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Biomedical subjects

C C Harland

Publications and source records attributed to C C Harland.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Impact of skin cancer education on general practitioners' diagnostic skills.

Seventeen general practitioners (GPs) were evaluated to assess their ability to recognize malignant, borderline and benign skin lesions before and after a novel, cheap and quick skin cancer educational programme. They were tested without prior warning on two occasions using two sets of 30 clinical slides. Between each test the GPs were given a lecture based on an illustrated booklet of similar lesions. The results showed an improvement in the GPs' diagnostic skills (P < 0.05), but nevertheless a wide variation in diagnostic ability between GPs remained. Our study highlights a simple, effective and inexpensive method for teaching GPs the diagnostic clinical features of skin cancer. Further work is needed to improve their diagnostic accuracy in the long term.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2000

Treatment of keloid scars with pulsed dye laser and intralesional steroid.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Keloid scars have been treated in many ways, with varying success. A wide variety of treatments, all in current usage, indicate that no treatment has been shown to be markedly superior to the others. Following the successful treatment of scars using the pulsed dye laser, and with the more traditional intralesional steroid injection, a pilot study was undertaken using a combination of these treatments. METHODS: Recalcitrant keloid scars of 10 patients were managed with a combined treatment modality of pulsed dye laser (PDL) and intralesional steroid. RESULTS: Seven of the patients benefited in terms of the raised nature of the scars being improved by 60%, erythema improved by 40%, and pain/itching by 75%. Three of the patients, who had presternal scars, had no benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with PDL facilitated steroid injection by making the scar oedematous and therefore softer. In addition, we speculate that the benefits of this combined modality are summative, not just adjunctive. This study demonstrates that this treatment is effective for the treatment of keloid scars when other treatments have been unsuccessful.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The treatment of urticaria pigmentosa with the frequency-doubled Q-switch Nd:YAG laser.

Urticaria pigmentosa is a chronic benign proliferation of mast cells in the skin that presents considerable cosmetic disability, for which there is no current successful treatment. We describe a 30-year-old woman with urticaria pigmentosa in whom treatment with the Nd:YAG laser produced a significant improvement in the clinical appearance of the eruption, with some recurrence after 9 months. This procedure has not previously been described, and we propose this as a potential new treatment modality for urticaria pigmentosa.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Split skin grafts in the treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum. A report of four cases.

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon necrotising, non-infective ulceration of the skin. The management of PG is aimed at limiting tissue destruction, promoting the healing of the wound, and providing an acceptable cosmetic result. However, skin grafting is normally avoided because of the potential risk of pathergy-the localization of skin damaged by trauma. REPORT: We describe the use of split skin grafts in the management of ulcerative pyoderma gangrenosum in 4 patients. RESULTS: Our cases demonstrate that split skin grafts are a useful treatment modality in patients with ulcerative PG, producing a good cosmetic result. One case illustrates the importance of ensuring the disease is quiescent prior to grafting, to avoid pathergy. The other cases emphasise the need for prolonged immunosuppressive therapy to minimise the chance of reactivation of the disease process. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary experience of 4 cases of ulcerative PG indicates that split skin grafts have a role to play in its management. The ultimate cosmetic result is considered to be superior to allowing the wound to heal by secondary intention. To limit the risk of pathergy developing, our experience suggests a role for prolonged courses of immunosuppressive therapy. The most effective dose and duration of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with PG treated with split skin grafts remains to be determined. A controlled study would be of benefit to compare it with other current treatment options.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1999

Recurrence of unilateral naevoid telangiectatic syndrome following treatment with the pulsed dye laser.

Unilateral naevoid telangiectatic syndrome (UNTS) was first described in 1899 and is characterized by the dermatomal distribution of telangiectasia. It is broadly divided into congenital and acquired forms based upon the time of presentation. To date no effective treatment has been reported for this condition. In view of the vascular component of this eruption, it was felt that the pulsed dye laser (PDL), 585 nm, may have a role to play in the selective photothermolysis of these lesions. The treatment of five patients with acquired UNTS using the PDL is described. Based upon the findings it is concluded that the PDL is an effective treatment for UNTS; however, the clinical response is short lived with a 100% recurrence noted in all cases. Possible explanations for this condition are also briefly discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The successful treatment of lupus pernio with the flashlamp pulsed dye laser.

Lupus pernio of the nose is the most characteristic cutaneous lesion of sarcoidosis. It is cosmetically disfiguring and can be the cause of significant morbidity. In particular, the affected skin is often red or purple due to increased vasculature. It is particularly resistant to both surgical and medical therapy. We describe a patient with lupus pernio affecting her nose, which showed a dramatic improvement following treatment with the pulse dye laser (PDL). A biopsy taken after treatment showed the continued presence of sarcoidal granulomas. We therefore feel that treatment with the PDL is an effective tool in improving the cosmetic appearance of lupus pernio, but does not influence the underlying disease process.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Kikuchi disease (histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis) in association with HTLV1.

We report a 25-year-old male with fever, generalized lymphadenopathy and an erythematosus maculo-papular eruption affecting face and upper body. A diagnosis of Kikuchi disease (necrotizing histiocytic lymphadenitis) was made on lymph node histology. The patient was found to be positive for the human T-cell leukaemia lymphoma virus (HTLV1). Kikuchi disease has been reported in association with infections such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes (HHV6) and toxoplasmosis, but to our knowledge this is the first case of Kikuchi disease associated with HTLV1.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Segmental scarring following intrauterine herpes simplex virus infection.

We report the case of a female infant with an intrauterine herpes simplex type II infection in zosteriform distribution. She was treated with several courses of intravenous acyclovir leading to healing of the skin with segmental scarring. This patient is unusual in that the infection occurred in zosteriform distribution without any evidence of systemic involvement.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1995

Thalidomide-induced neuropathy and genetic differences in drug metabolism.

A pharmacogenetic predisposition to thalidomide-induced neuropathy has been investigated. Differences of drug metabolism were examined in 16 patients with severe orogenital ulceration, who were treated with thalidomide (< or = 200 mg/day) for 0.3-5.0 years. Eight had evidence of early peripheral neuropathy according to nerve conduction studies. Rates of C-hydroxylation, N-acetylation, and conjugation reactions with sulphate, glucuronide and glycine, were tested with the probe compounds debrisoquine, sulphadimidine, paracetamol and aspirin, respectively. Urinary drug metabolites were analysed by high pressure liquid chromatography. Results were compared with 16 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers. Of the patients 6.25% and 13.3% of the controls had a poor Debrisoquine Hydroxylator Ratio (DMR); none of the patients with neuropathy had a poor DMR as compared to 12.5% without neuropathy. Of the patients 40.0% and 35.7% of the controls were slow acetylators; 28.6% with neuropathy were slow acetylators as opposed to 50% without neuropathy. Similarly, there were no significant differences in rates of conjugation between groups. All unaffected patients were active smokers, whereas only two of those with neuropathy smoked. Cumulative dose or duration of therapy were unrelated to risk of neuropathy. In conclusion, changes of nerve conductivity are a frequent and unpredictable adverse effect of thalidomide (< or = 200 mg/day), although smoking may have a protective action against their development. Nerve conduction studies are required before and during treatment, irrespective of the prescribed dose.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1993

High frequency, high resolution B-scan ultrasound in the assessment of skin tumours.

Sixteen skin tumours and one BCG vaccination granuloma were examined by 20-MHz B-scan ultrasound. Images were compared with closely matched histological sections of excised lesions. The correlation between histology and ultrasound was excellent for maximum tumour depth measurements (r = 0.96, P < 0.0001), but less good for maximum width (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001) because of the elastic contraction of tissue at excision. Architectural detail of lesions on histological sections corresponded well with that on ultrasound images. There was a good correlation for heterogeneity (collagen distribution vs. echo pattern (r = 0.86, P < 0.0001)), and between collagen content and echogenicity of lesions (r = 0.69, P < 0.003). Strong correlations were also obtained for echogenicity vs. spacing of collagen bundles (r = -0.65, P < 0.005), echogenicity vs. collagen bundle size (r = 0.58, P < 0.02), and echogenicity vs. cellularity (r = -0.68, P < 0.003). Results for dermatofibroma were atypical, due to paradoxical low internal echogenicity and increased echo absorption. B-scanning is a reliable non-invasive method for assessing tumour dimensions, and has potential for the study of tumour characteristics for diagnostic purposes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Chemically induced cosmetic alopecia.

Cosmetic causes of scarring alopecia are poorly documented. They include traction alopecia and hot-combing. Recently, another group has presented in the South London area, related to misuse of chemical hair straightening agents. Affected patients are young, female, of Afro-Caribbean origin, and typically display hair loss on the vertex of the scalp. Histology shows a pattern of fibrosis and inflammation characteristic of the physical damage seen with other cosmetic procedures. This histological pattern is distinguishable from other non-cosmetic causes of scarring alopecia.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Pyoderma gangrenosum--a complication of chronic venous leg ulceration?

Three patients whose chronic venous leg ulcers were complicated by pyoderma gangrenosum are reported. Illnesses which may have predisposed to the development of pyoderma gangrenosum included Crohn's colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and small bowel perforation. Pyoderma gangrenosum should be suspected in susceptible patients whose venous leg ulcers undergo inexplicable and painful deterioration.

Aged↗