Asia Pacific Leadership Program Fellowship 2009-2010, USA

Fellowships for 2009-2010
Asia Pacific Leadership Program
New Fellowships Available
The East-West Center is pleased to announce new fellowships for the Asia Pacific Leadership Program for 2009-10. Entering its eight year, the Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP) is the center of excellence for leadership education in the Asia Pacific region. The APLP is a graduate certificate program combining the development of regional expertise with the enhancement of individual leadership capacity. Based at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, the program has created a network of dynamic leaders in 48 countries who are helping to build a peaceful, prosperous and just Asia Pacific community. All participants receive an APLP Entrance Fellowship valued at approximately $15,000.

Participants
The Asia Pacific Leadership Program seeks outstanding individuals with proven leadership experience or high leadership potential from across the Asia Pacific region, North America and beyond. All participants have at least a Bachelors degree with the majority having graduate degrees as well. At least 20 countries are represented in each cohort. APLP Fellows come together from all walks of life, including areas as diverse as government, business, NGOs, health sciences, media, monastic orders, and education.

APLP participants will gain broad regional perspectives, become knowledgeable about the critical challenges facing the Asia Pacific region, and be trained to exercise leadership and promote cooperation. The APLP empowers leaders with the knowledge, skills, experiences, and supportive community needed to successfully navigate personal and regional change in the 21st century.

Recruitment for 2009-10 is open. Places are limited. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Deadline: December 1, 2008

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Application Forms and Fellowships:
www.eastwestcenter.org/aplp

For more information about the Asia Paci?c Leadership Program, as well as application forms and fellowship opportunities, please visit our website at: www.eastwestcenter.org/aplp or email: aplp[ at ]eastwestcenter.org

The application deadline is December 1, 2008. Fellowships begin in August 2009.

Penyebab Psoiasis

Psoriasis sampai saat ini belum dpt diketahui penyebabnya, ada beberapa teori penyebab Pso:

Secara Imiah:
1. Genetik
Bila Org tua kita tidak menderita Pso, maka kemungkinan kita mendpt Pso oleh karena
berbagai sebab sebesar 12%. Bila ortu kita Pso, maka kemungkinan 34-39%. Jadi kalo
sudah tau kita Pso ( khusus yg belum kawin ) jangan cari pacar Pso juga, kasian anak
anakmu nanti.
1. Imunologik
Pada penderita Pso terjadi kerusakan genetik tertentu yg di expresikan ke salah satu
dari 3 jenis sel, yaitu Limfosit T, Antigen dermal & Keratinosit. sel2 ini terutama me -
nyebabkan pergantian kulit penderita Pso menjadi 3 hari dari normalnya 30 hari.
Ini dpt dibuktikan dgn pemberian pengobatan Imunosupresif, Pso menjadi Remisi

Non Ilmiah
Usus penderita Pso menipis dan berlobang kecil2 (porous), akibatnya racun2 dalam sistim pencernaan yg mestinya dibuang keluar lewat usus menerobos dinding usus masuk ke sistim lmpha dan akhirnya masuk ke dalam sirkulasi darah. Ginjal & liver akan berusaha membuang toxin2 tsb tapi akumulasi toxin menyebabkan organ2 tsb kepayahan dalam berfungsi, terjadi akumulasi toxin yg overloaded yg dikeluarkan / dibuang lewat kulit. Timbullah gejala klinis Pso.

Vitamin C Oles Lebih Efektif Sembuhkan Psoriasis

JAKARTA - Selain diminum dalam bentuk tablet dan disuntikan, Vitamin C kini bisa didapatkan melalui olesan. Dengan cara ini, penyakit psoriaris pada kulit dapat lebih efektif dikurangi.
”Karena vitamin C mampu mengurangi tumbuhnya anti flamasi pada tubuh, yang menyebabkan bintik merah pada kulit atau psoriasis,” ungkap Dr Elandri Sulastomo, Spesialis kulit dan kelamin, pada acara peluncuran Ester C-Gold, di Jakarta (10/3).
Antiflamasi itu sendiri dijelaskan oleh Dr Elandri sebagai akibat dari kurangnya asupan vitamin C pada tubuh. Akibatnya kemudian menyebabkan peradangan, yang kemudian berefek timbulnya bintik merah pada kulit. Pada fase yang lebih parah, psoriasis dapat terlihat sebagai bentuk sisik pada kulit.
Penyakit psoriasis sendiri di Indonesia masih ditemukan berulang kali, seperti pada kasus bayi Andini dari Desa Buyat, di kawasan buangan limbah PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR), berapa waktu lalu.
Hingga kini sebenarnya cara penyembuhan psoriasis sendiri masih dianggap mustahil. Situs www.psoriasis.or.id, yang sempat dikunjungi SH pada hari Senin (12/3) menyatakan satu-satunya cara yang bisa dilakukan sekarang merupakan upaya untuk mengurangi gejalanya.
Penggunaan vitamin C kemudian dianggap salah satu jalan keluar untuk masalah ini. Karena kemampuan mengurangi anti-inflamasi pada kulit yang disebutkan tadi. Namun sayangnya dalam riwayat pemakaian, vitamin C cenderung hanya dikenal berbentuk tablet. Padahal dalam wujud tersebut, terdapat beberapa masalah terutama bagi para penderita penyakit di lambung.
“Adanya vitamin C oles membuat khasiat vitamin C dapat lebih diserap, lebih stabil dan menghindari iritasi kulit,” analisa Dr Elandri. Ini berarti beberapa halangan, seperti lamanya proses yang dijalani vitamin C sebelum mencapai kulit, bisa dikurangi.
Psoriasis sendiri diawali dengan gejala bintik merah, makin lama bintik makin melebar, karena terus digaruk. Tekanan pada saat menggaruk mengakibatkan tumbuhnya kulit baru. Namun karena akibat tekanan yang berbeda tiap meggaruk, membuat kulit baru tumbuh berlapis-lapis seperti sisik.
Penyakit ini pada kulit kepala dapat menyerupai ketombe, sedangkan pada lempeng kuku seperti terdapat lubang-lubang kecil rapuh atau keruh. Pada beberapa jenis psoriasis, komplikasi yang diakibatkan dapat menjadi serius, seperti pada psoriasis artropi, yaitu psoriasis yang menyerang sendi, psoriasis bernanah (psoriasis postulosa) dan terakhir psoriasis yang menyebabkan seluruh kulit akan menjadi merah disertai badan menggigil (eritoderma). (sulung prasetyo)







Copyright © Sinar Harapan 2003

Sumber : Sinar Harapan

Rokok, Tingkatkan Risiko Psoriasis

Psoriasis adalah sebuah penyakit lain yang dikaitkan dengan merokok. Demikian sebuah studi di Amerika Serikat yang mengkaitkan efek merokok terhadap penyakit psoriasis.

Para peneliti Amerika Serikat menemukan bahwa perokok berat mempunyai risiko lebih besar terkena kelainan kulit tersebut. Risikonya akan menurun hingga sama dengan risiko pada mereka yang bukan perokok setelah 20 tahun berhenti merokok.

Dari tahun 1991-2005, para peneliti ini telah meneliti 78.582 wanita dari Nurses’ Health Study II untuk menentukan kaitan status merokok, lama dan intensitas merokok, berhenti merokok dan paparan terhadap asap rokok secara pasif, terhadap penyakit psoriasis.

Selama 14 tahun periode studi, ditemukan terdapat 887 kasus psoriasis. Dibandingkan dengan wanita yang tidak pernah merokok, risiko psoriasis 37 persen lebih tinggi pada mantan perokok dan 78 persen lebih tinggi pada perokok yang masih aktif merokok.

Para peneliti juga menemukan bahwa paparan asap rokok secara pasif selama kehamilan atau pada anak-anak dikaitkan dengan peningkatan risiko psoriasis. Jadi risiko psoriasis meningkat dengan lama, intensitas dan jumlah rokok yang dihisap dan risiko menurun dengan peningkatan lama waktu berhenti merokok.


Hasil studi yang telah dipublikasikan di American Journal of Medicine ini juga menemukan bahwa pasien psoriasis yang juga perokok, akan menderita psoriasis yang lebih berat.

Diperkirakan bahwa toksin dalam asap rokok dapat mempengaruhi sistem imun yang dikaitkan dengan psoriasis. Berhenti merokok dapat menurunkan kadar rokok yang menyebabkan inflamasi dalam tubuh dengan menurunkan kadar sel imun dalam sirkulasi.

Menurut Dr. Hyon Choi, ketua peneliti, berhenti merokok juga menyebabkan outcome klinis secara keseluruhan lebih baik pada pasien psoriasis, yang sering menderita penyakit lain. Oleh karena itu, pasien psoriasis direkomendasikan untuk berhenti merokok demi kesehatan secara umum dan untuk membantu mengurangi gejala psoriasisnya. (ITOK)

Of Scabs And Scurf

Notes From a Psoriasis Patient's Journal

By Benjamin Franklin
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, January 24, 2006; Page HE01

I first observ'd a kind of Scab or Scurff on my head, about the Bigness of a Shilling [in the early 1770s]. Finding it did not heal, but rather increas'd I mention'd it to my Friend Sir J.P. who advis'd a mercurial Water to wash it, and some Physic. It slowly left that Place but appear'd in other Parts of my Head.

[In 1776] I went to Canada. On the passage I suffer'd much from a number of large Boiles. In Canada my Legs swell'd and I apprehended a Dropsy. Boils continu'd and harrass'd me after my Return, but the Swelling of my Legs pass'd off. The Boils however left round them a kind of dry Scab or Scurfiness, which being rubb'd off appear'd in the Form of white Bran.



Did Benjamin Franklin choose his headgear in an effort to hide his skin condition? History is mum. (American Philosophical Society)




. . . In my Passage to France Nov. 1776 I lived chiefly on Salt Beef, the Fowls being too hard for my Teeth. But being poorly nourish'd, I was very weak at my Arrival; Boils continu'd to vex me, and the Scurff extending over all the small of my Back, on my Sides, my Legs, and my Arms, besides what continued under my Hair, I apply'd to a Physician, who order'd me Bellosto's Pills and an Infusion of a Root. . . . I took the Infusion a while, [but] it being disagreable, and finding no Effect I omitted it. I continu'd longer to take the Pills; but finding my Teeth loosning and that I had lost 3, I desisted the Use of them.

I found that bathing stop'd the Progress of the Disorder. I therefore took the Hot Bath twice a Week two Hours at a time till this last Summer. It always made me feel comfortable, as I rubb'd off the softned Scurff in the warm Water; and I otherwise enjoy'd exceeding good Health.

. . . In July the Disorder began to diminish, at first slowly, but afterwards rapidly; and by the Beginning of October, it had quitted entirely my Legs Feet Thighs, and Arms, and my Belly, a very little was left on my Sides, more on the small of my Back, but the whole daily diminishing. I observ'd that where there was no Redness under the Scurff, if I took it once off it did not return. I had hardly bath'd in those 3 Months. I took no Remedy whatever and I know not what to ascribe the Change to, unless it was the Heat of the Summer, which sometimes made me sweat, particularly when I exercis'd. I had five Boiles just before the Amendment commenc'd, which discharged a great deal of Matter. And once my Legs began to swell.

. . . October 3rd I ate no Breakfast, but a hearty Dinner, and at Night found my Back itch extreamly near the Shoulders which continues to day the 4th. I ate some Salted Beef at Dinner yesterday but not much. I wish the Cool Weather may not bring on a return of the Disorder.

Oct. 4. The Itching continues, but somewhat abated.

Oct. 6. Drank but one Glass of Wine to day; the Itching almost gone. I begin to think it will be better for me to abstain from Wine. My Dinner to day was Mutton boil'd and Fowl, with a good deal of Fruit.

Oct. 12. I have lately drank but little Wine. The Itching has not return'd. The Scurff continues to diminish. But yesterday I observ'd my Ancles swell'd. I suppose my having us'd no Exercise lately may be the Cause.

Jan. 14, 1779. The Swelling above mention'd continu'd some few Weeks, being greatest at Night, my Complexion at the same time not fresh; at length the Itching return'd, and a new Set of Eruptions of scurfy Spots appear'd in many Parts of my Body. My Back had never been entirely clear'd and the Scurf began to increase there and extend itself. But it is not yet so bad as it has been, and it seems to spare the parts that were before affected, except in my Back. The Swelling has left my Legs, which are now as dry and firm as ever, and I feel myself otherwise on perfect health, and have as much Vigour and Activity as can be expected at my Age. So that I begin to be more reconcil'd to this troublesome disorder, as considering it an Effort of nature to get rid of Peccant Matter, that might if not so discharg'd, break up my Constitution.

. . . Jan. 16, 1780. I have enjoy'd good Health ever since the last Date. Towards the End of the Summer most of the Disorder in my Skin disappeared, a little only remaining on my left Arm, a little under each Breast, and some on the small of the Back. I had taken at different times a good deal of Dr. Pringle's Prescription; but whether that occasion'd the Amendment, or whether it was the Heat of the Summer as I suppos'd in October 1778, I am uncertain. The disorder seems to be now increasing again, and appears upon my hands. I am otherwise well; my Legs sound; To-morrow I enter my 75th Year. ·

Benjamin Franklin was an architect of U.S. democracy, a diplomat, an inventor and a psoriasis patient. These excerpts are adapted from his writings about the skin condition, appearing in "The Papers of Benjamin Franklin" (Oct. 14, 1778 through Jan. 16, 1780). The writings were assembled by Mike Paranzino, president of Psoriasis Cure Now!, a Kensington-based nonprofit group to mark the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth. Paranzino said he wants people know that the incurable skin condition affects many productive, accomplished people -- and to demonstrate how little has changed for psoriasis patients in 300 years. For information on psoriasis conditions and treatment: www.psorcurenow. org.

Famous People with Psoriasis

This is simply a list of famous, infamous, and not-quite-famous people with
psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PA). Also included are famous people for
whom there is a lot of speculation that they have or had psoriasis, but who
may not have (or have had) the disease at all.

Reader Comments

a.. Baker, Nicholson (author, b. 1957):
a.. Dave Edelman's Interview
b.. Nicholson Baker, without Blushing
c.. Review of U and I: A True Story
d.. Camel Driver: Exurbia Fights Back
e.. U and I: A True Story at Amazon.com

b.. Bruce, Robert (the) (King of Scotland, 1274-1329):
a.. Biographical compilation from Melanie Campbell
b.. Catholic Prayer Page
c.. The History Behind Braveheart
d.. Strange Tales from Scotland - My heart will go on (although there's
no such thing as "virulent" psoriasis)
e.. The Truth about "Braveheart"
f.. Themes in Dermatology - Did Robert the Bruce have leprosy?(and he
probably didn't have psoriasis, either)

c.. Castagna, Michael (copywriter, b. ?):
a.. Camel Driver: Exurbia Fights Back

d.. Elton, Ben (comedian and author, b. 1959):
a.. Skinship
b.. Surgery Door Health Magazine
c.. Living with cutaneous T cell lymphoma
d.. Gary Shine's List

e.. Garfunkel, Art (musician, b. 1941):
a.. Art Garfunkel's Feelin' Groovy Again

f.. Gastineau, Mark (defensive end, b. 1956):
a.. Strahan's Spotlight will Shine on Gastineau

g.. Guzman, Abimael (Shining Path leader, b. 1934):
a.. Peruvian Police Puts Down Shining Path Captives Riot (Print Version)
b.. Location Story about The Dancer Upstairs
c.. International Emergency Committee to Defend the Life of Dr. Abimael
Guzmán
d.. Andean Coca Trade
e.. Gary Shine's List
f.. 'Superman' Meets Shining Path: Story of a CIA Success
g.. The Telegraph Magazine: The Warlords
h.. Medline entry for Capture of Abimael Guzman

h.. Holstein, Karin (cover girl, NPF spokesperson, author, b. ?):
a.. "Cover Girl Uncovered: A Woman's Journey" (her book)
b.. BK Nelson sells the book
c.. Dr. Greene
d.. Rock-n-Reel. com sells the book
e.. Total Living with Jerry Rose (Feb 8, 2002)

i.. Janis, Byron (pianist with PA in his fingers, b. 1928):
a.. Home Page
b.. Arthritis.org
c.. International Piano Competition and Festival Jury
Biographies
d.. Lyra Music Magazine
e.. Dr. Steven B. Abramson, MD treated Janis
f.. The Standard-Times
g.. Arthritis News Magazine - Use It or Lose It
h.. An LP for Sale

j.. Lish, Gordon (author, editor, b. ?):
a.. Author, Author: On the Threshold (also here )
b.. Lashed by Lish

k.. Marat, Jean-Paul (journalist, anti-aristocracy leader, 1743-1793):
a.. The Flow of Western Culture
b.. Jaques-Louis David's Marat
c.. Skinema says Marat had eczema or maybe dermatitis herpetiformis

l.. Mathers, Jerry (actor, "The Beaver", b. 1948):
a.. Gee, Wally, the Beaver's got Psoriasis
b.. New Class of Drugs Target Psoriasis Offers Hope to Those Who Suffer
With the Disease
c.. Ron's Log
d.. Step Into My SkinTM spokesman
e.. Therapist on Line 1
f.. WPIX-TV New York Morning News
g.. Yahoo! TV Entertainment News & Gossip

m.. Morrison, Danny (friend/manager of Joe Diffie, b. ?):
a.. Country Music Star Joe Diffie is Spokesperson for National Psoriasis
Awareness Month (archived web page)

n.. Nabokov, Vladimir Vladimirovich (author, 1899-1977):
a.. The Hidden Delight of Psoriasis
b.. Pedestrian: Weblog Insecurity
c.. Review of Vladimir Nabokov: The Russian Years
d.. VN Collation #20

o.. Palmen, Connie (author, b. 1955):
a.. The Hidden Delight of Psoriasis
b.. Norwegian?
c.. Dutch?

p.. Potter, Dennis (author, TV dramatist, 1935-1994):
a.. The British Film Resource
b.. At the Margin
c.. Robert Downey, Jr., to star in The Singing Detective
d.. DOROTHYL Digest
e.. The Life and Work of Dennis Potter
f.. Potter-Related Links
g.. Psoriasis Researchers Seek Skin Sample Donors
h.. A Review of The Singing Detective
i.. Waiting for the Boat: Dennis Potter and Television
j.. Reviews of Dennis Potter: A Biography
k.. Skinemedia
l.. Medline Entry for Self-consciousness and the psoriatic personality:
considering updike and potter
m.. The Hidden Delight of Psoriasis
n.. BartCop Entertainment

q.. Robbins, Tom (author, b. 1936):
a.. Bibliography

r.. Stalin, Joseph (tyrant, 1879-1953):
a.. Bibliography of Secondary Sources on the History of Dermatology
b.. Medline Entry for Joseph Stalin's psoriasis: its treatment and the
consequences
c.. Italian

s.. Starr, Kenneth Winston (special prosecutor, b. 1947):
a.. A Starr is Spanked
b.. The Truth According to Paula & Ken
c.. The Inquisitor
d.. Ken Starr would not be Denied
e.. Kuran-Sifresi
f.. MOJO Wire Poll for the Week of March 23, 1999
g.. Royals Portal
h.. Starr Crossed
i.. Re: Last Post, I Swear Under Oath
j.. "Chickenhawk" Lists:
a.. BartCop's Political Humor
b.. BuzzFlash Editorial
c.. The Chickenhawk Database
d.. The Chickenhawks
e.. Commentary Archives Page 3
f.. GOP Draft Dodgers
g.. MikeMalloy.Com - Round 64
h.. Republican War Heroes: A Very Short Record
i.. Suburban Guerrilla
j.. Etc, etc...
k.. The Gamer's Nook just refers to the Chickenhawk Database

t.. Updike, John Hoyer (author, b. 1932):
a.. BBC Education Biography
b.. BBCi Books Biography
c.. Pegasos Biography
d.. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. mentions Updike's psoriasis (Print
Version)
e.. Classics in Dermatology (Table of Contents, Editorial)
f.. Geometry Book & Article List
g.. New York Times Review of Self-Consciousness
h.. Chapter 18 of Skin Deep
i.. Storytelling, a movie
j.. U and I, by Nicholson Baker (see above)
k.. Profile in The Guardian (Print Version)
l.. Camel Driver: Exurbia Fights Back m.. Dermatology Rounds n.. VN
Collation #20
o.. AAD Dispatches from the National Psoriasis Foundation
p.. A National Psoriasis Foundation Chat Transcript
q.. Washington Post Review of Gertrude and Claudius
r.. Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide
s.. Health Care Solutions' Quality Watch
t.. Affadavit of Dr. Stuart Maddin (from the Miralex Class-Action
Lawsuit)
u.. The Practice of the Ministry of Medicine
v.. Semiotics and the Shakespeare Authorship Debate: The Author--and His
Icon--Do Make a Difference in Understanding the Works
w.. The Archives of the Canadian Dermatology Association has Updike as a
reference
x.. Minnesota Medicine's About Face (Print Version)
y.. Swathmore Warders of Imaginative Literature (check attendance, near
the bottom)
z.. WebMD - Study: Arthritis Drug Shows Early Promise in Relieving
Psoriasis Symptoms
aa.. Bibliography of Secondary Sources on the History of Dermatology
ab.. Litweb.net Biography
ac.. Armstrong Atlantic State University Literary Nonfiction
Book Reviews & Reports
ad.. Episcopal Life Review of John Updike and Religion: The Sense of the
Sacred and the Motions of Grace
ae.. Jonathan Stewart's Biography
af.. Transcript of Film Week which discusses Storytelling (.DOC file)
ag.. Literature & Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Health Care
Bibliography
ah.. Chapter 5 of Writing as a Reflective Action
ai.. i digress
aj.. Chapter 17 of Personality, Biology & Society
ak.. Gary Shine's List
al.. Medline Entry for John Updike on psoriasis: At war with my skin,
from the journal of a leper
am.. Medline Entry for Self-consciousness and the psoriatic personality:
considering updike and potter
an.. Chapter 1 of The Private I
ao.. Rabbit Grumble
ap.. I Have Preened, I Have Lived
aq.. The Hidden Delight of Psoriasis
ar.. Italian
as.. Norwegian
at.. Portuguese
au.. Dutch
av.. Spanish:
a.. Review of The Centaur
b.. Blurb of Self-Consciousness aw.. French:
a.. Réflexion sur le Psoriasis
b.. Physiopathologie du psoriasis (Print Version) ax.. German:
a.. Blurb of Self-Consciousness
b.. Heilsames Gemetzel
c.. Neue Strategien gegen die Schuppenflechte
d.. Formvollendete Unartigkeiten

u.. Yezhov, Nikolai Ivanovich (also Ezhov, Stalin henchman [see above],
1895-1940):
a.. Chapter 9 of Stalin's Loyal Executioner

Famous People with Psoriasis

This is simply a list of famous, infamous, and not-quite-famous people with
psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PA). Also included are famous people for
whom there is a lot of speculation that they have or had psoriasis, but who
may not have (or have had) the disease at all.

Reader Comments

a.. Baker, Nicholson (author, b. 1957):
a.. Dave Edelman's Interview
b.. Nicholson Baker, without Blushing
c.. Review of U and I: A True Story
d.. Camel Driver: Exurbia Fights Back
e.. U and I: A True Story at Amazon.com

b.. Bruce, Robert (the) (King of Scotland, 1274-1329):
a.. Biographical compilation from Melanie Campbell
b.. Catholic Prayer Page
c.. The History Behind Braveheart
d.. Strange Tales from Scotland - My heart will go on (although there's
no such thing as "virulent" psoriasis)
e.. The Truth about "Braveheart"
f.. Themes in Dermatology - Did Robert the Bruce have leprosy?(and he
probably didn't have psoriasis, either)

c.. Castagna, Michael (copywriter, b. ?):
a.. Camel Driver: Exurbia Fights Back

d.. Elton, Ben (comedian and author, b. 1959):
a.. Skinship
b.. Surgery Door Health Magazine
c.. Living with cutaneous T cell lymphoma
d.. Gary Shine's List

e.. Garfunkel, Art (musician, b. 1941):
a.. Art Garfunkel's Feelin' Groovy Again

f.. Gastineau, Mark (defensive end, b. 1956):
a.. Strahan's Spotlight will Shine on Gastineau

g.. Guzman, Abimael (Shining Path leader, b. 1934):
a.. Peruvian Police Puts Down Shining Path Captives Riot (Print Version)
b.. Location Story about The Dancer Upstairs
c.. International Emergency Committee to Defend the Life of Dr. Abimael
Guzmán
d.. Andean Coca Trade
e.. Gary Shine's List
f.. 'Superman' Meets Shining Path: Story of a CIA Success
g.. The Telegraph Magazine: The Warlords
h.. Medline entry for Capture of Abimael Guzman

h.. Holstein, Karin (cover girl, NPF spokesperson, author, b. ?):
a.. "Cover Girl Uncovered: A Woman's Journey" (her book)
b.. BK Nelson sells the book
c.. Dr. Greene
d.. Rock-n-Reel. com sells the book
e.. Total Living with Jerry Rose (Feb 8, 2002)

i.. Janis, Byron (pianist with PA in his fingers, b. 1928):
a.. Home Page
b.. Arthritis.org
c.. International Piano Competition and Festival Jury
Biographies
d.. Lyra Music Magazine
e.. Dr. Steven B. Abramson, MD treated Janis
f.. The Standard-Times
g.. Arthritis News Magazine - Use It or Lose It
h.. An LP for Sale

j.. Lish, Gordon (author, editor, b. ?):
a.. Author, Author: On the Threshold (also here )
b.. Lashed by Lish

k.. Marat, Jean-Paul (journalist, anti-aristocracy leader, 1743-1793):
a.. The Flow of Western Culture
b.. Jaques-Louis David's Marat
c.. Skinema says Marat had eczema or maybe dermatitis herpetiformis

l.. Mathers, Jerry (actor, "The Beaver", b. 1948):
a.. Gee, Wally, the Beaver's got Psoriasis
b.. New Class of Drugs Target Psoriasis Offers Hope to Those Who Suffer
With the Disease
c.. Ron's Log
d.. Step Into My SkinTM spokesman
e.. Therapist on Line 1
f.. WPIX-TV New York Morning News
g.. Yahoo! TV Entertainment News & Gossip

m.. Morrison, Danny (friend/manager of Joe Diffie, b. ?):
a.. Country Music Star Joe Diffie is Spokesperson for National Psoriasis
Awareness Month (archived web page)

n.. Nabokov, Vladimir Vladimirovich (author, 1899-1977):
a.. The Hidden Delight of Psoriasis
b.. Pedestrian: Weblog Insecurity
c.. Review of Vladimir Nabokov: The Russian Years
d.. VN Collation #20

o.. Palmen, Connie (author, b. 1955):
a.. The Hidden Delight of Psoriasis
b.. Norwegian?
c.. Dutch?

p.. Potter, Dennis (author, TV dramatist, 1935-1994):
a.. The British Film Resource
b.. At the Margin
c.. Robert Downey, Jr., to star in The Singing Detective
d.. DOROTHYL Digest
e.. The Life and Work of Dennis Potter
f.. Potter-Related Links
g.. Psoriasis Researchers Seek Skin Sample Donors
h.. A Review of The Singing Detective
i.. Waiting for the Boat: Dennis Potter and Television
j.. Reviews of Dennis Potter: A Biography
k.. Skinemedia
l.. Medline Entry for Self-consciousness and the psoriatic personality:
considering updike and potter
m.. The Hidden Delight of Psoriasis
n.. BartCop Entertainment

q.. Robbins, Tom (author, b. 1936):
a.. Bibliography

r.. Stalin, Joseph (tyrant, 1879-1953):
a.. Bibliography of Secondary Sources on the History of Dermatology
b.. Medline Entry for Joseph Stalin's psoriasis: its treatment and the
consequences
c.. Italian

s.. Starr, Kenneth Winston (special prosecutor, b. 1947):
a.. A Starr is Spanked
b.. The Truth According to Paula & Ken
c.. The Inquisitor
d.. Ken Starr would not be Denied
e.. Kuran-Sifresi
f.. MOJO Wire Poll for the Week of March 23, 1999
g.. Royals Portal
h.. Starr Crossed
i.. Re: Last Post, I Swear Under Oath
j.. "Chickenhawk" Lists:
a.. BartCop's Political Humor
b.. BuzzFlash Editorial
c.. The Chickenhawk Database
d.. The Chickenhawks
e.. Commentary Archives Page 3
f.. GOP Draft Dodgers
g.. MikeMalloy.Com - Round 64
h.. Republican War Heroes: A Very Short Record
i.. Suburban Guerrilla
j.. Etc, etc...
k.. The Gamer's Nook just refers to the Chickenhawk Database

t.. Updike, John Hoyer (author, b. 1932):
a.. BBC Education Biography
b.. BBCi Books Biography
c.. Pegasos Biography
d.. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. mentions Updike's psoriasis (Print
Version)
e.. Classics in Dermatology (Table of Contents, Editorial)
f.. Geometry Book & Article List
g.. New York Times Review of Self-Consciousness
h.. Chapter 18 of Skin Deep
i.. Storytelling, a movie
j.. U and I, by Nicholson Baker (see above)
k.. Profile in The Guardian (Print Version)
l.. Camel Driver: Exurbia Fights Back m.. Dermatology Rounds n.. VN
Collation #20
o.. AAD Dispatches from the National Psoriasis Foundation
p.. A National Psoriasis Foundation Chat Transcript
q.. Washington Post Review of Gertrude and Claudius
r.. Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide
s.. Health Care Solutions' Quality Watch
t.. Affadavit of Dr. Stuart Maddin (from the Miralex Class-Action
Lawsuit)
u.. The Practice of the Ministry of Medicine
v.. Semiotics and the Shakespeare Authorship Debate: The Author--and His
Icon--Do Make a Difference in Understanding the Works
w.. The Archives of the Canadian Dermatology Association has Updike as a
reference
x.. Minnesota Medicine's About Face (Print Version)
y.. Swathmore Warders of Imaginative Literature (check attendance, near
the bottom)
z.. WebMD - Study: Arthritis Drug Shows Early Promise in Relieving
Psoriasis Symptoms
aa.. Bibliography of Secondary Sources on the History of Dermatology
ab.. Litweb.net Biography
ac.. Armstrong Atlantic State University Literary Nonfiction
Book Reviews & Reports
ad.. Episcopal Life Review of John Updike and Religion: The Sense of the
Sacred and the Motions of Grace
ae.. Jonathan Stewart's Biography
af.. Transcript of Film Week which discusses Storytelling (.DOC file)
ag.. Literature & Medicine: Humanities at the Heart of Health Care
Bibliography
ah.. Chapter 5 of Writing as a Reflective Action
ai.. i digress
aj.. Chapter 17 of Personality, Biology & Society
ak.. Gary Shine's List
al.. Medline Entry for John Updike on psoriasis: At war with my skin,
from the journal of a leper
am.. Medline Entry for Self-consciousness and the psoriatic personality:
considering updike and potter
an.. Chapter 1 of The Private I
ao.. Rabbit Grumble
ap.. I Have Preened, I Have Lived
aq.. The Hidden Delight of Psoriasis
ar.. Italian
as.. Norwegian
at.. Portuguese
au.. Dutch
av.. Spanish:
a.. Review of The Centaur
b.. Blurb of Self-Consciousness aw.. French:
a.. Réflexion sur le Psoriasis
b.. Physiopathologie du psoriasis (Print Version) ax.. German:
a.. Blurb of Self-Consciousness
b.. Heilsames Gemetzel
c.. Neue Strategien gegen die Schuppenflechte
d.. Formvollendete Unartigkeiten

u.. Yezhov, Nikolai Ivanovich (also Ezhov, Stalin henchman [see above],
1895-1940):
a.. Chapter 9 of Stalin's Loyal Executioner

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) skin disease characterized by scaling and inflammation. Scaling occurs when cells in the outer layer of skin reproduce faster than normal and pile up on the skin's surface.
Psoriasis affects 2 to 2.6 percent of the United States population, or almost 5.8 to 7 million people. It occurs in all age groups and about equally in men and women. People with psoriasis may suffer discomfort, restricted motion of joints, and emotional distress.
When psoriasis develops, patches of skin thicken, redden, and become covered with silvery scales. These patches are sometimes referred to as plaques. They may itch or burn. The skin at joints may crack. Psoriasis most often occurs on the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet. The disease also may affect the fingernails, toenails, and the soft tissues inside the mouth and genitalia. About 10 percent of people with psoriasis have joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriasis is not contagious in any way. It is not possible to "catch" psoriasis by touching a person afflicted with it.

Drug Works Well for Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis

THURSDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- The drug ustekinumab has been shown to be a very effective initial and long-term treatment for moderate-to-severe psoriasis in two studies published in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Ustekinumab works by binding to two interleukins, proteins produced by the immune system that mediate inflammatory reactions in diseases like psoriasis. The binding stops the interleukins from reaching their specific receptors on the surface of cells.
"Not only does ustekinumab compare favorably to the best available therapies for psoriasis, the maintenance of response between injections every three months also provides a more convenient regimen than those currently available," Drs. Brenda Bartlett and Stephen Tyring, both with the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, wrote in a commentary accompanying the publication of the two studies on ustekinumab.
In the first study, two-thirds of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis achieved at least a 75 percent improvement in their skin condition (PASI 75 response) after 12 weeks of following regimens of either 45 milligram doses or 90 milligram doses of ustekinumab. At 40 weeks, 63 percent of those patients on 45 milligram doses were at or above the 75 percent level of improvement; 67 percent of those on the 90 milligram regimen had reached that level.
After 40 weeks, about half the patients achieving the PASI 75 response were randomly selected to stay on maintenance levels of ustekinumab, while the other half stopped using the drug. Over a year, the group on the maintenance dose did much better in retaining their improved psoriasis condition.
"Our results suggest that ustekinumab could be an important therapeutic agent for treating patients with psoriasis... The high level of efficacy was generally maintained with dosing every 12 weeks, a schedule that could offer a novel level of convenience for patients and physicians," the report's authors concluded.
In the second study, researchers found that the higher 90 milligram doses of ustekinumab, when increased from once every 12 weeks to once every eight weeks, were effective at helping moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients who had only partially reached the desired 75 percent while taking lower or less frequent doses.
"Although treatment with ustekinumab every 12 weeks is effective for most patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, intensification of dosing to once every eight weeks with ustekinumab 90 milligram might be necessary to elicit a full response in patients who only partially respond to the initial regimen," the authors concluded.HealthDay

Dermatologists Release Psoriasis Care Guidelines

FRIDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- The use of biologics is the focus of new guidelines for the management of mild to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis released by the American Academy of Dermatology (ADA).

Biologics -- given by injection or infusion -- are systemic medications that pinpoint immune responses involved with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

About 6 million to 7 million Americans have psoriasis, and between 300,000 and 750,000 have psoriatic arthritis. The new guidelines, based on an analysis of scientific studies of the conditions, were published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
"As a result of the impartial analysis of the most current research, physicians now have evidence-based guidelines which will help enhance the quality of care for patients and ultimately their safety," ADA President Dr. C. William Hanke said in a prepared statement.

"The guidelines for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, which focus on the use of biologics, are the first phase of the academy's efforts. The academy is currently working on the second phase of these guidelines, which will provide evidence-based advice for the management of psoriasis with topical therapies, ultraviolet light therapy, and systemic non-biologic therapies for psoriasis."

The new guidelines advise that topical treatments are appropriate for patients who are good candidates for localized therapy. But, in many cases, topical treatments should not be used exclusively to treat psoriasis if patients would benefit from a combination of systemic and/or phototherapy treatments.

Currently, five biologics are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of psoriasis, and three of those five are approved for psoriatic arthritis.

Because biologics target the immune system, it's important to use all approaches, including vaccination, to prevent infection, the guidelines state. However, once biologic therapy has started, patients should avoid vaccinations with live vaccines and consult their dermatologist before receiving vaccination of any kind.

Patients undergoing biologic therapy need to have periodic re-evaluations by their dermatologist to check for the development of new symptoms, including infections and potential cancers.

"Regardless of the therapy that is used to treat psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, patients need to be in constant contact with their dermatologists to report any unusual side effects or fluctuations in their condition that may require an adjustment in their medications or indicate the onset of psoriatic arthritis or another secondary medical condition," Hanke said. "These guidelines should help further the understanding of the current psoriasis therapies and help enhance the overall health and quality of life of patients.

"HealthDay"

Sumber : http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_65242.html

Rokok Perparah Psoriasis

Merokok dapat menyebabkan kondisi psoriasis makin parah. Demikian hasil studi yang dipublikasikan dalam jurnal Archives of Dermatology. Kebiasaan merokok merupakan faktor risiko untuk berbagai penyakit kronis termasuk psoriasis, tetapi tak banyak yang mengetahui dampak merokok terhadap keparahan psoriasis.

Cristina Fortes, Ph.D, dari Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Roma, Italia, dan koleganya melakukan studi untuk mengevaluasi hubungan antara riwayat merokok dengan keparahan psoriasis. Data diambil dari 818 pasien psoriasis yang sedang dirawat di rumah sakit.

"Pasien yang merokok lebih dari 20 batang rokok per hari memiliki risiko dua kali untuk mengalami keparahan penyakitnya dibanding pasien yang merokok 10 batang atau kurang per hari," lapor para peneliti.

Juga disebutkan bahwa pengaruh rokok lebih kuat pada wanita ketimbang pria yang sama-sama mengidap psoriasis. Karena itu, agar penyakitnya tidak makin memburuk, pasien psoriasis sangat dianjurkan untuk berhenti merokok.

Biaya Terapi Meningkat

Sementara Mark D. Herron, MD, serta para koleganya dari University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, mempelajari aspek kegemukan dan merokok pada psoriasis. Pasien-pasien psoriasis yang terdata pada UPI (Utah Psoriasis Initiative) dibandingkan dengan populasi Utah pada umumnya dan 500 orang pasien dewasa yang mengunjungi klinik the University of Utah Department of Dermatology tetapi tidak mengidap psoriasis.

"Prevalensi kegemukan pada pasien dalam populasi UPI lebih tinggi dibanding populasi Utah pada umumnya, yakni 34 persen banding 18 persen, dan lebih tinggi daripada populasi yang tanpa psoriasis," ujar para peneliti. Sementara prevalensi merokok pada kelompok UPI lebih tinggi daripada populasi Utah, yakni 37 persen banding 13 persen dan lebih tinggi daripada populasi tanpa psoriasis.

Peneliti juga mendapati bahwa kegemukan muncul sebagai konsekuensi dari psoriasis, dan bukan faktor risiko. "Merokok merupakan faktor risiko psoriasis, tetapi kegemukan tidak," ujarnya.

Tampak bahwa Biaya pengobatan psoriasis meningkat jika pasien mengalami obesitas dan merokok. "Upaya mengendalikan kegemukan dan merokok pada pasien psoriasis dan peningkatan kepedulian pada efek komorbiditas ini jelas sangat diperlukan," tambah para peneliti.


Sumber: Senior

Mari Lebih Peduli Psoriasis

Tanggal 29 Oktober sudah dicanangkan sebagai Hari Psoriasis Sedunia, Tahun ini menjadi peringatan keempat, Diharapkan momen ini bisa mengajak warga dunia untuk lebih peduli terhadap psoriasis, "Karena penyakit ini sangat melelahkan fisik dan mental," ungkap seorang penderita.

Tak hanya melelahkan penderita, tetapi juga keluarganya. "Sekarang saya harus hati-hati banget menjaga perasaannya. Kalau penyakit itu lagi kambuh, dia jadi impulsif sekali," tutur Oggy tentang istrinya yang terdiagnosis psoriasis sejak setahun lalu.

Penyakit kulit kronis ini memang umumnya membuat pasien merasa sangat tidak nyaman, malu, dan depresi. "Kondisi psikologis pasien mudah mengalami pasang-surut, tak peduli penyakit yang diidapnya ringan maupun berat," tutur Dr. Aisha Al Qutami, anggota the American Academy of Dermatology dalam situs Psoriasis. Tak sedikit malah penderita psoriasis yang berpikir untuk bunuh diri saja.

Seperti Sisik

Karena itu, Dr. Danang Tri Wahyudi, Sp.KK, menyarankan agar penderita bergabung dengan kelompok dukungan. "Agar pasien tahu lebih banyak informasi seputar psoriasis. Bisa belajar dari pengalaman pasien lain, bisa saling berbagi dan merasa tidak sendiri," ujar ketua KPPI (Komunitas Peduli Psoriasis Indonesia) ini.

Psoriasis, jelas Dr. Danang, adalah penyakit kulit akibat terjadi proses pergantian kulit yang terlalu cepat. Normalnya sel-sel kulit mengalami pergantian setiap 28-30 hari. Pada psoriasis, proses ini terjadi lebih cepat, yakni hanya 3-6 hari, bahkan bisa lebih cepat. Akibatnya sel-sel kulit tertimbun dan tampak seperti sisik.

Kulit penderita awalnya tampak seperti bintik merah, yang melebar dan ditumbuhi sisik lebar berwarna keperakan berlapis-lapis. Munculnya tidak selalu di seluruh tubuh, tetapi hanya pada bagian tertentu karena pergantian sel-sel kulit di bagian lain berjalan normal.

Psoriasis pada kulit kepala menyerupai ketombe. Pada kuku berupa lubang-lubang kecil dan kuku tampak rapuh. Penyakit ini dapat disertai atau tanpa rasa gatal.

Menurutnya, pada beberapa jenis psoriasis dapat terjadi komplikasi serius seperti pada psoriasis artristis yang menyerang sendi, psoriasis bernanah (pustular), dan seluruh kulit memerah disertai badan menggigil (psoriasis eritoderma).

Tidak Menular

Ditegaskan Dr. Danang, psoriasis sama sekali tidak menular, juga tidak mengancam jiwa. "Tetapi kualitas hidup pasien bisa menurun dan mengalami gangguan mental bila penyakit ini tidak dirawat dengan baik," katanya.

Mengingat penyebab pastinya belum diketahui, pengobatan juga belum bisa mengobati penyakit ini secara tuntas. Terapi yang ada baru bermanfaat untuk menekan gejala dan memperbaiki kondisi kulit.

Pasien memang dapat mengalami masa remisi, di mana kulit menjadi mulus kembali karena siklus penyakit ini bisa hilang-timbul. "Nah, untuk mencapai remisi diperlukan kerja sama antara pasien dengan dokter. Yang penting pasien harus rajin berobat," ucap Dr. Danang.

Memang belum ada obat yang bisa menyembuhkan psoriasis, tetapi ada pengobatan untuk meringankan kondisi pasien, seperti krim oles (topikal), krim vitamin D, obat telan (sistemik), hingga terapi dengan sinar, PUVA (psoralen & ultraviolet light A), antibiotik, antihistamin, juga kemoterapi.

Terapi suntikan, semacam kemoterapi, termasuk yang terbaru. Sebetulnya terapi ini mendapat izin dari FDA (Food Drug Administration) untuk pengobatan artritis sendi, tetapi dapat dipakai juga untuk psoriasis dan berpengaruh baik pada kulit. Sayang terapi ini mahal, yakni sekitar 1,5 juta rupiah sekali suntik.

Mendidik Masyarakat

Di tingkat internasional peringatan Hari Psoriasis Sedunia tahun ini IFPA (International Federation of Psoriasis) memilih tema Psoriasis and Co-Morbidities. Tema itu diambil karena dalam studi akhir-akhir ini memperlihatkan bahwa psoriasis berkaitan dengan penyakit serius lainnya. Komorbiditas (penyakit yang bersamaan) pada psoriasis di antaranya obesitas, diabetes, dan penyakit jantung.

Sementara di Indonesia, rencananya komunitas psoriasis akan melakukan gathering dan khususnya di Jakarta akan membagikan selebaran di Bundaran HI. "Ini sebagai bentuk edukasi untuk masyarakat umum," tutur Dr. Danang.

Saat ini diperkirakan prevalensi psoriasis di Indonesia sekitar 15 persen dari populasi. Sementara di dunia, kira-kira 125 juta jiwa mengidap gangguan kulit ini. Perlu diingat bahwa psoriasis bisa mengenai siapa saja dan tak pernah terduga kemunculannya.

Karena itu, mari kita lebih peduli.


Sumber: Senior