Multinational Drug Survival Study of Omalizumab in Patients With Chronic Urticaria and Potential Predictors for Discontinuation.

Importance: Treating patients with chronic urticaria using omalizumab has been shown to be safe and effective in randomized clinical trials. Multinational studies on long-term omalizumab performance in chronic urticaria in clinical practice settings are lacking, especially on drug survival. Drug survival, which refers to the length of time that patients are treated with a specific drug, is a comprehensive outcome covering effectiveness, safety, and patient and physician preferences.

Phase II Window Study of Olaparib Alone or with Cisplatin or Durvalumab in Operable Head and Neck Cancer.

Purpose: We conducted a phase II randomized noncomparative window of opportunity (WOO) trial to evaluate the inhibition of cellular proliferation and the modulation of immune microenvironment after treatment with olaparib alone or in combination with cisplatin or durvalumab in patients with operable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Experimental Design: Forty-one patients with HNSCC were randomized to cisplatin plus olaparib (arm A), olaparib alone (arm B), no treatment (arm C) or durvalumab plus olaparib (arm D). The primary endpoint was to evaluate the percentage of patients in each arm that achieved a reduction of at least 25% in Ki67.

Patterns of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Association with Genomic and Clinical Features in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).

: We sought to compare patterns of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) with respect to clinical and genomic features in a retrospective cohort of patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). : One hundred seventeen patients with R/M HNSCC treated with ICI were included in this study. Tumor growth kinetics (TGK) prior to and TGK upon immunotherapy (IO) was available for 49 patients.

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management and course of chronic urticaria.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupts health care around the globe. The impact of the pandemic on chronic urticaria (CU) and its management are largely unknown.

Aim: To understand how CU patients are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; how specialists alter CU patient management; and the course of CU in patients with COVID-19.

The association of metformin use with keratinocyte carcinoma development in high-risk patients.

Keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) is the most common malignancy in white skinned populations. Metformin one of the most commonly prescribed drugs and has been reported to protect against solid cancers. The association between metformin and KC has not been studied in patients at high risk for a subsequent KC.

"A journey towards acceptance": The process of adapting to life with HIV in Greece. A Qualitative study.

Unlabelled: Aim To identify the experiences related to adaptation for people living with HIV in Greece and to explore different adaptation stages as well as their individual reactions.

Background: Receiving an HIV positive diagnosis leads to major changes in an individual's life and it can trigger an array of emotions including fear, despair and loss of control. As the profile of the disease has changed due to its transition into a chronic disease and extended life expectancy, adaptation to life and coping with uncertain events is of paramount importance.

Prognostic impact of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 mRNA expression on circulating tumour cells of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: We sought to determine the prognostic role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 () by evaluating expression in circulating tumour cells (CTCs) at baseline and after completion of chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced (LA) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with curative intent.

Methods: In a prospective cohort of 113 patients with LA HNSCC, we evaluated expression of in the EpCAM+ CTC fraction at baseline and after cisplatin chemoradiation. The prognostic value of combined () and expression was assessed.

Acne treatments: future trajectories.

Current acne treatments present several limitations, posing the need for new effective therapies for long-term administration for recalcitrant or relapsing acne. Key players in acne that may emerge as targets for future acne treatments include the cutaneous loss of diversity of Cutibacterium (formerly Propionibacterium) acnes phylotypes and the insulin-like growth factor-1 signalling pathway. New data about the loss of diversity of microbiota in acne provides the rationale for the potential use of oral or topical probiotics.

Vaginal microbiota and human papillomavirus: a systematic review.

Accumulating evidence indicates the potential correlation between the vaginal microbioma and the acquisition and persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This study aims to demonstrate the potential relationship through a systematic review of the current literature. A search was conducted on the following medical databases: PubMed and Scopus.

Surrogates of immunologic cell death (ICD) and chemoradiotherapy outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Objectives: Chemoradiation can induce immunogenic (ICD) or tolerogenic cell death. ICD relies on the generation of damage-associated molecular patterns which can stimulate toll-like receptors (TLRs). We sought to determine whether we can predict responses to chemoradiation by measuring surrogate biomarkers of ICD in a cohort of patients with locally advanced (LA) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Clinical and dermoscopic features associated with lichen planus-like keratoses that undergo skin biopsy: A single-center, observational study.

Background/objectives: Lichen planus-like keratoses (LPLK) are benign skin lesions that can mimic malignancy; the clinical and dermoscopic features distinguishing lichen planus-like keratoses from skin tumors have not been extensively studied. The objective of this study was to identify dermoscopic features that may prevent unnecessary biopsies of lichen planus-like keratoses.

Methods: Retrospective, single-center, observational study of biopsied skin lesions at a tertiary center.

Dermoscopy of Common Inflammatory Disorders.

In addition to its "traditional" application for the early diagnosis of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, dermoscopy gains appreciation in fields beyond dermato-oncology. Nowadays, dermoscopy has been established as a reliable adjunctive tool to the everyday clinical practice of general dermatology. Morphology and distribution of vascular structures, background colors, follicular abnormalities, and the presence of scales are important features that should be evaluated.

Use of Galactomannan Antigen and Aspergillus DNA Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction as Routine Methods for Invasive Aspergillosis in Immunosuppressed Children in Greece.

Purpose: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains a critical issue in immunosuppressed patients. Detection of galactomannan antigen (GM) in serum samples is included as a criterion of IA by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group. Nevertheless, Aspergillus DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has not yet been included because clinical data validation is lacking.

A retrospective study of the characteristics of patients with early-onset compared to adult-onset hidradenitis suppurativa.

Background: The mean age of onset of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is between 20 and 24 years. Very few data about patients with early-onset HS exist.

Objective: To investigate the association of early-onset HS with the clinical characteristics: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking, family history of HS, Hurley stage, and number of areas affected.

Changing the Paradigm in Medial Canthal Reconstruction: The Bridge Principle and the Croissant-Like Keystone Island Perforator Flap as An Alternative for Medium Size Soft Tissue Defects in Internal Canthus Reconstruction.

Introduction: Medial canthus is a common area of skin cancer prevalence. Defects in this region represent a challenging reconstructive task. The nasal version of keystone perforator island flap (KPIF) has proven its versatility.

Interleukin 33 and interleukin 4 regulate interleukin 31 gene expression and secretion from human laboratory of allergic diseases 2 mast cells stimulated by substance P and/or immunoglobulin E.

Background: Cytokine interleukin (IL) 31 has emerged as an important component of allergic and inflammatory diseases associated with pruritus, such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and mastocytosis. Mast cells (MC) are stimulated by allergic and nonallergic triggers, and play a critical role in such diseases by secreting histamine and tryptase as well as cytokines and chemokines. IL-33 has been reported to augment MC responses, but its effect on secretion of IL-31 is not known.

A multicenter, prospective, observational study examining the impact of risk factors, such as BMI and waist circumference, on quality of life improvement and clinical response in moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis patients treated with infliximab in routine care settings of Greece.

Background: Obesity has been associated with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis severity and PASI 75 response attainment of biologic therapies, but findings are inconsistent.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) on disease severity, to identify potential patient characteristics associated with response attainment and to assess the impact of infliximab on the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among infliximab-treated patients in the routine care setting of Greece.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study of adult moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients who had initiated treatment with originator infliximab within 2 weeks prior to enrolment.