The Role and Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy on Patients With Actinic Keratosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are the most common neoplastic lesions and are recognized as a precursor to squamous cell skin cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic option for multiple AKs in line with field cancerization. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of PDT on patients with AKs using a meta-analysis, in order to evaluate the possible superiority of one treatment over the others. For this purpose, the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, OVID, Science Direct, British Journal of Dermatology, Research Gate, and Embase databases were searched in March 2022. The search terms used were 'photodynamic therapy' and 'actinic keratosis'. We utilized the random-effects meta-analysis model to compare methyl aminolevulinate PDT (MAL-PDT) and the combination of a nanoscale-lipid vesicle formulation with the prodrug 5-aminolevulinic acid (BF-200 ALA) on a complete response (CR) of the lesions. Our meta-analysis indicated that the comparison of BF-200 ALA versus MAL-PDT showed marginally higher CRs than MAL-PDT.

Validation of the psychometric properties of a "Modified Version of the Hornheider Screening Instrument" (HSI-MV) using a sample of outpatient and inpatient skin tumor patients.

BACKGROUND: The basis for adequate psycho-oncological care is the identification of patients with psychosocial support needs. The German Working Group for Psychooncology also recommends the Hornheider Screening Instrument (HSI) for this purpose. The question, "Is anyone in your family particularly burdened by the hospital stay?" is intended to capture disease-related family stress. But is this item equally suitable for outpatients and inpatients? The study objective was to examine how replacing the original item affects the test performance of this modified version of the HSI and the frequency of psychosocial stress. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 92 outpatients and 98 inpatients with skin tumors assessed their psychosocial situation using different questionnaires. RESULTS: Compared to inpatients, less than half as many outpatients answered the item in the affirmative. If the question was replaced by: "Is someone in your family particularly burdened by your disease or the course of the disease?" this setting-related difference did not arise. The "Alternative item" and the "Modified version of the HIS" (HSI-MV) proved to be superior to the original item and the original HSI with regard to all examined criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The HSI-MV can be used as a reliable and valid instrument for the systematic assessment of psychosocial care needs in outpatient and inpatient settings. Depending on care capacity, a threshold of ≥ 5 or ≥ 4 is appropriate. In addition to screening, the desire for support should be enquired.

Walking instead of standing.

Background: Leg discomfort is common in the general population. Volume increase and discomfort in the lower legs especially occur in occupations with long standing or sitting periods and less movement. Are both related to each other? Patients and methods: A time-controlled standing period of 15 min was performed in this nonrandomized controlled study to investigate the change and temporal relationship of volume increase and the occurrence of lower leg discomfort. Sensations of discomfort and the urge to move were queried using a numerical rating scale from 0 to 10 (NRS). Correlation analysis was conducted between the lower leg volume and the data regarding the discomfort and urge to move in each subject. Further, linear mixed effect models were performed to detect a causal relationship between the lower leg volume and the sensations of discomfort/urge to move in the standing period. Results: Lower leg volume increased by an average of 63 ml (p<0.001) during the standing period. The sensations of discomfort increased by a mean of 3.46 points on the NRS (p<0.001) during orthostasis. Participants' urge to move increased by 3.47 points on the NRS (p<0.001) during the standing period. A significant correlation was shown between the increase of lower leg volume and the occurrence of discomfort sensation in 9 out of 15 subjects (p<0.05) and between the increase of lower leg volume and the urge to move in 11 out of 15 subjects (p<0.05). Association was shown between volume increase and symptoms in linear mixed effects models. Conclusions: Prolonged standing with lack of movement leads to an increase in the lower leg volume and a sensation of discomfort in venous healthy subjects. Causal relationships are indicated between these variables by linear mixed effects models.

Optimisation of intermittent pneumatic compression in patients with lymphoedema of the legs

Background: Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) has established itself as a cornerstone in the combined decongestive therapy (CDT) of leg oedema, however, there is little evidence on the degree of volume shifts. Objectives: We performed continuous volume measurements during CDT to quantify volume shifts in a controlled trial. In addition, "wrapping/underpadding" and medical compression stockings were evaluated regarding decongestion and leg oedema, respectively. Materials & Methods: The volume reduction of CDT in patients with lymphoedema of the legs was measured. The additive decongesting effect of a padding surrounding the leg under the lymph cuff (IPC +) was evaluated. The efficacy of compression stockings in the maintenance phase was analysed. Results: Volume reductions were observed on the thigh (2%) and lower leg (5%) utilising IPC. Further significant volume reduction of the thigh (6%, p < 0.001) and lower leg (8%, p = 0.002) was observed with IPC +. Considering the thigh volume, patients with thigh-length compression stockings in the maintenance phase showed a significantly less pronounced increase in volume than patients with below-knee compression stockings (98% vs. 101% after six weeks; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The additional padding of the leg during an IPC session induces significantly more pronounced volume reduction. Medical compression stockings help to prevent volume increase in the maintenance phase.

Improvement of dynamic venous function after thermal ablation with steam vein occlusion - 6-weeks and 1-year follow-up after 167 treatments.

BACKGROUND: In this paper, the method of steam vein occlusion for the treatment of the great/small saphenous vein (GSV/SSV) was analyzed in terms of a therapeutic influence on the dynamic parameters of global vein function, its effects on subjective symptoms based on chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and the side effects of the steam vein sclerosis (SVS). It has been questioned whether the effects of this method lead to a recommendation for routine clinical practice. METHODS: The venous drainage and the venous refilling time (T0) of the leg treated were determined by photoplethysmography (Elcat, Wolfratshausen, Germany) before, six weeks and one year after the intervention to examine the effects on global venous function. Further changes of clinical symptoms and findings were assessed by the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), preoperatively and after one year, and the complication rate at 6-week follow-up was monitored. RESULTS: The SVS was performed on 167 veins (GSV: 124; SSV: 43) in a total of 156 patients. Eight patients (5.1%) did not attend the 6-week follow-up, while 29 patients (18.6%) were lost in the 1-year follow-up. Patients were suffering from symptoms such as leg pain and leg edema, which resulted in a VCSS of 9.4 (cumulated mean score of all patients) preoperatively. The T0 was reduced to mean values of 20.6 s (GSV cohort) and 21 s (SSV cohort). The VCSS improved to 6.0 after one year. This correlated with the hemodynamic parameters. The T0 increased in the GSV cohort after six weeks to 31.8 s, p < 0.001, and showed a nonsignificant improvement to 32.2 s, p = 0.509, in the 1-year check. The T0 also increased in the SSV cohort significantly after 6 weeks to 30.1 s, p < 0.001, and showed a nonsignificant reduction after one year, p = 0.289. A total of 71%of the GSV and 69.8%of the SSV of the patients involved no complications following the treatment. Light complications (grade 1) occurred (reddening, hematoma, hyperpigmentation) in the majority: 24.2%of the GSV and 18.6%of the SSV. We noticed one grade 3 complication with thrombosis in the SSV cohort, which led to a pulmonary embolism. Forty-seven complete questionnaires were analyzed (responder rate: 28.1%); 40.4%of the patients had light complaints after the treatment, such as pain, warmth or local pressure sensations (Fig. 7); 63%of those patients noticed only slight pain at a maximum of 3 out of 10. The majority (91%) would recommend this procedure. CONCLUSION: The SVS revealed endoluminal catheter-based intervention to abolish venous reflux of the G/SSV as safe. As one therapeutic target is to eliminate venous reflux, effectiveness of a method cannot be based on sonographic data alone; one must further assess patients' symptoms and dynamic venous function. This data shows an improvement of patients' symptoms which correlated well with the improvement of the venous function in digital photoplethysmography. The SVS can be recommended as a catheter-based treatment in the future.

Influence of compression stockings on the sensation of discomfort and the volume of the lower legs in healthy subjects during standing load.

BACKGROUND: Edema caused by orthostasis is a common clinical picture in the medical and occupational context. Medical compression therapy with compression stockings (CS) is considered a conservative therapeutic standard in edema therapy. The effect of CS on leg discomfort and the increase of the lower leg volume during a standing load still remains questionable. In addition, it is not entirely known whether there is a correlation between volume increase and discomfort in these individuals. METHOD: A timed, controlled standing load of 15 min was conducted by the participants in this non-randomized controlled study to analyze the change in and correlation between lower leg volume increase and the occurrence of lower leg discomfort under compression therapy. Below-knee CS with an interface pressure of 23-32 mmHg were used. The lower leg volume was measured following previous studies using an optical three-dimensional volume (ml) measurement system, and sensations of discomfort and the urge to move were asked about using a numerical rating scale (NRS) of 0-10. The subjects conducted a leg movement for 15 s immediately after the standing period; the data were collected again subsequently. A correlation was calculated between the lower leg volume and the data regarding the discomfort and urge to move for each participant. The experiments had already been performed as part of a previous study including the same subjects who did not wear CS. The results of the study conducted here were compared with those of the participants who did not wear CS to investigate the effect of the CS. RESULTS: Lower leg volume increased by an average of 27 ml (p < 0.001) (without CS: by 63 ml) during standing load in the right leg. During the leg movement after standing load, the lower leg volume increased by 5 ml (n.s.). The sensations of discomfort during the orthostasis increased by 2.6 points on the NRS (p < 0.001) (without CS: by 3.46 points) and decreased by 1.67 points (p < 0.001) during the leg movement shortly after the standing period. Participants' urge to move increased by 3.73 points on the NRS (p < 0.001) (without CS: by 3.47 points) while the participants performed the standing period and decreased by 2.73 points (p < 0.001) during the final movement exercise. A weakly significant correlation could be demonstrated between the increase in the lower leg volume and the occurrence of discomfort in 6 out of 13 subjects (p < 0.1), and between the increase in the lower leg volume and the urge to move in 8 out of 15 subjects (p < 0.1). CONCLUSION: Standing loads and lack of movement lead to an increase in the lower leg volume and sensation of discomfort in venous healthy subjects wearing CS, which are reduced by wearing them (p < 0.001). A weakly significant mathematical correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient) could be shown between the increase in the lower leg volume and the occurrence of the urge to move in 8 out of 15 subjects (p < 0.1) and between the increase in lower leg volume and the occurrence of leg discomfort in 6 out of 13 subjects (p < 0.1).

Influence of Medical Compression Stockings on Skin Hydration in Mainly Health Care Givers with Occupational Leg Symptoms and Edema.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although compression therapy is a very effective therapy in reducing stasis-induced complaints, the wearing comfort is not always as requested. Most frequent problems are dryness of the skin and itching. This randomized, cross-over trial investigated 33 healthy participants and compared 2 different medical compression stockings: conventional stockings (type A = MCS) versus compression stockings with integrated care emulsion (type B = MCS-SkC). METHODS: Participants were divided into 2 cohorts. Both compression types were worn one after the other, 1 week each. The cohorts were named according to the sequence of the wearing periods (cohort AB/BA). PRIMARY OUTCOME: skin hydration. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin roughness, leg volume, interface pressure, and questionnaires about stasis-induced complaints and wearing comfort. RESULTS: Skin hydration: significant reduction after wearing MCS in both cohorts (p < 0.001); preservation of skin moisture after wearing MCS-SkC (p = 0.546 and p = 0.1631). TEWL: significant increase after wearing MCS (p = 0.007 and p = 0.0031); significant reduction by wearing MCS-SkC (p = 0.006 and p = 0.0005). Skin roughness: significant increase after wearing MCS (p = 0.0015 and p = 0.010), and nonsignificant decrease of skin roughness after wearing MCS-SkC (p = 0.933 and p = 0.4570). Leg volume: significantly reduced with both stockings (p = 0.004 and p = 0.0047). Regarding stasis-induced complaints, both stockings achieved good results. CONCLUSIONS: Both compression stockings are appropriate to reduce leg edema and minimize leg symptoms. MCS-SkC helps to obtain the natural skin barrier function in preserving the epidermal water content and reducing the TEWL.

Analysis of pigmented skin lesions and malignant melanoma by Laser Doppler flowmetry - Report of different cases and further analysis by a neuronal network.

BACKGROUND: Dermatoscopy is successfully used for the early diagnosis of suspicious skin lesions, however, correct diagnosis depends on training. There is evidence that wavelet analysis by Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) can identify malignant melanomas by their hypervascularization and changes in the capillary morphology. OBJECTIVE: To show the capability of LDF in the distinction of melanomas and benign pigmented skin lesions based on data collected over 16 years. METHODS: Evaluation of pigmented skin lesions was based on clinical information. The LDF measurements were taken. The suspect lesion was excised afterwards for histological work-up. Four case reports are presented. Data collected over 16 years was processed into a neuronal network to estimate the dignity of the lesion. RESULTS: A total of 517 suspicious lesions were analyzed by LDF. In the histological work-up, 114 lesions turned out to be melanomas, whereas 403 benign naevi were secured. Specificity to detect melanomas was good based on the clinical information. The LDF increases the sensitivity of melanoma detection, which is also illustrated in four case reports. CONCLUSION: In addition to clinical parameters, such as color and border, information from the LDF can help in the diagnosis of malignant melanomas. The LDF provides information on the vascularization of the skin lesion.

A rare case of a patient with PPP syndrome presenting pancreatic pseudocysts, panniculitis, and symptoms of polyarthritis. A radicular cyst of the upper jaw could be another manifestation of the syndrome.

In rare cases, pancreatic enzymes can enter the bloodstream and cause fat necrosis in the bone and tissue leading to a disorder called pancreatitis, panniculitis, and polyarthritis syndrome. Clinicians should have this syndrome in mind when treating patients with pancreatitis.

Medical compression stockings on the skin moisture in patients with chronic venous disease.

Background: Because of side effects like skin dryness and consecutive symptoms like itching the therapy of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) with medical compression stockings (MCS) can lead to a diminished wear comfort and restricted compliance. Compression stockings with integrated skin care may have a positive influence on the skin hydration and moreover a positive effect on patients compliance. Patients and methods: In this monocentric, randomized prospective, controlled trial a below knee conventional MCS was compared to a medical compression stocking with integrated skin care (MCS-SC), interface pressure range 23-32 mmHg. Participants: 50 patients with CVI. Primary outcome: skin hydration. Secondary outcomes: transepidermal water loss, skin roughness, leg volume, interface pressure and questionnaires about quality of life and wear comfort. Results: In patients wearing MCS the skin moisture decreased (p = 0.021) and the skin roughness increased significantly (p = 0.001), whereas in patients wearing the MCS-SC skin moisture and skin roughness changed only slightly (n.s.). These protective effects of MCS-SC compared to MCS were most common in patients with CVI at stage 3 (p = 0.046), in male patients (p = 0.013) and patients with initial dry skin (p = 0.034). Both MCS reduced lower leg volume, MCS by 80 ml (p < 0.001) and MCS-SC by 60 ml (p < 0.001), both MCS improved quality of life: leg complaints (p = 0.0003); functional status (p = 0.010), well-being and life satisfaction (p = 0.030). Wear comfort: In terms of tightness, constriction in bond area and strenuous donning the MCS-SC was assessed significantly more comfortable than MCS (p < 0.001). Conclusions: MCS-SC revealed to be superior to MCS with regard to skin moisture, particularly in patients with low skin humidity, in male patients and in patients with C3, varicose veins accompanied by edema.

["Decoratively figured blisters" on the whole integument in initially diagnosed ulcerative colitis]. / "Schmuckvoll konfigurierte Blasen" am gesamten Integument bei erstdiagnostizierter Colitis ulcerosa.

The rare case of a 61-year-old patient suffering from linear IgA dermatosis is presented. The patient was previously hospitalized with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The correct diagnosis of the disease was based on clinical and histological findings. Serological methods, such as indirect immunofluorescence, ELISA and immunoblotting are suitable for identification of the autoantibodies. In this case the detection of IgA antibodies along the basal membrane was achieved by direct immunofluorescence. Other bullous dermatoses with similar symptoms, such as an IgG-mediated bullous pemphigoid have to be excluded. The therapy of linear IgA dermatosis is ensured by steroid-containing topical agents, alongside antiseptic measures as well as systemic dapsone p.o.

Advantages and disadvantages of graduated and inverse graduated compression hosiery in patients with chronic venous insufficiency and healthy volunteers: A prospective, mono-centric, blinded, open randomised, controlled and cross-over trial.

Background The therapeutic effectiveness of compression therapy depends on the selection of compression hosiery. Objectives To assess efficacy and tolerability of graduated elastic compression stockings (GECS) and inverse graduated elastic compression stockings (PECS). Methods Thirty-two healthy volunteers and thirty-two patients with chronic venous insufficiency were analysed; wear period: one week for each stocking type (randomised, blinded). PRIMARY OUTCOME: volume reduction of 'Lower leg' (Image3D®) and 'Distal leg and foot' (water plethysmography). SECONDARY OUTCOMES: clinical symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency assessed by the Venous Clinical Severity Score, side effects and wear comfort in both groups. Results Volume of 'Lower leg': significant reduction in healthy volunteers (mean GECS: -37.5 mL, mean PECS: -37.2 mL) and in patients (mean GECS: -55.6 mL, mean PECS: -41.6 mL). Volume of 'Distal lower leg and foot': significant reduction in healthy volunteers (mean GECS: -27 mL, mean PECS: -16.7 mL), significant reduction in patients by GECS (mean: -43.4 mL), but non-significant reduction by PECS (mean: -22.6 mL). Clinical symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency were improved significantly better with GECS than with PECS, p < 0.001. GECS led to more painful constrictions, p = 0.047, PECS slipped down more often, p < 0.001. Conclusion GECS and PECS reduce volume of the segment 'Lower leg' in patients and healthy volunteers. Patients' volume of the 'Distal lower leg and foot', however, were diminished significantly only by GECS ( p = 0.0001). Patients' complaints were improved by both GECS and PECS, and GECS were superior to PECS.

Compression in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency: Efficacy depending on the length of the stocking.

BACKGROUND: Below knee two-component compression stockings (AD) have revealed as effective for compression treatment of venous leg ulcers. Upto groin, thigh length stocking (AG) may enhance clinical effects, however wear comfort of these stocking may be affected. OBJECTIVE: venous haemodynamic in relation to the length of compression stockings. METHODS: A two-component AD stocking (37 mmHg) and two thigh length stockings (AG 37, with an interface pressure of 37 mmHg; AG 45, with an interface pressure of 45 mmHg) were tested by 16 patients with CVI. Leg volume changes and venous ejection fraction and venous filling index were measured, whilst quality of life and wear comfort were surveyed by questionnaires. RESULTS: Volume of both the lower limb and the thigh was reduced by AG stockings, whereas AD stockings reduced only the volume of the lower limb and increased thigh volume. Venous hemodynamic, ejection fraction and filling index were improved by AG and AD stockings, AG, however, was superior to AD. Quality of life and comfort of the stockings was assessed as good for AG 37 mmHg, AG 45 mmHg and AD 37 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: Thigh length two component stockings (AG) were shown to be superior to below knee stocking (AD) with regard to volume reduction and venous hemodynamic, yet wear comfort was not impaired. These results imply that healing of trophic skin changes e.g. ulcers will be faster when thigh length two component stocking will be worn.

Interface pressure and venous drainage of two compression stocking types in healthy volunteers and in patients with hemodynamic disturbances of the legs.

Standard of care in the therapy of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is the use of graduated elastic stockings (GECS). This paper is based on a prospective, mono-centric, open randomised, controlled and cross over study and discusses the hemodynamic effects of GECS and inverse graduated compression stockings (PECS) in 32 healthy volunteers and 32 patients with CVI and the consecutive impact on comfort. The application of stockings was performed sequentially, the allocation of the first stocking was randomized and double blind, wearing period for each stocking type about 7 days with one week of break between wearing periods. Measurements of the interface pressure were carried out by Picopress®(Microlab Elettronica, Italy) and the venous drainage were registered by strain gauge plethysmography. Mean interface pressure: GECS (level B1): 27.3 mmHg; GECS (level C): 19,6 mmHg; PECS (level B1): 17,8 mmHg; PECS (level C): 24,7 mmHg. Significant increase of EF and decrease of VFI by wearing both types of compression stockings, comparatively GESC resulted in a significantly greater improvement of EF than the PECS. PECS were significantly easier to don and put on compared to the GECS, the PECS tended to slip towards the foot more often.