Chris Edwards

An assessment of the efficacy of blue light phototherapy in the treatment of acne vulgaris

Background  Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition that affects 8 out of 10 people. It varies from mild to severe, and different treatments target various aspects of the disease. Propionibacterium acnes, one of the culprits involved in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, is the main target of all major medical treatments used. Studies conducted in recent years have shown favorable effects within the visible light spectrum for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Rate of acute adverse events for narrow-band UVB and Psoralen-UVA phototherapy.

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation therapies are commonly used to treat a wide range of dermatological conditions. However, no published data exist regarding the rate of acute adverse events occurring within the different UV therapy modalities.

Patterns of presentation and diagnosis of patients with Wegener's granulomatosis: ENT aspects

DESIGN a cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS One hundred and ninety-nine patients with Wegeners granulomatosis belonging to a patient self-help group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mode of initial presentation; diagnosis timescales and delay; rhinologic involvement; and treatment. RESULTS Sixty-three per cent of patients initially presented with ENT-related symptoms. Ninety-two per cent faced a delay in their diagnosis of more than one month, a pattern which has not improved over the last few decades and which compares unfavourably with North American figures. Rhinologic and otologic symptoms are a common occurrence in up to 85 and 50 per cent of Wegeners granulomatosis patients, respectively, attracting varying degrees of targeted treatment. CONCLUSIONS As sinonasal and other ENT symptoms are so common at the presentation of Wegeners granulomatosis, it is clear that the otolaryngologist has an important role in its diagnosis and treatment. There are long delays in the diagnosis and possible under-treatment of the ENT symptoms of this condition, highlighting the need for greater awareness, particularly in the ENT community.

Relationships between changes in mechanical properties of the skin, wrinkling, and destruction of dermal collagen fiber bundles caused by photoaging.

Background/purpose: Long‐term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces various cutaneous changes that differ from those because of physiological aging, including structural destruction of dermal collagen fiber bundles (DCFBs), which comprise the major component of the dermis. Wrinkling, a representative change in skin surface associated with photoaging, is often seen at the corners of the eyes and in the space between the eyebrows. These are locations where the skin contracts repeatedly and routinely. Lowered resiliency to skin contraction induced by marked structural changes in DCFBs may represent one cause of photo‐induced wrinkles. Using animal models of photoaging, changes in mechanical properties of the skin caused by UV irradiation were measured, and relationships between UV‐induced changes were analyzed.

General and Rhinosinusitis‐Related Quality of Life in Patients With Wegener's Granulomatosis

Objectives: The objectives of this cross‐sectional study were to outline the pattern of sinonasal morbidity and determine its effects on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with Wegeners granulomatosis (WG).

Rhinologic symptoms and quality-of-life in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome vasculitis

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the presentation pattern, sinonasal symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) vasculitis. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed. Twenty-five patients with CSS belonging to a patient self-help group participated. Main outcome measures included mode of initial presentation, treatment, rhinologic symptoms, and disease-specific QOL (Sinonasal Outcome Test [SNOT-22] scores) and comparisons were made with general rhinosinusitis and other nasally affected vasculitis patients ((Wegeners granulomatosis [WG]). Results Overall, 80% of CSS patients had active sinonasal symptoms at the time of the study. Twenty-eight percent of CSS patients reported worsening of their nasal symptoms as the main event leading to their diagnosis. Forty-eight percent of CSS patients had undergone nasal surgery. Nasal symptoms that are of particular relevance to this patient group are nasal obstruction (95%), rhinorrhea (95%), anosmia (90%), and excessive sneezing (80%). Other symptoms included nasal crusting (75%), purulent nasal discharge (65%), and epistaxis (60%). SNOT-22 scores were significantly higher than normal, reaching average values similar to those of patients from the general rhinosinusitis population. Conclusion Sinonasal symptoms are common at initial presentation of CSS, emphasizing the role of otolaryngologists in its diagnosis. Overall, CSS-related sinonasal morbidity is significant and comparable with that of the general rhinosinusitis population. It predominantly results from symptoms of allergic rhinitis, but a significant proportion of CSS patients also report milder forms of crusting, epistaxis, and of purulent sinusitis, symptoms which are more commonly attributed to patients with WG.

Eye protection for ultraviolet B phototherapy and psoralen ultraviolet A patients

Background/purpose: We tested eye protection used for phototherapy patients. The study also established current practice concerning eye protection in a sample of UK phototherapy units.

Modulation of ultraviolet (UV) transmission by emollients: relevance to narrowband UVB phototherapy and psoralen plus UVA photochemotherapy.

Background  Patients with psoriasis undergoing or about to undergo ultraviolet (UV) phototherapy and photochemotherapy often have thick scale on their plaques which can prevent the penetration of UV radiation. Emollients are used to moisturize the skin and to prevent or reduce some of the milder side‐effects (‘dryness’, itching) sometimes experienced during UV therapy. However, emollients can alter the UV transmission of skin and thus may alter the clinical effects of phototherapy and photochemotherapy.

Guidelines on the measurement of ultraviolet radiation levels in ultraviolet phototherapy: report issued by the British Association of Dermatologists and British Photodermatology Group 2015

Guidelines on the measurement of ultraviolet radiation levels in ultraviolet phototherapy: report issued by the British Association of Dermatologists and British Photodermatology Group 2015 H. Moseley, D. Allan, H. Amatiello, A. Coleman, H. du Peloux Menag e, C. Edwards, L.S. Exton, J. Ferguson, T. Garibaldinos, C. Martin and M.F. Mohd Mustapa The Photobiology Unit, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, U.K. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX, U.K. Radiation Physics and Protection Group, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LJ, U.K. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, U.K. Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, High Street, London SE13 6LH, U.K. Royal Gwent Hospital, Cardiff Road, Newport NP20 2UB, U.K. British Association of Dermatologists, Willan House, 4 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 5HQ, U.K. Department of Clinical Physics and Bio-Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.