Efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in Singapore.

Introduction: Ustekinumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to the p40 subunit of both interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, and it is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of patients receiving ustekinumab for psoriasis.

Methods: This retrospective study included all adults with chronic plaque psoriasis who were prescribed ustekinumab in a tertiary dermatologic centre between December 2009 and December 2015.

Single-cell analysis of human skin identifies CD14+ type 3 dendritic cells co-producing IL1B and IL23A in psoriasis.

Inflammatory skin diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PSO) are underpinned by dendritic cell (DC)-mediated T cell responses. Currently, the heterogeneous human cutaneous DC population is incompletely characterized, and its contribution to these diseases remains unclear. Here, we performed index-sorted single-cell flow cytometry and RNA sequencing of lesional and nonlesional AD and PSO skin to identify macrophages and all DC subsets, including the newly described mature LAMP3+BIRC3+ DCs enriched in immunoregulatory molecules (mregDC) and CD14+ DC3.

Systematic review and practical guidance on the use of topical calcipotriol and topical calcipotriol with betamethasone dipropionate as long-term therapy for mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis.

While many patients with psoriasis are candidates for topical agents, long-term treatment effects are unclear. This systematic review evaluated global findings from clinical trials and real-world studies of topical calcipotriol and the two-compound formulation of calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate for mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis (including scalp psoriasis). PubMed, Embase and MEDLINE were searched for relevant English-language publications along with Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Latin American publication databases.

Spotlight on Topical Long-Term Management of Plaque Psoriasis.

During the 28th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) held in Madrid in October 2019, an industry hub was dedicated to the long-term management of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease primarily involving the skin that affects up to 4% of the European population, the majority of whom present with chronic plaque psoriasis. Topical therapies are well established in the first-line treatment of psoriatic plaque flares.

Serum Adiponectin Levels and Their Association With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Patients With Psoriasis.

Background and objective Low adiponectin levels have been described in conditions with high cardiometabolic risk, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidaemia. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, and it is also associated with these conditions. In this study, we sought to assess the correlation between adiponectin levels and these risk factors including psoriasis severity.

Clinical Goals and Barriers to Effective Psoriasis Care.

Engaging global key opinion leaders, the International Psoriasis Council (IPC) held a day-long roundtable discussion with the primary purpose to discuss the treatment goals of psoriasis patients and worldwide barriers to optimal care. Setting clear expectations might ultimately encourage undertreated psoriasis patients to seek care in an era in which great gains in therapeutic efficacy have been achieved. Here, we discuss the option for early treatment of all categories of psoriasis to alleviate disease impact while emphasizing the need for more focused attention for psoriasis patients with mild and moderate forms of this autoimmune disease.

Asian consensus on assessment and management of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis with topical therapy.

A working group of dermatologists in Asian countries assessed the current status of psoriatic management in the region to prepare a consensus report on topical treatment in mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. Even though the association of psoriasis with systemic comorbidities is increasingly acknowledged, psoriasis is still lower in health-care priority lists in the region. The psychosocial impact of psoriasis may be greater in Asian countries due to cultural norms and social discrimination.

Photodynamic Therapy With Topical 5% 5-Aminolevulinic Acid for the Treatment of Truncal Acne in Asian Patients.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using topical application of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is an effective treatment for acne vulgaris. However, there is no clear consensus on the treatment regime in Asians.


Aim: To determine the efficacy, safety and tolerability of 5% ALA PDT in the treatment of truncal acne in Asians.

The MARCOPOLO Study of Ustekinumab Utilization and Efficacy in a Real-World Setting: Treatment of Patients with Plaque Psoriasis in Asia-Pacific Countries.

Background: Ustekinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults. However, factors including efficacy, tolerability, ease of use, and cost burden may affect ustekinumab utilization. Noncompliance may, in turn, affect treatment response.

Use of an Interferon-γ Release Assay in the Detection of Latent Tuberculosis in Dermatology: A Descriptive Analysis.

With the increasing use of biologic therapy in psoriasis, it is becoming more important to identify and treat latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI). Tuberculin skin test (TST) has been traditionally used to detect LTBI, but interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs), such as the T-SPOT.TB test (T-Spot), are increasingly being used in its place.

Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies multiple novel associations and ethnic heterogeneity of psoriasis susceptibility.

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease with complex genetics and different degrees of prevalence across ethnic populations. Here we present the largest trans-ethnic genome-wide meta-analysis (GWMA) of psoriasis in 15,369 cases and 19,517 controls of Caucasian and Chinese ancestries. We identify four novel associations at LOC144817, COG6, RUNX1 and TP63, as well as three novel secondary associations within IFIH1 and IL12B.

Association between psoriasis and leisure-time physical activity: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Despite evidence that physical activity can reduce the cardiometabolic risk of patients with psoriasis, these patients may engage in less physical activity than those without psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine the association of the extent of psoriatic skin lesions with the likelihood of participating in leisure-time moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and metabolic equivalent task (MET)-minutes of MVPA amongst those who participated. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a population-based survey among U.

Clinical characteristics of adult-onset actinic prurigo in Asians: a case series.

Background: Actinic prurigo (AP) is a chronic, pruritic skin condition caused by an abnormal reaction to sunlight.

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics of AP in patients attending the National Skin Centre, Singapore, from 1 st January 1999 to 30 th June 2008.

Methods: Cases of AP diagnosed from 1 st January 1999 to 30 th June 2008 were retrieved from the center's electronic medical records and analyzed.

Photopatch testing in Asians: a 5-year experience in Singapore.

Background: Photopatch testing is important for diagnosing photoallergic contact dermatitis. We aimed to evaluate the use of photopatch test at the National Skin Centre, Singapore.

Methods: All patients who had photopatch tests done between 2007 and 2011 at the National Skin Centre were included.

Genetic study in a Singaporean patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of haem biosynthesis resulting from a partial decrease in ferrochelatase (FECH) activity which leads to the excessive accumulation of protoporphyrin in blood, erythrocytes and tissues. Cutaneous manifestations of photosensitivity usually appear in early infancy upon the first sun exposures. This normally requires the co-inheritance of a common hypomorphic FECH allele and a deleterious FECH mutation.

Chronic actinic dermatitis in Asian skin: a Singaporean experience.

Background/purpose: To study the characteristics of chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) in a heterogeneous group of Singaporean patients.

Methods: The photobiologicial features of all patients phototested and diagnosed with CAD from January 2005 to December 2009 were examined retrospectively.

Results: Fifty-eight patients were diagnosed as having CAD.

Association of skin barrier genes within the PSORS4 locus is enriched in Singaporean Chinese with early-onset psoriasis.

Psoriasis (OMIM#177900) is a common polygenic skin disorder affecting approximately 2% of the northern European population and 0.1% of the Han Chinese. Psoriasis patients suffer from chronic skin inflammation, manifested by erythematous scaly lesions.

Spectrum of skin disorders in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Singapore and the relationship to CD4 lymphocyte counts.

Background: Skin disorders are extremely common and cause significant morbidity in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. There are few data on their prevalence and association with CD4 counts in Asians.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of skin disorders in ambulatory HIV-infected individuals attending a specialized skin clinic in Singapore and the association with the degree of immunosuppression.

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 in attendees of a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Singapore.

Background: We studied the seroprevalance of HSV (herpes simplex virus)-1 and HSV-2 in outpatient attendees of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in Singapore and examined their knowledge and attitudes towards HSV infection.

Methods: Two hundred male and 200 female participants were recruited in the study. Questionnaires were administered and blood samples were taken and analysed using the HerpeSelect 1 and 2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG assays (type-specific serological tests).