Publications by authors named "Elena Sotiriou"
Article Synopsis
- Diagnosing acral melanocytic lesions, like acral nevi and melanoma, can be difficult, and the BRAAFF checklist was developed to assist in this process but hasn't been validated yet.
- In a study, varying experts diagnosed images of nevi and melanomas using the BRAAFF checklist online, yielding a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 65.0%, comparable to traditional pattern recognition.
- The checklist showed varying levels of agreement among raters based on experience, and a simplified version achieved similar sensitivity with slightly lower specificity, suggesting that the BRAAFF checklist is a helpful but not superior diagnostic tool.
Keratinocyte-derived skin cancers comprise basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, its precursor actinic keratosis, and Bowen's disease. Historically, this group of neoplasms has been subsumed under the term non-melanoma skin cancer. However, the term non-melanoma skin cancer can be misleading and lacks precision.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReal-world data on the effectiveness of brodalumab in patients with moderate-to severe plaque psoriasis in the Greek clinical setting (the BrIDGE study).
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- - The BrIDGE study examined the real-world effectiveness of brodalumab in treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Greece, focusing on the percentage of patients achieving complete clearance (PASI100) over 24 weeks and beyond.
- - Results showed that 42% of patients reached PASI100 at Week 24, with this number increasing to 65% by Week 104, while significant improvements were noted in other assessment scores (PASI75, PASI90, and sPGA).
- - Additionally, patients reported improved quality of life, with average scores on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) decreasing significantly over the study period, indicating better overall well-being as a result of brodalumab treatment
Article Synopsis
- Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) significantly impacts women of childbearing age, leading to lower life-quality, social stigma, and concerns about family planning and sexual health.
- A study involving 96 women revealed that a large percentage experience sexual impairment, worry about HS's effects on pregnancy, and lack sufficient support and information about their condition.
- The findings suggest a need for better screening of life-quality issues and multidisciplinary treatment approaches for women affected by HS, especially during pregnancy and postpartum.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates shiny white structures (SWS) seen under a dermatoscope in benign skin tumors and relates them to previously noted characteristics in malignant tumors.
- Out of 2,420 benign tumors assessed, 357 (14.8%) displayed SWS, with the highest occurrences found in pyogenic granuloma, angioma, and adnexal tumors.
- The research concludes that SWS can appear in various benign tumors and should not automatically be viewed as signs of cancer.
Article Synopsis
- * A systematic review analyzed data from six studies involving 133 patients treated with metformin for HS, mostly featuring overweight or obese women in their thirties.
- * Results showed that while many patients experienced improvements, outcomes varied; metformin was generally well tolerated with only mild side effects, suggesting more rigorous trials against placebo could be valuable.
Article Synopsis
- - Sebaceous neoplasms are tumors that mainly occur on the face and neck, often being benign, but rare malignant forms can occur; they have a connection to Muir-Torre Syndrome.
- - Patients with suspected Muir-Torre Syndrome should have their tumors removed for further examination, including histopathology and genetic testing.
- - The review discusses various aspects of sebaceous tumors—including their clinical features, management strategies, and the significance of Muir-Torre Syndrome in patients with multiple tumors.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) that has been incompletely excised, highlighting different treatment approaches and their effectiveness in a tertiary dermatology center in Northern Greece.
- Researchers analyzed 84 patients with incompletely excised BCC over a 5-year period and categorized them into three groups: immediate re-excision, watchful waiting, and non-surgical treatments.
- Results showed that re-excision resulted in residual tumor presence in over half of the cases and clinical recurrence occurred in 16.7% of patients, suggesting that the management strategy chosen can significantly impact outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Patients with serious comorbidities are often left out of clinical trials, but apremilast is not contraindicated for these conditions, necessitating real-world data to validate its safety and efficacy.
- This study aimed to provide real-world evidence regarding the use of apremilast in psoriasis patients with significant comorbidities, utilizing a case-series approach and a systematic literature review.
- Results indicated that among 841 patients treated with apremilast, only a few cases of cancer progression were noted, with no adverse effects leading to infections or worsening of comorbidities, suggesting it is a safe treatment alternative for difficult-to-treat psoriasis patients.
Real world experience of brodalumab treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in the Greek population: Results from an interim analysis of the BrIDGE study.
Dermatol Ther
December 2022
Article Synopsis
- Brodalumab has shown significant clinical effectiveness and a good safety record in controlled trials, but limited real-world data exists; the BrIDGE study in Greece aims to fill this gap by observing treatment outcomes in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients over 104 weeks.* -
- Early results from the study, covering 12-16 weeks post-treatment initiation, indicate that 72.8% of patients achieved a "clear/almost clear" skin rating, with varying percentages reaching significant reductions in psoriasis severity scores (PASI75, PASI90, PASI100).* -
- Improvements in symptoms and quality of life were noted alongside a high treatment adherence rate of 90%, and while nine adverse events were recorded, the
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis with periods of exacerbation and remissions. AD is characterized by intense, persistent pruritus and heterogeneity in clinical symptomatology and severity. Therapeutic goals include the amelioration of cutaneous eruptions, diminishing relapses and eventually the disease burden.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDie Daten zu Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)-bedingten Kosten sind begrenzt und inhomogen. Sie sind jedoch erheblich. Wir führten eine systematische Sichtung der Literaturberichte durch, in denen finanzielle Daten über jeden Gesundheitsbereich oder andere Ausgaben dokumentiert wurden, die durch HS und/oder HS-bedingte Auswirkungen auf Beschäftigung, Einkommen und persönliches wirtschaftliche Entwicklung entstanden sind (indirekte Kosten).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA teenage girl with phototype IV skin presented with extensive gradually progressing asymptomatic macular hyperpigmentation not responding to topical steroids for several months. Histopathology showed foci of increased numbers of melanophages and melanin in the dermis. Click here for the corresponding questions to this CME article.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFData regarding hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)-related expenditure is limited and non-homogeneous, but HS does incur significant expenses. We performed a systematic review of literature reports documenting financial data regarding any healthcare domain or other expenditure incurred by HS and/or HS impact on work, income and personal economic growth (indirect costs). Three electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library - last search date: September 14 , 2021).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Drug survival is an indirect measure of efficacy and safety and its post-marketing assessment using real-life data is invaluable.
Objectives: To investigate the survival of apremilast in a cohort of psoriasis patients treated with apremilast in a Greek hospital.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study examined adult psoriasis patients receiving apremilast (March 2016 to January 2021).
Article Synopsis
- Pain from hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) drastically affects patients' quality of life, and finding effective management strategies remains a challenge.
- Adalimumab, a TNF-a antagonist, has shown promising results in reducing pain associated with HS, as evidenced by a significant mean pain score reduction in a meta-analysis of multiple studies.
- The findings support the broader prescription of adalimumab for patients with HS who experience significant pain, indicating its potential as an effective treatment option.
Background: Limited data on dermatoscopy of nodular/plaque-type T-/B-cell primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCLs) is available.
Objective: To describe dermatoscopic features of nodular/plaque-type PCLs, comparing them with those of clinical mimickers (pseudolymphomas, tumors, and inflammatory lesions) and investigating possible differences according to histologic subtypes.
Methods: Participants were invited to join this retrospective, multicenter case-control study by submitting histologically/immunohistochemically confirmed instances of nodular/plaque-type PCLs and controls.
Actinic cheilitis is a premalignant condition that may evolve to squamous cell carcinoma. A consensus on its management has not been established, and large clinical trials are lacking. We aimed to review the existing data regarding the treatment of actinic cheilitis with various modalities regarding safety, efficacy, recursions, and post-treatment malignant transformation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is currently the most frequent human papillomavirus (HPV)-related malignancy in high-income countries. Oral HPV16 infection is the cause of HPV-related OPC in more than 90% of cases and is primarily (90%) linked to oral sex. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at comparing the prevalence of oral vaccine-type HPV infection in individuals vaccinated with HPV vaccines and unvaccinated controls.
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