Complementary and alternative medicine use and quality of life among Filipino Adult Psoriasis Vulgaris Patients seen in a tertiary center: A cross-sectional study

Objective@#To determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and its association with quality of life (QOL) among Filipino adult psoriasis vulgaris patients. @*Methods@#A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient dermatology department of a tertiary hospital, using a semi-structured, interview-guided questionnaire, and a self-administered QOL questionnaire, the dermatology life quality index (DLQI). @*Results@#A total of 135 Filipino adult patients with psoriasis vulgaris were included. The prevalence of CAM use was 47%, with most CAM users being female and single. Completion of tertiary education was found significantly associated with CAM use (p < 0.05). A greater body surface area involvement and longer disease duration were more common among CAM users but these were not statistically significant. Special diet (56.3%) was the most commonly used type of CAM, followed by herbal medicine (46.9%), bath therapy (18.9%) and faith healing (12.5%). Major sources of CAM information were families (43.8%), internet/social media (28.1%) and health professionals (25%). Around 40% of the participants used CAM out of curiosity. The mean DLQI score of the respondents was 11.3 (±7.3) corresponding to poor quality of life. CAM use was significantly associated with negative impact on physical symptoms and feelings, daily activities, and work and school (P = 0.044; P = 0.019; P = 0.047). After adjusting for confounding variables, patients with poor QOL were twice more likely to use CAM but this was not statistically significant (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-3.95; P = 0.17). @*Conclusions@#The use of CAM is prevalent among Filipino adult patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The significant association between CAM use and a poor quality of life may reflect the unmet physical and psychosocial needs of patients. A patient-perspective approach should acknowledge the reasons for CAM use, which could guide the physicians in imparting available scientific evidence, or the lack thereof, for the use of CAM to these patients.

Dermoscopic patterns in relation to the Clinicopathologic manifestations of Leprosy

Objectives@#Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by the obligate intracellular organism Mycobacterium leprae. Current diagnostic tests for confirmation and treatment monitoring such as slit skin smear and biopsy are invasive and require time for processing, reading, and interpretation. Dermoscopy is a technique that allows the visualization of structures not readily seen by the naked eye. It can be performed at the point of care, providing a non-invasive link between clinical and histopathologic examination. This study aimed to determine the dermoscopic findings and associated clinicopathologic findings of the different forms of leprosy. @*Methods@#A cross-sectional study was conducted. All new and follow-up patients aged 19 years old and above clinically diagnosed with leprosy were invited to participate in the study during the three-month investigation period. Clinical and dermoscopic photographs of representative skin lesions were taken, and a review of slit skin smear and histopathology results was done. Data analysis was performed using Stata SE version 13. The association between dermoscopic findings and the following parameters: anatomic location, Ridley-Jopling classification, WHO classification, treatment duration, and average bacteriologic index were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test. The level of significance was set at 5%. @*Results@#A total of 57 lesions were included. Linear vessels (p=0.031), structureless areas (p=0.008), and globules (p=0.002) were found to be significantly associated with the anatomic location. Decreased hair was found to be significantly associated with treatment duration (p=0.038). No significant associations were found between dermoscopic findings and Ridley-Jopling classification, WHO classification, and ABI. Eight biopsies taken at the time of dermoscopy were reviewed, with all sites showing structureless or globular areas corresponding to the presence of granulomas on histopathology (100%). No other notable associations were observed. @*Conclusion@#Dermoscopy is a potentially useful tool to aid in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of leprosy. Limitations of this study include the small sample size, the preponderance of subjects in the lepromatous pole, and assessments by a single trained dermoscopist. A longer study duration including a larger number of newly diagnosed leprosy patients is recommended.

Arsenicosis presenting with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A case report

A 29-year-old male with eleven-year history of hyperkeratotic papules and speckled pigmentation developed cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Arsenicosis was confirmed by elevated hair arsenic level, and histopathologic findings of arsenical keratosis and one lesion showing carcinoma-in-situ. Chronic arsenic exposure has been found to activate inflammatory and carcinogenic pathways leading to development of pre-malignant and malignant lesions. A multi-disciplinary approach involving healthcare specialists and environmentalists is crucial in source control and management of long-term complications.

Intralesional measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine for cutaneous warts: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Warts, caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), are mucocutaneous proliferations controlled by cell-mediated immunity. Intralesional immunotherapy with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, is postulated to induce a higher immune response for clearance of lesions.OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy, safety and effect on recurrence of intralesional MMR vaccine for the treatment of warts.METHODS: We searched online databases for randomized controlled trials on intralesional MMR vaccine for warts. Effects measured were the complete clearance of target and distant warts, adverse events noted and recurrence after treatment duration.RESULTS: Four RCTs comparing intralesional MMR vaccine and placebo were assessed. Meta-analysis showed a risk ratio of 0.24 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.34] favoring intralesional MMR vaccine and a highly significant difference in completely clearing target warts (P-value CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional MMR vaccine significantly reduces and clears target and distant warts as compared to placebo. It is a generally safe intervention with lasting effect assessed up to 6 months follow-up.

Combination of excimer laser and topical treatment for psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>To assess the efficacy and safety of excimer laser in combination with topical standard therapies for treatment of plaque-type psoriasis in comparison to excimer laser alone, standard topical treatment alone, or placebo.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS: </strong>A literature search using Medline, Cochrane and HERDIN was conducted. Data were analyzed using mean difference at 95% confidence interval, with heterogeneity determined by I2 test.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Three articles with total of 130 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Topical treatments studied were vitamin analog (calcipotriol), anthralin (dithranol), and steroid (flumethasone pivalate). A subgroup analysis comparing combination therapy and excimer laser alone showed a greater reduction in pooled PASI score reduction (-2.52; 95% CI: -4.28, -0.77) in the combination group after five to six weeks. There was also a significantly greater reduction in cumulative UVB dose (-3.29; 95% CI: -4.29, -2.30) needed for clearing in the combination group. Pigmentation was the commonly observed adverse event in both groups.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> Excimer laser, in combination with topical treatment, is more effective than excimer laser alone, with significantly lower cumulative UVB dose, but the quality of current evidence is low. Long-term controlled trials are warranted to increase our confidence in the estimates of these outcomes.</p>

Lepromatous leprosy and human immunodeficiency virus: A rare co-infection

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">We report a 23-year-old male with lepromatous leprosy atypically presenting with 5-year history of asymptomatic, verrucous papules, and nodules. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing was positive with depressed CD4 count. In HIV/leprosy co-infection, most of the documented patients were diagnosed with paucibacillary leprosy as immune reconstitution disease (IRD) from treatment-induced immunological recovery. Rarely, multibacillary lepromatous leprosy is encountered in the setting of untreated, severe immunodeficiency. Atypical clinical presentation warrants investigation for concurrent HIV infection.</p>

Arsenicosis presenting with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A case report

@#A 29-year-old male with eleven-year history of hyperkeratotic papules and speckled pigmentation developed cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Arsenicosis was confirmed by elevated hair arsenic level, and histopathologic findings of arsenical keratosis and one lesion showing carcinoma-in-situ. Chronic arsenic exposure has been found to activate inflammatory and carcinogenic pathways leading to development of pre-malignant and malignant lesions. A multi-disciplinary approach involving healthcare specialists and environmentalists is crucial in source control and management of long-term complications.

Intralesional measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine for cutaneous warts: A systematic review and meta-analysis

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Warts, caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), are mucocutaneous proliferations controlled by cell-mediated immunity. Intralesional immunotherapy with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, is postulated to induce a higher immune response for clearance of lesions.<br /><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To assess the efficacy, safety and effect on recurrence of intralesional MMR vaccine for the treatment of warts.<br /><strong>METHODS: </strong>We searched online databases for randomized controlled trials on intralesional MMR vaccine for warts. Effects measured were the complete clearance of target and distant warts, adverse events noted and recurrence after treatment duration.<br /><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Four RCTs comparing intralesional MMR vaccine and placebo were assessed. Meta-analysis showed a risk ratio of 0.24 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.34] favoring intralesional MMR vaccine and a highly significant difference in completely clearing target warts (P-value <0.00001) versus placebo. Three of the 4 trials assessed response of distant warts showing a risk ratio of 0.28 [95% CI: 0.08, 0.96] and a significant difference (P=0.04) versus placebo. Pain and flu-like symptoms were the most common side effects with no recurrence seen after 3-6 months.<br /><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Intralesional MMR vaccine significantly reduces and clears target and distant warts as compared to placebo. It is a generally safe intervention with lasting effect assessed up to 6 months follow-up.</p>