Efficacy of 785-nm Picosecond Titanium Sapphire Laser for Treatment of Brown Nevus of Ota Lesions in FST II-V: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Nevus of Ota (NOTA) is a dermal melanocytosis acquired in early childhood or pregnancy. Given their color variability, NOTA often require a combination of wavelengths for successful treatment. Quality-switched lasers have consistently shown efficacy in targeting dermal pigment, while picosecond lasers (PSLs) are an emerging technology for pigmentary disorders. OBJECTIVE: To further elucidate its efficacy, the authors conducted a retrospective review of 17 patients with NOTA treated with a 785-nm PSL for brown NOTA lesions between 2021 and 2023. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The primary end point analyzed clinical improvement based on before and after photography reviewed by 3 board-certified dermatologists using a five-point visual analog scale. RESULTS: Seventeen patients of Fitzpatrick skin types (FSTs) II to V, ranging from ages 14 to 38 years, were included in this study. Patients were treated for an average of 3.2 sessions in 2 to 3-month intervals. Visual analog scale scores demonstrated a mean clearance of 51% to 75%. No pigmentary alterations were noted. CONCLUSION: Because NOTA is common in higher FSTs, the authors believe that the 785-nm PSL is an excellent treatment option for brown NOTA in these skin types. This study highlights the need for further investigation to determine optimal treatment parameters for the color-based laser treatment approach for NOTA.

Comprehensive Review of Thermomechanical Fractional Injury Device: Applications in Medical and Cosmetic Dermatology.

Objective: Our aim was to review the current and emerging dermatological applications of the novel thermomechanical fractional injury (TMFI) device, Tixel® (Novoxel, Netanya, Israel). Methods: A systematic review of PubMed using the search terms of "Tixel", "thermomechanical fractional", ["thermomechanical ablation" and "skin"], and ["thermomechanical ablation" and "dermatology"]. Results: Thirty-six articles matched our inquiry. Fifteen articles did not meet inclusion criteria. Of the remaining 21 articles, eight were related to device-assisted drug delivery, seven related to photoaging, and seven related to scientific/ preclinical exploration. Preclinical studies have shown ablative and non-ablative microchannel formation similar to that of CO2 laser but without charring, with clinical studies demonstrating efficacy for a wide range of applications including rhytides, hypertrophic scarring, infantile hemangiomas, and acne/rosacea. The treatment is well tolerated with minimal discomfort and downtime, showing promise for pain-averse and pediatric populations. Few adverse events have been reported, with a high degree of safety demonstrated in all Fitzpatrick types. Limitations: Heterogeneous result reporting among studies. Limited number of randomized controlled trials. Conclusion: Tixel® is an emerging TMFI device with a wide range of current and potential applications, including device-assisted drug delivery and treatment of rhytides, photoaging, and scars among other conditions. The device has both ablative and non-ablative settings and has been safely used in all Fitzpatrick skin types. Larger and randomized controlled trials are needed to compare this device to current standard of care treatments.

Psychiatric Comorbidity in Prurigo Nodularis and the Impact of Socioeconomic Status.

Objective: We sought to investigate the relationship between psychiatric comorbidity, socioeconomic status (SES), and mental health utilization among patients with prurigo nodularis (PN). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with PN from 2007 to 2019. SES was approximated using zip codes; per capita income data was compared to the Livable Income Threshold. Results: 288 patients were included. Patients were predominantly female (57%) and significantly more likely to have a psychiatric disorder than men (p=0.001). 44.1 percent of patients had at least one psychiatric comorbidity, with mood (74.8%) and anxiety (63.0%) disorders being most common. Patients with PN in lower SES groups had a higher incidence of psychiatric disorder (p=0.566) and utilization of mental health services (p=0.617). 40.9 percent of patients with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder had no record of seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist. Limitations: Patient records were retrospectively reviewed for encounters with a psychiatrist or psychologist, but did not account for other forms of mental health services. Per capita income used to determine SES may not be an accurate representation of an individual's income, nor did it account for the number of people within a household. Conclusion: Psychiatric comorbidity was common among patients with PN and many went without receiving mental health services. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better understand the impact of SES on these factors.

Long-term Physical and Psychological Outcomes of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

IMPORTANCE: Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) is known to cause multiple end-organ complications in its acute phase, but less is known about the long-term association with patients' mental health and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To examine the chronic physical and psychological sequelae affecting patients with SJS/TEN. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A survey study conducted at 11 academic health centers in the US evaluated 121 adults diagnosed with SJS/TEN by inpatient consultive dermatologists between January 1, 2009, and September 30, 2019. INTERVENTIONS: Patients completed a survey that included the following validated questionnaires: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen (PC-PTSD), and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). The survey also included questions created by the study team regarding fear, patient education, and long-term sequelae relevant to SJS/TEN. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were the percentage of patients reporting long-term physical sequelae; the percentage of patients with positive results on PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PC-PTSD screening; and the numeric score on the SF-12 (score of 50 defined as average physical and mental well-being). RESULTS: A total of 121 individuals (73 women [60.3%]; mean [SD] age, 52.5 [17.1] years) completed the survey (response rate, 29.2%). The most common long-term physical sequelae reported were cutaneous problems (102 of 121 [84.3%]), ocular problems (72 of 121 [59.5%]), and oral mucosal problems (61 of 120 [50.8%]). A total of 53.3% (64 of 120) of the respondents had results indicating depression on the PHQ-9, 43.3% (52 of 120) showed signs of anxiety on the GAD-7, and 19.5% had results indicating PTSD on the PC-PTSD. The mean (SD) SF-12 Physical Component Summary score was 42.4 (22.8), and the mean Mental Component Summary score was 46.1 (20.9). A total of 28.2% (33 of 117) of the respondents were unable to work, 68.1% (81 of 119) were fearful of taking new medications, and 30.0% (36 of 120) avoided taking prescribed medications for a diagnosed medical condition. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This survey study found that long-term physical sequelae, depression, and anxiety appear to be common in patients with SJS/TEN, with implications for health and well-being. Improved awareness of these complications may assist health professionals in offering medical care, counseling, and support to patients with SJS/TEN.

Metoclopramide for Acute Migraine Treatment in the Emergency Department: An Effective Alternative to Opioids.

In light of recent warnings by the United States (US) Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for recommending more prudent use of opioid narcotics, the search for a non-opioid alternative for aborting acute migraines is particularly relevant. The CDC also estimates the prevalence of opioid dependence may be as high as 26% among patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain, not due to cancer, in the primary care setting. Given such staggering data, it is imperative that we, as caretakers, not foster opioid dependence but rather continue to investigate non-opioid therapies for the management of acute migraines in the emergent care settings. Our literature review demonstrates that metoclopramide should be used more frequently as first-line therapy for an acute migraine over opioids. The use of opioids specifically has been discouraged as migraine treatment by the American Headache Society citing "insufficient evidence" as the main reason. Metoclopramide, specifically using the 10 mg dose, has been cited as "highly likely to be effective" by the same guidelines. Another major issue with opioids is the growing potential for abuse, thus minimizing the use of these drugs for only special circumstances would be beneficial overall.