Objective:To compare the clinical data and peripheral blood levels of CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL) 9 and CXCL10 between patients with progressive non-segmental vitiligo who were sensitive to systemic glucocorticoid treatment and those who were resistant, and to clarify key clinical factors influencing the sensitivity to systemic glucocorticoid treatment.Methods:From May 2021 to May 2023, a cohort of patients with progressive non-segmental vitiligo receiving systemic glucocorticoid treatment was established in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. Clinical data and peripheral blood samples were prospectively collected from all enrolled patients. Standard treatment, i.e., intramuscular injections of 1 ml of compound betamethasone once a month, was administered. After 3-month treatment, the improvement of patients′ skin lesions was estimated, and the vitiligo area and severity index (VASI) score and the Vitiligo European Task Force assessment tool (VETFa) were used to evaluate the efficacy. Patients with VASI changes ≥ 0 and VETFa progression scores ≤ 0 point were included in the glucocorticoid-sensitive group (i.e., the patients′ condition was stable or improved), otherwise those with VASI changes < 0 and VETFa progression scores of 1 point were included in the glucocorticoid-resistant group. Associations of lesion locations, specific clinical markers (trichrome lesions, confetti-like depigmentation, and Koebner phenomenon), previous medication history, family history of vitiligo, etc. with the response to systemic glucocorticoid treatment were analyzed. At baseline and after 3-month treatment, peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the plasma levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10. Statistical analysis was carried out by using the chi-square test, Fisher′s exact test, binary logistic regression analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results:A total of 142 patients with vitiligo were enrolled, and 127 completed 3-month treatment, including 77 males and 50 females. Their age at diagnosis was 18 to 65 (36.6 ± 11.4) years, and the disease duration ranged from 2 months to 58 (13.5 ± 10.7) years; 25 (19.7%) had a family history of vitiligo; the percentage of lesion area to total body surface area before treatment ranged from 1% to 70% (11.5% ± 12.7%), and the VASI score was 1% to 70% (10.8% ± 11.6%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of specific clinical markers (odds ratio [ OR] = 6.900, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.228, 38.757, P = 0.028), carrying a single specific clinical marker ( OR = 2.579, 95% CI: 1.012, 6.574, P = 0.047), having a history of topical glucocorticoid treatment ( OR = 2.643, 95% CI: 1.019, 6.850, P = 0.041), the absence of family history of vitiligo ( OR = 5.090, 95% CI: 1.070, 24.215, P = 0.030), and lesions on the proximal extremities ( OR = 3.767, 95% CI: 1.315, 10.793, P = 0.037) were risk factors for the resistance to systemic glucocorticoid treatment in the patients with vitiligo. After 3-month treatment, the glucocorticoid-sensitive group showed a significant decrease in plasma CXCL10 levels compared with those before treatment ( W = 571.00, P < 0.001), while there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-treatment CXCL10 levels in the glucocorticoid-resistant group ( W = 48.00, P = 0.524). Additionally, no significant difference was observed in changes of the plasma CXCL9 level before and after treatment between the glucocorticoid-sensitive and glucocorticoid-resistant groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:Carrying no or a single specific clinical marker, having a history of topical glucocorticoid treatment, the absence of family history of vitiligo, and lesions on the proximal extremities appeared to be risk factors for the resistance to systemic glucocorticoid treatment in patients with progressive non-segmental vitiligo. Changes in CXCL10 levels after treatment may be used as an important evaluation indicator for determining whether patients with progressive vitiligo were resistant to systemic glucocorticoid treatment.

Aging is age-related degeneration of the whole body,and skin aging is one of the most visualized changes in aging.Cellular senescence is a stress response to stable cell cycle arrest,and it is both the hallmark of aging and the important mechanism of the occurrence and development of aging.With the development of skin aging,senescent cells gradually accumulate in both the epidermis and dennis,and further exacerbate aging.Thus,when these senescent cells are eliminated,the aging skin seems to be rejuvenated.Cellular senescence is involved in the process of skin aging,which may be related to activation of DNA damage response pathway,up-regulation of regulatory proteins blocking cell cycle,and increase of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes.Cellular senescence is expected to be a novel target for preventing skin aging in the future.

Objective To indentify the cognitive status of Chinese patients to acne and the influencing factors to theirs' cognitive status,so as to provide solid evidences for the prevention and treatment of acne.Methods A self-designed questionnaire was made to conduct this survey of 16,156 acne patients,who seeked to the treatment in the dermatological departments from 112 hospitals in China.The survey consisted of several parts,including the general status of patients,the patients' cognition of occurrence,development and risk factors of acne,whether the first choice was seeking treatment at the hospital when the patients had acne and the condition of selection of skin care products.The factors were analyzed,which could impact the cognition of the patients' behavior of treatment,how did the patients' cognition to influence their medical behavior and skin care as well as the consistency of assessment of the severity of acne by doctors and patients themselves.Results The acne patients studied had the best knowledge of "acne is a skin disease","it not only occurs in the period of adolescence" and "the disease can be prevented and cured",which accordingly accounted for 80.65％,69.16％ and 65.49％ of the total patients respectively.However,the awareness of acne patients to heredity,high sugar and dairy products as risk factors for acne was insufficient,which accounted for 48.72％,42.40％ and 18.25％ of the total patients,respectively.Gender,age,educational level,occupation and health knowledge were the main factors affecting the cognitive level of patients;the survey also found that men,patient with educational level of junior high or even lower educational condition,occupation of labor workers or farmers and patients were lack of health education with poor knowledge of the genetics and dietary were risk factors for acne;patients with age over 36 years or with mild illness had poor knowledge of dietary risk factors for acne;the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The analysis of the influence of cognitive status on medical treatment behavior and skin care showed that the better the cognition,the higher the probability of patients would choose medical treatment as the first choice as well as choosing functional skin care products;the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The consistency of assessment of the severity of acne by doctors and patients was poor (Kappa value ＜0.4),and the assessment of severity of acne by patients was more serious than doctors' assessment.Conclusions Patient's cognitive status will affect their medical behavior and skin care,and there is also a phenomenon that patients have a more serious assessment of their acne condition.It is suggested that health education for acne patients should be strengthened in clinical medicine so as to improve their knowledge of acne as well as preventing from acne effectively.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of soluble hyaluronic acid microneedle eye patch on infraorbital wrinkles. Methods: Seventy-five female subjects in Beijing and Shanghai were recruited and treated with soluble hyaluronic acid microneedle patch two days a week at the left lower eyelid (experimental side) and at least 30 minutes each time for 12 weeks. Investigator visual assessment, instrumentation measurement for skin moisture, elasticity, wrinkle area and depth were performed at week 0 (pre-treatment) and week 4 and week 12 and compared to the right (control side). The safety was assessed by documenting adverse reactions occurring during the study. Subject satisfaction was assessed at week 12. Results: After 12 weeks of treatment, the visual assessment of skin wrinkles on experimental side (n=41, 54.67%) was significantly improved as comparied with that on control side (n=14, 18.67%). The skin hydration of treatment side skin increased with treatment time (t=-0.488 at week4, t=-3.054 at week 12, P<0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, skin elasticity of the experimental side improved significantly. The improvement rate of the experimental side was more than that of the control side (t=2.724, P<0.05). The wrinkle area was significantly decreased in 4 and 12 weeks compared with pre-treatment (t=4.442 at week 4 and t=3.802 at week 12, P<0.001). The depth of wrinkles of the experimental side shallowed with the treatment (t=-2.435 at week 4 and t=-3.433 at week 12, P<0.05). Only 8% (n=6) of the subjects had temporary slight pruritus or acupuncture sensation on the treatment side, and no other adverse reactions occurred. The overall subject satisfaction rate was 88%(n=66). Conclusions Soluble hyaluronic acid microneedle eye patch is effective in improving wrinkles, skin elasticity and hydrating, and has no obvious adverse reaction.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a common acquired pigmentary disease caused by destruction of epidermal melanocytes in underlying autoimmune response. Few studies have been focused on the role of chemokines in non-segmental vitiligo (NSV) concomitant with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and alopecia areata (AA). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the best serum biomarker for predictive role in the progression of vitiligo and to evaluate the influence of AA and/or AITD on vitiligo by using the biomarker. METHODS: This prospective cohort study recruited 45 NSV patients: 14 without either AITD or AA, 12 with AITD, 11 with AA, and 8 with both AITD and AA. Serum levels of CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL12, CXCL13, and CXCL16 were analyzed by ELISA. CXCR3 mRNA expression was detected on PBMCs by RT-PCR. Improvement was evaluated using repigmentation scales. RESULTS: Serum CXCL10 levels, along with the expression of CXCR3 mRNA were higher in NSV patients with AITD or AA alone than in those without AITD or AA. Moreover, serum CXCL10 levels, along with the expression of CXCR3 mRNA were higher in NSV patients with both AITD and AA than in those with AITD or AA alone. Poorer repigmentation was observed in NSV patients with both AA and AITD than in those with AA or AITD alone. CONCLUSION: CXCL10 could be a biomarker to predict the progression of NSV. Dermatologists should pay much attention to those NSV patients concomitant with AITD and/or AA, for comorbidity might lead to more active autoimmune reaction.
Alopecia Areata ; Alopecia ; Autoimmunity ; Chemokine CXCL10 ; Chemokines ; Cohort Studies ; Comorbidity ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; Prospective Studies ; RNA, Messenger ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Vitiligo ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR) to drugs are a crucial public health issue and the use of systemic corticosteroids in SCAR has been controversial. OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical features, causative drugs, treatment, outcomes, and prognostic factors of SCAR in the case-series of 173 patients, and add more information to the debate of using systemic corticosteroids in SCAR management. METHODS: A retrospective study of 173 SCAR patients diagnosed with drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) or acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) at a tertiary care institution in China between January 2014 and December 2017 was conducted. RESULTS: Of 173 patients, allopurinol, carbamazepine, and antibiotics are the most frequently implicated drugs for DRESS (40.4%), SJS/TEN (26.0%), and AGEP (40.0%) respectively. Moreover, there is a strongly negative correlation between early corticosteroids use and the progression (p=0.000) and severity (p=0.01) of skin lesions. However, there is no association between early corticosteroids use and the mortality of SCAR (odds ratio: 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.95~1.08). In addition, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, and interval from onset to corticosteroids treatment were correlated with SCAR prognosis. CONCLUSION: Prompt short-course systemic corticosteroids use is associated with early-stage skin lesions remission without influencing the disease mortality. Lymphadenopathy and eosinophilia were the independent poor prognostic factors of SCAR.
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Allopurinol ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carbamazepine ; China ; Cicatrix ; Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Tertiary Healthcare

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin condition among Asians. Recent studies have shown that Asian AD has a unique clinical and immunologic phenotype compared with European/American AD. OBJECTIVE: The Asian Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Expert Panel on Atopic Dermatitis developed this reference guide to provide a holistic and evidence-based approach in managing AD among Asians. METHODS: Electronic searches were performed to retrieve relevant systematic reviews and guidelines on AD. Recommendations were appraised for level of evidence and strength of recommendation based on the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines. These practice points were based on the consensus recommendations discussed during the Asia Pacific Meeting of Experts in Dermatology held in Bali, Indonesia in October 2016 and April 2017. RESULTS: The Expert Panel recommends an approach to treatment based on disease severity. The use of moisturizers is recommended across all levels of AD severity, while topical steroids are recommended only for flares not controlled by conventional skin care and moisturizers. Causes of waning efficacy must be explored before using topical corticosteroids of higher potency. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are recommended for patients who have become recalcitrant to steroid, in chronic uninterrupted use, and when there is steroid atrophy, or when there is a need to treat sensitive areas and pediatric patients. Systemic steroids have a limited role in AD treatment and should be avoided if possible. Educational programs that allow a patient-centered approach in AD management are recommended as an adjunct to conventional therapies. Recommendations on the use of phototherapy, systemic drugs, and emerging treatments are also included. CONCLUSION: The management of AD among Asians requires a holistic approach, integrating evidence-based treatments while considering accessibility and cultural acceptability.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atrophy ; Calcineurin Inhibitors ; Consensus ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatology ; Eczema ; Humans ; Indonesia ; Phenotype ; Phototherapy ; Skin ; Skin Care ; Steroids ; Venereology

Fractional radiofrequency(FRF)is an aesthetic technique that utilizes electric current emanating from electrode or microneedle arrays to heat the dermis in a fractional pattern, with only little damage to the epidermis. The recovery process following the heat damage involves multiple heat shock proteins, matrix metalloproteinases, cytokines, etc, which can stimulate the proliferation of collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis. It has been applied to treat wrinkles, skin laxity, acne scars and other aesthetic skin problems, and has proved to be a safe and effective cosmetic method for the improvement of atrophic acne scars, inflammatory acnes and postinflammatory erythema. It has few adverse effects, including tolerable pain, transient erythema, edema and mild crusting, so the downtime is short. FRF is more suitable for populations with dark complexions because of low risks of postinflammatory hyper?pigmentation. Recently, it has been used in combination with other devices such as lasers, or been used to assist transdermal drug delivery, and has shown remarkable therapeutic effects and favorable application prospects.

Objective To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of fusidic acid against P.acnes.Methods Fifty strains of P.acnes were clinically isolated from Huashan Hospital,Fudan University from March to September 2013.The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of several antibacterial agents including fusidic acid against these P.aches isolates were determined by using the agar dilution method according to the recommendations of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).Data were analyzed using the WHONET 5.4 software.Results Among the 50 P.acnes isolates,90％ were sensitive to fusidic acid,90％ to moxifloxacin,54％ to clindamycin,46％ to erythromycin,but 100％ were resistant to metronidazole.The minimum concentration required to inhibit the growth of 50％ organisms (MIC50) and 90％ organisms (MIC90) were 0.5 and 1.0 mg/L respectively for fusidic acid,whereas clindamycin and erythromycin both showed higher MIC90 values (＞ 128 mg/L).At the concentration of 128 mg/L,clindamycin inhibited the growth of 70％ of the P.acnes isolates,and erythromycin inhibited the growth of 48％ of them,while the growth of all the isolates was inhibited by fusidic acid at 2 mg/L.Conclusion Fusidic acid exhibits excellent antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of P.acnes in vitro.

Objective To compare the short-term efficacy of high-intensity ultraviolet B (UVB) versus 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of vitiligo.Methods Eighty patients with vitiligo were equally divided into two groups to be treated with high-intensity UVB twice a week or 308-nm excimer laser once a week for eight weeks.Repigmentation was evaluated at the end of the treatment.Results After eight weeks of treatment,repigmentation of different degrees was observed in 83.6％ and 86.1％,and marked repigmentation in 42.1％ and 50％,of the UVB-and excimer laser-treated lesions,respectively.The response rate was significantly lower in facial lesions receiving high-intensity UVB radiation than in those receiving excimer laser radiation (49.1％ vs.68.4％,x2 =4.32,P ＜ 0.05),but similar at the other body sites between the two treatment (all P ＞ 0.05).The cumulative dosage required for initial repigmentation was similar between high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser (t =0.89,P ＞ 0.05),while the treatment sessions and cumulative dosage required for marked or better repigmentation were significantly increased in UVB-compared with excimer laser-treated lesions (both P ＜ 0.01).In addition,both high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser were suitable for childhood and active vitiligo.Conclusions Both high-intensity UVB and 308-nm excimer laser are safe and effective in the treatment of vitiligo with rapid onset of action,and the latter appears to be superior to the former in efficacy.