Current challenges in diagnosing and treating infectious skin diseases - a case series. / Choroby zakazne skóry jako wciaz aktualny problem diagnostyczny i terapeutyczny ­ przeglad nietypowych przypadków klinicznych.

Infectious skin diseases constitute a significant public health problem. Despite the systematic development of many modern diagnostic and therapeutic tools, they still pose a serious challenge for clinicians. Due to their prevalence and mild course in most cases, they are often marginalized, which can delay their diagnosis and treatment initiation. Such an approach in more clinically advanced cases can have serious consequences, sometimes leading to tragic outcomes. This work presents a series of four cases of common infectious skin diseases with an unusually atypical clinical picture: the history of a 49-year-old female patient with recurrent erysipelas of the right lower leg co-occurring with a SARS-CoV-2 infection, a 75-year-old male patient with a generalized form of herpes zoster, a 38-year-old female patient with a complicated severe course of head lice, and a 34-year-old male patient with a severe form of post-steroid mycosis. In each of these cases, difficulties in making the correct diagnosis were highlighted, even though they represent some of the most common bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal dermatoses. The paper discusses the risk factors for these diseases, the pathophysiology of their atypical course, the effects and challenges in the therapeutic approach conducted. Infectious skin dermatoses require aggressive treatment and should never be underestimated.

Cutaneous Toll-like Receptor 9 Pre-Defines Hydroxychloroquine Dosage in Patients with Both Discoid and Subacute Lupus Erythematosus.

Background and Objectives: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) presents clinically heterogeneous manifestations, partially explained by the different expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) type 8 and 9, located to endosomal compartments where they are poised to recognize microbial nucleic acids. This disease is empirically treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which is hallmarked with a safe and effective profile, but induces a slow and sometimes clinically insufficient therapeutic response. Currently, no biomarkers predictive of response are validated or even proposed in the scientific literature. We aimed to evaluate endosomal TLR type 7, 8 and 9 as predictive biomarkers of HCQ efficacy. Materials and Methods: We conducted a case-control study comparing CLE patients retrospectively assigned to three subgroups based on 3-6-month Cutaneous LE Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) reduction upon treatment with HCQ (I = <40% vs. II = 40-80% vs. III = >80%). Before HCQ, lesional skin specimens were collected in untreated CLE and through immunohistochemistry; TLR-7, -8 and -9 expression was evaluated in the epidermis and the lymphocytic infiltrate was evaluated in the dermis. Results: Sixty-six lesional skin biopsies were compared with healthy controls. CLE patients displayed lower epidermal expression of total TLR 8 and 9 as well as infiltrating TLR-8, TLR9 + lymphocytes compared to controls. High HCQ responders differed from low responders for TLR-9 positivity (high vs. low) and for the lymphocytic dermal infiltrate (high vs. low). Conclusions: TLR9 could be envisaged as a possible biomarker to predict HCQ response level and dosage in CLE patients.

Clinical aspects of the treatment of atopic dermatitis with topical glucocorticoids and calcineurin inhibitors - a pilot questionnaire study.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory skin disease. However, recent reports concerning the simple clinical aspects of treatment with topical glucocorticosteroids (TCS) and calcineurin inhibitors (TCI) are lacking. The objective of this study is providing an update on these characteristics of AD management. A group of 150 adults suffering from AD treated with TCS during last year was asked to fill an anonymous questionnaire. The course of topical treatment was analyzed in the context of the severity of symptoms and the knowledge of the patients about therapy. During the last year, the majority of patients (66%) were treated with class IV TCS; however, in the last two weeks, class I TCS was used the most frequently (35%). Only 11% were familiar with the concept of intermittent therapy and 4% used the fingertip unit (FTU). In total, 77% of them used TCI. Most of the patients used the same class of TCS permanently. Unfortunately, patients are unaware of simple approaches (like intermittent therapy or FTU) that increase both the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. Practicians should be aware of these problems to identify and eliminate them, primarily through the education of patients.

Clinical characteristics of elderly patients with atopic dermatitis - a retrospective observational study.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory dermatosis. The most characteristic symptoms of the disease include itch, eczematous eruptions and excessive dryness of the skin. Elderly patients with AD represent a poorly characterized population because the physiological ageing, possible comorbidity and polypharmacy modify the clinical presentation typically observed in the younger age groups. The aim of the study is to comprehensively assess the clinical characteristics of elderly patients (>60 years old) with AD. Data were collected from 26 AD patients treated in the Department of Dermatology of the University Hospital in Krakow. Late-onset AD with generalized/prurigo lesions was the most predominant phenotype. Skin biopsy was required in 15 (58%) patients in the differential diagnosis process. Allergic rhinitis, a positive family history of atopy and xerosis were associated with a higher number of hospitalizations during the year prior to the last admission (p = 0.034, p = 0.046 and p = 0.036, respectively). Xerosis was more prevalent among subjects with polypharmacy (p = 0.046) and higher serum total IgE concentration (p = 0.048). AD in elderly patients is a new phenotype of the disease that requires careful differential diagnosis. Aged patients with an individual or family history of atopy, due to the increased incidence of severe exacerbations of AD, may benefit from the introduction of proactive therapy.

Metabolic Disorders/Obesity Is a Primary Risk Factor in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: An Immunohistochemical Real-World Approach.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory, potentially scarring disease of the hair follicle, affecting the apocrine gland-bearing skin areas. The major comorbid disorders associated with the occurrence or the aggravation of the disease are obesity and smoking. Numerous efforts to dissociate these factors led to controversial results. OBJECTIVES: To assess the importance of metabolic disorders/obesity, smoking/environmental toxins, and inflammation in HS by utilizing the differential expression of major relevant protein markers in lesional skin of obese/smoking versus non-obese/non-smoking HS patients. METHODS: Lesional skin specimens deriving from two groups of HS patients (BMI >30 and smokers, n = 12 vs. BMI <30 and non-smokers, n = 10) were stained with antibodies raised against irisin, PPARγ, and IGF-1R, which correlate with metabolic disorders/obesity, EGFR and AhR, associated with smoking, and IL-17, IL-17R, and S100A8, as markers of inflammation. RESULTS: Metabolic disorders/obesity-related markers exhibited marked differential expression between the two groups, while smoking-associated markers a limited one. IL-17R expression was stronger in obese/smokers, and S100A8 staining exhibited intense strong immunoreactivity in both groups without significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The notion that obesity plays a role in HS development appears to be supported by the prominent regulation of the associated lesional biomarkers. Tobacco smoking might contribute less to HS than previously suspected.

Scalp vascularization as a marker of topical minoxidil treatment efficacy in patients with androgenetic alopecia.

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of non-cicatricial hair loss both in male and female patients. The pathomechanism of the disease involves chronic and progressive miniaturization of hair follicles, which leads to the conversion of terminal hair to vellus hair. Minoxidil is a first-line drug in the treatment of female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Aim: The study is aimed at verifying whether the degree of scalp vascularization has an impact on the efficacy of topical 5% minoxidil treatment. Material and methods: The study involved a group of 76 patients diagnosed with FPHL, who underwent a scalp biopsy for a histological examination of their scalp vascularization. The patients were divided into two groups, with rich and poor scalp vasculature. In all patients, topical treatment with 5% minoxidil was applied for a minimum of 6 months, followed by video-trichoscopic assessment. Results: A significant increase in the total count was observed 6 months into the treatment as compared with baseline, and a decrease in the number of single hair per follicle. It was observed that the number of single hair units had gone down in 50.67% of patients. The study also demonstrated an increase in the total hair count in 57.33% of patients as well as no drops in the total count in 68% of patients, following 6 months of treatment. Conclusions: Patients responded equally well to the applied topical minoxidil treatment, irrespectively of the number of blood vessels in the scalp.

The role of CYP19A1 and ESR2 gene polymorphisms in female androgenetic alopecia in the Polish population.

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of non-cicatricial alopecia both in male and female patients. The mechanism that leads to hair loss is similar in both sexes, but the underlying cause, and especially the role of genes and sex hormones in the pathogenesis of the disease in women has not fully been explained as of yet. So far, a few attempts have been made to assess selected SNPs for CYP19A1 and ESR2 genes, but their results are not unequivocal and fully reproducible. Aim: To investigate the association of 13 CYP19A1 and 11 ESR2 gene SNPs with female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA) in a population of Polish patients, including some already genotyped SNPs of possible importance for FAGA pathophysiology in other populations. Material and methods: Twenty-four genetic polymorphisms were analysed for the ESR2 and CYP19A1 genes in 117 patients with FAGA and 128 healthy subjects treated at the Department of Dermatology in Krakow. Results: In the studied Polish population, none of the selected SNPs, frequently detected in the Caucasian population and linked with the transformation pathway of sex hormones, showed a significant association with FAGA. Conclusions: Further studies into the genetic background of androgenetic alopecia are needed. Ethnic differences as well as the size of the studied population may be of great significance for the obtained results.

Dendritic cells may help differentiate discoid lupus erythematosus alopecia from lichen planopilaris.

Introduction: Primary cicatricial alopecia (PCA) encompasses a heterogeneous group of inflammatory diseases characterized by the replacement of hair follicle structures by fibrous tissue. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and lichen planopilaris (LPP) are the most common causes of scarring alopecia. The distinction between both entities is often challenging because of significant clinical and histopathological overlap. Aim: We hypothesized that dendritic cells which are implicated in PCA pathogenesis can provide a reliable histopathological clue to distinguish between these two entities. Material and methods: In a retrospective cohort study including 51 patients diagnosed with LPP and DLE we mapped and quantified the distribution of dendritic cells. Cell count in lesional skin was performed on immunohistochemistry by using characteristic monoclonal antibodies to specific subpopulations of dendritic cells. Results: We demonstrated that almost all subpopulations of dendritic cells were highly expressed in lesional skin of discoid lupus erythematosus patients in comparison with lichen planopilaris ones. Conclusions: In the light of this observation, dendritic cells might be used as an additional clue in differential diagnosis of PCA.

Higher specificity of the new EULAR/ACR 2019 criteria for diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with biopsy-proven cutaneous lupus.

OBJECTIVES: The risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) varies, ranging between 5 to 23%, depending on the disease subtype. Interestingly, most of these patients do not manifest clinically significant internal organ features of SLE. The aim of our study was to evaluate the percentage of CLE patients who fulfilled SLE criteria introduced by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR 1997) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC 2012), as well as the new criteria developed by the European League Against Rheumatism and ACR (EULAR/ACR 2019). METHODS: Patients were evaluated at baseline and during follow-up, and the severity of systemic symptoms was assessed. We retrospectively analysed the medical histories of 184 patients with CLE (75 with discoid lupus erythematosus and 109 with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus). The mean duration of follow-up after CLE diagnosis was 58 months (24-120 months). RESULTS: Of the analysed patients, 23.4%, 17.4% and 14.7% met the ACR 1997, SLICC 2012 and EULAR/ACR 2019 classification criteria for SLE at baseline, respectively. There was no significant difference in this proportion after follow-up. All of the CLE patients fulfilling SLE criteria demonstrated no-to-mild internal organ involvement and laboratory abnormalities such as cytopenia or complement levels were mild or only slightly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The EULAR/ACR 2019 criteria are characterised by higher specificity for SLE diagnosis when compared to previously introduced criteria sets. We conclude that patients with CLE, even those meeting the criteria for SLE, have low risk of serious complications of SLE.

Hydroxychloroquine does not impair antibody response to 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus-A pilot study.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with lupus erythematosus. Therefore, a vaccination against pneumococcal infections prior to the immunosuppressive therapy is strongly recommended in these patients. Antimalarials are the standard first-line systemic therapy for cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). However, as many as 50% of CLE patients can be recalcitrant to this treatment and may require more intense immunosuppressive management such as for example, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine. The main aim of the current study was to assess the immunogenicity of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in patients with CLE receiving hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for at least 6 months prior to the study entry. Twenty patients with CLE but not systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were receiving HCQ and five age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in this study. All individuals were vaccinated with 13-valent PCV. Levels of anti-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (anti-PCP) IgM and IgG antibodies were measured before and 6 weeks after vaccination. Anti-PCP IgM and IgG levels increased significantly in both CLE and controls upon vaccination (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Ninety-five percentage of CLE patients and 80% of healthy volunteers achieved at least 2-fold increase in levels of anti-PCP IgG upon vaccination. Vaccination was good tolerated in both groups. The CLE activity score before vaccination was not modified thereafter. Hydroxychloroquine does not impair immune response to PCV13. The time period when patients with CLE are receiving HCQ could be used for immunization before more intense immunosuppressive therapy would be initiated.

Phenotypes and Pathophysiology of Syndromic Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Different Faces of the Same Disease? A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that (certain) hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) comorbidities comprise syndromes including HS as a key cutaneous manifestation. These apparently autoinflammatory syndromes and their diagnostic delay might have detrimental effects on affected patients. METHODS: A systematic review was performed on the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL utilizing a standardized extraction form according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Sixty-four eligible articles on syndromic HS were retrieved. The identified syndromes included already described ones (pyoderma gangrenosum-acne-suppurative hidradenitis, pyogenic arthritis-pyoderma gangrenosum-acne-suppurative hidradenitis, psoriatic arthritis-pyoderma gangrenosum-acne-suppurative hidradenitis, pyoderma gangrenosum-acne vulgaris-hidradenitis suppurativa-ankylosing spondylitis, synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis) and further novel symptom constellations. Cutaneous signs, including HS lesions, usually precede signs from other organs. The cutaneous signs of a considerable proportion of patients appear refractory to conventional treatment, and monotherapy with biologics does not suffice to sustain remission. CONCLUSION: The results are subsequently discussed with focus on the pathophysiology and treatment of the detected syndromes. The dermatologist's role in the precise diagnosis and early treatment administration of HS is pivotal. The purpose of the treatment should be the effective prevention or delay of the autoinflammatory march and its irreversible consequences.

Pruritus Characteristics in Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Adult Patients.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is classified as a most common inflammatory skin disease. The condition is characterized by recurrent eczematous lesions and intense pruritus or itch, a hallmark of AD. The aim of this study was to identify the provoking factors of itch in severe AD adult patients. There were 34 adult patients suffering from AD of the median age of 40 years enrolled into the study and a control group that consisted of 20 healthy subjects. The severity of AD was assessed with the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, pruritus intensity was assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS), and itch aggravating factors were assessed with a questionnaire. Specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies and interleukin IL-33 were measured in venous blood. We found that all the patients with severe AD had intensive itch (VAS: 9-10 points) during the whole day and 30 (88.2%) patients had it during nighttime. The most significant factors aggravating itch were the following: dry skin (27 patients; 79.4%), exposure to dust mite (22 patients; 64.7%,), and emotional distress (17 patients; 50%). Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the intensity of itch and the level of sIgE antibodies to dust mite (p < 0.001). The content of IL-33 was significantly higher in AD patients with severe skin lesions. This exploratory study shows that skin dryness, dust exposure, and distress play an essential role in the exacerbation of AD in the adult population.

Molecular Proof of a Clinical Concept: Expression of Estrogen Alpha-, Beta-Receptors and G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 (GPER) in Histologically Assessed Common Nevi, Dysplastic Nevi and Melanomas.

Background and Objectives: Epidemiologic data show significant differences in melanoma incidence and outcomes between sexes. The role of hormonal receptors in the pathogenesis of melanocytic lesions remains unclear, thus we performed this study aiming to assess estrogen receptors expression in different melanocytic lesions. Materials and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study that included 73 consecutively excised melanocytic lesions. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), beta (ERß), and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) expression was analyzed in melanocytes and keratinocytes of common nevi, dysplastic nevi, melanoma, healthy skin margin, and in sebaceous and sweat gland cells. Results: ERß expression was higher in dysplastic nevi margin melanocytes compared to common nevi (p = 0.046) and in dysplastic nevi keratinocytes compared to melanoma keratinocytes (p = 0.021). ERß expression was significantly higher in margin melanocytes compared to melanoma melanocytes (p = 0.009). No difference in ERß expression was shown between melanocytes of three types of lesions. GPER expression was higher in nuclei and cytoplasm of dysplastic nevi (p = 0.02 and p = 0.036 respectively) and at the margin compared to melanoma. GPER expression was lower in sebaceous glands of tissue surrounding common nevi (p = 0.025) compared to dysplastic nevi. GPER expression was higher in skin margin tissue melanocytes (p = 0.016 nuclear, p = 0.029 cytoplasmic) compared to melanoma melanocytes. There were no differences in ERα expression between the melanocytic lesions. Conclusion: Further large-scale studies are warranted to investigate the potential role of ERß and GPER in the pathogenesis of melanocytic lesions.

The Role of Bradykinin Receptors in the Etiopathogenesis of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

Background and Objectives: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a distressing skin condition, which manifests as red, swollen, itchy, and sometimes painful hives or wheals appearing on skin. Recently, CSU has been associated with bradykinin release, which was previously discovered to be the main trigger of hereditary angioedema attacks. To study the role of bradykinin receptors 1 (BR1) and 2 (BR2) in the etiopathogenesis of CSU. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 individuals, 30 patients with CSU and 30 healthy subjects, were recruited to the study. CSU was diagnosed in accordance with the standardized protocol of dermatological assessment of skin symptoms. The level of bradykinin receptors was determined in populations of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocytes as well as in CD14++CD16-, CD14++CD16+ and CD14+CD16+ monocytes. In addition, urticaria activity score summed over 7 days (UAS-7) was assessed and correlated with BR1 and BR2 expression. Results: A statistically significant higher concentration of BR1 expression in lymphocytes was found in patients with CSU, compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Moreover, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between UAS-7 and BR1/BR2 expression in CD14++CD16- cells (p = 0.03, R = 0.4). Conclusions: Bradykinin receptors are elevated in selected populations of lymphocytes in symptomatic CSU patients compared to healthy controls, indicating their role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease.

Pathophysiology and clinical management of pellagra - a review.

Pellagra is a rare disease caused by niacin deficiency or a disruption of its metabolism. Its manifestations are dermatitis with pronounced photosensitivity, gastrointestinal symptoms, and neuropsychiatric ailments. Currently pellagra is developed in people who chronically abuse alcohol or are treated with medications from specific pharmacological groups (immunosuppressive and anti-tuberculosis drugs). Although the root cause of the disease was established in the mid-twentieth century, a detailed explanation of the processes leading to the development of symptoms has not yet been proposed. They include complex abnormalities at the molecular, metabolic, and immunological levels. Diagnostics is based primarily on the clinical presentation of the disease, while auxiliary tests play secondary role. The low prevalence of the disease, meaning that physicians are unfamiliar with its recognition, often leads to delays in diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The therapy is causal and based on administering niacinamide. Failure to implement treatment in the early stages of the disease leads to the patient's death. The aim of this literature review is to summarize the current state of knowledge on the pathomechanisms of pellagra, highlighting the clinical implications, and key elements of diagnostic and therapeutic management that are important in the treatment of pellagra patients.

Dermoscopic features causing confusion between melanoma and benign nevi in clinical diagnosis - case series.

The vast majority of melanoma lesions show typical dermoscopic features such as the presence of atypical pigmented network, the variety of colors within nevi, the asymmetry of structures and the presence of structureless areas. The clinical appearance of melanocytic lesions evolving over time also constitutes a clue to discover their malignant potential. Albeit there are some cases that do not exhibit typical dermoscopic and clinical findings suggesting their malignant potential. A CASE REPORT: We report 4 cases of melanoma with their equivocal dermoscopic images and ambiguous clinical pictures. We acknowledge dermoscopic features such as: the presence of variform, peripheral globules suggesting the possible growth of the nevus, the presence of terminal hair within the melanoma lesion and we confirm that only on the basis of this criterion we cannot qualify such melanocytic lesions to the benign category. We also report the case of the two-component lesion consisted of reticular-homogenous pattern and concentrated globules in the superior pole of the nevus with no significant signs of evolution during one year period of surveillance and the case of the two-component lesion consisted of reticular - homogenous pattern with focal areas of higher density network and the presence of polymorphous, dotted, coiled, comma-like vessels which met the criterion of the ugly duckling sign. Dermoscopy is the most useful noninvasive diagnostic tool designed to discriminate skin nevi. Despite its benefits, the interpretation of a dermoscopic image is not always unequivocal. Some melanoma lesions exhibit only single features included in the assessment algorithms used in everyday dermatological practice such as: the ABCDE rule, the pattern analysis, the 7-points Glasgow checklist, the Menzies method, the 3-point checklist. The presence and the shape of vessels within nevi also constitute an important diagnostic indicator of melanoma. Dotted vessels are related to early stages of melanoma and polymorphous, elongated, linear, vessels are connected with more advanced stages. Therefore, dermoscopic examination should be performed by trained physicians. In case when predicted biological potential of melanocytic lesions is uncertain the excision of suspected lesions followed by histopathological examination should be carried out.

Allergic contact dermatitis to metal allergens in the South of Poland between 2008-2018.

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common skin disorder caused by contact with an exogenous substance that elicits a hypersensitivity response in susceptible individuals. Changing fashion trends, the process of industrialization as well as official legislations restricting the use of metals in recreational and occupational products change the epidemiological patterns in the European countries. AIM: The aim of the study was to estimate the current prevalence of isolated and concurrent sensitization to nickel sulfate, cobalt chloride and potassium dichromate, as well as to investigate their associations with potentially predisposing epidemiological and clinical factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1200 patients with suspected ACD were enrolled for this study. Medical records were taken on the basis of the standardized questionnaire to collect epidemiological and clinical variables. All patients were tested with T.R.U.E. TEST Panel 1.2 and Panel 2.2, including the total of 24 allergens. RESULTS: We observed statistically significant difference in mean age between women allergic to cobalt (41 vs 49; p<0.001) and nickel (41 vs 50; p<0.001) than among women not allergic to metals . Female gender was a significant risk factor for an allergy to nickel (OR 3.7909, CI95%: 2.4081 - 5.9677; p<0.001). Chi2 test showed that atopic dermatitis may influence the prevalence of allergic reaction to cobalt in a group of women and men, as well only among women or men - the most significant association was noted among men (OR=3.8472, CI95%: 1.1518 - 12.8503; p=0.0285). The sensitization any metal was a significant risk factor for an allergy to other metallic allergens. CONCLUSIONS: Our study gives a valuable insight into the metal allergy prevalence in Polish population and sheds some light on the associated risk factors. The results serve to raise questions concerning the relevance of metal allergies and to highlight the need for more effective preventive measures.

Predictive value of global dermoscopic pattern in patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma.

INTRODUCTION: Dermoscopy is one of the most commonly used methods in early diagnosis of melanoma. It is conducted to differentiate between benign and malignant patterns in melanocytic lesions. AIM: To determine if there is a predominance of one dermoscopic pattern in patients with melanoma and if there is a significant difference in dominant global dermoscopic pattern in patients with cutaneous melanomas correlated with patients' sex and the location of the primary tumor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 162 patients with prior diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. Dermoscopic and videodermoscopic pictures and patient data were analyzed with regard to the pattern: reticular, globular, homogeneous and mixed pattern (two-component pattern; reticular-globular pattern) with central or peripheral globules and multicomponent (mixed - at least 3 types of structures in one nevus). RESULTS: The reticular pattern was significantly more prevalent in male patients (38.57%, 27 patients) in comparison to female patients (18.45%, 17 patients). We also found a statistically significant lower prevalence of reticular pattern in patients diagnosed with melanomas located on upper limbs. The homogeneous pattern was statistically significantly more prevalent in patients in whom primary tumors were located on the head and upper limbs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that predominant complex patterns are more commonly observed in patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma, although there is a significant number of patients with predominant reticular and homogeneous patterns, which are not often associated with an increased risk of development of melanoma.

The role of family history and its influence on the onset time in female pattern hair loss.

INTRODUCTION: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is one of the most common causes of hair loss in women. Genetics plays an important role in the development of the disease, but the etiopathogenesis and the inheritance pattern in women remain unexplained. AIM: To determine the extent to which FPHL is of genetic origin in women from the Polish population and whether a positive family history is a risk factor for its earlier onset. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Family histories of 111 unrelated female patients with FPHL and 129 female patients without hair thinning were analysed. FPHL was diagnosed based on a detailed medical history, the clinical picture and trichoscopic features. RESULTS: A positive family history was noted in 69 (62.2%) patients with FPHL. In 32 (28.8%) patients from that group, more than one person in the family suffered from hair loss, whereas in the healthy group, the same was true of only 4 patients (3.1%) (p < 0.0001). A positive family history on the mother's side proved statistically significant for FPHL patients. In the case of 20 (18%), hair loss had been identified in their grandparents, while the healthy group had a negative history in that respect. A positive family history of hair loss in grandparents was three times more frequent in the group of patients with the disease onset before 40. CONCLUSIONS: A positive history on the mother's side may be of great significance for FPHL development. Hair loss in more than one family member and in one's grandparents may also indicate a higher risk of disease development.

Melatonin and sleep disorders in patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Many atopic dermatitis (AD) patients suffer from insomnia. Out of numerous factors associated with sleep disorders, melatonin seems to play a significant role. AIM: To assess the relation between melatonin concentration and sleep disorders in adult patients with severe and very severe AD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 36 adult patients with severe and very severe AD and 20 healthy Caucasian volunteers. The severity of skin lesions was assessed by the EASI scale. Skin itch was evaluated by a visual-analogue scale (VAS), and sleep disorders were assessed by the Polish version of the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). Serum melatonin concentration of patients and controls was determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Melatonin concentration in patients with very severe AD was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in patients with severe AD, however, melatonin concentration in the group of AD patients did not differ significantly (p = 0.33) from that observed in the control group. There was a significant negative correlation between the concentration of melatonin in the study group and the severity of itching (R = -0.54, p < 0.001). The intensity of sleep disorders was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with a very severe form of AD compared to patients with severe AD. Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between melatonin concentration and sleep disorders (R = -0.67, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly showed that sleep disturbances are more expressed in very severe AD patients compared to subjects suffering from severe disease. We also suggest that melatonin serum concentration could play a role in the pathogenesis of sleep disturbances in AD patients.