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Oral neomycin administration impacts the gut microbiome and delays vitiligo development in mice, and topical antibiotics may likewise allow the microbiome to preserve skin health and delay depigmentation. Here, we examined the effects of 6‐week topical antibiotic treatment on vitiligo‐prone pmel‐1 mice. Bacitracin, Neosporin, or Vaseline were applied to one denuded flank, while the contralateral flank was treated with Vaseline in all mice. Ventral depigmentation was quantified weekly. We found that topical Neosporin treatment significantly reduced depigmentation and exhibited effects beyond the treated area, while Bacitracin ointment had no effect. Stool samples collected from four representative mice/group during treatment revealed that Neosporin treatment aligned with reduced abundance of the Alistipes genus in the gut, while relevant changes to the skin microbiome at end point were less apparent. Either antibiotic treatment led to reduced expression of MR1, potentially limiting mucosal‐associated invariant T‐cell activation, while Neosporin‐treated skin selectively revealed significantly reduced CD8+ T‐cell abundance. The latter finding aligned with reduced expression of multiple inflammatory markers and markedly increased regulatory T‐cell density. Our studies on favorable skin and oral antibiotic treatment share the neomycin compound, and in either case, microbial changes were most apparent in stool samples. Taken together, neomycin‐containing antibiotic applications can mediate skin Treg infiltration to limit vitiligo development. Our study highlights the therapeutic potential of short‐term antibiotic applications to limit depigmentation vitiligo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A variety of therapeutic approaches have been introduced for striae distensae (SD) with modest outcomes. Fractional carbon dioxide laser (FCL) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are effective separately in improving SD. Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of topically applied PRP combined with FCL in the management of SD. Patients and methods: In this prospective, single-blinded, randomized, comparative intrapatient study, 24 patients with bilateral SD lesions were subjected to FCL on both sides and followed by topical application of PRP on one side only allocated by simple randomization. The sessions were performed biweekly for a total of six sessions. Overall clinical improvement was graded using the Quartile Grading Scale. Biopsies, before and after treatment, were stained with H and E, Masson's trichrome, and Orcein stains. In addition, collagen I and elastin immunohistochemical staining were performed. Results: In this study of 24 SD patients (19 females, 5 males; aged 19–39 years), topical PRP with FCL achieved moderate to excellent outcomes 3 months after the last session. Early striae rubra improved after the initial session, reaching marked excellent outcomes within a month after the second session. Manageable side effects were reported. Histological examination showed improved epidermal and dermal thickness, collagen, and elastic fiber quality after treatment, with the combined PRP and FCL side exhibiting more significant outcomes than the FCL-treated side. Conclusion: Topical PRP application post-FCL proves to be a highly effective therapeutic approach for SD, expressing superior treatment outcomes, and heightened patient satisfaction compared with the use of FCL alone. In additio, topical application is preferred over intradermal injection, offering practicality, effectiveness, and noninvasiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pityriasis alba is a common skin condition that may be challenging to treat, especially in patients with darker skin type where the hypopigmentation may be more noticeable and represents a major cosmetic concern. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of three cost-effective treatments of PA in comparison with placebo. This prospective study was conducted on 80 patients complaining from PA and divided into 4 equal groups according the received topical treatment on the target lesions twice daily for 8 weeks (Calcipotriol 0.005% cream, Tacrolimus 0.03% ointment, topical corticosteroid; Clobetasone butyrate 0.05% cream and Petrolatum as Placebo). Clinical evaluation, Physician Global Assessment, Patient's satisfaction levels as well as point counting planimetry were done for evaluation of the response. Significant improvement of scaling and erythema within 3 weeks after initiation of therapy and hypopigmentation by the 8th week, except for those received placebo. Tarolimus 0.03% ointment showed simple superiority over both Calcipotriol 0.005% cream and topical corticosteroid as regards repigmenation, although, the later received the highest level of patient satisfaction. The three treatments were superior to placebo with relative superiority to Tacrolimus 0.03% due to limited side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Moetaz. El-Domyati, Mahmoud. Abo-Elenin, Wael. El-Din, Hossam. Abdel-Wahab, Hamza. Abdel-Raouf, Tarek. El-Amawy, Manal. Barakat, Mahmoud. Hamdy Background: Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infection is considered a major worldwide public health problem [...]

Background Linear immunoglobulin A disease ( LAD), also known as linear Ig A bullous dermatosis, is an autoimmune disorder characterized by subepidermal bullae caused by Ig A autoantibodies directed against several antigens located in the basement membrane zone of the skin. Laminin 5 (laminin-332) is considered a key component of the lamina lucida/lamina densa interface, which provides stable attachment of the epidermis to the dermis. Meanwhile, collagen IV is a major component of the lamina densa. Laminin 5 and collagen IV bind to the cell membrane and induce cytoskeletal rearrangements, which contribute to the basement membrane's final mat-like structure. The study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical staining of laminin 5 and collagen IV and to identify the site of blister formation in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsies from adults with LAD. Methods Skin biopsies from 20 adult patients with LAD were subjected to routine hematoxylin-eosin as well as immunohistochemical staining of collagen IV and laminin 5. Results Linear staining was positive on the floor of the blister for laminin 5 in 65% and collagen IV in 90% of biopsies denoting that the site of separation in most cases of LAD is above the lamina densa. Conclusions The use of laminin 5 and collagen IV immunohistochemistry can be considered as an adjuvant diagnostic tool and may aid in the identification of the site of blister formation in routine skin biopsies in adults with LAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo has a complex multifactorial etiology involving a T-cell mediated autoimmune response to cutaneous melanocytes. Microbial dysbiosis has been assigned a contributing role in vitiligo etiology. Treating vitiligo can be a challenging task and finding novel treatment approaches is crucial. Here, we tested exopolysaccharides (EPS) isolated from B.subtilis as a microbiome-based therapy. Vitiligo-prone h3TA2 mice were treated by weekly intraperitoneal EPS injection for 18 weeks. Depigmentation was measured over time, measuring immune responses at end point. EPS treatment significantly limited the rate of depigmentation. The abundance of cutaneous T cells, specifically CD8+ cytotoxic T cells was reduced while regulatory T cells were more abundant in the skin of treated mice compared to untreated mice. Moreover, EPS treatment was associated with increased numbers of splenic M2 macrophages, elevated splenic IDO expression and a systemic cytokine shift towards a type 2 pattern of cytokines. Importantly, splenocytes retrieved from EPS-treated mice were less responsive to cognate tyrosinase peptide as demonstrated by limited release of IFN- g and other inflammatory cytokines. In summary, EPS isolated from B. subtilis interfered with T-cell mediated depigmentation in the h3TA2 mouse model of vitiligo suggesting that B. subtilis EPS could serve as a novel treatment entity for vitiligo., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)