Interaction between the microbiota and the skin barrier in aging skin: a comprehensive review

The interplay between the microbes and the skin barrier holds pivotal significance in skin health and aging. The skin and gut, both of which are critical immune and neuroendocrine system, harbor microbes that are kept in balance. Microbial shifts are seen with aging and may accelerate age-related skin changes. This comprehensive review investigates the intricate connection between microbe dynamics, skin barrier, and the aging process. The gut microbe plays essential roles in the human body, safeguarding the host, modulating metabolism, and shaping immunity. Aging can perturb the gut microbiome which in turn accentuates inflammaging by further promoting senescent cell accumulation and compromising the host’s immune response. Skin microbiota diligently upholds the epidermal barrier, adeptly fending off pathogens. The aging skin encompasses alterations in the stratum corneum structure and lipid content, which negatively impact the skin’s barrier function with decreased moisture retention and increased vulnerability to infection. Efficacious restoration of the skin barrier and dysbiosis with strategic integration of acidic cleansers, emollients with optimal lipid composition, antioxidants, and judicious photoprotection may be a proactive approach to aging. Furthermore, modulation of the gut-skin axis through probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics emerges as a promising avenue to enhance skin health as studies have substantiated their efficacy in enhancing hydration, reducing wrinkles, and fortifying barrier integrity. In summary, the intricate interplay between microbes and skin barrier function is intrinsically woven into the tapestry of aging. Sound understanding of these interactions, coupled with strategic interventions aimed at recalibrating the microbiota and barrier equilibrium, holds the potential to ameliorate skin aging. Further in-depth studies are necessary to better understand skin-aging and develop targeted strategies for successful aging

Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Allopurinol: Positive Oral Provocation

A fixed drug eruption (FDE) is characterized by the presence of a solitary or multiple, pruritic, well-circumscribed, erythematous plaques. These lesions have tendency to recur at same sites and heal with residual hyperpigmenation. With repeated attacks, the size and/or number of the lesions may increase. So far, more than 100 drugs have been implicated in causing FDEs, including ibuprofen, sulfonamide, naproxen, and tetracylines. FDE caused by allopurinol has been rarely reported in the literature, but there has been no confirmed case based on oral provocation test. Herein, we report a case of FDE in which the lesions recurred whenever allopurinol was administered for the treatment of gout. A 64-year-old male experienced repeated episodes of well-demarcated dusky erythematous patches on the whole body for 2 months. He took allopurinol intermittently for amelioration of his gout symptom, but denied other medication history. Pruritic erythematous edema developed on the previous lesions 12 hours after oral provocation of 200 mg of allopurinol

Photodynamic Therapy Combined with CO2 Laser Vaporization on Disseminated Superficial Actinic Porokeratosis: A Report of 2 Cases on the Face

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is a skin condition that usually shows a poor response to different modalities of treatment. Herein we describe 2 patients with DSAP on the face, each treated with 3 to 4 sessions of photodynamic therapy combined with laser vaporization

Fixed Drug Eruption due to Iopromide (Ultravist®)

A 69-year-old male presented with several painful erythematous patches on both palms and trunk several days after receiving iopromide (Ultravist®, Shering, Berlin, Germany). A fixed drug eruption (FDE) due to iopromide was suspected clinically. However, at that time, the patch test with iopromide at the lesion site gave negative results. Three years later, the patient was mistakenly administered iopromide again and patches with vesicles recurred on the same sites as well as on the genitalia. This episode was repeated once again after 1 year. In all episodes, the skin lesion resolved after application of topical steroids. Although a patch test with iopromide was negative in our case, we made a diagnosis of FDE due to iopromide because the skin lesions occurred again at the previously involved area after re-exposure to iopromide. To date, only three cases of FDE caused by non-ionic monomers have been documented in the English literature. Herein, we report on an interesting case of FDE caused by iopromide

Sebaceous Hyperplasia of the Scrotum and Penile Shaft

Sebaceous hyperplasia (SH) is a proliferative abnormality of sebaceous glands, most often seen in elderly individuals. It consists of single or multiple, asymptomatic, small yellow papules with a central depression. The face is most commonly affected, but there have been reports of SH on the chest or genitalia. A lobular array of well-differentiated mature sebaceous lobules is noted on histological preparations. In this report, we describe a patient with SH on the penile shaft and parts of the scrotum

A new concept for controlling tiny-scale insect pest in green house – noval technology to apply liquid ethyl formate: Poster

As increased agricultural insecticide uses and trends in insecticide resistance, increased labor cost to apply insecticide and limited its application to fertility season in green house. There is a need of a safe, labor-saving and confined space application concept to manage control tiny-scale insect pest such as thrips and whitefly. Fumigation with ethyl formate (EF), which is considered as effective to various insect pest and safely use in quarantine treatment, was evaluated in the confined space (glass house) and semi-confined space (vinyl house). The new application technology for application of liquid EF could be the one of the key options for control of tiny flying insects in greenhouses that would save labor and operation costs. It could be connected to smartfarm technologies in the near future.As increased agricultural insecticide uses and trends in insecticide resistance, increased labor cost to apply insecticide and limited its application to fertility season in green house. There is a need of a safe, labor-saving and confined space application concept to manage control tiny-scale insect pest such as thrips and whitefly. Fumigation with ethyl formate (EF), which is considered as effective to various insect pest and safely use in quarantine treatment, was evaluated in the confined space (glass house) and semi-confined space (vinyl house). The new application technology for application of liquid EF could be the one of the key options for control of tiny flying insects in greenhouses that would save labor and operation costs. It could be connected to smartfarm technologies in the near future

Non-familial Acrokeratosis Verruciformis of Hopf

Acrokeratosis verruciformis of Hopf is a rare genodermatosis with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. It is a disorder of keratinization, characterized by multiple, flat-topped, skin-colored keratotic lesions resembling plane warts typically observed on the dorsum of the hands and feet. Histopathologically, the lesion shows considerable hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and papillomatosis, mimicking a "church spire", and a thickened granular layer. It arises in early life, often at birth or infancy. Herein, we report on a rare sporadic case of acrokeratosis verruciformis of Hopf. A 44-year-old Caucasian man presented with multiple, grouped, hyperkeratotic, whitish, flat papules on his shins and feet, which had been present for more than one year. Histopathological examination showed typical findings of acrokeratosis verruciformis of Hopf. Our case is unique in that the patient had no familial history of similar skin lesions

Introduction of Transmembrane Inner Ear (tmie) Gene Can Recover the Hearing Impairment and Abnormal Behavior in the Circling Mouse

The spontaneous mutant circling mouse (cir/cir) shows a circling behavior and hearing loss. We produced transgenic mice overexpressing the causative gene, transmembrane inner ear (tmie), for the phenotypic rescue of the circling mouse. Through the continuous breeding with circling mice, the cir/cir homozygous mice carrying the transgene (cir/cir-tg) were produced. The rescued cir/cir -tg mice were able to swim in the water with proper orientation and did not show any circling behavior like wild type mice. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis exhibited that the transgenic tmie was expressed in the inner ear. Inner and outer hair cells were recovered in the cochlea and spiral ganglion neurons were also recovered in the rescued mice. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) test demonstrated that the cir/cir -tg mice are able to respond to sound. This study demonstrates that tmie transgene can recover the hearing impairment and abnormal behavior in the circling mouse