Development and Validation of a Disease-specific Outcomes Tool for the Assessment of Patient Benefits of Treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa: the PBI-HS.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic skin disease associated with significant disease burden. To assess patients' treatment benefits, disease-specific outcomes measurement is needed. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire called Patient Benefit Index for hidradenitis suppurativa (PBI-HS).

Deep vein thrombosis after sclerotherapy and endovenous laser ablation of varicose veins - an observational study.

The risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after endovenous ablation of varicose veins varies in the literature. Little is known about the characteristics of this complication and associated factors. This study aimed: 1) to study the occurrence of DVT after ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) alone or combined with endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) for lower-limb varicose veins; 2) to identify factors associated with DVT.

German translation, cross-cultural adaption and validation of the Venous Clinical Severity and Venous Disability Scores.

Background: The Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and the Venous Disability Score (VDS) represent assessment tools for chronic venous disease (CVD) combining physician and patient reported outcomes. To date, German versions are not available. The present study aimed at translating the VCSS and VDS into German and validating the questionnaires.

Measuring Quality of Life in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Development and Validation of a Disease-specific Patient-reported Outcome Measure for Practice and Research.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic disease that disrupts patients' physical and psychological well-being. A disease-specific measure was developed and validated for assessing health-related quality of life in hidradenitis suppurativa. After qualitative item development, the quality of life in hidradenitis suppurativa instrument was tested in 101 patients, applying convergent measures and a usability questionnaire.

Mediators of Capillary-to-Venule Conversion in the Chronic Inflammatory Skin Disease Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, immune cell infiltration and vascular remodeling. Despite the emerging recognition of vascular normalization as a potential strategy for managing psoriasis, an in-depth delineation of the remodeled dermal vasculature has been missing. In this study, we exploited 5' single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the transcriptomic alterations in different subpopulations of blood vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells directly isolated from psoriatic and healthy human skin.

Radiotherapy as a Treatment Option for Local Disease Control in Primary Cutaneous Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Leg Type.

Background: Primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (PCDLBCL, LT) is an aggressive lymphoma variant. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy with rituximab is recommended as first-line treatment. Radiotherapy (RT) has been considered as a therapeutic option for local disease control in patients with solitary or localized lesions.

Differentiating Arteriolosclerotic Ulcers of Martorell from Other Types of Leg Ulcers Based on Vascular Histomorphology.

Clinical differential diagnosis of arteriolosclerotic ulcers of Martorell is challenging due to the lack of clearly affirmative instrument-based diagnostic criteria. The aim of this study was to develop vascular histomorphological diagnostic criteria differentiating Martorell ulcers from other types of leg ulcers. The histomorphology of patients diagnosed with arteriolosclerotic ulcers of Martorell (n = 67) was compared with that of patients with venous leg ulcers, necrotizing leukocytoclastic vasculitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, and non-ulcerative controls (n = 15 each).

Association of sex and systemic therapy treatment outcomes in psoriasis: a two-country, multicentre, prospective, noninterventional registry study.

Background: Few systematic data on sex-related treatment responses exist for psoriasis.

Objectives: To evaluate sex differences with respect to systemic antipsoriatic treatment.

Methods: Data from patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in the PsoBest or Swiss Dermatology Network of Targeted Therapies (SDNTT) registries were analysed.

Implementing Medical Chatbots: An Application on Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Background: The use of digital health resources is growing quickly as they are easily accessible and permit self-evaluation. Yet, research on consumer health informatics platforms is insufficient. Chatbots, interactive conversational platforms based on artificial intelligence, can facilitate access to specific information.

Topical Treatment of Psoriasis Vulgaris: The Swiss Treatment Pathway.

Topical treatment is crucial for the successful management of plaque psoriasis. Topicals are used either as a stand-alone therapy for mild psoriasis or else in combination with UV or systemic treatment for moderate-to-severe disease. For the choice of a suitable topical treatment, the formulation matters and not just the active substances.

Compression Stocking With 100% Donning and Doffing Success: An Open Label Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test whether an investigational two layer stocking exerting 27-29 mmHg pressure at the medial supramalleolar level, but without compression in the foot and heel, is easier to put on and take off than a standard stocking of the same compression class (23-32 mmHg), and also to assess the prevention of diurnal oedema with both types of stocking.

Methods: This was an open label randomised controlled trial, which included 47 patients. All participants were at least 65 years of age and suffered from chronic venous disease class C3 - C6 in one leg.

Skin Recovery After Discontinuation of Long-Term Moisturizer Application: A Split-Face Comparison Pilot Study.

Introduction: Facial moisturizers are commonly used by healthy women and increasingly men of all age groups. This study aimed to investigate the effects of moisturizer discontinuation and the subsequent evolution of symptoms.

Methods: Two prospective observational split-face comparison pilot studies were performed in Switzerland and enrolled (I) 20 healthy women aged 17-25 years in winter and (II) 36 female subjects 15-20 and 40-55 years of age in summer.

Blockade of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) in Sézary syndrome reduces Th2 phenotype of non-tumoral T lymphocytes but may enhance tumor proliferation.

Sézary syndrome (SS) is an aggressive leukemic variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (L-CTCL) that arises from malignant clonally derived skin-homing CD4 T cells. Based on advancements in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying L-CTCL, boosting the suppressed immune response emerges as a promising strategy in SS management. Immune checkpoint inhibitory molecules have already demonstrated efficacy in a wide spectrum of malignancies.

A Monocentric, Retrospective Analysis of 61 Patients with Generalized Granuloma Annulare.

Background: Granuloma annulare is a chronic noninfectious granulomatous skin condition with variable clinical presentations. Generalized granuloma annulare, defined as widespread disease with >10 skin lesions, accounts for 15% of all cases. Numerous associated diseases have been controversially discussed, most importantly diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, thyroid disease, malignancy and systemic infections.

Gender differences in psoriasis: a Swiss online psoriasis survey.

Physicians' and patients' perspectives can vary significantly. For a long time, physicians considered psoriasis a non-pruritic dermatosis until a survey found pruritus to be the most bothersome symptom among psoriasis patients. In our study, we wanted to get an insight into the factors that affect patients and evaluate whether gender differences exist.

Sensitivity and specificity of T-cell receptor PCR BIOMED-2 clonality analysis for the diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Background: Early and precise diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is challenging. Currently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based clonality assessment of the T-cell receptor (TCR) is a helpful tool for this diagnosis.

Objectives: In this retrospective study, we aimed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of this method for the diagnosis of CTCL.

Efficacy and safety of colchicine in inflammatory skin diseases: a retrospective, monocentric study in a large tertiary center.

Colchicine is an ancient, but rarely used drug. Little data exist on its efficacy and safety in patients suffering from skin diseases. The objective of our study was to determine whether colchicine showed favorable efficacy and safety in our patients during the last 20 years.

Observer-independent assessment of psoriasis-affected area using machine learning.

Background: Assessment of psoriasis severity is strongly observer-dependent, and objective assessment tools are largely missing. The increasing number of patients receiving highly expensive therapies that are reimbursed only for moderate-to-severe psoriasis motivates the development of higher quality assessment tools.

Objective: To establish an accurate and objective psoriasis assessment method based on segmenting images by machine learning technology.

Linkage between patients' characteristics and prescribed systemic treatments for psoriasis: a semantic connectivity map analysis of the Swiss Dermatology Network for Targeted Therapies registry.

Background: Several treatment options are currently available for the treatment of psoriasis.

Objective: To explore the main associations between patients' characteristics and systemic treatments prescribed for psoriasis in a large group of patients observed in real-life clinical practice.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of baseline data collected within the Swiss Dermatology Network for Targeted Therapies registry in Switzerland between March 2011 and December 2017.

Dapsone in a Large Tertiary Center: Outdated Therapeutic Option or Timeless Agent?

Background: The ancient drug dapsone has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory features. In dermatology, dapsone is primarily used for neutrophil-dominant skin diseases. However, real-life data assessing the long-term efficacy of dapsone across multiple dermatological diseases is missing.

[Rosacea - manifestations and treatment options].

Rosacea - manifestations and treatment options Rosacea is a common dermatosis of the face with a prevalence of up to 22 %, according to the current literature. The known trigger factors include caffeine, alcohol, sunlight, hot and spicy foods, psychological stress, menstruation and extreme temperatures or temperature fluctuations. Diagnosis is most often clinical, however, due to the numerous differential diagnoses, performing a biopsy may be helpful in atypical manifestations.