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Purpose: Tildrakizumab is a selective inhibitor of IL-23 approved for the treatment of moderate-tosevere plaque psoriasis in two dosages. We conducted a 16-week multicenter retrospective study to compare the effectiveness and safety of tildrakizumab 200mg versus tildrakizumab 100mg in patients with a high disease burden or high body weight. Materials and methods: Our retrospective study included 134 patients treated with tildrakizumab 200mg and 364 patients treated with tildrakizumab 100mg from 28 Italian Dermatology Units affected by moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The patients had a body weight above 90kg or a high disease burden (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI]≥16 or the involvement of difficult-to-treat areas). We evaluated the effectiveness of tildrakizumab at the week-16 visit in terms of PASI90, PASI100 and absolute PASI ≤ 2. Results: After 16weeks of treatment with tildrakizumab 200mg, PASI90 was reached by 57.5% of patients and PASI100 by 39.6% of patients. At the same time point, 34.3% and 24.2% of patients treated with tildrakizumab 100mg achieved PASI90 and PASI100, respectively. Conclusions: Our data suggest that tildrakizumab 200mg has better effectiveness than tildrakizumab 100mg in patients with a body weight ≥ 90kg and a high disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin (IL)-17A approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and children. We compared the efficacy and safety of secukinumab in patients aged < 65 years (adult patients) versus patients aged ≥ 65 years (elderly patients) in a post-hoc analysis of the SUPREME study. Patients and Methods: Patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis received subcutaneous secukinumab 300 mg per week for the first 5 weeks, then 300 mg per month. We compared the following outcomes in patients aged ≥ 65 years vs < 65 years: baseline characteristics; PASI50/75/90/100 response rates (improvements ≥ 50%/75%/90%/100% in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) from baseline); changes in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD-A, HAD-D) score changes; treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Results: Secukinumab was slightly less effective in elderly patients than in adult patients (response rates at week 16: PASI90, 69.4% vs 80.9%, p = 0.4528; PASI100, 44.4% vs 56.7%, p = 0.8973). Elderly and adult patients showed a similar time course of changes in absolute PASI scores. Patients aged ≥ 65 years had a statistically significantly lower improvement in quality of life (mean DLQI reduction) than patients aged < 65 years at week 16 [− 5.4 (± 4.3) vs − 8.8 (± 6.9), p = 0.0065] and at week 24 [− 5.3 (± 4.4) vs − 9.2 (± 7.1), p = 0.0038]. Secukinumab treatment resulted in comparable mean reductions in anxiety and depression scores in both cohorts at 24 weeks [HAD-A, − 1.3 (± 3.3) vs − 2.1 (± 3.8), p = 0.9004; HAD-D, − 1.0 (± 3.3) vs − 1.5 (± 3.1), p = 0.4598]. The frequency of TEAEs in the two cohorts was similar (16.7% vs 14.6%, p = 0.7391). Conclusion: Secukinumab is a valid option for the management of moderate to severe psoriasis in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PsO) are among the most common diseases in the daily clinical practice. Usually, AD and PsO are reported as two diseases that cannot coexist in the same patient because this requires the activation of opposing inflammatory pathways. Anyway, some reports highlight how AD and PsO may coexist in the same patient or develop consequently. In this short report we collected 12 patients that developed new AD or PsO. Among them, eight patients (n = 8; 3M:5F) with a previous diagnosis of PsO, developed subsequently an AD with a mean time of onset of 71.5 months. Out of eight patients, four patients where in treatment with ustekinumab, one with ixekizumab, two with adalimumab, and one with guselkumab. All new onset AD have been treated with topical medicaments, except one case that performed dupilumab. Contrariwise, four patients with a baseline AD developed a PsO with a mean time of onset of 25 months. Two AD patients were under dupilumab treatment, while the other two patients performed only topical treatments. All patients showed an improvement of the new onset PsO with topical treatment only. This report highlights how AD and PsO are not mutually exclusive diseases. The mechanisms by which AD patients develop PsO or psoriatic patients develop AD are still not very clear; some triggers can promote these processes, such as systemic therapies. Therefore, clinicians should carefully evaluate any changes in these patients, in order to reach a correct diagnosis and carry out a relative treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of early-stage penile carcinoma is usually represented by wide excision or partial penectomy with or without inguinal lymph node dissection. However, laser ablation of the tumor may have a prominent role as an organ-sparing approach. In this regard, the combination of UltraPulse CO2 laser and photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be a valid option, especially when surgery is not feasible or refused. UltraPulse CO2 laser allows for the formation of gentle cutaneous abrasion that destroys the malignant tissue and, at the same time, improving the uptake of methyl aminolevulinate and amplifying the photochemical reaction of PDT in the tumor and surrounding tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, ex vivo hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell gene therapy (HSPC-GT) using a lentiviral vector (LV) has resulted in an alternative treatment strategy for WAS patients without a suitable matched donor. The indication for allogeneic HSCT in WAS was initially restricted to patients with severe manifestations, while other patients were managed conservatively. Immune reconstitution was achieved in both patients, with earlier discontinuation of immunoglobulin supplementation in the patient treated with HSPC-GT. However, the choice of the most appropriate treatment should be tailored on the single patient, based on donor availability and careful evaluation of patient's specific risk-benefit profile. [Extracted from the article]

Background and objectives: Vitiligo is an acquired chronic and idiopathic skin disorder, characterized by selective loss of melanocytes and resulting in a cutaneous depigmentation. Treatment for vitiligo remains a challenge for dermatologists; thus, it is frustrating both for physicians and patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate a combination treatment characterized by the use of a leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, which is particularly rich in monocytes (defined here as monocyte-rich PRP), in combination with a 1927 nm fraxel laser and a 308 nm excimer laser. Materials and Methods: Treatment with monocyte-rich PRP combined with 1927 nm fraxel laser and 308 nm excimer laser was performed in nine sessions in 80 days and the median follow-up of the patients was 10 months. A total of 27 Caucasian patients were included in the present study. The median age of patients was 41 years, ranging between 20 and 69 years. Results: A re-pigmentation occurred in 16 cases (59%) with a reduction of the Vitiligo Extent Score (VES) and absence of re-pigmentation in untreated areas. Performing a rank correlation between VES and re-pigmentation in the treated areas, we found that there was a significant correlation (p < 0.0001). The presence of progressive vitiligo (p = 0.1) and the anatomic areas (p = 0.1) did not influence the treatment. Untreated areas did not show any improvement of the depigmented lesions, except in one case (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: in this report, we show for the first time how PRP rich in monocytes, in combination with laser therapies, gives a long therapeutic response, which persists even after 10 months of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common type of skin cancer in the world, usually arises in sun‐exposed areas of the skin. The therapeutic approach to periocular BCC has changed in the last few years. Currently the treatment, considering the delicate localization of the disease, must not only ensure complete recovery from the neoplastic disease, but must also satisfy functional and aesthetic criteria. In this study we tried to evaluate the efficacy of CO2 laser and photodynamic therapy in periocular BCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented related to Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma of the face.

A barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration was also used in one patient (Figure 1A). Int J Oral Sci. 2019; 11: 30. 5 Raimondo A, Lembo S, Caiazzo G, Di Caprio R, Balato A. Anti IL-17 therapy rapidly decreases osteoclast activity in psoriatic patients: a novel quality in addition to its efficacy and safety. Paradoxical psoriasis after the use of anti-TNF in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. [Extracted from the article]

Dear Editor, A 68-year-old Caucasian man presented to our Institute with a 2-year history of keratotic, erosive, pustular, and crusting lesions of the scalp (Figure a) arose after the treatment of actinic keratoses with cryotherapy, imiquimod 5% cream, and local trauma. Based on the extent of cutaneous lesions, a combined treatment with fractional 1,927 nm Thulium laser (TL) plus photodynamic therapy (PDT) was proposed. TL, Thulium laser; PDT, photodynamic therapy gl EPDS is a rare inflammatory disease, typically affecting elderly people, characterized by keratotic, erosive, pustular, and crusting lesions (Grubbs & Robb, [1]). [Extracted from the article]

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new pathogen agent causing the coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19). This novel virus originated the most challenging pandemic in this century, causing economic and social upheaval internationally. The extreme infectiousness and high mortality rates incentivized the development of vaccines to control this pandemic to prevent further morbidity and mortality. This international scenario led academic scientists, industries, and governments to work and collaborate strongly to make a portfolio of vaccines available at an unprecedented pace. Indeed, the robust collaboration between public systems and private companies led to resolutive actions for accelerating therapeutic interventions and vaccines mechanism. These strategies contributed to rapidly identifying safe and effective vaccines as quickly and efficiently as possible. Preclinical research employed animal models to develop vaccines that induce protective and long-lived immune responses. A spectrum of vaccines is worldwide under investigation in various preclinical and clinical studies to develop both individual protection and safe development of population-level herd immunity. Companies employed and developed different technological approaches for vaccines production, including inactivated vaccines, live-attenuated, non-replicating viral vector vaccines, as well as acid nucleic-based vaccines. In this view, the present narrative review provides an overview of current vaccination strategies, taking into account both preclinical studies and clinical trials in humans. Furthermore, to better understand immunization, animal models on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis are also briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ex-vivo fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM) is an emerging technique that has demonstrated high levels of accuracy in diagnosis and margins assessment in NMSC (Bennassar, Vilata, Puig, & Malvehy, [1]). (c) A detail of the lesion shows, in digital ex-vivo FCM, the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate with a dense elastosis and an excoriated epidermis, in absence of residual tumor. GLO:ETZ/01nov19:dth13127-fig-0003.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): (a, b) Digital ex-vivo FCM microscopy allowed to immediately identify the tumor, identifying the basaloid cells of BCC, without any involvement of the margins by the tumor. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a case study of a 30-year-old white female, with a skin phototype II. It is noted that her diagnosis revealed that she was suffering from Acral pseudolymphomatous angiokeratoma of children (APACHE), a rare benign dermatosis also classified as pseudolymphoma. The article adds that patient underwent a treatment with CO2 laser, which proved effective as compared to Pulsed dye laser (PDL), topical , and radiotherapy.