Dear Reader,
Urticaria is a common dermatologic condition characterised by pruritic, erythematous, and elevated plaques. The disease burden of urticaria is substantial in that it impairs patients' physical wellbeing and overall quality of life (QoL). Moreover, the socioeconomic impact of the disease is noteworthy. Hence, effective and timely management of urticaria is essential. In the current Feature Story, the adverse consequences associated with urticaria will be reviewed. In addition, clinical management and recent advancements in pharmacological treatment against the disease will also be discussed.
In the Focus section, the clinical aspects of The Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) are covered. ASMR is a pleasant tingling sensation elicited by a range of specific auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli, such as whispering, tapping, or gentle hand movements. Unlike most physiological phenomena, the first reported discussion of ASMR was on an informal internet health forum. Nonetheless, emerging studies reported the physiological and psychological benefits of ASMR, such as in relieving mood disorder symptoms and improving sleep quality. Given the potential benefits of ASMR, there are an increasing number of clinical studies attempting to figure out the physiological basis of ASMR. Some remarkable findings about the physiology of ASMR and clinical data on its health impacts will be reviewed.
In addition to the thematic topics, clinical opinions on response strategy for uncontrolled low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) with statin monotherapy, and the roles of undenatured type II collagen (UC-II®) in mitigating joint disorders will be highlighted in the Industry Updates. Moreover, recent clinical data reflecting the significance of upadacitinib in countering giant cell arteritis (GCA) will be shared in the Epoch section.
Hope you enjoy this issue!
Dr. Roy Yuen-chi Lau
PhD, DBA, MPH, MMedSc, MA, BSc, FRSPH, MIET, MRSC, MSB, CBiol, CSci, MRACI CChem
Editor-in-Chief
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