Added On : 15th December 2011Dermatopathology Workforce in the U.S.: An Overview
Who practices dermatopathology, how happy are they, and how can we assure a continuing presence at sufficiency in academia?
To characterize the dermatopathology workforce in the U.S., these authors sent a questionnaire to all 913 Fellow members of the American Society of Dermatopathology (ASDP). The objectives were to collect data about current practice and future plans, identify characteristics of academic practitioners, and explore satisfaction regarding fellowship training.
Added On : 28th December 2011Dr. Joel Gelfand elucidates the concept of number needed to screen in "Behind the Numbers", a new Journal Watch Dermatology feature aimed at clarifying issues in epidemiologic design and biostatistics.
Added On : 5th March 2012Vemurafenib induced clinical response in more than half of patients with previously treated BRAF V600E–mutant metastatic melanoma.
Vemurafenib significantly improved survival at 6 months in patients with metastatic melanoma in the BRIM-3 trial, but its effectiveness in patients previously treated with other drugs and its longer-term efficacy were undetermined. Investigators conducted this updated, phase 2 trial of vemurafenib in 132 patients with BRAF V600–mutant metastatic melanoma who had received other prior treatment.
Added On : 19th March 2012Ingenol mebutate gel was significantly more effective than vehicle alone.
Actinic keratoses (AKs) are extremely common lesions that affect nearly 40 million individuals in the United States alone and many more worldwide. Conversion rates of AKs to nonmelanoma skin cancers are estimated to range from 6% to 10% over a 10-year period. Field therapy of the entire area of sun-damaged skin is frequently performed in patients with extensive AKs. Although highly effective, most forms of field therapy require prolonged treatment and cause a protracted irritant reaction, sometimes quite strong. Ingenol mebutate, the active ingredient of sap of Euphorbia peplus, has been in long use in Australia for many skin conditions. These investigators conducted two manufacturer-supported trials of the safety and efficacy of a 0.015% concentrate of ingenol mebutate gel for AKs of the face and scalp in 547 patients with extensive actinic damage and multiple AKs.