Dramatic secukinumab-mediated improvements in refractory leprosy-related neuritis via the modulation of T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 17 (Th17) immune pathways.

A 39-year-old woman was diagnosed with relapsed multibacillary leprosy and refractory neuritis. Here, we describe an evident loss of therapeutic effectiveness after the third pulse of corticosteroids, which may be attributed to tachyphylaxis and the posterior modulation of interferon- γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α,) interleukin-17A (IL-17A), and IL-12/23p40 after the induction phase of secukinumab. In this case, plasma cytokine analysis showed that secukinumab induced a reduction in IL-17 concomitant with impressive clinical improvements in the patient's neural function.

Correlation between nutritional, hematological and infectious characteristics and classification of the type of epidermolysis bullosa of patients assisted at the Dermatology Clinic of the Hospital Universitário de Brasília.

Epidermolysis bullosa comprises a group of phenotypically different genodermatosis, hereditary or acquired, characterized by skin fragility and subsequent formation of blisters in response to mechanical trauma, and which may also affect mucous membranes. This study aimed to analyze the relation between the nutritional, hematologic, infectious characteristics and the type of epidermolysis bullosa, through a descriptive case study based on data from medical records of 10 patients with epidermolysis bullosa assisted regularly at the Dermatology Clinic of the Hospital Universitário de Brasília. The old classification of the type of epidermolysis bullosa, weight and height, blood count, white blood cell count, platelet count and description of the type and frequency of secondary infections during the service were considered.

Pyoderma gangrenosum leading to bilateral involvement of ears.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a destructive inflammatory disease that commonly occurs in an idiopathic way. Its occurrence in the auricular area is very rare, although this fact does not seem to determine a different behavior of the disease with regard to ulcer aspects and response to treatment. The authors report the case of a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum affecting both earlobes.

The use of ablative lasers in the treatment of facial melasma.

Melasma represents a pigmentary disorder that is difficult to treat. This study aims to broadly review the use of ablative lasers (Er:YAG and CO2) in the treatment of melasma, presenting the level of evidence of studies published to date. A total of 75 patients were enrolled in four case series studies (n=39), one controlled clinical trial (n=6) and one randomized controlled clinical trial (n=30).