Time to treatment and complexity of Mohs micrographic surgery.

The impact of time to treatment (TTT) on the surgical management of keratinocyte carcinoma, specifically the complexity of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), is incompletely understood. We performed a retrospective chart review of patients undergoing MMS for keratinocyte carcinoma between July 1, 2019 and February 28, 2021 to examine associations between TTT and surgical characteristics. The median TTT for the 1571 patients treated with MMS during the study period was 42 days (interquartile range 28-61 days).

Risk factors for the development of acne in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many healthcare workers having prolonged contact with tight-fitting masks, leading to maskne. "Maskne" is defined as acne secondary to mask use. There are limited studies on maskne during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transcriptomic analysis of atopic dermatitis in African Americans is characterized by Th2/Th17-centered cutaneous immune activation.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) often presents more severely in African Americans (AAs) and with greater involvement of extensor areas. To investigate immune signatures of AD in AAs with moderate to severe pruritus, lesional and non-lesional punch biopsies were taken from AA patients along with age-, race-, and sex-matched controls. Histology of lesional skin showed psoriasiform dermatitis and spongiotic dermatitis, suggesting both Th2 and Th17 activity.

Disseminated Eruptive Blue Nevi in a Young Adult Patient.

Common blue nevi tend to be singular or localized, with multiple eruptive blue nevi being a rare occurrence. We report the case of a young adult who presented with multiple asymptomatic lesions that had appeared gradually over a few years. Physical examination revealed 30 distinct, blue-gray macules diffusely over the medial buttocks, lower back, and dorsal arms.

Pruritus in Black Skin: Unique Molecular Characteristics and Clinical Features.

Background: Chronic pruritus dramatically disrupts quality of life, impairs sleep, and is difficult to treat. The pathogenesis and severity of chronic itch can vary significantly with race. Black skin has inherent structural and molecular characteristics that exacerbates pruritus, leading to unique presentations of pruritic conditions and added challenges in finding effective therapies.

Persistence of IL-2 expressing Th17 cells in healthy humans and experimental autoimmune uveitis.

Compared with other T-helper subsets, Th17 cell numbers are very low in human blood but become elevated in chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated mechanisms that may explain the frequent involvement of Th17 cells in autoimmune diseases such as uveitis. We compared Th17 and Th1 subsets and found that Th17 cells expressed lower IL-2 levels during Ag-priming and this correlated with their decreased susceptibility to activation-induced cell death (AICD).

Suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) inhibits lymphocyte recruitment into the retina and protects SOCS1 transgenic rats and mice from ocular inflammation.

Purpose: Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins regulate the intensity and duration of cytokine signals and defective expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 has been reported in a number of human diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of SOCS1 in intraocular inflammatory diseases (uveitis) and whether SOCS1 expression is defective in patients with ocular inflammatory diseases.

Methods: Blood from patients with scleritis or healthy human volunteers was analyzed for SOCS expression by RNase protection assay and RT-PCR.

STAT3 protein promotes T-cell survival and inhibits interleukin-2 production through up-regulation of Class O Forkhead transcription factors.

Much is known about the role of STAT3 in regulating differentiation of interleukin-17-producing Th17 cells, but its function in other lymphocyte subsets is not well understood. In this report, we reveal wide-ranging functions of STAT3 in T-cells and provide evidence that STAT3 is convergence point for mechanisms that regulate lymphocyte quiescence and those controlling T-cell activation and survival. We show here that STAT3 inhibits T-lymphocyte proliferation by up-regulating the expression of Class-O Forkhead transcription factors, which play essential roles in maintaining T-cells in quiescent state.