Bill Schu

Opioids have been and continue to be a major source of relief for both chronic and acute pain sufferers. As the use of prescription opioid medications continues to rise, however, so does our knowledge about opioid dependence and opioid poisonings.

Both chronic pain conditions and obesity are major and increasing public health concerns, and the connections between the two have been firmly established in the medical literature. But as the prevalence of obesity worldwide continues to grow, a deeper understanding of this connection could potentially benefit both practitioners and patients.

For gout patients, quality of life and satisfaction are closely tied to treatment efficacy and whether they are currently experiencing a gout attack.

Researchers recently reviewed a number of new systemic therapies-including combination therapies-for treatment of melanoma brain metastases, including kinase inhibitors that have been shown to effectively target BRAF-mutated melanoma cells.

A review in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology strongly reinforces the idea that diet can play a particularly large role in acne prevalence and severity, alongside other factors such as hormones, stress, sleep levels, good skin care, and geography.

A study evaluating glycemic response following insulin initiation for type 2 diabetes mellitus found that patients with higher depression parameters or distress at baseline had significantly higher rates of microvascular complications at baseline and higher HbA1c levels.

Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis frequently have comorbidities such as depression, asthma, cardiovascular events (including myocardial infarction and stroke), solid malignancies, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among others.

A recent study evaluated the potential methods of intra-articular corticosteroid injection in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the most common chronic rheumatic disease in children.

Treatment for patients with chronic migraine is notoriously elusive. Pharmacologic options are few and only two medications-topiramate and onabotulinumtoxin-have shown significant treatment effect in clinical research to date. As with most pain maladies, however, medication isn't the only treatment avenue.

Skin-picking disorder (SPD) is a serious and poorly understood condition similar to hair-pulling disorder and severe nail biting, among other body-focused repetitive behaviors, in which a patient causes harm to themselves or their appearance. SPD is much more than a cosmetic problem, as repetitively touching, rubbing, scratching, or picking at the skin can lead to severe tissue damage, disfigurement, and even significant infection in some cases.

Perhaps even more controversial than the placebo effect is its converse, the nocebo effect-an adverse reaction to an ineffectual medication or procedure. For example, simply talking with a patient about potential side effects of a medication as part of an informed consent process can itself contribute to producing adverse effects.

A recent study in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases reviewed data from six phase II, six phase III, and two long-term extension studies to examine the safety profile of tofacitinib, the first oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Allopurinol's overall impact on the risk of mortality has been studied but is not yet well-understood. Now, a study has shown that the benefits from this treatment likely outweigh the risk of serious side effects.

Researchers are learning more about the safety and efficacy of anti-interleukin-17 and anti-interleukin-23 (IL-23) therapy, although there are several agents currently under investigation. Anti-TNF agents and IL agents target psoriatic inflammation through different pathways.

A study examined the analgesic efficacy and safety of previously untested combinations of dexketoprofen trometamol and tramadol hydrochloride given as four different fixed combinations and as single components in comparison to placebo for patients experiencing moderate to severe acute pain following tooth extraction.

A recent study looked at hereditary factors as a predictor of response to treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It also sought to identify a link between heredity and the clinical presentation of RA.

Although tattoo removal has come a long way since the days of amputation and dermabrasion, there are some stubborn ink stains that just won't come clean. A recent study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology looked at the safety and efficacy of the 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and found a relatively high clearance rate after multiple treatments for most patients.

Often, pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can impact every aspect of a person's life, leading to isolation, depression, anxiety, lack of physical activity, and a host of other ills. Most experts agree that self-support tools-along with emotional support from loved ones, fellow RA patients, health care providers, and friends-is a key component of managing RA.

Inflammatory chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis bring many treatment challenges. Among them is the fact that biologic therapies for these diseases-particularly anti-TNF agents-while effective, can themselves bring reactivation of a latent tuberculosis infection.

Low back pain is notoriously difficult to treat in common patients. For pregnant patients, who experience low back pain at significantly higher rates, pain management specialists can face some additional and unique challenges.

Study results show treatment with certolizumab pegol and methotrexate produced significant symptom improvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

A recent study looked at the effect from injections of recombinant human growth hormone (HGH) and testosterone to the painful and dysfunctional areas in patients with chronic lower back pain.

The ACA has several provisions that promote greater reliance on nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in an effort to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of health care. To date, however, there hve been few studies that have assessed the impact of NPs and PAs in the specialist care setting.

Research has shown that massage therapy is more effective than no therapy at all. A recent study sought to determine if there is a link between massage duration and effective analgesia for neck pain.

A recent study looked into the neural functions affected by ibuprofen and found some connections that may soon lead to a much greater understanding of the greatest pain mitigator of them all: the brain.

MD Magazine recently reported on a study in JAMA Dermatology pointing to an alarming increase in the worldwide incidence of malignant melanoma (MM). The study, conducted in Denmark, shows that the incidence of MM has doubled during the past 25 years, despite targeted awareness campaigns and a focus within the dermatology community on early detection and treatment.

Patients with vitiligo have a choice of many treatment options, which run the gamut from applying make-up to depigmented areas, to light treatment, all the way up to surgery to move pigmented skin cells to affected areas. Yet, many patients elect not to treat the condition at all, despite the fact that the condition can be emotionally devastating and progressive.

Researchers have shown there is a connection between personality characteristics and certain dermatological conditions, most notably in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Incorporating the information into your practice involves being at least somewhat aware of psychological factors that may contribute to these conditions.

Pediatric-onset lupus erythematosus (pSLE) frequently involves care coordination between rheumatologists and nephrologists. Almost half of all patients with pSLE will develop some form of lupus nephritis, which requires prolonged (and often toxic) therapy.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) sufferers experience more than just pain and changes to their cartilage, bone, ligaments, and muscles in the surrounding area. They also often experience changes in the sensory and motor function of the knee.