[What's new in acne? New therapeutic approaches]. / Quoi de neuf dans l'acné ? Nouvelles approches thérapeutiques.

Well-known topical and systemic treatments for acne have advanced little over the last 10 years. However, many therapeutic approaches are being evaluated both in terms of topical and systemic treatments. The purpose of this paper is to show the progress of innovative drug projects in treating acne. The topical use of new formulations using lipid nanoparticles and microspheres could help for new products based on anti-androgens or retinoids more concentrated and better tolerated. New active agents such as topical antimicrobial peptides, inhibitors of ectopeptidase, omiganan pentahydrochloride, antisense oligonucleotides, lauric acid are many original ways to explore for the treatment of acne. New treatment regimens for doxycycline and isotretinoin would increase tolerance. Dapsone has been evaluated for isotretinoin-resistant forms. Phototherapy narrowband light (blue or red) can find its place in the strategy for the management of acne. Finally, acne vaccines could be developed too.

Epidemiologic features of patients affected by herpes zoster: database analysis of the Ferrara University Dermatology Unit, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: The recent authorization and commercialization in the USA of a "Zoster vaccine" with high antigenic titer opens interesting perspectives of prevention against herpes zoster (HZ). This disease is characterized by a vesicular rash with dermatomeric extension and by moderate to severe pain. Many patients present with post-herpetic neuralgia. In Italy, complete and recent epidemiological data are not available. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the epidemiological features of patients presenting with HZ observed at the Ferrara University Dermatology unit from 2000 to 2008. The following data were collected: gender, age, residence, date and place of consultation, localization, and therapy. RESULTS: The place of consultation was often (43%) not specified; in the remaining 57% of cases, patients were sent from general and ophthalmology emergency rooms. The most frequent localizations were: 32% ophthalmic; 16.5% thoracic; 16% facial. Most patients were treated with oral antiviral drugs for seven days. According to localization and severity, topical or oral antibiotics, analgesics, neurotrophic drugs were prescribed. CONCLUSIONS: This data, although not representative of all cases in the province of Ferrara, confirmed the epidemiological impact of Zoster, which brings a number of patients to use the hospital and specialized structures for diagnosis and cure.