Schwann cells as underestimated, major players in human skin physiology and pathology.

Schwann cells (SCs) have long been recognized for their ability to support repair and promote axon regeneration following injury to the peripheral nervous system. In response to nerve injury, they rapidly dedifferentiate into a precursor-like state, secrete an array of inflammatory mediators and growth factors, proliferate, undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transformation to facilitate migration, phagocytose cellular debris and remodel the extracellular environment to promote regeneration of axons through the site of injury. However, even though a cutaneous role for SCs is becoming increasingly recognized, we argue in this Viewpoint essay that the likely complex functions of SCs in skin physiology and pathology beyond skin sensation and nerve repair deserve more attention and systemic research than they have received so far. For example, SCs promote wound healing, disseminate infection in leprosy, support the growth of neurofibromas/schwannomas and facilitate/accelerate the growth and invasion of melanoma. Despite representing a major dermal cell population, comparatively little is still known about the role of SCs in other dermatoses. To quintessentially illustrate the opportunities that promise to arise from a new skin research focus on SCs, we focus on two dermatoses that are not traditionally associated with SCs, that is, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD), since both show distinct SC changes along with continuous nerve fibre degeneration and regeneration, and an impact of denervation on skin lesions. Specifically, we critically discuss the hypothesis that repeated activation of the SC repair programme occurs in and contributes to psoriasis and AD and delineate experimental approaches how to probe this clinically relevant hypothesis.

Paradoxical reactions induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonists: A literature review based on 46 cases.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) agents have acquired a prominent place in the treatment options for inflammatory disorders. Among the side effects of these agents are the so-called paradoxical reactions which have increasingly been reported in recent years. A review of literature was carried out using Medline (PubMed) database from January 2010 to December 2014 to collect all published articles on cases of anti-TNFα-induced psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Published articles were identified, reviewed and the relevant data extracted. A total of 22 studies (46 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. Of the 46 patients, 45 (97.8%) developed psoriasis and 1 (2.1%) psoriatic arthritis. The mean age of patients was 47 years; three (6.5%) patients had a past history of psoriasis. Infliximab caused cutaneous reactions in the most number, 26 (56.5%) cases. Thirty seven (80.4%). patients developed primary plaque-type psoriasis. Women accounted for 86.9% of patients. There was complete resolution of psoriasis in 12 (26%) patients despite differences in the therapeutic approach. Cessation of the incriminated drug led to resolution of cutaneous lesions in 5 (10.8%), switching to another TNFα antagonist led to resolution in 6 (13%) and one (2.1%) patient improved despite continuation of the drug. As for the lone case of psoriatic arthritis, drug withdrawal did not result in improvement; only switching to another anti-TNFα agent helped. Since our sample was small, it was not adequately powered to draw any firm conclusions. However, in this analysis, we found that paradoxical reactions occurred predominantly in adult women, there were only isolated cases with a personal history of psoriasis, infliximab was responsible for most cases of these reactions and the most prevalent form was plaque-type psoriasis. The decision whether to continue or discontinue the triggering anti-TNFα agent should be individualized as results are highly variable.

Darwinian medicine and psoriasis.

Darwinian medicine, or evolutionary medicine, regards some pathological conditions as attempts by the organism to solve a problem or develop defense mechanisms. At certain stages of human evolution, some diseases may have conferred a selective advantage. Psoriasis is a high-penetrance multigenic disorder with prevalence among whites of up to 3%. Psoriatic lesions have been linked with enhanced wound-healing qualities and greater capacity to fight infection. Leprosy, tuberculosis, and infections caused by viruses similar to human immunodeficiency virus have been postulated as environmental stressors that may have selected for psoriasis-promoting genes in some human populations. The tendency of patients with severe psoriasis to develop metabolic syndrome may reflect the body's attempt to react to environmental stresses and warning signs by triggering insulin resistance and fat storage.

Pathophysiology of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory papulosquamous disease characterized by multiple remissions and relapses. For long, it was believed to be primarily a disorder of keratinization. However, the successful use of traditional immunosupressants and newer immunomodulatory agents in the treatment of psoriasis led to the belief that psoriasis is primarily a disease of Th1 cell immune dysregulation. Recent developments have brought up several new findings such as the role of Th17 cells and evidence of skin barrier dysfunction in psoriasis, akin to atopic dermatitis. The present review aims to focus on these new developments and explain the pathogenesis of psoriasis on the basis of currently available information.

DermaMan: scoring dermatology in your palm.

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have become a part of everyday life. DermaMan is a freely available, Java-based, dermatology-specific calculator for handheld devices. It includes modules to compute PASI, MASI, SCORAD, and for calculations related to topical PUVA and Botox (R) administration.

Identidade e adoecimento: a representacao do processo saude-doenca em pacientes dermatologicos / Identity and illness: the representation of the health-disease process in dermatological patients

O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de investigar o processo de adoecimento e suas implicacoes na constituicao da identidade de pacientes com psoriase, assim como a compreencao da relacao entre o sujeito e sua doenca. Para isso foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, utilizando-se entrevistas semi-estruturadas com pacientes psoriaticos adultos, em situacao de tratamento ambulatorial, cujo tempo de convivencia com a doenca fosse superior a 5 anos. Foi realizada um analise do discurso desses pacientes, com objetivo de compreender a relacao entre sua identidade e seu adoecimento. Dentre os varios aspectos evidenciados pudemos observar qua a psoriase, enquanto doenca cronica, toma grande importancia na vida de quem convive com ela. As dificuldades mais aparentes dizem respeito a convivencia com situacoes estressantes, com sentimentos de rejeicao e revolta, bem como com signifivativas restricoes nas atividades socializadoras. A presenca constante de situacoes conflitantes aparece como outro fato marcante na percepcao dos pacientes, pois, o estabelecimento de vinculos afetivos, com pessoas significativas, costuma se dar com elevado grau de tensao emocional e sofrimento psiquico. O aspecto fisico provocado pela psoriase tende a criar um sentimento de repulsa, levando a percepcao de uma auto-imagem significativamente desfavoravel. A vivencia dos conteudos psiquicos, pelos pacientes, na relacao com a doenca, os levaram a incorporar caracteristicas tipicas do adoecimento como sendo proprias de sua identidade. A pele serve, nesse contexto, como campo de expressao de sua "identidade de doente". No trabalho com pessoas que convivem com doencas cronicas, e de significativa importancia que se leve em consideracao sua historia e vida e a relacao entre a configuracao da identidade e o processo de adoecimento, e que se entenda que mesmo com possiveis modificacoes do quadro clinico da doenca, os processo caracteristicos da identidade podem manter a crenca do individuo de que esses ...