Alitretinoin: a useful agent in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa, especially in women of child-bearing age.

Aim: Despite a better insight into its pathogenesis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) remains very frustrating to treat. Acitretin has been described as one of the agents with the highest effective profile. Acitretin however, due to its teratogenicity and prolonged half-life (up to three years) is not an option in young women of fertile age who, unfortunately, are the target of this disease.

Metformin for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa: a little help along the way.

Background: Despite recent insights into its aetiology, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) remains an intractable and debilitating condition for its sufferers, affecting an estimated 2% of the population. It is characterized by chronic, relapsing abscesses, with accompanying fistula formation within the apocrine glandbearing skin, such as the axillae, ano-genital areas and breasts. Standard treatments remain ineffectual and the disease often runs a chronic relapsing course associated with significant psychosocial trauma for its sufferers.

CTACK /CCL27 expression in psoriatic skin and its modification after administration of etanercept.

Background: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha upregulates the expression of a cutaneous T cell-attracting chemokine (CTACK/CCL27), that promotes migration of cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen-positive lymphocytes into the skin. The role of CTACK/CCL27 in pathogenesis of psoriasis has recently been documented but no data are available at the present time on its modification in psoriatic cutaneous tissue after administration of etanercept.

Objectives: To evaluate modifications of CTACK/CCL27 expression in skin of patients with psoriasis after administration of etanercept and their relation with disease activity.

Old fashioned sodium bicarbonate baths for the treatment of psoriasis in the era of futuristic biologics: an old ally to be rescued.

Background: For centuries, medicated baths have been one of the first lines of treatment for psoriasis. Even today, with sophisticated immunosuppressive treatments available, Dead Sea salts and spa waters are recognized to be beneficial in the management of psoriatic patients.

Objective: To assess statistically the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) baths in psoriasis patients.

Density of neoplastic lymphoid infiltrate, CD8+ T cells, and CD1a+ dendritic cells in mycosis fungoides.

Background/aims: CD8+ T cells and epidermal/dermal dendritic cells expressing CD1a are found among neoplastic CD4+ T cells in mycosis fungoides (MF) lesions. This study analysed the relation of CD8+ tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), CD1a+ epidermal Langerhan's cells (LCs), and dermal dendritic cells (DDCs) to clinicopathological parameters in 46 MF cases.

Methods: Pretreatment diagnostic biopsy specimens of 46 MF cases were submitted to histological analysis and immunohistochemistry.