Lyme disease: a rigorous review of diagnostic criteria and treatment.

Lyme disease was originally identified in Lyme, Connecticut, based upon an unusual cluster of what appeared to be patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It was subsequently identified as a new clinical entity originally called Lyme arthritis based on the observation that arthritis was a major clinical feature. However, Lyme arthritis is now called Lyme disease based upon the understanding that the clinical features include not only arthritis, but also potential cardiac, dermatologic and neurologic findings. Lyme disease typically begins with an erythematous rash called erythema migrans (EM). Approximately 4-8% of patients develop cardiac, 11% develop neurologic and 45-60% of patients manifest arthritis. The disease is transmitted following exposure to a tick bite containing a spirochete in a genetically susceptible host. There is considerable data on spirochetes, including Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the original bacteria identified in this disease. Lyme disease, if an organism had not been identified, would be considered as a classic autoimmune disease and indeed the effector mechanisms are similar to many human diseases manifest as loss of tolerance. The clinical diagnosis is highly likely based upon appropriate serology and clinical manifestations. However, the serologic features are often misinterpreted and may have false positives if confirmatory laboratory testing is not performed. Antibiotics are routinely and typically used to treat patients with Lyme disease, but there is no evidence that prolonged or recurrent treatment with antibiotics change the natural history of Lyme disease. Although there are animal models of Lyme disease, there is no system that faithfully recapitulates the human disease. Further research on the effector mechanisms that lead to pathology in some individuals should be further explored to develop more specific therapy.

The autoimmune basis of alopecia areata: a comprehensive review.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, non-scarring dermatologic condition regularly distinguished by patches of hair loss on the scalp also manifesting in other, severe forms, including alopecia totalis (total loss of hair on the scalp) and alopecia universalis (complete loss of hair on the scalp and body). AA is a clinically heterogeneous disease with greatly varying yet typical symptoms, but the etiology for AA remains an enigma. However, clinical and experimental studies have pointed to autoimmune involvement, specifically regarding immune privilege sites of the hair follicles and the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and a predominant Th1 cytokine profile. Environmental insults, such as viral infections, trauma and genetic predisposition are also believed to contribute to the disease process. Multiple treatment options including the use of broad acting corticosteroids appear to be relatively effective in mild cases, however the clinical management of more severe forms of AA is much more difficult. Recent studies suggest that intervention of the JAK pathway may have a potential therapeutic efficacy for AA.

An open source model for open access journal publication.

We describe an electronic journal publication infrastructure that allows a flexible publication workflow, academic exchange around different forms of user submissions, and the exchange of articles between publishers and archives using a common XML based standard. This web-based application is implemented on a freely available open source software stack. This publication demonstrates the Dermatology Online Journal's use of the platform for non-biased independent open access publication.

New communication between dermatologists in the age of the Internet.

Dermatologists may benefit from a free Internet resource, RxDerm-L, which is an e-mall discussion group for our specialty. Initiated in November 1993, enrollment has finally passed the 1,000 mark; its daily communication reaches a significant percentage of practitioners. Proceedings of this group were monitored for 4 weeks, with special attention to authors, content, and participants. Discussions focused on diagnostic problems and treatment Issues. Members most often providing content were more than likely published and/or associated with a dermatology teaching program. In addition to questions and opinions, the daily exchange included patient images, citations, and abstracts. The average number of letters per day was 46. The ability to share images, access to collective expertise, immediacy of the discussion, and group camaraderie appear to have contributed to the success of this forum. Physicians able to endure the large quantity of e-mall may find RxDerm-L a valuable practice resource.