Efficacy and Safety of Low Fluence Nd:YAG Laser Treatment in Melasma: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Low-fluence, multisession therapy of Nd:YAG laser has been widely used for treating melasma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-fluence Nd:YAG laser toning for melasma using a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched till December 2020. A total of 50 studies (1,772 patients) and 66 studies were selected for the evaluation of the efficacy and complications, retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean Melasma Area and Severity Index/modified Melasma Area and Severity Index scores for laser toning as monotherapy at <4, 4 to <8, 8 to <12, 12 to <24, and ≥24 weeks after treatment compared with that at pretreatment were -0.51, -0.91, -0.97, -0.92, 0.01 SD, whereas those as combination therapy were -1.64, -1.26, -0.94, not available, -1.45 SD, respectively. An increase in light value and a decrease in relative lightness index have remained up to 8 weeks after laser toning. Complications including hypopigmentation/leukoderma, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and recurrence were noted. The incidence of hypopigmentation/leukoderma correlated with the number of laser sessions (p = .036). CONCLUSION: Low-fluence Nd:YAG laser toning as combination therapy has shown better efficacy than monotherapy and the efficacy seems to diminish with time. This study suggests the positive correlation of hypopigmentation/leukoderma with the number of laser sessions.

Factors Affecting Depth of Penetration in Microneedling- and Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery: The Importance of Timing of Topical Application.

BACKGROUND: Microneedling- and laser-assisted drug delivery are emerging techniques used to treat various conditions. However, key parameters affecting drug penetration remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the importance of timing of topical application, needle length, and device type for drug delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skin harvested from cosmetic surgeries was treated with black ink applied before or after treatment with a microneedling pen (MP), roller, or fractional ablative CO2 laser, and incubated for different time intervals. Ink penetration was additionally tested using different needle lengths. Sandwich estimator was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Ink applied before MP penetrated deeper compared to ink applied afterward at 1 and 3 hours, and roller microneedling in both the ink-before and -after scenarios at 1, 3, and 6 hours (p < .05). Microneedling demonstrated lateral extension of ink beyond microchannels with increased ink penetration over time. CO2 laser demonstrated ink localization within microthermal zones without time-dependent increases in depth after 30 minutes. Ink penetration increases by 0.06 mm per 1 mm increase in needle length. CONCLUSION: Ink applied before MP results in the deepest penetration of ink. Microneedling offers unique advantages in transdermal delivery as its channels exhibit increasing penetration over time and lateral extension of product.

This "mite" Surprise You: Scabies Masquerading as Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis - A Case Report.

Introduction: Scabies is a common parasitic infestation caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Scabies can mimic other entities clinically, resulting in misdiagnosis. The presence of a mite in the stratum corneum on biopsy specimens is diagnostic of scabies. However, there are instances when mites are not visible, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining may be misleading. An example is when IHC demonstrates Cluster of Differentiation 1a and S100 positivity. The main differential diagnosis for this finding is Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a group of idiopathic disorders of bone marrow-derived Langerhans cells, with manifestations ranging from isolated to life-threatening multisystem disease. Case Presentation: We present a case of a patient who was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis based on histological findings, further review with a repeat reading and deeper sectioning of her biopsy revealed a mite in the stratum corneum, altering the diagnosis, course, and management. She subsequently developed persistent post-scabietic nodules, an underreported entity that may occur following infestation and persist for up to a year. These lesions are self-limiting and do not require repeated courses of treatment. Conclusion: Langerhans cell hyperplasia may be seen in a multitude of entities, including scabies. Familiarity with this phenomenon is crucial to avoid unnecessary invasive investigations, aggressive management and alleviate patients' concerns.

Laboratory Monitoring in Isotretinoin Therapy for Acne: How Long and How Often Must We Test Our Patients?

The optimal frequency and timing of laboratory monitoring during isotretinoin treatment remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the frequency, timing, and severity of abnormal results during isotretinoin for acne. We conducted a retrospective cohort study comprising 444 acne patients prescribed isotretinoin at Boston Medical Center from 2004 to 2017; these patients had at least one available baseline laboratory result. We categorized patients into two groups: group A (normal values at baseline and during the first 2 months of isotretinoin therapy) and group B (abnormal values at baseline or during the first 2 months of isotretinoin therapy) and assessed the laboratory values after 2 months. The frequency of abnormal results for triglycerides, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) after 2 months for patients in group A was 21.1%, 13.6%, 8.8%, and 6.0%, respectively, with very rare grade 2 (moderate) or higher abnormalities. In contrast, the frequency of abnormal results for patients in group B for triglycerides, cholesterol, AST, and ALT was higher at 67.9%, 88.0%, 40.0%, and 25.0%, respectively (P < 0.05, except for ALT). No patient developed higher than grade 1 (mild) complete blood count (CBC) abnormality. This study proposed that healthy patients with normal results at baseline and during the first 2 months of isotretinoin therapy might not need routine monitoring after month 2 of medication. Routine monitoring of CBC is not necessary.

A Novel PTRH2 Gene Mutation Causing Infantile-onset Multisystem Neurologic, Endocrine, and Pancreatic Disease in a Bahraini Patient.

Infantile-onset multisystem neurologic, endocrine, and pancreatic disease (IMNEPD) is a rare autosomal recessive multisystemic disease with a prevalence of < 1/1 000 000. The wide spectrum of symptoms and associated diseases makes the diagnosis of this disease particularly challenging. Here, we report a 12-year-old Bahraini male who presented with the core clinical features of IMNEPD including intellectual disability, global developmental delay, sensorineural hearing loss, endocrine dysfunction, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing using whole exome sequencing. This is the first reported case of IMNEPD from Bahrain and was found to have a novel homozygous peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase 2 (PTRH2) gene mutation (NM_001015509.2: c.370del p.(Glu124Lysfs*4)). Moreover, we conducted an extensive literature review with an emphasis on the variable clinical spectrum and genotypes of previously reported patients in comparison to our case.

An Uncommon Presentation of Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare autoimmune disorder of newborns and infants, born to usually asymptomatic mothers with lupus erythematosus. Clinical manifestations include variable cutaneous findings, with possible cardiac or hepatic involvement. We present a case of a 3-month-old baby girl with NLE, born to an asymptomatic mother. Her atypical clinical presentation included hypopigmented atrophic scars on the temples. She improved with topical pimecrolimus cream, with almost complete resolution of the facial lesions and improvement in atrophy noted at the 4-month follow-up visit. Cutaneous findings of hypopigmentation and atrophic scarring are less commonly reported. To our knowledge, no similar cases have been published in the Middle East. We aim to share this interesting case, highlight the different clinical presentations of NLE and raise awareness among physicians about this variable phenotype of NLE for timely diagnosis of this uncommon entity.

Metagenomics Approaches to Investigate the Neonatal Gut Microbiome.

Early infancy is critical for the development of an infant's gut flora. Many factors can influence microbiota development during the pre- and postnatal periods, including maternal factors, antibiotic exposure, mode of delivery, dietary patterns, and feeding type. Therefore, investigating the connection between these variables and host and microbiome interactions in neonatal development would be of great interest. As the "unculturable" era of microbiome research gives way to an intrinsically multidisciplinary field, microbiome research has reaped the advantages of technological advancements in next-generation sequencing, particularly 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun sequencing, which have considerably expanded our knowledge about gut microbiota development during early life. Using omics approaches to explore the neonatal microbiome may help to better understand the link between the microbiome and newborn diseases. Herein, we summarized the metagenomics methods and tools used to advance knowledge on the neonatal microbiome origin and evolution and how the microbiome shapes early and late individuals' lives for health and disease. The way to overcome limitations in neonatal microbiome studies will be discussed.

Chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) method for atrophic scars: A comprehensive review.

BACKGROUND: Chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) applies a high strength acid focally to treat atrophic scars. Although this method has gained popularity over the past two decades, no standardized treatment guideline exists for CROSS method in the treatment of atrophic scars. AIMS: The purpose of this comprehensive review was to evaluate the indications, detailed techniques, efficacy, and safety of CROSS method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extensive literature review was conducted to identify articles relating to CROSS method for atrophic scars from 2002 to 2018. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 19 articles meeting criteria. CROSS method has been used for the treatment of acne scars, varicella scars, enlarged pores, and depressed surgical scars. In studies using the quantile grading scale for acne scars, 60%-100% of patients showed >25% improvement. In two studies for varicella scars, 83%-100% of patients showed >25% improvement. CROSS method seems to be effective specifically for ice-pick scars. It is well tolerated and safe in Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-V. Most reported complications are temporary and include postinflammatory dyspigmentation, erythema, pain, pruritus, infection, and widening of scars. CONCLUSION: This literature review suggests that CROSS method is a safe and effective treatment for atrophic scars, especially ice-pick scars, in skin types I-V. However, current published works have several limitations, including small sample sizes, lack of control group, different concentrations of acid, different frequency of treatments, and follow-up periods. Larger, randomized, controlled studies are needed to elucidate the optimal treatment protocol of CROSS method.

Skin diseases in Asian individuals that you do not want to miss: A selection of unique or relatively more common conditions in Asian populations.

The Asian population currently constitutes a simple majority of the global population, comprising nearly 60%. The percentage of the US population that identifies as Asian is expected to grow to 41 million by the year 2050, making up an eventual 9% of the US population. As the world and US populations of Asian individuals increase, the demand for dermatologic care from this population will increase, requiring dermatologists to become more familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of Asian-specific skin characteristics and diseases. In this contribution, we review skin conditions specific to or relatively more common in Asian patients to help recognition and management of diseases in an increasing Asian patient population. We discuss prurigo pigmentosa, primary cutaneous plasmacytosis, lipodystrophia centrifugalis abdominalis infantilis, Epstein-Barr viru-positive T- and natural killer-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules, and BehÒ«et disease.