A prospective study on the wound healing and quality of life outcomes of patients with venous leg ulcers in Singapore-Interim analysis at 6 month follow up.

Venous leg ulceration results in significant morbidity. However, the majority of studies conducted are on Western populations. This study aims to evaluate the wound healing and quality of life for patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs) in a Southeast Asian population. This is a multi-centre prospective cohort study from Nov 2019 to Nov 2021. All patients were started on 2- or 4-layer compression bandage and were reviewed weekly or fortnightly. Our outcomes were wound healing, factors predictive of wound healing and the EuroQol 5-dimensional 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) health states. Within our cohort, there were 255 patients with VLU. Mean age was 65.2 ± 11.6 years. Incidence of diabetes mellitus was 42.0%. Median duration of ulcer at baseline was 0.30 years (interquartile range 0.136-0.834). Overall, the median time to wound healing was 4.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.77-5.43). The incidence of complete wound healing at 3- and 6-month was 47.0% and 60.9%, respectively. The duration of the wound at baseline was independently associated with worse wound healing (Hazard ratio 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89-0.99, P = .014). Patients with healed VLU had a significantly higher incidence of perfect EQ-5D-5L health states at 6 months (57.8% vs 13.8%, P < .001). We intend to present longer term results in subsequent publications.

Self-improving dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: First report of clinical, molecular, and genetic characterization of five patients from Southeast Asia.

Self-improving dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is a rare subtype of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) characterized by significant improvement in skin fragility within the first few years of life. Genetic inheritance has previously been reported as autosomal dominant or recessive with both forms harboring mutations in COL7A1. To date, there have been no reports of this rare clinical entity from various Southeast Asian ethnicities. Here, we describe the clinical and molecular features of five patients from the Southeast Asia region who presented with predominantly acral-distributed blisters and erosions in the first few days of life. Blistering resolved over several months, without appearance of new blisters. By immunofluorescence, intraepidermal retention of Type VII collagen was observed in all patient skin biopsies when investigated with antibody staining. Genetic analysis of four patients revealed pathogenic variants in COL7A1 which have not been previously reported. The clinical diagnosis in these rare patients is confirmed with molecular histology and genetic characterization.

Epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia associated with compound heterozygous ITGB4 pathogenic variants: Minimal skin involvement but severe mucocutaneous disease.

We report a case of junctional epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia (JEB-PA) with minimal skin involvement but severe protein-losing enteropathy and airway involvement. Genetic analysis revealed heterozygous mutations in the ITGB4 gene encoding integrin ß4 protein. Parental testing confirmed inheritance of frameshift variant (c.794dupC) as maternal and splice site variant (c.1608C>T/p.Cys536Cys) as paternal. Immunofluorescence mapping of her skin revealed a subepidermal blister with decreased and frayed integrin ß4 at both the floor and the roof of the blister, while the intestinal mucosa showed complete absence of integrin ß4. We review the literature and discuss the differential expression of integrins in the skin and gastrointestinal tract, as well as the role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of EB.

Moisturisers from birth in at-risk infants of atopic dermatitis - a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic dermatosis, with onset of disease often manifesting in early infancy. Past studies evaluating the early use of moisturisers in the prevention of AD had mixed results. OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence of moderate or severe AD and total incidence of AD in a cohort of 'at-risk' infants treated with moisturisers from the first 2 weeks of life, to a similar group without moisturisers. METHODS: We performed a single-centre, prospective, parallel-group, randomised study in infants with at least 2 first-degree relatives with atopy. Subjects were randomised into either a treatment group with moisturisers or a control group without moisturisers. Participants were assessed at 2, 6, and 12 months for AD and if present, the severity was assessed using SCORAD index. We also compared the overall incidence of AD, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum (SC) hydration, pH, and incidence of food and environmental sensitisation and allergies between both groups. Genotyping for loss-of-functions mutations in the FLG gene was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 200 subjects were recruited, with 100 subjects in each arm. There was no significant difference in incidence of moderate or severe AD, and total incidence of AD at 12 months between the treatment and control groups. There was a lower mean SCORAD in the treatment group than in the control group, but no significant difference in TEWL, SC hydration, and skin pH. No significant side-effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The early use of moisturisers in 'at-risk' infants does not reduce the incidence of moderate-to-severe AD and overall incidence of AD in infancy.

Rumpel-Leede Phenomenon-An alarming rash with benign etiology in 4 healthy infants.

The Rumpel-Leede phenomenon (RLP) is a rare clinical presentation and in some cases shown to be related to serious systemic conditions. In children, it has been described in association with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and Henoch-Schönlein purpura. We present a series of pediatric cases of RLP with mechanical etiologies that had a benign course. We propose minimal investigations for pediatric RLP cases who are systemically well and have a clear suggestive history of a mechanical cause.

Early Prediction of Wound Healing Outcome Based on Chronic Wound Registry Database.

Chronic wounds cause a number of unnecessary amputations due to a delay in proper treatment. To expedite timely treatment, this paper presents an algorithm which uses a logistic regression classifier to predict whether the wound will heal or not within a specified time. The prediction is made at three time-points: one month, three months, and six months from the first visit of the patient to the healthcare facility. This prediction is made using a systematically collected chronic wound registry and is based entirely on data collected during patients' first visit. The algorithm achieves an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.75, 0.72, and 0.71 for the prediction at the three time-points, respectively.Clinical relevance- Using the proposed prediction model, the clinicians will have an early estimate of the time taken to heal thereby providing appropriate treatments. We hope this will ensure timely treatments and reduce the number of unnecessary amputations.

Retrospective matched cohort study of incidence rates and excess length of hospital stay owing to pressure injuries in an Asian setting.

Background: Little is known about stage 1 and 2 pressure injuries that are health care-acquired. We report incidence rates of health care-acquired stage 1 and stage 2 pressure injuries, and, estimate the excess length of stay using four competing analytic methods. We discuss the merits of the different approaches. Methods: We calculated monthly incidence rates for stage 1 and 2 health care-acquired pressure injuries occurring in a large Singapore acute care hospital. To estimate excess stay, we conducted unadjusted comparisons with a control cohort, performed linear regression and then generalized linear regression with a gamma distribution. Finally, we fitted a simple state-based model. The design for the cost attribution work was a retrospective matched cohort study. Results: Incidence rates in 2016 were 0.553% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55, 0.557) and 0.469% (95% CI 0.466, 0.472) in 2017. For data censored at 60 days' maximum stay, the unadjusted comparisons showed the highest excess stay at 17.68 (16.43-18.93) days and multi-state models showed the lowest at 1.22 (0.19, 2.23) days. Conclusions: Poor-quality methods for attribution of excess length of stay to pressure injury generate inflated estimates that could mislead decision makers. The findings from the multi-state model, which is an appropriate method, are plausible and illustrate the likely bed-days saved from lowering the risk of these events. Stage 1 and 2 pressure injuries are common and increase costs by prolonging the length of stay. There will be economic value investing in prevention. Using biased estimates of excess length of stay will overstate the potential value of prevention.

Chronic wounds in a multiethnic Asian population: a cost of illness study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the 'cost of illness' arising from chronic wounds in Singapore. DESIGN: Incidence-based cost of illness study using evidence from a range of sources. SETTING: Singapore health services. PARTICIPANTS: We consider 3.49 million Singapore citizens and permanent residents. There are 16 752 new individuals with a chronic wound in 2017, with 598 venous ulcers, 2206 arterial insufficiency ulcers, 6680 diabetic ulcers and 7268 pressure injuries.Primary outcome measures expressed in monetary terms are the value of all hospital bed days lost for the population; monetary value of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost in the population; costs of all outpatient visits; and costs of all poly clinic, use of Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) and emergency departments (EDs) visits. Intermediate outcomes that inform the primary outcomes are also estimated. RESULTS: Total annual cost of illness was $350 million (range $72-$1779 million). With 168 503 acute bed days taken up annually (range 141 966-196 032) that incurred costs of $139 million (range 117-161 million). Total costs to health services were $184 million (range $120-$1179 million). Total annual costs of lost health outcomes were 2077 QALYs (range -2657 to 29 029) valued at $166 million (range -212 to 2399 million). CONCLUSIONS: The costs of chronic wounds are large to Singapore. Costs can be reduced by making positive investments for comprehensive wound prevention and treatment programmes.

Facial involvement in Indian psoriatic patients and its association with disease severity and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Face was often thought to be spared in psoriasis possibly due to the protective effect of sebum and low-dose ambient ultraviolet radiation exposure. Some have suggested that facial involvement is common and indicates disease severity. There is a paucity of data on this, particularly from India. Psoriatics have a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and patients with severe disease are at greater risk. OBJECTIVE: A study of the frequency and type of facial involvement in Indian psoriatic patients and its association with disease severity and metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A total of 250 consecutive psoriatic patients were screened and these yielded 188 patients with facial involvement. Facial psoriatics were divided into peripherofacial, centrofacial and mixed facial types. Disease severity was assessed using whole body, scalp, facial psoriasis area severity index scores and nail area psoriasis severity index scores. Patients were evaluated for the presence of metabolic syndrome using NCEP-III criteria. All parameters were compared both between facial and nonfacial psoriatics and between cases with different types of face involvement. RESULTS: The mean age (P = 0.04) and age of onset of disease (P = 0.02) was lower and median whole-body psoriasis area severity index score was higher in psoriatics with facial involvement (P < 0.001) than those without. No significant association was found between facial involvement and metabolic syndrome. Mixed facial was the commonest type of facial involvement and there was a significant association of mixed facial involvement with increased total body psoriasis area severity index scores (P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: Dietary habits, physical activity level, family history of diabetes and obesity were not enquired for in our patients. Centrofacial cases were too few in number, hence statistical comparisons are not relevant. CONCLUSION: Facial involvement in psoriatics is associated with severe disease but not metabolic syndrome. Mixed facial type might be considered a marker of overall psoriasis disease severity in the Indian population.