The causal relationship between blood metabolites and rosacea: A Mendelian randomization.

BACKGROUND: An increasing amount of research demonstrates that metabolic disorders are related to rosacea. However, the correlations and causal relationships among them remain unknown. METHODS: We conducted not only forward 2-sample MR (Mendelian randomization) analyses but also reverse MR analyses which showed positive results in the forward MR analysis. In the forward MR analyses, inverse-variance weighted (IVW) and MR-Egger were performed as MR analyses. Cochran's Q test and the MR-Egger Intercept were used for sensitivity analyses. Concerning reverse MR analyses, IVW, MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode were applied. Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger Intercept, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) outlier test were applied as sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: A total of 24 metabolites and 1 metabolite ratio were shown to have a causal effect on rosacea. N-lactoyl phenylalanine (N-Lac-Phe) was estimated as statistically significant by Bonferroni correction. Interestingly, we found three metabolites that were negatively associated with rosacea, especially caffeine, which are in line with the results of a large cohort study of females. For reverse MR analysis, we revealed that rosacea could potentially decrease the generation of two metabolites: octadecenedioate (C18:1-DC) and methyl vanillate sulfate. CONCLUSION: This study identified blood metabolites that may be associated with the development of rosacea. However, the exact mechanism by which these positive metabolites influence rosacea remains uncertain due to the paucity of experimental investigations. The combination of genetics and metabolomics offers novel viewpoints on the research of underlying mechanisms of rosacea and has significant value in screening and prevention of rosacea.

Definition of refractory melasma and its treatment: a review.

Although patients with refractory melasma have been treated using various methods, there is still no precise definition or summary of the therapies. To define refractory melasma and conduct a review of the treatments, we searched for relevant publications in PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, and a total of 35 references were obtained. Refractory melasma can be roughly defined as an ineffective treatment for melasma, including topical bleaching agents, chemical peels, laser therapy, microdermabrasion for more than six months, or chemical peels treated more than six times. Meanwhile, physicians should be careful when treating patients with darker skin and dermal or mixed types of melasma since these individuals do not respond well to treatment. Lasers combined with other methods, especially different types of lasers or topical agents, are considered more effective than monotherapy. Oral tranexamic acid (TXA) is a prospective cure for refractory melasma. Other methods include a combination of chemical peels, microneedling, or injections with additional therapies. In conclusion, we were able to provide a rough definition of refractory melasma and list the available therapies. According to the literature, the most prevalent treatment is laser combination therapy. However, laser treatment should be considered only after topical agents and chemical peeling have failed. Considering its side effects, efficacy, and safety, oral TXA may be a better option, but more research is needed to make a firm conclusion. Moreover, maintenance therapy is required after treatment.

Becker's Nevus on Face Misdiagnosed as Whiskers.

Becker's nevus (BN) is a kind of epidermal cutaneous hamartoma. A noticeable hyperpigmented patch with a big, unilateral, hyperpigmented macule and irregularly shaped borders is the manner in which BN often presents. In this case, a 16-year-old boy has asymptomatic dark brown colored follicular macule on the left side of the cheek shortly after birth. The lesions were initially inconspicuous but gradually became darker as time passed. The macules on some of them grew hair. This case of BN with apparent hypertrichosis on one side of the cheek, which made it challenging to make a differential diagnosis with whiskers. The primary point of differentiation is that the lesions of BN only appear unilaterally. On the other hand, the face has whiskers on both sides. Additionally, BN will show hyperpigmentation whereas whiskers do not. In conclusion, for its unusual clinical presentation, we believe that reporting this case may help dermatologists avoid misdiagnosing similar cases.

Impact of sentinel lymph node assessment on the outcomes of patients with advanced endometrial cancer: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) assessment is used to treat early endometrial cancer; however, its application in advanced endometrial cancer remains controversial. Therefore, we assessed the effects of SLN assessment and lymphadenectomy (LND) on the prognosis (survival rate and primary outcome) of patients with advanced endometrial cancer. METHODS: Pertinent studies were selected from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library until March 19, 2022. Relevant studies were strictly screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data from the included studies were extracted and their quality was evaluated. Then RevMan5.4 software was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Four retrospective studies were included, which enrolled 7181 patients; 492 were treated with SLN and 6689 with LND. In terms of overall survival, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (odds ratio = 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 0.92-1.41, I2 = 0%, P = .39). CONCLUSIONS: SLN assessment is an alternative to LND as a treatment modality for advanced endometrial cancer.