Non-psoriatic uses of calcipotriol: a concise updated review.

Calcipotriol (calcipotriene) is a synthetic vitamin D3 derivative that is a standard treatment option for psoriasis. It is generally well tolerated with minimal side effects. Due to its ability to reduce keratinocyte proliferation and induce keratinocyte differentiation as well as its immunomodulatory effects, calcipotriol has been used to treat a variety of skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis, actinic keratoses, lichen planus, seborrheic keratoses, and vitiligo [1]. We surveyed the literature examining the use of calcipotriol for non-psoriatic dermatologic disease.

Paclitaxel-induced dorsal hand-foot syndrome.

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS), also known as palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia or acral erythema, is a known adverse effect of chemotherapeutic agents that most commonly presents as palmoplantar dysesthesia and erythematous plaques localized to the palms and soles. Paclitaxel is an uncommon cause of HFS and is notable for its unique presentation on the dorsal hands and feet. We present an unusual case of paclitaxel-induced HFS localized to the dorsal hands of a 66-year-old man with metastatic angiosarcoma. Early identification and management of HFS is critical to allow for continuation of chemotherapy while improving patient quality of life.

Lenalidomide-induced symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema.

Symmetric drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema (SDRIFE) is a cutaneous drug reaction that presents with symmetrical erythema in the flexures. The reaction typically appears hours-to-days after drug exposure but has been reported to occur months after drug initiation. Diagnostic criteria include cutaneous reaction after exposure to a systemic drug, erythema of the gluteal region and/or V-shaped erythema of the inguinal areas, involvement of an additional intertriginous site, symmetry, and absence of systemic involvement. The rash typically presents as macular erythema. However, variations in morphology have been reported including papules, pustules, vesicles, and bullae. The histopathology of SDRIFE is non-specific and the diagnosis is made clinically. Cessation of the causative drug leads to gradual rash resolution. Beta-lactam antibiotics are the most implicated medications but case reports describe SDRIFE following monoclonal antibodies, chemotherapeutic agents, and various other medications. We present a patient with SDRIFE secondary to lenalidomide, an immunomodulatory agent. This case highlights the importance of considering SDRIFE in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with intertriginous erythema.

Postoperative Pain After Mohs Surgery: Physician Perceptions and How Those Perceptions Influence Opioid Prescribing Practices.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about dermatologists' perceptions of postoperative pain and how those perceptions correlate with patient-reported pain and opioid prescribing. OBJECTIVE: To determine dermatologists' accuracy in predicting postoperative pain compared with patient-reported pain and how physicians' perceptions affect opioid prescribing practices. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A prospective observational study in which patients undergoing Mohs surgery rated pain on the Numerical Rating Scale (0-10). Using the same scale, the physician predicted how much pain the patient would experience postoperatively on the evening of surgery. All analgesic medications taken in postoperative period were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 316 patients completed the study (70% completion rate). Physician predictions were correlated with patient-reported pain (p < .001; r = 0.29) and were within 2 points of patient-reported pain in 70% of cases. When physicians overestimated patient-reported by ≥3 points, they were not more likely to prescribe opioids (p = .8094). Physicians predicted higher pain for patients who were prescribed opioids (p = .0002). CONCLUSION: Dermatologists were fairly accurate at predicting postoperative pain. Dermatologists were not more likely to prescribe opioids when pain was overpredicted.

A case report of disseminated verrucosis secondary to ustekinumab in a patient with Crohn's disease.

Ustekinumab is a biologic agent with Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. It functions to inhibit the p40 subunit common to both interleukin-12 and interleukin-23. These pro-inflammatory cytokines are implicated in autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders, but they also play an important role in cell-mediated immunity against viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Therefore, antagonism of interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 by ustekinumab may increase the risk of human papillomavirus infection or reactivation which can lead to the development of verrucae. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one published report of disseminated verrucosis secondary to ustekinumab treatment for psoriasis. Here, we present the first case report of ustekinumab-induced disseminated verrucosis occurring in the setting of treatment for Crohn's disease.

Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis in an Adolescent with Crohn Disease.

Nocardia is an aerobic, Gram-positive, partially acid-fast bacterium that often manifests as pulmonary infection since the primary route of entry is via the respiratory tract. As an opportunistic organism, Nocardia primarily affects immunocompromised individuals. Infection with Nocardia is uncommon. Primary cutaneous nocardiosis which is caused by percutaneous inoculation is even more rare. Here, we report a case of primary cutaneous nocardiosis in an adolescent with Crohn disease receiving treatment with adalimumab and azathioprine. Early identification and treatment are important to prevent disease progression and to avoid severe complications. Diagnosis is made principally by culture. Given that culture results may take up to two weeks to return, primary cutaneous nocardiosis should be maintained in the differential for any superficial cutaneous infection that arises in individuals undergoing treatment with immunosuppressive agents.

Prediabetes Phenotype Influences Improvements in Glucose Homeostasis with Resistance Training.

PURPOSE: To determine if prediabetes phenotype influences improvements in glucose homeostasis with resistance training (RT). METHODS: Older, overweight individuals with prediabetes (n = 159; aged 60±5 yrs; BMI 33±4 kg/m2) completed a supervised RT program twice per week for 12 weeks. Body weight and composition, strength, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hr oral glucose tolerance, and Matsuda-Defronza estimated insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were assessed before and after the intervention. Participants were categorized according to their baseline prediabetes phenotype as impaired fasting glucose only (IFG) (n = 73), impaired glucose tolerance only (IGT) (n = 21), or combined IFG and IGT (IFG/IGT) (n = 65). RESULTS: Chest press and leg press strength increased 27% and 18%, respectively, following the 12-week RT program (both p<0.05). Waist circumference (-1.0%; pre 109.3±10.3 cm, post 108.2±10.6 cm) and body fat (-0.6%; pre 43.7±6.8%, post 43.1±6.8%) declined, and lean body mass (+1.3%; pre 52.0±10.4 kg, post 52.7±10.7 kg) increased following the intervention. Fasting glucose concentrations did not change (p>0.05) following the intervention. However, 2-hr oral glucose tolerance improved in those with IGT (pre 8.94±0.72 mmol/l, post 7.83±1.11 mmol/l, p<0.05) and IFG/IGT (pre 9.66±1.11mmol/l, post 8.60±2.00 mmol/l) but not in those with IFG (pre 6.27±1.28mmol/l, post 6.33± 1.55 mmol/l). There were no significant changes in ISI or glucose area under the curve following the RT program. CONCLUSIONS: RT without dietary intervention improves 2-hr oral glucose tolerance in individuals with prediabetes. However, the improvements in glucose homeostasis with RT appear limited to those with IGT or combined IFG and IGT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01112709.