[Importance of biopsy in the diagnostic assessment of chronic wounds-position paper of the Initiative Chronische Wunden (ICW) e. V.] / Stellenwert der Biopsie in der Diagnostik chronischer Wunden ­ ein Positionspapier der Initiative Chronische Wunden (ICW) e. V.

Diagnostic assessment of chronic wounds is essential for the initiation of causal therapeutic treatment. For diagnostic classification of the wound genesis, it may be necessary to take a tissue sample for histological and/or microbiological processing. If there is clinical suspicion of a specific cause of the wound such as a neoplasm, an inflammatory dermatosis or a pathogen-induced wound, a tissue sample for further diagnosis is required immediately. If the ulceration does not respond sufficiently to adequate causal therapy, a tissue sample for further evaluation is recommended after 12 weeks. The choice of the correct sampling technique, further storage, transport and processing are just as decisive for a reliable result as the specific question for the diagnostic laboratory.

[The term mixed leg ulcer should no longer be used today]. / Der Begriff Ulcus cruris mixtum sollte heute nicht mehr verwendet werden.

A wound on the lower legs of patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is today usually referred to as a mixed leg ulcer. This does not take into account the different stages of the diseases and, thus, their pathophysiological relevance. In everyday clinical practice, this often leads, among other things, to these patients not receiving compression therapy. The multidisciplinary professional association Initiative Chronische Wunden (ICW) e. V., therefore, recommends that this undifferentiated and misleading term should no longer be used. Instead, a leg ulcer with advanced CVI and concomitant PAD in stage I-IIb according to Fontaine or Rutherford category 0-3 should be classified as a venous leg ulcer, while a leg ulcer with advanced PAD in stage III or IV according to Fontaine or Rutherford category 4-6 and advanced CVI is termed an arteriovenous leg ulcer. A leg ulcer in advanced PAD stage IV according to Fontaine or Rutherford category 5 or 6 without advanced CVI is called an arterial leg ulcer. Other relevant comorbidities with an influence on wound healing should also be described separately.

[Digital and innovative teaching in dermatology : Practically oriented teaching online]. / Digitale und innovative Lehre in der Dermatologie : Praktisch orientierte Lehre online.

BACKGROUND: Due to the corona pandemic and also to the new competence-oriented catalogue of learning objectives in medicine and the master plan for medical studies 2020, the development of digital and practical teaching concepts has experienced a great increase in importance. AIM OF THE WORK: As a result of this development, it was an important task to establish this combination and incorporate it into the curricular teaching process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The "Toolkit dermatology" was established, which was sent to a total of more than 650 students at German university dermatology clinics. Using educational films, the students were able to practice their skills. In a further development, the toolkit was combined with classroom lectures and the students were asked to evaluate the toolkit online. RESULTS: The vast majority of students (95-100%) clearly stated that the toolkit helped them to develop their practical skills. Some of them were in fact motivated to complete a clinical traineeship/practical tertial year in dermatology (21-88%). The combination of toolkit and subsequent classroom teaching was also rated very positively (82.2%), as this hybrid mode of teaching provided a better understanding. DISCUSSION: Digital teaching formats as part of the concept of blended learning, i.e. the combination of virtual and analogue teaching formats, are becoming increasingly more important. Solutions for the disadvantages, such as the lack of real interaction and suitable examination formats, still remain to be found; however, the toolkit project demonstrates that hands-on and digital teaching can lead to high student motivation as well as a high educational standard.

Analysis of the German DRG data for livedoid vasculopathy and calciphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Livedoid vasculopathy and calciphylaxis are rare skin disorders. Large cohorts of patients have been missing so far for detailed analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) of hospitalized cases of livedoid vasculopathy (ntotal = 1357) and calciphylaxis (ntotal = 699) were analysed for the years 2008-2013 concerning sex, age and frequency of diagnosis. To avoid deviations to non-relevant secondary diagnosis and due to changes in ICD-10 indices, we selected the two most recent available years 2013 and 2014 for evaluation of the accompanying diagnoses for both, livedoid vasculopathy (n = 519) and calciphylaxis (n = 324). Those were additionally evaluated as possible comorbidity. RESULTS: The male-female ratio for livedoid vasculopathy was 2.1:1. Patients older than 45 years comprehended 74.7% of all patients with peaks between the ages of 45-50 and 70-75. Livedoid vasculopathy patients suffered from cardiovascular and renal diseases. Coding of coagulation disorders was found rarely in our analysis. For calciphylaxis, we calculated a male-female ratio of 1.7:1. Most of the patients were at an age between 65 and 80 years. Diagnosis at an age under 35 years was rare. In general, most calciphylaxis patients showed end-stage renal disease with need of dialysis and presented with the resulting complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our data analysis shows relevant comorbidity and cofactors of these rare diseases like livedoid vasculopathy and calciphylaxis in Germany by a large number of cases.

Contact sensitization in patients with lower leg dermatitis, chronic venous insufficiency, and/or chronic leg ulcer: assessment of the clinical relevance of contact allergens

No disponible

Verrucous carcinoma in epidermolysis bullosa simplex is possibly associated with a novel mutation in the keratin 5 gene.

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is mainly caused by mutations in the KRT5 and KRT14 genes. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents the second most frequent skin neoplasia with complex aetiology. The molecular events disrupting the orchestrated interplay between the cytoskeleton, cell adhesion molecules and signalling proteins are ill understood in SCC. We describe the molecular background and the unusual course of the disease in a patient with EBS Dowling-Meara, severe keratoderma and a massive verrucous carcinoma. Skin and tumour samples from the patient were analysed using light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence mapping. Mutation analysis of the KRT5 and KRT14 genes identified the novel KRT5 mutation p.E477D. Invasive tumour areas were characterized by downregulation of keratins 5 and 14, reduced and irregular desmocollin-2 expression and increased expression of keratins 6, 16 and 17. Levels of Ki-67 were increased and levels of E-cadherin strongly reduced in the tumour tissue. In this case a novel KRT5 mutation led to increased fragility of keratinocytes. Desmosome and adherens junctions were destabilized, which may trigger keratinocyte-mediated inflammation, possibly via p120-catenin-dependent signalling, suggesting a link between a keratin mutation and SCC, which adds weight to the hypothesis that disturbance of the cytoskeleton represents a major cause in the appearance of the malignant phenotype. Some individuals with EBS may be at risk of developing secondary SCC.

Malignant tumours arising in chronic leg ulcers: three cases and a review of the literature.

The precancerous potential of chronic leg ulcers is well-established but the number of reported cases overall is small. Delay in diagnosis may result in a worse prognosis, loss of the affected limb or occurrence of metastases. We report a case series of three patients with long-standing history of recalcitrant leg ulcers, which finally showed malignancy when histologically investigated. In addition, we discuss the literature concerning malignant transformation of chronic leg ulcers and try to bring forward the controversial question of how to differentiate primary and secondary malignancies in chronic ulcers. Although hypotheses about altered wound healing mechanisms, influence of chronic inflammation and irritation or tissue damage through infections are conclusive, further investigations are necessary to clarify the exact pathogenetic mechanisms of tumour development in chronic wounds.

[Melanoma and pregnancy]. / Melanom und Schwangerschaft.

The incidence of melanoma has steadily increased in recent years. As women of childbearing age are also increasing being affected, questions about birth control, hormonal contraception and necessary procedures in case of pregnancy are spotlighted when counseling this group of patients. A potentially adverse effect of pregnancy on melanoma risk and prognosis has been discussed for decades. Giving advice to pregnant melanoma patients concerning diagnostic and therapeutic decisions often requires interdisciplinary collaboration of the treating clinicians, especially in cases of progressive metastatic disease.

Dirt-binding particles consisting of hydrogenated castor oil beads constitute a nonirritating alternative for abrasive cleaning of recalcitrant oily skin contamination in a three-step programme of occupational skin protection.

BACKGROUND: In occupational fields with exposure to grease, oil, metal particles, coal, black lead or soot, cleansing formulations containing abrasive bodies (e.g. refined walnut shell, corn, wood, plastic or pumice) are used. These may constitute an irritant per se. As an alternative, hydrogenated castor oil (also known as castor wax) beads have been developed as dirt-binding particles. A polar surface contributes to their mechanical cleaning effects in removal of oily grime. OBJECTIVES: Standardized examination of the in vivo effects upon the skin barrier of castor wax beads in comparison with abrasive bodies and pure detergent. METHODS: Three cleansing preparations - (i) detergent, (ii) detergent containing castor wax beads, (iii) detergent containing walnut shell powder - were each repetitively applied in vivo (four times daily for 3 weeks), mimicking workplace conditions, in 30 healthy volunteers (15 with and 15 without an atopic skin diathesis) and compared vs. (iv) no treatment. The treatment effects upon the skin barrier were monitored by repeated measurements of functional parameters [transepidermal water loss (TEWL), redness] and surface topography. RESULTS: After a 3-week treatment, a significant global treatment effect (P < 0.0001) was found in the atopic group concerning TEWL as indicator for barrier function. A significantly higher TEWL and increasing erythema in the area treated with detergent containing walnut shell powder reflected its irritant effect compared with castor wax beads dispensed in the identical detergent. Cleaning properties of the two formulas were comparably superior to detergent alone. CONCLUSIONS: Castor wax beads constitute a novel nonirritating alternative for abrasive cleaning of recalcitrant oily skin contamination appropriate for individuals with an atopic skin diathesis in a three-step programme of occupational skin protection. As the skin barrier may additionally be influenced by the composition of dirt and use of skin protection and skin care measures under real workplace conditions, this component may now be used and examined further in different occupations.