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Background@#With accumulating evidence that achieving a 90% improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI90) has better correlation with improved healthrelated quality of life as compared to PASI75 achievement, there has been demand for establishing new treatment goals for psoriasis. @*Objective@#We investigated whether the short-term PASI90 achievement would predict longer drug survival as compared to PASI75 achievement. @*Methods@#This single-center retrospective cohort study reviewed 180 treatment series in 128 patients with plaque psoriasis, who were treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors (n=12), ustekinumab (n=88), secukinumab (n=23), guselkumab (n=45), and ixekizumab (n=12). The first effectiveness assessment, usually performed within 12 to 20 weeks, was considered a short-term treatment response to biologics. @*Results@#After adjustment for covariates, time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that moderate responders (short-term achievement of ≥PASI75 but
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Background@#In psoriasis treatment, not all body regions improve simultaneously after clinical interventions. @*Objective@#This study was aimed at evaluating clinical responses across body regions, which may differentially influence patient treatment plans. @*Methods@#This prospective, observational, and multi-center study was conducted in Koreans who adhered to ustekinumab treatment based on criteria per local label and reimbursement guidelines. A total of 581 were included in this analysis. @*Results@#The mean (±standard deviation) psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score at baseline, age, disease duration, and body surface area (%) were 18.9±9.69, 44.2±13.29 years, 11.3±9.65 years, and 27.8±17.83, respectively. Across the head and neck, upper extremities, trunk, and lower extremities, the correlation between the PASI sub-scores for the upper and lower extremities was the highest (r=0.680). The mean PASI sub-score for the lower extremities was the highest at baseline. PASI90 and PASI100 scores were the highest for the head and neck region, indicating the highest response rates, while those for the lower extremities were consistently low at all visits. @*Conclusion@#We found differences in regional ustekinumab responses, with the lower extremities being the most difficult to treat. These findings should be considered in psoriasis treatment.
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Background@#Both verruca plana (VP) and seborrheic keratosis (SK) cause a major cosmetic concern. However, it is difficult to discriminate VP from SK presenting multiple tiny papules, especially those located on the face and neck. As VP and SK have different treatment strategies and prognoses, differentiation between them is important.Objective The objective of this study was to elucidate the clinical differential characteristics between VP and VP-like SK on the face and neck. @*Methods@#We retrospectively investigated patients who underwent skin biopsy for differentiating between VP and VP-like SK. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with the differential diagnosis. @*Results@#Among 80 identified cases, 48.7% (n=39) was VP, and 51.3% (n=41) was VP-like SK. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, larger than 3-mm, skin-like or pink lesion color, and confluent distribution were more likely to indicate VP than VP-like SK. @*Conclusion@#Our study proposed useful clinical differential characteristics between VP and VP-like SK on the face and neck in a large number of biopsy-proven cases. Still, there are exceptions. Therefore, in such confusing cases, skin biopsy to attain exact diagnosis is recommended.
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Background@#Misclassification of study designs of journals can hinder the readers from assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the study and evaluating the applicability of the study in the real-world setting. However, it seems that it is common for authors to neglect to classify the study design. @*Objective@#We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the classification of study designs and examine the common errors. @*Methods@#This descriptive study analyzed four Asian dermatology journals listed in the science citation index expanded from January 2018 to December 2018. We investigated discrepancies between author-reported and actual study designs.Design Algorithm for Medical Literature on Intervention (DAMI) was used to determine the actual study design. @*Results@#Of the 177 papers analyzed, only 72 articles (40.7%) revealed their study design and among them, 23 articles (32.0%) showed discrepancies between the author-reported and the actual study designs. Case-control studies were the most commonly misclassified study designs by authors. @*Conclusion@#There were considerable differences between the author-reported study design and the actual study design in Asian dermatology journals. Proper classification of study designs by the authors is essential to strengthen evidencebased medicine.
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Background@#Chronic actinic dermatitis is a rare, acquired, persistent eczematous eruption of photo-distributed areas.There are limited data available on the clinical characteristics of Korean patients diagnosed with chronic actinic dermatitis. @*Objective@#To evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of chronic actinic dermatitis patients in Korea. @*Methods@#Sixty-two Korean patients diagnosed with chronic actinic dermatitis through clinical findings, phototesting, and skin biopsy from six hospitals were included in this study, and their clinical characteristics were evaluated. @*Results@#Among the 62 patients, 51 were men, and the mean age at diagnosis was 60.3±12.8 years. Phototesting was performed for 27 patients, with results available for 18 patients. Patch tests were performed for only 4.8% of the patients. Skin pathology tests were performed for 47 patients and showed the following: spongiosis, acanthosis, actinic elastosis, and pseudo-lymphomatous change. Twelve patients were clinically diagnosed without using diagnostic tools such as phototesting, patch testing, and skin biopsy. The most commonly used systemic treatments were antihistamine, cyclosporine, steroid, and azathioprine. Although avoiding ultraviolet irradiation and outdoor activities are critical, only 22.6% of patients used sunscreen. @*Conclusion@#Although phototesting is highly recommended for diagnosing chronic actinic dermatitis, phototesting was performed for less than half of the patients to diagnose chronic actinic dermatitis. Patch tests and photopatch tests are also recommended to disclose a causative agent.
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Background@#Chronic actinic dermatitis is a rare, acquired, persistent eczematous eruption of photo-distributed areas.There are limited data available on the clinical characteristics of Korean patients diagnosed with chronic actinic dermatitis. @*Objective@#To evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of chronic actinic dermatitis patients in Korea. @*Methods@#Sixty-two Korean patients diagnosed with chronic actinic dermatitis through clinical findings, phototesting, and skin biopsy from six hospitals were included in this study, and their clinical characteristics were evaluated. @*Results@#Among the 62 patients, 51 were men, and the mean age at diagnosis was 60.3±12.8 years. Phototesting was performed for 27 patients, with results available for 18 patients. Patch tests were performed for only 4.8% of the patients. Skin pathology tests were performed for 47 patients and showed the following: spongiosis, acanthosis, actinic elastosis, and pseudo-lymphomatous change. Twelve patients were clinically diagnosed without using diagnostic tools such as phototesting, patch testing, and skin biopsy. The most commonly used systemic treatments were antihistamine, cyclosporine, steroid, and azathioprine. Although avoiding ultraviolet irradiation and outdoor activities are critical, only 22.6% of patients used sunscreen. @*Conclusion@#Although phototesting is highly recommended for diagnosing chronic actinic dermatitis, phototesting was performed for less than half of the patients to diagnose chronic actinic dermatitis. Patch tests and photopatch tests are also recommended to disclose a causative agent.
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Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Male , Biopsy , Bowen's Disease , Carcinoma, Basal Cell , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Dermis , Epidermis , Extremities , Mitosis , Phenobarbital , ThighABSTRACT
Hair follicle nevus (HFN) is a rare, benign, follicular hamartoma that most frequently presents as a congenital nodule on the face. We experienced a rare case of HFN on the neck of a 14-year-old boy and performed a pilot immunohistochemical study with cytokeratin 19 (CK19) to compare the staining pattern of hair follicles in HFN and its differential diagnoses, accessory tragus, cervical chondrocutaneous branchial remnants (CCBR) and trichofolliculoma. With hematoxylin and eosin stain, HFN showed numerous tiny hair follicles in the dermis with several sebaceous and eccrine glands, and perifollicular fibrous thickening. With CK19 stain, some hair follicles in HFN and CCBR showed positive expression, a few hair follicles in accessory tragus showed weak expression, and no hair follicles in trichofolliculoma showed expression. The present report supports the view that HFN, accessory tragus and CCBR are within the same spectrum of hamartomas.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Male , Dermis , Diagnosis, Differential , Eccrine Glands , Eosine Yellowish-(YS) , Hair Follicle , Hair , Hamartoma , Hematoxylin , Keratin-19 , Neck , NevusABSTRACT
Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic, relapsing skin disorder, and many patients with atopic dermatitis use complementary and alternative medicine instead of consulting a certified dermatologist. Herein, we report the case of a 38-year-old woman with severe eczema herpeticum who had been treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture for her atopic dermatitis. Herbal medicine and acupuncture are the most frequent types of alternative medicine that Korean patients rely on. However, the effectiveness of these treatments in atopic dermatitis remains unclear as there is a great lack of scientific evidence supporting it. As atopic dermatitis can cause potentially fatal secondary infections such as eczema herpeticum, dermatologists should put great effort into communicating with and educating the patients and in guiding them to choose the most appropriate treatment plan for managing their atopic dermatitis.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Acupuncture , Coinfection , Complementary Therapies , Dermatitis, Atopic , Eczema , Herbal Medicine , Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption , SkinABSTRACT
Although a few reports have noted the concurrent presentation of morphea and vitiligo at distinctly separate sites in the same patient, it is extremely rare that these two conditions occur at the same sites in a patient. We report the case of a 10-year-old Korean girl with morphea and vitiligo and those lesions occurred at the same sites and progressed simultaneously. An autoimmunity and a cutaneous mosaicism was considered to be involved in such an unique presentation as the pathogenesis is concerned.
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Autoimmunity , Mosaicism , Scleroderma, Localized , VitiligoABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Dermoscopy , Hair Diseases , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , PruritusABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bacterial skin infections occur secondarily in conditions involving a vulnerable skin barrier such as atopic eczema, as well as primarily such as impetigo. They are mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococci. Recently, the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus has been increasing. OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of community-acquired bacterial skin infections, to observe their antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and to evaluate factors contributing to the treatment response. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed outpatients under 30 years old from 2010 to 2015, from whom we had taken skin swabs for antibiotic susceptibility testing. We collected clinical and microbiological characteristics from the medical records. RESULTS: We evaluated the culture results of 197 patients and reviewed their medical records. Overall, 86.3% (n=170) of the patients responded to the initial treatment regimen. S. aureus was the most commonly isolated pathogen (52.6%) and showed a high resistance rate to penicillin (90.9%) and oxacillin (36.3%). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, resistance to 3 or more antibiotics (p=0.044), culture amounts described as “many” (p=0.040), and non-systemic antibiotic use (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower treatment response. However, methicillin resistance was not associated with lower treatment response both in univariable and multivariable analyses. CONCLUSION: Among young patients, S. aureus was the most predominant pathogen present in bacterial skin infections. Resistance to high numbers of antibiotics and the use of non-systemic antibiotics were associated with lower treatment response. First-generation cephalosporins may be the most effective first-line empirical regimen for bacterial skin infections treated in outpatient settings, regardless of methicillin resistance.