Publications by authors named "Tsen Fang Tsai"
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology on rectus abdominis muscles (RAMs) in Asian individuals, hypothesizing that HIFEM is safe and effective for body contouring in this population and that volumetric assessment provides more accurate results than thickness measurements alone. In this prospective, single-center pilot study, six Asian participants (3 males, 3 females; mean age 45.5 years) underwent HIFEM training.
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- Deucravacitinib, an oral tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, is approved globally for treating adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, especially those needing systemic therapy.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed its efficacy in Asian populations compared to other treatments, revealing significant improvement over placebo and apremilast.
- In Asian patients, deucravacitinib showed PASI 75 and 90 response rates that are comparable to several biologics, highlighting its effectiveness and convenience as an oral treatment option.
Background: The diagnostic challenges in early mycosis fungoides (MF) and other cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) persist despite advancements in molecular methods.
Aim: The study aims to provide a preliminary assessment of next-generation sequencing in analyzing T-cell receptor gamma (TRG) sequences for distinguishing CTCL from benign inflammatory disorders.
Methods: Skin samples from CTCL and benign inflammatory skin disorders proven clinicopathologically were assessed for TRG by NGS.
Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs), with mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) as the classic types, are the commonest group of primary cutaneous lymphomas. The diverse clinical manifestation and non-specific histologic findings of early lesions in CTCLs render diagnosis challenging. Treatment modalities also vary and include topical and oral medications, chemotherapy, phototherapy, and radiation therapies.
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- Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and serious skin condition characterized by pustules and systemic symptoms, with differences in genetic mutations affecting its presentation and treatment among various ethnic groups.
- A modified Delphi panel study involving dermatology experts from the Asia-Pacific region aimed to establish a consensus on GPP management due to limited existing evidence and information.
- The panel reached agreement on 106 key statements addressing GPP’s definition, diagnosis, treatment strategies, and flare severity, creating treatment algorithms to assist clinicians in making informed decisions.
Background: For patients with psoriasis, discontinuation of biologics following remission has become more common in daily practice.
Objective: We aimed to identify predictors and construct a predictive model for time to relapse following withdrawal from biologics.
Methods: This 12-year, multicenter, observational cohort study was performed in six dermatology centers between February 2011 and February 2024.
Article Synopsis
- Biologics for psoriasis, like TNF-α inhibitors and methotrexate, have benefits but raise concerns about lymphoma risks.
- A patient on adalimumab developed angioimmunoblastic-type T-follicular helper cell lymphoma after receiving the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine.
- Factors such as medication, EBV reactivation, and previous lymphoid issues may have combined to create a lymphoma risk, with the vaccine potentially triggering the condition.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to assess how long psoriasis patients remain in drug-free remission after stopping biologics, as relapses often necessitate restarting systemic treatments.
- - Researchers followed 42 patients treated with various trial biologics, finding that 90.5% experienced relapses within a follow-up period of 96 to 227 weeks, with a median drug-free remission of 104 days.
- - Significant factors influencing relapse included age and disease duration, leading to the development of a risk model to predict relapse based on these variables and the type of biologic used.
Article Synopsis
- - The Phase 3 PRIME/PRIME2 trials showed that dupilumab is effective and safe for adults with moderate-to-severe prurigo nodularis, as confirmed by pooled data from both trials.
- - In a 24-week study, patients receiving dupilumab had significantly better improvements in itch and skin clarity compared to those on a placebo, with notable results seen as early as 12 weeks.
- - The analysis concluded that dupilumab's benefits were consistent across different demographic groups, though the data collection was limited to the 24-week treatment duration.
EFFISAYIL 1 was a randomized, placebo-controlled study of spesolimab, an anti-IL-36 receptor antibody, in patients presenting with a generalized pustular psoriasis flare. Treatment with spesolimab led to more rapid pustular and skin clearance versus treatment with placebo in approximately half of the patients. In this study, we present histologic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses of lesional and nonlesional skin and whole-blood samples collected from EFFISAYIL 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study investigated the epidemiology, treatment patterns, and resource utilization in patients with alopecia areata (AA) in Taiwan using the National Health Insurance Research Database. AA severity was determined by treatment use and diagnostic codes in the year after enrollment (including corticosteroids, systemic immunosuppressants, topical immunotherapy, and phototherapy).
Methods: The cross-sectional analysis was conducted to estimate the incidence and prevalence of AA from 2016 to 2020.
Article Synopsis
- Impetigo herpetiformis (IH) is a rare and severe skin condition linked to pregnancy complications, primarily caused by a genetic defect in the IL36RN gene.
- This case series of six Chinese patients with IH during eight pregnancies explored the use of various biologics, like adalimumab, etanercept, and secukinumab, to manage their condition.
- Most patients had successful pregnancies, but one experienced fetal heart rate issues that improved after changing medications, indicating that biologics may be beneficial for treating IH in those with the genetic defect.
Importance: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) lacks internationally accepted definitions and diagnostic criteria, impeding timely diagnosis and treatment and hindering cross-regional clinical and epidemiological study comparisons.
Objective: To develop an international consensus definition and diagnostic criteria for GPP using the modified Delphi method.
Evidence Review: The rarity of GPP presents a challenge in acquiring comprehensive published clinical data necessary for developing standardized definition and criteria.
Report of a case with CARD14-associated papulosquamous eruptions and multiple skin cancers.
Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed
May 2024
Article Synopsis
- * Genetic testing for IL36RN mutations is not commonly used in diagnosing GPP, despite findings that patients with acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) often carry these mutations.
- * The study identified six patients with pustular psoriasis and IL36RN mutations, where five had ACH and experienced acute GPP flare-ups, suggesting that this specific symptom pattern could help predict IL36RN mutations in similar cases.
Clinical advances in biological therapy for generalized pustular psoriasis: a review.
Expert Opin Biol Ther
February 2024
Introduction: In 2022, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first biologics, intravenous spesolimab, for acute flare of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP).
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