Contributions
Addressing Implicit Bias in Dermatology
In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with dermatologist Dr. Valerie Harvey, we discuss how to address implicit bias in dermatology. MD Newsline: How can dermatologists address implicit bias in their practice? How might their doing so improve healthcare for underserved communities? Dr. Valerie Harvey: “We need to improve our cultural competence and implicit bias training for...
Dr. Valerie Harvey: Vitiligo Treatment Disparities
In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with dermatologist Dr. Valerie Harvey, we discuss vitiligo treatment disparities. MD Newsline: What disparities in diagnosing and treating vitiligo have you observed in your clinical practice and research? Dr. Valerie Harvey: “Diagnosing vitiligo is pretty straightforward. But I think we need to do a better job of educating clinicians...
Dr. Valerie Harvey: Vitiligo
In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with dermatologist Dr. Valerie Harvey, we discuss why vitiligo is an important health issue. MD Newsline: Can you explain why vitiligo is an important health issue? Dr. Valerie Harvey: “Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune skin condition where your body’s immune system attacks the cells that make pigment in your...
Alopecia in African Americans
In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with dermatologist Dr. Valerie Harvey, we discuss the types of alopecia that are prevalent in African Americans: central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) and traction alopecia. MD Newsline: What types of alopecia have a high prevalence in African Americans? Dr. Valerie Harvey: “There are two types of alopecia that are...
SMA Screening for Newborns in the U.S.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was added to the U.S. Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) in 2018. This study, published in the International Journal of Neonatal Screening, examined the 34 fully implemented spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) newborn screening (NBS) programs in the U.S. and several programs on the path to implementation as of June 2021. Data were gathered on the...
Intelligence, Language, Speech, and Motor Function in SMA Type 1
This retrospective study, published in the Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, analyzed cognitive function, language comprehension, speech, and motor function in pediatric patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1). The goal of the study was to develop cognitive and language benchmarks that could be used in clinical medication trials for different SMA1 subtypes. The researchers identified 22...
Measuring Neck and Trunk Muscle Strength in SMA
This study, published in Frontiers in Neurology, investigated the relationship between motor functioning and neck and trunk muscle strength in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The researchers sought to measure the strength of neck and trunk muscles in patients with different types of SMA, compare them to values for healthy children, and assess the reliability...
The Importance of SMA Carrier Testing by OBGYNs
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can result in neonatal morbidity and mortality. As a result, it is important to screen women during or before pregnancy for carrier status of SMA. This literature review, published in Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, reviews the different types of SMA and their inheritance and guides obstetric providers in interpreting carrier screening results....
Sleep Quality and Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2
Patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2 typically begin exhibiting symptoms between 6 and 18 months old. This study, published in Sleep Medicine, analyzed both sleep architecture and the presence of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with SMA type 2. The study included data from 18 patients with SMA type 2 and 18 control patients. All...