Plant Dermatitis: More Than Just Poison Ivy.

Plants can cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), mechanical irritant contact dermatitis, chemical irritant contact dermatitis, light-mediated dermatitis, and pseudophytodermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis to chemicals in the Toxicodendron genus, which includes poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, is the most common cause of plant ACD; however, many other plants, such as Compositae, Alstroemeriaceae, and Rutaceae plants also are important causes of dermatitis. In individuals with recurrent ACD from plants other than Toxicodendron, patch testing can be used to identify the source of allergic reactions to plant species. This article provides an overview of the various plant dermatoses, common culprits of plant dermatitis, and diagnostic and therapeutic options for plant dermatoses.

Austrian Syndrome - A Rare Clinical Triad.

Austrian syndrome is the clinical triad of endocarditis, meningitis, and pneumonia secondary to Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is an uncommon but serious illness that requires clinical suspicion in an at-risk population in order to guide further workup and treatment. Here we present a case of a Wisconsin resident who illustrates the severity of the disease and how certain elements of this triad may be delayed in clinical presentation.

Interrater Reliability of the Prone Apprehension Relocation Test.

BACKGROUND: The Prone Apprehension Relocation Test (PART) augments existing radiographic measures and clinical provocative maneuvers in diagnosing hip instability. One measure of the potential clinical utility of the PART depends on the reproducibility of test results by evaluating providers including physicians, licensed athletic trainers, and physical therapists. PURPOSE: To determine the interrater reliability of the PART among health care providers. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients in our institution's hip preservation registry who presented between September 2017 and June 2019 for evaluation of hip pain. Patients included in the study had the PART performed by a single physician as well as 1 of 12 physician extenders (a licensed athletic trainer or a physical therapist). The providers were blinded to the findings of the other examining professional. Interrater reliability was assessed using the Cohen κ (≥0.75 was considered excellent; between 0.75 and 0.40, moderate; and ≤0.40, poor). RESULTS: A total of 96 patients (190 hips) were included in this study (61 women and 35 men, average age 32 ± 12.1 years). A total of 23 hips had a positive PART from both examiners. Interrater reliability was excellent between health care professionals for the PART when evaluating the right hip (κ = 0.80), left hip (κ = 0.82), and when combining the results for left and right (κ = 0.81). A subanalysis of patients with a positive PART from both raters demonstrated that 19 of the 23 hips had a lateral center-edge angle >25°. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated excellent interrater reliability of the PART, supporting its use in the physical evaluation of painful hips.

Bullous aplasia cutis congenita: A rare presentation of a rare disease.

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a congenital disorder characterized by localized or generalized absence of skin. Bullous aplasia cutis congenita (BACC) is a rare clinical subtype that has few documented reports in the literature. Herein, we present a new case of BACC in which the bulla was unruptured at birth.

The Unhappy Cosmetic Patient: Lessons From Unfavorable Online Reviews of Minimally and Noninvasive Cosmetic Procedures.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients receiving minimally and noninvasive cosmetic procedures is increasing. Often, patients turn to online review forums to gain and share advice regarding cosmetic procedures. Understanding and discussing patient-reported outcome data can help align physician and patient expectations and ultimately help improve the patient experience. OBJECTIVE: To determine the most common reasons patients are dissatisfied with a selection of minimally and noninvasive cosmetic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Negative patient reviews from the RealSelf.com website were analyzed, and the reason for patient discontent was recorded for the following treatments: tissue stabilized-guided subscision, cryolipolysis, electromagnetic therapy, deoxycholic acid injections, energy-induced thermolysis, radio thermoplasty, threadlifts, and ultrasound therapy. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred four reviews were included in analysis. For all treatments analyzed, the most common reason for patient dissatisfaction was ineffectiveness (n = 782, 65.0%), followed by complications (n = 301, 25.0%). The most common complications were as follows: lumps for tissue stabilized-guided subscision (n = 6, 50.0%), treated area enlargement for cryolipolysis (n = 23, 22.1%), swelling for deoxycholic acid injections (n = 9, 47.4%), numbness for energy-induced thermolysis (n = 6, 35.3%), fat loss for radio thermoplasty (n = 26, 53.1%) and ultrasound therapy (n = 32, 48.5%), and indentations for threadlifts (n = 10, 30.3%). CONCLUSION: Ineffectiveness and complications were the most common reasons for dissatisfaction among all treatments analyzed. Patient-reported outcome data may offer insight into how physicians can improve their patient's satisfaction with cosmetic procedures.

Arterial Calcification on Wrist Radiographs May Suggest Need for Evaluation of Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Individuals.

Asymptomatic individuals with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) are at risk for unanticipated cardiac events including myocardial infarction (MI). Laboratory studies, stress tests, and coronary artery imaging including coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring evaluate at-risk individuals. Hand and wrist x-rays demonstrating significant arterial wall calcification may provide an additional means to identify asymptomatic individuals at risk for cardiac events. Here we report a case series of patients without known cardiac disease who demonstrated significant calcium deposits in the radial and/or ulnar arteries in radiographs performed for evaluation of their hand conditions. Each series patient was subsequently found to have calcification on coronary artery imaging and an elevated risk of future cardiac events. Our series suggests that peripheral arterial calcifications observed by radiologists and hand specialists may warrant systemic evaluation for atherosclerosis in other areas of the body.

Leprosy Diagnosed via Teledermatology in a U. S. Urban Academic Health Center Highlights Potential Benefits and a Pitfall of Existing Telemedicine Services.

Purpose: Teledermatology has emerged as an important tool to extend the reach of dermatologists. As utilization of teledermatology services increases, careful attention should be given to the design of the system for consulting dermatologists. Methodology: In this case study, we report how access to a patient's entire medical history in a teledermatology consultation was vital for an accurate diagnosis. Results: This case emphasizes the importance of full access to patients' medical records for improving diagnostic accuracy. We believe that full-access systems will lower the risk of misdiagnosis and will help to maximize the potential of teledermatology.

Strategies to regulate transcription factor-mediated gene positioning and interchromosomal clustering at the nuclear periphery.

In budding yeast, targeting of active genes to the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and interchromosomal clustering is mediated by transcription factor (TF) binding sites in the gene promoters. For example, the binding sites for the TFs Put3, Ste12, and Gcn4 are necessary and sufficient to promote positioning at the nuclear periphery and interchromosomal clustering. However, in all three cases, gene positioning and interchromosomal clustering are regulated. Under uninducing conditions, local recruitment of the Rpd3(L) histone deacetylase by transcriptional repressors blocks Put3 DNA binding. This is a general function of yeast repressors: 16 of 21 repressors blocked Put3-mediated subnuclear positioning; 11 of these required Rpd3. In contrast, Ste12-mediated gene positioning is regulated independently of DNA binding by mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation of the Dig2 inhibitor, and Gcn4-dependent targeting is up-regulated by increasing Gcn4 protein levels. These different regulatory strategies provide either qualitative switch-like control or quantitative control of gene positioning over different time scales.