Treatment of plaque psoriasis with the two-compound product calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate versus both monotherapies: an immunohistochemical study.

The combination of calcipotriol (Cp) and topical corticosteroids increases efficacy and reduces side effects as compared to monotherapies. Previous studies suggest that such combinations may have an added value with respect to reduction of T-cell subsets. A two-compound product consisting of Cp and betamethasone dipropionate (BD) has become available for the treatment of psoriasis and is clinically superior to both monotherapies.

The universal detection of antigens from one skin biopsy specimen.

Background: Immunohistochemistry is an important tool in dermatology but is limited. Certain antigens can only be preserved in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, while others can only be detected on frozen sections, resulting in situations where two biopsies are needed. We aimed to develop a technique for universal detection of different antigens out of just one biopsy specimen.

Good clinical response to anti-psoriatic treatment with adalimumab and methotrexate does not inflict a direct effect on compartmentalization of T-cell subsets: a pilot study.

Objectives: The most recently introduced therapeutics for psoriasis are biologicals which can target the T-cell-mediated pathology of psoriasis in a direct or indirect manner. The present pilot study focuses on and compares the effect of a conventional systemic agent (methotrexate; MTX) with the effect of a TNF-binding biological (adalimumab) on psoriasis-associated T-cell subsets in peripheral blood (PB) and lesional skin. Insight is provided in the hypothesized compartmentalization of these T-cell subsets between PB and the cutaneous compartment.

A comparative study on the efficacy of treatment with 585 nm pulsed dye laser and ultraviolet B-TL01 in plaque type psoriasis.

Background: Narrow-band ultraviolet-B and pulsed dye laser (PDL) affect psoriasis but via different pathways.

Objective: To compare the results of PDL with ultraviolet-B light therapy (UVB) and to look for synergism of both therapies in patients with plaque type psoriasis.

Methods: In each eligible individual, four similar target plaques were selected, and halves of these plaques were treated using PDL, UVB, or a combination of PDL and UVB or were not treated.

Nd: YAG laser (1,064 nm) fails to improve localized plaque type psoriasis: a clinical and immunohistochemical pilot study.

Chronic and localized plaque-type-psoriasis is often therapy resistant as a result of which dermatologists often have trouble finding a suitable treatment option. Traditional therapies for psoriasis merely focus on the inhibition of epidermal proliferation, inflammation, or both. The earliest changes, however, in a novel psoriatic lesion concern abnormal microvasculature.

Validation of clinical and image skin scoring systems for a single chronic discoid lupus erythematosus lesion.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to achieve a validated clinical and image scoring system for a single chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (CDLE) lesion.

Methods: Fifteen patients with a CDLE lesion were scored twice by four observers and clinical photographs were taken. These pictures were assessed by the same four observers at two time points.