Topical betamethasone for prevention of radiation dermatitis :

Although acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) is a common side-effect of radiotherapy (RT), currently there is no general consensus about its prevention or treatment of choice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether prophylactic use of topical betamethasone 0.1% can prevent ARD caused by chest wall irradiation.
Fifty-one patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer and were going to receive RT, were randomly assigned to receive topical betamethasone 0.1%, petrolatum or none during RT. The frequency and severity of ARD (measured using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group acute radiation morbidity scoring criteria) were recorded at the end of each week during RT and two weeks after its completion. Clinical outcomes were analyzed by relevant statistical methods.
Patients receiving betamethasone had less severe ARD than the other two groups throughout the course of the study, but this difference was significant only at the end of the third week (p =0.027). No significant difference was observed between the petrolatum and control arms.
Conclusion: Prophylactic and ongoing use of topical betamethasone 0.1% during chest wall RT for breast cancer delays occurrence of ARD but does not prevent it. Petrolatum has no effect on the prevention of ARD in these patients.

(Source: Shapour Omidvari Department of Radiation Oncology, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz Iran)

Heart Risk Overlooked in Psoriasis:

PARIS — Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are at increased risk for cardiovascular disorders and diabetes, but those problems often go undiagnosed, according to an analysis of three clinical trials.
The researchers looked at the medical histories of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis enrolled in one phase II and two phase III trials investigating the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab. The patients were enrolled in either the phase II C0379T04 trial (320), the phase III PHOENIX II trial (766), or the phase III PHOENIX III trial (1,230). In particular, they assessed the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. Body mass index was used to evaluate the proportion of patients who were overweight (BMI of 25–29 kg/m2) or obese (BMI of 30 or greater). Prevalence ratios were calculated using age and sex prevalence rates for the U.S. population (obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis were 56% more likely to be diabetic than the general U.S. population (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.6). Psoriasis patients were 50% more likely to be obese (PR, 1.5), 37% more likely to smoke (PR, 1.37), 18% more likely to be overweight (PR, 1.18), and 11% more likely to have hyperlipidemia (PR, 1.11).

(Source: Skin & Allergy News, V.39 I.11 )