Assessment of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers by digital photography in human skin.

UV-mediated DNA damage and repair are important mechanisms in research on UV-induced carcinogenesis. UV-induced DNA-damage and repair can be determined by immunohistochemical staining of photoproduct positive nuclei of keratinocytes in the epidermis. We developed a new method of analysing and quantifying thymine dimer (TT-CPD) positive cells in the epidermis.

Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium versus cyclosporin A as long-term treatment in adult patients with severe atopic dermatitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cyclosporin A (CsA) is frequently used in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) may be an alternative with equal efficacy and fewer side effects.

Objective: The aim of this observer-blinded randomized controlled trial was to compare EC-MPS with CsA as long-term treatment in adult patients with severe AD.

The potency of clobetasol propionate: serum levels of clobetasol propionate and adrenal function during therapy with 0.05% clobetasol propionate in patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

Background: Percutaneous absorption of topically applied 0.05% clobetasol propionate (CLO) can be assessed indirectly by measuring cortisol levels. A direct way is to measure systemic levels of topically applied CLO.

Bone mineral density in children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

Background: Low bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in 30.4% of adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of low BMD in children with moderate to severe AD and to investigate the relation between BMD and corticosteroid and cyclosporine therapy.

The Self-administered Eczema Area and Severity Index in children with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: better estimation of AD body surface area than severity.

The Self-Administered Eczema Area and Severity Index (SA-EASI) is one of the few patient based atopic dermatitis (AD) disease activity scores and was found to be highly correlated with the EASI. Correlation with other frequently used scoring methods has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of the SA-EASI with two physician-based disease activity scores (objective SCORAD and SASSAD score) and with a serum marker for AD (Thymus and Activation-Regulated Cytokine [TARC]) in children with AD.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric assay for clobetasol propionate in human serum from patients with atopic dermatitis.

A bioanalytical assay for the topical corticosteroid clobetasol propionate was developed and validated. For the quantitative assay 0.5 ml human serum samples, supplemented with clobetasone butyrate as internal standard, were extracted with hexane-ether.

Severe atopic dermatitis treated with everolimus.

Background: Patients with severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often require treatment with oral immunosuppressive drugs. Everolimus is a rapamycin-derived macrolide with immunosuppressive and antiproliferative effects. Everolimus demonstrated efficacy not only in the prophylaxis of organ rejection in kidney transplant patients, but also in decreasing disease activity in psoriasis patients.