermatology organization activity on social networks through queries of predetermined search terms on Google, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The activity of each entity was documented by recording the following metrics of popularity: the numbers of Facebook "likes," Twitter "followers," and LinkedIn "members." MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The numbers of Facebook likes, Twitter followers, and LinkedIn members corresponding to each dermatology journal and each professional and patient-related dermatology organization. RESULTS: On July 17, 2012, of the 102 dermatology journals ranked by SCImago, 12.7% were present on Facebook and 13.7% on Twitter. We identified popular dermatology journals based on Facebook likes and Twitter followers, led by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and Dermatology Times, respectively. Popular professional dermatology organizations included dermRounds Dermatology Network (11 251 likes on Facebook and 2900 followers on Twitter). The most popular dermatology patient-centered organizations were the Skin Cancer Foundation (20 119 likes on Facebook), DermaTalk (21 542 followers on Twitter), and the National Psoriasis Foundation (200 members on LinkedIn). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Patient-centered and professional dermatology organizations use social networking sites; however, academic journals tend to lag behind significantly. Although some journals are active in social media, most have yet to recognize the potential benefits of fully embracing popular social networks.

Mobile applications in dermatology.

IMPORTANCE: With advancements in mobile technology, cellular phone-based mobile applications (apps) may be used in the practice and delivery of dermatologic care. OBJECTIVE: To identify and categorize the variety of current mobile apps available in dermatology for patients and providers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Dermatology-related search terms were queried in the online app stores of the most commonly used mobile platforms developed by Apple, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, and Windows. Applications were assigned to categories based on description. Popularity, price, and reviews were recorded and target audiences were determined through websites offering online mobile apps. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Number, type, and price of mobile apps in dermatology. RESULTS: A total of 229 dermatology-related apps were identified in the following categories: general dermatology reference (61 [26.6%]), self-surveillance/diagnosis (41 [17.9%]), disease guide (39 [17.0%]), educational aid (20 [8.7%]), sunscreen/UV recommendation (19 [8.3%]), calculator (12 [5.2%]), teledermatology (8 [3.5%]), conference (6 [2.6%]), journal (6 [2.6%]), photograph storage/sharing (5 [2.2%]), dermoscopy (2 [0.9%]), pathology (2 [0.9%]), and other (8 [3.5%]). The most reviewed apps included Ultraviolet ~ UV Index (355 reviews), VisualDx (306), SPF (128), iSore (61), and SpotMole (50). There were 209 unique apps, with 17 apps existing on more than 1 operating system. More than half of the apps were offered free of charge (117 [51.1%]). Paid apps (112 [48.9%]) ranged from $0.99 to $139.99 (median, $2.99). Target audiences included patient (117 [51.1%]), health care provider (94 [41.0%]), and both (18 [7.9%]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The widespread variety and popularity of mobile apps demonstrate a great potential to expand the practice and delivery of dermatologic care.

Topical application of recombinant type VII collagen incorporates into the dermal-epidermal junction and promotes wound closure.

Patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) have incurable skin fragility, blistering, and skin wounds due to mutations in the gene that codes for type VII collagen (C7) that mediates dermal-epidermal adherence in human skin. In this study, we evaluated if topically applied human recombinant C7 (rC7) could restore C7 at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) and enhance wound healing. We found that rC7 applied topically onto murine skin wounds stably incorporated into the newly formed DEJ of healed wounds and accelerated wound closure by increasing re-epithelialization. Topical rC7 decreased the expression of fibrogenic transforming growth factor-ß2 (TGF-ß2) and increased the expression of anti-fibrogenic TGF-ß3. These were accompanied by the reduced expression of connective tissue growth factor, fewer α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive myofibroblasts, and less deposition of collagen in the healed neodermis, consistent with less scar formation. In addition, using a mouse model in which skin from C7 knock out mice was grafted onto immunodeficient mice, we showed that applying rC7 onto RDEB grafts with wounds restored C7 and anchoring fibrils (AFs) at the DEJ of the grafts and corrected the dermal-epidermal separation. The topical application of rC7 may be useful for treating patients with RDEB and patients who have chronic skin wounds.

Legislation restricting access to indoor tanning throughout the world.

OBJECTIVE: To compile current legislation of indoor tanning throughout the world and compare them with existing legislation found in 2003. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: International. PARTICIPANTS: All nations with legislation regarding access to indoor tanning found through web-based Internet search. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of nations with legislation and changes to laws regarding access to indoor tanning since 2003. RESULTS: The number of countries with nationwide indoor tanning legislation restricting youth 18 years or younger increased from 2 countries in 2003 to 11 countries in 2011. Six states or territories in Australia restricted indoor tanning in all minors; a province and a region in Canada implemented youth tanning laws; and 8 states, in addition to 3 preexisting state laws, in the United States implemented indoor tanning legislation since 2003. CONCLUSION: Since 2003, access to indoor tanning has become increasingly restricted around the world.