Profound Sexual Dysfunction Among Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual health, a critical aspect of overall well-being, is often compromised in individuals with chronic disorders. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that mainly affects intertriginous areas, potentially impacting sexual health as a result of its specific symptoms and psychosocial burden. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the EpiCAi project, focusing on 199 patients with HS. Participants completed digital questionnaires assessing sexual health via sex-specific instruments: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for women and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) for men, alongside different psychosocial scales. The disease severity was assessed using the Hurley stage and the Lesion Identification Scheme for Acne Inversa (LISAI). RESULTS: The majority of the participants reported impaired sexual health, with significant clinical sexual dysfunctions noted in 71.8% of women (FSFI score < 26) and erectile dysfunction in 63.8% of men. Sexual dysfunction was associated with several factors, including age, and marital status. Psychosocial factors, notably depression and quality of life, showed strong correlations with sexual health outcomes. Notably, women over 40 and those treated with biologics reported more severe dysfunction, while among men, employment status significantly influenced sexual health. CONCLUSIONS: HS profoundly affects the sexual health of both male and female patients, with significant impacts on their quality of life and psychological well-being. The findings underscore the necessity for healthcare providers to address sexual health proactively in the management of HS, considering both physical symptoms and psychosocial impacts. This holistic approach is essential for improving patient outcomes and overall quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Register for Clinical Trials, identifier DRKS00025315.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of the LAight-therapy in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)/Acne inversa (Ai) is a chronic debilitating disease with limited therapy options. The device-based LAight therapy was approved in Europe in 2017. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of real-world care with at least one treatment with LAight therapy on disease activity and burden in 3,437 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were included in the analysis if they had a diagnosis of HS and received at least one treatment. The endpoints Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4), pain on the numeric rating scale (pain-NRS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were analyzed using a linear mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM) over 26 weeks of care with LAight therapy. Furthermore, responder rates were calculated for all endpoints, and the therapy's safety profile and patient satisfaction were thoroughly examined. RESULTS: A significant decrease in IHS4, pain-NRS, and DLQI was achieved during 26 weeks of care with LAight. The BMI at baseline had a significant negative effect on therapy response for pain-NRS and DLQI. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that LAight therapy leads to satisfactory disease control in all stages of severity and is a valuable addition to the therapeutic repertoire of HS.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Is Associated with Severe Sexual Impairment.

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, often affecting and deforming intimate regions. HS is associated with severe pain, pruritus, and constant, purulent, malodorous discharge expected to impair sexual health of patients. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional, multicentric study involving 199 German patients from the health services research project "Epidemiology and Care in Acne inversa (EpiCAi)." The sexual health, HS severity, and quality of life of the studied group were evaluated using a specially designed questionnaire. RESULTS: Regardless of gender, HS has an enormous impact on patients' sexual health. The patients scored, on average, 28.8 ± 5.3 points on the Relation and Sexuality Scale (RSS). Multiple linear regression revealed that females and patients with Hurley III stage had higher sexual dysfunction (p = 0.012). Sexual dysfunction is associated with pain (ß = 0.25), the number of active lesions, the affected areas (ß = 0.14), and psychosocial aspects, including low quality of life (ß = 0.404), stigmatization (ß = 0.411), depression (ß = 0.413), and anxiety (ß = 0.300). Patients already see a substantial decrease in sexual frequency in the early stages of HS, while functional impairment and fear increase with the severity of the disease. CONCLUSION: Sexual health and management of its dysfunctions should be part of a holistic approach to HS patients.

Proteomic Profiling of Fibroblasts Isolated from Chronic Wounds Identifies Disease-Relevant Signaling Pathways.

Chronic skin wounds accompany many prevalent age-related diseases and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Both keratinocytes and fibroblasts contribute to the pathomechanisms in chronic skin wounds. Dysregulated pathways in the epidermis have been extensively studied, but little is known of the influence of dermal fibroblasts on chronic wounding. We isolated fibroblasts from chronic wounds, propagated them in vitro, and analyzed them using proteomic profiling in combination with functional characterization of the proteomic changes. Chronic wound-associated fibroblasts exhibit a unique proteome profile characteristic of lysosomal dysfunction and dysregulated TGFß signaling. They display a decreased propensity for cell proliferation and migration, combined with an enhanced ability to contract the extracellular matrix. With these properties, chronic wound-associated fibroblasts actively contribute to pathological inabilities to close wounds and represent potential targets for pharmacological interference for changing cellular phenotypes.

Analysis of the status quo of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in dermatosurgery in Germany: results of the DESSI-study.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) is recommended for the prevention of postoperative infections by the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO) at the Robert Koch Institute. However, how PAP is currently used in the field of dermatosurgery in Germany is unclear. METHODS: All members of the German Society for Dermatosurgery (DGDC) were asked to participate in a web-based survey in order to investigate the use of PAP by German dermatological surgeons. RESULTS: 78 DGDC members completed the questionnaire. Of these, 89.7 % (70/78) were medical specialists with a median work experience of 15 years in the field of dermatosurgery, and 53.8 % (42/78) of the respondents regularly use PAP in dermatosurgery. Of these, 35.7 % (15/42) reported that they perform PAP for immunocompromised patients. Only a small proportion of skin surgeons stated that they administer PAP parenterally (5.9 %, 4/67). The most commonly used drug was cephalosporin cefuroxime. The duration of the PAP varied between single-dose and prolonged administration for more than five days. CONCLUSION: Currently, the use of PAP in dermatosurgical procedures in Germany is not standardized. Prospective randomized dermatosurgical studies are needed in order to investigate whether the PAP recommendations of KRINKO are applicable to the field of dermatological surgery.

Serotoninergic receptors on human airway epithelial cells.

There is accumulating evidence that points to a role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) in the pathophysiology of asthma. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of serotoninergic receptors (5-HTR), its linkage to intracellular calcium homeostasis, and its influence on the production and secretion of IL-6, prostaglandin E(2), the CCL-Chemokine CCL5/Rantes, and the CXC-chemokines CXCL8/IL-8, CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP-10, and CXCL11/I-TAC in primary alveolar epithelial cells type II and the human lung cell lines A549 and BEAS-2B. Employing a PCR approach we were able to demonstrate mRNA expression of several 5-HTR, such as the heptahelical receptors 5-HTR1A, 5-HTR1B, 5-HTR1E, 5-HTR1F, 5-HTR2A, 5-HTR4, 5-HTR6, and 5-HTR7, as well as the ligand-gated ion channel 5-HTR3 in alveolar epithelial cells type II (AEC-II), A549, and BEAS-2B cells. To verify functional expression of 5-HTR subtypes, Ca(2+)-transients were analyzed. This enabled us to show that 5-HT induced an increase in intracellular calcium. Further experiments with isotype-selective receptor agonists allowed us to demonstrate that 5-HT induced calcium transients via activation of 5-HTR1, 5-HTR2, and 5-HTR3 in A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Moreover, we revealed that stimulation of 5-HTR1 and 5-HTR2 induced Ca(2+) mobilization from intracellular stores, whereas activation of 5-HTR3 induced Ca(2+) influx from the extracellular space. Functional studies indicated that activation of 5-HTR1B, 5-HTR1E/F, 5-HTR2, 5-HTR3, 5-HTR4, and 5-HTR7 regulated the release of the cytokine IL-6 and the CXC-chemokine CXCL8/IL-8. Our study shows that 5-HT stimulates different signaling pathways and regulates cytokine release in airway epithelial cells. In summary, our data implicate a pathophysiologic role of 5-HT in the asthmatic inflammatory responses in human airway epithelial cells.

The P2Y14 receptor of airway epithelial cells: coupling to intracellular Ca2+ and IL-8 secretion.

Uridine nucleotides and UDP-glucose are endogenous molecules, which are released into the extracellular environment in a lytic manner after cell damage, as well as by regulated nonlytic mechanisms. Recently, a UDP-glucose-specific G(i) protein-coupled P2Y receptor, namely P2Y(14), has been cloned. In this study, we demonstrated expression of the P2Y(14) mRNA in human lung epithelial cells and in the epithelial cell lines A549 and BEAS-2B. Evidence of functional expression of the P2Y(14) receptor in these cell lines was provided by calcium measurements after stimulation with uridine 5'-diphosphoglucose (UDP-glc). Experiments with pertussis toxin and the Ca(2+)-chelator EGTA revealed participation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i/o)-proteins in the mobilization of Ca(2+)-ions from intracellular stores by UDP-glc. Moreover, UDP-glc increased secretion of the potent neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL8/IL-8 in A549 and BEAS-2B cells in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. Moreover, reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that UDP-glc modulated mRNA levels of IL-8/CXCL8. However, stimulation of A549 and BEAS-2B cells with UDP-glc neither modified basal nor cytokine-induced secretion of the CXC-chemokines CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP-10, and CXCL11/I-TAC. In addition, UDP-glc did not affect proliferation of the two cell lines. In summary, our data provide evidence for a distinct physiologic role of P2Y(14) in the selective release of specific chemokines from human airway epithelial cells.