Do novel inflammation biomarkers arising from routine complete blood count play a role in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?

BACKGROUND: Laboratory-based biomarkers accurately presenting systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity may have a practical value in clinical routine. As shown in many other conditions, complete blood count (CBC)-derived biomarkers may also play a role in SLE. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study for the first time the pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV, monocytes x platelets x neutrophils/lymphocytes) and the more established systemic immune-inflammation index (SII, neutrophils x platelets /lymphocytes) in SLE patients and correlate it with serological and clinical findings including disease outcomes. METHODS: In this retrospective multicentric investigation, we reviewed the clinical records of 148 SLE who had an available CBC at baseline. The latter served for the determination of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), SII, and the PIV. Control groups were studied as well. Univariable as well as multivariable statistics were employed. RESULTS: The values for baseline systemic immune-inflammation biomarkers (SIIB) studied were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than those observed in healthy controls but comparable to those obtained from patients with other inflammatory conditions. Multivariable analysis revealed that ANA titer > 1:640 remained the only significant (p < 0.0001) baseline predictor of SLE flare (odds ratio: 7.6, 95% CI 3.1 to 18.8). Improvement of SLE following treatment was associated with the absence of lymphopenia as well as ANA > 1:640 (p = 0.041). The SLEDAI-2K significantly correlated with NLR, SII, CRP, lymphocytes, and monocytes only on univariable testing. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to healthy controls the CBC-based SIIB investigated are significantly increased in SLE patients. However, SIIB do not appear to be useful in managing SLE clinically. Nevertheless, we confirm that higher ANA titers can predict flares of SLE.

Comparison of clinical and laboratory data of adult patients with cutaneous IgA vasculitis and non-IgA vasculitis.

BACKGROUND: Immune complex vasculitides may be subdivided into adult IgA small vessel vasculitis (aIgA-SVV; i.e. adult Henoch-Schönlein purpura) and non-IgA-SVV (hypersensitivity vasculitis, etc.). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical and laboratory parameters of inpatients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for aIgA-SVV and non-IgA-SVV. METHODS: Twenty-nine adults aged ≥ 20 years with aIgA-SVV [according to the European League Against Rheumatism/Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation/Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (EULAR/PRINTO/PRES) criteria] and 53 adults with non-IgA-SVV (according to the 2012 revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides) were compared with respect to a variety of clinical and laboratory parameters by uni- and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Compared with patients with aIgA-SVV, the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in patients with non-IgA-SVV. Serum C3 levels and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration in patients with non-IgA-SVV were significantly lower compared with patients with aIgA-SVV. Proteinuria and haematuria were significantly more common in patients with aIgA SVV, and were significantly correlated with systemic immune-inflammation biomarkers only in patients with aIgA-SVV. In patients with aIgA-SVV, higher lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein were strong independent predictors for the presence of proteinuria and proteinuria. In patients with non-IgA-SVV, female sex was a protective factor for proteinuria, while skin lesions on the upper extremities proved to be a significant independent predictor of haematuria. CONCLUSIONS: We detected several clinical and laboratory differences between patients with aIgA-SVV and non-IgA-SVV. Distinct predictors for renal involvement were not observed in either group, indicating that aIgA-SVV and non-IgA-SVV are similar conditions but do not appear to represent the same entity.

B-cell lymphoma-extra large is a promising drug target in Merkel cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin tumour with neuroendocrine differentiation. Immunotherapies are effective in the treatment of patients with advanced-stage MCC, but for patients whose tumours cannot be controlled by the immune system, alternative approaches are urgently needed. OBJECTIVES: To identify overexpressed oncogenes as potential drug targets for MCC. METHODS: NanoString platform, digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were used to determine copy number variations (CNVs); BCL2L1 and PARP1 mRNA expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), B-cell lymphoma extra-large (Bcl-xL) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) protein by immuno-blot. Specific Bcl-xL inhibitors and a PARP1 inhibitor were used alone or in combination to test their antitumour effect. RESULTS: Screening for CNVs in 13 classic Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)-positive and MCPyV-negative MCC cell lines revealed BCL2L1 gains and amplifications, confirmed by ddPCR in 10 cell lines. By ddPCR and FISH, we demonstrated that BCL2L1 gains are present in tumour tissue. BCL2L1 copy number gains were associated with increased Bcl-xL mRNA and protein expression. However, high Bcl-xL expression was not restricted to MCC cells harbouring a BCL2L1 gain/amplification, suggesting additional epigenetic means of regulation. The functional relevance of Bcl-xL in MCC cells was demonstrated by the fact that specific Bcl-xL inhibitors (A1331852 and WEHI-539) led to the induction of apoptosis. Owing to the strong expression and activation of PARP1 in MCC cell lines, we next tested the combination of Bcl-xL inhibitors with the PARP1 inhibitor olaparib, which showed synergistic antitumour effects. CONCLUSIONS: Bcl-xL, which is highly expressed in MCC, appears to be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of this tumour, especially as the effect of specific Bcl-xL inhibitors is synergistically enhanced by simultaneous PARP inhibition.

Real-world outcomes using PD-1 antibodies and BRAF + MEK inhibitors for adjuvant melanoma treatment from 39 skin cancer centers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibodies and BRAF + MEK inhibitors are widely used for adjuvant therapy of fully resected high-risk melanoma. Little is known about treatment efficacy outside of phase III trials. This real-world study reports on clinical outcomes of modern adjuvant melanoma treatment in specialized skin cancer centers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective study investigating stage III-IV melanoma patients receiving adjuvant nivolumab (NIV), pembrolizumab (PEM) or dabrafenib + trametinib (D + T) between 1/2017 and 10/2021. The primary endpoint was 12-month recurrence-free survival (RFS). Further analyses included descriptive and correlative statistics, and a multivariate linear-regression machine learning model to assess the risk of early melanoma recurrence. RESULTS: In total, 1198 patients from 39 skin cancer centers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland were analysed. The vast majority received anti PD-1 therapies (n = 1003). Twelve-month RFS for anti PD-1 and BRAF + MEK inhibitor-treated patients were 78.1% and 86.5%, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 1.998 [95% CI 1.335-2.991]; p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS) in anti PD-1 (95.8%) and BRAF + MEK inhibitor (96.9%) treated patients (p > 0.05) during the median follow-up of 17 months. Data indicates that anti PD-1 treated patients who develop immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have lower recurrence rates compared to patients with no irAEs (HR 0.578 [95% CI 0.443-0.754], p = 0.001). BRAF mutation status did not affect overall efficacy of anti PD-1 treatment (p > 0.05). In both, anti PD-1 and BRAF + MEK inhibitor treated cohorts, data did not show any difference in 12-month RFS and 12-month OS comparing patients receiving total lymph node dissection (TLND) versus sentinel lymph node biopsy only (p > 0.05). The recurrence prediction model reached high specificity but only low sensitivity with an AUC = 0.65. No new safety signals were detected. Overall, recorded numbers and severity of adverse events were lower than reported in pivotal phase III trials. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent advances in adjuvant melanoma treatment, early recurrence remains a significant clinical challenge. This study shows that TLND does not reduce the risk of early melanoma recurrence and should only be considered in selected patients. Data further highlight that variables collected during clinical routine are unlikely to allow for a clinically relevant prediction of individual recurrence risk.

Atypical pediatric presentation of alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp with features of dissecting cellulitis.

Alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp (AANS) and dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS) are rare, closely related conditions of young men that exclusively affect the hair-bearing scalp. We describe a 9-year-old boy who presented with a 6-year history of chronically relapsing, sterile, partially scarring nodules of the scalp and facial skin. Histopathology revealed mixed inflammatory infiltrates consisting of neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells in the deep dermis, consistent with the morphological pattern of suppurative, partly granulomatous dermatitis. The present atypical case is characterized by prepubertal onset and facial involvement which, to our knowledge, has not yet been described before, may be included in the spectrum of "typical" AANS and "typical" DCS.

In Vitro Experiments on the Effects of GP-2250 on BRAF-Mutated Melanoma Cell Lines and Benign Melanocytes.

Enhanced glycolysis (Warburg effect) driven by the BRAF oncogene, dysregulated GAPDH expression, and activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway may significantly contribute to the resistance-targeted therapy of BRAF-mutated melanomas. Therefore, we aimed to study for the first time the anti-tumor activity of the GAPDH inhibitor GP-2250 in BRAF-mutated melanoma cell lines and benign melanocytes. We employed three melanoma cell lines and one primary melanocyte cell line (Ma-Mel-61a, Ma-Mel-86a, SH-4 and ATCC-PCS-200-013, respectively), which were exposed to different GP-2250 doses. GP-2250's effects on cell proliferation and viability were evaluated by means of the BrdU and MTT assays, respectively. The RealTime-Glo Annexin V Apoptosis and Necrosis Assay was performed for the evaluation of apoptosis and necrosis induction. RT-PCR and western blotting were implemented for the determination of AKT and STAT3 gene and protein expression analyses, respectively. The melanoma cell lines showed a dose-dependent response to GP-2250 during BrDU and MTT testing. The RealTime-Glo Annexin V assay revealed the heterogenous impact of GP-2250 on apoptosis as well as necrosis. With respect to the melanoma cell lines Ma-Mel-86a and SH-4, the responses and dosages were comparable to those used for the MTT viability assay. Using the same dose range of GP-2250 administered to melanoma cells, however, we observed neither the noteworthy apoptosis nor necrosis of GP-2250-treated benign melanocytes. The gene expression profiles in the melanoma cell lines for AKT and STAT3 were heterogenous, whereby AKT as well as STAT3 gene expression were most effectively downregulated using the highest GP-2250 doses. Immunoblotting revealed that there was a time-dependent decrease in protein expression at the highest GP-2250 dose used, whereas a time- as well as dose-dependent AKT decrease was predominantly observed in Ma-Mel-61a. The STAT3 protein expression of Ma-Mel-86a and SH-4 was reduced in a time-dependent pattern at lower and moderate doses. STAT3 expression in Ma-Me-61a was barely altered by GP-2250. In conclusion, GP-2250 has anti-neoplastic effects in BRAF-mutated melanoma cell lines regarding tumor cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis/necrosis. GP-2250 is able to downregulate the gene and protein expression of aberrant tumorigenic pathways in melanoma cell lines. Since GP-2250 is a GAPDH inhibitor, the substance may be a promising combination therapy for tumors presenting the Warburg effect, such as melanoma.

Screening for Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa-A Monocentric Study in Germany.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin disease that is often associated with metabolic disorders. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a frequent comorbidity in HS. There is currently no established screening for DM in HS patients. The aim of our study was to identify high-risk groups of HS patients that develop DM and to assess the frequency of different types of DM present in HS patients. To do so, we conducted a monocentric study in 99 patients with HS. All patients underwent detailed clinical and laboratory assessments, including the determination of glycated hemoglobin. Among the 20.2% of patients that presented with DM, type 2 was by far the most prevalent (19 out of 20 patients). Moreover, male gender, age, BMI, Hurley stage, modified Hidradenitis Suppurativa Score (mHSS), DLQI and hypertension all correlated with the glycated hemoglobin levels in the HS patients. In the multivariable analysis, Hurley stage III, older age, and higher BMI were significantly associated with DM. Specifically, patients at Hurley stage III were at a 5.3-fold increased risk of having DM type II compared to patients at earlier Hurley stages. Since many of the HS patients had not been diagnosed, our study reveals shortcomings in the screening for DM and suggest that this should be routinely performed in HS patients at high risk to avoid secondary complications.

S2k Guideline - Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC, neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin) - Update 2022.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC, ICD-O M8247/3) is a rare, malignant, primary skin tumor with epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation. The tumor cells share many morphologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features with cutaneous Merkel cells. Nevertheless, the cell of origin of MCC is unclear. MCC appears clinically as a reddish to purple spherical tumor with a smooth, shiny surface and a soft to turgid, elastic consistency, usually showing rapid growth. Spontaneous and often complete regressions of the tumor are observed. These likely immunologically-mediated regressions explain the cases in which only lymph node or distant metastases are found at the time of initial diagnosis and why the tumor responds very well to immunomodulatory therapies even at advanced stages. Due to its aggressiveness, the usually given indication for sentinel lymph node biopsy, the indication of adjuvant therapies to be evaluated, as well as the complexity of the necessary diagnostics, clinical management should already be determined by an interdisciplinary tumor board at the time of initial diagnosis.

Extracorporeal photopheresis for systemic sclerosis: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by excessive production of collagen. Extracorporeal photopheresis (photochemotherapy, phototherapy) (ECP) involves repeated exposure of peripheral blood lymphocytes to ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. The rationale for treating patients with SSc by ECP lies in its presumed immunomodulatory effects, though, rigorous data on the specific effects of ECP are limited, particularly in patients with SSc. The objective was to evaluate the effects of extracorporeal photopheresis as a treatment modality for patients with SSc. We searched the databases CENTRAL and MEDLINE on 13 March 2022 and included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on patients diagnosed with SSc and treated with ECP. Primary outcome was the change of skin scores. We applied independent extraction and judgment by multiple observers. We conducted a meta-analysis applying the inverse variance method and the random effects model; the main outcome measure was standard mean difference of skin scores. We identified three relevant RCTs including 162 randomized (132 analyzed) people who received ECP in a simple parallel design. Pooled data of the three studies were indifferent. We estimated a standard mean difference from baseline of -0.11 (95% confidence interval -0.45 to 0.23), p = 0.54, I2  = 0%. We did not identify serious treatment-related adverse events. The evidence base for extracorporeal photopheresis on skin scores in patients with systemic sclerosis was not high enough to support a superior effect when compared to no treatment, sham photopheresis, or D-penicillamine.

Impact of extracorporeal photopheresis on blood and coagulation parameters.

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is considered a safe treatment modality. We aimed to assess blood parameters including coagulation during ECP over time. We performed a long-term retrospective single-center chart review (laboratory parameters) of adult patients (n = 172) who had received ECP for any indication. We observed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and leukocytes compared to baseline levels after only one ECP procedure. This decrease persisted after 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-months of ECP. A significant pathological decline of hemoglobin was observed in a higher proportion (26.4% and 25.2%, respectively) of patients after 6 (p = 0.0007) and 12 (p = 0.012) months of ECP. Mean corpuscular volume as well as hematocrit was significantly decreased at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-months of evaluation compared to baseline (p < 0.05). After 9 and 12 months of ECP we observed a further decline in lymphocyte counts (p < 0.05). Various coagulation parameters did not change significantly during ECP treatment. Even though not all alterations observed in peripheral blood of ECP patients in the present study were of clinical significance, risk for developing persistent anemia must be considered in patients undergoing ECP.

Clinical Outcomes of Advanced-Stage Cutaneous Lymphoma under Low-Dose Gemcitabine Treatment: Real-Life Data from the German Cutaneous Lymphoma Network.

BACKGROUND: Gemcitabine is an effective single-agent chemotherapy used in advanced stages of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). However, gemcitabine used in the current standard regimen is frequently associated with adverse events (AE), such as an increased risk for myelosuppression and severe infections. OBJECTIVES: We investigated in this retrospective study the effect of low-dose gemcitabine in pretreated advanced-stage CTCL and in blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasia (BPDCN) regarding overall response (OR), progression-free survival (PFS), and AE. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted on 64 CTCL and BPDCN patients treated with gemcitabine in average absolute dosage of 1,800 mg/m2 per cycle, which is 50% lower compared to standard dosage of 3,600 mg/m2 per cycle (1,200 mg/m2 day 1, 8, 15). Evaluation of response to therapy and AE was done 4-6 weeks after the sixth cycle. RESULTS: OR was 62% with 11% demonstrating a complete response. The median time of PFS was 12 months and median time to next treatment was 7 months. Only 3/63 patients showed serious side effects, e.g., port infection or acute renal failure. Almost 73% of the patients experienced minor to moderate side effects (CTCAE grade 0-2). Fatigue (27.2%), fever (22.7%), and mild blood count alteration (18.2%) were the most common AE. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective analysis supports the use of low-dose gemcitabine therapy in CTCL, demonstrating with 62% OR and PFS of 12 months an almost identical response rate and survival as compared to the standard dose therapy reported in previous studies but with a significantly improved safety profile and tolerability.

Sarcoidal immune reaction following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a milestone in combating the current pandemic. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence that COVID-19 vaccination also may trigger immune- or autoimmune-mediated skin diseases. We here report the association of COVID-19 vaccination with sarcoidal immune reaction.

Outcome of extracorporeal photopheresis in mycosis fungoides patients is not predicted by quotients of systemic immune-inflammatory biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Systemic immune-inflammatory biomarkers (SIIBs) have not been studied in mycosis fungoides (MF) patients undergoing extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine whether recently proposed SIIBs are suitable to predict ECP treatment outcome and overall prognosis of patients with MF. METHODS: Twenty-nine MF patients were retrospectively evaluated who had undergone ECP. SIIBs included neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, and pan-immune-inflammation value. RESULTS: Lymphocyte count (P = .021), CD4+/CD8+ cells (P = .00006), CD4+/CD56+ NK cells (P = .00008), and LDH levels (P = .0041) significantly declined after 6-month ECP. We could not detect significant cutoff values for baseline SIIBs capable of predicting advanced disease, overall response to 6-month ECP, or 5-year lymphoma-specific (LS) survival (P > .05). Circulating baseline counts of CD4+/CD7- cells (cutoff: ≤ 12.2; P = .010) and CD4+/CD26- cells (cutoff: ≤ 19.5; P < .0001) significantly predicted ECP treatment response after 6 months. Moreover, CD4+/CD8+ ratio (cutoff: > 1.34; P = .045) and increased thrombocyte counts (cutoff: >259 000; P = .010) were baseline predictors for 5-year LS death. CONCLUSION: ECP appears to be beneficial in early-stage CTCL as well. Lower percentages of circulating CD4+/CD7- and CD4+/CD26- lymphocytes at baseline correlate with response to ECP. In this study, however, baseline SIIBs did not appear to serve as suitable biomarkers for the prediction of treatment outcome and LS survival.

The Role of Hormones in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease manifesting in inverse body regions. In a systematic review, the role of hormones in HS will be presented to better understand the pathomechanisms of HS. The review is based on the PRISMA criteria. Systematic research was carried out using keywords. Subsequently, the data were analyzed based on the clinical response and other relevant information. The main focus of our systematic review was on HS manifestation, exacerbation, sex hormones, antiandrogen therapy, thyroid function, polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance, and adipokines. In HS, there appears to be a dysregulated adipokine release that is shifted towards pro-inflammatory adipokines. Insulin resistance is significantly more common in HS than in healthy patients regardless of BMI, age, and gender. Insulin resistance in HS patients leads to further cardiovascular disease. The mechanism of insulin resistance and role of adipokines should be investigated in future studies to better provide the pathomechanisms of HS. The role of androgens seems to be important in a certain subgroup of female patients. Anti-androgenic therapy can be useful and helpful in some patients. However, further studies are needed to better understand the hormonal relationship in HS.

BRAF and MEK inhibition in melanoma patients enables reprogramming of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND: Combined inhibition of BRAF/MEK is an established therapy for melanoma. In addition to its canonical mode of action, effects of BRAF/MEK inhibitors on antitumor immune responses are emerging. Thus, we investigated the effect of these on adaptive immune responses. PATIENTS, METHODS AND RESULTS: Sequential tumor biopsies obtained before and during BRAF/MEK inhibitor treatment of four (n = 4) melanoma patients were analyzed. Multiplexed immunofluorescence staining of tumor tissue revealed an increased infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells upon therapy. Determination of the T-cell receptor repertoire usage demonstrated a therapy induced increase in T-cell clonotype richness and diversity. Application of the Grouping of Lymphocyte Interactions by Paratope Hotspots algorithm revealed a pre-existing immune response against melanoma differentiation and cancer testis antigens that expanded preferentially upon therapy. Indeed, most of the T-cell clonotypes found under BRAF/MEK inhibition were already present in lower numbers before therapy. This expansion appears to be facilitated by induction of T-bet and TCF7 in T cells, two transcription factors required for self-renewal and persistence of CD8+ memory T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that BRAF/MEK inhibition in melanoma patients allows an increased expansion of pre-existing melanoma-specific T cells by induction of T-bet and TCF7 in these.

Indoor balneophototherapy for chronic plaque psoriasis: Abridged Cochrane Review.

Artificial exposure to ultraviolet B light (UVB) while soaking in an indoor salt bath, also called balneophototherapy, could simulate the natural exposure to the sun while bathing in the Dead Sea. We aimed to assess the effects of this intervention on patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS up to June 2019. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary efficacy outcome was psoriasis area and severity index (PASI)-75 to detect people with a 75% or more reduction in the PASI score from baseline. The primary adverse outcome was treatment-related adverse events requiring withdrawal. We included eight RCTs (2105 participants; 1976 analyzed). With respect to PASI-75, two studies found that salt bath + UVB may improve psoriasis when compared to UVB alone (risk ratio 1.71, 95% confidence interval 1.24 to 2.35; 278 participants). With respect to treatment-related adverse events requiring withdrawal, two other studies found little to no difference when compared to UVB alone (risk ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.35 to 2.64; 404 participants). Salt bath + UVB could improve psoriasis when compared to UVB alone, though, results are based on a limited number of studies and provide low-certainty evidence.

Indoor salt water baths followed by artificial ultraviolet B light for chronic plaque psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic plaque psoriasis is an immune-mediated, chronic, inflammatory skin disease, which can impair quality of life and social interaction. Disease severity can be classified by the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score ranging from 0 to 72 points. Indoor artificial salt bath with or without artificial ultraviolet B (UVB) light is used to treat psoriasis, simulating sea bathing and sunlight exposure; however, the evidence base needs clear evaluation. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of indoor (artificial) salt water baths followed by exposure to artificial UVB for treating chronic plaque psoriasis in adults. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases up to June 2019: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS. We also searched five trial registers, and checked the reference lists of included studies, recent reviews, and relevant papers for further references to relevant trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of salt bath indoors followed by exposure to artificial UVB in adults who have been diagnosed with chronic plaque type psoriasis. We included studies reporting between-participant data and within-participant data. We evaluated two different comparisons: 1) salt bath + UVB versus other treatment without UVB; eligible comparators were exposure to psoralen bath, psoralen bath + artificial ultraviolet A UVA) light, topical treatment, systemic treatment, or placebo, and 2) salt bath + UVB versus other treatment + UVB or UVB only; eligible comparators were exposure to bath containing other compositions or concentrations + UVB or UVB only. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence. The primary efficacy outcome was PASI-75, to detect people with a 75% or more reduction in PASI score from baseline. The primary adverse outcome was treatment-related adverse events requiring withdrawal. For the dichotomous variables PASI-75 and treatment-related adverse events requiring withdrawal, we estimated the proportion of events among the assessed participants. The secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life using the Dermatology Life Quality Index, (DLQI) pruritus severity measured using a visual analogue scale, time to relapse, and secondary malignancies. MAIN RESULTS: We included eight RCTs: six reported between-participant data (2035 participants; 1908 analysed), and two reported within-participant data (70 participants, 68 analysed; 140 limbs; 136 analysed). One study reported data for the comparison salt bath with UVB versus other treatment without UVB; and eight studies reported data for salt bath with UVB versus other treatment with UVB or UVB only. Of these eight studies, only five reported any of our pre-specified outcomes and assessed the comparison of salt bath with UVB versus UVB only. The one included trial that assessed salt bath plus UVB versus other treatment without UVB (psoralen bath + UVA) did not report any of our primary outcomes. The mean age of the participants ranged from 41 to 50 years of age in 75% of the studies. None of the included studies reported on the predefined secondary outcomes of this review. We judged seven of the eight studies as at high risk of bias in at least one domain, most commonly performance bias. Total trial duration ranged between at least two months and up to 13 months. In five studies, the median participant PASI score at baseline ranged from 15 to 18 and was balanced between treatment arms. Three studies did not report PASI score. Most studies were conducted in Germany; all were set in Europe. Half of the studies were multi-centred (set in spa centres or outpatient clinics); half were set in a single centre in either an unspecified settings, a psoriasis daycare centre, or a spa centre. Commercial spa or salt companies sponsored three of eight studies, health insurance companies funded another, the association of dermatologists funded another, and three did not report on funding. When comparing salt bath plus UVB versus UVB only, two between-participant studies found that salt bath plus UVB may improve psoriasis when measured using PASI 75 (achieving a 75% or more reduction in PASI score from baseline) (risk ratio (RR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24 to 2.35; 278 participants; low-certainty evidence). Assessment was conducted at the end of treatment, which was equivalent to six to eight weeks after start of treatment. The two trials which contributed data for the primary efficacy outcome were conducted by the same group, and did not blind outcome assessors. The German Spas Association funded one of the trials and the funding source was not stated for the other trial. Two other between-participant studies found salt bath plus UVB may make little to no difference to outcome treatment-related adverse events requiring withdrawal compared with UVB only (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.35 to 2.64; 404 participants; low-certainty evidence). One of the studies reported adverse events, but did not specify the type of events; the other study reported skin irritation. One within-participant study found similar results, with one participant reporting severe itch immediately after Dead Sea salt soak in the salt bath and UVB group and two instances of inadequate response to phototherapy and conversion to psoralen bath + UVA reported in the UVB only group (low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Salt bath with artificial ultraviolet B (UVB) light may improve psoriasis in people with chronic plaque psoriasis compared with UVB light treatment alone, and there may be no difference in the occurrence of treatment-related adverse events requiring withdrawal. Both results are based on data from a limited number of studies, which provided low-certainty evidence, so we cannot draw any clear conclusions. The reporting of our pre-specified outcomes was either non-existent or limited, with a maximum of two studies reporting a given outcome. The same group conducted the two trials which contributed data for the primary efficacy outcome, and the German Spas Association funded one of these trials. We recommend further RCTs that assess PASI-75, with detailed reporting of the outcome and time point, as well as treatment-related adverse events. Risk of bias was an issue; future studies should ensure blinding of outcome assessors and full reporting.

Disseminated Emergomycosis in a Person with HIV Infection, Uganda.

We describe emergomycosis in a patient in Uganda with HIV infection. We tested a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin biopsy to identify Emergomyces pasteurianus or a closely related pathogen by sequencing broad-range fungal PCR amplicons. Results suggest that emergomycosis is more widespread and genetically diverse than previously documented. PCR on tissue blocks may help clarify emergomycosis epidemiology.

Dicer Sequencing, Whole Genome Methylation Profiling, mRNA and smallRNA Sequencing Analysis in Basal Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Perturbations in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their maturing machinery components such as Dicer have been previously described for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). However, the mutational status of Dicer in BCC is unclear. Further, the sclerodermiform subtype of BCC (sBCC) has not been previously investigated regarding its methylation profile or its smallRNA expression profile via RNA sequencing. We conducted this study to investigate the mutational status of Dicer in BCC. METHODS: Dicer sequencing was performed on the Illumina MiSeq System in a total of 16 BCC samples (8 nodular BCCs, 8 sBCCs) and mapped against the human reference genome (i.e., hg19). Dicer sequencing was performed in all 16 BCC samples. We performed whole genome methylation profiling with Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChips as well as mRNA and smallRNA sequencing in 5 sBCCs with the Illumina NextSeq500 next-generation sequencing system. RESULTS: Compared to the wildtype Dicer sequence, we found 5 to 7 variants per sBCC sample including insertion, deletion, and multiple nucleotide variants. Global methylation profiles were highly similar between groups. mRNA sequencing revealed S100A9, KRT14, KRT10, S100A8, S100A7, COX1, KRT1, COX3, and smallRNA sequencing analysis miR-21, miR-99a, miR26-a-2, let-7f, let-7g, let-7i, miR-100, and miR-205 were the most strongly expressed in sBCCs. CONCLUSION: We identified a variety of Dicer mutations that could play a role in aberrant miRNA expression in BCC. The noted RNA sequences should be further evaluated in functional studies to explore their potential pathogenetic role in sBCC.

Diagnostic accuracy of a panel of immunohistochemical and molecular markers to distinguish Merkel cell carcinoma from other neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin mostly induced by Merkel cell polyomavirus integration. Cytokeratin 20 (CK20) positivity is currently used to distinguish Merkel cell carcinomas from other neuroendocrine carcinomas. However, this distinction may be challenging in CK20-negative cases and in cases without a primary skin tumor. The objectives of this study were first to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of previously described markers for the diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma and second to validate these markers in the setting of difficult-to-diagnose Merkel cell carcinoma variants. In a preliminary set (n = 30), we assessed optimal immunohistochemical patterns (CK20, thyroid transcription factor 1 [TTF-1], atonal homolog 1 [ATOH1], neurofilament [NF], special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 [SATB2], paired box protein 5, terminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase, CD99, mucin 1, and Merkel cell polyomavirus-large T antigen) and Merkel cell polyomavirus load thresholds (real-time PCR). The diagnostic accuracy of each marker was then assessed in a validation set of 103 Merkel cell carcinomas (9 CK20-negative cases and 15 cases without a primary skin tumor) and 70 extracutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma cases. The most discriminant markers for a diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma were SATB2, NF expression, and Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA detection (positive likelihood ratios: 36.6, 44.4, and 28.2, respectively). Regarding Merkel cell carcinoma variants, cases without a primary skin tumor retained a similar immunohistochemical  profile and CK20-negative tumors displayed a different profile (decrease frequency of NF and SATB2 expression), but Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA remained detected (78% of cases by qPCR). Moreover, 8/9 (89%) CK20-negative Merkel cell carcinoma cases but only 3/61 (5%) CK20-negative extracutaneous neuroendocrine cases were positive for at least one of these markers. In conclusion, detection of SATB2 and NF expression and Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA helps distinguish between Merkel cell carcinoma classical and variant cases and extracutaneous neuroendocrine carcinomas.