Systematic review of mobile phone-based teledermatology.

Teledermatology is an expanding field within dermatology that has grown and become more clinically accepted by both patients and doctors. With approximately 260 million mobile phone users in the US and 4-6 billion worldwide with access to mobile phones, teledermatology serves as a potentially useful tool for diagnosis and management (Samkange-Zeeb and Blettner in Emerg Health Threats J, https://doi.org/10.3134/ehtj.09.005 , 2009). In this review, we provide a detailed overview of mobile phone technology and the accumulating evidence for its incorporation into dermatology. Key questions addressed include accuracy and concordance between mobile teledermatology and face-to-face dermatology for the diagnosis of skin conditions. Similarly, accuracy and concordance were compared for the management of skin conditions. To track the development of mobile phone technology, we also assessed how data were captured, stored, and displayed in teledermatology studies.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study of 377 Adult Patients from the United States.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) is a rare, severe mucocutaneous reaction with few large cohorts reported. This multicenter retrospective study included patients with SJS/TEN seen by inpatient consultative dermatologists at 18 academic medical centers in the United States. A total of 377 adult patients with SJS/TEN between January 1, 2000 and June 1, 2015 were entered, including 260 of 377 (69%) from 2010 onward. The most frequent cause of SJS/TEN was medication reaction in 338 of 377 (89.7%), most often to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (89/338; 26.3%). Most patients were managed in an intensive care (100/368; 27.2%) or burn unit (151/368; 41.0%). Most received pharmacologic therapy (266/376; 70.7%) versus supportive care alone (110/376; 29.3%)-typically corticosteroids (113/266; 42.5%), intravenous immunoglobulin (94/266; 35.3%), or both therapies (54/266; 20.3%). Based on day 1 SCORTEN predicted mortality, approximately 78 in-hospital deaths were expected (77.7/368; 21%), but the observed mortality of 54 patients (54/368; 14.7%) was significantly lower (standardized mortality ratio = 0.70; 95% confidence interval = 0.58-0.79). Stratified by therapy received, the standardized mortality ratio was lowest among those receiving both steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (standardized mortality ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval 0.21-0.79). This large cohort provides contemporary information regarding US patients with SJS/TEN. Mortality, although substantial, was significantly lower than predicted. Although the precise role of pharmacotherapy remains unclear, co-administration of corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, among other therapies, may warrant further study.

Fluoroscopy-induced radionecrosis.

Complications from radiation exposure during fluoroscopic guidance of cardiac catheterization may occur. With repeated procedures, the risk for cutaneous injuries increases. Herein, we describe a 59-year-old man with extensive coronary artery disease, who had undergone multiple revascularization procedures and developed a non-healing ulcer on his left inferior scapula. The patient's medical history, physical exam findings, and histopathology gave clues to a case of radiation-induced dermatitis and necrosis.

Ibuprofen Blunts Ventilatory Acclimatization to Sustained Hypoxia in Humans.

Ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia is a time-dependent increase in ventilation and the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) that involves neural plasticity in both carotid body chemoreceptors and brainstem respiratory centers. The mechanisms of such plasticity are not completely understood but recent animal studies show it can be blocked by administering ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, during chronic hypoxia. We tested the hypothesis that ibuprofen would also block the increase in HVR with chronic hypoxia in humans in 15 healthy men and women using a double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over trial. The isocapnic HVR was measured with standard methods in subjects treated with ibuprofen (400 mg every 8 hrs) or placebo for 48 hours at sea level and 48 hours at high altitude (3,800 m). Subjects returned to sea level for at least 30 days prior to repeating the protocol with the opposite treatment. Ibuprofen significantly decreased the HVR after acclimatization to high altitude compared to placebo but it did not affect ventilation or arterial O2 saturation breathing ambient air at high altitude. Hence, compensatory responses prevent hypoventilation with decreased isocapnic ventilatory O2-sensitivity from ibuprofen at this altitude. The effect of ibuprofen to decrease the HVR in humans provides the first experimental evidence that a signaling mechanism described for ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia in animal models also occurs in people. This establishes a foundation for the future experiments to test the potential role of different mechanisms for neural plasticity and ventilatory acclimatization in humans with chronic hypoxemia from lung disease.

Necrolytic acral erythema masquerading as cellulitis.

Necrolytic acral erythema (NAE) is a rare cutaneous sign of hepatitis C virus infection and has recently been linked to zinc deficiency. It presents as well-demarcated erythematous plaques in a sandal-like distribution on the dorsal feet with psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia on histology. Our patient reported a 9-month history of progressive bilateral lower extremity erythema, swelling, erosions, and nail dystrophy that failed to improve despite multiple courses of antibiotics for presumed lower extremity cellulitis. Serum studies revealed zinc deficiency. This case supports the association of NAE with both HCV infection and zinc deficiency and highlights the pitfalls in the diagnosis of chronic unrecognized NAE. Suspected cases of NAE should prompt evaluation for underlying HCV and zinc deficiency to avoid treatment delay and associated complications.

Evaluation criteria for mobile teledermatology applications and comparison of major mobile teledermatology applications.

BACKGROUND: Mobile teledermatology applications have enabled increased patient access to dermatologic care. For groups interested in starting a mobile teledermatology program, selection of the appropriate application can be challenging. Having pretested evaluation criteria allows for efficient, systematic assessment of mobile teledermatology applications and identification of features important for comparison. The primary aim of this study is to determine a framework for evaluation of mobile teledermatology applications and to compare two major mobile teledermatology applications available in the United States using the proposed criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We incorporated previous teledermatology application evaluation criteria and developed new evaluation criteria to reflect matters specific to the mobile platform. Through a systematic search, we identified two publicly available mobile teledermatology applications in the United States and applied the evaluation criteria. RESULTS: The 13-point evaluation criteria encompass three major domains: (1) technical specifications, (2) user experience and workflow, and (3) integration and scalability. The evaluation criteria provided an effective way of assessing the two mobile teledermatology applications. Both AccessDerm version 1.0 (Vignet Corp., McLean, VA) and ClickMedix version 1.3 (ClickMedix LLC, Rockville, MD) were capable of managing consultations. These applications adopted different approaches to balancing image quality versus data transmission, managing follow-up patients, and enabling dialogue between providers. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile teledermatology provides convenient and scalable means of providing specialty care. The creation of mobile application evaluation criteria offers a useful guide for assessing future mobile applications.

Liposome-encapsulated curcumin suppresses growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in xenografts through the inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB by an AKT-independent pathway.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a liposomal formulation of curcumin would suppress the growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines CAL27 and UM-SCC1 in vitro and in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: HNSCC cell lines were treated with liposomal curcumin at different doses and assayed for in vitro growth suppression using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. A reporter gene assay was done on cell lines to study the effect of liposomal curcumin on nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activation. Western blot analysis was done to determine the effect of curcumin on the expression of NFkappaB, phospho-IkappaBalpha, phospho-AKT (pAKT), phospho-S6 kinase, cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1L, and Mcl-1S. Xenograft mouse tumors were grown and treated with intravenous liposomal curcumin. After 5 weeks, tumors were harvested and weighed. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses were used to study the effect of liposomal curcumin on the expression of NFkappaB and pAKT. RESULTS: The addition of liposomal curcumin resulted in a dose-dependent growth suppression of both cell lines. Liposomal curcumin treatment suppressed the activation of NFkappaB without affecting the expression of pAKT or its downstream target phospho-S6 kinase. Expression of cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1L, and Mcl-1S were reduced, indicating the effect of curcumin on the NFkappaB pathway. Nude mice xenograft tumors were suppressed after 3.5 weeks of treatment with i.v. liposomal curcumin, and there was no demonstrable toxicity of liposomal curcumin upon autopsy. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis on xenograft tumors showed the inhibition of NFkappaB without affecting the expression of pAKT. CONCLUSIONS: Liposomal curcumin suppresses HNSCC growth in vitro and in vivo. The results suggest that liposomal curcumin is a viable nontoxic therapeutic agent for HNSCC that may work via an AKT-independent pathway.