Acné fulminans en paciente de pueblo originario del Paraguay

Introducción: el acné vulgar es una enfermedad común de la piel con un gran impacto en la calidad de vida. El acné fulminans es una variante rara y severa de acné inflamatorio. Se describe en la literatura muy pocos casos de acné en pueblos étnicos. Se presenta el caso de una niña de 13 años, originaria de pueblo étnico del Paraguay, en que se observó una presentación severa de acné inflamatorio, acné fulminans. Se realiza tratamiento antibiótico asociado a prednisona, la paciente abandona el seguimiento por lo cual no se inicia el tratamiento aconsejado de Isotretinoína. Conclusiones: el caso presentado en particular corresponde a una forma severa de acné en una población con bajos reportes de esta enfermedad. Consideramos de importancia el estudio de los factores intervinientes para el desarrollo de la enfermedad.

Introduction: acne vulgaris is a common skin disease with a great impact on quality of life. Acne fulminans is a rare and severe variant of inflammatory acne. Very few cases of acne in ethnic people are described in the literature. We present the case of a 13-year-old girl, originally from an ethnic town in Paraguay, in whom a severe presentation of inflammatory acne, acne fulminans, was observed. Antibiotic treatment associated with prednisone was carried out, the patient abandoned follow-up and therefore the recommended treatment of Isotretinoin was not started. Conclusions: the case presented in particular corresponds to a severe form of acne in a population with low reports of this disease. We consider the study of the factors involved in the development of the disease to be important.

Effects of oral isotretinoin treatment for acne vulgaris patients on anger responses and the relationship with temperament

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Isotretinoin is the only medication against all the factors involved in acne vulgaris pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to verify whether patients with acne vulgaris receiving isotretinoin therapy exhibit elevated anger levels and to observe the correlation between age, temperament traits, and anger. METHODS: The study group comprised a sum of 100 cases, involving 50 individuals with acne vulgaris-required high-dose retinol therapy and 50 controls who did not start any medication. RESULTS: Our study showed that anger levels increased with drug use. A positive correlation between cyclothymic temperament, the anxiety-related behavior subdimension, and the introvert and passive-aggressive subdimension of interpersonal anger reactions has been recognized. In addition, a positive one was observed between hyperthymic temperament and the introvert subdimension, which is one of the anger-related thoughts and interpersonal anger reactions. CONCLUSION: This study elucidates anger dimensions such as anger-related thoughts, behaviors, and reactions in individuals who received retinol treatment for acne vulgaris. In addition to anger and its dimensions, temperament was also investigated. Although several studies have investigated the relationship between acne vulgaris and psychiatric symptoms, to the best of our knowledge, no research has been reported in the English-language literature regarding the relationship between anger dimensions and temperament after retinol treatment that might make our study an original and valuable contribution to the literature.

Instability of tear film and loss of meibomian glands in patients with acne vulgaris / Instabilidade do filme lacrimal e perda de glândulas meibomianas em pacientes com acne vulgaris

ABSTRACT Purpose: In this prospective study, we compared ocular clinical variables in patients with acne vulgaris with those of healthy controls. These variables included tear film break-up time, meibomian gland dropout rate, and anterior chamber parameters. Methods: Our sample comprised 73 eyes from 73 patients with acne vulgaris and 67 eyes from 67 healthy controls. All participants underwent a non-invasive first tear film break-up time test and the average tear film break-up time was evaluated. Meibography was used to identify any meibomian gland dropout. The parameters of the cornea and anterior chamber were measured using Scheimpflug topography imaging. Finally, the ocular surface disease index questionnaire was administered to score each participant on their subjective experience of ocular complaints. Results: The noninvasive first tear film break-up time values of the acne vulgaris Group and the control Group were 4.7 ± 2.8 and 6.4 ± 3.5 sec, respectively. There was a significant difference between the groups (p=0.016). The number of eyes with tear break-up at any time during the measurement period was also significantly higher in the acne Group (p=0.018). In the acne vulgaris Group, the mean meibomian gland dropout rates were 33.21 ± 15.5% in the upper lids and 45.4 ± 14.5% in the lower lids. In the control group, these rates were 15.7 ± 6.9% and 21 ± 9.7% respectively. Dropout was significantly higher in the acne group for both the upper and lower lids (p=0.000). Conclusion: We found impaired tear stability in patients with acne vulgaris and a high rate of meibomian gland dropout. These glands play a key role in tear stability and their dropout is likely to result in evaporative dry eye. Measurement of the variables in this study allows objective diagnosis of this condition using a non-invasive, dye-free methodology, with minimum contact.

RESUMO Objetivo: Neste estudo prospectivo, pacientes com acne vulgaris e indivíduos saudáveis do grupo controle foram comparados em relação ao tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, taxa de abandono de glândulas meibomianas e parâmetros da câmara anterior, usando o tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal topográfico não invasivo, meibografia não invasiva e fotografia de Scheimpflug, respectivamente. Métodos: Setenta e três olhos de 73 pacientes com acne vulgaris e 67 olhos de 67 indivíduos saudáveis foram incluídos. Todos os participantes submetidos ao primeiro tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal não-invasivo e ao tempo médio de ruptura do filme lacrimal não-invasivo foram avaliados pelo uso do tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal; perda de glândulas meibomianas foram avaliadas por meibografia; os parâmetros da córnea e da câmara anterior foram medidos por fotografia de Scheimpflug; e, finalmente, as queixas oculares subjetivas foram pontuadas com o uso do questionário do Indice de doenças de superfície ocular. Resultados: Os valores do tempo de ruptura do primeiro filme lacrimal não-invasivo do Grupo com acne vulgaris e do Grupo controle foram 4,7 ± 2,8 e 6,4 ± 3,5 segundos, respectivamente, refererindo-se a uma diferença significativa entre os valores dos grupos (p=0,016). Qualitativamente, o número de olhos com ruptura lacrimal a qualquer momento durante o período de medição foi significativamente maior no grupo de pacientes. (p=0,018). No Grupo com acne vulgaris, a perda de glândulas meibomianas nas pálpebras superiores foi de 33,21 ± 15,5% e nas pálpebras inferiores foi de 45,4 ± 14,5%; por outro lado, no Grupo controle foi de 15,7 ± 6,9% e 21 ± 9,7% respectivamente; ambos os casos referem-se a uma diferença significativa entre os grupos (p=0,000). Conclusão: Encontramos estabilidade comprometida do filme lacrimal em pacientes com acne vulgaris. No entanto, o comprometimento foi de grau muito menor, em comparação com a taxa de perda das glândulas meibomianas que desempenham um papel fundamental na estabilidade do filme lacrimal. Esta condição pode ser documentada de forma objetiva - uma metodologia parcialmente sem contato, totalmente não-invasiva e livre de corantes.

Effects of Chemical inhibition of histone deacetylase proteins in the growth and virulence of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid / Efectos de la inhibición química de las proteínas desacetilasas de histonas en el crecimiento y la virulencia de Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid

Abstract Chromatin remodeling enzymes are important "writers'', "readers'' and "erasers'' of the epigenetic code. These proteins are responsible for the placement, recognition, and removal of molecular marks in histone tails that trigger structural and functional changes in chromatin. This is also the case for histone deacetylases (HDACs), i.e., enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histone tails, signaling heterochromatin formation. Chromatin remodeling is necessary for cell differentiation processes in eukaryotes, and fungal pathogenesis in plants includes many adaptations to cause disease. Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a nonspe-cific, necrotrophic ascomycete phytopathogen that causes charcoal root disease. M. phaseolina is a frequent and highly destructive pathogen in crops such as common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), particularly under both water and high temperature stresses. Here, we evaluated the effects of the classical HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) on M. phaseolina in vitro growth and virulence. During inhibition assays, the growth of M. phaseolina in solid media, as well as the size of the microsclerotia, were reduced (p <0.05), and the colony morphology was remark-ably affected. Under greenhouse experiments, treatment with TSA reduced (p <0.05) fungal virulence in common bean cv. BAT 477. Tests of LIPK, MAC1 and PMK1 gene expression during the interaction of fungi with BAT 477 revealed noticeable deregulation. Our results provide additional evidence about the role of HATs and HDACs in important biological processes of M. phaseolina.

Resumen Las enzimas remodeladoras de la cromatina son «escritores¼, «lectores¼ y «borradores¼ importantes del código epigenético. Estas proteínas son responsables de la localización, el reconocimiento y la remoción de las marcas moleculares sobre las terminaciones de las histonas que desencadenan cambios funcionales y estructurales en la cromatina. Es el caso de las desacetilasas de histonas (HDAC), enzimas que remueven grupos acetilo de las «colas¼ de las histonas, señalizando la formación de heterocromatina. La anterior es una actividad necesaria en los procesos de diferenciación celular de los eucariotas, y se conoce que la patogénesis fúngica en las plantas requiere de adaptaciones diversas para ocasionar enfermedad. Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. es un ascomiceto fitopatógeno, necrótrofo e inespecífico, causante de la pudrición carbonosa. Este es un hongo frecuente y altamente destructivo en cultivos como fríjol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), particularmente bajo estrés hídrico y térmico. En este trabajo evaluamos los efectos del inhibidor de HDAC clásicas tricostatina A (TSA) sobre el crecimiento in vitro y la virulencia de M. phaseolina. El TSA redujo el crecimiento de M. phaseolina en medio sólido y el tamano de los microesclerocios (p < 0,05), lo que afectó la morfología colonial. En invernadero, el tratamiento con TSA disminuyó (p<0,05) la gravedad de la infección en la variedad de frijol BAT 477. La expresión de los genes de patogenicidad LIPK, MAC1 y PMK1 durante la interacción del hongo con la planta reveló una desregulación importante. Estos resultados proporcionan evidencia adicional del papel que cumplen las HDAC en la regulación de procesos biológicos fundamentales de M. phaseolina. © 2023 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.

Factores de riesgo y comorbilidades en pacientes con acné vulgar de grados I y II / Risk factors and comorbidities in patients with grade I and II acne vulgaris i: en

Introducción: El acné vulgar es la enfermedad más frecuente en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes; constituye un estado obstructivo e inflamatorio crónico de folículos pilosebáceos, caracterizado por la formación de lesiones inflamatorias. Objetivo: Identificar los factores de riesgo y las comorbilidades asociados al acné vulgar de grados I y II y su impacto psicosocial. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal de 50 pacientes con acné vulgar de grados I y II, atendidos en el Hospital General Docente Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero de 2018 hasta igual periodo de 2020. Se valoraron los factores de riesgo y las comorbilidades asociados a la dermatosis, así como el tiempo de aparición de estos. Resultados: En la serie predominaron el grupo etario de 18-24 años de edad y el sexo femenino (60,0 %, respectivamente), la ansiedad (58,0 %), el estado seborreico de la piel y los hábitos tóxicos (44,0 % en cada caso). También primaron el nivel de escolaridad de técnico medio y el color de la piel mestizo (60,0 % cada uno), el estado civil acompañado (44,0 %), la procedencia urbana (88,0 %), los afectados con evolución de la enfermedad entre 4 a 12 meses, sin antecedentes patológicos familiares de esta, y los trastornos endocrinos como las comorbilidades asociadas a la dermatosis. Conclusiones: Una buena parte de los pacientes presentaron, como factores de riesgo, algún episodio emocional de ansiedad y estado seborreico de la piel relacionado con el acné, los cuales estuvieron asociados a comorbilidades endocrinometabólicas.

Introduction: Common acne is the most frequent disease in adolescents and young adults; it constitutes a chronic obstructive and inflammatory state of pilosebaceous follicles, characterized by the formation of inflammatory lesions. Objective: To identify the risk factors and comorbidities associated to grade I and II common acne and its psychosocial impact. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of 50 patients with grade I-II common acne was carried out; they were assisted at Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, from January, 2018 to the same period in 2020. The risk factors and comorbidities associated with the dermatoses were valued, as well as the onset time of them. Results: In the series there was a prevalence of the 18-24 age group and the female sex (60.0%, respectively), the anxiety (58.0%), seborrheic state of the skin and toxic habits (44.0% each one). Also, the school level of technician and mixed race (60.0% each one), accompanied as marital status (44.0%), the urban origin (88.0%), as well as those affected with evolution of the disease between 4 to 12 months, without family pathological history, as well as endocrine disorders as the comorbidities associated with the dermatoses. Conclusions: A great part of the patients presented, as risk factors, some emotional event of anxiety and seborrheic state of the skin related to the acne, which were associated with endocrine-metabolic comorbidities.

Manifestações bucais e diagnóstico precoce do pênfigo vulgar: relato de caso / Oral manifestations and early diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris: a case report / Manifestaciones orales y diagnóstico precoz del pénfigo vulgar: informe de un caso

O pênfigo vulgar (PV) é uma doença autoimune que acomete o tecido epitelial dos indivíduos afetados. As manifestações orais são frequentemente os primeiros sinais observados da doença. Objetivou-se apresentar um caso clínico de pênfigo vulgar em uma paciente de 39 anos de idade, atendida em um serviço hospitalar de referência do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. A paciente queixava-se de lesões dolorosas na cavidade bucal há aproximadamente 1 mês, de progressão rápida. Ao exame clínico intrabucal, realizou-se o teste de Nikolsky, com resultado positivo. Em seguida, realizou-se biópsia incisional, confirmando a hipótese diagnóstica clínica de PV. A paciente recebeu o tratamento multiprofissional e foi medicada para o controle da doença, com melhora significativa do quadro clínico. O diagnóstico precoce da doença pelo profissional é importante, seguida de uma abordagem multiprofissional para um correto diagnóstico da patologia, possibilitando remissão da sintomatologia e melhora da qualidade de vida dos pacientes... (AU)

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disease that affects the epithelial tissue of affected individuals. Oral manifestations are often the first signs observed of the disease. We aimed to present a clinical case of pemphigus vulgaris in a 39-year-old patient seen at a reference hospital service in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The patient complained of painful lesions in the oral cavity for about 1 month, with rapid progression. Upon intraoral clinical examination, the Nikolsky test was performed, with a positive result. An incisional biopsy was then performed, confirming the clinical diagnosis of PV. The patient received multiprofessional treatment and was medicated to control the disease, with significant improvement in the clinical picture. The early diagnosis of the disease by the professional is important, followed by a multiprofessional approach for a correct diagnosis of the pathology, enabling remission of the symptoms and improving the quality of life of patients... (AU)

El pénfigo vulgar (PV) es una enfermedad autoinmune que afecta al tejido epitelial de los individuos afectados. Las manifestaciones orales suelen ser los primeros síntomas observados de la enfermedad. El objetivo es presentar un caso clínico de pénfigo vulgar en una paciente de 39 años de edad, atendida en un servicio hospitalario de referencia del estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. El paciente se quejaba de lesiones dolorosas en la cavidad oral desde hacía aproximadamente un mes, con una rápida progresión. Tras el examen clínico intraoral, se realizó la prueba de Nikolsky, con resultados positivos. Posteriormente, se realizó una biopsia incisional que confirmó el diagnóstico clínico de PV. El paciente recibió tratamiento multiprofesional y fue medicado para controlar la enfermedad, con una mejora significativa del cuadro clínico. Es importante el diagnóstico precoz de la enfermedad por parte del profesional, seguido de un abordaje multiprofesional para un correcto diagnóstico de la patología, que permita la remisión de los síntomas y la mejora de la calidad de vida de los pacientes... (AU)

Myths, misconceptions and attitudinal trends among patients with acne

Background: Despite acne being a common dermatological problem, there is a paucity of literature addressing the knowledge, attitude and practice about it. Aims/Objectives: To find out what patients know about acne, its cause and treatment, as well as myths, misconceptions and attitude towards it. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive questionnaire-based study on acne patients at Maharana Bhupal Hospital, RNT Medical College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Results: Most (84.8%) patients belonged to the age group of 16–25 years. The majority (63.9%) presented 12 months after the onset of acne. More than half had average knowledge, a positive attitude and good practices, related significantly to gender and education. Limitations: A standardized questionnaire suitable for all dialects and regional languages would have yielded more uniform results. Conclusion: Study revealed that acne patients still need to acquire accurate, adequate and easily accessible information to seek timely and appropriate treatment, and alleviate their psychological suffering.

Assessments of the ocular surface and meibomian gland morphology in patients with treatment-naive acne vulgaris / Avaliação da superfície ocular e da morfologia das glândulas meibomianas em pacientes com acne vulgar virgens de tratamento

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate ocular surface and meibomian glands in patients with treatment-naive acne vulgaris. Methods: The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, invasive tear film breakup time, fluorescein staining of the ocular surface, and Schirmer II test were performed for all subjects. Total eyelid and meibomian gland secretion scores were assessed. Non-contact meibography was performed with the Sirius corneal topographic device. Results: The right eyes of 35 patients with acne vulgaris and 35 healthy volunteers were included the study. While the OSDI and staining scores were significantly higher in the acne group than in the control group (p=0.01 and p=0.003, respectively), the invasive tear film breakup time and Schirmer measurements were significantly lower in the acne group (p=0.000 and p=0.003, respectively). The total eyelid and meibomian gland secretion scores were also higher in the acne group than in the control group (p=0.003 and p=0.000, respectively). On the morphological evaluation of the meibomian glands, the thickening, thinning, tortuosity, and presence of ghost areas were statistically significantly more common in the acne vulgaris group than in the control group (p=0.000, p=0.001, p=0.05, and p=0.006, respectively). The percentage of the meibomian gland loss area was significantly high in the acne vulgaris group on both upper and lower meibography. The meibomian gland loss area positively correlated with total eyelid and meibomian gland secretion scores. Conclusion: Acne vulgaris may have a predisposition to meibomian gland dysfunction and ocular surface damage. Early recognition of meibomian gland and ocular surface alterations seems important, especially in acne vulgaris cases for which oral isotretinoin treatment is planned.

RESUMO Objetivo: Todos os indivíduos responderam ao questionário Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) e tiveram avaliados o tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal pelo método invasivo, a coloração da superfície ocular com fluoresceína e o teste de Schirmer II. Foram ainda avaliados o escore palpebral total e o de secreção das glândulas meibomianas. Foi realizada meibografia sem contato com um dispositivo topográfico corneano Sirius. Métodos: Todos os indivíduos responderam ao questionário Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) e tiveram avaliados o tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal pelo método invasivo, a coloração da superfície ocular com fluoresceína e o teste de Schirmer II. Foram ainda avaliados o escore palpebral total e o de secreção das glândulas meibomianas. Foi realizada meibografia sem contato com um dispositivo topográfico corneano Sirius. Resultados: Foram incluídos no estudo os olhos direitos de 35 voluntários com acne vulgar e 35 saudáveis. Os escores do Ocular Surface Disease Index e da coloração foram significativamente maiores no grupo com acne em comparação com o grupo controle (p=0,01 e p=0,003, respectivamente), mas o tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal pelo método invasivo e as medidas do teste de Schirmer II foram significativamente menores (p=0,000 e p=0,003, respectivamente). O escore palpebral total e o escore de secreção das glândulas meibomianas também foram maiores no grupo com acne que no grupo controle (p=0,003 e p=0,000). Na avaliação morfológica das glândulas meibomianas, o espessamento, o afinamento, a tortuosidade e a presença de áreas fantasmas nas glândulas foram mais comuns no grupo acne vulgar que no grupo controle, com significância estatística (p=0,000, p=0,001, p=0,05 e p=0,006 respectivamente). A porcentagem da área de perdas das glândulas meibomianas foi significativamente mais alta no grupo com acne vulgar, tanto na meibografia superior quanto na inferior. A área de perda das glândulas meibomianas demonstrou uma correlação positiva com o escore palpebral total e com o escore de secreção das glândulas meibomianas. Conclusão: A acne vulgar pode levar a uma predisposição para a disfunção das glândulas meibomianas e para danos na superfície ocular. Parece ser importante reconhecer precocemente as alterações das glândulas meibomianas e da superfície ocular, especialmente nos casos de acne vulgar para os quais se planeja o tratamento oral com isotretinoína.

Role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-eosinophil and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid and Pemphigus disease

Context: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and “Pemphigus diseases” (PD) can have overlapping clinical manifestations and accurate distinction is crucial for appropriate management. Aims: The study aimed at analyzing the utility of simple hematological markers of systemic inflammation like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in clinical decision making in the setting of clinical differentials of BP and PD in a particular case. Methods: This single-centre based retrospective observational analytical study included adult subjects newly diagnosed to have BP (n=66) or PD (n=53), confirmed with direct immune-fluorescence testing, over a period of six years. Blood counts performed using Coulter™ hematology analyser, at the time of their initial presentation, were retrieved from the hospital medical records, and the leucocyte ratios were calculated.Statistical Analysis: The data were compared between the two groups, using Mann–Whitney U test and chi-square test /Fisher's exact test. ROC curve analysis was performed to estimate cut-off values. Results: The BP group had a significantly higher NLR, total leukocyte counts (TLC), absolute eosinophil counts (AEC), and absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC), and lower NER values compared to the PD group (P < 0.05). Areas under ROC for NLR, NER, TLC, AEC, and ALC were between 0.5 and 0.7. NLR ? 7, AEC ? 2055/cumm, and TLC ? 15,000/cumm had a specificity of 90.6, 100, and 100% respectively for identifying BP patients out of the two groups, but with a low sensitivity of 22.7, 21, and 22.7%, respectively. Conclusions: NLR can be a valuable diagnostic adjunct in subtyping autoimmune bullous disorders, albeit in a small proportion of cases.

Lupus Vulgaris Coexisting with Sinonasal Tuberculosis and Tuberculous Dacrocystitis.

We describe the case of a 72-year-old female diabetic who presented with epiphora and purulent discharge from the right eye for the past 2 years and multiple skin lesions over the right upper eyelid and right arm for 1 year. Computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses revealed mucosal thickening in the frontal and ethmoidal sinuses, with a polypoidal mass from the right side of the nasal septum and dacrocystitis. The histopathology of the skin lesion was suggestive of lupus vulgaris (LV). There was no evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. This case was a rare coexistence of LV with sinonasal tuberculosis and dacrocystitis.

A cross-sectional study of prescription pattern of drugs used in the treatment of acne vulgaris at a tertiary care hospital in India

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological disease affecting 85% of adolescents across the globe with 40% having persistent acne well into their twenties. Acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation often negatively impact self-perception, social interactions, and affect quality of life scores in adolescents. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prescription pattern of drugs used in the treatment of acne to find out the current prescribing practices relating to comprehensive care being provided at a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and observational study conducted after getting approval of Institutional Ethics Committee on 135 patients of either sex and age more than 12 and ?40 years diagnosed with acne. Results: Data of 135 prescriptions of acne patients were analyzed. Most patients presented with Grade 2 (n = 56; 41.5%) acne followed by Grade 3 acne (n = 40; 29.6%) patients. The average numbers of drugs per prescription was 3.87. Out of 522 drugs prescribed, 436 (83.5%) were topical and 86 (16.5%) were oral formulations. Among topical formulations, most frequently prescribed drug was tretinoin prescribed to 92 (68.1%) patients whereas, doxycycline was the most preferred oral antibiotic prescribed to 66 (48.9%) patients. Conclusion: The study revealed that drugs prescribed were found to be in accordance with the treatment guidelines proposed by Indian dermatologists and American Academy of Dermatology.

Effects of different frequencies of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy on the serum levels of related factors in patients with acne vulgaris / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the effects of different frequencies of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy on the levels of the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), testosterone (T), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in patients with acne vulgaris (AV). Methods: Ninety patients with AV were randomly assigned to treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and treatment group 3 according to the random number remainder grouping method, with 30 cases in each group. All three groups received pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy. Treatment group 1 was treated once a week, treatment group 2 was treated twice a week, and treatment group 3 was treated 3 times a week. Four-week treatment was taken as 1 treatment course, and 3 treatment courses were observed. On the day before the start of the study and on the day next to the end of each course, the global acne grading system (GAGS) score was recorded, and 3 mL of blood from the median cubital vein was collected to test the serum levels of IgG, IgM, T, and IGF-1. After 3 courses of treatment, the efficacy index was calculated according to the GAGS score, and the serum indicators in patients with effective treatment (efficacy index ≥20％) and complete sampling were analyzed. Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the final blood indicator analysis. After 3 courses of treatment, the intra-group comparisons showed that the serum IgG level increased significantly in patients in treatment group 1 (P<0.01); the serum T level decreased significantly in the female patients in treatment group 2 (P<0.05); the IGF-1 level significantly decreased in the patients in all three groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the serum levels of IgG, IgM, T, and IGF-1 among the three groups at each time point (P>0.05). Conclusion: Pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy can affect the levels of serum IgG, T, and IGF-1 in AV patients. The level of the serum IGF-1 can be reduced by treatment once a week, twice a week, or 3 times a week. Treatment once a week can increase the patients' serum IgG level, and treatment twice a week can significantly decrease the serum T level in female patients. Reducing the serum IGF-1 level may be one of the action mechanisms of pricking-bloodletting at auricular points plus auricular point sticking therapy in treating AV.

Gold microneedling radio-frequency treatment for depression scar of facial acne: a meta-analysis / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gold micrhenedle radiofrequency and other photoelectric methods in the treatment of facial acne depression scar by using a meta-analysis.Methods:From January 2015 to August 2022, gold microneedles and radio frequence for treatment of facial acne depression scar of randomized controlled trial were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP, China Biomedical Literature Service System, PubMed database, Cochrane Library and Embase database, including 12 papers. There were 6 Chinese and 6 English literatures, with a sample size of 612 cases.Results:Gold microneedling radio-frequency showed better efficacy in the treatment of facial acne depression scar ( P<0.05). After subgroup analysis, the effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group after 4 treatments, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Clinical acne scarring assessment scale, pain score and recovery time had statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Gold microneedling radiofrequency alone or in collaboration with other photoelectricity in the treatment of acne depression scar has short rest period, slight pain, and obvious improvement of scar effect. However, the improvement effect on icicle depression scar is limited.

"Four Common Characteristics" of Liver and Eyes and Research Ideas Inspired by "Liver Opens at Eyes" / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The theory of "liver opens at the eyes" was first seen in Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon of Medicine， which is the ancient people's summary of the connection between the liver and the eyes. The theory of "liver opens at the eyes" suggests the characteristic of "co-damage and co-recover of liver and eyes". It has been found in clinical practice that liver diseases and eye diseases often occur together， and "liver and eyes co-recover" is an ideal choice. The key to achieving "liver and eyes co-recover" is to analyze its pharmacological material basis and mechanism. With the development of modern medicine， more and more evidence indicates that the liver and eyes have complex and close relationships in physiological and pathological aspects. In a pathological state， there is a phenomenon of "liver and eyes co-damage"， and after the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine， "liver and eyes co-recover" occurs. "Liver and eyes co-damage and co-recover" can be explained through the "co-material basis and co-action mechanism". On this basis， the research group tentatively proposed that the liver and eyes had "four common characteristics" （4CCs）， namely "co-damage， co-recover， co-material basis， and co-action mechanism" from the theoretical connotation of traditional Chinese medicine， clinical practice， and molecular biology. Additionally， the group also took the intervention of Prunella vulgaris， traditional Chinese medicine， for removing liver fire and improving eyesight on immune liver injury （ILI） and allergic conjunctivitis （AC） as examples to analyze 4CCs. This project aims to deeply analyze the scientific connotation of the theory of "liver opens at the eyes"， reveal the common characteristics and biological essence of liver and eyes， explore a new research paradigm of "liver and eyes co-recover"， and provide a reference for the study of common problems of multi-organ associated diseases.

Research on the medication law of external application of TCM for psoriasis vulgaris based on modern articles / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To analyze the medication law of external application of TCM in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris (PV) by using data mining method.Methods:Clinical controlled trial literature about external application of TCM in the treatment of PV was retrieved from CNKI, VIP, WanFang, SinoMed, PubMed and Cochrane Library from the establishment of the databases to May 23, 2022. Prescriptions were extracted after screening. TCM inheritance computing platform V3.0 was used to analyze the property, taste, meridian, efficacy, use frequency, common medicinal pairs and the core combinations.Results:A total 186 prescriptions were included, involving 190 kinds of Chinese materia medica. The medicines were mostly bitter and cold in property and taste, mainly belonging to the liver and heart meridians. Heat-clearing drugs were mainly used, followed by blood circulation-activating and stasis-eliminating medicines, and tonic medicines. The ten most frequently used medicines were Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, Dictamni Cortex, Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, Kochiae Fructus, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Salviea Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Poria, Rehmannine Radix, and Arnebiae Radix; the 3 commonly used medicinal pairs were Sophorae Flavescentis Radix- Dictamni Cortex, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix- Cnidii Fructus, and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix- Kochiae Fructus; 4 combinations were obtained through evolution. Conclusions:External application of TCM for the treatment of PV is around the core pathogenesis of "heat toxin", mainly treating from the blood, including cooling blood and detoxifcation, activating blood circulation and removing stasis, nourishing the blood and moistening dryness. Clearing heat and drying dampness, dispelling wind and relieving itching are also valued. The treating thoughts can provide some references for clinical treatment.

Chinese Medicine as Supporting Therapy for Psoriasis: Past, Present, and Future / 中国结合医学杂志

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease and an important health concern. Western medicine and therapies are the main treatment strategies for psoriasis vulgaris (PV); however, the overall prognosis of patients with PV is still poor. Therefore, PV prevention is especially crucial. Chinese medicine (CM) has a long history of treating psoriasis, and it has unique wisdom in different cognitive angles and treatment modes from modern medicine. In this review, we first summarized the herbs and ancient CM formulas that have therapeutic effects on PV. Second, the research status and obstacles to the current development of CM in modern medicine were reviewed. Finally, the future of CM in the context of precision medicine and integrated medicine was discussed. After a detailed reading of the abundant literature, we believe that CM, through thousands of years of continuous development and clinical practice, has achieved high effectiveness and safety for PV treatment, despite its surrounding controversy. Moreover, precise analyses and systematic research methods have provided new approaches for the modernization of CM in the future. The treatment of PV with CM is worth popularizing, and we hope it can benefit more patients.

Targeted Lipidomics Reveals Lipid Modulation of Kaixuan Bushen Method on Psoriasis Vulgaris / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveThrough the targeted lipidomics， we explored the intervention mechanism of Kaixuan Bushen method on psoriasis vulgaris （PV） from the perspective of lipid metabolism， providing reference for the diagnosis and treatment of PV. MethodTwenty-six patients with PV admitting the outpatient clinic of the Department of Dermatology， Guang'anmen Hospital， China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from September 2019 to November 2020 were selected as the research object （observation group）， and 26 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers in the same period were recruited as control group. Venous blood was collected for lipid index and targeted lipidomics detection in the control and observation groups at inclusion. After 12 weeks of continuous treatment of Kaixuan Bushen method， the psoriasis area and severity index （PASI） was measured and compared before and after treatment to assess the clinical efficacy， while venous blood was collected again in the observation group to compare the blood lipid level and lipid metabolism of patients before and after treatment. Targeted lipidomics analysis was performed by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C8 column （2.1 mm×100 mm， 1.7 μm） with mobile phase of 5 mmol∙L-1 ammonium formate in acetonitrile-water （6∶4， A）-5 mmol∙L-1 ammonium formate in acetonitrile-isopropanol （1∶9， B） for gradient elution and flow rate of 0.26 mL∙min-1. Conditions of MS were electrospray ionization （ESI）， positive and negative ion modes， and scanning range of m/z 50-1 200. Then principal component analysis （PCA） and partial least squares-discriminant analysis （PLS-DA） models were developed to screen differential metabolites， and the differential metabolites were identified and the pathways were enriched. ResultAfter 12 weeks of treatment with Kaixuan Bushen method， PASI score decreased by more than 50% in a total of 22 out of 26 patients with PV， suggesting the total effective rate was 84.62%. The serum triglyceride level of patients with PV was significantly higher than that of healthy individuals （P<0.05）， and the triglyceride level was significantly reduced after treatment （P<0.05）. Targeted lipidomics analysis screened a total of 43 potential biomarkers for PV， of which 42 were up-regulated and 1 was down-regulated， involving 7 signaling pathways such as linoleic acid metabolism， glycerophospholipid metabolism and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Moreover， there were 14 response makers for clinical efficacy of Kaixuan Bushen method on PV， of which 6 were up-regulated and 8 were down-regulated， involving five signaling pathways such as linoleic acid metabolism， glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipids metabolism. In a comparison between healthy individuals and patients with PV and PV before and after treatment， the common differential metabolites were screened as phosphatidylcholine （PC） 38∶0 and ceramide （Cer） 42∶1， and the common pathways were linoleic acid and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathways. ConclusionThe disorder of lipid metabolism in PV are largely due to abnormal sphingolipid， glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid metabolic pathways， of which Kaixuan Bushen method can regulate the glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid metabolism， thereby improving psoriatic lesions.

Effectiveness of 100% tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) versus salicylic acid + lactic acid solution in the treatment of common warts: A randomized controlled trial

Background@#Common warts are a common malady among patients. Not only does it affect the person physically but also mentally and socially. Several treatment modalities are available; however, the major concerns are the treatment cost and adverse effect profile. Salicylic + lactic acid (SLA) solution is one of the standard treatment modalities owing to its strong keratolytic properties; however, its cost and adverse effects limit its use among patients. A cost-effective and safe alternative treatment is ideal to bring about a more favorable clinical outcome and better patient satisfaction. 100% tea tree oil (TTO) solution was used in this study due to its natural antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.@*Objective@#The study aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of 100% TTO versus SLA solution in the treatment of common warts.@*Methods@#A total of 17 patients with a total of 74 warts were included in the study. Each wart was assigned to either of the two treatment groups. the SLA group and the 100% TTO group. A treatment period of 6 weeks was used to assess the effectiveness of both treatment groups.@*Results@#The study showed no significant difference between the SLA solution and 100% TTO in the treatment of common warts. The 100% tea tree group reported lesser adverse effects. Both treatment groups reported favorable treatment satisfaction.@*Conclusion@#100% TTO is a potentially safe and cost-effective alternative in the treatment of common warts.

Metabolomics analysis of serum lipids in patients with acne vulgaris / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective To analyze and compare the differences in serum lipid metabolomics between patients with moderate to severe acne and healthy controls to understand the characteristics of serum lipid metabolism in acne patients. Methods Serum samples were collected from 30 patients with moderate to severe acne and 30 healthy controls matched for age, gender and body mass index in the Department of Dermatology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from May 2019 to Apr. 2020. Serum lipid metabolomics was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used for multivariate statistical analysis of differentially expressed lipid metabolites. The metabolic pathways with significant differences between the two groups were screened by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Using Mann-Whitney U test to calculate differential metabolites. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum PC (18: 2e/20: 2) concentration and acne severity. Results The PLS-DA results showed that the composition of serum lipid metabolites in acne patients was significantly separated from that in healthy controls. Of the top 30 lipid metabolites with the most significant differences, four kinds of triglycerides (TG), two kinds of diglycerides (DG), six kinds of phosphatidylcholine (PC), one kind of MePC, two kinds of sphingomyelin (SM), two kinds of phosphatidylinositol (PI), two kinds of ceramide (monohexosyl ceramide, Hex1Cer;dihexosyl ceramide, Hex2Cer), two cardiolipin (CL) were found to be increased in the acne group (P<0.05). The levels of one kind of DG, two kinds of lysophosphatidyl ethanolamines (LPE), one kind of dimethylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (dMePE), one kind of bismethyl phosphatidic acid (BisMePA), three kinds of phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) and one kind of ceramide were found to be decreased in the acne group (P<0.05), and most of them belonged to phospholipid metabolites. Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum PC (18:2e/20:2) concentration was positively correlated with acne severity (r=0.456, P=0.004). KEGG enrichment function analysis revealed that the differential lipid metabolites were primarily enriched in metabolic pathways such as sphingolipid signaling pathway, cholesterol metabolism, insulin resistance, glycerophospholipid metabolism, among which the sphingolipid signaling pathway may play an important role. Conclusion There are significant differences in serum lipid metabolism between acne patients and healthy controls. Lipid metabolism disorders may be related to the pathogenesis of acne, but it’s molecular mechanism still needs further experimental exploration.

Research progress in gut-skin axis and its association with traditional Chinese medicine theory / 中国中药杂志

Currently, the gut-organ axis has become a hot research topic. As increasing attention has been paid to the role of gut microbiota in the health of organs, the complex and integrated dialogue mechanism between the gastrointestinal tract and the associated microbiota has been demonstrated in more and more studies. Skin as the largest organ in the human body serves as the primary barrier protecting the human body from damage. The proposal of the gut-skin axis has established a bidirectional link between the gut and the skin. The disturbance of gut microbiota can lead to the occurrence of skin diseases, the mechanism of which is complex and may involve multiple pathways in immunity, metabolism, and internal secretion. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), the connection between the intestine and the skin can be established through the lung, and the interior disorders will definitely cause symptoms on the exterior. This paper reviews the research progress in the gut-skin axis and its correlation with TCM theory and provides ideas and a basis for cli-nical treatment and drug development of skin and intestinal diseases.