Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii最新文献

Introduction: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a chronic progressive, lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory disease whose pathogenesis is complex and not fully elucidated.

Aim: In the current study we have investigated for the first time the expression of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and S100A7 in lesional skin obtained from female individuals with histologically confirmed VLS.

Material and methods: In our study we used skin biopsies obtained from female patients with histologically confirmed VLS (n = 20) and skin samples from healthy age- and gender-matched individuals (plastic surgery procedures) (n = 10) serving as controls. The tissue expressions of IL-17 and S100A7 were assessed with an immunohistochemical method.

Results: The number of cells showing IL-17 expression was significantly higher in VLS lesional skin as compared to normal skin of healthy controls (p < 0.0001). In VLS lesional skin, IL-17 was expressed in the epidermis and by cells within the inflammatory infiltrate in the upper dermis. The number of cells showing S100A7 expression was significantly higher in VLS lesional skin as compared to normal skin of healthy controls (p < 0.0001). In VLS lesional skin, S100A7 was expressed by suprabasal keratinocytes in epidermis. S100A7 was also expressed by cells within the inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis.

Conclusions: The results of our study may suggest the involvement of IL-17 and S100A7 in the pathogenesis of VLS. The better understanding of this disease may lead to the development of novel, effective therapeutic strategies e.g. using well-known biologics IL-17 inhibitors class.

Introduction: Although melasma leads to emotional distress and quality-of-life reduction, indigenous cultures practice female facial tattooing. Facial cues influence personality trait inferences and attractiveness ratings. Skin lesions have been shown to alter gaze patterns, emotion perception, and social evaluations.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate melasma's impact on visual attention, perceived attractiveness, and social evaluations, considering distinct anatomical areas. Additionally, we sought to compare perceptions of traditional facial tattoos due to their purposeful placement.

Material and methods: Gaze fixation patterns were examined via eye-tracking, and image-based personality questionnaires were completed for psychological trait assessment. Visual stimuli showcased anatomic melasma variants and tattoo patterns.

Results: Traditional tattoos often follow midline patterns, sparing the upper lip. Both melasma and tattoos significantly affected visual attention (p < 0.001), with chin and upper lip melasma garnering increased attention. Upper lip melasma decreased gaze to the ocular area (p ≤ 0.002). while increasing perioral fixations (p < 0.001) compared to healthy faces. Upper lip tattoos conveyed increased perceived aggressiveness (p = 0.004). Ratings for attractiveness and personality traits were lower for centrofacial melasma than other variants, with no significant difference between centrofacial and isolated upper lip melasma.

Conclusions: The global avoidance of upper lip pigmentation underscores its perceptual burden. Upper lip pigmentation directs gaze towards anger-signalling regions, increasing perceived aggression and reducing attractiveness. Centrofacial melasma's impact parallels an isolated upper lip pattern, underscoring the disproportionate role of upper lip pigmentation. These findings warrant considering upper lip melasma's significant influence when evaluating quality of life and establishing treatment goals.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic skin conditions affecting about 20% of children and 5% of adults. However, the studies assessing novel therapies for AD have been focused mainly on paediatric patients and only few studies have involved adult participants.

Aim: To compare the treatment outcomes between the antihistamine monotherapy and combined intervention with an antihistamine agent and a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist in adult patients with atopic dermatitis.

Material and methods: Patients were randomized into two groups to receive 5 mg oral desloratadine or the combined therapy with 5 mg oral desloratadine and 10 mg montelukast. Both groups were also administered topical treatment using the same protocol (topical Elocon and moisturizer). To estimate the efficacy of the implemented therapy methods, different skin health scores (SCORAD, GISS, EASI, PPNRS and DLQI) and skin functional assessment outcomes (corneometry, pH and transepidermal water loss) were evaluated before and after the treatment.

Results: Significant differences were revealed in compared measurement results for scales of the Extent and Severity of Eczema assessment, Global Individual Signs Score, Eczema Area and Severity Index, Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale, Dermatology Life Quality Index and Skin Functional Properties (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Comparison of data presenting the therapy outcomes in two groups showed that administration of the combined therapy was significantly more effective compared to the antihistamine monotherapy. The results revealed considerable efficacy of the combined therapy reinforced by the use of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, montelukast.

Introduction: With the aging of the population, it has become a serious problem that the wounds of elderly patients are not easy to heal.

Aim: To explore the application of nanofiber wound dressing in wound healing of elderly patients.

Material and methods: In this article, 86 elderly patients with chronic wounds admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine from January 2023 to September 2023 were enrolled, and they were randomly divided into control and experimental groups, with 43 cases in each group. Controls used traditional wound dressings in care. The experimental group used nanofiber wound dressings. The wound healing efficacy, inflammatory factors, side effects, wound infection degree, healing time, and pain were compared between the two groups.

Results: The total effective rate of the experimental group (97.67%) was higher as against controls (86.04%). Wound germiculture positive (7.14 ±2.76%) was lower in the experimental group as against controls (22.13 ±3.27%. The wound healing time of the experimental group (18.68 ±5.78 d) was shorter as against controls (30.24 ±6.19 d). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the experimental group (2.68 ±0.41 s) was lower as against controls (3.57 ±0.89 s) after 16 days of care (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The use of nanofiber dressings is an effective means to promote wound healing in elderly patients, which is worthy of application in practical care.

Introduction: Melasma is an acquired hypermelanosis and occurs in areas exposed to sunlight.

Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of Danggui Shaoyao powder (DSP) as a complementary drug in the treatment of melasma.

Material and methods: A total of 40 melasma patients over the age of 18 who met the inclusion criteria entered the study randomly in two DSP + Hydroquinone (DSP + H) and Hydroquinone (H) groups.

Results: At the beginning of the study, the average MASI score of the two groups of patients had no statistical difference (DSP + H: 15.79 ±1.01 vs. H: 15.37 ±1.17, p = 0.23). But from the eighth week of treatment, the MASI score of the patients decreased significantly and in the DSP + H group it decreased statistically significantly compared to the H group (DSP + H: 5.83 ±0.97 vs. H: 8.29 ±2.23, p < 0.001 for the eighth week and DSP + H: 3.60 ±0.58 vs. H: 5.52 ±1.73, p < 0.001 for the twelfth week of the treatment). It means after 12 weeks of treatment, the average MASI score of patients in the DSP + H group decreased by 77.26 ±2.70%, but in the grroup H, it decreased by 64.31 ±9.68% (p < 0.001). Dynamic PGA showed that excellent treatment occurred in 65% of the + H group H, but only 20% of the H group (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Oral DSP for 12 weeks along with hydroquinone cream can significantly reduce the MASI score of melasma patients and increase the patients' recovery and satisfaction.

Introduction: Otitis media eith effusion (OME) is an inflammatory condition of the middle ear that involves accumulation of sterile fluid or effusion in the tympanic cavity with the tympanic membrane intact. The pathophysiology of OME is undoubtedly multifactorial.

Aim: To assess the co-occurrence of OME, allergic rhinitis, and asthma.

Material and methods: The study involved a group of 18,617 subjects aged 6-7 years, 13-14 years, or 20-44 years. ECRHS and ISAAC questionnaires, validated and adopted for Polish conditions, were used in the study.

Results: OME increases the risk of developing allergic rhinitis by nearly two-fold (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.738-2.479 in 6-7-year-olds; OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.299-1.995 in 13-14-year-olds, and OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.262-1.83 in 20-44-year-olds). Protective factors against otitis media with effusion include the number of siblings (the more children in the family, the higher the risk of chronic OM; OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.15-1.346) and consumption of dairy products rich in lactic acid bacteria.

Conclusions: OME significantly more often co-exists with other conditions, particularly allergic rhinitis.

Introduction: Secondary syphilis is well-known for its protean cutaneous manifestations and therefore very easy to be misdiagnosed.

Aim: The current study was to observe the frequency of histopathological features characterizing secondary syphilis, and summarize the diseases most likely to be misdiagnosed.

Material and methods: In this study a total of 129 pathological specimens from 114 patients with biopsy-proven secondary syphilis were retrospectively analysed and categorized according to clinicopathologic characteristics. The frequency of histopathological features characterizing secondary syphilis were analysed by comparison with clinical features.

Results: We found that in a single sample there is at least one feature or at most 13 features exist concurrently, and most demonstrated between 5 and 9 diagnostic features. Plasma cells (97.6% overall vs. 94.0% ≤ 6 features), endothelial swelling (86.8% vs. 74.0%), epidermis hyperplasia (73.6% vs. 62.0%) especially irregular acanthosis, lymphocytes infiltration (71.3% vs. 52.0%) and interstitial patterns (69% vs. 72.0%) were the most common findings in all cases as well as in cases with ≤ 6 features. Granulomatous inflammation is an uncommon histopathologic pattern in secondary syphilis (12.4%). The rash morphologies of our biopsies mainly manifesting as macules and maculopapules were more likely to have 6 or fewer features, which were not only easily misdiagnosed for pityriasis rosea, tinea and erythema multiforme, but also mostly taken from the trunk and genitalia. Atypical morphologies can be combined with plasma cell infiltration and T. pallidum immunohistochemical stain to confirm the diagnosis.

Conclusions: In this study plasma cells from superficial and deep perivascular distribution to nodular infiltration were a crucial clue for diagnosis of secondary syphilis.