The IFSD Score-A Practical Prognostic Model for Invasive Fungal Spondylodiscitis.

Invasive fungal spondylodiscitis (IFSD) is rare and could be lethal in certain circumstances. The previous literature revealed limited data concerning its outcomes. This study aimed to establish a risk-scoring system to predict the one-year mortality rate of this disease.

Profibrotic Subsets of SPP1 Macrophages and POSTN Fibroblasts Contribute to Fibrotic Scarring in Acne Keloidalis.

Acne keloidalis is a primary scarring alopecia characterized by longstanding inflammation in the scalp causing keloid-like scar formation and hair loss. Histologically, acne keloidalis is characterized by mixed leukocytic infiltrates in the acute stage followed by a granulomatous reaction and extensive fibrosis in the later stages. To further explore its pathogenesis, bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics were applied to occipital scalp biopsy specimens of lesional and adjacent no-lesional skin in patients with clinically active disease.

Biocompatible, Antibacterial, and Stable Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Ionic Gel Multimodal Sensors for Healthcare Applications.

In this study, we investigated a novel approach to fabricate multifunctional ionic gel sensors by using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as replacements for water. When two distinct DESs were combined, customizable mechanical and conductive properties were created, resulting in improved performance compared with traditional hydrogel-based strain sensors. DES ionic gels possess superior mechanical properties, transparency, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties, making them suitable for a wide range of applications such as flexible electronics, soft robotics, and healthcare.

Adipose transcriptome in the scalp of androgenetic alopecia.

Previous studies have shown how adipocytes can modulate the activity of hair follicle stem cells. However, the role of adipocytes in the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) remains unknown. We aimed to determine signaling pathways related to the adipose tissue changes in the human scalp with AGA through RNA-seq analysis.

Clinical application of serum biomarkers for detecting and monitoring of chronic plaque psoriasis.

Psoriasis, a chronic, multisystemic inflammatory disease affecting millions of people globally, manifests as erythematous, thick, scaly plaques on the skin. Clinical evaluation remains to be the benchmark for diagnosis and monitoring of this debilitating disease. With current advancements in targeted molecular therapy for psoriasis such as biologics, molecular detection methods may also help guide clinical decisions and therapeutic strategies through quantification of circulating biomarkers, which could reflect the underlying pathogenic events happening at a certain point of the disease course.

Transcriptomic responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to cyclosporin and etanercept in a female infant with juvenile generalized pustular psoriasis.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare but severe form of psoriasis. An early onset of the diseases is correlated with mutations among IL36RN, CARD14, AP1S3, MPO and SERPINA3 genes. Systemic biological agents including anti-TNF-α, anti-IL-17, anti-IL-12/IL-23, anti-IL1R, anti-IL1β and anti-IL-36R act as novel treatment methods for GPP.

Complications of Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy versus Open Lumbar Microdiscectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Endoscopic lumbar discectomy has been an alternative for treating lumbar disc herniation. Evidence-based study for the benefit zone of full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) is necessary. The study compared the complication risks between the FELD and open discectomy or microdiscectomy.

Variation of body regional responses to Ustekinumab and Secukinumab in psoriasis patients: A real-world retrospective study and literature review.

Psoriasis in different body regions displays varying therapeutic responses to biologics, whereas currently relevant studies remain scarce. We retrospectively reviewed the treatment responses of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, who completed the two-year reimbursed ustekinumab or secukinumab treatment in two medical centers in Southern Taiwan. Demographic profiles and body regional PASI scores (head/neck, trunk, upper and lower limbs) along the treatment course were recorded.

Acute rheumatic fever in adult patients.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is considered as a disorder of children, and attacks in adults are usually a recurrence of disease acquired in the child's life. Although the incidence of ARF in children has a decreasing trend in developed countries, resurgent and sporadic epidemics still occur in adults. The first attacks of ARF in adult patients without a childhood history can lead to a diagnostic dilemma.

Investigating the clinical implication of corneometer and mexameter readings towards objective, efficient evaluation of psoriasis vulgaris severity.

In clinical settings, although Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scoring system can provide a quick visual assessment of the severity of psoriasis vulgaris, there is still a strong demand for higher efficiency and accuracy in quantifying the inflammation status of psoriatic lesions. Currently, there are already commercial systems, such as the Courage + Khazaka Corneometer and Mexameter that measure skin capacitance and optical reflectance, for conveniently quantifying the status of skin barrier function and erythema of skin. Despite numerous comparisons of the Courage + Khazaka system with the PASI scoring system, they are rarely compared on parity with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) based systems.

Hidradenitis suppurativa: Disease pathophysiology and sex hormones.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a cutaneous chronic inflammatory disease that is estimated to affect about 1% of the population and caused pain, malodorous discharge, disfigurement, and poor quality of life with psychosocial problems. The typical features are recurrent painful nodules, abscesses, and sinus tracts on the axillae, groins, gluteal areas, and anogenital regions since postpuberty. Smoking and obesity are two major triggering factors of hidradenitis suppurativa.

Investigation of water bonding status of normal and psoriatic skin in vivo using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

Psoriasis affects more than 125 million people worldwide, and the diagnosis and treatment efficacy evaluation of the disease mainly rely on clinical assessments that could be subjective. Our previous study showed that the skin erythema level could be quantified using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and the hemoglobin concentration of most psoriatic lesion was higher than that of its adjacent uninvolved skin. While the compromised epidermal barrier function has been taken as the major cause of clinical manifestation of skin dryness and inflammation of psoriasis, very few methods can be used to effectively evaluate this function.

Psoriasis in the geriatric population: A retrospective study in Asians.

There is a paucity of data focusing on geriatric psoriatic patients. The clinical features were different among those with early-onset psoriasis and elderly-onset psoriasis among the geriatric population. From 2014 to 2018, a total of 290 geriatric psoriatic patients were retrospectively enrolled in our study.

Effects of Solanum undatum extract (SR-T100) on photocarcinogenesis and photoaging of actinic keratosis.

SR-T100 gel, containing solamargine extracted from Solanum undatum (synonym: Solanum incanum), had good therapeutic effects on actinic keratosis (AK) in human and ultraviolet B-induced papilloma in mice. This study aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical changes in the human skin after SR-T100 treatment. An immunohistochemical study was performed and the changes in photocarcinogenesis and photoaging markers after 16-week SR-T100 gel treatment were documented.

Transplantation of autologous single hair units heals chronic wounds in autosomal recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: A proof-of-concept study.

Autosomal recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is characterized by recurrent mucocutaneous blistering with non-healing ulcers which are often complicated by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Despite having as high as 80% death rate from SCC, RDEB still does not have an effective treatment. We report on the efficacy of single follicular unit extract (FUE) grafting to heal chronic ulcers of intermediate RDEB in a 54-year-old woman with extensive chronic wounds covering around 30% of the body surface area.