Real-Time Reflectance Confocal Microscopy of Cutaneous Graft-versus-Host Disease Correlates with Histopathology.

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) allows noninvasive, real-time evaluation of the skin at a resolution akin to histopathology (HP), but its application in cutaneous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has not been extensively assessed. We describe RCM features of cutaneous GVHD including acute (aGVHD), late acute, chronic (cGVHD; sclerotic and nonsclerotic subtypes), and inactive GVHD and correlate RCM with same-site HP for a subset of patients. Thirty-two adult and pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients with cutaneous GVHD received RCM imaging of ≥1 lesions (n = 44), 13 of which necessitated skin biopsy.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa in a Large Cohort of Italian Patients: Evaluation of the Burden of Disease.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, debilitating skin disease of the hair follicle that usually occurs after puberty with painful, deep-seated, inflamed nodules and sinus tracts in the apocrine gland-bearing areas of the body, most commonly the axillae and inguinal and anogenital regions, with a relevant impact on patients' quality of life (QoL).

Objective: To evaluate how the burden of HS disease impacts on patient well-being and working activities in a large Italian population over a period of 9 months.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective, epidemiologic cohort study was conducted in adult Italian patients with HS.

Long-term safety and efficacy of adalimumab in psoriasis: a multicentric study focused on infections (connecting study).

Introduction: This Italian multicenter retrospective study evaluated safety and efficacy of the anti-TNF drug, adalimumab, in a cohort of patients affected by tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease affecting around 3% of the Italian population and associated with several comorbidities, including arthritis, cardio-metabolic diseases and depression. In its moderate-to-severe form, psoriasis profoundly impairs quality of life of patients.

Novel mutation of PPOX gene in a patient with abdominal pain and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis.

Purpose: Acute porphyrias are metabolic disorders of heme biosynthesis characterized by acute life-threatening attacks. The diagnosis is often missed since clinical presentation is aspecific mimicking other medical and surgical conditions. Variegate porphyria (VP) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease with incomplete penetrance due to decreased activity of the Protoporphyrinogen Oxydase (PPOX) gene; most VP mutations are family specific.

Autologous Pure Platelet-Rich Plasma Dermal Injections for Facial Skin Rejuvenation: Clinical, Instrumental, and Flow Cytometry Assessment.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an emerging treatment in dermatology recently proposed for skin rejuvenation.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous pure PRP dermal injections on facial skin rejuvenation, investigating the cellularity of PRP samples.

Materials And Methods: Twelve patients underwent 3 sessions of PRP injection at 1-month intervals.

The loss of ATP2C1 impairs the DNA damage response and induces altered skin homeostasis: Consequences for epidermal biology in Hailey-Hailey disease.

Mutation of the Golgi Ca(2+)-ATPase ATP2C1 is associated with deregulated calcium homeostasis and altered skin function. ATP2C1 mutations have been identified as having a causative role in Hailey-Hailey disease, an autosomal-dominant skin disorder. Here, we identified ATP2C1 as a crucial regulator of epidermal homeostasis through the regulation of oxidative stress.

Glutathione S-transferase ϴ-subunit as a phenotypic suppressor of pmr1Δ strain, the Kluyveromyces lactis model for Hailey-Hailey disease.

Background: Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD), also known as familial benign chronic pemphigus, is a rare, chronic and recurrent blistering disorder, histologically characterized by suprabasal acantholysis. HHD has been linked to mutations in ATP2C1, the gene encoding the human adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-powered calcium channel pump.

Methods: In this work, the genetically tractable yeast Kluyveromyces lactis has been used to study the molecular basis of Hailey-Hailey disease.

Clinical and instrumental evaluation of a cross-linked hyaluronic acid filler dermal injection: effects on nasolabial folds skin biophysical parameters and augmentation from a single-dose, monocentric, open-label trial.

Background: When a hyaluronic acid dermal device to fill soft tissues is chosen, efficacy, safety and durability are key concerns. This is an open-label prospective study to instrumentally evaluate the effects of HA filler dermal injection on nasolabial folds skin biophysical parameters and augmentation.

Methods: A single Italian site treated female subjects aged 40-55, for nasolabial folds, with a single standardized injection.

Hereditary hemochromatosis type 1 phenotype modifiers in Italian patients. The controversial role of variants in HAMP, BMP2, FTL and SLC40A1 genes.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a heterogeneous disorder of iron metabolism. The most common form of the disease is Classic or type 1 HH, mainly caused by a biallelic missense p.Cys282Tyr (c.

Clinical and instrumental evaluation of the efficacy of a new depigmenting agent containing a combination of a retinoid, a phenolic agent and an antioxidant for the treatment of solar lentigines.

Background: Solar lentigines are common benign macular hyperpigmented lesions localized on sun-exposed areas.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new depigmenting agent containing a retinoid (retinaldehyde), a new phenolic agent (4-(1-phenylethyl)-resorcinol) and a reducing agent (δ-tocopheryl-β-D-glucopyranoside) in the topical treatment of solar lentigines.

Patients And Methods: Twenty patients with solar lentigines of the face and hands applied the depigmenting agent on each lentigo once daily for 12 weeks.

Combined use of monopolar radiofrequency and transdermal drug delivery in the treatment of melasma.

Background: Melasma is a common acquired pigmentary disorder that has a considerable psychological impact on the patient. The recurrent and refractory nature of this condition makes it difficult for treatment.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combined system that simultaneously uses monopolar radiofrequency (RF) and transdermal drug delivery of phytocomplex containing 1% kojic acid in the treatment of melasma.

Preliminary comparison of fractional laser with fractional laser plus radiofrequency for the treatment of acne scars and photoaging.

Background: The therapeutic approach to the treatment of acne scars and photoaging varies according to the type of lesion. Traditional carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser is associated with long healing times, persistent erythema, and high risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Fractional laser technology, which involves the application of microscopic beams of pixilated light inducing focal zones of tissue injury surrounded by normal tissue, is currently used for the treatment of acne scars and photoaging.

Lichen sclerosus and the risk of malignant progression: a case series of 159 patients.

Aim And Methods: We analyzed 159 stored specimens of Lichen Sclerosus (LS) collected in the period 1999-2011 from 159 patients, in order to evaluate the histological patterns, clinical outcomes and possible associations with malignancies. The histopathologic analysis revealed 145 cases (males and females) with LS alone, 7 in whom penile LS was associated with spinocellular carcinoma (SCC), and 7 in whom LS was associated with a pseudocarcinomatous-hyperplasia (PCH). Extragenital LS was found in 20% (17/85) of the males and 78% (58/74) of the females.

Efficacy of the melanocortin analogue Nle4-D-Phe7-α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the treatment of patients with Hailey-Hailey disease.

Background: Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) is a rare, chronic and recurrent blistering disorder, which is characterized clinically by erosions occurring primarily in intertriginous regions, and histologically by suprabasal acantholysis. Oxidative stress plays a specific role in the pathogenesis of HHD, by regulating the expression of factors playing an important role in keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation.

Aim: Given the significance of oxidative stress in HHD, we investigated the potential effects of the antioxidant properties of an α-MSH analogue, Nle4-D-Phe7-α-MSH (afamelanotide), in HHD lesion-derived keratinocytes.

Poverty, dignity, and forgotten skin care: dermatology in the stream of human mobile population.

Skin diseases represent the greatest public health care problem in all developing countries. Tropical diseases tend to cluster in poor populations and often are defined as "neglected" because the investments made to combat them seem negligible compared with the massive amounts expended globally on the health problems of developed countries. After reviewing the worldwide situation, this article explains the principles of community dermatology and discusses the work of the San Gallicano Institute in Rome, which has developed a model for reducing the number of people suffering from dermatologic and other diseases and has established the first dermatologic hospital in Ethiopia.

Poverty, health and development in dermatology.

The WHO Constitution states that "The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political, economic or social condition." The right to health means that governments must generate conditions in which everyone can be as healthy as possible. Such conditions range from ensuring availability of health services, healthy and safe working conditions, adequate housing and nutritious food.

Heterogeneity of mutations in the ferrochelatase gene in Italian patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Mutations and a low-expressed allele IVS3-48c (in trans to the mutation) of the ferrochelatase (FECH) gene are responsible for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) which is characterized clinically by cutaneous photosensitivity. In this study of 15 Italian EPP families, we identified 10 different FECH gene mutations, six of them were novel mutations (Q32X; IVS2-2, a-->g; IVS3-67, g-->a; 488-501del 14bp; IVS5-3, c-->t and 757-761delAGAAG). Four were known mutations (213insT; R115X; S264L and 899-900delTG).

Juxta-clavicular beaded lines.

We present a case series of 63 patients diagnosed with juxta-clavicular beaded lines. This condition is more frequent in dark-skinned people and corresponds to an anatomical variant of simple sebaceous hyperplasia. In view of the strong reactivity of the melanocytes in dark-skinned people, and of the possible hypochromic results, no treatment is advised.