Eruptive disseminated porokeratosis associated with corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression

Eruptive disseminated porokeratosis (EDP) is a disease that presents clinically with sudden onset of erythematous papules and plaques, with a ridge-like border histologically represented by a cornoid lamella. We report a case of EDP occurring in a 39-year-old woman 3 days after completion of a 2-week course of oral corticosteroid therapy for an acute asthma exacerbation. The patient was treated with emollients and sun protection. Unlike the more chronic disseminated superficial (actinic) porokeratosis, EDP secondary to immunosuppression from corticosteroid therapy has very rarely been reported in the dermatological literature.

Improvement of attention span and reaction time with hyperbaric oxygen treatment in patients with toxic injury due to mold exposure

It is, by now, well established that mold toxins (mycotoxins) can cause significant adverse health effects. In this study, 15 subjects who developed an attention deficit disorder (ADD) and slowing of reaction time at the time of exposure to mold toxins were identified. Deficits in attention span and reaction time were documented not only by taking a careful history, but also by performing a Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA). The TOVA test provides an objective measure of these two variables. It was found that mold-exposed subjects show statistically significant decreases in attention span and significant increases in reaction time to stimuli compared to controls. After ten sessions of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT), a statistically significant improvement was seen in both measures. This preliminary study suggests promising outcomes in treating mold-exposed patients with hyperbaric oxygen.