Jennifer L. Parish

Historical aspects of tobacco use and smoking

It is ironic that this panacea of the sixteenth century has become so destructive to contemporary society. The perception of smoking has been transformed from a sophisticated habit of the 1930s to a lethal addiction for the new millennium. What was considered appropriate social behavior (Fig 1) and often endorsed by our medical colleagues (Fig 2) may now become established as antisocial behavior. Medical research has established the devastating effects of cigarette smoking. Auerbach in 1956 first documented the cardiopulmonary disorders and malignancies that resulted from the use of tobacco. Although a less severe consequence of cigarette smoking, it also results in staining and even wrinkling of the skin.1–3 There has been a general decrease in the consumption of tobacco among adult Americans, from 41% of the population in the 1960s to 28% in the 1990s; however, in the United States, tobacco-related diseases are still responsible for 7% of the

Topical vitamin D3 analogues: unapproved uses, dosages, or indications

21.9 billion spent on medical expenditures.4,5 Despite the waning popularity among some groups in the Western world, tobacco use has not declined and has even increased among teenagers and young women. In addition, smoking continues to be more prevalent among lower socioeconomic classes. In developing countries, smoking is increasing at an alarming rate. This is not surprising owing to the increased marketing efforts of the tobacco industry. Multinational tobacco companies, having faced many legal battles in Western countries, are now focusing their efforts among developing nations.

Diseases of the breast

Topical vitamin D3 gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1994 as an effective therapy for plaque-type psoriasis. Advances in the understanding of its effect on the inhibition of cellular proliferation, cellular differentiation, and immune modulation have led to its usage in other skin diseases. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of topical vitamin D3 analogues in the treatment of several disorders, such as congenital ichthyoses, 1 pityriasis rubra pilaris, 2 other forms of psoriasis, 3–5 morphea, 6 and other diseases. The potential clinical applications of topical vitamin D3 analogues continue to broaden with further knowledge of the mechanism by which vitamin D3 functions. History

Emergency Dermatology: CELL INJURY AND CELL DEATH

Features: The importance of effective communication between pathologists, breast imagers, medical geneticists, experts in nursing, psycho-social support, and rehabilitation, as well as surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists in providing optimal patient care is demonstrated. The latest major clinical trials are covered, along with the information they provide on early detection and management of breast cancer. Illustrations and tables that emphasize breast imaging, microscopic and gross histology, anatomy, and procedural technique enhance visual understanding. Algorithms on problem management in all aspects of breast disease from benign processes to breast carcinoma inform clinical practice. New chapters have been added on pathology of in situ carcinomas, prophylactic contralateral mastectomy, implications of obesity in breast cancer, and an overview of survivorship issues To keep perspectives fresh and updated, over one third of the authors are new to this edition

Retapamulin for the treatment of impetigo

WHEN CELLS are damaged, as often occurs during trauma and metabolic stress, the organism has to choose whether to repair the damage by promoting cell survival or remove irreparably injured cells. Cell injury occurs when an adverse stimulus reversibly disrupts the normal, complex homeostatic balance of the cellular metabolism. In this case, after injury the cells attempt to seal breaks in their membranes, chaperone the removal or refolding of altered proteins, and repair damaged DNA. On the contrary, when cell injury is too extensive to permit reparative responses, the cell reaches a “point of no return” and the irreversible injury culminates in programmed cell death (PCD). Specific properties or features of cells make them more or less vulnerable to external stimuli, thus determining the kind of cellular response. In addition, the characteristic of the injury (type of injury, exposure time, or severity) will also affect the extent of the damage. We present a short overview of the best-known PCD pathways. We emphasize the apoptotic pathway, considered for years the hallmark of PCD, and the different stimuli that produce cell injury.

Bibliography of secondary sources on the history of dermatology III. Books, monographs, and chapters in English supplemented through 2005.

Retapamulin is a new topical pleuromutilin antibiotic for the treatment of impetigo. The spectrum of activity for retapamulin includes the most likely causative pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. in vitro studies indicate that retapamulin has a unique mode of action that minimizes the potential for target-specific cross-resistance with other antibacterials and limited potential for resistance development. Although susceptibility testing should be undertaken whenever possible, retapamulin is a good first choice for empiric therapy. In clinical studies, retapamulin was significantly more effective than placebo and noninferior to a topical antibiotic comparator, with success rates of 86–99% achieved. As a topical formulation, retapamulin avoids the side effects associated with systemic antibiotics, has a good safety profile and is associated with high patient compliance. The short dosing regimen of retapamulin, twice daily for 5 days, compares favorably with other topical agents.

Bibliography of secondary sources on the history of dermatology. II. Obituaries and biographies in English journals supplemented through 1975.

Providing supplements to the history of dermatology bibliographic record has been a continuous project for the past 4 decades. When the endeavor was initiated, the original authors decided that only contributions in English and those directly related to dermatology, excluding sexually transmitted diseases as such, would be indexed. There is the perennial question of whether such a manually created bibliographic project has a need. The obvious answer remains yes. Although Index Medicus has expanded the number of journals that are indexed, the number of dermatology publications currently included by Index Medicus is just over 50. Granted, most of the papers of dermatologic interest are included in these journals, but some contributions are to be found in nonindexed publications. In addition, many documents of an historical interest or of a biographic nature are not necessarily selected for indexing in Index Medicus. These installments are the first since 1980 for which the late John Thorne Crissey (1924-2009) has not contributed. His knowledge of the history of dermatology and his intellectual support are greatly missed. An ⁎ indicates that additional entries may be found in previous installments.

Commercial preparations and handling of botulinum toxin type A and type B

This supplement brings through 1975 the available journal articles of a biographical nature. The various rules outlined in earlier installments have been followed as closely as possible. An * indicates that additional material may be found in a previous installment. These were: I. Journal Articles in English. Arch. Dermatol. 108:351, 1973. Supplemented through 1975. Int. J. Dermatol. 15:525, 1976. II. Obituaries and Biographies in English Journals Before 1973: A Through L. Arch. Dermatol. 111: 1036, 1975. M Through Z. Arch. Dermatol. 111: 1188, 1975. 111. Books, monographs and Chapters in English before 1975. Int. J. Dermatol. 15:206, 1976.