Annals of dermatology最新文献

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes depigmented patches on the skin. It affects 0.5%-2.0% of the global population. It goes beyond physical appearance, often leading to stigmatization, low self-esteem, and depression, burdening patients with psychosocial challenges. The pathogenesis of vitiligo involves the loss of melanocytes due to autoreactive CD8+ T cells, triggered by environmental stressors and exacerbated by cellular vulnerabilities and immune responses. The release of danger signals and pro-inflammatory factors initiates an immune cascade perpetuating melanocyte destruction, mainly driven by interferon-γ and the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9/10-chemokine receptor 3 axis. Long-lasting tissue-resident memory T cells (Trms) and cytokines contribute to lesion persistence. Current treatments focus on topical steroids and tacrolimus, systemic steroids, and phototherapies, but their efficacy remains suboptimal, necessitating the development of new therapeutic options. Building on recent advancements in understanding the immunological mechanisms in vitiligo pathogenesis, with the initiation of Food and Drug Administration approval of topical ruxolitinib, various potential treatment options such as JAK inhibitors, cytokine blockers, and Trm or regulatory T cell targeting agents are being clinically researched and anticipated for vitiligo based on both preclinical and clinical data. This review aims to categorize and summarize the diverse investigational drugs currently undergoing clinical trials for vitiligo. By examining clinical outcomes, it is anticipated that this review will bring hope to dermatologists and patients regarding vitiligo, a condition that has historically posed challenges and transform it into a realm of potential possibilities.

Background: Intralesional methotrexate injection (IL-MTX) is an appropriate strategy for treating epithelial crateriform tumors (ECTs) when surgical excision can result in functional or cosmetic defects; however, not all ECTs are responsive to this treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of IL-MTX for ECTs and to determine the differences in clinical response according to the pathological features.

Methods: The medical records of patients treated with IL-MTX for their ECTs were retrospectively reviewed. Effectiveness was evaluated in terms of size reduction and flattening.

Results: Twenty-five cases of ECTs with biopsy were included in this study. Eight cases of keratoacanthoma (KA) and 15 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were identified, but 2 cases could not be clearly distinguished. Seventeen patients (68%) showed a response after injection, and response rate in KA and SCC were 75% (6/8) and 60% (9/15), respectively. Nine patients showed complete resolution with IL-MTX. Patients received 3 injections, and regression was observed in 7.56 weeks after the first injection. According to histopathological results, patients with KA and SCC received 2 and 3.33 injections, respectively, and complete resolution was observed after 7 and 7.67 weeks, respectively.

Conclusion: IL-MTX is safe and effective, and could be considered as a useful non-surgical treatment option for ECTs. Both KA and crateriform SCC showed good response; However, KA showed a better response.

Background: There have been reports indicating a correlation between heightened intestinal permeability and many autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders. The involvement of autoimmunity is now recognized as a significant factor in the development of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Zonulin is an important biomarker that regulates tight junction permeability within cells in the gastrointestinal tract, hence facilitating intestinal permeability.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation of CSU with intestinal permeability by measuring the serum levels of zonulin in patients diagnosed with CSU.

Methods: The study included 60 patients diagnosed with CSU and 64 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals as controls. Levels of serum zonulin were determined using the ELISA method.

Results: Although the serum zonulin value of the patients was higher compared to the controls, the difference did not reach a significant level (24.65±8.49 ng/ml vs. 21.03±7.36 ng/ml, p=0.077). The serum zonulin level had a significant correlation with the urticaria activity score in the CSU group (p=0.013). The results of the current study revealed that serum zonulin values significantly differed between patients with CSU and healthy controls.

Conclusion: This study is important in terms of being the first to investigate the serum zonulin levels in CSU. However, there is a need for further studies with larger patient groups.

Background: Anti-aging products are widely used, but the desire for safe and more efficient anti-aging products continues to increase. Dissolving microneedle patches (MNPs) have provided a more efficient transdermal drug delivery solution. MNP is a promising candidate for developing better anti-aging products.

Objective: To develop a more efficient anti-aging MNP product, we fabricated a dual anti-wrinkle microneedle patch (named DA-MNP) using droplet extension (DEN^®) technology and evaluated its skin puncture ability, safety, and efficacy through clinical studies.

Methods: A DA-MNP comprising hyaluronic acid (HA) polymer backbone, acetyl octapeptide-3, and L-ascorbic acid 2-glucoside and sodium cyclic lysophosphatidic acid was fabricated using DEN^® technology. Placebo MNPs comprising only HA were also fabricated. Twenty-four healthy subjects were enrolled in this comparative clinical study. The DA-MNP or placebo MNP was separately applied to the left and right eyes of subjects for overnight. Assessments, including wrinkle improvement, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), eye lifting and adverse effects were evaluated at each scheduled visit day for 28 days.

Results: The DA-MNP showed mechanical strength enough for puncturing the stratum corneum. Compared to placebo MNP group, the DA-MNP treated group showed an effective eye wrinkles improvement and better anti-aging of skin, with reduced TEWL, enhanced skin elasticity and lifting, and no adverse effects.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the fabricated DA-MNP exhibited fast acting on deep wrinkles and enhanced anti-aging efficacy, with no skin safety concern. Thus, this DA-MNP may serve as a new transdermal delivery solution for skin wrinkling and aging.

Background: A set of criteria for severity classification is essential in alopecia areata (AA). Currently, no guidelines are universally accepted for defining AA severity.

Objective: This study aimed to establish a set of consensus criteria for classifying the severity of and identifying treatment refractoriness in AA.

Methods: A preliminary draft of the definition for moderate-to-severe AA was crafted based on available evidence, and members of the Korean Hair Research Society (KHRS) subsequently endorsed the recommendation through an online survey.

Results: In the first Delphi round, consensus was attained on 15 questions. After refining certain items in the second round, consensus was achieved on 23 out of 26 questions. The KHRS first defined AA severity using the severity of alopecia tool (SALT). SALT ≥50 was defined as severe, 20≤ SALT <50 as moderate, and SALT <20 as mild. Moderate AA was considered severe if it meets one or more of the following criteria: dermatology life quality index >10, presence of accompanying eyebrow or eyelash loss, positive hair loss activity, or treatment-refractory AA.

Conclusion: These consensus criteria can help clinicians accurately diagnose AA, provide appropriate treatment, and monitor its progression.

Background: Although reports suggest that tranexamic acid (TXA) has clinical benefits for melasma patients by oral, intralesional and topical treatment, the optimal route of TXA therapy and the underlying mechanism involved remain poorly defined.

Objective: To compare the skin lightening effect between oral TXA and topical TXA and to dissect the molecular mechanisms using ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced hyperpigmentation mouse model, ex vivo cultured human skin explant, and cultured melanocytes (MCs) and endothelial cells.

Methods: Melanin content and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31)-positive cell numbers were measured in tail skins from UVB-irradiated mice treated by intragastral or topical TXA using immunofluorescent and Fontana-Masson staining. The conditioned medium (CM) was harvested from human umbilical vein endothelial cells treated with or without 3 mM TXA and was used to treat MCs for 48 hours. mRNA and protein levels of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor were measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting assays. HMB45- and CD31-positive cell numbers as well as melanin content were also examined in ex vivo cultured human skin explants.

Results: The hyperpigmented phenotype were significantly mitigated in UVB-irradiated tail skin plus intragastral TXA-treated mice compared with mice treated with UVB only or with UVB plus topical TXA. CD31-positive cell numbers correlated with the anti-melanogenic activity of TXA therapy. The data from cultured cells and skin tissues showed that suppression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in vascular endothelial cells by TXA reduced melanogenesis and MC proliferation.

Conclusion: Oral TXA outperforms topical TXA treatment in skin lightening, which contributes to suppression of ET-1 in dermal microvascular endothelial cells by TXA.