The Treat-to-Target Project in Atopic Dermatitis: One Year On.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition for which a range of systemic treatments have recently been approved. A treat-to-target strategy has been developed previously alongside an algorithm to guide the management of patients with atopic dermatitis. Here, we review the strategy and algorithm in the context of the evolving therapeutic landscape, and identify areas for further refinement and development.

Association between ustekinumab therapy and changes in specific anti-microbial response, serum biomarkers, and microbiota composition in patients with IBD: A pilot study.

Background: Ustekinumab, is a new therapy for patients with IBD, especially for patients suffering from Crohn's disease (CD) who did not respond to anti-TNF treatment. To shed light on the longitudinal effect of ustekinumab on the immune system, we investigated the effect on skin and gut microbiota composition, specific immune response to commensals, and various serum biomarkers.

Methodology/principal Findings: We recruited 11 patients with IBD who were monitored over 40 weeks of ustekinumab therapy and 39 healthy controls (HC).

Fecal Microbiome Changes and Specific Anti-Bacterial Response in Patients with IBD during Anti-TNF Therapy.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that have been linked to microbiome dysbiosis and immune system dysregulation. We investigated the longitudinal effect of anti-TNF therapy on gut microbiota composition and specific immune response to commensals in IBD patients. The study included 52 patients tracked over 38 weeks of therapy and 37 healthy controls (HC).

The safety profile of biologic agents in comparison with non-biologic systemic agents, and topical compounds in the management of psoriasis-A 30-month prospective, observational cohort study.

Background: Although biologic agents (BAs) are very effective, solid data proving they are safer than other therapies in psoriasis are still lacking.

Methods: A total of 289 psoriatic patients were followed for 30 months; of which number 118 were treated with topical agents alone, 112 received BAs, and the remaining 59 patients were on non-biologic systemic agents (NBSAs). The rates of adverse events in these groups were recorded and statistically analysed.

Treat-to-Target in Atopic Dermatitis: An International Consensus on a Set of Core Decision Points for Systemic Therapies.

Currently no treat-to-target framework to guide systemic treatment in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis exists. We sought to reach international consensus through an eDelphi process on a core set of recommendations for such an approach. Recommendations were developed by an international Steering Committee, spanning 3 areas (Guiding Principles, Decision Making, and Outcome Thresholds) and 2 specific time-points; an initial acceptable target at 3 months and an optimal target at 6 months, each based on improvements in patient global assessment plus at least one specific outcome domain.

Switching to biosimilars: current perspectives in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

: The expiry of patents for biologics has led to the introduction of biosimilars for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). These treatment alternatives may allow earlier and wider access to appropriate therapy for patients without increasing the economic burden on health-care systems. Prescription of biosimilars to treatment-naïve patients is well accepted; however, additional considerations must be taken into account when switching clinically stable patients from reference products to biosimilars.

Dysbiosis of Skin Microbiota in Psoriatic Patients: Co-occurrence of Fungal and Bacterial Communities.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, whose pathogenesis involves dysregulated interplay among immune cells, keratinocytes and environmental triggers, including microbiota. Bacterial and fungal dysbiosis has been recently associated with several chronic immune-mediated diseases including psoriasis. In this comprehensive study, we investigated how different sampling sites and methods reflect the uncovered skin microbiota composition.

Crucial Role of Microbiota in Experimental Psoriasis Revealed by a Gnotobiotic Mouse Model.

Psoriatic patients have altered microbiota, both in the intestine and on the skin. It is not clear, however, whether this is a cause or consequence of the disease. In this study, using an experimental mouse model of psoriasis induced by imiquimod (IMQ), we show that oral treatment with a broad spectrum of antibiotics (MIX) or metronidazole (MET) alone mitigates the severity of skin inflammation through downregulation of Th17 immune response in conventional mice.

Primavera: A new therapeutical approach to vulvo-vaginal atrophy.

Vulvovaginal atrophy is a condition that affects women, although it is mainly associated with the onset of menopause mainly due to hormonal changes vulvovaginal laxity and mucosal atrophy can also affect women at different life stages such as after pregnancy or for cancer patients who have undergone chemo or endocrine therapy. This condition negatively influence quality of life, sexual desire, and self-confidence. Many therapies have been considered mainly with inconclusive or transient results in terms of benefit factor.

The first case of lymphogranuloma venereum in a woman in East-Central Europe and its multiple co-infections.

We are reporting the first case of lymphogranuloma venereum in women in East-Central Europe. A 22-year-old heterosexual woman attended our department of venereology. She complained about a burning sensation in the urethra and vaginal discharge.

Sinecatechins and imiquimod as proactive sequential therapy of external genital and perianal warts in adults.

This review about the proactive sequential therapy (PST) of external genital and perianal warts (EGW) is based on the most current available clinical literature and on the broad clinical experience of a group of international experts, physicians who are well versed in the treatment of human papillomavirus-associated diseases. It provides a practical guide for the treatment of EGW, including epidemiology, etiology, clinical appearance, and diagnostic procedures for these viral infections. Furthermore, the treatment goals and current treatment options, elucidating provider- and patient-applied therapies, and the parameters driving treatment decisions are summarized.

Benzathine penicillin G once-every-3-week prophylaxis for recurrent erysipelas a retrospective study of 132 patients.

Objective: To evaluate effectivity, safety and patients' adherence to benzathine penicillin G (BPG) 1,200,000 units (1.2 MU) once-every-3-week intramuscularly prophylaxis for recurrent erysipelas.

Methods: Patients with documented two or more erysipelas episodes in last two years who received at least one of 10 planned doses of BPG 1.

Concordance of HPV-DNA in cervical dysplasia or genital warts in women and their monogamous long-term male partners.

Transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV) is a premise for development of cervical dysplasia and genital warts (GWs). This cross-sectional study assesses concordance of HPV types present in GWs or cervical dysplasia in women and genital infection of their monogamous male partners in conjunction with seroprevalence of HPV-6, -11, -16, and -18 antibodies. Blood was taken from both women and men, as well a smear of the urogenital area of men.

Relative Importance of Traditional Risk Factors for Malignant Melanoma in the Czech Population.

Aim: The Czech Republic is one of the leading European countries in incident cases of malignant melanoma (MM), which is on the rise. The study objective was to assess the strength of associations between MM and the known generally accepted risk factors for MM in the population of the Czech Republic.

Methods: The study was designed as a case-control study where cases were incident cases of MM detected at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of the Bulovka Hospital.

Successful Treatment with 10% Sinecatechins Ointment for Recurrent Anogenital Warts in an Eleven-Year-Old Child.

Treatment of anogenital warts was successful in an 11-year-old child with sinecatechins ointment 10%. After application for 10 weeks, the warts completely disappeared, without recurrence during a 12-week follow-up. Treatment was well tolerated, without notable side effects.

Gender Differences in Self-assessed Health-related Quality of Life in Children with Atopic Dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis has a significant impact on quality of life of children and families.

Objective: It is important to assess gender differences in health-related quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis in order to effectively use health-related quality of life results.

Methods: Children 5- to 16-years of age with atopic dermatitis from Italy, Singapore, Czech Republic, and Ukraine were divided into two groups (boys and girls).

Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Patients with Psoriasis: Risk Profile Including Carotide Ultrasonography Assessed in Hospital-based Case Control Study.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and its comorbidities have attracted serious interest in recent years. The evidence that psoriasis is associated with systemic inflammation and significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular risk factors has already been described. The results of published studies are highly variable, the conclusions are ambiguous, and further epidemiological studies are needed for validation of published data.

[The skin - a mirror of internal diseases].

Unlabelled: The knowledge of the relationship between dermatologic manifestations and disorders and internal diseases may facilitate early identification of general disease. The report aims to provide an overview of dermatologic manifestations of gastrointestinal disorders, non-specific inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal stromal tumours, and skin alterations related to diabetes mellitus. The role of a dermatologist is primarily to diagnose dermatoses.