[Unsafe practices fostering cutaneous abscesses in people who inject substances : Results from the ANRS-OUTSIDER study]. / Des pratiques à risque favorisant la survenue d'abcès cutanés chez les personnes qui injectent des substances : résultats de l'étude ANRS-OUTSIDER.

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous abscesses are a common complication of intravenous substance use. Although these skin and soft tissue infections represent one of the main causes of emergency room visits and hospitalizations in people who inject drugs (PWID), data on their prevalence and causes are scarce. The present study was part of the larger ANRS-OUTSIDER project and aimed to study the factors associated with skin abscesses in PWID, focusing in particular on the different stages of injection. METHOD: Analyses were based on data of the 164 persons who regularly injected psychoactive substances participating in the French ANRS-OUTSIDER project. A face-to-face questionnaire collected data on sociodemographics, substance use, injection practices, and experience of skin abscesses in the previous six months. Factors associated with skin abscesses were studied using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 140 participants for whom abscess data were recorded at inclusion, 35% reported having a skin abscess in the previous six months. Factors associated with skin abscesses were: benefiting from universal health coverage (PUMA/CMU/AME) (Odd ratio (OR) = 0.28, confidence interval (CI) à 95%=0.08-0.99), finding the vein to inject by touch (OR=3.44, 95% CI=1.41-8.43) and licking the needle before injection (OR=5.16, 95% CI=1.10-24.30). CONCLUSION: Our results highlight that skin abscesses were very frequent among the complications observed in our sample of French PWID, and that certain injection practices fostered their occurrence. These data will provide stakeholders with useful information to improve prevention and harm reduction messages for PWID.

[Cutaneous complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]. / Complications cutanées post-allogreffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques.

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell allograft is a treatment for patients with severe constitutional or acquired hematopoietic system diseases. This act is always linked to complications requiring multidisciplinary care. Our study describes the post-allograft cutaneous complications. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted at the Hematology department of "20 Août Hospital" in Casablanca during a period going from January 2018 to December 2020; including all patients who presented acute or chronic cutaneous complications post-allograft. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included. All patients received induction chemotherapy (Busulfan/Fludarabine or Busulfan/Melphalan). A skin infection was found in 8 patients : four cases of Malassezia folliculitis, one case of perineal zona, one case of genital herpes, one case of varicella and one case of Candida sepsis. The acute graft versus host reaction was found in 3 patients, revealed by an erythematous rash all over the body. The chronic graft versus host reaction was found in five patients on a lichenoid form. Nine patients had a hyperpigmentation of the folds followed by detachment in the same areas, concluding to a Busulfan toxidermy. DISCUSSION: Hematopoietic stem cell allograft has many complications. The literature mainly specifies hematological and digestive complications, while skin complications are little described. Our series is special by reporting different types and mechanisms of skin complications that can occur; with a predominance of skin graft-on-host reactions and infections. It also reports an unusual Busulfan toxidermy.

Cutaneous Complications With Continuous or Flash Glucose Monitoring Use: Systematic Review of Trials and Observational Studies.

BACKGROUND: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)/flash glucose monitoring (FGM) use in diabetes management is increasing. Cutaneous complications associated with these devices were reported. We conducted a systematic review to provide an overview of cutaneous complications with CGM/FGM use. METHODS: We identified observational studies and intervention trials that report on cutaneous complications with CGM/FGM use up to January 14, 2019. Studies were identified through Medline, Embase, and PubMed, or with hand searching of the previous publications. Screening was duplicated and data extracted to consider four main themes: incidence rate and severity, participant perspectives of cutaneous complications, potential solutions, and future directions in diabetic technology relevant to reducing cutaneous complications. RESULTS: A total of 54 eligible studies were identified. The overall event rate of cutaneous complications reported from 19 trials was one event per eight weeks of sensor wear-time of which 1.5% were considered severe. The most common cutaneous complications were wear-related erythema, itching, and induration. Although skin irritations were the most common cause of CGM/FGM discontinuation, most users experienced less pain or discomfort with CGM/FGM than capillary blood glucose testing. Future technological advances may reduce, but not eliminate cutaneous complications. CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of reported cutaneous complications with CGM/FGM use from the available literature is low, with one event per eight weeks of sensor wear-time. Reported complication severity was also low, leading to low rates of CGM/FGM discontinuation. However, there appear to be discrepancies between reporting in trial and observational data. Greater constancy in reporting is necessary to understand the frequency of this issue.

Therapeutic effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) on radiation-induced skin damage in rats.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced skin injury remains a serious concern, which may limit the duration and dose of radiation treatment. The concept that stem cell injection may reduce tissue injury or assist its recovery after radiation has been recently argued. Herein, we examined the effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) on radiation-induced skin damage in rats. METHODS: This study is an experimental case control study. ASCs were isolated from peri uterine fat tissue of the rats. Then the rats received a 30 Gy single dose radiation to their buttocks skin using gamma radiation. Next day stem cells were transplanted subcutaneously in 16 rats as the case group. A group of 16 rats was considered as control group with radiation but no transplantation of stem cells. Then rats were examined and observed by macroscopic analysis and phenotypic scores during 4 weeks of follow up. RESULTS: The wound size in control group was significantly higher than case group in the second, third and fourth weeks of evaluation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in skin lesion severity, pathological factors, and the onset of recovery signs between two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that using ASCs alone has not profound effects on reducing radiation-induced cutaneous complications, while combination of these cells with growth factors may produce more promising results.

A New Era For Tattoos, with New Potential Complications.

The practice of adorning the body with permanent ink dates back to the late Neolithic period. Today, a large proportion of the younger generation has at least one tattoo. Despite the recent popularity of tattoos, there are prolific reports within the literature detailing the adverse cutaneous reactions that occur following the intradermal injection of tattoo inks. Such reactions can occur immediately or years later. In addition to these known reactions, consumer preference for "animal-friendly" products has shifted the ingredients used in tattoos and has ushered in the era of "vegan tattoos." Because of its recent emergence and the lack of regulation of intradermal pigment by the United States Food and Drug Administration, we remain unsure of the potential reactions of these new ingredients. Currently, we can only predict complications by extrapolating from the known reactions of the topical administration of these same plant-based ingredients. In this article, we elucidate some potential reactions in an effort to warn the dermatologic community of the need to educate patients and encourage Federal reporting and regulation.

Local complications of pentazocine abuse: Case report and review.

The skin is the tissue most commonly affected by intravenous drug addiction with pentazocine. The present article attempts to review the adverse effects of injecting drug use along with one case report of cutaneous complications of injection pentazocine abuse underlining the need for early identification, management, and above all prevention. It also provides credence to the fact that pentazocine abuse is common in paramedical staff, and easy accessibility of pentazocine injection can easily lead to serious complications.

Willingness to receive intravenous buprenorphine treatment in opioid-dependent people refractory to oral opioid maintenance treatment: results from a community-based survey in France.

BACKGROUND: Injectable opioids are an interesting option for people who inject drugs (PWID) that do not respond to oral Opioid Maintenance Treatment (OMT). To date, intravenous (IV) buprenorphine - a safer drug than full-opioid agonists in terms of overdose risk - has never been tested in a clinical trial on opioid dependence. We designed a survey to better understand the profile of PWID eligible for IV buprenorphine, and their willingness to receive it. METHODS: This cross-sectional community-based national survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews (in low-threshold and addiction care services) and online questionnaires (on https://psychoactif.org and other websites). Among the 557 participants, we selected those who were eligible for IV buprenorphine treatment (history of oral OMT, regular opioid injection) (n = 371). We used regression models to study factors associated with willingness to receive IV buprenorphine treatment among those with data on willingness (n = 353). In those who were willing (n = 294), we subsequently studied their willingness to receive daily supervised IV buprenorphine treatment. RESULTS: Among the selected 353 participants, 59% mainly injected buprenorphine, 15% heroin, 16% morphine sulfate and 10% other opioids. Eighty-three percent of the sample reported willingness to receive IV buprenorphine treatment. Factors associated with willingness were: more than 5 injection-related complications, regular buprenorphine injection, no lifetime overdose, and completion of the questionnaire online. Factors associated with unwillingness to receive daily supervised treatment were younger age (OR[IC95%]=1.04[1.01; 1.07]) and stable housing (OR[IC95%]=0.61[0.37;1.01]) while regular heroin injectors were more willing to receive daily supervision (OR[IC95%]=2.94 [1.42; 6.10]). CONCLUSIONS: PWID were very willing to receive intravenous buprenorphine as a treatment, especially those with multiple injection-related complications. In addition, our findings show that IV buprenorphine may be less acceptable to PWID who inject morphine sulfate. Young PWID and those with stable housing were unwilling to receive IV buprenorphine if daily supervision were required. This preliminary study provides useful information for the development of a clinical trial on IV buprenorphine treatment.

Cutaneous complications in osseointegrated implants: comparison between classic and tissue preservation techniques.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The standard surgical technique for osseointegrated hearing aids involves removing a large area of subcutaneous tissue down to the periosteum. Recently, the industry has designed a new range of abutment lengths for less invasive surgery with soft tissue preservation. This study compared and evaluated the complications in the standard and the tissue preservation techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective study including 29 adult patients that underwent single-stage osseointegrated hearing aids insertion between February 2009 and February 2013. We performed the standard technique in 14 patients, and the tissue preservation technique in 15. Soft tissue complications were graded according to the Holgers classification. RESULTS: No patient required removal of implant or revision surgery. Although the Holgers grade was always worse in the standard technique (reaction score of 3 or higher was 28% versus 7% at a month), the complication rate was not statistically significant between the 2 groups at any postoperative time a week (p=0.233), a month (p=0.470) and a year (p=0.401). CONCLUSION: In our experience the tissue preservation technique, without soft tissue reduction, is the procedure of choice for bone anchored implant surgery. The preservation technique is easier, faster and possible with local anaesthesia and has similar postoperative outcomes.