A line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) combines confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography into a single, rapid, easy-to-use device. This meta-analysis was performed to determine the reliability of LC-OCT for diagnosing malignant skin tumors. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science databases, and the Cochrane Library were searched for research studies in the English language from inception till December 2023. To assess quality and the risk of bias, the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) was used. The sensitivity and specificity of each study were calculated. The bivariate summary sensitivity and specificity were calculated using the linear mixed model. Five studies with 904 reported per lesion analyses in our study; the specificity and sensitivity ranged from 67% to 97% and 72% to 92%, respectively. The pooled specificity and sensitivity were 91% (95% CI: 76–97%) and 86.9% (95% CI: 81.8–90.8%), respectively. The summary sensitivity and specificity from the bivariate approach are 86.9% (95% CI: 81.8–90.8%) and 91.1% (95% CI: 76.7–97.0%), respectively. The area under the curve is 0.914. LC-OCT shows great sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing malignant skin tumors. However, due to the limited number of studies included in our meta-analysis, it is premature to elucidate the true potential of LC-OCT.

Scarring alopecias, including lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, folliculitis decalvans, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, discoid lupus erythematosus, and dissecting cellulitis cause permanent destruction of hair follicles, resulting in patches of hair loss that can be devastating for patients. Treatment options for scarring alopecias focus on disease stabilization and currently include corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents, which often offer inconsistent disease improvements with waning patient satisfaction, especially in severe stages of the condition. Recent advances in therapeutics such as biologics and JAK inhibitors may offer some potential for disease stabilization and resolution through modulation of the inflammatory and immune-mediated pathways of scarring alopecias. This review examines literature reporting the off-label use of biologics and JAK inhibitors for the treatment of scarring alopecias. We find that TNF-α, IL-17, and JAK inhibitors demonstrate the most potential of currently available agents, with IL-23 and Interferon Alpha Receptor 1 inhibitors also showing some benefit.

Chronic inflammatory disorders of the apocrine gland (CIDAP), such as hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), are characterized by painful, recurrent lesions in apocrine gland-rich areas. First-line treatments—including retinoids and antibiotics—often fail to prevent recurrence and biofilm formation, necessitating the use of targeted biologic therapies. This review evaluated U.S.-based randomized controlled trials and cohort studies published between 2014 and 2024 on the efficacy of such therapies in adult HS patients. A total of 13 studies met inclusion criteria. Agents targeting interleukins (IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-23, IL-1α, IL-36) and TNF-α were assessed, with outcomes including HiSCR, Sartorius scores, DLQI, and patient-reported measures. IL-17 inhibitors (secukinumab, bimekizumab) and IL-1 inhibitors (bermekimab, anakinra) demonstrated promising reductions in inflammatory burden and improved quality of life. TNF-α inhibitors, particularly adalimumab and infliximab, consistently achieved HiSCR and HSS improvements. Guselkumab (IL-23) showed limited efficacy in HiSCR but modest pain relief. Safety profiles were generally acceptable across agents, with few serious adverse events. Limitations across studies included small sample sizes, lack of control arms, and short follow-up durations. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of biologic agents in managing HS. A greater emphasis on biomarker-guided treatment selection and interdisciplinary collaboration is warranted to optimize long-term outcomes for patients.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a worldwide challenge. There are an estimated 17–24 million patients worldwide, with an estimated 60 percent or more who have not been diagnosed. Without a known cure, no specific curative medication, disability lasting years to being life-long, and disagreement among healthcare providers as to how to most appropriately treat these patients, ME/CFS patients are in need of assistance. Appropriate healthcare provider education would increase the percentage of patients diagnosed and treated; however, in-school healthcare provider education is limited. To address the latter issue, the New Jersey Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association (NJME/CFSA) has developed an independent, incentive-driven, learning program for students of the health professions. NJME/CFSA offers a yearly scholarship program in which applicants write a scholarly paper on an ME/CFS-related topic. The efficacy of the program is demonstrated by the 2024–2025 first place scholarship winner’s essay, which addresses the biological basis of ME/CFS and how the healthcare provider can improve the quality of life of ME/CFS patients. For the reader, the essay provides an update on what is known regarding the biological underpinnings of ME/CFS, as well as a medical student’s perspective as to how the clinician can provide care and support for ME/CFS patients. The original essay has been slightly modified to demonstrate that ME/CFS is a worldwide problem and for publication.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a worldwide challenge. There are an estimated 17-24 million patients worldwide with an estimated 60 percent or more who have not been diagnosed. Without a known cure, no specific curative medication, disability lasting years to being life-long, and disagreement among healthcare providers as to how to most appropriately treat these patients, ME/CFS patients are in need of assistance. Appropriate healthcare provider education would increase the percentage of patients diagnosed and treated, however, in-school, healthcare provider education is limited. To address the latter issue, the New Jersey Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association (NJME/CFSA) has developed an independent, incentive-driven, learning program for students of the health professions. NJME/CFSA offers a yearly scholarship program in which applicants write a scholarly paper on a ME/CFS-related topic. The efficacy of the program is demonstrated by the 2024-2025 first place scholarship winner’s essay which addresses the biological basis of ME/CFS and how the healthcare provider can improve the quality of life of ME/CFS patients. For the reader, the essay provides an update on what is known regarding the biological underpinnings of ME/CFS, as well as a medical student’s perspective as to how the clinician can provide care and support for ME/CFS patients. The original essay has been slightly modified to demonstrate that ME/CFS is a worldwide problem and for publication in the journal Challenges.