Search

Estimating house prices is essential for homeowners and investors alike with both needing to understand the value of their asset, and to understand real estate assets as part of an overall portfolios. Commonly-used indices like the National Association of Realtors (NAR) median home price index, or the celebrated Case-Shiller Home Price Index are reported exclusively over a large geographic areas, i.e., a metropolitan, whereby home price dynamics are lost. In this paper, we propose a improved method to capture price dynamics over time at the most granular level possible — a single home. Using over 16 years of home sale data, from the year 2000 to 2016, we estimate home price index for each house. Once home price dynamics is captured, its possible to aggregate price dynamics to construct a price index over geographies of any kind, e.g., ZIP code. This particular index relies on a so-called ‘gradient boosted’ model, a methodology framework relying on multiple calibration parameters and heavily dependent on sampling techniques. We demonstrate that this approach offers several strengths compared to the commonly reported indices, the ‘median sale’ and ‘repeat sales’ indices.

Background Wide local excision with 5-mm margins is the standard of care for lentigo maligna (LM). Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is used increasingly to treat this tumor. Objective To study the authors' experience with these 2 approaches. Materials and methods Primary LM cases treated at the authors' institution from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2005, were studied retrospectively. Main outcome measures were recurrence and outcomes after treatment for recurrence. Results In total, 423 LM lesions were treated in 407 patients: 269 (64%) with wide excision and 154 (36%) with MMS. In the MMS group (primarily larger head and neck lesions with indistinct clinical margins), recurrence rates were 3 of 154 (1.9%). In the wide excision group (primarily smaller, nonhead and neck, or more distinct lesions), recurrence rates were 16 of 269 (5.9%). Each of the 16 recurrences was biopsy proven and treated surgically: 6 by standard excision and 10 by MMS. Conclusion This follow-up study of LM surgical treatments shows excellent outcomes for wide excision and MMS. Because this is a nonrandomized retrospective study, no direct comparisons between the 2 treatments can be made. When recurrences occurred, repeat surgery, either standard excision or MMS, was usually sufficient to provide definitive cure.

Smart card authentication is a methodology used for security across various network infrastructures that demand multiple factors in user authentication. The present existence of smart card authentication thrives in our mobile and payment card networks; but can be applied to the average organization’s local area network (LAN) and remote connectivity mediums for a baseline of multiple factor authentication. Moreover, this paper looks into implementing network-wide smart card authentication on enterprise systems in an attempt to alleviate those systems of passwordbased authentication schemes. Much emphasis and research will be provided on the detailed characteristics of smart card authentication and its implementation on modern network appliances, key distribution servers and endpoint configurations.

Background The incidence of lentigo maligna (LM) may be increasing, but no population-based epidemiologic studies have been performed to our knowledge. Objective We sought to determine the incidence of LM in Olmsted County, Minnesota, along with overall and recurrence-free survival. Methods Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified all adult residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with a first lifetime diagnosis of LM between 1970 and 2007. Medical records were reviewed to determine demographic, clinical, and surgical data, and incidence and survival were calculated. Results Among 145 patients identified, median (range) age at diagnosis of LM was 70 (33-97) years. Treatment changed over time, with Mohs micrographic surgery becoming available after 1986. No patients died of LM; 5 had local recurrence. Estimated local recurrence-free survival at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years after diagnosis was 98%, 96%, 92%, and 92%, respectively. Overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence of LM among adults was 6.3 per 100,000 person-years, increasing from 2.2 between 1970 and 1989 to 13.7 between 2004 and 2007. Limitations Retrospective study design and homogeneous population are limitations. Conclusion The incidence of LM increased significantly among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, over an extended time frame, with incidence being significantly higher among men than women and increasing with age.

To identify changes in the incidence of cutaneous melanoma over time in the fastest-growing segment of the US population-middle-aged adults.By using the Rochester Epidemiology Project resource, we identified patients aged 40 to 60 years who had a first lifetime diagnosis of melanoma between January 1, 1970, and December 31, 2009, in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The incidence of melanoma and overall and disease-specific survival rates were compared by age, sex, year of diagnosis, and stage of disease.Between 1970 and 2009, age- and sex-adjusted incidence increased significantly over time (P.001) from 7.9 to 60.0 per 100,000 person-years, with a 24-fold increase in women and a 4.5-fold increase in men. Although not significant (P=.06), the incidence of melanoma increased with age. Overall and disease-specific survival improved over time, with hazard ratios of 0.94 (P.001) and 0.93 (P.001) for each 1-year increase in the year of diagnosis, respectively. Each 1-year increase in the age at diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio, 1.07; P=.01) but was not significantly associated with disease-specific death (P=.98). Sex was not significantly associated with death from any cause (P=.81) or death from disease (P=.23). No patient with malignant melanoma in situ died from disease. Patients with stage II, III, and IV disease were more than 14 times more likely to die from disease than were patients with stage 0 or I disease (P.001).The incidence of cutaneous melanoma among middle-aged adults increased over the past 4 decades, especially in middle-aged women, whereas mortality decreased.

Background We aimed to test the hypothesis that 3-D volume-based scoring of computed tomographic (CT) images of the paranasal sinuses was superior to Lund-Mackay CT scoring of disease severity in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We determined correlation between changes in CT scores (using each scoring system) with changes in other measures of disease severity (symptoms, endoscopic scoring, and quality of life) in patients with CRS treated with triamcinolone.

Generalized eruptive histiocytosis, described in 1963 by Winklemann and Muller, is a reactive, self-healing form of non-Langerhans histiocytosis. Rare cases of atypical generalized eruptive histiocytosis have been reported in patients with hematopoietic malignancy, but the biological relationship between the two disorders is not known. We report an 84-year-old man with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia who presented with coalescing erythematous papules and plaques on the posterior neck, ear and lower lip, followed by development of blast crisis. Skin biopsy revealed a thick band-like dermal infiltrate of cells that exhibited morphologic features of macrophages or histiocytes and prominent elastolytic phagocytosis. These cells demonstrated a mature immunophenotype, expressing CD14 and CD68, with partial expression of CD13 but not CD1a, CD43, CD56, CD123, Langerin, or S-100 protein. Karyotype and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses showed loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow and skin specimens, providing evidence of a clonal relationship between the cutaneous eruption and the underlying chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The presence of the same clone in skin and bone marrow specimens from our patient supports the possibility that atypical generalized eruptive histiocytosis is a marker for underlying hematopoietic malignancy. Discovery of additional cases may shed further light on the pathogenesis of this rare entity.

Cutaneous metastases are common sequelae of primary malignant melanoma. Because patients with melanoma are examined frequently after diagnosis, it is important that dermatologists are aware of the range of findings that may represent metastatic disease. Many case reports and a few retrospective series have been published detailing the wide variety of clinical presentations of cutaneous metastatic melanoma. This article reviews the various manifestations of metastatic melanoma of the skin and oral mucous membranes and summarizes treatment options for metastatic disease.

Patients with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions often receive long-term immunosuppressive therapy. Some of the largest patient populations with iatrogenic immunosuppression include patients who have received solid-organ transplants or who have rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. Although treatments improve patient outcomes, individuals with immunosuppression subsequently may have an increased risk of skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the population-based incidence of erythromelalgia. Background Only one report describing the incidence of erythromelalgia has been published previously. STUDY DESIGN A population-based analysis of data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. SETTING Tertiary care medical centre in Olmsted County, Minnesota (a rural county in the south-eastern portion of the state). PATIENTS Thirty-three residents of Olmsted County with a diagnosis of erythromelalgia during the study period. METHODS Age- and sex-specific incidence rates of erythromelalgia were determined. INTERVENTION None. MAIN OUTCOME Population-based incidence rate. RESULTS The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) was 1.3 (0.8-1.7) per 100,000 people per year. The incidence of primary and secondary erythromelalgia was 1.1 (0.7-1.5) and 0.2 (0.02-0.4) per 100,000 people per year, respectively. The age-adjusted incidence rates (95% CI) were 2.0 (1.2-2.7) per 100,000 women and 0.6 (0.1-1.1) per 100,000 men. The study was limited by the small sample size and potential variability in recognition of erythromelalgia. CONCLUSION The population-based incidence of erythromelalgia has increased with each decade in Olmsted County over the past three decades; overall incidence was 1.3 per 100,000 people per year, approximately 5 times higher than previously reported.

We aimed to test the hypothesis that three-dimensional (3D) volume-based scoring of computed tomography (CT) images of the paranasal sinuses was superior to Lund-Mackay CT scoring of disease severity in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We determined correlation between changes in CT scores (using each scoring system) with changes in other measures of disease severity (symptoms, endoscopic scoring, and quality of life) in patients with CRS treated with triamcinolone.The study group comprised 48 adult subjects with CRS. Baseline symptoms and quality of life were assessed. Endoscopy and CT scans were performed. Patients received a single systemic dose of intramuscular triamcinolone and were reevaluated 1 month later. Strengths of the correlations between changes in CT scores and changes in CRS signs and symptoms and quality of life were determined.We observed some variability in degree of improvement for the different symptom, endoscopic, and quality-of-life parameters after treatment. Improvement of parameters was significantly correlated with improvement in CT disease score using both CT scoring methods. However, volumetric CT scoring had greater correlation with these parameters than Lund-Mackay scoring.Volumetric scoring exhibited higher degree of correlation than Lund-Mackay scoring when comparing improvement in CT score with improvement in score for symptoms, endoscopic exam, and quality of life in this group of patients who received beneficial medical treatment for CRS.

Layer nesting refers to the interaction between neighboring fabric layers of a textile composite laminate. Idealized layer nesting configurations were investigated in five-harness satin weave carbon/epoxy laminates under static compression loading. A methodology was developed to fabricate three idealized nesting cases: stacked, split-span, and diagonal. All three idealized nesting cases produced reductions in compressive strength and ultimate strain when compared to the conventional randomly-nested laminates. The diagonal nesting geometry produced the largest strength reductions. Finite element results showed consistent strength reduction trends for the idealized nesting cases; however, the magnitudes of compressive strengths were overpredicted. These results suggest that regions of idealized nesting in conventional woven composites, particularly diagonal nesting, may be sites of failure initiation. Additionally, differences in compressive strength associated with idealized nesting configurations may explain the considerable scatter observed in compressive strength for these materials.

Generalized eruptive histiocytosis, described in 1963 by Winklemann and Muller, is a reactive, self-healing form of non-Langerhans histiocytosis. Rare cases of atypical generalized eruptive histiocytosis have been reported in patients with hematopoietic malignancy, but the biological relationship between the two disorders is not known. We report an 84-year-old man with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia who presented with coalescing erythematous papules and plaques on the posterior neck, ear and lower lip, followed by development of blast crisis. Skin biopsy revealed a thick band-like dermal infiltrate of cells that exhibited morphologic features of macrophages or histiocytes and prominent elastolytic phagocytosis. These cells demonstrated a mature immunophenotype, expressing CD14 and CD68, with partial expression of CD13 but not CD1a, CD43, CD56, CD123, Langerin, or S-100 protein. Karyotype and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses showed loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow and skin specimens, providing evidence of a clonal relationship between the cutaneous eruption and the underlying chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The presence of the same clone in skin and bone marrow specimens from our patient supports the possibility that atypical generalized eruptive histiocytosis is a marker for underlying hematopoietic malignancy. Discovery of additional cases may shed further light on the pathogenesis of this rare entity.

Cutaneous metastases are common sequelae of primary malignant melanoma. Because patients with melanoma are examined frequently after diagnosis, it is important that dermatologists are aware of the range of findings that may represent metastatic disease. Many case reports and a few retrospective series have been published detailing the wide variety of clinical presentations of cutaneous metastatic melanoma. This article reviews the various manifestations of metastatic melanoma of the skin and oral mucous membranes and summarizes treatment options for metastatic disease.

To identify the change in the incidence of cutaneous melanoma over time among young adults.Using Rochester Epidemiology Project data, we identified patients aged 18 to 39 years who had a first lifetime diagnosis of melanoma from January 1, 1970, through December 31, 2009, in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Demographic and clinical information, including survival, was abstracted, and estimates of the incidence of melanoma and overall and disease-specific survival were generated.From 1970 to 2009, the incidence of melanoma increased by 8-fold among young women and 4-fold among young men. Overall and disease-specific survival seemed to improve over time; hazard ratios comparing year of diagnosis with mortality were 0.92 and 0.91, respectively.The incidence of cutaneous melanoma among young adults is rapidly increasing, especially among women. Continued close monitoring of this high-risk population is necessary.