F. Ayala

Acne and allergic contact dermatitis.

204 patients (43 male and 161 female; average age 19.4 years), under treatment for at least 2 months, entered our study. A special series of allergens was used for patch testing (Table 1), applied with van der Bend square chambers and read at 2 and 3 days. In the case of a positive reaction, patch tests and repeated open application tests (ROAT) were done with each component of the topical product.

The epidemiology of atopic dermatitis in Italian schoolchildren.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is common in children in industrialized countries. Only one large population study on its prevalence has been conducted in Italy, based on self‐report questionnaire. The present study was designed to estimate the prevalence of AD in schoolchildren in Italy by dermatologists’ assessment and by UK Working Party criteria, and to investigate associated symptoms and factors.

Educational and motivational support service: a pilot study for mobile‐phone‐based interventions in patients with psoriasis

Backgroundu2002 Psoriasis is a chronic disease which requires long‐term therapy. Therefore, adherence to therapy and patient motivation are key points in controlling the disease. Mobile‐phone‐based interventions, and in particular text messages (TM), have already been used effectively to motivate patients and improve treatment adherence in many different chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and asthma.

A multicentre study of contact sensitization in children

The results of 7 months of patch testing with a standard series of 26 allergens, in 323 children with eczerematous conditions or itching palmoplantar psoriasis under the age Of 14 years are reported. 114 (35.3%) of the children had 1 or more positive reactions to this standard series. 28 children (8,7%) were poly sensitive. On the basis of personal history, additional series of allergens and/or specific allergens were also tested, 61.7% (90/146) of positive reactions were considered relevant to the current dermatitis. Metals, medicaments, preservatives or fragrances, and shoe components were the major sources of contact sensitization. It is suggested that patch testing he done more frequently in evaluating dermatitis in children.

Patch testing in children

We looked through our records of patients with ulcers on the legs who had g1ven positive patch test reactions and found that the most frequent allergens were lanolin, the para group and balsam of Peru (Table 2). Our patients had positive reactions Similar to the adults. Th1s report IS of mterest because of the extreme rarity of the congemtal coagulation defect, and because 1t IS a umque expenmental model for studymg topical sensitization of chrome ulcers. Our cases show that only the zone of ulcerated skm and the Circulatory abnormalities are the major predisposmg factors for sensitizatiOn. Age and skm atrophy do not seem to be Implicated.

Effects of adalimumab therapy in adult subjects with moderate-to-severe psoriasis on Th17 pathway

Until relatively recently, psoriasis has been considered to be a mainly T helper (Th)1‐driven inflammatory disease; however, several findings have now assessed a major role for Th17 cells in its pathogenesis. Adalimumab is a biological agent that inhibits TNF‐α, a pro‐inflammatory cytokine with a pivotal role in the mechanisms of the disease.

Clinical Aspects and Comorbidities of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a disease mediated by Th1 and Th17 cytokines that has different phenotypes (plaque, guttate, pustular, and erythrodermic type). Aside from the well known psoriatic arthritis, associated disorders may occur more frequently than expected, including Crohn’s disease, anxiety/depression, and metabolic syndrome. This is based on a constellation of different factors, including abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hypertension, and glucose intolerance, and is a strong predictor of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. People with moderate to severe psoriasis have more risk for cardiac disease, presumably due to the inflammatory nature of psoriasis, causing inflammatory changes in coronary arteries. The strong association between psoriasis and obesity potentially makes psoriasis an important healthcare issue. Since cardiovascular risk factors are higher in psoriatic patients, dermatologists treating moderate to severe psoriasis should screen for their presence, thus approaching psoriasis as a potential multisystem disorder.

Quality of life in alopecia areata: a disease-specific questionnaire.

Backgroundu2002 Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease affecting about 2% of the population, which has a considerable impact on quality of life (QoL). There are no disease‐specific questionnaires to assess QoL in patients suffering from AA.

Allergic contact dermatitis due to the β-blocker befunolol in eyedrops, with cross-sensitivity to carteolol

A 59-year-old man, with no history of atopy or allergy, had long been treated for open-angle glaucoma with eyedrops containing the β-blocker betaxolol (Betoptic®) when he developed acute eyelid dermatitis, associated with conjunctival hyperaemia (Fig. 1). His condition rapidly improved after withdrawing betaxolol and using topical corticosteroids. Patch testing with the European baseline series, a preservatives series, and ophthalmic medicaments series (including no β-blockers) was negative. On patch testing with the patient’s own ophthalmic medicaments and then with ophthalmic medicaments containing betaxolol or other β-blockers, the positive reactions in Table 1 were found.

Psoriasis and melanocytic naevi: does the first confer a protective role against melanocyte progression to naevi?

Backgroundu2002 Some of the cytokines that have effects on melanogenesis are also reported to be involved in psoriasis.