Are nutritional supplements effective for hair loss?
In a systematic review published in JAMA Dermatology, study authors assessed whether nutritional supplements were safe and effective for hair loss patients.
[Can diet affect dermatologic health? Experts weight in on the evidence in DermWorld.]
Twelve of the 20 nutritional interventions had high-quality studies. Studies with the highest-quality evidence showed the potential benefit of Viviscal, Nourkrin, Nutrafol, Lamdapil, Pantogar, capsaicin and isoflavone, omegas 3 and 6 with antioxidants, apple nutraceutical, total glucosides of paeony and compound glycyrrhizin tablets, zinc, tocotrienol, and pumpkin seed oil. Kimchi and cheonggukjang as well as vitamin D3 also showed potential effectiveness, although those studies had a low quality of evidence. Adverse effects were rare and mild for all the therapies evaluated.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: A Frank discussion about earlobe creases
A half-century has transpired since Sanders T. Frank reported: “All patients 60 years of age or younger who had a positive ear-lobe sign [characterized by a prominent crease in the lobule portion of the auricle] were studied in terms of personal and family history of premature cardiovascular disease and known risk factors. Among 20 patients with a positive sign seen in eight months, all but one had one or more risk factors for coronary heart disease.” As a medical student, I recall heated discussions questioning the validity of Frank’s observation. Although still controversial in many aspects, diagonal earlobe creases (DEC) have been positively correlated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and are considered an independent variable for CAD. Keep reading!
DermWorld Young Physician Focus: Zoonotic dermatoses – When the rare and unusual move next door
The ease of global travel facilitates the spread of diseases from afar, and climate change continues to allow habitat expansion of disease reservoirs and vectors. Many zoonoses in the United States are not as rare as they were once considered. Dermatologists play a crucial role in the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of zoonotic disease. Whereas many physicians were taught in medical school that diseases like leprosy and leishmaniasis were exotic conditions seen only after international travel or military service, we now know that both diseases are present and, indeed, endemic in the United States. Climate change has driven the habitats of disease vectors and reservoirs much further northward than previously realized. For example, the nine-banded armadillo, once considered an animal you’d find only in the South — and the primary reservoir species for leprosy — has now been documented living as far north as southern Illinois. Read more from Bridget McIlwee, DO, FAAD, DermWorld Young Physician Advisor.
A consensus statement on measuring AD control, itch in clinical practice
Authors of an article published in JAMA Dermatology assessed seven instruments that measure eczema control and itch intensity. The authors recommend the Recap of Atopic Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool to measure eczema control, both of which take less than two minutes to complete. A single-question patient global assessment garnered support, but the current available instrument did not reach consensus.
[Read more about tackling chronic itch in DermWorld.]
To measure itch intensity, peak 24-hour numeric rating scale (NRS)-itch instruments as well as 1-week NRS-itch instruments (from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Itch Questionnaire) measuring both average and peak itch intensity were recommended.
How well do patients understand common medical jargon?
In an article published in JAMA Network Open, authors investigated how well adult patients understand common phrases used by clinicians. Authors surveyed a cross section of the general public in order to characterize the understanding of common medical jargon terms. Of 215 respondents, 96% knew that negative cancer screening results meant they did not have cancer, but fewer participants (79%) knew that the phrase “your tumor is progressing” was bad news, or that positive lymph nodes meant the cancer had spread (67%). While 80% recognized that an unremarkable chest radiography was good news, only 21% correctly understood that a clinician saying their radiography was impressive was generally bad news. In each of the paired phrases comparing jargon vs. nonjargon constructions, the nonjargon phrase was understood significantly better.
What you say vs. what patients hear. Read about strategies for improving patient communication, compliance, and satisfaction inDermWorld.
Don’t forget the MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances exception application closes on Jan. 3, 2023. Log in to your HARP account to complete the application, or view the QPP website for more information about how to qualify.
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