Hudson Dermatology

Sewage waters of medical institutions are usually treated at activated sludge plants, this method providing insufficient disinfection if sewage waters are contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Alternative technologies have been developed for treating and disinfecting sewage waters using physic chemical methods such as thermal, electric-catalytic and plasma chemical methods. The recommended technological schemes and regime parameters of plants are presented. The field of application for developed water treatment plants is defined. The water treatment plants that have been put into service show high effect of sewage water treatment and disinfection.

Mental health disorders are among the most common health conditions in the United States. Traditional clinical treatments rely on psychiatric counseling and, in many cases, prescription medications. We propose an innovative model, Interventional Mental Health, which employs a combination of modalities through a multifaceted approach to treat conditions that have exhibited limited responsiveness to traditional methods and individuals afflicted with multiple comorbidities simultaneously. We hypothesize that creating a unique treatment algorithm combining current therapeutic modalities such as Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGB), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy, and ketamine therapy, within a consolidated timeframe, will yield synergistic outcomes among patients presenting with comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and/or anxiety.

Objective: Primary aim of this study is to identify prevalence of organic sleep disorders (OSDs) [REM sleep behaviour disorder (REMSBD), hypersomnia, parasomonia, insomnia, circadian rhythm] and compare prevalence of stroke [acute ischemic stroke (AIS), transient ischemic attack (TIA), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICeH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)] amongst OSDs. Secondary aim of the study is to evaluate the association between OSDs and stroke subtypes. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using National Inpatient Sample [2016-2017] for adult hospitalizations. We extracted a cohort of diagnoses of OSDs amongst which diagnoses of stroke were identified using ICD 10 code. Weighted analysis using chi-square test and mix-effects multivariable survey logistic regression was performed to evaluate the prevalence and odds of stroke amongst OSDs. Results: Out of 58,259,589 US hospitalizations, 2715 (0.00005%), 4120 (0.01%), 3420 (0.01%), 1,301,209 (2.23%) and 24870 (0.04%) had REMSBD, parasomnia, circadian rhythm, insomnia, and hypersomnia, respectively. Prevalence of AIS was higher in REMSBD [3.1 vs 2.1% p<.0004], hypersomnia [2.7 vs 2.1% p<.0001], parasomnia [2.6 vs 2.1% p=.0714], and circadian rhythm [2.8 vs 2.1% p=.0102]. Prevalence of TIA was higher in REMSBD [1.3 vs 0.6% p<.0001], parasomnia [1.3 vs 0.6% p<.0001] and hypersomnia [0.7 vs 0.5% p=.0188]. Prevalence of ICeH was higher in hypersomnia [0.5 vs 0.4% p=.0043], parasomnia [0.5 vs 0.4% p=.3239], and circadian rhythm [1.3 vs 0.4% p=.0188]. Prevalence of SAH was higher in circadian rhythm [0.6 vs 0.1% p<.0001]. In analysis, patients with parasomnia had higher odds of TIA [aOR 2.8; 95%CI 1.02-7.5] and a weak association with ICeH [1.9 (0.5-7.9)]. Circadian rhythm OSD had 214% [3.1 (1.6-6.1)] and 310% [4.1 (1.5-11.0)] higher risk of ICeH and SAH, respectively and a weak association with AIS [1.3 (0.8-2.1)]. Hypersomnia had a weak association with AIS [1.2 (1.0-1.4)], TIA [1.1 (0.8-1.6)] and ICeH [1.4 (0.9-2.0)]. REMSBD had a weak association with AIS [3.6 (0.8-15.4)]. Conclusion: Our study shows organic sleep disorders (OSDs) are associated with strokes. Even Though the extent of association varies in each OSDs, early identification and prompt management of OSDs may mitigate the risk of stroke.

Scleromyxedema and lichen myxedematosus (LM) are rare disorders that fall along the spectrum of primary cutaneous mucinoses. Scleromyxedema is a systemic form that classically presents with generalized waxy papules, sclerodermoid eruption, and monoclonal gammopathy; LM is a localized form limited to the skin that classically presents with white, firm, waxy papules and lacks monoclonal gammopathy. According to diagnostic criteria established in 2001, the diagnosis of both conditions requires absence of thyroid disease. However, atypical cases that lack monoclonal gammopathy and that present with hypothyroidism have been reported, suggesting that these criteria may require revision. First, we report a case of a 58-year-old female with a history of Hashimoto thyroiditis and biopsy-proven scleromyxedema responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy with delayed presentation of monoclonal gammopathy. Next, we report a case of a 54-year-old female with a history of hypothyroidism, Hodgkin’s lymphoma in remission after radiation and chemotherapy, and concurrent rheumatoid arthritis, with biopsy-proven LM temporarily responsive to systemic steroids. Our cases demonstrate that patients with papular mucinoses can have a multitude of concurrent and prior rheumatologic and endocrine conditions, including thyroid disease, which should not preclude a diagnosis of scleromyxedema and LM.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)–infected patients with cirrhosis are historically a difficult‐to‐treat population and are at risk of hepatic decompensation. In the phase 2 COSMOS study that evaluated simeprevir (HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor) + sofosbuvir (HCV nucleotide analogue NS5B polymerase inhibitor) ± ribavirin for 12 or 24 weeks in HCV genotype (GT)1–infected patients, high rates of sustained virologic response 12 weeks after planned end of treatment (SVR12) were achieved, including in patients with cirrhosis (METAVIR score F4). This phase 3, open‐label, single‐arm study (OPTIMIST‐2 [NCT02114151]) evaluated the efficacy and safety of 12 weeks of simeprevir + sofosbuvir in HCV GT1–infected treatment‐naive or treatment‐experienced patients with cirrhosis. Patients (aged 18‐70 years) with chronic HCV GT1 infection and documented presence of cirrhosis received oral simeprevir 150 mg once daily + sofosbuvir 400 mg once daily for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint of the study was the proportion of patients achieving SVR12 versus a composite historical control (SVR12 rate of 70%). Safety and patient‐reported outcomes were assessed. Overall, 103 patients received treatment. SVR12 with simeprevir + sofosbuvir (83%, 95% confidence interval 76%‐91%) met the primary objective of superiority versus the historical control (70%). SVR12 rates for treatment‐naive and treatment‐experienced patients were 88% (44/50) and 79% (42/53), respectively. Adverse events occurred in 72 (70%) patients, with most (64%) being grade 1 or 2. Serious adverse events (none considered related to study treatment) occurred in five (5%) patients, and three (3%) patients discontinued all study treatment due to adverse events. Patient‐reported outcomes improved from baseline to follow‐up week 12. Conclusion: Simeprevir + sofosbuvir for 12 weeks achieved superiority in SVR12 rates versus the historical control in treatment‐naive and treatment‐experienced HCV GT1‐infected patients with cirrhosis and was generally safe and well tolerated. (Hepatology 2016;64:360‐369)

Objective:Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) are first-line therapies for erectile dysfunction (ED). Sildenafil (SIL) and vardenafil (VAR) are approved for as-needed (PRN) dosing; tadalafil (TAD) is approved for both PRN and once-a-day (OaD) dosing for ED. Recent evidence suggests that TAD-OaD may be effective as therapy in men with an incomplete response to PRN-PDE5I therapy. This study evaluated whether TAD-OaD provides similar efficacy in men with ED who had previously demonstrated a partial response to PRN-PDE5I therapy.Research design and methods:In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, men with a ≥3 month ED history received SIL 100 mg, TAD 20 mg, or VAR 20 mg during a 4 week open-label lead-in period. Those with International Index of Erectile Function – Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) domain scores <26 following lead-in treatment completed a 4 week washout period, then randomized to TAD 2.5 mg up-titrated to 5 mg, TAD 5 mg, or placebo (PBO) OaD for 12 weeks. Main outcome measures obtained from patients treated with TAD-OaD were compared to PBO-treated patients. Additionally, results of treatment with TAD-OaD were compared to results obtained from 4 week PRN-PDE5I therapy to determine whether OaD and PRN regimens provided comparable efficacy.Clinical trial registration:NCT01130532.Main outcome measures:International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) domain scores; Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) questions 2–5.Results:Endpoint data was obtained from 590 men (391 TAD; 199 PBO). Results for all IIEF and SEP measures were significantly better for TAD-OaD (p < 0.001 for all) compared to PBO and were comparable to those observed during PRN-PDE5I treatment. TAD 2.5 mg and TAD 5 mg OaD therapy were safe and generally well tolerated.Conclusion:Tadalafil once daily is a viable alternative to as-needed PDE5I therapy in men with ED. Key limitations include the lack of a PRN PDE5I study group during the double-blind period, and that many more patients took tadalafil than sildenafil or vardenafil during the PRN period.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using aminolevulinic acid (ALA) with blue light or red light is effective for treating actinic keratoses (AKs). However, immunosuppression follows red light PDT, raising the spectre of skin cancer promotion in treated skin. To determine whether broad-area short incubation (BASI)-ALA-PDT using blue light immunosuppression immunosuppresses treated skin. Patients were evaluated clinically and by standardized facial biopsies of non-AK skin before, 24 hours and 1 month after customary blue light BASI-ALA-PDT. All biopsies were stained for markers of epidermal atypia and Langerhans cells (LCs); and at 24 hours to detect oxidative DNA damage. Patients had an 81% reduction in AKs and slight improvement in clinical and histologic signs of photoaging after 1 month. The biopsied chronically photodamaged skin without clinically detectable AKs showed no effect of PDT on the LC number, distribution, or morphology; and no oxidative DNA damage, in contrast to the changes reported after customary red light PDT. Customary blue light BASI-ALA-PDT does not affect the LC number or produce oxidative DNA damage, the sequelae of red light PDT responsible for immunosuppression in treated skin.