Multiple Nonfamilial Unilateral Trichoepitheliomas: Report of a Case-Mini Review of the Literature.

Trichoepitheliomas are benign skin tumors with follicular differentiation that present most commonly as solitary lesions. They can also present as multiple centrofacial papules due to several mutations in the CYLD gene. Multiple unilateral trichoepitheliomas in a linear or dermatomal distribution may rarely be seen. Herein, we report a case of multiple unilateral trichoepitheliomas on the face of a healthy 34-year-old woman of Caucasian origin.

A multicenter, prospective, observational study examining the impact of risk factors, such as BMI and waist circumference, on quality of life improvement and clinical response in moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis patients treated with infliximab in routine care settings of Greece.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been associated with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis severity and PASI 75 response attainment of biologic therapies, but findings are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) on disease severity, to identify potential patient characteristics associated with response attainment and to assess the impact of infliximab on the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among infliximab-treated patients in the routine care setting of Greece. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study of adult moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients who had initiated treatment with originator infliximab within 2 weeks prior to enrolment. Postenrolment visits occurred at 14 ± 4, 30 ± 4 and 54 ± 4 weeks following treatment onset. RESULTS: Between October 2012 and June 2014, 136 eligible patients (62.5% males) with a median age of 48.6 years, BMI of 29.6 kg/m2 and WC of 107.0 cm at enrolment were recruited by 21 dermatology hospital/private offices. All patients had received prior psoriasis treatment(s); 62.5% were biologic-naïve. Mean baseline psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) scores were 23.4 ± 13.6 and 15.0 ± 8.3, respectively. A low correlation was observed between WC at enrolment and baseline PASI [ρ = 0.324 (P < 0.001)]. Over a median 48.4 weeks of infliximab exposure, 89.3% of the per protocol set achieved a PASI 75 response. At 14, 30 and 54 weeks, the PASI 75 attainment rate was 66.4%, 74.8% and 76.6%, respectively; the clinically meaningful DLQI improvement (≥5 point decrease) rate was 68.9%, 75.7% and 69.8%, respectively. BMI category and abdominal obesity at enrolment did not impact PASI 75 or DLQI improvement rate attainment. CONCLUSION: In the routine care of Greece, infliximab reduced disease activity and improved the quality of life of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients through 1 year of treatment, independent of their BMI and WC.

Imiquimod 5% cream: a new treatment for Bowen's disease.

Bowen's disease (BD) is a squamous cell carcinoma in situ. Recent studies suggest that human papilloma virus plays an important role in the development of BD. We investigated whether imiquimod 5%, a topical immune response modifier, is an effective treatment for BD in five immunocompetent patients. The lesions were one genital and four extragenital. The frequency of application varied from three times weekly up to twice daily, and treatment duration ranged from 8-24 weeks. Four patients achieved clinical and histological cure. The patient with the genital lesion gained an important reduction in size and infiltration, which enabled surgical removal of the remaining lesion with good functional and cosmetic result. Our results suggest that topical imiquimod 5% is an effective treatment for BD through its viral and antitumor effects.

Low-dose schema of isotretinoin in acne vulgaris.

In severe papulopustular and in nodulocystic/conglobate acne, oral isotretinoin is the treatment of choice. It is also required for patients with moderate to severe acne, especially when acne scars start to occur A new therapeutic approach consists of a low-dose regimen of isotretinoin. We performed a comparative study of high- and low-dose schemas of isotretinoin per os for the treatment of acne. The purpose of this study was to assess the therapeutic effect and tolerability of low doses of isotretinoin in the treatment of acne vulgaris and compare low-dose with high-dose regimens. Sixty-four patients (35 women and 29 men) with different types and grades of acne vulgaris were divided into two treatment groups of 32 patients, in a trial that compared a low dose of 0.15-0.40 mg/kg per day with a high dose of 0.5-1.0 mg/kg per day. These regimens were analyzed with reference to clinical history of acne, baseline investigations, dose and response to isotretinoin, clinical and laboratory adverse effects, relapses and cost of therapy. The mean success rate of the low-dose schema was 69%. The total dose up to 120 mg/kg should be followed for optimal results (success rate of 91%) and avoidance of relapses. The low-dose schema produced fewer adverse effects and offered a very beneficial effect on pre-existing scarring. Our results confirm the beneficial effect of the low-dose schema. We recommend a total dose > or = 120 mg/kg, as this therapeutic regimen of isotretinoin has proven to be the most successful in preventing relapses and scarring.