They are more than just pretty people handing out cool pens.
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Dermatology↗
Biomedical subjects
Melodie Young
Publications and source records attributed to Melodie Young.
Successful treatment of hand and foot psoriasis with efalizumab therapy.
Hand and foot psoriasis can appear in a plaque-type or pustular-type form. Any form of psoriasis that occurs on the hands and feet can have a debilitating effect on the patient's daily functions. Here we present a case series of patients with plaqueor pustular-type hand and foot psoriasis whose conditions were successfully managed with the biologic agent efalizumab. In many of these patients, the disease was refractory to multiple systemic psoriasis treatments. Treatment with efalizumab was effective and well-tolerated, with few adverse events. Many of the patients described here reported an improvement in both their physical functioning and health-related quality of life. The efficacy of efalizumab in treating these cases of hand and foot psoriasis suggests that it may provide therapeutic benefit.
Adult↗
The ethics of medicine and nursing.
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Ethics, Nursing↗
The psychological and social burdens of psoriasis.
Psoriasis imposes psychological and social burdens on sufferers, in addition to the physical toll. A recent survey of 502 people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis discovered that 38% of patients with psoriasis experience disease-related disruption in day-to-day activity, including work, school, interpersonal relationships, recreational activities, and intimacy. Discrimination, lack of self-confidence, and feelings of isolation, anger, and hopelessness are also quite common. In addition, another survey of 1000 adult Americans without psoriasis was conducted to determine the awareness of psoriasis by the general public. This survey confirmed a low level of awareness and understanding of the disease among people without psoriasis, suggesting that a lack of sensitivity may contribute to the social burdens of suferers.
Data Collection↗
Practical considerations in future psoriasis therapies.
Exciting new therapies are becoming available that allow dermatologists and patients safe and effective alternatives to traditional psoriasis therapy. Because these new biologic drugs are parenterally administered, practical aspects of their integration into clinical practice must be addressed. This article offers guidelines for incorporating subcutaneous,intramuscular, and intravenous injectables into dermatology offices. Several tiers of psoriasis care are outlined to encourage individual physicians to choose the optimum level of service compatible with their individual practices.
Combined Modality Therapy↗
Integrating biologic therapies into a dermatology practice: practical and economic considerations.
This article discusses the issues involved in the integration of biologic therapies for psoriasis into a dermatology practice. The requirements for staff, space, and other office adaptations are reviewed for infliximab, efalizumab, etanercept, and alefacept in their current injectable forms. Dermatologists will likely elect to offer some or all of these therapies depending on the adjustments necessary within their current practice, patient satisfaction, and the economic possibilities. This article provides information needed to guide dermatology practices in practical decisions regarding the use of biologic therapies.
Alefacept↗