Publications by authors named "Christopher Bunick"
Dr. Irwin M. Braverman is recognized as an expert on many skin diseases including psoriasis, an immune-mediated disorder that presents with scaly erythematous plaques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn atopic dermatitis (AD), the real-world impact of achieving itch and skin lesion treatment targets compared to partial improvement remains unclear. We assessed the relationship between itch relief (reduction in Worst Itch Numeric Rating Scale [WI-NRS]) and skin clearance (Investigator Global Assessment [IGA] 0/1) with other patient-reported outcomes. Using TARGET-DERM AD registry data on adults receiving standard-of-care treatment, we described and modeled the relationship of itch severity (Worst Itch Numeric Rating Scale [WI-NRS]) and skin lesion severity (IGA) outcomes with patient-reported (quality of life ([DLQI)], AD severity [(POEM]), sleep ([Sleep-NRS]), and skin pain [(Pain-NRS]).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - Roflumilast is the third PDE4 inhibitor used in dermatology for topical treatments of conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis, while earlier drugs like apremilast and crisaborole target oral and topical usage differently.
- - It is the most effective among the three inhibitors, showcasing a significantly lower IC value of 0.7 nM, compared to apremilast (0.14 μM) and crisaborole (0.24 μM), suggesting much greater potency.
- - The study highlights how PDE4 inhibitors improve anti-inflammatory responses by prolonging cAMP signals within immune cells, and discusses potential chemical modifications to enhance their effectiveness based on newly identified invariant residues and metal ion interactions in their catalytic domains
Article Synopsis
- Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and electron tomography allow researchers to see the structures of biological molecules in their true form at very high resolutions.
- Recent advancements in cryo-EM have made it usable in a wide range of health research due to improved methods and the establishment of dedicated research centers.
- The review discusses how single-particle cryo-EM is applied in dermatology research and includes examples of its potential in drug development.
Article Synopsis
- * The study compared the effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib (UPA) and dupilumab (DUPI) in adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe AD over 16 weeks, with UPA showing better results in reducing skin severity and itching.
- * UPA was found to be significantly more effective than DUPI in achieving the treatment goals, with no new safety concerns reported during the study.
Article Synopsis
- - Benzoyl peroxide (BPO), commonly used in acne treatments, can degrade into benzene, a harmful carcinogen, especially when stored or used at high temperatures.
- - A study detected varying levels of benzene (0.16 to 35.30 ppm) in 111 over-the-counter BPO products when kept at room temperature, while a prescription version showed none at low temperatures but significant benzene at high temperatures.
- - Experiments revealed that using BPO on skin models can lead to detectable benzene levels in the air, especially under UV light, highlighting health risks from benzene exposure regardless of the initial concentration in the products.
Article Synopsis
- Clindamycin phosphate/adapalene/benzoyl peroxide gel (CAB) is the only approved triple-combination treatment for acne, and a post hoc analysis evaluated its efficacy and safety based on sex.
- In two phase 3 clinical studies, participants aged 9 and older with moderate-to-severe acne were treated with CAB or a placebo for 12 weeks, and outcomes were analyzed by sex regarding treatment success, lesion counts, quality of life, and side effects.
- Results showed that CAB was significantly more effective than the vehicle for both sexes in reducing acne severity and improving quality of life, with no notable differences in safety or efficacy between male and female participants.
Article Synopsis
- Part I covered the skin microbiome in healthy people, focusing on its normal function and composition.
- Part II dives into how the skin microbiome changes in certain diseases, highlighting these alterations and their implications.
- The discussion also includes how environmental factors and medications like antibiotics impact the microbiome, along with current research on potential microbiome-based treatments.
Article Synopsis
- Human skin hosts various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that help maintain skin health and balance.
- Our knowledge of the skin microbiome is still developing, mostly from lab and animal studies, and more research is needed to apply these findings to humans.
- The article explores the concept of the skin microbiome, its interactions with the host, and how changes to the microbiome can relate to skin diseases and potential treatments.
Clindamycin: A Comprehensive Status Report with Emphasis on Use in Dermatology.
J Clin Aesthet Dermatol
August 2024
Article Synopsis
- * It can be applied topically or taken orally, with topical use being more prevalent due to concerns about antibiotic resistance and treatment efficacy.
- * The text reviews clindamycin's anti-inflammatory and antibiotic actions, pharmacokinetics, safety, and various applications beyond dermatology, emphasizing its therapeutic value.
Article Synopsis
- Inflammation and the anaerobic bacterium Cutibacterium acnes are key factors in acne development, making them primary targets for antibiotic treatments like tetracyclines, macrolides, and lincosamides.
- C. acnes has shown increasing resistance to these antibiotics, especially clindamycin, necessitating a deeper understanding of how these drugs interact with the bacteria.
- By determining the structure of clindamycin binding to the ribosome of C. acnes, the study reveals how this binding disrupts essential processes for protein synthesis, offering insights for overcoming antibiotic resistance and developing targeted treatments.
Article Synopsis
- Bimekizumab is a new type of antibody that targets two specific proteins (IL-17A and IL-17F) involved in psoriasis, a skin disease.
- It has shown effectiveness in treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, demonstrating superior results compared to other treatments in both effectiveness and speed.
- In clinical trials, patients experienced significant improvements, with some clearing their psoriasis symptoms within just 72 hours of starting the treatment, marking one of the fastest reported recoveries.
Article Synopsis
- * The article reviews its topical application, focusing on modes of action, anti-inflammatory effects, safety, and recommendations to prevent antibiotic resistance.
- * It also discusses a newly FDA-approved triple-combination formulation for enhanced acne treatment.
Article Synopsis
- * In a 12-week double-blind study involving over 360 participants aged 9 and older, CAB led to a 50% success rate in achieving clear skin, significantly outperforming a placebo gel, with over 70% reduction in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions.
- * The treatment showed a good safety profile, with only mild to moderate side effects and a low discontinuation rate due to adverse events, indicating CAB could be a promising option for those suffering from moderate
Article Synopsis
- Congenital ichthyosis (CI) is a rare hereditary skin disorder characterized by symptoms like scaling and inflammation, prompting research into the skin microbiome's role in these conditions.
- A study involving 36 CI patients and 15 controls revealed novel and recurrent pathogenic variants, along with distinct microbial profiles showing reduced beneficial microbes and increased harmful ones, which correlate with heightened inflammation.
- The findings provide insights into the microbiological and immune factors affecting CI, laying the groundwork for better treatment options for patients.
Article Synopsis
- Clindamycin is a powerful antibiotic used for treating skin and soft tissue infections, with a prominent role in managing acne vulgaris through fixed-combination topical treatments.
- * It effectively targets various skin conditions, including folliculitis, rosacea, and hidradenitis suppurativa, showcasing its versatility in dermatological therapy.
- * The review also explores its unique mechanism of action, risks of antibiotic resistance, and compares its use to other antibiotics like tetracyclines in clinical practice.
Article Synopsis
- * The exact causes of HS are not well understood, but it's believed to involve multiple factors, including the potential role of skin bacteria imbalances.
- * Current treatments are focused on managing inflammation and addressing bacterial interactions, with future therapies likely aiming to combine anti-inflammatory methods with strategies to correct skin and tissue dysbiosis.
Article Synopsis
- Atopic dermatitis is a long-lasting skin condition that causes significant itchiness, pain, and sleep issues, affecting patients' quality of life, and upadacitinib is an FDA-approved oral medication for its treatment.
- This study evaluated the effectiveness of upadacitinib on various patient-reported outcomes over 52 weeks in adults and adolescents suffering from moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, using data from two phase III clinical trials.
- Results showed that patients taking upadacitinib experienced significant and rapid improvements in itch and other related symptoms, with benefits lasting through the study duration, while the placebo group did not show the same level of improvement.
Article Synopsis
- * These inhibitors specifically bind different parts of the IL-23 molecule, and researchers mapped their binding properties to understand why each has varying levels of effectiveness in treating psoriasis.
- * The study found that the size and shape of the binding sites (epitopes) relate to how well the medication works, with risankizumab showing the highest effectiveness, while other factors like hydrophobicity and charge had less impact on clinical results.
Article Synopsis
- Deucravacitinib is a selective inhibitor of TYK2, a key player in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which is important for immune responses.
- The study investigates how deucravacitinib works, focusing on its interactions with different states of the TYK2 protein that affect its activity, particularly its binding to specific domains.
- Findings suggest that deucravacitinib inhibits TYK2 by stabilizing its autoinhibited state and preventing its activation, ultimately blocking signal transmission in immune responses.