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.

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 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.

Treatment of progressive macular hypomelanosis with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy.

Treatment for progressive macular hypomelanosis (PMH) has been disappointing. Recently, Propionibacterium acnes had been postulated as the causative agent and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) had been shown to stimulate melanogenesis and has antibacterial properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of NBUVB in the treatment of PMH.

A randomized controlled trial to compare calcipotriol with betamethasone valerate for the treatment of cutaneous lichen planus.

Background: Topical calcipotriol is a vitamin D3 analogue which influences keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. Its efficacy in cutaneous lichen planus has not been well evaluated.

Methods: This is a randomized open-label trial comparing the effectiveness of calcipotriol 50 microg/g versus betamethasone 0.