Richard Brans

Clinical course of occupational irritant contact dermatitis of the hands in relation to filaggrin genotype status and atopy

Background  Filaggrin loss‐of‐function mutations and atopy may alter the clinical course of irritant contact dermatitis (ICD).

Association between tobacco smoking and prognosis of occupational hand eczema: a prospective cohort study

Hand eczema (HE) is a common occupational skin disease. Tobacco smoking is known to be associated with adverse cutaneous effects. However, its influence on the prognosis of occupational HE has not yet been studied.

Current knowledge on biomarkers for contact sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis

Contact sensitization is common and affects up to 20% of the general population. The clinical manifestation of contact sensitization is allergic contact dermatitis. This is a clinical expression that is sometimes difficult to distinguish from other types of dermatitis, for example irritant and atopic dermatitis. Several studies have examined the pathogenesis and severity of allergic contact dermatitis by measuring the absence or presence of various biomarkers. In this review, we provide a non‐systematic overview of biomarkers that have been studied in allergic contact dermatitis. These include genetic variations and mutations, inflammatory mediators, alarmins, proteases, immunoproteomics, lipids, natural moisturizing factors, tight junctions, and antimicrobial peptides. We conclude that, despite the enormous amount of data, convincing specific biomarkers for allergic contact dermatitis are yet to be described.

Stratum Corneum Tape Stripping: Monitoring of Inflammatory Mediators in Atopic Dermatitis Patients Using Topical Therapy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the tape strip sampling technique in the assessment of stratum corneum levels of inflammatory mediators in a clinical trial setting. Methods: Thirty-eight inflammatory mediators were analyzed by a multiplex-assay in the stratum corneum, collected by adhesive tapes before and after 6 weeks of therapy, in mild and moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) patients (n = 90). Treatment was a ceramide- and magnesium-containing emollient. Results: Twenty-four mediators could quantitatively be determined. The Th2 mediators interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, CCL2 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1), CCL22 (macrophage-derived chemokine), and CCL17 [thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)] were significantly decreased after therapy as well as IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8 (CXCL8), IL-10, acute-phase protein serum amyloid A, C-reactive protein, and vascular adhesion molecule-1. The decrease of CCL17 and IL-8 was correlated with the decrease in disease severity in a subgroup of moderate AD individuals. Conclusion: Stratum corneum tape stripping offers a minimally invasive approach for studying local levels of immunomodulatory molecules in the skin. CCL17 (TARC) and IL-8 were found to be the most promising biomarkers of AD and might be useful for investigating the course of skin diseases and the effect of local therapy.

Prevalence of foot eczema and associated occupational and non-occupational factors in patients with hand eczema.

Foot eczema often occurs in combination with hand eczema. However, in contrast to the situation with hand eczema, knowledge about foot eczema is scarce, especially in occupational settings.

Is ultraviolet exposure acquired at work the most important risk factor for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma? Results of the population-based case-control study FB-181

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most frequent types of cancer constituting a significant public health burden. Prevention strategies focus on limiting ultraviolet (UV) exposure during leisure time. However, the relative impact of occupational and nonoccupational UV exposure for SCC occurrence is unclear.

Multicentre cohort study ‘Rehabilitation of Occupational Skin Diseases - Optimization and Quality Assurance of Inpatient Management (ROQ)’: results from a 3-year follow-up: THREE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF ROQ STUDY

A tertiary individual prevention programme (TIP) is offered to patients with severe occupational skin disease (OSD) in Germany. Previously, it was shown that the burden of OSDs is considerably reduced in patients up to 1 year after the TIP.

No remarkable differences in rates of sensitization to common type I and IV allergens between FLG loss-of-function mutation carriers and wild-type subjects.

Loss‐of‐function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) have been associated with reduced skin barrier function, possibly allowing increased penetration of irritants and allergens.

Stratum corneum profiles of inflammatory mediators in patch test reactions to common contact allergens and sodium lauryl sulfate

Recent studies have demonstrated allergen‐specific differences in the gene expression of inflammatory mediators in patch tested skin.

A variant of the CXCL11 gene may influence susceptibility to contact allergy, particularly in polysensitized patients

Hereditary factors may influence individual susceptibility to contact allergy.