Phase I/II trials of human bone marrow-derived clonal mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play important roles in therapeutic applications by regulating immune responses. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of allogenic human bone marrow-derived clonal MSCs (hcMSCs) in subjects with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS: The study included a phase I open-label trial followed by a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that involved 72 subjects with moderate to severe AD. RESULTS: In phase I, intravenous (IV) administration of hcMSCs at two doses (1×106 and 5×105 cells/kg) was safe and well-tolerated in 20 subjects. Since there was no difference between the two dosage groups (P=0.9), it was decided to administer low-dose hcMSCs only for phase II. In phase II, subjects receiving three weekly IV infusions of hcMSCs at 5x105 cells/kg showed a higher proportion of an eczema area and severity index (EASI)-50 response at week 12 compared to the placebo group (P=0.038). The differences between groups in the dermatology life quality index and pruritus numerical-rating scale scores were not statistically significant. Most adverse events were mild or moderate and resolved by the end of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that hcMSCs treatment resulted in a significantly higher rate of achieving EASI-50 at 12 weeks compared to the control group in subjects with moderate to severe AD. The safety profile of hcMSCs treatment was acceptable. Further larger-scale studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.

A Comprehensive Review of the Acne Grading Scale in 2023.

Acne is a common skin inflammatory condition that can significantly affect the patient's quality of life. Therefore, accurate assessment scales are very important for treatment and management of acne vulgaris. This review article issues a comprehensive review of various acne severity assessment scales. In this text, the authors review the acne grading scales, such as the Pillsbury scale, Cook's acne grading scale, Leeds acne grading system, Global Acne Grading System, and investigator's global assessment, etc. And we delve into the characteristics, advantages, limitations, and applicability of these scales. The acne grading scale to be developed in the future should be objective, accurate, comprehensive, easy to use, and applicable in a variety of clinics and research settings. Current technologies, such as artificial intelligence, could potentially contribute to the development of ideal acne grading scales that meet unmet needs.

Effect of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Vaccination on Patients with Atopic Dermatitis Treated with Dupilumab: A Multicenter, Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) patients usually wonder if their condition will worsen after vaccination or if they should continue with the treatment they are receiving. Considering that many patients treated with dupilumab had previously experienced severe AD symptoms and flares, the concerns are more understandable. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the safety of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with AD treated with dupilumab. METHODS: We enrolled 133 patients (101 dupilumab-treated and 32 systemic oral agents-treated as control group) with AD from six hospitals. Patients were asked about worsening pruritus and AD (5-point Likert scale) after vaccination. AD variables (eczema area and severity index [EASI], investigator's global assessment [IGA], itch numerical rating scale [NRS], sleep NRS, and patient-oriented eczema measure [POEM]) were compared pre- and post-vaccination. Adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccination were observed. RESULTS: The incidence of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines and worsening AD symptoms in dupilumab-treated patients were not significantly different compared with that in the control group. The itch NRS score increased significantly after vaccination (p<0.001). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the pre-and post-EASI, IGA, and POEM scores. Eight patients (7.9%) had worse EASI scores and required rescue therapy; however, most were easily managed with low-dose steroids or topical agents. None of the patients discontinued dupilumab treatment. CONCLUSION: No serious adverse reactions were observed in patients with AD after COVID-19 vaccination. Exacerbation of pruritus and AD symptoms was observed but was mostly mild and transient.

Erratum: Assessment of Disease Severity and Quality of Life in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis from South Korea.

This corrects the article on p. 419 in vol. 34, PMID: 36478424.

Surgical experiences in pediatric pilomatricoma: punch incision and elliptical excision.

BACKGROUND: As pilomatricoma is a common adnexal skin tumor often occurring in exposed areas, dermatologists focus on minimizing postsurgical scarring. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients aged < 19 years who underwent surgical treatment for pilomatricoma at a single university hospital from 2015 to 2021. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and surgical outcomes were analyzed according to the surgical methods including punch incision and elliptical excision. RESULTS: Overall, 75 patients and 79 lesions were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 8.4 years, and 48 patients (64.0%) were females. The face was the most common site of pilomatricoma (51.9%), and within the face, the cheeks were the most common sites. No recurrence was observed in the elliptical excision group, while one case of recurrence (4.5%) was observed in the punch incision group. The mean length of the wound was 2.00 cm in the elliptical excision group, which was longer than that in the punch incision group (0.49 cm; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Considering that surgery is the gold standard treatment for pilomatricoma, punch incision may be useful as an alternative surgical option for pilomatricoma in children.

Assessment of Disease Severity and Quality of Life in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis from South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Data illustrating the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on lives of adults with AD in South Korea are limited. OBJECTIVE: To assess the AD disease severity and its impact on quality of life (QoL) in patients with AD from South Korea. METHODS: Patients with AD utilizing the specialist dermatology services of major hospitals in South Korea were assessed for disease severity using Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, for QoL using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (for QoL), and for comorbidities and treatment experience via retrospective review of 12-month medical records. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were also measured. RESULTS: Of the 1,163 patients, 695 (59.8%) were men (mean age [years]±standard deviation: 31.6±12.1). Overall, 52.9% (n=615) patients had moderate-to-severe disease (EASI>7). The QoL of 72.3% (n=840) patients was affected moderately-to-severely (DLQI score: 6~30). Systemic immunosuppressants were used ≥1 over past 12 months in 51.9% (n=603) patients, and the most commonly used were cyclosporines (45.7%, n=531) and systemic corticosteroids (40.5%, n=471). Approximately, 10.8% (n=126) patients consulted or received treatment for AD-related eye problem. Of these, 40% (n=50) patients reported poor, very poor, or completely blind status; approximately, 16.7% patients (n=192) reported having depression or anxiety; and 35.5% (n=410) reported suicidal ideation or suicidal attempt. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of patients had moderate-to-severe AD, a compromised QoL, and ocular or mental health comorbidities, indicating a high disease burden despite systemic treatment. These findings highlight the importance of a holistic approach for the evaluation and treatment of patients with AD.

A Case of Mucosal Fixed Drug Eruption Caused by Tamsulosin Administration.

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a rare type of drug reaction that involves the skin and, less commonly, the mucosal membranes. It is characterized by clinically well-defined erythematous patches or plaques with or without blisters, which relapse at the same location if the causative agent is readministered. Tamsulosin is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor blocker used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, and its common side effects are dizziness and headache. Only one case of cutaneous FDE due to tamsulosin administration has been reported but no other case of mucosal involvement has been reported to date. Therefore, we present a case of mucosal FDE caused by tamsulosin administration along with a literature review.

Consensus Update for Systemic Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: In 2015, the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association (KADA) working group published consensus guidelines for treating atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide updated consensus recommendations for systemic treatment of AD in South Korea based on recent evidence and experience. METHODS: We compiled a database of references from relevant systematic reviews and guidelines on the systemic management of AD. Evidence for each statement was graded and classified based on thestrength of the recommendation. Forty-two council members from the KADA participated in three rounds of voting to establish a consensus on expert recommendations. RESULTS: We do not recommend long-term treatment with systemic steroids forpatients with moderate-to-severe AD due to the risk of adverse effects. We recommend treatment with cyclosporine or dupilumab and selective treatment with methotrexate or azathioprine for patients with moderate-to-severe AD. We suggest treatment with antihistamines as an option for alleviating clinical symptoms of AD. We recommend selective treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B for patients with chronic moderate-to-severe AD. We do not recommend treatment with oral antibiotics for patients with moderate-to-severe AD but who have no signs of infection. We did not reach a consensus on recommendations for treatment with allergen-specific immunotherapy, probiotics, evening primrose oil, orvitamin D for patients with moderate-to-severe AD. We also recommend educational interventions and counselling for patients with AD and caregivers to improve the treatment success rate. CONCLUSION: We look forward to implementing a new and updated consensus of systemic therapy in controlling patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

A Case of Exfoliative Vesiculobullous Prurigo Pigmentosa Cured by Doxycycline and Topical Tacrolimus.

Prurigo pigmentosa is a rare inflammatory skin disease characterized by an unexpected onset of diffuse erythematous papules and macules usually on the chest, neck, and back. These generally resolve, leaving reticular hyperpigmentation. Rarely, vesicular or bullous forms have been reported. We present a case of exfoliative vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa in a 13-year-old boy. He presented with symmetrical eruption of papules and vesicles on his back, neck, and chest in the last 10 days, causing pruritis and prickling sensation. Within a few days, the bullous lesions and all affected areas of the skin showed exfoliation. Histological study and clinical findings indicated the condition to be vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa with exfoliation. Treatment with doxycycline 200 mg/day and topical tacrolimus ointment showed a good response. The lesions resolved, leaving a light-brown reticulated hyperpigmentation. In conclusion, this was a case of exfoliative vesiculobullous prurigo pigmentosa in an adolescent man successfully treated with doxycycline and topical tacrolimus as an effective and safe treatment option.

Primary Cutaneous Cryptococcosis in an Older Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that can be found in pigeon droppings, hay, and dust. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) without systemic involvement is recognized as a distinct clinical condition and is rarely reported in immunocompetent patients. A 78-year-old woman with no history of other diseases except for hypertension presented with a painful diffuse erythematous plaque along with oozing on left forearm that had lasted for 7 weeks. She was treated with cefoperazone/sulbactam for 3 weeks under suspicion of bacterial cellulitis, although the lesions aggravated without any improvement. We performed bacterial and fungal cultures as well as incisional biopsy. The pathogen was identified as Cryptococcus neoformans following sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer gene. The patient was treated with fluconazole 400 mg/day for 3 months, and there was no evidence of recurrence after 3 months of follow-up.

A Therapeutic Renaissance - Emerging Treatments for Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory cutaneous disease that is characterized by complex immune dysregulation and skin barrier dysfunction with a wide variety of clinical phenotypes. Until recently, conventional therapeutic modalities for AD remained rather non-specific despite AD's complex etiology. Failing to take into account the underlying inflammatory pathways led to treatments with inadequate efficacy or unacceptable long-term toxicities. We are currently in the midst of a therapeutic renaissance in AD. Recent progress in molecular medicine provides us a better understanding of the AD pathogenesis, suggesting a dominant helper T cell (Th) 2/Th22 response with a varying degree of Th1/Th17 overexpression. Targeted therapeutic agents including biologics and small molecule inhibitors in development hold promises for more effective and safer therapeutic approaches for AD. A better understanding of individual differences amongst AD patients will allow for a more tailored approach in the future. This review aims to cover the most promising emerging therapies in the field of atopic dermatitis utilizing recently published manuscripts and up-to-date conference abstracts and presentations.

Two Cases of Aquagenic Wrinkling of the Palms in Korean Healthy Women: Easily Overlooked Disease.

Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms (AWP) is a rare condition, which is characterized by appearance of whitish papules and plaques and an excessive wrinkling and swelling of the palmar skin after exposure to water. Herein, we report two cases of AWP. A 17-year-old woman presented prickling focal various sized whitish papules, plaques with wrinkles on both palms after water contact for 6 months ago. Histologic findings were consistent with AWP. A 26-year-old woman presented asymptomatic multiple various sized whitish papules, plaques with wrinkles on both palms after water contact for 1 year ago. Both patients underwent a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conduct receptor test but were negative and improved without any treatment.

A Case of Generalized Seizure after Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe mucocutaneous adverse reaction characterized by extensive necrosis and epidermal detachment involving more than 30% of the body surface area (BSA). It is commonly triggered by antiepileptics, sulfonamide antibiotics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A 22-year-old female without any underlying medical history presented with painful multiple erythematous bullae and plaques of varied sizes throughout the body for 1 day. On the second hospitalization day (HD), the bullae progressively coalesced, leading to epidermal detachment involving 60% of the BSA. On the fifth HD, the patient had a tonic-clonic seizure with eyeball deviation for 5 minutes. She was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) and administered lorazepam 4 mg and levetiracetam 1,500 mg. Brain computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid examination showed no abnormalities. Although the patient had delirium and additional seizures while in the ICU, her condition improved without any complications after 5 weeks of inpatient treatment. Several complications of TEN such as dehydration, malnutrition, sepsis, and ophthalmic and pulmonary complications have been reported; however, seizures have not been reported yet. Herein, we report a case of seizure in a patient during treatment for TEN.