Cryptococcal Cellulitis in a Patient Immunocompromised Secondary to Cirrhosis
Dillon D Clarey, Adam V Sutton, Ryan M Trowbridge*
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, Omaha, NE
Cryptococcal cellulitis is a rare dermatologic diagnosis most often seen in immunocompromised patients. We present a case of disseminated Cryptococcus presenting as cellulitis in a patient with decompensated cirrhosis. We discuss various presentations of Cryptococcus in the skin, both as primary and disseminated disease.
View / Download Pdf Intradermal Therapy (mesotherapy) in Dermatology
Flora Canzona1, Mammucari Massimo2*, Arianna Tuzi3, Enrica Maggiori2, Maria Gabriella Grosso4, Luciano Antonaci2, Stefania Santini3, Anna Rosa Catizzone3, Fiammetta Troili3, Alessandra Gallo3, Teresa Paolucci3, Piergiovanni Rocchi3, Costanza Guglielmo3, Domenico Russo5, Chiara Giorgio6, Dario Dorato3, Raffaele Di Marzo3, Giovanna Viglione3, Anna G Fiorentini3, Manuela Giardini3, Silvia Natoli7
1Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IRCCS Foundation, Rome, Italy
2Primary Care Unit ASL RM 1, Rome, Italy
3Member of the Italian Society of Mesotherapy, Rome, Italy
4Ospedale Israelitico, Rome Italy
5San Marco Hospice and Palliative Care, Latina, Italy
6Rehabilitation Unit, F Pirinei Hospital, Altamura (BA), Italy
7Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
Mesotherapy consists of a series of micro injections in the superficial layer of the skin of active ingredients that slowly diffuse into the underlying tissues. This technique is applied in different clinical conditions and also in dermatology it could play a useful role in the treatment path of many patients. However, further clinical studies are needed to standardize its application in various dermatological pathologies. The recommendations of the Italian Mesotherapy Society aim at personalized therapy based on evidence, efficacy and safety.
View / Download Pdf Electronic Tattoos: A Promising Approach to Real-time Theragnostics
Nicholas X. Williams1, Aaron D. Franklin1,2*
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA
2Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA
Real-time monitoring of relevant biological signals, in combination with the timely delivery of target drugs, would be ideal for treating most medical conditions. However, access to biological fluids without a bulky, costly, and cumbersome apparatus remains challenging, as does the ability to deliver drugs of controlled dosage in a similarly unobtrusive fashion. The skin provides a promising medium for access and dosing using biomedical electronics, colloquially dubbed electronic tattoos. Recent developments in biologically compatible, flexible materials and devices have brought electronic tattoos closer to reality for sensing biomarkers extracted from the skin and delivering target drugs through the dermis. In this review, the materials and engineering requirements, fabrication developments, and sensing and therapeutic advancements of electronic tattoos are presented. Three components are required for a complete theragnostic electronic tattoo system: 1) supporting electronics for control and data transmission; 2) diagnostic sensors, categorized as mechanical (measure an internal stimulus) and chemical (measure a chemical change); and 3) therapeutics for drug delivery. The leading approaches for fabrication are summarized, including the transfer of flexible devices to the skin and the direct printing of devices onto the epidermis. Altogether, while significant obstacles remain, the advancements in this field show great promise for realizing electronic tattoo theragnostics to revolutionize point-of-care medicine.
View / Download Pdf Nail Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis for the Dermatologist
Rebecca Liu1, Braden M. Candela2, Joseph C English III2*
1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
2Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) may affect up to a third of patients with psoriasis. It is characterized by diverse clinical phenotypes and as such, is often underdiagnosed, leading to disease progression and poor outcomes. Nail psoriasis (NP) has been identified as a risk factor for PsA, given the anatomical connection between the extensor tendon and nail matrix. Therefore, it is important for dermatologists to screen patients exhibiting symptoms of NP for joint manifestations. On physical exam, physicians should be evaluating for concurrent skin and nail involvement, enthesitis, dactylitis, and spondyloarthropathy. Imaging modalities, including radiographs and ultrasound, may also be helpful in diagnosis of both nail and joint pathology. Physicians should refer to Rheumatology when appropriate. Numerous systemic therapies are effective at addressing both NP and PsA including DMARDs, biologics, and small molecule inhibitors. These treatments ultimately can inhibit the progression of inflammatory disease and control symptoms, thereby improving quality of life for patients.
View / Download Pdf Commentary: “Evaluating the Role of Small Particle Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Using Micro-droplet Technique in the Face, Neck and Hands: A Retrospective Chart Review”
Andreas Nikolis1,2*, Kaitlyn M. Enright2
1Associate professor of Plastic Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2Erevna Innovations Clinical Research Unit, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
Hyaluronic acid (HA) substrates in facial rejuvenation have been a long-standing staple in the aesthetic injector’s offerings. The development of different technologies, variability in the concentration of HA within the gels and different types of cross-linking methodologies have led to the development of many skews across multiple companies. When addressing micro-droplet techniques whereby small aliquots of HA are deposited in the dermis, few have developed a safety and efficacy profile that supports claims of improved skin quality. The concept of adding HA into the dermis is inherently a correct one, as this glycosaminoglycan is able to bind and retain water in a significant fashion. Successful management of skin quality requires specific quantities of HA to be precisely placed at the appropriate depth using a reproducible volume. These aforementioned factors all contribute to successful skin quality improvements. We present a clinical summary of pearls and pitfalls in managing skin quality with micro-droplet HA that we have identified over the last 4 years.
View / Download Pdf Jakarta’s Air Pollution, and the New Emerging Cause for Skin Aging
Ruri D. Pamela
Department of Dermatology, Dr. Suyoto Hospital Ministry of Defense, Jakarta, Indonesia
Air pollution as an impact of modern urbanization and industrialization continues to increase and has become a global problem. The human skin organ acts as a barrier and frontline to external environment, so it is frequently directly exposed to pollution. A Greenpeace report released in early 2019 listed Jakarta as South Asia’s most polluted city. The effect of major air pollutants such as nitric oxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter to human skin has been investigated in few studies. This article reviews how air pollutants currently perceived as a major cause of skin aging through their mechanism in damaging skin barrier and increase accumulation of reactive oxygen species.
View / Download Pdf Targeting Type 2 Inflammation for Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid
Jason S Seidman1, Dawn Z Eichenfield2, Charisse M Orme2*
1School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
2Department of Dermatology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering condition, often presenting in elderly individuals with pruritis and tense bullae. While standard treatment involves steroids, steroid sparing agents, and anti-inflammatory therapies, clinicians are increasingly utilizing novel biologics off-label for refractory cases. We recently reported a case of successful treatment of BP using dupilumab, a monoclonal interleukin 4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) antibody that modulates type 2 inflammation through dual inhibition of IL-4 and IL-13 signaling. Here, we discuss how the reported efficacy of dupilumab and certain other biologics in treating BP implicates type 2 inflammation as an important driver of BP pathogenesis. Furthermore, reports of dupilumab successfully treating patients with other pruritic dermatologic diseases highlight the importance of type 2 inflammation, particularly through IL-4Rα signaling, in chronic pruritis. The rapid development of these biologic therapies presents new opportunities for research and treatment of inflammatory dermatologic disorders.
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