Svefntruflanir algengari hjá sjúklingum með psoriasisgikt

Psoriatic arthritis may be strongly associated with sleep disturbance, study indicates.

MedWire

(1/30, McDermid) reports, "The presence of psoriatic arthritis is the factor most strongly associated with sleep disturbance in patients with psoriasis," according to a study published in the

Journal of the American College of Dermatology

. For the study, Kristina Callis Duffin, of the University of Utah, and colleagues, examined "the responses of 420 psoriasis patients to a questionnaire." They found that "about half of the patients said that psoriasis had interfered with their sleep during the past month, with 10.5 percent reporting more than 15 disturbed nights." Notably, "a history of psoriatic arthritis increased the likelihood of sleep disturbance 3.26 fold after accounting for confounders." Among other factors that were "significantly associated with sleep disturbance were itching, pain and soreness, and psoriasis having an emotional impact." The authors point out that their work is of note because "sleep deprivation is considered a public health threat, as daytime fatigue and sleepiness contribute to lost productivity, workplace and driving accidents, and risk of depression." Therefore, "physicians treating patients with psoriatic disease need to incorporate this life-altering comorbidity into their assessment of disease and selection of treatment."

Alvarleiki psoriais tengdur offitu

Study indicates obesity may be linked to severity of psoriasis symptoms.

MedWire

(1/23, McDermid) reported that the results of a study published in the

Journal of Dermatological Science

"strengthen the link between obesity and severity of psoriasis symptoms." In the study, patients' Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) "scores correlated positively with...three measures of obesity," body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, and visceral adiposity. Notably, they found "the strongest correlation" in visceral adiposity. The researchers wrote that "increased visceral adiposity increases the secretion of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, which might play an important role on the induction and the maintenance of psoriasis."

Sjö gen tengd við psoriasis

Seven genes may play a role in psoriasis, study suggests.

AFP

(1/26) reports, "Scientists in the United States have pointed the finger at seven genes that appear to play a role in psoriasis," according to a study published online in the journal

Nature Genetics

. James Elder, professor of dermatology, University of Michigan, and colleagues, "cast a net through the genetic codes of 1,409 people with psoriasis and 1,436 healthy counterparts of European ancestry, looking for telltale variations in key genes." The researchers "then expanded the study to look at 21 of the most interesting DNA 'hotspots' among an additional 5,048 cases of psoriasis and 5,041 'controls.' Variations in at least seven genes point to the risk of an uncontrolled immune response that leads to psoriasis," the researchers said.
        "No single gene or gene variation is responsible for the disease,"

BBC News

(1/26) adds, "instead, scientists believe that a number of variations, working in concert, perhaps in combination with a triggering factor such as illness, could produce the condition." Patients "with a family history of psoriasis are much more prone to developing it themselves, and the genetic 'hotspots' identified by these research teams could eventually lead to ways to work out who is most likely to do this."
     

Óregluleg sólun kann að auka líkur húðkrabbameinum

ntermittent sun exposure may increase lifetime risks of certain skin cancers, research suggests.

In the

USA Today

(1/26) Your Health column, Kim Painter writes that "intermittent sun exposure" is what vacationers usually experience on holiday. Yet, a "history of such brief, intense sun blasts appears to raise lifetime risks of certain skin cancers, especially the most dangerous type, melanoma, says Marianne Berwick, an epidemiologist at the University of New Mexico." In fact, "those vacation sun soaks may be more dangerous than the constant, daily sun exposure that a farmer or construction worker gets." While the "relationship between skin cancers and sun exposure is complex and riddled with controversy," the "theory that a holiday sun blast carries special risk is gaining ground," and "one compelling recent study...found that young, white English women who had vacationed in hotter countries had more moles than women who had not." Furthermore, investigators "found excess moles were concentrated on the trunk and legs -- areas less likely to get the everyday English sun."

Lasermeðferð getur læknað psoriasisbletti sem önnur meðferð bítur ekki á

Article explains how laser therapy may help some patients with psoriasis.

The

Chicago Tribune

(1/22, Channick) reports that for patients with psoriasis who are tired of "slathering on ointments and taking powerful drugs," laser therapy can zap the condition "into submission." Dermatologist Giulio Leone, M.D., "whose practice has specialized in psoriasis for nearly four decades," says that he "has seen dramatic results in clearing the stubborn patches associated with the skin disorder," with the "majority of patients" getting "about 75...to 80 percent improvement." The treatment works by "concentrating UV light into a beam" to "target problem areas while avoiding overexposure." The device Dr. Leone uses is "manufactured by PhotoMedex" and "resembles a three-foot box on wheels with a wand attached to deliver the light energy." Still, according to Dr. Leone, "its precision makes it cumbersome for widespread psoriasis." This spring, "a more powerful model" is set "to debut," and "should help patients who have psoriasis on up to 20 percent of their body surfaces."

Lasermeðferð getur læknað psoriasisbletti sem önnur meðferð bítur ekki á

Article explains how laser therapy may help some patients with psoriasis.

The

Chicago Tribune

(1/22, Channick) reports that for patients with psoriasis who are tired of "slathering on ointments and taking powerful drugs," laser therapy can zap the condition "into submission." Dermatologist Giulio Leone, M.D., "whose practice has specialized in psoriasis for nearly four decades," says that he "has seen dramatic results in clearing the stubborn patches associated with the skin disorder," with the "majority of patients" getting "about 75...to 80 percent improvement." The treatment works by "concentrating UV light into a beam" to "target problem areas while avoiding overexposure." The device Dr. Leone uses is "manufactured by PhotoMedex" and "resembles a three-foot box on wheels with a wand attached to deliver the light energy." Still, according to Dr. Leone, "its precision makes it cumbersome for widespread psoriasis." This spring, "a more powerful model" is set "to debut," and "should help patients who have psoriasis on up to 20 percent of their body surfaces."

Psoriasissjúklingar leita í auknum mæli eftir upplýsingum á netinu

Research indicates online communities may provide education, support to some patients with psoriasis.

MedPage Today

(1/19, Neale) reported that, according to a study published in the Jan. issue of the

Archives of Dermatology

, "online communities" may provide patients with psoriasis "an important source of education and psychological and social support." For the study, researchers from the Center for Connected Health and Harvard University assessed "the usefulness of online support groups" by administering "a 29-item Web-based questionnaire to 260 patients who participated in one of five active online forums." The majority of the participants "(73.7 percent) reported having moderate-to-severe psoriasis." The investigators found that 86.5 percent of the participants "cited the Internet" as a source of "useful support." Among "key factors influencing the respondents' use of the online groups were availability of resources (95.3 percent), convenience (94 percent), access to good advice (91 percent), and the lack of embarrassment in dealing with personal issues (90.8 percent)." In addition, 73.9 percent cited "anonymity...as an important factor."