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Biomedical subjects

Nanette B Silverberg

Publications and source records attributed to Nanette B Silverberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

White piedra in children.

BACKGROUND: White piedra is a fungal infection of the hair shaft caused by species of Trichosporon. Rarely has this infection been reported in the United States. Historically, infected individuals required shaving of their hair to achieve clearance of the infection. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe 8 cases of Trichosporon scalp infections seen in the northeastern United States. METHODS: We conducted chart review and prospective evaluation of 7 girls and 1 boy seen in two dermatology practices in New Haven, Conn, and New York, NY. RESULTS: Seven girls, ages 4 to 16 years old, and one 4-year-old boy were determined to have Trichosporon scalp infection, all through culture. Of the 8 children who were available for follow-up, 7 had clearance of their infection with a combination of oral azole antifungal medication and azole antifungal shampoo, without shaving the scalp hair. LIMITATIONS: This was a sample of patients from a localized region of the United States. CONCLUSIONS: White piedra is emerging as a commonly seen hair and scalp infection in the northeastern United States. Contrary to prior publications, scalp and hair infection may be successfully treated with a combination of oral azole antifungals and shampoos without shaving the scalp.

Administration, Oral↗

Neonatal lupus erythematosus.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare syndrome of newborns and infants defined by the presence of maternal autoantibodies and the characteristic clinical features of the infant. The clinical findings most often reported are congenital heart block and cutaneous lesions; however, many children have cardiomyopathy, hepatobiliary disease, and/or hematologic diatheses. We present the case of a 1-day-old African American boy who presented with an annular, ulcerated facial eruption at birth and went on to develop subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE) and heart block.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Childhood vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder in which pigment is lost from the skin and adnexae. Half of all cases begin before the age of 20 years. Until recently, there was a paucity of published data regarding effective therapy of vitiligo. Current therapy is quite effective, and while many patients may not experience complete repigmentation, 50% to 75% repigmentation of vitiligo with recent onset routinely can be expected with available therapeutics.

Child↗

Tinea capitis.

Tinea capitis (TC) is a common fungal infection of the scalp, hair follicles, and hair shafts that can affect any age group but is particularly common in schoolchildren. The prevalence of TC has risen in the past 2 decades. Griseofulvin, the gold standard of therapy, does not cure about 20% of patients with TC, which has led to recent clinical trials on alternative agents for TC. This article reviews the pertinent new advances in the understanding of the disease and its therapy.

Antifungal Agents↗

Atopic dermatitis in children, part 1: epidemiology, clinical features, and complications.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a chronic skin condition, characterized by itch (pruritus) and dryness (xerosis). AD lesions appear as pruritic red plaques that ooze when scratched. Children with AD are excessively sensitive to irritants such as scented products and dust due to their impaired skin barrier and skin immune responses. AD is among the most common disorders of childhood and its incidence is increasing. AD is an all-encompassing disease that causes sleep disturbances in the affected child, disrupting the entire household. Patients with AD also are prone to bacterial overgrowth, impetigo, and extensive viral infections. Consequently, familiarity with the most recent literature is of utmost importance so that dermatologists and pediatricians can appropriately manage their patients.

Child↗

Helping children cope with hair loss.

Alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis are emotionally devastating forms of hair loss, which are difficult to cure. When childhood hair loss is unresponsive to alopecia therapies, both traditional and nontraditional, children may be stigmatized and fall under extreme psychologic distress. The not-for-profit organization Locks of Love began providing custom hair prostheses to children in 1997 and has continued to serve the emotional and cosmetic needs of children with extensive hair loss.

Adolescent↗

Tacrolimus ointment promotes repigmentation of vitiligo in children: a review of 57 cases.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder characterized by loss of pigmentation. Phototherapy and application of topical corticosteroids are most commonly prescribed. However, these therapies are often not effective and use of corticosteroids on the face may lead to cutaneous atrophy, telangiectasia, and ocular complications. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the efficacy of topical tacrolimus ointment in the treatment of pediatric vitiligo. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 57 pediatric patients with vitiligo at two clinical sites. Patients were treated with tacrolimus ointment for at least 3 months. Clinical responses were documented during clinic visits, and by pretacrolimus and posttacrolimus photography. RESULTS: At least partial response was noted to tacrolimus ointment on the head and neck in 89%, and on the trunk and extremities in 63% of patients. Facial vitiligo of the segmental type showed the best response rate. Two patients initially experienced burning on application. CONCLUSIONS: Topical tacrolimus ointment is an effective alternative therapy for childhood vitiligo, particularly involving the head and neck.

Adolescent↗

Human papillomavirus infections in children.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The human papillomavirus is a ubiquitous 55-nm DNA virus that causes a variety of clinical disease states in children, commonly referred to as warts. The natural history of warts is spontaneous regression through the development of a complex blend of cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Although spontaneous immunity can develop, as many as one third of children will have persistent human papillomavirus infection beyond 2 years. Therapeutic modalities are manifold, primarily because no therapy is universally effective. The purpose of this review is to update the reader with the latest information on the human papillomavirus and its therapeutics in children. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently, encouraging research has been conducted in human papillomavirus, including destructive and immunologic therapies. Vaccines tailored to genital human papillomavirus strains are just coming into clinical use. SUMMARY: Manipulation of the immune system through medications or vaccination will likely help contain human papillomavirus in the future and prevent secondary human papillomavirus oncogenesis of the skin and cervix.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Effectiveness of imiquimod cream 5% for treating childhood molluscum contagiosum in a double-blind, randomized pilot trial.

The safety and effectiveness of imiquimod cream 5% were evaluated in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum (MC) in children. Twenty-three children ranging in age from 1 to 9 years with MC infection were randomized to either imiquimod cream 5% (12 patients) or vehicle (11 patients). Parents applied study drug to patient's lesions 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Patients presented to the clinic every 2 weeks until the end of study (week 12) for safety evaluation and lesion count. Local skin reactions, partial and complete clearances, and lesion counts were statistically analyzed. Partial clearance (> or = 30% clearance of lesions) at weeks 4 and 12 was noted in 58.3% (7/12) and 66.7% (8/12) of imiquimod patients and in 0% (0/11) and 18.2% (2/11) of vehicle patients (imiquimod vs vehicle: week 4, P = .0046; week 12, P = .0361). Complete clearance at week 12 was noted in 33.3% (4/12) of imiquimod patients and in 9.1% (1/11) of vehicle patients. The mean percentage change in lesion count at week 12 was -45.9% in the imiquimod group and +26.9% in the vehicle group. Imiquimod was well tolerated and appears to be a promising therapeutic option in the treatment of MC in children. Larger studies are needed to confirm the results of this small pilot study.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗