Breast health outcomes in women on oral 5-alpha reductase inhibitors
A study published in JAAD analyzed the incidence of breast cancer and benign breast disorders in women exposed to oral 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARI). A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 810 women prescribed oral 5-ARI, who were initially free of breast cancer and benign breast disorders. Oral finasteride was prescribed to 88% of women, and oral dutasteride 0.5 mg/day was prescribed to 12%. The median duration of follow-up after first prescription was 3.7 years.
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Compared to unexposed women, women exposed to oral 5-ARI had an odds ratio of breast cancer of 0.95. Among women who developed breast cancer, 77% were prescribed finasteride and 23% dutasteride. Women exposed to oral 5-ARI had an odds ratio of benign breast disorders of 0.76, without a statistically significant difference in odds ratio for any individual diagnosis. The authors concluded that the use of oral 5-ARI does not increase the risk of breast cancer or benign breast disorders in women, although larger controlled studies are needed.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: The breathless complications of anti-MDA-5-positive dermatomyositis
Dermatologists are familiar with the spectrum of dermatomyositis (DM) — classic DM, juvenile DM, amyopathic DM, and cancer-associated DM. Clinically, amyopathic DM is a form in which the patients typically develop characteristic cutaneous features of DM [heliotrope rash, Gottron’s papules, periungual erythema, mechanic’s hands, palmar papules, shawl sign, holster sign]. A subtype of amyopathic DM is anti-MDA5 DM (anti-melanoma differentiation-associated-5-positive DM), additionally characterized by cutaneous ulcerations and rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease. This commentary will focus on the potentially life-threatening complication of pneumomediastinum in patients afflicted with anti-MDA5-positive DM. Keep reading!
What symptoms are most significantly associated with melanoma recurrence?
A study published in JAAD aimed to identify the symptoms significantly associated with disease recurrence in patients with cutaneous melanoma. The results showed that fatigue, lymph node palpation, appetite change, and abdominal pain were the symptoms significantly associated with melanoma recurrence.
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The authors recommend using the mnemonic “ATLAS”: Appetite change, tiredness, lymph node enlargement, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath. Of the patients who experienced recurrent disease during the study period, 40.7% of the time, they reported with at least one of the ATLAS symptoms.
Omega-3 fatty acids for isotretinoin-induced cheilitis
An article published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology highlighted outcomes from two small studies suggesting the potential of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) in alleviating mucocutaneous side effects of oral isotretinoin in patients with acne. A 16-week case–control study found that O3FA supplementation alongside isotretinoin use significantly resulted in improvements in dry nose and skin, dry lips, and dry eyes. Another randomized controlled trial showed that O3FA supplementation with isotretinoin use resulted in improvements in xerosis and dry lips. No adverse effects were reported in either study.
Laser hair removal in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine evaluated the efficacy of laser hair removal in treating patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The analysis included 10 studies (six of which were randomized controlled trials) involving 227 patients and multiple laser modalities. The results showed that laser hair removal was effective in reducing HS disease severity and was generally well-tolerated by patients. According to the authors, laser hair removal can be an effective adjunct therapy for managing HS.
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