Cyclosporin A in severe, therapy-resistant atopic dermatitis: report of an international workshop, April 1993

Summary Data on the use of oral cyclosporin A (CyA; Sandimmun®) therapy for severe adult atopic dermatitis have accumulated since 1987. Details of over 200 adult patients who have received short-term CyA were presented at an international workshop in April 1993. Eighty-six of these patients had participated in three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in which CyA was given for 6–8 weeks. The efficacy and safety of short-term CyA treatment in atopic dermatitis is established, provided that appropriate guidelines are observed. Evidence to date suggests that atopic dermatitis patients are no more prone to toxicity than patients with psoriasis, in whom more detailed and longer-term data are available. Early data also suggest that long-term CyA may be effective in atopic dermatitis, but there is concern regarding long-term safety, as experience is still limited. Careful monitoring of all CyA-treated patients is therefore mandatory. CyA should only be used under the direct and regular supervision of a hospital-based dermatologist who is knowledgeable in the use of cyclosporin A, and experienced in the management of severe skin disease and in the use of potentially toxic drugs.     

Scientific output of Spanish dermatology departments in international journals, 1997-2006

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine the scientific output in international journals by Spanish dermatologists between 1997 and 2006 using PubMed.Material and methodsPublications were identified with the following search query: (dermat*) and (spain or espagne or espanha or espana or spanien), with the limit “affiliation”. Articles described in PubMed as “journal articles” or “reviews” were included and those published in Spanish journals excluded.ResultsWe identified 1018 articles: 492 published between 1997 and 2001, and 526 published between 2002 and 2006. The majority were case reports (705, 69.3 %), but there were also 120 reviews (11.8 %). Most of the articles were published in dermatology journals with Science Citation Index impact factors (877, 86.1 %), with the following representing the main ones: Contact Dermatitis (129, 12.7 %), Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (115, 11.3 %), and the British Journal of Dermatology (86, 8.4 %). Nine institutions accounted for more than 50 % of the articles published. Notable among them were the following: Hospital Universitario La Princesa in Madrid (78, 7.7 %), Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona (71, 7.1 %), and Hospital Clínic in Barcelona (63, 6.2 %). Seven provinces produced 80 % of the publications, with Madrid (257, 25.2 %), Barcelona (244, 24.0 %), and A Coruña (98, 9.6 %) accounting for the highest proportion. Five autonomous communities accounted for 82 % of the publications: Madrid (257, 25.2 %), Catalonia (251, 24.7 %), Galicia (116, 11.4 %), the Autonomous Community of Valencia (112, 11.0 %), and Andalusia (96,9.4 %).ConclusionsThe scientific output in international journals has remained stable over the last decade. Authors and institutions from Barcelona and Madrid continued to be the most productive.     

Randomised trials of STD treatment for HIV prevention: report of an international workshop. HIV/STD Trials Workshop Group.

Three community trials of the impact of STD treatment interventions on HIV incidence in rural populations have been completed or are in progress in Uganda and Tanzania. Investigators from these trials met for a joint technical workshop in Baltimore in May 1996. This report summarises the consensus of the workshop, with the aim of providing useful input to research on HIV intervention strategies. Issues discussed include: (i) the role of community randomised trials; (ii) strategies for STD management; (iii) epidemiological and statistical issues in the design and analysis of community randomised trials; (iv) diagnostic methods for STDs in population surveys; (v) treatment regimens for STDs in rural Africa; and (vi) ethical issues in community trials.     

2004-2009年广西天峨县梅毒、淋病、AIDS/HIV疫情分析

目的了解天峨县近6年法定传染病中的梅毒、淋病、艾滋病(AIDS)和HIV阳性病例情况,分析其流行特征和规律,为制定防治策略和措施提供科学依据。方法收集该县2004-2009年的法定传染病梅毒、淋病、AIDS/HIV阳性病例疫情资料,采用Excel软件进行统计分析。结果全县近6年报告梅毒、淋病、AIDS和HIV阳性病例共382例,人群发病率为36.38/10万,女性高于男性,其中梅毒98例,人群发病率为9.33/10万;淋病265例,人群发病率为25.24/10万;AIDS6例(死亡1例)、HIV阳性13例(死亡2例),人群发病率为1.81/10万。以上4种疾病高发年龄在25～34岁年龄组。农民发病人数占49.48%。4种疾病病例数近几年呈逐年上升趋势,特别是梅毒和HIV阳性病例上升较明显。结论该县梅毒、淋病、AIDS/HIV阳性病例不断增多,其防治任务仍然严峻。     

The future of academic dermatology in the United States: report on the resident retreat for future physician-scientists,June 15-17, 2001

Fewer and fewer residents appear to be choosing careers in academic dermatology and research. Recognizing the impact that this trend would have on the future of our specialty, the Society for Investigative Dermatology invited a group of dermatology residents and academic dermatologists to participate in a retreat whose aim was to identify the reasons behind this trend and to begin to address these issues.     

Re-enablement of the neurologically impaired hand--2: surgical correction. report of a surgical workshop held at Green Pastures Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre, November 2004, Pokhara, Nepal

The last half-century has seen tremendous advances in the surgical treatment of neuropathic conditions of the hand. Many of these procedures give clear benefit to patients and have been established by clinical practice and well-formulated assessment. However, much remains to be discovered, especially with respect to which procedures should be used on which hands, and the impact of various procedures on the ability to carry out activities of daily living. Increased communication between the 'West', where funding is available for well designed trials and where reference textbooks are usually published, and the 'East', where the surgery is most commonly performed, will undoubtedly lead to an even better understanding of the treatment of the neuropathic hand.     

Efficacy and safety evaluation of an innovative CO2 laser/radiofrequency device in dermatology

Background CO₂ laser has not only become the most widely used laser in dermatological surgical practice, but it has also proved to be highly effective in treating aesthetic imperfections. Objective To examine the efficacy and safety of a novel fractional CO₂ laser combined with a radiofrequency device in different dermatological, surgical and aesthetic fields. Methods A total of 79 patients were treated in our Outpatient Service with a novel fractional CO₂ laser combined with a bipolar radiofrequency device for a maximum of 5 months. Group A consisted of 39 patients with lesions requiring complete excision, whereas Group B consisted of 40 subjects seeking to enhance aesthetic facial imperfections. The results were assessed by three ‘blind’ investigators using photographs and clinical observations; in addition, the patients had to give their own subjective assessment of the results. Results At the 6‐month follow‐up, the lesions of the Group A patients had been completely removed, except for one case of a large sebaceous nevus on the scalp. All the Group B patients showed global improvement in skin tightening, removal of fine lines and rhytides and correction of dilated pores and hyperpigmentation, with no significant side‐effects and short downtimes. Conclusion This kind of laser meets the needs of the majority of dermatologists requiring a unique, versatile tool to remove cutaneous lesions and at the same time, safely and effectively treat skin imperfections.     

Community dermatology in Debre Markos: an attempt to define children’s dermatological needs in a rural area of Ethiopia

Background Skin diseases are very common in rural and urban areas in developing countries. Knowledge of the real frequency of the dermatological problems of Ethiopian children could help plan future intervention for early diagnosis and low cost “good practice” therapies. Methods We involved in the project two primary Ethiopian schools, attended by 1765 children from grade 1 to grade 4, who were screened to assess their general skin health conditions. All children were examined naked in good day light. To record data we used an EPIinfo questionnaire. Results A total of 1104 children were screened. We registered a total number of 1086 dermatological problems, 876 of them were of infective origin mainly represented by fungal infections (36.1%). Tinea capitis represented 76% of the cases, tinea corporis 27% and tinea unguium 8%. Head lice affected 345 children. Viral infections accounted for 12%, most of them were warts. Conclusions We think our work highlights the general health and living conditions of Ethiopian school children. The dermatological problems affecting most of the children could improve just by better skin hygiene conditions. The presence at the community level of health workers trained to perform a correct and early diagnosis and distribute efficacious, low‐cost therapies would be a relevant step forward. We think this project could help draw attention and interest to these issues.