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Psoriasis is a stigmatized skin disease. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate an Instagram based stigma-reduction intervention targeting daily Instagram users aged 18 to 49 years without psoriasis. After stratification for baseline characteristics (t0), stigmatization of psoriasis was assessed using a questionnaire and a photo-rating task immediately before (t1) and after (t2) the intervention and two weeks postintervention (t3). Data from 54 participants, recruited in a university setting and via Instagram, were analysed. For 10 min between t1 and t2, the intervention group (n=26) and the control group (n=28) scrolled through two different Instagram accounts. Psoriasissensitizing content was displayed to the intervention group while beauty-glorifying posts were shown to the control group. Results indicated significantly less Disease-related Misconceptions in the intervention group in comparison to the control group at t2 (U=145.50, Z=–3.79, p<0.001) and at t3 (U=177.00, Z=–3.25, p=0.003). Moreover, the intervention group showed a significant reduction over time in Stereotype Endorsement (F(2, 50)=13.40, p<0.001, partial η²=0.35) and Disease-related Misconceptions (χ2(2)=12.64, p=0.002). These findings suggest that addressing psoriasis on Instagram has the potential to effectively reduce the related stigmatization. Further studies are necessary to assess the impact of social media on stigmatization concerning psoriasis in more depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing patient-reported outcome measures cannot comprehensively capture the full impact of living with a dermatological condition. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptual framework on which to build a new Patient-Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD) measure. Adults (≥ 18 years of age) living with a dermatological condition, worldwide and/or representatives from a patient organization recruited via a global patient organization network, were invited to an individual or group interview. Data were analyzed thematically. Sixty-five people from 29 countries, representing 29 dermatological conditions, participated. Key themes were: (i) impacts at the individual, organizational and societal levels; (ii) impacts were point-in-time and cumulative; and (iii) impact is a multifaceted construct, with two subthemes (iiia) common impacts and (iiib) psychological and social impacts are most significant. The conceptual framework shows that impact is a multifaceted concept presenting across physical, psychological, social, financial, daily functioning and healthcare, and provides the basis for co-constructing the PRIDD with patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for automated classification of skin diseases are available to the consumer market. Studies of their diagnostic accuracy are rare. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of an open-access AI application (Skin Image Search™) for recognition of skin diseases. Clinical images including tumours, infective and inflammatory skin diseases were collected at the Department of Dermatology at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital and uploaded for classification by the online application. The AI algorithm classified the images giving 5 differential diagnoses, which were then compared to the diagnoses made clinically by the dermatologists and/or histologically. We included 521 images portraying 26 diagnoses. The diagnostic accuracy was 56.4% for the top 5 suggested diagnoses and 22.8% when only considering the most probable diagnosis. The level of diagnostic accuracy varied considerably for diagnostic groups. The online application demonstrated low diagnostic accuracy compared to a dermatologist evaluation and needs further development.

Skin disease is a common illness in most tropical regions where the pattern of clinical, presentations is dominated by infections. Along with common diseases such as pyodermas and fungal infections, a group of conditions known collectively as the neglected tropical diseases of the skin or Skin NTDs, which are the targets for worldwide control or elimination are also seen in health care facilities. These diseases range from the common, such a scabies, to those that are less frequent including leprosy and mycetoma. The initiative to use skin presentations of tropical diseases as a route to diagnosis by front line health workers is both logical and welcome. However, this requires training and monitoring and as the work gets under way, it is critically important that time invested in this programme is backed by firm and lasting commitment at regional and national levels.

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for automated classification of skin diseases are available to the consumer market. Studies of their diagnostic accuracy are rare. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of an open-access AI application (Skin Image Search™) for recognition of skin diseases. Clinical images including tumours, infective and inflammatory skin diseases were collected at the Department of Dermatology at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital and uploaded for classification by the online application. The AI algorithm classified the images giving 5 differential diagnoses, which were then compared to the diagnoses made clinically by the dermatologists and/or histologically. We included 521 images portraying 26 diagnoses. The diagnostic accuracy was 56.4% for the top 5 suggested diagnoses and 22.8% when only considering the most probable diagnosis. The level of diagnostic accuracy varied considerably for diagnostic groups. The online application demonstrated low diagnostic accuracy compared to a dermatologist evaluation and needs further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin disease is a common illness in most tropical regions where the pattern of clinical, presentations is dominated by infections. Along with common diseases such as pyodermas and fungal infections, a group of conditions known collectively as the neglected tropical diseases of the skin or Skin NTDs, which are the targets for worldwide control or elimination are also seen in health care facilities. These diseases range from the common, such a scabies, to those that are less frequent including leprosy and mycetoma. The initiative to use skin presentations of tropical diseases as a route to diagnosis by front line health workers is both logical and welcome. However, this requires training and monitoring and as the work gets under way, it is critically important that time invested in this programme is backed by firm and lasting commitment at regional and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal colouring of the nails may be a sign of underlying systemic or local disorders. This study investigated the prevalence and causes of chromonychia as a whole, as well as of each subtype. Among 163 patients with chromonychia, trauma was the pathogenesis in up to 20.9% (34/163) of cases. The most common subtype was melanonychia (54.0%; 88/163), followed by leukonychia (23.9%), red (8.6%), green (6.7%), yellow (4.9%) and blue (1.8%) nails. Nail matrix naevus (33.3%; 29/88) was the most common cause of melanonychia, while skin diseases (41.0%; 16/39), such as psoriasis (75%, 12/16) and alopecia areata (18.8%; 3/16), in addition to systemic diseases (33.3%; 13/39) including anaemia (38.5%, 5/13) and chronic renal failure (15.4%; 2/13) were the dominant causes of leukonychia. As chromonychia may be the first or only sign of an underlying disorder, it should alert physicians and patients to the need for a prompt and thorough evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and to assess the invariance of its items with respect to several patient parameters via Rasch analysis. Data were aggregated from 9,845 patients with various skin diseases across 9 hospitals in different regions of China. The response structure, local independence, and reliability of the DLQI scale were analysed in a partial credit model, and differential item functioning (DIF) across region, disease, sex, and age were assessed with a MantelHaenszel procedure. Although acceptable scale reliability (Person Separation Index=2.3) was obtained, several problems were revealed, including disordered response thresholds, misfitting items, DIF by geographical region and disease, and mis-targeting patients with mild impairment regarding health-related quality of life (HRQL). In conclusion, the DLQI provides inadequate information on patients' impairments in HRQL, and the application of the DLQI in Chinese patients with skin disease is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium intracellulare-caused pulmonary infections have mostly been reported in immunocompromi-sed hosts, while cutaneous M. intracellulare infections are rare. We describe here an immunocompetent patient with cutaneous lesions due to M. intracellulare, which was diagnosed by acid-fast staining, in vitro culture, histopathology, and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and gene sequencing of heat-shock protein (hsp) 65 and 16S rDNA genes. In vitro susceptibility testing was also carried out and the patient was successfully treated with clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothalamic--pituitary--adrenal (HPA) axis hormones and their receptors expressed in the skin are known to function locally, but how these hormones affect the maintenance of skin homeostasis or the pathogenesis of skin diseases is not fully understood. We comprehensively reviewed the distribution and function of the central and peripheral HPA axis in various stress-related skin diseases. Previous studies have shown altered expression of central and peripheral HPA axis hormones in chronic inflammatory skin diseases and skin tumours, and that hyper-active lesion al HPA axis hormones may negatively feedback to the central HPA axis and interact with some cytosine and neuropathies, leading to symptom deterioration. This provides an evidence-based understanding of the expression of the central and peripheral HPA axis in common skin diseases and its association with disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sjögren-Larsson syndrome (SLS) is a recessively inherited disease with congenital ichthyosis, spastic diplegia or tetraplegia and mental retardation, caused by a deficiency of fatty, aldehyde dehydrogenase. The aim of this study was to examine all 34 Swedish patients with SLS, emphasizing skin symptoms, dermatological treatment, and neurological symptoms (evaluated in some cases for more than 25 years by one and the same investigator). Structured interviews were conducted with the patients and their close relatives. All patients had generalized ichthyosis. The degree of scaling varied markedly interindividually from moderate to severe, but there was no obvious change with age. Most patients had pruritus, suffered from hypohidrosis, and had palmo-plantar keratoderma. Nineteen patients (56%) were on oral acitretin and all patients were using some type of topical therapy. Motor disability with spasticity and muscular paresis was most pronounced in the legs and fairly slight in the arms. Twenty patients (59%) were dependent on a wheelchair for mobility. Poor blood circulation in the lower legs and oedematons feet were frequently found in adults. All patients had learning disability, which varied from slight to pronounced and was expressed in their speech disorders. Thirteen patients (38%) were being treated medically for epilepsy and all had photophobia. In conclusion, SLS is a chronic, severely disabling neurocutaneous disease in which optimal dermatological therapy is essential to relieve at least the patient's ichthyosis problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since they were first administered to patients with anti-body deficiency disorders over 50 years ago, human intravenous immunoglobulin preparations have been used successfully to treat a rapidly increasing number of auto-immune and inflammatory disorders, among which are a series of cutaneous autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. These include dermatomyositis, Kawasaki's disease, a number of autoimmune bullous diseases, severe adverse drug reactions, and other autoimmune and/or allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis. Although only a minority of these indications (dermatomyositis, Kawasaki's disease) are officially registered or based on double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies, the observed efficacy and safety profile of currently available intravenous immunoglobulin sometimes makes this a treatment of choice for initiation of therapy or for replacement of more toxic alternatives, such as systemic immunosuppressive medications. The increasing use of intravenous immunoglobulin has been associated with further understanding of its mechanism(s) of action, clinical manipulation and associated side-effects, as well as the introduction of improved or new types of intravenous immunoglobulin. This paper reviews the current knowledge of the mode of action of intravenous immunoglobulin, its reported therapeutic effects in cutaneous disease, its mode of administration and safety profile, and compares the currently available intravenous immunoglobulin preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being common, depression often goes undetected in patients with skin diseases. Our aim was to examine and compare the performance of three depression screeners. We studied dermatological inpatients aged 18–65 years. They completed the questionnaires Primary Care Screener for Affective Disorders (PC‐SAD), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12) and were administered a standardized psychiatric interview (SCID‐I) by a mental health professional, who was unaware of the questionnaire answers. The analysis was performed on 141 patients with complete data (79% of all eligible patients, 89% of all patients who agreed to participate). The prevalence of the main forms of depression, major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, was 8.4% and 6.3%, respectively. For major depressive disorder, the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaires were as follows: PC‐SAD, 73% and 88%; PHQ, 55% and 91%; GHQ‐12, 73% and 78%. For dysthymic disorder, the sensitivity and specificity were as follows: PC‐SAD, 56% and 95%; PHQ, 44% and 90%; GHQ‐12, 56% and 76%. The small sample size suggests caution in drawing conclusions about the relative merits of these screeners. Although both the GHQ and the PHQ are short and easily hand scored, the first is a generic screener for psychiatric morbidity that is not specific for depression, while the second displayed modest sensitivity. The PC‐SAD, with short average administration time, acceptable sensitivity and high specificity, might be particularly useful in settings where the technology for computer automated scoring is available. Although screening programmes might be useful, they should be supplemented by quality improvement programmes and by the development of consultation‐liaison services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An association between pityriasis rosea and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) has been reported but remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between HHV-6 and HHV-7 with pityriasis rosea. Fifteen patients aged 6-54 years with a diagnosis of pityriasis rosea and 15 age-matched controls were recruited. None of the patients had HHV-6 or HHV-7 DNA detected by polymerase chain reaction in the acute or convalescent plasma specimen. In the acute peripheral blood leucocytes specimen, 3 patients and one control had HHV-6 DNA detected (p = 0.299; NS), while 7 patients and 5 controls had HHV-7 DNA (p = 0.355; NS). Antibody to HHV-6 was detected in the acute specimen of 13 patients and 13 controls, while antibody to HHV-7 was found in all 15 of patients and controls. We thus found no evidence of recent HHV-6 or HHV-7 infection in patients with a diagnosis of pityriasis rosea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]