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Mashup Score: 1
A recent analysis of the phase 1b KEYNOTE-041 trial indicated effectiveness and tolerability of pembrolizumab in Japanese patients with advanced melanoma. Researchers conducted the study over a 12-month period. The study evaluated pembrolizumab’s long-term efficacy and safety in individuals with locally advanced (unresectable stage III) or metastatic (stage IV) melanoma who were ineligible for local therapy. Patients had all received limited prior systemic treatments. The study drug was administered at a dosage of 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks for up to 2 years or until confirmed disease progression or intolerable side effects. According to the results, pembrolizumab exhibited a promising overall response rate (ORR) of 24.3% among evaluable patients, with two patients achieving complete response following initial partial response. Median overall survival (OS) reached 25.1 months, with a 30-month OS rate of 46.3%, indicating durable antitumor activity. Furthermore, the median duration of respon
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Mashup Score: 1
Deucravacitinib, a TYK-2 inhibitor, was linked with significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to results from a phase 2 trial. To assess the effects of deucravacitinib in this patient population, the study authors conducted a double-blind and randomized trial that included 203 patients with active PsA who were assigned to receive either deucravacitinib at doses of 6 mg or 12 mg once daily or a placebo over a period of 16 weeks. Key secondary endpoints included changes from baseline at Week 16 in the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical component summary (PCS) score. Additional PROs (fatigue, pain, and mental health) were also assessed. The results showed that both doses of deucravacitinib led to significant improvements in HAQ-DI and SF-36 PCS scores compared to the placebo group. Moreover, a higher proportion of patients receivi
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Mashup Score: 0Study Validates Thermal Imaging, ALT-70 Model for Distinguishing Cellulitis from Pseudocellulitis - 1 month(s) ago
A new diagnostic validation study in JAMA Dermatology has shed light on the potential of surface thermal imaging and the ALT-70 (asymmetry, leukocytosis, tachycardia, and age ≥70 years) prediction model in differentiating cellulitis from pseudocellulitis. “Cellulitis is misdiagnosed in up to 30% of cases due to mimic conditions termed pseudocellulitis,” the authors wrote. “The resulting overuse of antibiotics is a threat to patient safety and public health. Surface thermal imaging and the ALT-70 (asymmetry, leukocytosis, tachycardia, and age ≥70 years) prediction model have been proposed as tools to help differentiate cellulitis from pseudocellulitis.” The authors conducted the study in patients presenting with acute dermatologic lower extremity symptoms in the ED, aiming to validate differences in skin surface temperatures between cellulitis and pseudocellulitis cases. They assessed various temperature measures and optimal cut points for differentiation, comparing their performance wi
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Mashup Score: 0Gene Variants May Drive Persistent Lesions in Darier Disease - 1 month(s) ago
Persistent lesions in patients with Darier disease were associated with second-hit variants in the ATP2A2 gene, according to data from a new case series of 9 patients. In a study published in JAMA Dermatology, Lihi Atzmony, MD, of Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel, and colleagues extracted DNA from areas of unaffected skin, transient lesional skin, persistent lesional skin, and blood from 9 adults with Darier disease (DD), a genetic skin disorder caused by heterozygous loss of function variants in the ATP2A2 gene and characterized by recurrent hyperkeratotic papules and plaques. These lesions may be mild or severe, and may be resistant to therapy. Additional somatic changes might impact the persistence of lesions in DD patients, the researchers wrote. Whole exome sequencing of ATP2A2 revealed germline and second-hit somatic variations of ATP2A2 in 6 of 6 patients with 8 persistent lesions. In addition, deep sequencing revealed two somatic variants in the persistent cutaneous l
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Mashup Score: 1Integrated Dermatology Appoints Tushar Ramani, MD, as CEO - 1 month(s) ago
Integrated Dermatology has announced the appointment of Tushar Ramani, MD, as the company’s new chief executive officer (CEO). Dr. Ramani will be replacing Jeff Queen, who after two decades as CEO and executive chairman, is transitioning to the role of co-executive chairman of the Board alongside Andy Queen. Dr. Ramani brings a combination of clinical expertise gained as a former anesthesiologist, along with entrepreneurial success as the founder and operator of several nationally prominent healthcare service companies. In his new role, Dr. Ramani’s strategic vision will include expanding the company’s dermatology partner network, implementing new technologies to enhance support services, and driving innovation while continuing to deliver high-quality dermatology care. With over 30 years of healthcare industry experience, including executive leadership roles at both publicly-traded and privately-held companies, Dr. Ramani most recently served as CEO of Women’s Care. “I am excited to j
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Mashup Score: 0Updated Coding Curbs Complex Repair Billing by Mohs Surgeons - 1 month(s) ago
Complex repairs billed by Mohs surgeons decreased significantly from 2019 to 2021 in the wake of new coding guidelines, according to a national Medicare analysis. Publishing in Dermatologic Surgery, Christian Gronbeck, MD, of the University of Connecticut, Farmington, and colleagues compared the volume of intermediate and complex skin repairs performed by Mohs micrographic surgeons before and after the 2020 guidelines. The study included 2,764 Mohs micrographic surgeons (MMSs) who performed a total of 629,532 intermediate and complex repairs in 2021. Over the study period, the proportion of complex repairs performed by MMSs decreased from 63.2% to 75.2% (P < 0.0001). The updated coding provided more differentiation guidance between complex and intermediate repairs on the degree of undermining, the exposure of named subcutaneous structures, and the involvement of free margins. Complex repair coding decreased across all subgroups of MMSs, but the greatest decreases were among surgeons in
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Mashup Score: 1DermWireTV: Dermatologists React to the Valisure Report; FDA Approves New Treatment for Frown Lines - Practical Dermatology - 1 month(s) ago
In this episode of DermWireTV, dermatologists react to the recent Valisure report that found elevated levels of benzene when studied under laboratory conditions in certain acne products containing BPO; the FDA approves a new treatment option for glabellar…
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Mashup Score: 3
Increased popularity in dietary supplements should prompt engagement from dermatologists, the authors said.
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Mashup Score: 8Practical Dermatology - 1 month(s) ago
Practical Dermatology is a publication dedicated to bringing you comprehensive coverage of all the latest technology, techniques, and developments in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
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Mashup Score: 2American Acne and Rosacea Society (AARS) Releases Response to FDA Citizen's Petition from Valisure - Practical Dermatology - 1 month(s) ago
The Society responds to recent reporting on acne products that could contain benzene from BPO degradation.
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The phase 1b study provided long-term results form the KEYNOTE-041 trial. A recent analysis of the phase 1b KEYNOTE-041 trial indicated effectiveness and tolerability of pembrolizumab in Japanese patients with advanced melanoma: https://t.co/adj9SvBlXR