Nonmelanoma skin cancer, which encompasses basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, is the most common cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet B exposure is a significant factor in the development of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. The use of tanning

beds is associated with a 1.5-fold increase in the risk of basal cell carcinoma and a 2.5-fold increase in the risk of squamous cell carcinoma. Routine screening for skin cancer is controversial. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force cites insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine whole-body skin examination to screen for skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma most commonly appears as a pearly white, see more dome-shaped papule with prominent telangiectatic surface vessels. Squamous cell carcinoma most commonly appears as a firm, smooth, or hyperkeratotic papule or plaque, often with central ulceration. Initial tissue

sampling for diagnosis involves a shave technique if the lesion is raised, or a 2- to 4-mm punch biopsy of the most abnormal-appearing area of skin. Mohs micrographic surgery has the lowest recurrence rate among treatments, but is best considered for large, high-risk tumors. Smaller, lower-risk tumors may be treated with surgical excision, electrodesiccation RepSox concentration and curettage, or cryotherapy. Topical imiquimod and fluorouracil are also potential, but less supported, treatments. Although there are no clear guidelines for follow-up after an index nonmelanoma skin cancer, monitoring for recurrence

is prudent because the risk of subsequent skin cancer is 35 percent at three years and 50 percent at five years. (Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(2):161-168. Copyright (c) 2012 American Academy of Family Physicians.)”
“Objective: Low-dose transdermal opioids offer a new therapeutic option for osteoarthritis (OA). This study compared symptom relief obtained with buprenorphine patches plus oral paracetamol with that obtained with an oral codeine-paracetamol combination tablet (co-codamol) in older adults with OA.

Method: Two hundred and twenty people (aged >= 60 years) with OA hip and/or knee pain were randomised to treatment with 7-day buprenorphine patches plus oral paracetamol (5-25 mu g/h buprenorphine patches plus 1000 mg oral paracetamol q.i.d. (4 times PXD101 molecular weight daily); n = 110) or co-codamol tablets (two 8/500 two 30/500 mg tablets q.i.d.; n = 110). They entered a titration period of up to 10 weeks, during which their dose of study medication was adjusted until they reached optimum pain control. Patients who achieved optimum pain control entered a 12-week assessment period. The primary outcome was average daily pain scores recorded using the box scale-11 (BS-11) pain scale.

Results: Both treatments significantly reduced patient pain scores. The estimated treatment difference [95% confidence interval (Cl)] was -0.02 (-0.64, 0.60) for the per protocol (PP) population. The results were similar for the full analysis population.