Use of carboxyhemoglobin as a biomarker of environmental CO exposure: critical evaluation of the literature.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the primary cause for access to emergency department (ED) services for more than 50,000 persons in Europe and the USA every year. CO poisoning diagnosis is based on multiple factors and is usually confirmed by high carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in the blood. We conducted a systematic evaluation of literature to investigate the usefulness of COHb as a biomarker of environmental CO exposure.

Rosacea fulminans or acute rosacea? Report of 5 cases and review of the literature.

Rosacea fulminans, previously called pyoderma faciale, is an inflammatory disease considered a dramatic form of rosacea rather than of acne. Typical features are: exclusive facial involvement of young women, sudden onset of large nodules without other signs of acne, remission without scarring or with minimal scars, no recurrences or systemic symptoms. Oral isotretinoin associated with a short course of systemic and topical corticosteroids represent the recommended treatment.

Efficacy and safety of a 12-month treatment with a combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol glycospheres as maintenance therapy in acne patients after oral isotretinoin.

Background: A correct therapeutic management of acne should include a maintenance therapy to prevent recurrences after discontinuing a successful treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate efficacy and safety of a 12-month maintenance treatment with a product, based on Retinsphere technology that combines retinol encapsulated in glycospheres and hydroxypinacolone retinoate (Biretix gel®), to control acne relapse after a treatment with oral isotretinoin (O.I.

Cyclosporine treatment of severe Hidradenitis suppurativa--A case series.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an overlooked but common disease severely affecting both genders. HS is generally perceived as difficult to treat and although a number of treatments are available, the need for more effective treatment is apparent.

Objectives: Cyclosporine A (CsA) has been suggested as an effective treatment in four smaller case series.

Is hormonal treatment still an option in acne today?

Hormonal treatment is indicated in cases of papulopustular, nodular and conglobate acne in females with identified hyperandrogenism, in adult women who have monthly flare-ups and when standard therapeutic options are unsuccessful or inappropriate. This review summarizes the latest information on hormonal therapies including: combined oral contraceptives; anti-androgens, such as cyproterone acetate, spironolactone and flutamide; low-dose glucocorticoids and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. It also shares the authors' recommendations for treatment based on the studies discussed here, and personal experience.

Acne: in vivo morphologic study of lesions and surrounding skin by means of reflectance confocal microscopy.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common disease of the pilosebaceous unit, clinically showing alteration of the keratinization process leading to comedos formation and subsequent inflammatory process.

Objective: To characterize the morphology of acne lesions and pilosebaceous units by means of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy, in order to non-invasively define the microscopic alterations occurring during the acne process.

Methods: A set of standardized clinical pictures and a set of reflectance confocal images were acquired from 25 volunteers, presenting mild-to-moderate acne, and 10 healthy volunteers, using Vivascope 3000, and 10 mosaics on apparently normal skin were acquired by 5 acne patients and 5 healthy volunteers by Vivascope 1500, and evaluated by experts.

The topical vehicle as a key factor in the management of the psoriatic patients' therapy.

This review deals with the importance of the topical vehicle as a key factor in the management of the psoriatic patients' therapy.

Maintenance therapy for acne vulgaris: efficacy of a 12-month treatment with adapalene-benzoyl peroxide after oral isotretinoin and a review of the literature.

Background: The correct therapeutic management of acne should include a maintenance therapy with topical retinoids to prevent recurrences after discontinuing a successful treatment.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a 12-month maintenance treatment with adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) 2.