Compression stockings as an effective treatment for erythema nodosum: Case series.

Erythema nodosum (EN) is a septal panniculitis that is characterized clinically by tender, erythematous, subcutaneous nodules that are predominately localized on the pretibial lower legs. EN affects women more than men and can be idiopathic or secondary to another disease process such as infection or an immune response. Treatment options for erythema nodosum are suboptimal and often involve significant side effects or require a change in lifestyle. We investigated the effects of moderate 20 mmHg to 30 mmHg compression stockings as an alternative treatment method in two female patients with recurrent erythema nodosum. In both cases, the patients wore the compression stockings daily. At the follow-up visit, the EN lesions were no longer tender to the touch, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation changes had started. Both patients had a lasting clinical resolution.

Subgroup effects in a randomised trial of different types and doses of exercise during breast cancer chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Trial tested different types and doses of exercise in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Here, we explore potential moderators of the exercise training responses. METHODS: Breast cancer patients initiating chemotherapy (N=301) were randomly assigned to three times a week, supervised exercise of a standard dose of 25-30 min of aerobic exercise, a higher dose of 50-60 min of aerobic exercise, or a higher dose of 50-60 min of combined aerobic and resistance exercise. Outcomes were patient-reported symptoms and health-related fitness. Moderators were baseline demographic, exercise/fitness, and cancer variables. RESULTS: Body mass index moderated the effects of the exercise interventions on bodily pain (P for interaction=0.038), endocrine symptoms (P for interaction=0.029), taxane/neuropathy symptoms (P for interaction=0.013), aerobic fitness (P for interaction=0.041), muscular strength (P for interaction=0.007), and fat mass (P for interaction=0.005). In general, healthy weight patients responded better to the higher-dose exercise interventions than overweight/obese patients. Menopausal status, age, and baseline fitness moderated the effects on patient-reported symptoms. Premenopausal, younger, and fitter patients achieved greater benefits from the higher-dose exercise interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy weight, fitter, and premenopausal/younger breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are more likely to benefit from higher-dose exercise interventions.

A pilot study of low dose hydroxyurea as a novel resistance modulator in metastatic renal cell cancer.

Mechanisms of chemoresistance in renal cell carcinoma include P-glycoprotein, overexpression of multidrug resistance-1 (mdr1) gene, and unstable chromosomal aberrations. In vitro exposure of resistant tumor cells to low dose hydroxyurea causes loss of chromosomal aberrations, decrease in the mdr1 gene copies, and increased sensitivity to vinblastine. Patients received continuous hydroxyurea 500 mg every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Vinblastine 5 mg/m2 was given intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. Seventeen patients with a median age of 63 (range 40-80) received a median of 3 courses of vinblastine (range 1-14). Toxicities included: > or = grade 3 non-hematologic toxicity (1) and febrile neutropenia (2). No treatment related mortality occurred. Three patients (17.6%) had partial responses. The median survival was 38.0 weeks (95% CI = 26.9-49.1 weeks). The addition of hydroxyurea given at the dose of 500 mg orally three times weekly had no major impact on the expected antitumor effect of vinblastine.

Traumatic tattoo from battery-operated earrings.

Traumatic tattoos result from accidental deposition of pigmented particles in the dermis. Battery-operated devices should be added to the list of situations in which traumatic tattoos may arise. In this case, an iron-containing tattoo was removed by Mohs' micrographic surgery with an acceptable cosmetic result.

A transport cup for resterilizable electrodes.

BACKGROUND: A cup to transport resterilizable electrodes is introduced. OBJECTIVE: To prevent loss of durable resterilizable electrodes, to increase awareness of workplace hazards in the physician's office, and to minimize needle stick injuries. METHODS: The cup described is a readily available surgical receptacle. The resterilizable electrodes were provided by Hasting's Biomedical Corporation. The system was developed and evaluated in clinical practice. RESULTS: The transport cup has been found to reduce loss of resterilizable electrodes in a dermatology office. Its use is welcomed by the nursing staff as a method to reduce handling of contaminated electrodes. The system described also eliminates staff handling of sharp electrosurgical needles. CONCLUSIONS: An efficient method of using the stainless steel transport cup is described that greatly improves office safety and prevents loss of durable electrosurgical electrodes.

Provoked shooting by police as a mechanism for suicide.

We report a case which was processed by the Philadelphia Office of the Medical Examiner in which a person with a previous known suicide attempt clearly provoked the Philadelphia police into shooting him. We believe that this is but one of many such incidents in which the victim provokes another into administering fatal injury. This is a mechanism of suicide which, we believe, is exemplified by the case presented.

Sporotrichosis.

Five cases of cutaneous sporotrichosis were seen at the Stanford University Department of Dermatology from 1966 to 1977, where the disease was previously unreported. The possibility of sporotrichosis should be considered when suppurative cutaneous lesions do not respond to antibacterial agents. Skin biopsy of sporotrichotic lesion is often nonspecific, while culture is the best method of diagnosis.

Steatocystoma multiplex. Report of a florid case and a review.

A patient had numerous cysts over almost all of his skin surface. The lesions were persistently infected, painful, and odorous, and were contributory to the patient's psychological problems. The cysts were histologically determined to be of the steatocystoma multiplex variety. Several therapeutic modalities were used but only surgical incision, drainage, and electrocautery were beneficial.

Dermatologic reaction in Stevens-Johnson syndrome after ophthalmic anesthesia with proparacaine hydrochloride.

A 53-year-old woman, treated in the acute phase of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, received one drop of proparacaine hydrochloride 0.5% in each eye for topical anesthesia. One hour later she developed new bullae of the hands and feet.

Kaposi's varicelliform eruption in mycosis fungoides.

Kaposi's varicelliform eruption, caused by herpes simplex type 1, developed in a patient with mycosis fungoides four days after initiation of photochemotherapy with methoxsalen plus long-wave ultraviolet light (PUVA). He had a history of recurrent localized herpes infection. Vidarabine (adenine arabinoside) was used as treatment. Rechallenge with PUVA did not provoke another herpes infection. Kaposi's varicelliform eruption is rare in mycosis fungoides. Vidarabine may prove to be useful in the treatment of widespread herpes simplex.