Current Research Projects
The UTMB Department of Dermatology recquires that each resident complete a scholarly project during their residency. The following studies have been completed:
Dr. Julie Brantley
Dr. Brantley is studying the effects of Fractional Photothermolysis (FRAXEL) on patients with burn scars to determine if any improvement occurs with pigmentation, texture, and pliability.
Dr. Cameron L. Coury
Dr. Coury is completing a chart review that distinguishes the types of skin conditions seen in the prison population from the Texas Department of Corrections dermatology clinic at UTMB.
Dr. Josh Dimmick
Dr. Dimmick is surveying patients who have already had skin cancer to see if they are protecting their lips from UV light. Addtionally, he is interested if the intention of using UV protection is to slow wrinkle formation or to lower skin cancer risk.
Dr. Ryan Matherne
Dr. Matherne is evaluating Mohs Micrographic Surgery patients on their satisfaction with the end result based on whether they were allowed to visualize the surgical defect prior to the repair.
Dr. Julie Fridlington
Dr. Fridlington is futher defining the dermatologic conditions known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) through the evaluation of histopathologic specimens, Specifically,biopsies from patients will be analyzed for variables including degree of inflammatory infiltrate, number of CD8 positive cells, number of eosinophils, and amount of epidermal necrosis to determine if histologic criteria may also serve to predict mortality in these diseases. Amount of CD8 positive cells and eosinophilia will be assessed based on number of CD8 postive cells or eosinophils per high power field (HPF) and classified as none, sparse, moderate, and extensive. Amount of necrosis and inflammation will be based on thickness of epidermal involvement and classified as none, partial thickness, full thickness, and full thickness throughout. Immunofluorescence for each case will also be reviewed if available.
Dr. Petitt
Dr. Petitt is studying whether the presence of lymphatic invasion identified by D2-40 immunohistochemistry is predictive of sentinel lymph node status in primary melanomas of the skin.
Dr. Stephens
Dr. Stephens is comparing the recurrence rate of "basosquamous" skin cancers to that of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Dr. Yamazaki
Dr. Yamazaki is comparing the histologic subtypes of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in renal transplant patients to that of immunocompetent controls. Clinical evidence suggests that NMSCs behave more aggressively in the context of immunosuppresion, however, few systematic analyses of histologic differences between transplant and nontransplant NMSCs have been performed.
