A systematic review of satisfaction with teledermatology.

Background The two most commonly used modalities of teledermatology (TD) are store-and-forward (SF) and live-interactive (LI) TD. Existing studies have not compared these tools with respect to patient and provider satisfaction. Objective To systematically review all published studies of patient and provider satisfaction with SF and LI TD. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for studies on provider or patient satisfaction with SF or LI TD between January 2000 and June 2016. Results Forty eligible studies were identified: 32 with SF TD, 10 with LI TD, and 2 evaluating both. With SF TD, 96% of studies assessing patient satisfaction and 82% of studies assessing provider satisfaction demonstrated satisfaction ( n = 24 and 17, respectively). With LI TD, 89% of studies assessing patient satisfaction and all studies assessing provider satisfaction revealed satisfaction (n = 9 and 6, respectively). Conclusion Patients and providers are satisfied with both SF and LI TD. Studies assessing satisfaction with LI have not been conducted in recent years, and have only been conducted in limited geographic patient populations. Further research assessing satisfaction with TD will help address any dissatisfaction with its uses and allow for increased support and funding of future programmes.

Portable equipment for taking dramatic sun-damage revealing photos at skin cancer prevention outreach events.

In recent years, appearance-based interventions have gained popularity as a means to improve public awareness about skin cancer and sun protective behaviors. Although numerous reports discuss the use of ultraviolet (UV) camera devices for this purpose,studies on the use of portable imaging devices in community outreach events do not presently exist. In this report, we discuss how we successfully utilize portable imaging devices at community outreach events. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of our portable devices in comparison to traditional UV cameras. Portable imaging devices are easy to use and have allowed us to increase our involvement in community outreach events targeting a wide range of participants.

Creating the first indoor tan-free skin smart college campus.

Given the prevalence and risk associated with indoor tanning among college students, university campuses constitute a prime target for skin cancer prevention. This report identifies the successes and challenges faced in promoting a campus-wide tan-free policy through the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP) Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus Initiative. Beginning in February 2016, we communicated with university faculty or staff members who have participated in skin cancer prevention via education, clinical care, or research at 20 universities regarding the steps to adopt the tan-free policy. One campus, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), successfully fulfilled all criteria and implemented the policy change to become the first US Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus. The greatest challenge faced in recruiting campuses was gaining administrative support. Reported reasons for not adopting the policy change included wanting to wait for other schools to join first and not seeing it as a top priority. Despite the importance of improving skin cancer awareness and decreasing tanning among university students, we faced several challenges in promoting campus-wide policy change. We identify a need for research on effective ways to disseminate university health policies and increased involvement of healthcare providers in policy-related work.

Greater distance to an academic medical center is associated with poorer melanoma prognostic factors: The University of Colorado Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous studies report a correlation between distance to diagnostic provider in an academic medical center and poorer prognosis ofdisease. Limited research on this topic exists with respect to melanoma. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of 1,463 adults (≥18 years) initially diagnosed with melanoma between 2006-2016. Associations between distance traveled and Breslow depth and presence of metastatic disease were assessed via cumulative and binary logistic regression models, adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: Subjects traveling ≥50 miles had 58% greater odds of having an increased Breslow depth than those traveling less than that distance (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.24-2.01; p<0.0001), and had four times the odds of presenting with metastatic disease (OR: 4.04; 95% CI: 3.00-5.46; p<0.0001). DISCUSSION: We highlight the correlation between increased distance to our academic medical center with greater Breslow depths and the presence ofmetastatic disease at presentation. CONCLUSION: Future studies assessing other factors and regional differences that limit access to diagnosis might help improve screening efforts to prevent poorer prognosis for patients in these areas.

Limb-Threatening Arterial Thrombosis in a Patient with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis (EGPA), or Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a rare and necrotizing systemic vasculitis, which affects small-to-medium-sized vessels and often manifests with severe asthma and eosinophilia. We report a case of a 72 year-old male with a two-year lung-biopsy proven history of EGPA who presented with retiform purpura and patchy necrosis on his bilateral shins, which progressed to sharply demarcated, stellate ulcerations with surrounding erythema within two weeks. Laboratory work up revealed elevated anti-Cardiolipin IgM, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein, although P-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (P-ANCA) and C-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (C-ANCA) were negative. Vascular studies revealed long anterior tibial and dorsalis pedis artery occlusion and severe small vessel disease in plantar digital arteries. Despite treatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide, pulse-dose methylprednisolone, and pentoxifylline, the patient experienced disease progression and limb threatening arterial thrombosis. This case highlights the importance of vascular and neuropathic sequelae that may result from untreated or undertreated EGPA in P-ANCA-negative patients without active pulmonary symptoms.

Regression of inflammation in atherosclerosis by the LXR agonist R211945: a noninvasive assessment and comparison with atorvastatin.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to noninvasively detect the anti-inflammatory properties of the novel liver X receptor agonist R211945. BACKGROUND: R211945 induces reversal cholesterol transport and modulates inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques. We aimed to characterize with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and dynamic contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (DCE-CMR) inflammation and neovascularization, respectively, in atherosclerotic plaques with R211945 treatment compared with atorvastatin treatment and a control. METHODS: Twenty-one atherosclerotic New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 3 groups (control, R211945 [3 mg/kg orally], and atorvastatin [3 mg/kg orally] groups). All groups underwent (18)F-FDG-PET/CT and DCE-CMR at baseline and at 1 and 3 months after treatment initiation. Concomitantly, serum metabolic parameters and histology were assessed. For statistical analysis, continuous DCE-CMR and PET/CT outcomes were modeled as linear functions of time by using a linear mixed model, whereas the histological data, animal characteristics data, and nonlinear regression imaging data were analyzed with a 2-tailed Student t test. RESULTS: (18)F-FDG-PET/CT detected a decrease in mean and maximum standard uptake values (SUV) over time in the R211945 group (both p = 0.001), indicating inflammation regression. The atorvastatin group displayed no significant change (p = 0.371 and p = 0.600, respectively), indicating no progression or regression. The control group demonstrated an increase in SUV (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively), indicating progression. There was a significant interaction between time and group for mean and maximum SUV (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0016, respectively) . DCE-CMR detected a trend toward difference (p = 0.06) in the area under the curve in the atorvastatin group, suggesting a decrease in neovascularization. There was no significant interaction between time and group (p = 0.6350 and p = 0.8011, respectively). Macrophage and apolipoprotein B immunoreactivity decreased in the R211945 and atorvastatin groups (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0004, respectively), and R211945 decreased oxidized phospholipid immunoreactivity (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Noninvasive imaging with (18)F-FDG-PET/CT and DCE-CMR and histological analysis demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects of the LXR agonist R211945 compared with atorvastatin. The results suggest a possible role for LXR agonists in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Pioglitazone modulates vascular inflammation in atherosclerotic rabbits noninvasive assessment with FDG-PET-CT and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the antiatherosclerotic properties of pioglitazone using multimethod noninvasive imaging techniques. BACKGROUND: Inflammation is an essential component of vulnerable or high-risk atheromas. Pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist, possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to quantify noninvasively the anti-inflammatory effects of pioglitazone on atheroma using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the aorta of 15 New Zealand white rabbits by a combination of a hyperlipidemic diet and 2 balloon endothelial denudations. Nine rabbits continued the same diet, whereas 6 rabbits received pioglitazone (10 mg/kg orally) in addition to the diet. Twelve animals underwent (18)F-FDG-PET/CT, and 15 animals underwent DCE-MRI at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment initiation. Concomitantly, serum metabolic parameters were monitored. After imaging was completed, aortic histologic analysis and correlation analysis were performed. RESULTS: The (18)F-FDG-PET/CT imaging detected an increase in average standardized uptake value in the control group (p < 0.01), indicating progressive inflammation, whereas stable standardized uptake values were observed in the treatment group, indicating no progression. The DCE-MRI analysis detected a significant decrease in the area under the curve for the pioglitazone group (p < 0.01). Immunohistologic examination of the aortas demonstrated a significant decrease in macrophage and oxidized phospholipid immunoreactivity in the pioglitazone group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively) with respect to control animals, underlining the imaging results. Serum metabolic parameters showed no difference between groups. Strong positive correlations between standardized uptake value and macrophage density and between area under the curve and neovessels were detected (r(2) = 0.86 and p < 0.0001, and r(2) = 0.66 and p = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both (18)F-FDG-PET/CT and DCE-MRI demonstrate noninvasively the anti-inflammatory effects of pioglitazone on atheroma. Both imaging methods seem suited to monitor inflammation in atherosclerosis.