1/
Hi #dermtwitter! I'm working with @jmervak et al, who put together this amazing #tweetorial on

NAILS!

Specifically, findings in the setting of systemic diseases: let nails help your diagnosis!

Coordinated with @naildisorders

#medstudenttwitter #medtwitter #meded #FOAMed
2/
First things first, do you mind telling us who you are?
3/Let's begin: Beau’s lines! Transverse depression across the nail. Means the nail briefly stopped growing and started again.

Seen weeks after nail injury! Or, if it's seen on multiple nails, ask about febrile illness (like post #covid19) or stressors like SJS or chemotherapy.
4/
If the injury is bad enough, the nail(s) will peel off, known as onychomadesis.

In kids a common cause of onychomadesis is:
5/
Correct answer is: Hand Foot Mouth Disease!!

Next up- Muehrcke’s lines! White transverse lines seen in chronic hypoalbuminemia such as nephrotic syndrome, liver disease or malnutrition.
6/
But wait, did you know that the location of findings can clue you into different etiologies?!

Splinter hemorrhages closer to the lunula (white half moon at proximal end) are more closely correlated with SYSTEMIC DISEASE like endocarditis, while distally are likely TRAUMATIC.
7/
In addition to location, COLOR can tip you off too!

Proximal white subungual onychomycosis is a fungal infection type more commonly seen in those with HIV or other immunodeficiency. Seeing this should prompt testing for HIV.
8/

Not all white discoloration of the nail is fungal! The differential for onycholysis ➜ or lifting of the nail, is long but includes thyroid disease, amyloidosis, and multiple myeloma.
9/
What if your whole nail is a different color.... like...Yellow!

Which specialty might need to see a yellow nail syndrome patient?
10/ PULMONOLOGY!

Yellow nail syndrome presents with slow nail growth, no lunula, lymphedema, and chronic respiratory disease such as bronchiectasis or pleural effusions. Nails can give you so much information about systemic processes! 👇👀
11/
Terry’s nails are seen in patients with cirrhosis, chronic renal failure, diabetes, and CHF. There is leukonychia (white) of the entire nail except for pink at at the tip. No lunula. However, they can also just be seen in normal aging!

#geriderm
12/
Lindsay’s nails are seen in chronic kidney disease! There is white proximally and reddish-brown color at the distal half of the nail.
13/
Last one is for our fellow nervous Type A personalities!

Onychotillomania: nail picking
Onychophagia: nail biting
14/ RECAP:
Nail exam findings can tell you about underlying systemic disease! #medicaldetective

Pay attention to characteristics like color, location, and orientation of findings-they give important clues about underlying pathology.
15/15
Thank you for joining us for @NailDisorders and @jmervak's first nail #tweetorial!

This was by no means a comprehensive list but using these observations can help lead to diagnosis (and make you look like a diagnostic rock star!)!
Examples of some of these nail disorders in darker skin tone👇👀
16/16

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More from @DrStevenTChen

Apr 8
Hi #medtwitter and #dermtwitter! Since I'm giving a talk at the upcoming @SocietyHospMed Converge meeting, I thought I'd put together a brief #tweetorial on:

DIFFERENTIATING PEMPHIGUS AND PEMPHIGOID!

Follow along for a reminder on how to tell them apart!
1/ Image
Reminder that Pemphigus is from an antibody targeting the Desmosome - which holds skin cells (keratinocytes) together.

Pemphigoid is from an antibody targeting the Hemidesmosome, which holds keratinocytes to the basement membrane.
pc:
2/ bookdown.org/jcog196013/BS2…
Image
So to remember:

pemphiguS (S for Superficial/higher up)
pemphigoiD (D for Deep/lower down)

This also means the clinical exam is different. Since Pemphigoid is deeper, these bullae stand tall and proud and don't droop over (see pic)! We call these TENSE bullae.
3/ Image
Read 9 tweets
Oct 23, 2023
If everyone could just humor me for a little, here's a #dermtwitter/#medtwitter/#pharmtwitter #tweetorial on...

AZATHIOPRINE

Did you know that dermatologists use this medication too? Read on to see all the ins and outs of safety and dosing, from a #dermatology point of view!
1/ Image
Did you notice those two rings above? That's how it works.

Azathioprine is a purine (see figure) analogue, so it gets in the way of RNA/DNA synthesis (making transcription and replication and all that downstream goodness more difficult).
2/ Image
And as you might imagine, cells that are rapidly dividing (like your immune cells) would be affected more by this purine disruption.

But it's not azathioprine itself that does all the work. It has to be broken down into active metabolites and that's where it gets interesting.
3/ Image
Read 15 tweets
Jul 18, 2023
Time for a #dermtwitter/#medtwitter #tweetorial on...

LYME DISEASE

#Meded #FOAMEd

PC:
1/ https://t.co/E9DgXHQDFNphil.cdc.gov
Image
Let's start with the basics. What causes Lyme?

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is the most common cause. It is transmitted via tick bite, and so, certain areas of the country have higher rates based on endemicity of the organism.

What tick classically transmits lyme?
2/
Ixodes tick is the classic vector for B burgdorferi. But remember:

The tick usually has to be attached to the patient for >36 hours to transmit and cause Lyme disease.

Can you identify all these types of ticks and pick out which one is Ixodes?

pc:
3/ https://t.co/efyjpcWBnUcdc.gov/ticks/tickborn…



Image
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Read 16 tweets
Jun 9, 2023
We're seeing more consult questions for this, and it's also garnering national attention, so let's take a brief moment in #tweetorial format to talk about:

XYLAZINE SKIN ULCERS!

#xylazine #MedEd #FOAMEd #dermtwitter #medtwitter

1/
What is Xylazine? It was created in the 70s as a veterinary anesthetic. As an analog of clonidine, it has similar effects as an alpha-2 agonist, leading to sedation, anesthesia, and euphoria in the CNS.
2/ Image
Recently, Xylazine has entered the drug supply, moreso in certain cities, but increasingly everywhere. It is often mixed with fentanyl as a cutting agent, and can also be used on its own. It may be called Tranq, Zombie Drug, or anestesia de caballo (horse anesthetic).
3/
Read 12 tweets
May 16, 2023
Let's go back to the basics. Syphilis is from an infection by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Usually spread by sexual means, syphilis has three main stages of disease.

Primary infection usually presents as a papule that turns into a painless ulcer called a chancre.
2/ Image
Time from inoculation to chancre usually is 10-90 days (21 days is most typical).

There is a rare variant where the patient can get many smaller ulcerations, which is called Follman balanitis.
3/ Image
Read 16 tweets
Jan 31, 2023
DERMATOMYOSITIS (DM)

Let’s spend some time in this #tweetorial on the dermatologic manifestations of this potentially paraneoplastic disease!

First, a question: What is necessary to make a diagnosis of DM?
1/
None of the above! DM is a clinical diagnosis, which is why getting the exam right is super important! That said a biopsy CAN help with getting to a diagnosis, but it’s not necessary.

So let’s start! Heliotrope rash! This poikilodermatous erythema occurs around the eyes.
2/
Remember though that exams are different across skin tone. Heliotrope can look a lot more subtle in someone with more melanated skin. That rash can also include the rest of the face!
3/
Read 19 tweets

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