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Biomedical subjects

K Landow

Publications and source records attributed to K Landow.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Acute and chronic herpes zoster. An ancient scourge yields to timely therapy.

With the US population aging steadily, herpes zoster represents a growing contributor to diminished quality of life. Dermatologic manifestations appear as immunity declines with age but rarely pose a significant threat, except in instances when ocular structures are involved. Pain is of more concern, because it usually accompanies and may even precede and persist after acute eruptions. In most young patients, pain is transient and bearable. Unfortunately, in the elderly--who are at highest risk for herpes zoster--pain is often more prolonged and more intense. In spite of a wide spectrum of interventions, palliative efforts remain rather ineffectual. At present, intervening as early as possible, ideally within 48 to 72 hours of disease onset, offers the greatest chance of minimizing neurologic sequelae. Inoculation with varicella vaccine in patients between ages 55 and 65 may prove to boost cell-mediated immunity sufficiently so that recrudescence of the varicella virus can be relegated to the annals of history.

2-Aminopurine↗
PubMed1998

Hand dermatitis. The perennial scourge.

Hand eczema continues to bedevil both patients and physicians. While appropriate and judicious intervention minimizes aggravation, discomfort, and inconvenience, recurrences are frequent. Treatment with corticosteroids is often effective for irritant dermatitis. Efforts to avoid the irritant, protect the hands, and use emollients are vital in preventing recurrence. Protection and avoidance are also the key techniques to teach patients with allergic dermatitis. In the case of pompholyx, experts now believe the condition is caused by stress or emotional turmoil, so the most helpful intervention may be patient education about stress management. Recognizing the role of irritants encountered at work, at home, and in the recreational setting offers physicians the opportunity to intervene preemptively. When patients avoid unnecessary exposure and protect the skin against climatic instability, the toll exacted by hand eczema can be dramatically reduced.

Dermatitis, Contact↗
PubMed1997

Atopic dermatitis. Current concepts support old therapies and spur new ones.

With diligent care, most patients with atopic dermatitis markedly improve within a very short period. Avoidance of exacerbating factors and use of a mild topical corticosteroid preparation generally bring relief in all but the most extreme cases. Most of the newer, more intrusive therapies remain too expensive, too toxic, or too burdensome to warrant general support. Resistant cases often relate more to failure to pay appropriate attention to simple details (eg, avoidance of excessive contact with water and irritants) than to lack of sufficient potency in the medications chosen. Practitioners serve their patients best by taking adequate time to educate them and their families on the fundamental aspects of the disease, the importance of using common sense in caring for themselves and thus avoiding problems, and the need to relinquish the hope for a miracle cure, since none exists.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1997

Dispelling myths about acne.

Virtually no one escapes adolescence and early adulthood unscathed by acne. However, advanced methods of therapy are now available to deal with all but the most recalcitrant forms of the condition. Unfortunately, stereotypical notions about causes and treatments still persist, and as Dr Landow points out, patient education to dispell these myths is an important part of management.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1996

Nongenital warts: when is treatment warranted?

Patients often request laser therapy or other dramatic measures for treatment of nongenital warts. Because some popular interventions may be painful and costly and lead to scarring, it is wise to make sure a procedure's merits outweigh its side effects before commencing.

Humans↗