Elevation of Serum CEA as a Possible Predictor of Response to Pulse Methylprednisolone in Acquired Idiopathic Generalized Anhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA) is a rare disorder primarily observed in Asian populations, particularly in Japan. Although pulse methylprednisolone therapy is an effective treatment for AIGA, predictors of therapeutic response remain poorly defined. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify factors that predict the efficacy of pulse methylprednisolone therapy in patients with AIGA. METHODS: Data obtained from 32 patients with AIGA were assessed based on clinical, histopathological, and serological examinations. Statistical analyses were conducted to explore predictors of response to pulse methylprednisolone therapy. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 32.1 years (SD = 12.3), with a male predominance (66%). Response to pulse methylprednisolone therapy was closely associated with the time from the onset to start of therapy (Wilcoxson's rank sum test, p = 0.016, n = 27), with earlier intervention resulting in better outcome. Notably, males and patients presenting with severe symptoms at diagnosis responded better to treatment. High serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and histological evidence of inflammation around sweat glands also correlated with a positive therapeutic response. CONCLUSIONS: Earlier intervention, elevated serum CEA levels, and inflammation around sweat glands are potential indicators of successful response to pulse methylprednisolone therapy in patients with AIGA.

Bilateral disseminated herpes zoster in an immunocompetent host.

Herein we report a rare case of disseminated herpes zoster(HZ) infection involving two widely separated bilateral dermatomes in an immunocompetent host. HZ involving two widely separated areas simultaneously is referred to as HZ duplex bilateralis. It is very rare, with an incidence of less than 0.1 percent of all HZ cases, and usually develops in immunocompromised patients.

Clinical benefit of switching from paclitaxel to docetaxel or vice versa in cutaneous angiosarcoma patients resistant to first taxane chemotherapy.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma (CAS) is a rare soft-tissue sarcoma of vascular endothelial origin. Paclitaxel (PTX) and docetaxel (DTX) are used as systemic chemotherapy; however, chemoresistance often occurs in CAS. Switching one taxane to the other (i.e., PTX to DTX, or vice versa) is an option when the first taxane is no longer effective in malignant cancers such as ovarian or breast cancer. However, the efficacy of the same strategy in CAS has not been reported. Herein, we report the clinical response of switching one taxane-based chemotherapy to the other in CAS patients with resistance to the first taxane. Twelve CAS patients were included for analyses. In all patients, the median overall survival from the start of the first taxane treatment was 29.0 months (range, 6.47-58.5). During the first taxane, the median PFS for all patients was 5.96 months (1.81-47.1). Similarly, the median (range) PFS for all patients during the second taxane was 5.87 months (1.60-18.2). Furthermore, the median OS was 22.7 months (PTX to DTX) and 39.5 months (DTX to PTX) (p = 0.307). The median PFS during the first taxane was 5.14 (PTX to DTX) and 12.5 months (DTX to PTX), respectively (p = 0.380). The median PFS during the second taxane was 3.5 (PTX to DTX) and 7.1 months (DTX to PTX), respectively (p = 0.906). The objective response rate, defined as the sum of complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates, was 16.7%. The disease control rate, defined as the sum of CR, PR, and stable disease rates, was 50%. The frequency of adverse events during the second taxane was the same between the two groups (p > 0.999). Our report suggests that CAS patients could benefit from the second taxane treatment if the tumor is resistant to the first taxane.

An adult case of severe hand-foot-mouth disease accompanying persistent fever and systemic arthritis.

This paper reports a case of adult HFMD with vesicles scattered on the whole body and severe oral lesions. In addition, a long-lasting elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP) was a feature of this case. Our case is unusual for HFMD with long-lasting joint pain and high fever.

Clinical practice guidelines for pseudoxanthoma elasticum (2017): Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum Drafting Committee

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a progressive hereditary disease that affects tissues such as the skin, retina, blood vessels, and gastrointestinal tracts. Therefore, comprehensive medical care across clinical departments specialized in specific organs is needed to provide the best clinical practices to PXE patients. The Japanese version of clinical guidelines developed by the Japanese Dermatological Association was published in 2017, and aimed to promote equal accessibility of PXE-related medical care. Here, the English version of Japanese guideline is reported, and is intended to be worldwide reference for medical care of PXE.

Eicosanoid profiling in patients with complete form of pachydermoperiostosis carrying SLCO2A1 mutations.

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is a genetic disease characterized by digital clubbing, periostosis, and pachydermia caused by mutated HPGD or SLCO2A1. Plasma prostaglandin (PG)E2 levels are increased in these patients. However, other eicosanoids have not been quantitated. We aimed to quantitate plasma eicosanoid levels in four patients carrying SLCO2A1 mutations by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. PGE2 level was elevated in all patients; PGD2 and 11ß-PGF2 α levels were also increased in some patients, whereas eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and arachidonic acid levels were decreased in all patients. Our data indicate a dysfunctional eicosanoid homeostasis and varied levels of PG in patients with a complete form of PDP carrying SLCO2A1 mutations. PGE2 levels seem to mostly affect the symptoms, with other eicosanoids possibly having a minor effect.

Bullous dermatosis associated with IgG antibodies specific for desmocollins.

We describe a 53-year-old man with a two-year history of bullous disease. He had also had stage IV gastric cancer for 3 years. He presented with cutaneous erythemas and blisters, showing an annular arrangement. Histopathological examination revealed intraepidermal pustules of eosinophils and neutrophils without apparent acantholysis. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) analysis showed IgG anti-keratinocyte cell surface antibodies. The result of IIF on rat bladder was positive. IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays failed to detect antibodies to either anti-desmoglein-1 (Dsg1), Dsg3, or BP180. Immunoblot analysis with normal human epidermal extract revealed IgG reactivity with 120, 110, and 100 kDa species. Immunofluorescence analysis using COS-7 cells that expressed desmocollin (Dsc) 1, 2, and 3 demonstrated that IgG autoantibodies in the patient's serum reacted with all Dsc1-3. A heterogeneous autoantibody profile including IgG reactivity against Dsc1-3 implicated association with cancer-related pemphigoid, although the findings did not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of paraneoplastic pemphigus. A review of the literature revealed that rare autoantibodies to Dsc, most of which were IgA class, were detected in 7 reported bullous diseases. In 5 out of 7 cases, they were combined with autoantibodies to bullous pemphigoid or pemphigus vulgaris. This is the first case that has IgG autoantibodies to all Dsc1~3.

Predictive factors of response to pulse methylprednisolone therapy in patients with alopecia areata: A follow-up study of 105 Japanese patients.

Pulse corticosteroid therapy is effective for alopecia areata (AA) in the early stage. The risk and efficacy of this therapy for patients with several backgrounds, however, remains controversial. To explore the predictive factors of the response and risk factors of this therapy, data from 105 AA patients treated with methylprednisolone (500 mg) i.v. for 3 days consecutively in our facility were retrospectively analyzed. Among good responders, longer time from the onset to therapy was correlated with longer time required for hair regrowth (P = 0.037, n = 27). Multivariate models demonstrated that "severity", "relapse" and longer "duration from the latest onset" were significantly and independently associated with poorer outcome (P < 0.01). "History of atopic dermatitis (AD)" was also associated with poorer outcome, but this correlation could be explained by the effect that duration from the latest onset of AA was longer among participants with AD. We propose that earlier initiation of pulse corticosteroid therapy is preferable for better outcome of AA, particularly among patients with AD. Clinicians should be mindful of the occurrence of mild adverse effects in the elderly patients.

Calcification in dermal fibroblasts from a patient with GGCX syndrome accompanied by upregulation of osteogenic molecules.

Gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) gene mutation causes GGCX syndrome (OMIM: 137167), which is characterized by pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE)-like symptoms and coagulation impairment. Here, we present a 55-year-old male with a novel homozygous deletion mutation, c.2,221delT, p.S741LfsX100, in the GGCX gene. Histopathological examination revealed calcium deposits in elastic fibers and vessel walls, and collagen accumulation in the mid-dermis. Studies of dermal fibroblasts from the patient (GGCX dermal fibroblasts) demonstrated that the mutated GGCX protein was larger, but its expression level and intracellular distribution were indistinguishable from those of the wild-type GGCX protein. Immunostaining and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed an increase in undercarboxylated matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein (ucMGP), a representative substrate of GGCX and a potent calcification inhibitor, indicating that mutated GGCX was enzymatically inactive. Under osteogenic conditions, calcium deposition was exclusively observed in GGCX dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, GGCX dermal fibroblast cultures contained 23- and 7.7-fold more alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-positive cells than normal dermal fibroblast cultures (n = 3), without and with osteogenic induction, respectively. Expression and activity of ALP were higher in GGCX dermal fibroblasts than in normal dermal fibroblasts upon osteogenic induction. mRNA levels of other osteogenic markers were also higher in GGCX dermal fibroblasts than in normal dermal fibroblasts, which including bone morphogenetic protein 6, runt-related transcription factor 2, and periostin (POSTN) without osteogenic induction; and osterix, collagen type I alpha 2, and POSTN with osteogenic induction. Together, these data indicate that GGCX dermal fibroblasts trans-differentiate into the osteogenic lineage. This study proposes another mechanism underlying aberrant calcification in patients with GGCX syndrome.