Pigmentation of lower limbs: Contribution of haemosiderin and melanin in chronic venous insufficiency and related disorders.

Background: To determine the composition of skin pigmentation in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and other less common vascular conditions of lower limbs.

Methods: Forty-five skin biopsies were obtained from 17 patients. Samples were taken from pigmented regions and compared with control non-lesional samples from the same patient.

Academic dermatology in Australia and New Zealand between 2017 and 2022: A cross-sectional bibliometric analysis.

Introduction: Academic dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand provide high-quality and meaningful contributions to the understanding of disease and therapeutic translational research. Concerns have been raised by the Australian Medical Association regarding the decline of clinical academics in Australia as a whole, however, such trends in scholarly output have not previously been analysed for Australasian dermatologists.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis of dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand was conducted in January and February 2023.

Sclerotherapy of lower limb veins: Indications, contraindications and treatment strategies to prevent complications - A consensus document of the International Union of Phlebology-2023.

Background: Sclerotherapy is a non-invasive procedure commonly used to treat superficial venous disease, vascular malformations and other ectatic vascular lesions. While extremely rare, sclerotherapy may be complicated by serious adverse events.

Objectives: To categorise contraindications to sclerotherapy based on the available scientific evidence.

Skin necrosis following sclerotherapy. Part 2: Risk minimisation and management strategies.

Tissue necrosis is a serious but rare complication of sclerotherapy. Early detection and targeted management are essential to prevent progression and minimise serious complications. In the first instalment of this paper, we reviewed the pathogenic mechanisms of post-sclerotherapy necrosis.

Skin necrosis following sclerotherapy. Part 1: Differential diagnosis based on classification of pathogenic mechanisms.

Tissue necrosis is a significant but uncommon complication of sclerotherapy. The pathogenic mechanisms of this often-debilitating complication have been poorly described in the literature. To elucidate the pathological mechanisms, we propose a morphological approach to classify sclerotherapy-induced skin necrosis into two categories of round and stellate (star-like) necrosis.

An analysis of the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in patients with epidermolysis bullosa: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) patients have multiple risk factors for osteoporosis. There is limited literature describing the prevalence of bone health in EB, particularly in adults and less severe EB types.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis in EB patients from the Australasian Epidermolysis Bullosa Registry (AEBR).

Outcomes and Predictors for Re-stenosis of Esophageal Stricture in Epidermolysis Bullosa: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Esophageal strictures are the common gastrointestinal complications in patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) requiring dilation. There is limited information on the best type of intervention, outcomes, and predictors for re-stenosis.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the frequency, clinical presentation of esophageal strictures in EB patients, and to ascertain the predictors of re-stenosis.

Folliculitis decalvans-like pustular plaques on the limbs sparing the scalp.

Folliculitis decalvans is a neutrophilic cicatricial alopecia characterised by progressive pustular folliculitis. Folliculitis decalvans is seen as a condition usually limited exclusively to the scalp and rarely affects the limbs. We present a case of a 63-year-old man with a 3-year history of progressive pustular folliculitis with inflammatory patches and central scarring alopecia on both forearms and a circumscribed patch on his right lower leg.

Deep vein sclerosis following sclerotherapy: Ultrasonic and d-dimer criteria.

Objectives: The aim of sclerotherapy is to induce fibrosclerosis of superficial veins. We postulated that inadvertent entry of sclerosants into deep veins can result in sclerotic occlusion, deep vein sclerosis, a non-thrombotic process distinct from spontaneous deep vein thrombosis. The aim of this study was to assess the role of d-dimer in differentiating between deep vein sclerosis and deep vein thrombosis.

Atypical Disseminated Variant of Galli-Galli Disease: A Review of the Literature.

Galli-Galli disease (GGD) is a rare genodermatoses within the group of reticulated pigmentary disorders of the skin. Traditionally, its clinical presentation is identical to that of Dowling-Degos disease (DDD), with the additional feature of acantholysis on histopathological examination. We have reviewed the published cases of GGD to provide further support for the hypothesis that in fact, 2 phenotypes of GGD exist: the characteristic flexural GGD associated with KRT5 mutations and a disseminated variant with no mutation identified to date.

Angioscopy: Direct visualization of chronic venous occlusion, May-Thurner syndrome, and other applications in phlebology.

Background: Angioscopy has been widely used in the diagnosis and management of vascular disorders and in particular in coronary artery disease. However, few applications have been developed in the diagnosis or management of venous disease.

Methods: Endovenous angioscopy was performed to explore applications of this modality in phlebology.

Granuloma formation following cyanoacrylate glue injection in peripheral veins and arteriovenous malformation.

Background: Cyanoacrylate adhesive closure is a technically simple alternative to endothermal ablation of peripheral veins. N-butyl cyanoacrylate is delivered via catheters or by percutaneous injection resulting in occlusion of target veins. The local tissue reaction or the systemic immune response that may follow have not been characterised.

Merkel cell carcinoma in situ: New insights into the cells of origin.

We report a case of a 71-year-old male who presented with a small skin-coloured plaque on his cheek. Histopathology demonstrated an intraepidermal carcinoma with follicular involvement. No evidence of dermal invasion was seen.

A new indirect immunofluorescence BIOCHIP method for the serological diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid: A review of literature.

The BIOCHIP (Dermatology Mosaic 7, EUROIMMUN, Lubeck, Germany) is a novel multiplex indirect immunofluorescence technique used in the serological diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. The BIOCHIP method combines the screening of several autoantibodies and target antigen-specific substrates in a single miniature incubation field to allow for simultaneous processing of the most common autoimmune bullous diseases autoantibodies using a single investigation. This manuscript reviews the literature on the validity of the BIOCHIP in the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.

A Case Report of the Use of Rituximab and the Epidermolysis Bullosa Disease Activity Scoring Index (EBDASI) in a Patient with Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita with Extensive Esophageal Involvement.

A 49-year-old man with recalcitrant mechanobullous epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) with significant esophageal involvement was treated with rituximab. EBA is a chronic autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease. It is characterized by skin fragility and scarring caused by circulating and tissue bound antibodies to type VII collagen.

Pemphigoid gestationis and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Pemphigoid gestationis, which is also known as herpes gestationis, is a rare, pregnancy-associated, autoimmune bullous disease. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease for each patient and the safety and use of these drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding must be taken into consideration to guide their use. We describe the therapeutic response of two cases of pemphigoid gestationis that did not respond to conventional immunosuppressive therapy or adverse effects limited their use.

Prevalence and pathogenesis of osteopenia and osteoporosis in epidermolysis bullosa: An evidence-based review.

Background: Osteopenia or osteoporosis is one of the many comorbidities in patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Current literature on the prevalence of osteoporosis in EB is scarce.

Objective: This review will analyse the current literature in the field of patients with compromised bone health in EB and any articles on the prevalence of such diseases in EB groups.

New biochip immunofluorescence test for the serological diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus: A review of the literature.

The immunoassays that are available for the serological diagnosis of the more common subtypes of autoimmune blistering diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing to specific antigens desmoglein (Dsg)1 and Dsg3, direct immunofluorescence (DIF), indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), and immunoblotting. A review of the literature on the biochip assay was conducted. Six studies investigated the validity of a new biochip, mosaic-based, IIF test in patients with pemphigus and demonstrated its relatively high sensitivity and specificity (Dsg3: 97.

Patient and practitioner satisfaction with tele-dermatology including Australia's indigenous population: A systematic review of the literature.

Background: Australia's health disparity, combined with evolving technologies, has evoked increasing interest and funding in health services that could address inequities. One such emerging service is tele-medicine.

Objective: The purpose of this report is to discuss and evaluate the current literature regarding patient and practitioner satisfaction with tele-medicine, and more specifically tele-dermatology.