A new study from The Ohio State University reveals eye-opening findings about individuals with developmental disabilities.
Managed Healthcare Executive – Health Management
Tag Archives: patients
7 tips for educating patients about Halloween skin irritants
What’s more frightful than Halloween? What the makeup and costumes can do to children’s and adult’s skin. Dermatologists weigh in with their top tips to help patients avoid post-Halloween skin horrors. Learn more
Modern medicine – Dermatology Times
Expense drivers for costliest psoriasis patients
Effective comorbidity management a critical factor in controlling expenses
Dermatology Times – Dermatology
Zika: How to counsel concerned patients
Due to Zika viral features, dermatologists may play a role in the diagnosis and management of this still-evolving outbreak.
Modern medicine – American Academy of Dermatology
Differences in microbiome observed in patients with psoriasis
Knowledge of the microbiome is shedding light on the development of chronic skin conditions like psoriasis, and greater insights into the role of the microbiome may yield new therapies for psoriasis.
Modern medicine – Dermatology Times
Acne, rosacea meds more expensive for Medicare patients seeing specialists
Patients on Medicare who receive prescriptions for acne and rosacea from specialists pay more for those medications than they would from a primary care physician, according to results of a new study.
Dermatology Times – Dermatology
Optimizing care for patients with psoriasis
Research gaps suggest pathways for future progress
Modern medicine – American Academy of Dermatology
Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Benefit From Ustekinumab
AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Main Category: Arthritis / Rheumatology
Also Included In: Eczema / Psoriasis
Article Date: 11 Jun 2012 – 0:00 PST Current ratings for:
Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Benefit From Ustekinumab 
A new Phase III study presented at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, shows that patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treated with Ustekinumab (UST) 90mg were more than twice as likely to achieve the study’s primary endpoint, ACR20* at 24 weeks, than those treated with placebo (49.5% vs 22.8%). 42.4% of patients treated with UST 45mg were also more likely to achieve ACR20 at 24 weeks compared to placebo.
Significant improvements were also seen with UST 45mg and 90mg in ACR50* (24.9% and 27.9% respectively vs 8.7%), in ACR70* (12.2% and 14.2% respectively vs 2.4%) and in DAS28-CRP** responses at week 24 vs placebo (65.9% and 67.6% for UST 45mg and 90mg respectively vs 34.5%). Changes from baseline in HAQ-DI*** at week 24 were also significantly greater in patients treated with UST versus placebo and for a greater proportion of patients these changes were clinically meaningful (?0.3). http://www.eczemablog.net/
In addition, patients in the UST groups who were affected with enthesitis (n=425) or dactylitis (n=286) at baseline, showed greater improvements at week 24 than those in the placebo groups.
“There are a number of patients with psoriatic arthritis who do not respond to currently available treatment options, including biologic medicines targeting TNF. As physicians, we struggle to manage such people as well as we would like,” commented Professor Iain McInnes, lead study author from University of Glasgow, Scotland. “The development of this new medicine is a welcome step forward. These results highlight not only Ustekinumab’s efficacy but also its promising safety profile. We look forward now to seeing how it compares in trials with standard treatments.”
Safety profiles were similar between the two groups. The proportion of patients suffering from one or more adverse events was 41.8% in the UST group compared to 42% in the placebo group. Infections were the most common adverse event; serious adverse events (>1) were reported in 1.7% UST and 2% placebo of patients.
This double-bind placebo controlled trial followed 615 patients with active PsA (?5 swollen joint counts and ?5 tender joint counts; c-reactive protein ?0.3mg/dL) despite treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and/or non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Patients were randomised to UST 45mg, 90mg or placebo at weeks zero, four and 12 weeks thereafter. At week 16, patients with <5% improvement in tender joint counts and swollen joint counts entered blinded early escape (PBO to UST 45mg, UST 45mg to UST 90mg, UST 90mg to UST 90mg). Stable concomitant methotrexate (MTX) use was permitted but not mandated. Nearly half of the patients studied used concomitant MTX at baseline but this did not alter the likelihood of benefit of UST.
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click ‘references’ tab above for source.Visit our arthritis / rheumatology section for the latest news on this subject. Abstract Number: OP0158
*ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria measures improvement in tender or swollen joint counts and improvement in three of the following five parameters: acute phase reactant (such as sedimentation rate), patient assessment, physician assessment, pain scale and disability/functional questionnaire. ACR20 refers to a 20% improvement in tender/swollen joint counts, as well as three of the five other criteria. ACR50 refers to a 50% improvement and ACR70 refers to a 70% improvement.
**DAS28 (Disease Activity Score) is an index used by physicians to measure how active an individual’s RA is. It assesses number of tender and swollen joints (out of a total of 28), levels of C-reactive protein (CRP, a protein found in the blood, the levels of which rise in response to inflammation), and the patient’s ‘global assessment of global health’. A higher score indicates more active disease. A score of <2.6 indicates that the patient is in remission.
***HAQ DI (Health Assessment Questionnaire – Disease Index) is a patient questionnaire that measures function and health-related quality of life through measuring a patient’s ability to perform everyday tasks.
European League Against Rheumatism Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
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7 Apr. 2013.
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‘Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Benefit From Ustekinumab’
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Eczema Blog
International Study Highlights Need To Support Patients With Psoriasis Suffering Feelings Of Isolation, Stigmatisation And Anxiety
AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis
Also Included In: Anxiety / Stress
Article Date: 02 Oct 2012 – 1:00 PST Current ratings for:
International Study Highlights Need To Support Patients With Psoriasis Suffering Feelings Of Isolation, Stigmatisation And Anxiety
Data from the Burden of Psoriasis patient research were presented this weekend at the 21st EADV Congress in Prague, Czech Republic. The results from the research, which included a quantitative online survey completed by 3,822 patients with psoriasis, showed 73% of patients surveyed scored their psoriasis as having a moderate to high impact on their lives1.
People living with psoriasis experience flare-ups that can result in the appearance of thick, red, scaly skin lesions on any part of their body2. The skin is often sore and itchy2, 3, http://www.eczemablog.net/but the current study emphasizes that the psychological impact of psoriasis can have an even greater impact on patients’ everyday lives1.
Factors analysed in the research included the influence of symptom burden, healthcare professional (HCP) relationships, patient factors and the psychosocial impact of psoriasis on how much the patient’s psoriasis “dictates how they live their life”1. Factors that were most strongly associated dealt with daily activities, stigmatisation, isolation and anxiety. However, diagnosed symptom severity was not a significant indicator1.
Commenting on the research Dr Anthony Bewley, Whipps Cross University Hospital & Barts & the London NHS Trust, UK, said, “The reality for patients is that the reactions of other people, real or perceived, can make life a real struggle. We need to ensure that we actively question our patients about these issues, and modify management accordingly. We plan further analysis of this comprehensive data set, which we believe will help to individualise care”.
“The physical, psychological and social effects of psoriasis can have a serious impact on people’s lives,” said LEO Pharma President and CEO Gitte P. Aabo. “To give people with psoriasis the best chance of improving their quality of life, we need to address the issues that affect them individually. The Burden of Psoriasis patient research will help healthcare professionals learn more about the impact that psoriasis has on peoples’ lives and hence inform and help evolve the way the disease is treated.”
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click ‘references’ tab above for source.Visit our eczema / psoriasis section for the latest news on this subject. 1 Bewley A, Ersser S, Hansen M, Pevac C. Psychosocial and symptomatic burden of psoriasis for patients in Europe, the USA and Canada. Abstract presented at: EADV Congress, Prague, 27 – 30 September 2012 (ID number PRA12-0920).
2 Basavaraj KH, Navya MA, Rashmi R. Stress and quality of life in psoriasis: an update. Int J Dermatol 2011;50:783-92.
3 A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Psoriasis. (Accessed May, 2012, at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001470/.)
LEO Pharma
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7 Apr. 2013.
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‘International Study Highlights Need To Support Patients With Psoriasis Suffering Feelings Of Isolation, Stigmatisation And Anxiety‘
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Eczema Blog
Psoriasis Patients Twice As Likely To Develop Diabetes
AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Editor’s Choice
Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis
Also Included In: Diabetes;??Dermatology
Article Date: 16 Oct 2012 – 13:00 PST Current ratings for:
Psoriasis Patients Twice As Likely To Develop Diabetes 
http://www.eczemablog.net/
A new meta-analysis of 27 studies shows a clear link between people with psoriasis and diabetes.
The study, led by UC Davis researchers, was published online in Archives of Dermatology, and found a strong association between the dry skin rash and blood sugar disorder.
Psoriasis is widespread skin condition that runs in families. It is characterized by red, raised, flaky and often itchy, rash, and is found mostly on the knees and elbows, but can appear anywhere. Doctors believe it is an autoimmune disease; the body thinks of the skin as foreign and therefore gives off an inflammatory response. Earlier studies have hinted that psoriasis could be a risk factor for diabetes.
April Armstrong, assistant professor of dermatology at UC Davis and lead investigator of this study, and her team examined 27 studies of patients with psoriasis. Five of these studies looked at how many of the patients developed diabetes during the period of study, 10 to 22 years. The remainder of the studies assessed the incidence of diabetes at the commencement of the study. In total, they examined over 314,000 people with psoriasis and compared them with 3.7 million people without the disease (a control group).
The collection of data for these studies shows that patients with mild psoriasis are more than 1.5 times more likely to develop diabetes than the general public, while those suffering from severe psoriasis are twice as likely.
Studies that assessed prevalence found patients with psoriasis had a 27 percent elevated risk of getting diabetes, compared with the general public.
All but one study found a link between psoriasis and diabetes. These trials contained data from outpatient clinics, insurance claims, and hospitals. The rate of diabetes was the same regardless of patients’ ethnicities or countries. Armstrong explains:
“The large sample size and consistent association between psoriasis and diabetes make these study findings very strong and suggest an underlying physiological link between the two diseases.”
The authors admit that additional research is needed to interpret how the two diseases are intertwined. Armstrong suggests changed immune pathways may be responsible for making psoriasis patients more vulnerable to diabetes.
She goes on to say:
“There is evidence that fat cells in psoriasis patients may not function normally. These cells secrete inflammatory substances known as cytokines that increase insulin resistance in the liver and muscle and initiate destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.”
More research can also verify other possible limiting factors that are seen in the current study; a factor that could be confusing, like concurrent medications used to treat psoriasis that may change the risk of developing diabetes.
It has been known that blood pressure is harder to control in patients with psoriasis and also that psoriasis patients suffer higher instances of heart attack, strokes, and cardiovascular-related deaths. In order to provide the best and earliest care, it is imperative for physicians to be aware of these predispositions.
Armstrong and her team plan to study endothelial cells, cells that line the blood vessels, in order to interpret the unseen physiological basis of psoriasis. They will soon create a network to share clinical data on patients with psoriasis.
Written by Kelly Fitzgerald
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
April W. Armstrong, MD, MPH; Caitlin T. Harskamp, BA; Ehrin J. Armstrong, MD, MSc
Archives of Dermatology, October 2012, doi:10.1001/2013.jamadermatol.406 Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
MLA
7 Apr. 2013.
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‘Psoriasis Patients Twice As Likely To Develop Diabetes’
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All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)
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View the original article here
Eczema Blog