Publications

Racial and ethnic differences may influence sun protection behavior. Adolescent students were administered a sun protection questionnaire and educational program. White people had the greatest pretest knowledge which resulted in the highest score, and blacks and Hispanics scored lower. White people who found tanned individuals attractive had greater score improvements. All groups improved after intervention.

BACKGROUND: Comparative efficacy of the multiple treatments containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and clindamycin (CL) is not established.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the efficacy of topical 5% BPO, 1% to 1.2% CL, 5% BPO with salicylic acid (SA) preparation, and combination BPO/CL in acne lesion reduction.

METHODS: A meta-analysis was conducted using the Cochrane collaboration guidelines in accordance with the PRISMA statement.

RESULTS: A total of 23 studies including 7309 patients were used in the meta-analysis. At 2 to 4 weeks, 5% BPO + SA had statistically greater percent lesion reductions over other groups (weighted mean inflammatory lesion reduction: BPO = 33.4%, CL = 21.5%, BPO + SA = 55.2%, BPO/CL = 40.7%, placebo = 7.3%; weighted mean noninflammatory lesion reduction: BPO = 19.1%, CL = 10.0%, BPO + SA = 42.7%, BPO/CL = 26.2%, placebo = 6.7%). At 10- to 12-week end points, 5% BPO + SA and BPO/CL were similar, with overlapping confidence intervals (weighted mean inflammatory lesion reduction: BPO = 43.7%, CL = 45.9%, BPO + SA = 51.8%, BPO/CL = 55.6%, placebo = 26.8%; weighted mean noninflammatory lesion reduction: BPO = 30.9%, CL = 32.6%, BPO + SA = 47.8%, BPO/CL = 40.3%, placebo = 17.0%).

LIMITATIONS: Trial heterogeneity, publication bias, and deficits in the reporting of individual primary studies may affect results.

CONCLUSION: At early time points, 5% BPO + SA had the best profile. BPO/CL was only incrementally better than BPO alone but was superior to CL alone. At later time points, 5% BPO + SA was similar to BPO/CL.

Psoriasis is associated with significant physical and psychological burden affecting all facets of a patient's life–relationships, social activities, work and emotional wellbeing. The cumulative effect of this disability may be self-perpetuating social disconnection and failure to achieve a 'full life potential' in some patients. Health-related quality of life studies have quantified the burden of psoriasis providing predominantly cross-sectional data and point-in-time images of patients' lives rather than assessing the possible cumulative disability over a patient's lifetime. However, social and economic outcomes indicate there are likely negative impacts that accumulate over time. To capture the cumulative effect of psoriasis and its associated co-morbidities and stigma over a patient's life course, we propose the concept of 'Cumulative Life Course Impairment' (CLCI). CLCI results from an interaction between (A) the burden of stigmatization, and physical and psychological co-morbidities and (B) coping strategies and external factors. Several key aspects of the CLCI concept are supported by data similar to that used in health-related quality of life assessments. Future research should focus on (i) establishing key components of CLCI and determining the mechanisms of impairment through longitudinal or retrospective case-control studies, and (ii) assessing factors that put patients at increased risk of developing CLCI. In the future, this concept may lead to a better understanding of the overall impact of psoriasis, help identify more vulnerable patients, and facilitate more appropriate treatment decisions or earlier referrals. To our knowledge, this is a first attempt to apply and develop concepts from 'Life Course Epidemiology' to psoriasis research.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety, depression, and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are common in patients with psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the effect of ustekinumab on these conditions in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

METHODS: Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (n = 1230) were randomized 1:1:1 to receive 45 mg of ustekinumab, 90 mg of ustekinumab, or placebo. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure anxiety and depression, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index to measure HRQoL.

RESULTS: At baseline, 40.3% and 26.7% of patients reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively, and 54.6% reported Dermatology Life Quality Index scores greater than 10, indicating a very high impact of disease on HRQoL. Greater improvements at week 12 in mean Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (13.9%), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression (29.3%), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (76.2%) scores were reported in ustekinumab groups compared with placebo (P < .001 each).

LIMITATIONS: Results for these measures are reported only through 24 weeks.

CONCLUSION: Patients receiving ustekinumab reported significant improvements in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and HRQoL.

Acne vulgaris is a common condition among adolescents regardless of age, gender, and race. We compare the frequency, severity, help-seeking behavior, treatment, and beliefs about acne among students based on race, ethnicity, gender, and age. Anonymous surveys were administered to 1,214 students aged 10-19 years of varied gender, race, and ethnicity in public middle and high schools in New Jersey. Results showed the frequency and severity of acne were high (76% and 65%, respectively) and more prevalent in white compared to non-white respondents (RR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.04-1.24 and RR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.09-1.37, respectively), and also in older compared to younger ages (RR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.17-1.32 and RR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.32-1.55, respectively). The majority of respondents (83%) reported never having seen a physician for their acne; however, those reporting acne of some severity were more likely to have seen a physician compared with those who did not report acne (21% vs. 8%, p < 0.001). Blacks who reported mild or moderate severity of acne were more likely to have seen a health professional compared to white respondents with same the acne severity (RR = 3.63, 95% CI = 2.06-6.37 and RR = 3.06, 95% CI = 2.02-4.65, respectively). Conversely, Hispanic respondents with mild or moderate acne were less likely to have seen a health professional compared to whites with the same acne severity (RR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.35-0.89 and RR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.26-0.86, respectively). Beliefs about external factors affecting acne also varied by race and ethnicity. In conclusion, the severity, frequency, and beliefs about acne all play a role in help-seeking behaviors, which vary to a significant extent by race and ethnicity.

The aim of this study was to examine the incidence and mortality of cutaneous melanoma (CM) in Hong Kong. The epidemiology, clinical, and pathological features of melanoma in Asians are different from those in the European population, yet there is little in the literature that describes about melanoma in Asians. Data from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry from 1983 to 2002 were collected and reviewed. Population-based data were analyzed, focusing on the mortality and incidence rates over this 20-year period. The mean Hong Kong CM incidence rate between 1983 and 2002 was 0.8/100 000 for men and 0.6/100 000 for women. There was an overall decrease in the incidence of CM in Hong Kong between 1983 and 2002 (P<0.001). The crude mortality rate of melanoma varied from year-to-year in Hong Kong between 1983 and 2002, showing an overall increase within this period (P <0.001). Unlike most parts of the world, the overall incidence in Hong Kong is shown to trend downward between 1983 and 2002. Various factors including ethnic shifts within the Hong Kong population and the organization of the health care system may play a role in this observation. In addition, the mortality of melanoma increased between 1940 and 1990 in most parts of the world, but in Hong Kong, the mortality rate in the past 20 years reveals a modest upward trend. Its significance requires further investigation.

BACKGROUND: The increasing number of American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) fellowship positions over the last decade has resulted in a greater number of fellowship-trained surgeons in dermatologic surgery.

METHODS: Mohs micrographic fellowship-trained surgeons (MMFTSs) and non-Mohs fellowship-trained surgeons performing Mohs micrographic surgery (NMMFTSs) were compared using the American Academy of Dermatology Practice Profile Survey (2002/05). An analysis of recent Mohs fellowship classes was also performed.

RESULTS: In 2005, there was an equivalent proportion of MMFTSs and NMMFTSs in the workforce (ratio MMFTS:NMMFTS=0.9) but, in 2005, there was a shift in the youngest age cohort (29-39) to a greater proportion of MMFTSs (MMFTS:NMMFTS=1.55). In 2005, the youngest MMFTSs (29-39) were more likely to be female (47.1%) than of MMFTSs overall (24%). MMFTSs were 5 times as likely to be in full-time academic positions and performed 2 to 3 times as many Mohs cases per week as NMMFTSs.

CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with demographic shifts in dermatology, differences have emerged in the demographics, surgical volumes, and settings of MMFTSs and NMMFTSs. Recent increases in the ACMS fellowship positions have resulted in a greater proportion of MMFTSs among younger dermatologic surgeons. It will be important to follow how this increase in fellowship trainees affects the dermatologic surgery workforce.