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Mathias Tiedemann Svendsen,1–3 Klaus Ejner Andersen,1–3 Flemming Andersen,1,3 Jakob Hansen,4 Anton Pottegård,5 Helle Johannessen6 1Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, 2Centre for Innovative Medical Technology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, 3Dermatological Investigations Scandinavia, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, 4Leo Pharma, Ballerup, 5Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 6Research Unit of User Perspectives, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark Abstract: Nonadherence to topical treatment of psoriasis is a common cause of treatment failure. This focus group study was conducted to obtain the patients’ own experiences and explanations regarding medical adherence. The participants consisted of eight primary adherent patients with moderate psoriasis treated with corticosteroid or corticosteroid–calcipotriol combinations, purposefully sampled by age and sex at a dermatology outpatient clinic. Secondary medical adherence was supported by accessibility of the prescribing physician, the prescriber taking time to listen, having a more manageable disease, using a nonstaining product, and establishing routines around treatment at home. Secondary medical adherence was affected negatively by changes in daily routines, if the treatment influenced the patient’s sexual life, having too little time in the consultation room, lack of confidence in the prescriber, diverging information from health care personnel, experiencing side effects, having fear of side effects, impractical formulations of topical products, and impatience regarding time before an effect of the treatment was observed. From this study, the recommendations for the prescribing doctor to improve medical adherence are, the doctor needs to take time to listen to the patient, prescribe a topical product that is easy to apply and less greasy, inform the patients about benefits from treatments, and explain the rationale behind the treatment plan. Keywords: psoriasis, adherence, corticosteroids, calcipotriol, focus groups

The aim of this study was to validate the Neuropathic Pain for Post-Surgical Patients (NeuPPS) scale against clinically verified neuropathic pain (NP) by quantitative sensory testing (QST) as well as evaluation of other psychometric properties. The NeuPPS is a validated 5-item scale designed to evaluate NP in surgical populations.

Background: Occupational exposure to Christmas cacti has been reported as a cause of type I allergy. Therefore, the prevalence of immediate‐type mucosal and skin reactions related to cactus exposure was studied in 103 employees in a cactus nursery. Methods: The study was based on a questionnaire followed by clinical examination, skin prick tests (SPT) with standard inhalant allergens and cacti, and a histamine‐release test (HRT/Refix) using fresh cactus extracts as elicitor. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 84 (82%) of the nursery employees, and 63 (61%) were interviewed and skin prick tested; 58 of these were tested with HRT/Refix. Furthermore, 22 healthy controls were included and tested in vivo and in vitro. Cactus‐related contact urticaria and/or rhinoconjunctivitis were reported by 37% of the cactus workers. Based on a combination of positive history, positive SPT, and positive HRT/Refix to cactus, 8% of the cactus workers were allergic to cacti. No noncactus workers or controls were allergic to cacti by these criteria. Testing with fresh cactus material elicited positive SPT and negative HRT/Refix in 27 nursery workers and controls, of whom 12 had immediate‐type skin and mucosal symptoms. Conclusions: Christmas and Easter cacti seemed to be able to induce contact urticaria and rhinoconjunctivitis on both an immunologic and a nonimmunologic basis. Personal atopy was associated with positive reactions to cacti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]