1,721,040 research outputs found
Klebsiella oxitoca folliculitis mimicking tinea barbae in a diabetic man
No full textA 55-year-old male dairy farmer was admitted to our hospital with a skin infection on the neck and face. He was apparently in good general health, and his medical history was unremarkable. He reported that, 50 days before admission, a pruritic red maculopapular rash had developed on the anterior region of his neck. This rash failed to improve after a 10-day course of trimethoprim-sufamethoxazole and fluconazole; rather it progressively worsened. On admission, examination revealed confluent follicular papulae-pustules with purulent-hematic exudation and crusting, on an erythematous-edematous area extending over the anterior region of the neck, chin and mandible (Fig. 1); hairs within the affected area were not compromised. Body temperature was 38.5 °C, and cervical nodes were not appreciable. Results of routine laboratory investigations were: white blood cells (WBC), 8090/mm3 (85% neutrophils, 10% lymphocytes and 4% monocytes); erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 72 mm/h; C-reactive protein, 44.8 mg/100 mL; serum glucose, 453 mg/100 mL. Quantitative measurements of serum levels of immunoglobulins M, G, A, and E, total complement activity, complement factors C3 and C4, and alpha-1-antitrypsin were within normal limits. Swabs for bacteriological and mycological analysis were taken from pustules. While waiting for the results of the cultures, insulin therapy was started at 40 IU/day, because of hyperglycemia. Mycological culture was negative, while bacteriological culture yielded Klebsiella oxitoca. The patient was treated with ceftazidime 4 g/day intravenously and amikacin 1 g/day intramuscularly for 3 weeks, and a slow and progressive improvement, with no formation of scars or alopecic areas, was observed (Fig. 2). © 2004 The International Society of Dermatology
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Non-Motherhood between Obligation and Choice: Statistical Analysis Based on Permutation Tests of Spontaneous and Induced Abortion Rates in the Italian Context
No full text(1) Background: This paper aims to examine two relevant phenomena in the context of public health: spontaneous abortion (SA) and induced abortion (IA). SA is one of the most common complications of pregnancies; IA is a conscious choice that is made by the mother/couple. (2) Methods: Permutation tests were applied to SA and IA standardized rates detected by ISTAT (2016–2020). The NPC test, chosen for its optimal properties, was applied to compare different Italian territorial divisions (stratifying for year and age classes of women) and analyze the trend of years by stochastic ordering. (3) Results: Only for SA, there are significant differences among the three territorial divisions: the South records higher SA standardized rates than the North and the Center; the rates of IA are similar. Relating to distinct women age classes, the SA standardized rates do not show significant differences among the three analyzed geographical areas; different results are highlighted for IA. Stochastic ordering shows that only the IA standardized rates are characterized by a significant monotonous decreasing trend over the years. (4) Conclusion: The SA phenomenon has shown a decreasing trend that could be justified by the progress of science. For IA, we can certainly say that the general decrease in the phenomenon is due to the greater use of contraceptive methods that help to prevent unwanted pregnancies
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis: the odd couple
No full text: Psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa are chronic inflammatory skin diseases that can develop together, negatively impacting on the patient's quality of life. We aimed to review the most up-to-date information regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and possible therapeutical choices in patients with both psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa, thus linking these two autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions. A narrative review of articles dating from 2017 to 2022 has been performed using the PubMed database. We analyzed the case reports and case series found in the literature regarding patients who suffered from both psoriasis and HS. Psoriasis arose before hidradenitis suppurativa in the majority of cases, while only a minority of them had hidradenitis suppurativa before psoriasis. Interestingly, some patients suffered from paradoxical hidradenitis suppurativa following biological therapy administered to treat the already present psoriasis. Lastly, new biological drugs have been marketed with great success for the outcome of psoriasis, but similar progress did not happen for hidradenitis. Novel therapeutic approaches and lines of research are needed for the treatment of these pathologies, even if concomitant, in order to improve patient's quality of life
Efficacy of Systemic Biologic Drugs in Pediatric Psoriasis: Evidence From Five Selected Randomized Clinical Trials
No full text: Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease that may occur at any age. Prevalence in children ranges between 0.5 and 1.0% across Europe. Approximately 10-20% of paediatric psoriasis patients are moderate-to-severe in severity and may require the use of systemic therapy. Objective: Recently, newer targeted, systemic therapies have been licensed for treatment of moderate-to-severe paediatric psoriasis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of available antipsoriatic systemic drugs in children with a narrative synthesis of key efficacy from randomized clinical trials. Methods: A systematic review of literature was performed on Medline and embase databases and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomized clinical trials investigating the efficacy of treatments licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration and/or the European Medicines Agency for paediatric and adolescent psoriatic population were retrieved and analyzed. Data from this literature review was assessed in line with GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluations). The short-term (12-16 weeks) clinical efficacy from baseline was evaluated according to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 and 90 compared to baseline. Illustrative comparative risks, relative risk (RR) and the number needed to treat (NNT) for response on PASI 75 and PASI 90 were extracted. Results: A total of five relevant studies were identified on two TNF-alpha blockers (etanercept and adalimumab), the IL12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab and two IL-17 inhibitors (ixekizumab, secukinumab). Comparators were placebo (3 studies), placebo and etanercept (1 study) methotrexate (1 study). All examined drugs resulted efficacious. The probability to achieve PASI 75 and PASI 90 was higher for the IL-12/23 and IL-17 inhibitors. Overall, the anti-IL17s and the anti-IL12/23 antibodies showed a more favourable NNT for PASI 75, whereas IL-17 inhibitors for PASI 90. Conclusion: The approved biological therapies may be beneficial for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in children and adolescents. Since psoriasis is a chronic and often challenging condition with no definitive solution, systematic evaluations of long-term efficacy, drug survival and adverse effects may help careful, individualized, patient-centered clinical decision making
Incidence of Skin Cancer in Patients With Chronic Inflammatory Cutaneous Diseases on Targeted Therapies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
No full textCancer is one of the several comorbidities that have been linked with chronic cutaneous inflammatory diseases namely psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa. Although the chronic inflammatory state, typical of the diseases, may induce pro-tumorigenic effects, the debate whether or not the drugs currently used in clinical practice do in facts increase a patient's risk of malignancy remains largely unsolved. The therapeutic armamentarium has been greatly enhanced at least in the last two decades with the advent of biologics, a heterogeneous group of laboratory-engineered agents with more in the pipeline, and other targeted small molecules. Among the organ systems, skin results as one of the most commonly affected, non-melanoma skin cancers being the main drug-induced manifestations as side effect in course of these treatments. The objective of the study is to systematically review the cutaneous malignancy risk of the newer therapies through an overview of meta-analyses and observational studies on the topic
Tildrakizumab: the value of a personalized and flexible approach for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in patients with high body weight or high disease burden
No full textIntroduction: The introduction of biologics for the treatment of plaque psoriasis is one of the major therapeutic advances of the last decades in dermatology. The efficacy of this class of drugs can be influenced by multiple factors including obesity, being overweight, prior treatment failures, and disease severity. Areas covered: Most of the currently available approved biologics are limited by their lack of dosing flexibility for adapting the therapy to the complexity of real-world patients with psoriasis. Among the class of anti-interleukin-23, tildrakizumab allows a greater dosing flexibility, increasing clinical benefits of patients with high burden of the disease or body weight >90 kg. Expert opinion: This meta-opinion discusses the clinical data that were foundational for tildrakizumab dosage flexibility, elaborates on the definition of high burden of disease specifically linked to tildrakizumab dosage, and profiles the ideal patient that could benefit from treatment with the higher approved tildrakizumab dosage of 200 mg
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