Dermanities: The Blog

Osler Book Launch

2009-08-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

Please Join Us at the

Book Launch for

Osler’s Bedside Library: Great Writers Who Inspired a Great Physician

Edited by Michael Lacombe and David Elpern

The Osler Library, McGill University

Montreal Quebec

Saturday Morning, October 24, 2009

The Osler Library is hosting a book signing for Osler’s Bedside Library (OBL) and would like to invite you to join us. There will be a few brief talks by some of the contributors and a light lunch will be served. A dinner for interested attendees will be organised as well.

Dave Elpern, who worked with Michael Lacombe on this volume, is one of the founders of Dermanities. We hope to have some dermatologists at this event.

Sir William Osler advised physicians to “let no day pass without contact with the best literature of the world. Before going to sleep,” he counseled, “read for half an hour” from a Bedside Library, beginning with ”a list of ten books with which you may make close friends.”

OBL is a companion and guide for contemporary readers. It features selections from Osler’s Canon, plus 20 more works that Osler frequently referred to. Each chapter contains selections from the classics plus commentary by a leading scholar in the medical humanities. Special reference is made to why the work is relevant to a physician’s education and practice.

If interested, please contact Chris Lyons, Assistant Librarian at the Osler Library or Dave Elpern for more information.

Dermatologist's Geko

2009-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Rob Norman is a dermatologist in Tampa, Florida.
He "caught" a geko feasting on a dragonfly in his garden this morning.

We await his haiku on this moment.

Watching On'e Back

2009-06-01T02:48:00.000-07:00

Origins of Leprosy

2009-05-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

"The oldest known skeleton showing signs of leprosy has been found in India and may help solve the puzzle of where the disease originated. The skeleton, about 4,000 years old, was found at the site of Balathal, near Udaipur in northwestern India. Historians have long considered the Indian subcontinent to be the source of the leprosy that was first reported in Europe in the fourth century B.C., shortly after the armies of Alexander the Great returned from India." From the NY Times, May 27, 2009

Traditionally, leprologists are dermatologists. The disorder is endlessly challenging and is of great intellectual interest. These new findings are of import to historians and students of medicine.

You can Read the NY Times article Here
and/or the PLoS One report Here
PLoS Abstract: Results indicate that lepromatous leprosy was present in India by 2000 B.C. This evidence represents the oldest documented skeletal evidence for the disease. Our results indicate that Vedic burial traditions in cases of leprosy were present in northwest India prior to the first millennium B.C. Our results also support translations of early Vedic scriptures as the first textual reference to leprosy. The presence of leprosy in skeletal material dated to the post-urban phase of the Indus Age suggests that if M. leprae evolved in Africa, the disease migrated to India before the Late Holocene, possibly during the third millennium B.C. at a time when there was substantial interaction among the Indus Civilization, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. This evidence should be impetus to look for additional skeletal and molecular evidence of leprosy in India and Africa to confirm the African origin of the disease.

We'd love to hear your take on this.

The mandible pictured above demonstrates root exposure, alveolar resorption, antemortem tooth loss, and a small apical abscess at the left third premolar. Image is from PLoS One article.

Who Was Turkan Saydal?

2009-05-24T03:40:00.000-07:00

Dermatologist, Turkan Saydal died on Monday, May 18, 2005, age 73. "One of the first women to work as a dermatologist in Turkey, Dr. Saylan became active in the fight against leprosy in the 1970s, founding the Turkish Leprosy Relief Association. Later, she was a consultant to the World Health Organization on leprosy and a founding member of the International Leprosy Union." NY Times

Her obituary appeared in the NY Times this week. "Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife/ [her] sober wishes never learned to stray." It makes us proud to have had her in our midst. It makes us sad that we did not know about her and her work.

Perhaps, a Turkish colleague can add a few words.

Blogger Guide

2009-04-05T08:19:00.001-07:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Blogger Guide

View more presentations from djelpern.

Botox

2009-02-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

Academy Awards

2009-02-25T18:29:00.001-08:00

Tan by Needle?

2009-01-30T02:39:00.000-08:00

Hans Reuchlin, a friend with Type I/II skin, alerted us to a recent letter in the BMJ which draws attention to the unlicensed use of melanotrophic peptides for recreational tanning: "Change in moles linked to use of unlicensed "sun tan jab"

The letter describes two women who were also sunbed users who presented with "rapidly pigmenting naevi and intense tan. Both patients had also subcutaneously injected Melanotan I and II obtained for self administration from the internet shortly before their moles changed."

Some of these products are purported to have aphrodisiac and positive erectile effects which will add to their illicit use one suspects. This is an emerging story. Stay tuned.

It reminds one of the book, Black Like Me by John Howard Griffith. The urban legend that Griffith died of melanoma is apparently erroneous.

Witness to History by Brenda Dintiman

2009-01-25T13:05:00.001-08:00

We had mixed feelings about dealing with the crowds and cold to go and witness the swearing in of the president. Yet, our friends, Caroline and Charles, were visiting from North Carolina and they were determined to be there. I wasn't sure if Teddy would want to go but as Caroline said, "This is historic and he needs to be there with you." It was the first election that my daughter, Christine had voted in and the first time in my life that I felt passionate about voting.

We rode on the crowded Metro and became anxious as the announcer told us which stops were closed or overwhelmed with crowds. People tried to push on to the already full train as we got close to the Clarendon and Rosslyn Station and that was a little scary. They were affable and festive, however, singing and talking to each other and full of excitement. We got off four stops before the Capitol and were resigned to just be near a JumboTron screen to watch. We walked with thousands of people peacefully down 18th Street to the reflecting pool and then to the Washington monument. College kids were carrying signs; parents were walking with children and whole families were excitedly strolling together.

As we looked down the mall past the first JumboTron over the sea of people waving flags and saw the Capitol at the end, we felt emotional anticipating what was about to happen. For me it was a significant historic moment since I grew up in Richmond, Virginia the capital of the Confederacy and we were about to watch the swearing in of our first African-American president. We felt proud to witness the "peaceful transition of power" that makes our country unique.

People cheered and clapped for President Obama. I felt that this was a sign that regardless of one’s heritage and ethnic background our country gives us all opportunities to succeed and even become the President of the United States.

Unfortunately, some people booed ex-president Bush which offended us since regardless of one’s political beliefs he had served our country for eight years. Yet again, this symbolizes our country's freedom of speech.

I am happy that we braved the crowds and am still in awe of witnessing this historic event. The joyous energy of the crowds has given me a renewed faith in our country's ability to heal and to recover from these difficult economic times.

Brenda Dintiman is a dermatologist in Northern Virginia. She is the founder of Fair Oaks Skin Care Center in Fairfax, Virginia. You can reach her at: Email.

Voices of Psoriasis

2009-01-17T02:54:00.000-08:00

Patient Voices is a section in the NY Times that allows patients to speak candidly about their disease -- usually there are six patients and they speak for from 30 seconds for a child to around 90 seconds for an adult. This week's topic is psoriasis.

"About 15 years ago, a dermatologist diagnosed my psoriasis and said to me “Congratulations, you have a new hobby.” Was she right!" This is an excerpt from a fine piece on psoriasis that appeared on Jan 15, 2009 in the NY Times.

Short intro to Voices of Psoriasis

Audio of seven patients

Perhaps, the most eloquent voice on psoriasis is that of John Updike. His essay "From the Diary of a Leper" appeared in the New Yorker Magazine almost 30 years ago. It is well worth reading and can be found in Problems and Other Stories (London: Deutsch, 1980), p. 187; and is quoted in John Updike, Self-Consciousness: Memoirs (London: Penguin, 1990).

An essay The Thick-Skinned Art of John Updike: 'From the Journal of a Leper' can be accessed online and is a good discussion of the impact of skin disease on those afflicted.

Love those long lashes...

2009-01-14T18:16:00.000-08:00

who's your dermatologist?

"Allergan, the company that turned an obscure muscle paralyzer for eyelid spasms, Botox, into a blockbuster wrinkle smoother, hopes to perform cosmetic alchemy yet again. At the end of the month, the company plans to introduce Latisse, the first federally approved prescription drug for growing longer, lusher lashes."
So begins an amazing front page article in the NY Times today.

When I first entered dermatology, back in the Pleistocene no patient ever asked about moisturizers, anti-wrinkle creams, fillers, and on and on. Sadly, these hold no interest for me and I realize that I am a curmudgeon deserving of the title "Dinosaur" -- or perhaps "Dermosaur."

"Allergan plans to introduce Latisse this month, primarily to cosmetic doctors like dermatologists. Some women who have already tried Latisse are fans.

“People would say to me ‘Are you wearing false eyelashes?’ — even my own mother asked,” said Cindy Ross, vice president for sales at Young Pharmaceuticals in Wethersfield, Conn., who participated in the Latisse clinical trial."

Stay tuned, but pleas don't refer any of these patients to the Dino-Dermo Centre at which I work.

The Pharmacopeia

2009-01-02T19:21:00.000-08:00

I often think of this quote when I see patients bringing in bags of medications: "I firmly believe that if the whole materia medica, as now used, could be sunk to the bottom of the sea, it would be all the better for mankind,--and all the worse for the fishes." (In an Address delivered by Oliver Wendell Holmes.before the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1860 ) Matters are not that different today (DJE)

The patient is a disabled woman I saw today who told me that her acne scars reminded her of manholes. She bought all of these products to help improve her appearance. I quoted Holmes to her and she was amused. She agreed to be photographed for my partners in crime.

[Strangely, each time this is quoted, it changes a bit. The original, I think, is in "The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table."]

Acne by Danielle Ofri

2009-01-02T02:53:00.000-08:00

In case some of you may have missed this fine essay which appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine we have posted it here. It begins:

"A young Navajo woman files silently into my office, making no eye contact. As she slips into the chair, errant strands of black hair spill across her face. Through the breaches, I catch glimpses of her rich dark skin riddled with the pockmarks of severe acne. Violently swollen pustules and angry red craters contort the architecture of her face. Her shoulders slope into her slight body, as if afraid to claim too much territory on their own. She contemplates the linoleum wordlessly. I am almost afraid to interrupt."

For full article, email DJE or find it at: Acne/Ofri

Treatment Centre

2008-12-31T11:58:00.001-08:00

"The cartoon is a way of dealing with the complexities of the world by reducing them to a comic situation." Bob Mankoff, Cartoon Editor of the New Yorker Magazine.

[This cartoon appeared in the January 5, 2009 New Yorker. It reminded me of many real-life clinical situations. DJE]

What Is Medicine: Parts I and II

2008-12-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

What is Medicine?

is a two part poem by Dr. Robert Norman. These are beautiful poems, true poems.

"Rob" Norman is a dermatologist, musician, writer, teacher and poet who lives and practices in Tampa Bay, Florida. He began writing during his undergraduate days and published several articles in the school yearbook. At present, he has published more than 100 articles in the lay and medical press and has taught creative writing for more than ten years. In 1992 he was provided with the Massachusetts Arts Lottery fellowship to teach senior citizens in creative writing; a collection of writing based on this teaching was published the same year under the title Where Wisdom Shines. In addition, he was recently selected for the national poetry project by Robert Pinsky (United States poet laureate) and interviewed on NPR.

In his spare time, Rob enjoys tennis, music, fishing, golf, and kayaking. He has written seventeen books, including the recently published To Life! (Stories and Quotes for a Happy, Healthy, and Spiritual Life). He has spoken at numerous writers' festivals where he teaches medical writing, memoir writing and autobiography, and inspirational writing.

What Is Medicine: Parts I and II is a poem that encapsulates Rob Norman's philosophy of patient care. It can be accessed at: What is Medicine?

About Dermanities: The Blog

2008-12-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

The Alliance for Humane Dermatology (AHD) and its sister journal Dermanities were launched in December of 2002 by Benjamin Barankin, MD & David J. Elpern, MD based on the lack of coverage of the humanities and patient care in the dermatology literature. While there are scores of dermatology journals globally, there are no others that consistently address this important area.

The emphasis of Dermanities has been on patient care, physician experiences, and the interplay of medicine with the social & psychological sciences. It is complementary to Cell 2 Soul - a medical humanities blog. Through essays, humor, poetry, and the shared collective wisdom of the global community, AHD and Dermanities aim to enrich the dermatologic and medical community.

The Dermanities journal and Dermanities: The Blog are free, online resources which share the same mission, editorial and advisory boards. Our editors and contributors are a global selection of medical students, residents, dermatologists, other physicians, allied health professionals, and, importantly patients and their family members.

Dermanities: The Blog is an attempt to post timely articles and notices that the Dermanities community may find interesting and helpful.

Your submissions are welcome.