Effectiveness and Safety of Dupilumab for Prurigo Nodularis in China: A Multicentric and Observational Study.

Background: The efficacy and safety of dupilumab in patients with refractory prurigo nodularis (PN) is well established in clinical trials, but there is a lack of multicenter data regarding its effectiveness and safety in real-world settings.

Methods: Patients with moderate-to-severe PN who initiated dupilumab treatment between July 2023 and January 2024, with a follow-up period of at least 16 weeks at 10 hospitals in China were included. We used peak pruritus numeric rating scale (PP-NRS), investigator global assessment (IGA) for PN, and dermatology life quality index for adults or children (DLQI/CDLQI) to assess disease control status and quality of life impairment, and monitored adverse events to assess the safety.

The Melanocyte and Nerve Fiber Cross-Talk, Facilitated Also by Semaphorin-4A, Enhances UV-B-Induced Melanogenesis.

Epidermal melanocytes form synaptic-like contacts with cutaneous nerve fibers, but the functional outcome of these connections remains elusive. In this pilot study we used our fully humanized re-innervated skin organ culture model to investigate melanocyte-nerve fiber interactions in UV-B-induced melanogenesis. UV-B-irradiation significantly enhanced melanin content and tyrosinase activity in re-innervated skin compared to non-innervated controls, indicating that neuronal presence is essential for exacerbating pigmentation upon UV-B irradiation in long-term culture.

Clinical Features and Risks of Congenital Melanocytic Naevi: A Retrospective Analysis of Patients at the Queensland Children's Hospital.

Background/objectives: Congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) are a risk factor for melanoma. Melanoma risk is dependent on the congenital phenotype. Our primary aims were to assess the clinical characteristics of CMN that indicate a high risk of neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) and melanoma in an Australian paediatric population group; to identify patient characteristics and clinical features of CMN that trigger further investigations; and to determine the rate of malignancy and other complications for CMN.

Assessment of Erythrocytes Methotrexate Polyglutamate Three Levels in Psoriatic Patients Treated with Methotrexate Monotherapy and Their Association with Disease Response.

Unlabelled: Methotrexate is used to manage moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Methotrexate acts by inhibiting the enzymes involved in nucleotide synthesis. Methotrexate polyglutamates (MTXPGs) have a higher potency to inhibit Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase (ATIC), and thymidylate synthase (TS), compared to naïve methotrexate.

SILAC-based quantification reveals modulation of the immunopeptidome in BRAF and MEK inhibitor sensitive and resistant melanoma cells.

Background: The immunopeptidome is constantly monitored by T cells to detect foreign or aberrant HLA peptides. It is highly dynamic and reflects the current cellular state, enabling the immune system to recognize abnormal cellular conditions, such as those present in cancer cells. To precisely determine how changes in cellular processes, such as those induced by drug treatment, affect the immunopeptidome, quantitative immunopeptidomics approaches are essential.

Beyond Classic Leprosy: Exploring Atypical Manifestations and Their Diagnostic Challenges.

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is an ancient infectious disease characterized by varied clinical presentations influenced by the host's immune response. This study aimed to explore the atypical manifestations of Hansen's disease in a cohort of 15 biopsy-confirmed patients admitted to the Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy at a tertiary care center in Andhra Pradesh, India. There were 14 male patients and one female patient, with a mean age of 42.

Potent human antibodies against SpA5 identified by high-throughput single-cell sequencing of phase I clinical volunteers' B cells.

The drug resistance problem of needs to be solved urgently. Here, we report the rapid identification of human antibodies by high-throughput single-cell RNA and VDJ sequencing of memory B cells derived from 64 volunteers immunized with recombinant five-component vaccine (clinical phase I). From 676 antigen-binding IgG1 clonotypes, TOP10 sequences were selected for expression and characterization, with the most potent one, Abs-9, having nanomolar affinity for the pentameric form of the specific antigen protein A.

Correlation Between the Koebner Phenomenon and Clinical Features in Vitiligo.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between the presence of the Koebner phenomenon (KP) and clinical features of patients with vitiligo.

Patients And Methods: The clinical characteristic data, including age, age of onset, disease duration, gender, clinical stage, clinical type, family history, and comorbid immune-related diseases, of 1472 patients with/without KP were analyzed with SPSS 17.0 software.

Management of a Large Nosocomial Outbreak From an Index of Crusted Scabies in a Tertiary Care Hospital, 2023: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: In 2023, we experienced an outbreak from a case of undiagnosed crusted scabies, resulting in a significant number of exposed individuals and secondary cases. In this report, we describe the outbreak control measures, the attack rate, and the risk factors for acquisition of scabies among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods: This study was conducted in a 2,700-bed tertiary care hospital in Seoul, South Korea.

Palovarotene in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: review and perspective.

Introduction: Palovarotene is a retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist that was studied in phase-2 and phase-3 clinical trials for the inhibition of new heterotopic ossification (HO) in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Despite numerous setbacks and regulatory delays, palovarotene is now the first approved FOP treatment in the U.S.

Sustained Release of HIF-2α Inhibitors Using Biodegradable Porous Silicon Carriers for Enhanced Immunogenic Cell Death of Malignant Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with limited treatment options, often associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and marked by hypoxic tumor microenvironments that promote resistance to therapies. Belzutifan, an FDA-approved hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) inhibitor, has shown promise in inhibiting tumor growth; however, its clinical efficacy is hindered by its low solubility, rapid clearance, and limited bioavailability. In this study, we present a strategy using porous silicon (pSi) microparticles and nanoparticles as carriers for the sustained delivery of benzoate to MCC cells.

Population genomics of premature termination codons in cavefish with substantial trait loss.

Loss-of-function alleles are a pertinent source of genetic variation with the potential to contribute to adaptation. Cave-adapted organisms exhibit striking loss of ancestral traits such as eyes and pigment, suggesting that loss-of-function alleles may play an outsized role in these systems. Here, we leverage 141 whole genome sequences to evaluate the evolutionary history and adaptive potential of single nucleotide premature termination codons (PTCs) in Mexican tetra.

External validation of the accuracy of cardiovascular risk prediction tools in psoriatic disease: a UK Biobank study.

Introduction: Risk prediction is important for preventing and managing cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD risk prediction tools designed for the general population may be inaccurate in people with inflammatory diseases.

Objectives: To investigate the performance of four cardiovascular risk prediction tools (QRISK3, Framingham Risk Score, Reynolds Risk Score and SCORE) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis.

Analyses of Adverse Drug Reactions to Fluoroquinolones in Spontaneous Reports Before and After the Referral and in Clinical Routine Cases.

Introduction: In November 2018, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) restricted the use of fluoroquinolones (used by mouth, injections or inhalation) in the context of a referral due to long-lasting and potentially irreversible adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Fluoroquinolones should no longer be used to treat mild or moderate bacterial infections unless other antibacterials cannot be used.

Objectives: The first aim of our study was to analyze whether in the period before compared with after the referral the characteristics of spontaneous ADR reports related to fluoroquinolones differed and whether specific ADRs were more frequently reported for fluoroquinolones compared with cotrimoxazole.

The cardiometabolic safety of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis: A global large-scale cohort study.

Background: A low risk of cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes was found in the randomized clinical trials of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis (AD). Dupilumab-associated real-life long-term cardiometabolic risk relative to other systemic agents is yet to be precisely investigated.

Objective: To assess the risk of cardiometabolic outcomes in patients with AD treated with dupilumab relative to those treated with methotrexate and cyclosporine.

Physiochemical and functional evaluation of the first-in-class anti-cancer IgE antibody drug, MOv18, through process development and good manufacturing practice production.

Antibodies used for cancer therapy are monoclonal IgGs, but tumor-targeting IgE antibodies have shown enhanced effector cell potency against cancer in preclinical models. Research-grade recombinant IgE antibodies have been generated and studied for several decades. The recent Phase 1 clinical trial of the first-in-class MOv18 IgE, however, necessitated the inaugural process development and scaled manufacture of a recombinant IgE to clinical quality standards.

The clinical assessment of lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, results from the multicentre international AIDA Network Still's Disease Registry.

Objectives: To assess the lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, an inflammatory disease assessing both children and adults. To exploit possible associated factors for parenchymal lung involvement in these patients.

Methods: A multicentre observational study was arranged assessing consecutive patients with Still's disease characterized by the lung involvement among those included in the AIDA (AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance) Network Still's Disease Registry.

Increased serum NfL and GFAP levels indicate different subtypes of neurologic immune-related adverse events during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Neurologic immune-related adverse events (nirAEs) represent rare, yet severe side effects associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Given the absence of established diagnostic biomarkers for nirAEs, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of serum Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP). Fifty-three patients were included at three comprehensive cancer centers, of these 20 patients with manifest nirAEs and 11 patients with irHypophysitis.

Development and evaluation of the recombinant BP26 protein-based C-ELISA for human brucellosis diagnosis.

Introduction: Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for the effective treatment and prevention of brucellosis. Current serological diagnostics, primarily based on lipopolysaccharide (LPS), suffer from cross-reactivity with other Gram-negative bacteria, which limits their specificity. Periplasmic protein 26 (BP26), a highly immunogenic antigen found in , has emerged as a promising alternative for enhancing diagnostic specificity.