The Effects of Lumbricus rubellus Extract on Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and IL-31 Levels in Children with Atopic Dermatitis.

Background and Objectives: The ineffective combination of corticosteroids and antibiotics in treating some atopic dermatitis (AD) cases has been concerning. The skin barrier defects in AD ease the colonization of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which results in a rise in interleukin-31 (IL-31). Lumbricus rubellus (L. rubellus) has shown antimicrobial and antiallergic effects but has not been studied yet to decrease the growth of S. aureus and IL-31 levels in AD patients. This study aimed to analyze the effect of L. rubellus extract in reducing S. aureus colonization, the IL-31 level, and the severity of AD. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) (international registration number TCTR20231025004) was conducted on 40 AD patients attending Dermatology and Venereology Polyclinic, Mother and Child Hospital (RSIA), Aceh, Indonesia, from October 2021 to March 2022. AD patients aged 8-16 who had a Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index > 25, with total IgE serum level > 100 IU/mL, and had healthy weight were randomly assigned into two groups: one received fluocinolone acetonide 0.025% and placebo (control group) and one received fluocinolone acetonide 0.025% combined with L. rubellus extract (Vermint®) (intervention group). The S. aureus colony was identified using a catalase test, coagulase test, and MSA media. The serum IL-31 levels were measured using ELISA assay, while the SCORAD index was used to assess the severity of and improvement in AD. Mean scores for measured variables were compared between the two groups using an unpaired t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: A significant decline in S. aureus colonization (p = 0.001) and IL-31 (p = 0.013) in patients receiving L. rubellus extract was found in this study. Moreover, fourteen AD patients in the intervention group showed an improvement in the SCORAD index of more than 35% (p = 0.057). Conclusions: L. rubellus extract significantly decreases S. aureus colonization and the IL-31 level in AD patients, suggesting its potential as an adjuvant therapy for children with AD.

Prevalence of the HLA-Cw6 genotype and zinc deficiency in psoriasis vulgaris patients in Indonesia.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis vulgaris is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease influenced by genetic and immunologic factors, including micronutrient deficiencies. The HLA-Cw6 gene and zinc level have been separately studied in psoriasis patients, yielding inconsistent findings. A descriptive study regarding HLA-Cw6 allele expression, zinc levels, and their direct correlation in Indonesia is lacking. METHODS: This prospective case-control study involved 33 psoriasis patients and 33 age- and sex-matched control patients at the dermatology clinic affiliated with Hasanuddin University in South Sulawesi in 2021. Cases were classified into mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis according to Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. An EDTA tube was used to take a 5 ml blood sample, followed by analysis for PCR of the HLA-Cw6 allele and a colorimetric assay to measure zinc level. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between HLA-Cw6 and zinc level and psoriasis disease severity. RESULTS: Among the 33 psoriatic patients enrolled in this study, three (9.1%) of the cases were classified as mild psoriasis, 10 (30.3%) were classified as moderate psoriasis, and 20 (60.6%) were classified as severe psoriasis. The HLA-Cw6 allele was detected in 93.9% of psoriasis cases and in 3% of control patients (p < 0.001). The HLA-Cw6 allele was detected consecutively in 66.7%, 90.0%, and 100% of mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis patients, respectively. Zinc levels were lower in psoriasis patients compared to controls (16.85 ± 3.55 vs. 13.74 ± 3.78 µmol/l). Severe psoriasis patients exhibited the lowest average zinc level (14.76 ± 1.40 µmol/l, 15.48 ± 4.20 µmol/l, and 12.72 ± 3.56 µmol/l in mild, moderate, and severe patients, respectively). The mean zinc level in HLA-Cw6-positive patients was 13.68 µmol/l, and 14.6 µmol/l in HLA-Cw6-negative patients (p = 0.495). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed the presence of HLA-Cw6 allele expression and decreased serum zinc levels in psoriasis patients compared to controls. Both factors demonstrated associations with psoriasis disease severity.

Glove-Induced Hand Dermatitis: A Study in Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia.

Skin damage among healthcare workers has been reported by many centers around the world. Occupational hand dermatitis is one of the most commonly known occupational skin diseases and a socially significant health issue. The use of gloves is one of the risk factors for the occurrence and/or aggravation of hand dermatitis. This cross-sectional study involved healthcare workers in 14 referral hospitals for COVID-19 throughout Indonesia. Questionnaires were distributed to the participants, which consisted of the subject's characteristics, glove-related skin problems, history of glove use, and clinical history. This study involved a total of 845 healthcare workers. Approximately 156 healthcare workers (18.46%) had glove-induced hand dermatitis during the pandemic. Itchy skin was the most common symptom (44.23%), and the palm was the most frequently complained area (48.72%). There was a significant association between glove use and glove-induced hand dermatitis among healthcare workers. In particular, equal to or more than 2 hours per day of glove use was significantly associated with hand dermatitis. Glove-induced hand dermatitis also had a significant association with the subject's history of atopic dermatitis and previous history of hand dermatitis. The use of gloves by healthcare workers should be considered carefully, especially in individuals at increased risk, including those who use gloves for 2 hours or more per day and those who have a history of atopic or hand dermatitis, in order to prevent the incidence of glove-induced hand dermatitis among healthcare workers, as well as to provide a safe working environment.

Recalcitrant Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report.

A 30-year-old woman visited the dermatology and venereology clinic with red rashes on her cheeks with spreading wounds to the ears present for 6 months. Similar ailments were also found on the chest and upper arms accompanying black spots on both palms. Initially, red rashes appeared intermittently, observed around the eyes and cheeks, especially at sun exposure. Tenderness or pruritus was not present; however, the patient had joints ache, sore fingers, hair loss as well as frequent fever.

Successful low-dose corticosteroid treatment of aggressive pyoderma gangrenosum with irritable bowel syndrome: a case report.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare and chronic cutaneous disorder characterized by painful ulcers that progresses rapidly. The disease is thought to be immune-mediated. However, the exact etiopathogenesis of the disease has yet to be clearly established. The disease is often misdiagnosed as other cutaneous disorders, most notably infections such as cellulitis in its initial stage. Failure of antibiotic treatment is one of the signs when a diagnosis of PG should be considered. Due to its rampant lesion evolution, aggressive corticosteroid therapy has long been used as the mainstay treatment for PG. However, this can lead to side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in patients with autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We report the case of a 54-year-old female patient with PG that was initially misdiagnosed as cellulitis and furunculosis along with IBD. She was treated using a low-dose regimen of methylprednisolone, which resulted in significant clinical improvement and complete resolution after 2 months of therapy.

Nail Fold Dermatoscopic Findings in Scleroderma Patients.

CASE 1: A 28-year-old woman with previously excellent health presented with pain, swelling, and stiffness on the face and hands, which had persisted for over 18 months. She had initially experienced intermittent pain in both knees. Skin hardening spread to both hands until the fingers could no longer be straightened. There were intermittent pain and skin hardening on the cheeks extending to the neck. These were accompanied by breathing difficulty, especially during high-intensity activity.