Current perspective on actinic keratosis: a review.

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common, with prevalence in the U.S.A. estimated at almost 40 million in 2004 and annual costs of > $1 billion (U.S.D.). However, there is no universally accepted definition of AK and thus it is difficult to identify reliably. AKs are lesions of epidermal keratinocytic dysplasia that result from chronic sun exposure and have the ability to progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but clinicians disagree about whether AKs are premalignant lesions, superficial SCCin situ or epiphenomena of chronically sun-damaged skin. Yearly AK to SCC progression rates of 0·6% were reported in an elderly population with multiple prior keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs); and rates of spontaneous AK regression have been reported to be > 50%, but regressed lesions often reappear. As AKs have both cosmetic consequences and potential for malignant transformation, there are multiple reasons for treatment. There is no current agreement on the most efficacious treatment, but 5-fluorouracil has been shown to both prevent and treat AKs, and imiquimod and photodynamic therapy may have the best cosmetic outcomes. AKs may be treated to improve appearance and relieve symptoms, but the keratinocytic dysplasia that gives rise to malignancy, and sometimes appears as an AK, may be what actually threatens patient health. Thus, treatments should aim to decrease the risk of KC or facilitate KC diagnosis by reducing the potential for misidentification created when a KC appears in a field of AKs. Improved agreement among clinicians on AK definition may improve management.

Stretch marks during pregnancy: a review of topical prevention.

Striae gravidarum (SG), or stretch marks developing during pregnancy, affect up to 90% of women. While not medically dangerous, SG can be disfiguring, causing emotional and psychological distress. However, studies specifically addressing the prevention of SG, especially during pregnancy, are sparse. Furthermore, the molecular pathogenesis of SG is unclear and may differ from that of striae from other causes. Considering these factors, we review topical modalities that have been used specifically for preventing SG during pregnancy. We identify two major strategies (end points) addressed by these modalities, namely (i) preventing the de novo development of SG and (ii) reducing the severity of SG that have recently developed. We also identify risk factors for the development of SG and suggest that pregnant women with these risk factors are an appropriate target population for prevention. In reviewing the literature, we find that there is limited evidence that centella, and possibly massage with bitter almond oil, may prevent SG and/or reduce their severity. There is weak evidence that hyaluronic acid prevents SG. Tretinoin holds promise for reducing the severity of new-onset SG, but its use is limited by its pregnancy category. Finally, cocoa butter and olive oil are not effective for preventing SG or reducing the severity of lesions. We conclude that reliable methods for preventing SG are scarce. Furthermore, available topical modalities generally lack strong evidence from rigorous, well-designed, randomized controlled trials with ample numbers of subjects. Thus, further research is necessary to elucidate SG pathogenesis, which may lead to effective prevention modalities.

Hypertension, obesity and prostate cancer biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises a constellation of risk factors associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Components of MetS have emerged as putative risk factors for prostate carcinoma. In this study, we examine the association between three features of the MetS (obesity, hypertension and diabetes) and the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: We examined data from 1428 men in the University of Michigan Prostate Cancer Data Bank who elected to have RP as their primary treatment. We calculated body mass index from patients' weight and height measured at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis. We used the University of Michigan's Electronic Medical Record Search Engine to identify subjects with hypertension and/or diabetes before their prostate cancer diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 1428 men who underwent RP, 107 (8%) subsequently developed BCR with a median length of follow-up post-surgery of 3.6 years. Obesity and hypertension were each associated with an increased risk of BCR (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.37; 95% CI 0.92-2.09 and aHR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.01-2.26), whereas no association was observed between diabetes and BCR (aHR = 0.73; 95% CI 0.40-1.33). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and hypertension were each associated with an increased risk for BCR of prostate cancer after RP, independent of age at diagnosis and tumor pathological features. Given the increasing rates of obesity, hypertension and prostate cancer, a better understanding of the relationship between these entities is of significant public health importance. Elucidation of the involved pathogenic mechanisms will be needed to establish causality.