Smartphone adapter time trial analysis: A low-cost, time-efficient method to disseminate quality photomicrographs at the microscope.

BACKGROUND: Within the field of pathology there is a need for a uniform low-cost option for securing high-quality photomicrographs. Advances in smartphone photography and 3D-printing technology allow for custom adapters to be designed for the purpose of photomicrograph capture. METHODS: Photomicrograph acquisition was performed using four core modalities: a novel 3D-printed smartphone-to-microscope adapter, freehand smartphone-to-microscope technique, a commercial adaptor (LabCam Pro), and a microscope-mounted digital camera. Eight skin diagnoses were photographed using each of the modalities and time to image capture was measured. The photomicrographs were blindly reviewed by two academic dermatopathologists and one pathologist using a side-by-side comparison technique to determine the image quality. Cost assessments were evaluated by obtaining free pricing information on manufacturer websites. RESULTS: The 3D-printed adapter was the most efficient method of capturing a high-quality photomicrograph in addition to being budget neutral. The microscope-mounted camera produced the highest quality photomicrographs followed by the 3D-printed adapter. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D-printed smartphone-to-microscope adapter offers a low-cost, time-efficient method of capturing high-quality photomicrographs.

Localized Talaromyces marneffei infection presenting as a tonsillar mass mimicking malignancy.

Talaromyces marneffei is an opportunistic fungal infection seen in immunocompromised patients including those with HIV/AIDS. It is usually seen in patients who live in or are from tropical Asia. In HIV patients, oropharyngeal and laryngeal lesions are usually part of disseminated infection. We describe a case of 63-year-old Vietnamese male with history of HIV/AIDS who presented with localized T. marneffei tonsillar infection without disseminated disease. Imaging studies showed a right tonsillar mass with right cervical lymphadenopathy which was initially thought to be malignancy. The patient underwent biopsy of the mass and histology showed noncaseating granulomas on hematoxylin and eosin stain as well as yeast on Grocott methenamine silver stain. Fungal culture of the biopsy specimen grew suede-like grayish-white colonies with diffuse underlying deep red color pigment which was identified as Talaromyces marneffei. The patient was treated with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B and achieved resolution of symptoms and tonsillar mass. In HIV/AIDS patients who are either from endemic regions or with history of travel to endemic areas particularly Southeast Asia and China, T. marneffei infection should be considered in differential diagnoses of a tonsillar mass.

A smartphone application to improve the precision of biopsy site identification: A proof-of-concept study.

Dermatologists rely on skin biopsies to diagnose cutaneous tumors and rashes. Skin biopsy sites should be accurately identified with conventional anatomical site descriptors in the pathology request form. Reliance upon free-text entries to describe these biopsy sites is prone to user error and can cause medical misadventures such as wrong-site follow-up surgery. We sought to determine whether a smartphone application (RightSite) could improve the precision of biopsy site labeling. We conducted a prospective proof-of-concept study of 100 smartphone-assisted skin biopsy site identifiers with matched comparison to 100 historical controls. Student's t-test was used to identify significant differences in the precision of anatomic descriptors before and after adoption of the application. We found a 69% improvement in precision of anatomic site labeling with the RightSite smartphone application (P < 0.0001). These data show smartphone-assisted biopsy site labeling improves the precision of anatomic site descriptors. Integrating graphical user interfaces into the electronic health records system could improve health care by standardizing anatomic site nomenclature and site-specific descriptors.

Cephalexin-induced acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis.

Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic that is commonly used in the treatment of infectious diseases. We report a patient exhibiting a rare adverse effect of cephalexin: drug-induced Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP). We present this case because of the scarcity of reports associating cephalexin with AGEP in hopes that clinicians will consider AGEP in their differential diagnosis in the appropriate clinical setting.

Certolizumab-induced guttate psoriasiform dermatitis.

Certolizumab is a TNF inhibitor that has showngreat efficacy in chronic inflammatory diseases. Wereport a patient exhibiting a novel adverse effect ofcertolizumab: drug-induced guttate psoriasiformeruption. A review of the mechanism of psoriasiformdrug eruptions is also included.

The h-index for associate and full professors of dermatology in the United States: an epidemiologic study of scholastic production.

Promotion in academic dermatology requires evidence of scholastic production. The h-index is a bibliometric measure that combines both volume and impact of scientific contributions. Its calculation better predicts future scientific success than do publication or citation counts. In this epidemiologic survey of associate and full professors of dermatology in residency training programs in the United States, we measured mean and median h-indices among associate and full professors as well as regional differences in h-index. These findings could be used to track individual achievement and as a parameter in considering an individual for professional advancement in dermatology.