Week's top dermatology reads include face transplant, Otezla for nail, scalp psoriasis

NYU Langone Medical Center’s announcement that its staff had successfully completed the most extensive face transplant to date was the most read-article of the past week on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely read articles included study results finding that twice-daily Otezla significantly reduced the severity of nail and scalp psoriasis and that Anakinra was effective in treating severe hidradenitis suppurativa compared with placebo:

NYU Langone Medical Center announces successful total face, scalp transplant

NYU Langone Medical Center held a press conference to announce the successful completion of the most extensive face transplant to date, which took 26 hours and involved more than 100 staff members.

Eduardo Rodriguez

“[Patrick Hardison’s] surgery sets new standards in facial transplantation and will serve as an amazing learning tool,” Eduardo Rodriguez, MD, DDS, The Helen L. Kimmel professor of reconstructive surgery and chair, Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastics Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center, said in a related press release. Read more

Otezla reduced nail and scalp psoriasis severity

Twice-daily treatment with Otezla significantly reduced the severity of nail and scalp psoriasis among patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, according to recently published study results.

Researchers randomly assigned 1,255 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis 2:1 to receive Otezla (apremilast, Celgene) 30 mg twice daily or placebo in the phase 3 Efficacy and Safety Trial Evaluating the Effects of Apremilast in Psoriasis (ESTEEM) 1 and 2 trials. Read more

Anakinra effectively treated severe hidradenitis suppurativa

Anakinra, a recombinant interleukin 1 receptor antagonist, was effective in treating severe hidradenitis suppurativa compared with placebo, according to study results recently published in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers conducted a double-blind study of 20 patients with Hurley stage II or III hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) between March 1, 2012, and Feb. 28, 2014, at Attikon University General Hospital in Athens, Greece. Read more

Indoor tanning, skin cancer prevention messages delivered through Google online advertising

A pilot study using Google online advertising to deliver prevention messages related to indoor tanning and skin cancer had adequate results and demonstrated feasibility, according to published study results.

Researchers showcased skin cancer prevention advertisements by using Google AdWords, a pay-per-click online advertising services that places three-line, 105-character advertisements next to Google Search results, with free adverting provided by Google for Nonprofits. With perspective from Anthony F. Santoro, MD. Read more

FDA approves Tafinlar/Mekinist for BRAF V600 mutation-positive melanoma based on long-term survival

Novartis announced in a press release that the FDA has given regular approval for Tafinlar plus Mekinist for treating patients with BRAF V600E/K mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

The combination of Tafinlar (dabrafenib), a BRAF inhibitor, and Mekinist (trametinib), a MEK 1/2 inhibitor, is the first targeted therapy combination that demonstrated more than 2 years overall survival in patients with the aggressive form of skin cancer, according to the release. Read more