Archives of Dermatological Research最新文献

Hair loss is a prevalent disorder negatively affecting the quality of life and mental health. However, current treatment options are limited, highlighting the urgent need for the development of new therapies. Growing evidence has proven that stem cell-derived nutrient medium and exosome are novel approaches to future hair loss therapy. Limelight (CB-EVs) is an umbilical cord blood-derived exosome product. This study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of Limelight (CB-EVs) for hair growth ex vivo. Our analysis revealed that concentrations of Limelight (CB-EVs) below 5 U/ml demonstrated no cytotoxicity in vitro through MTS assay. In hair follicle culture, concentrations of 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 U/ml significantly promoted hair elongation while maintaining hair bulb diameter. Analysis of the hair growth cycle indicated a reduced transition from the anagen phase to the catagen phase. Overexpression of Laminin V and Collagen XVII were seen by immunohistochemistry staining. These results endorse the exosome product, Limelight (CB-EVs), offers a safe and effective method for stimulating hair growth ex vivo.

Psychodermatology explores the complex, bidirectional relationship between dermatologic conditions and mental health. This review details the primary categories of psychodermatologic disorders, explores how social determinants shape access, adherence, and outcomes, and highlights the need for reform in medical training and cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance patient care and promote health equity.

Dermatologic procedures commonly provoke anxiety, stress, and pain, which can influence overall patient satisfaction. Traditional pain management often targets physical discomfort while overlooking the psychological aspects of these experiences. Virtual reality (VR), an emerging immersive tool in healthcare, may help address both components by reducing anxiety and improving the patient experience. This scoping review examined the potential role of VR in dermatologic procedures for both adults and children. A search of PubMed, EBSCO, OvidMEDLINE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library identified 205 articles, of which 8 met inclusion criteria. Across these studies, VR consistently reduced anxiety and was associated with high patient satisfaction. Pain-reduction findings were mixed, though several studies reported meaningful improvements, particularly among highly anxious patients. Many participants expressed interest in using VR again, and some indicated they would pay for its use. Compliance outcomes varied, with one pediatric study noting decreased compliance, while others reported improved willingness to undergo procedures and shorter procedure times. Overall, VR was well received and shows promise for enhancing patient experiences in dermatology by addressing both psychological and physical discomfort. Its potential applications may extend into psychodermatology, especially for conditions influenced by psychological factors. Further research is needed to clarify cost considerations, patient preferences, and feasibility in routine clinical practice.

Background

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a persistent, recurrent condition that significantly impairs quality of life (QoL) and daily functioning. Limited data exists on the lived experience of U.S. CHE patients.

Objective

To assess the QoL impact of CHE symptoms in U.S. adult patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional, electronic survey was developed and distributed by the National Eczema Association to U.S. residents with self-reported eczema diagnoses. Survey topics included demographics, symptoms, treatments, and QoL impacts. Comparisons were made between those with clear/mild CHE symptoms and those with moderate/severe symptoms.

Results

Of respondents meeting inclusion criteria, 243 focused on their CHE. Common symptoms included itch (85.1%) and red, inflamed skin (78.9%). Patients with moderate/severe symptoms more often reported having a high/significant overall life impact than those who were clear/mild (40.9% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001). Specific areas with a high/significant impact included instrumental activities of daily living (45.5%), other daily activities (36.9%), and mental health (32.9%). Despite using prescription treatments (88.5%), multiple over-the-counter (33.3% using ≥ 5) and alternative treatments (51.4% using at least one), 61.3% reported moderate to severe symptoms, and 28.0% said symptoms were minimally/not controlled.

Conclusion

CHE significantly affects QoL and daily functioning in U.S. patients. Despite use of prescription and adjunct therapies, CHE symptoms can persist and adequate symptom control is often not achieved by patients.

Isotretinoin, a retinoic acid metabolite, is widely used in the treatment of dermatological conditions, especially acne vulgaris. While its adverse effects on various systems are well-documented, the potential association between isotretinoin and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) remains unclear. Fecal calprotectin (FC) serves as a biomarker to differentiate between IBD and functional gastrointestinal disorders, as well as to evaluate intestinal mucosal inflammation. This study aimed to explore the potential link between isotretinoin therapy and intestinal mucosal damage, as well as its possible correlation with IBD, by analyzing FC levels in patients undergoing isotretinoin treatment. A total of 103 patients aged 18–40 years, who were admitted to the Skin and Venereal Diseases outpatient clinic between December 2020 and July 2021, were included in the study. Among them, 65 participants completed the study, and their FC levels were measured both before and after isotretinoin treatment. The results revealed that FC levels increased from a median of 15.6 µg/g prior to treatment to a median of 20.2 µg/g after treatment. In patients with moderate and severe acne vulgaris, the pre-treatment FC levels were 14.1 µg/g and 19.9 µg/g, respectively. However, these changes were not statistically significant. Isotretinoin therapy did not result in a significant change in FC levels in this cohort of adults with moderate-to-severe acne.

Vitiligo is a chronic, acquired pigmentary disorder characterized by the selective loss of melanocytes, leading to depigmented patches on the skin, hair, and mucous membranes. Although not life‐threatening, vitiligo imposes significant psychosocial burdens. Its multifactorial etiology involves genetic predisposition, immune dysregulation, environmental factors and oxidative stress. Recent advances in multi‐omics technologies have enabled the integration of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and lipidomic data to elucidate the molecular networks underlying melanocyte loss. We retrieved computationally curated gene–disease associations from DisGeNET for vitiligo (CUI-C0042900) and its subtypes including progressive vitiligo (CUI-C3806428), segmental vitiligo (CUI-C1274648), and localized vitiligo (CUI-C1304469). The genes were subjected to gene set enrichment analysis via Enrichr. Our results revealed significant enrichment in immune-related processes, including cytokine production, antigen presentation via MHC class II, and inflammatory signalling mediated by tumor necrosis factor and interferon—gamma. Oxidative stress and metabolic perturbations were associated with enrichment in ROS-related functions. Enrichment of transcription factors RELA, PRDM14, and IRF8 was observed in response to the gene set associated with vitiligo. These findings underscore the convergent roles of immune-mediated damage, and oxidative stress imbalance in vitiligo. The integration of multiple gene set enrichments may enable better understanding of immune dysfunctions in vitiligo. Our results provide a basis that may be considered for future in vitro and in vivo validation studies.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) have been shown to protect melanocytes from oxidative injury, suggesting their potential contribution to therapeutic strategies for vitiligo. Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells are a unique subpopulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that can tolerate stress and differentiate into multiple cell types. However, the effects of Muse cell-derived exosomes (Muse-Exos) on melanocyte injury are not well understood. In this study, we investigated whether Muse-Exos could protect human epidermal melanocytes (HEMs) from hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative stress injury in vitro. Muse cells were isolated from MSCs via magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS), and the exosomes were collected by ultracentrifugation. The exosomes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and Western blotting. HEMs were pretreated with either MSC-Exos or Muse-Exos at concentrations of 5, 10–20 µg/mL for 48 h, after which they were exposed to H₂O₂ to induce oxidative stress. Functional assays were conducted to assess cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and autophagy-related markers (LC3B-II, Beclin-1 and p62). Both MSC-Exos and Muse-Exos reduced H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity and promoted cell survival. Muse-Exos were found to have relatively stronger effects in reducing ROS levels, inhibiting apoptosis, and enhancing autophagic activity. These results suggest that Muse-Exos may protect melanocytes against oxidative stress in vitro and could inform new approaches to treating vitiligo using exosomes.