Alopecia Universalis Treated With Tofacitinib: The Role of JAK/STAT Inhibitors in Hair Regrowth.

Alopecia universalis is alopecia areata (AA) with total-body involvement of hair loss. The disease progression is due to autoimmune T cells. We present a case of a patient with alopecia universalis who was successfully treated with tofacitinib.

Botanical Briefs: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a plant that historically has been used in medicine for its antimicrobial, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic properties. In dermatology, bloodroot has been utilized for its cytotoxic effects; it has been marketed as black salve as an anticancer treatment, but it does not come without notable toxicities. Unwanted cosmetic outcomes and even irreversible scarring and premalignant conditions have been reported. This article aims to bring awareness to both the therapeutic potential of S canadensis as well as the potential toxicities and risks associated with this North American plant.

Cutaneous Manifestations of COVID-19.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present with multisystem signs and symptoms, including dermatologic manifestations. The recent literature has revealed that dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19 often are early onset and provide helpful cues to a timely diagnosis. We compiled the relevant emerging literature regarding the dermatologic manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) so that physicians can be aware of the various clinical cutaneous presentations in this time of high incidence of COVID-19.

Hidden Basal Cell Carcinoma in the Intergluteal Crease.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer and often is found in sun-exposed areas, particularly the head and neck. However, BCCs also can arise in unexpected locations. Intergluteal crease BCC is a rare finding and often can be overlooked. When promptly identified, prognosis is good. Being educated on the existence of BCC in this sensitive area can aid proper diagnosis. This sensitive area should be included in a thorough skin examination to avoid missing this treatable cancer. We report the case of an 83-year-old woman with a BCC hidden in the intergluteal crease.

Cranial Strain Patterns Associated With Concussions.

CONTEXT: Concussions can cause cognitive impairment, somatic symptoms, and behavioral changes. Symptoms may vary in severity, depending on the degree of traumatic force. Due to the biomechanical nature of this trauma, cranial somatic dysfunctions may commonly be seen in patients with concussion. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients were more likely to have nonphysiologic cranial somatic dysfunctions than physiologic cranial somatic dysfunctions after sustaining a concussion. METHODS: College athletes who had a concussion based on the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive test were evaluated by a physician within 1 week of the injury. Patients were evaluated for somatic dysfunctions of the cranium. Cranial somatic dysfunctions were documented; test scores and force vectors were compared with the type of strain pattern using SPSS, with P<.05 demonstrating statistical significance. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in the study: 10 with nonphysiologic cranial strain somatic dysfunctions and 6 with physiologic dysfunctions. Compared with lateral forces, forces of impact with anterioposterior vectors were associated 1.5 times more often with nonphysiologic rather than physiologic cranial somatic dysfunctions (P=.697). An analysis of specific cranial strain patterns and impact force vectors showed no statistical significance (P=.096). CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant association showing that concussion patients were more likely to have nonphysiologic cranial somatic dysfunctions compared with physiological cranial somatic dysfunctions. However, nonphysiologic cranial somatic dysfunctions did show a trend toward association with concussion. Further studies are needed to better understand the potential association between concussion and cranial somatic dysfunctions.