Publications by authors named "Simon Thomsen"

Introduction: Omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, is effective in treating antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). However, tapering strategies for omalizumab are currently not well-studied, and patients may be treated longer than needed. Here, we present the rationale and design of the EXtending Omalizumab Treatment Intervals in patients with Chronic spontaneous urticaria trial, a multicentre, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority clinical trial.

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Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting up to 20% of children and 10% of adults worldwide. Current research suggests a correlation between serum vitamin D level and AD severity and that vitamin D supplementation could have a potential therapeutic effect on AD.

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of vitamin D supplementation for disease improvement in children and adults with AD.

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Background: The contributions of genetic and environmental risk factors to hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are both poorly understood.

Objective: To identify sequence variants that associate with HS and determine the contribution of environmental risk factors and inflammatory diseases to HS pathogenesis.

Methods: A genome-wide association meta-analysis of 4814 HS cases (Denmark: 1977; Iceland: 1266; Finland: 800; UK: 569; and US: 202) and 1.

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While genetic predisposition and immune dysregulation are recognized as key contributors to the development of hidradenitis suppurativa, accumulating research points to the influence of extrinsic factors in the pathogenesis of this condition. This review explores the roles of mechanical stress, altered skin and gut microbiome, tobacco smoking, diet, and paradoxical drug reactions as drivers of hidradenitis suppurativa onset and progression. A holistic management approach addressing these factors may be encouraged to improve disease outcomes.

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Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) severity is traditionally evaluated during in-office consultations; however, this does not provide continuous monitoring and any intermittent flare/remission cycles are usually not recorded. The aim was to apply smartphone technology to evaluate AD severity, to explore if severity based on highly frequent sampling of photographs is associated with patient reported outcomes, and to investigate disease fluctuations and trigger associations based on passively collected environmental data.

Methods: In this 12-week decentralized observational study, adult patients with AD were recruited online and used a tailored remote clinical trial platform app to perform all study tasks including capturing photographs and completing the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) weekly.

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Introduction: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic skin condition characterized by intense itching from nodular skin lesions. Despite its impact on patients' quality of life, limited data exist on its epidemiology.

Methods: A national register-based study in Denmark was conducted, utilizing data from Danish national health registers to determine the incidence and prevalence of PN diagnosed in hospitals from 1995 to 2021 and to explore the occurrence of comorbidities.

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Background: Postoperative morbidity can reduce quality of life, physical performance, and tolerability of postoperative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Exercise can improve these outcomes in some cancer populations. However, it remains unknown whether exercise can be delivered in the early postoperative period following surgery for CRLM without increasing the risk of harms.

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Article Synopsis
  • CRUSE® is an app designed for people with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) to track their symptoms using visual analogue scales (VASs), aiming to assess the app's effectiveness in measuring disease activity.
  • A study analyzed three VASs related to CSU impact on daily life, including one specifically for the severity of urticaria, one for productivity, and a general health measure (EQ-5D), using data from nearly 6,000 patients over many days.
  • The results showed that the CRUSE® app's VASs demonstrate strong validity and reliability, with the "VAS urticaria" being most effective in capturing symptom changes, while the minimal important difference (MID) values indicated meaningful changes
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Background: Alpha-gal syndrome is a novel food allergy to the oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) present in mammalian meat. Tick bites are considered an important route of sensitization to alpha-gal. Data on alpha-gal sensitization in the general population is scant.

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Background: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is central to type 2 (T2) inflammation, and common noncoding variants at the STAT6 locus associate with various T2 inflammatory traits, including diseases, and its pathway is widely targeted in asthma treatment.

Objective: We sought to test the association of a rare missense variant in STAT6, p.L406P, with T2 inflammatory traits, including the risk of asthma and allergic diseases, and to characterize its functional consequences in cell culture.

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  • - The study investigates the prevalence of risk factors associated with oral Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in patients with chronic hand eczema (CHE), highlighting concerns due to their black-box warnings for infections, cancer, and cardiovascular issues.
  • - In a cohort of 941 CHE patients, 81.6% possessed at least one risk factor, with the majority being nonmodifiable; common risks included heavy smoking, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension.
  • - The findings suggest that healthcare providers should carefully evaluate these risk factors when considering oral JAKi treatments for CHE, as most patients have conditions that could complicate their use.
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  • Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, but its genetic connection to cardiometabolic diseases is unclear.
  • This study, involving over 391,000 participants from the UK Biobank, analyzed the relationship between a polygenic risk score (PRS) for HS and the likelihood of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes.
  • Results showed that a high PRS for HS was associated with increased odds of CAD (1.09) and diabetes (1.13), indicating a significant genetic correlation between HS and these cardiometabolic outcomes.
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  • This study investigated how TNF-α inhibitor adalimumab affects inflammation and mitochondrial function in adipose tissue in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) after 12 weeks of treatment.
  • Findings showed that while patients had a greater presence of anti-inflammatory macrophages, treatment did not significantly change overall adipose tissue inflammation or mitochondrial respiration.
  • Additionally, patients experienced improved quality of life scores, even though clinical symptoms remained unchanged.
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Real-world data on anatomically localized psoriasis and its response to systemic therapy across different age-groups and sexes is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the severity and distribution of psoriasis over time in female and male patients receiving systemic therapies, categorized by age within the Swiss psoriasis registry (SDNTT). Patient-data was obtained over 11 years through the SDNTT.

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  • A study assessed ChatGPT's reliability as a source for asthma information, highlighting the need for dependable medical info in light of concerns about digital misinformation.
  • The evaluation involved medical professionals analyzing ChatGPT's answers to 26 asthma-related questions, resulting in about 81% of responses rated as accurate.
  • While generally reliable, ChatGPT showed some inaccuracies and limitations, emphasizing that it should complement, rather than replace, professional medical advice.
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Background: Mosaicism, characterized by the presence of two or more chromosomally distinct cell lines, is detected in 2% to 4% of chorionic villus samples (CVSs). In these cases, the aberration may be confined to the placenta or additionally present in the fetus. Fetal involvement may manifest as fetal malformations, while confined placental mosaicism (CPM) poses risks such as preterm birth and low birth weight.

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Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a prevalent comorbidity among patients with psoriasis, heavily contributing to their burden of disease, usually diagnosed several years after the diagnosis of psoriasis.

Objectives: To investigate the predictability of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis and to identify important predictors.

Methods: Data from the Swiss Dermatology Network on Targeted Therapies (SDNTT) involving patients treated for psoriasis were utilized.

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  • Topical corticosteroid phobia (TOPICOP) is prevalent among chronic hand eczema (CHE) patients and leads to poor adherence to prescribed treatments.* -
  • A study involving 927 CHE patients revealed that a significant percentage believed corticosteroids harm their skin and health, leading many to delay or stop treatment.* -
  • The research indicates that higher levels of corticosteroid phobia correlate with decreased medication adherence, highlighting the need for better patient education.*
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