Investigating the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam and laser microporation for psoriatic nail disease-A hybrid trial using a smartphone application, optical coherence tomography, and patient-reported outcome measures.

There is a lack of efficacious topical treatments for patients suffering from psoriatic nail disease (PND). We investigated the efficacy of Calcipotriol-Betamethasone Dipropionate (Cal/BD) foam with and without ablative fractional laser (AFL) in patients with PND. A total of 144 nails from 11 patients were treated in a 24-week long, open-label, randomized, intra-patient controlled proof-of-concept hybrid trial. In addition to daily Cal/BD foam application, half of each patient's psoriatic nails were randomized to receive optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided AFL treatment at baseline, 6-, and 12-week follow-ups. In-clinic assessment (N-NAIL), patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), and drug consumption were supplemented by remote evaluation of 15 subclinical OCT features, smartphone app-based safety monitoring, and photo-based assessment (NAPSI). After 24 weeks of Cal/BD foam treatment, patients achieved a significant improvement (p < 0.001) in both clinical (N-NAIL -76%, NAPSI -68%) and subclinical (OCT -43%) PND severity as well as a 71% reduction in PROMs. AFL-assisted Cal/BD treatment led to higher clinical (N-NAIL -85%, NAPSI -78%) and OCT-assessed (-46%) reduction of PND signs than Cal/BD alone (N-NAIL -66%, NAPSI -58%, OCT -37%), but did not reach statistical significance. Smartphone app images documented adverse events and mild local skin reactions, particularly erythema (75%), laser-induced swelling (28%), and crusting (27%). This hybrid trial demonstrated a reduction in clinical NAPSI and N-NAIL scores, subclinical OCT features, and PROMs, suggesting that Cal/BD foam is a safe and efficacious treatment for PND. Larger trials are warranted to prove the clinical benefit of AFL pretreatment as a Cal/BD delivery enhancer.

Advancement through epidermis using tape stripping technique and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy.

The tape stripping technique is increasingly used in research regarding skin barrier function. However, number of tape strips varies between studies, and literature considering advancement into stratum corneum/epidermis in relation to number of tape strips is scarce. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the advancement through epidermis using tape stripping technique in healthy volunteers. A total of ten healthy volunteers were included. From all volunteers 0, 5, 15 and 35 consecutive tape strips (D-squame) were taken from four adjacent skin areas on the middle volar forearm, followed by Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM) of the four areas to assess epidermal thickness. Squame Scan was used to determine amount of protein removed. Stratum corneum was completely removed in all volunteers after 35 tape strips. Advancement into epidermis was predominantly achieved by the first 15 tape strips, removing 25% of the total epidermis, whereas 35 tape strips removed 33% of epidermis. Protein removal per tape decreased with increasing depth. Information on advancement into the epidermis according to number of tape strips taken, is a significant step forward. The possibility to obtain samples from different layers of epidermis may lead to an improved understanding of skin barrier properties.

Acne Treatment With Light Absorbing Gold Microparticles and Optical Pulses: An Open-Label European Multi-Centered Study in Moderate to Moderately Severe Acne Vulgaris Patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, a novel acne treatment based on selective photothermolysis of pilosebaceous units with follicular delivery of inert gold microparticles as an exogenous chromophore and diode laser pulses has been developed. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single monotherapy treatment regimen with gold microparticles and diode laser exposure in patients with moderate and moderately severe acne. Further, to evaluate the added benefit of a second treatment regimen combined with pharmaceutical acne treatment in patients with inadequate initial response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with moderate and moderately severe facial acne were recruited in this open-label, pilot study. A single treatment regimen consisted of three weekly facial treatments with topically applied gold microparticles and diode laser pulses. Outcome measures were the proportion of patients with ≥40% improvement in number of acne lesions (weighted lesion count [WLC]) at 12 weeks (single treatment regimen, primary outcome measure), 24, and 36 weeks from baseline (two treatment regimens), safety, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were enrolled in the study (18 males, 10 females, 19 patients with moderate acne severity, 9 with moderately severe, mean age: 19.8 years). Twenty-five patients underwent analysis for outcome measures. After a single monotherapy treatment regimen, 76% patients (19/25) achieved ≥40% reduction in WLC (mean WLC reduction: 63%; SD: 13%). Of the patients undergoing two treatment regimens (n = 9 patients), 56% experienced a reduction in acne lesion burden (WLC) ≥40% at 24 weeks and 89% 36 weeks post-baseline. Mean pain score was 4.0 (SD: 1.3), and transient erythema and perifollicular edema were commonly noted after treatment. Most patients (81%) were either "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the treatment. CONCLUSION: Acne therapy based on selective photothermolysis with gold microparticles shows promise and may be used in treatment of moderate to moderately severe acne. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.