A man with a widespread bullous eruption

A man with a widespread bullous eruptio

Comparative dermoscopy assessment of nevus-associated versus de novo in situ melanoma

Background: Dermoscopic features differentiating in situ nevus-associated melanoma (NAM) versus in situ de novo melanoma (DNM) are inconclusive. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the dermoscopic features associated with in situ NAM versus DNM. Materials & methods: This was a retrospective observational study. All consecutive in situ melanomas diagnosed in adult patients were retrieved and stratified as NAM vs DNM, and clinical and dermoscopic data were compared between the two. Results: A total of 183 patients with in situ melanoma were collected, of whom 98 (54%) were male with a mean age of 64±14 years. For 129 patients, standardized dermoscopic images were collected (51 for NAM and 78 for de novo MM). The most common dermoscopic features were an atypical pigment network (85%), atypical globules (63%) and regression (42%). No significant differences were found except for regression, which was detected in 54.9% NAM vs 33.3% DNM (p=0.016). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed the association between dermoscopic regression and NAM (OR=2.34, 95% CI: 1.15-4.91). Conclusion: Currently, the use of dermoscopy to determine whether a melanoma is associated with a nevus is unreliable, however, the presence of regression adjacent to atypical lesions may raise suspicion of in situ NAM

Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis CrylAb Toxin to the Predator Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Laboratory feeding studies were carried out to determine the effects of the Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) CrylAb toxin on developmental time and mortality of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) larvae. A bioassay technique was developed that allowed for incorporation of the CrylAb toxin into a liquid diet that was then encapsulated within small paraffin spheres. Because only 2nd and 3rd instars can penetrate the surface of the paraffin spheres, 2 different methods were used to rear chrysopid larvae through the 1st instar. The 1st method used small foam cubes soaked in non-encapsulated, liquid diet (with or without CrylAb). The 2nd method used Ephestia kuehniella (Hübner) eggs as prey during the first instar (no CrylAb exposure). After reaching the 2nd instar, all larvae received encapsulated, artificial diet with or without CrylAb, respectively. When reared only on artificial diet containing CrylAb toxin, total immature mortality was significantly higher (57%) than in the respective untreated control (30%). Also, significantly more chrysopid larvae died (29%) that received CrylAb later during their larval development compared with the respective control (17%). Although mortality was consistently higher, no or only small differences in developmental times were observed between CrylAb-treated and untreated C. carnea larvae. C. carnea larvae required significantly more time to complete larval development when reared on artificial diet only than when reared first on E. kuehniella eggs followed by encapsulated artificial diet or on only E. kuehniella eggs, regardless of exposure to CrylAb. These results demonstrate that CrylAb is toxic to C. carnea at 100 μmg/ml of diet by using encapsulated artificial die

A case of nivolumab-induced bullous pemphigoid successfully treated with dupilumab

A 76-year-old man came to our attention for the presence of itchy skin lesions localized on the trunk. The patient had a nodular melanoma removed two years earlier. Because of metastatic pulmonary melanoma, he underwent a lung lobectomy and began adjuvant therapy with nivolumab. After six months of treatment, the patient reported the appearance of itchy lesions on the trunk that were diagnosed as eczema and successfully treated with systemic corticosteroids. Upon corticosteroid discontinuation, the eruption relapsed presenting with erythematous macules, tense blisters, and erosions on the trunk and limbs. The presence of linear deposits of IgG and C3 at the dermo-epidermal junction and high serum levels of anti-BP180 antibodies confirmed the suspicion of nivolumab-induced bullous pemphigoid. Treatment with 0.6mg/kg methylprednisolone and 200mg/day doxycycline as well as nivolumab discontinuation induced temporary remission. After tapering methylprednisolone to 16mg/day, the patient developed new blisters. Therefore, dupilumab 300mg every other week was added with progressive improvement while methylprednisolone was tapered down and withdrawn after four months. After six months the patient was still in full clinical remission. Many cases of conventional bullous pemphigoid have been treated successfully with dupilumab, which can also be used safely in cancer patients without inducing overt immunosuppressio

A case of genital primary syphilis with superimposed impetigo

A case of genital primary syphilis with superimposed impetig

A case of nivolumab-induced bullous pemphigoid successfully treated with dupilumab

A 76-year-old man came to our attention for the presence of itchy skin lesions localized on the trunk. The patient had a nodular melanoma removed two years earlier. Because of metastatic pulmonary melanoma, he underwent a lung lobectomy and began adjuvant therapy with nivolumab. After six months of treatment, the patient reported the appearance of itchy lesions on the trunk that were diagnosed as eczema and successfully treated with systemic corticosteroids. Upon corticosteroid discontinuation, the eruption relapsed presenting with erythematous macules, tense blisters, and erosions on the trunk and limbs. The presence of linear deposits of IgG and C3 at the dermo-epidermal junction and high serum levels of anti-BP180 antibodies confirmed the suspicion of nivolumab-induced bullous pemphigoid. Treatment with 0.6mg/kg methylprednisolone and 200mg/day doxycycline as well as nivolumab discontinuation induced temporary remission. After tapering methylprednisolone to 16mg/day, the patient developed new blisters. Therefore, dupilumab 300mg every other week was added with progressive improvement while methylprednisolone was tapered down and withdrawn after four months. After six months the patient was still in full clinical remission. Many cases of conventional bullous pemphigoid have been treated successfully with dupilumab, which can also be used safely in cancer patients without inducing overt immunosuppression

Milia-like calcinosis cutis in Down syndrome: a new case with a review of the literature

We report an 11-year-old girl who presented with white papules on the dorsal and palmar region of the hands bilaterally. The parents reported that the lesions had appeared four months before and some had resolved spontaneously. The girl was suffering from celiac disease, Down syndrome, and alopecia areata treated with topical corticosteroids. At the first visit, the girl presented with alopecia areata, corticosteroid acne, and a dozen white papules located on the hands. On dermoscopy, a whitish structureless area was seen. Histological examination showed the presence of calcium deposits without tissue damage, thus confirming the diagnosis of milia-like idiopathic calcinosis cutis. At 6-month follow up, the lesions had completely disappeared. Milia-like idiopathic calcinosis cutis is a benign cutaneous disorder consisting of calcium deposits in an apparently undamaged dermis and is typically associated with Down syndrome. Up to a quarter of patients have coexisting syringomas. The milia-like papules tend to self-resolve as patients reach adulthood, so a wait-and-see approach is recommended

Milia-like calcinosis cutis in Down syndrome: a new case with a review of the literature

We report an 11-year-old girl who presented with white papules on the dorsal and palmar region of the hands bilaterally. The parents reported that the lesions had appeared four months before and some had resolved spontaneously. The girl was suffering from celiac disease, Down syndrome, and alopecia areata treated with topical corticosteroids. At the first visit, the girl presented with alopecia areata, corticosteroid acne, and a dozen white papules located on the hands. On dermoscopy, a whitish structureless area was seen. Histological examination showed the presence of calcium deposits without tissue damage, thus confirming the diagnosis of milia-like idiopathic calcinosis cutis. At 6-month follow up, the lesions had completely disappeared. Milia-like idiopathic calcinosis cutis is a benign cutaneous disorder consisting of calcium deposits in an apparently undamaged dermis and is typically associated with Down syndrome. Up to a quarter of patients have coexisting syringomas. The milia-like papules tend to self-resolve as patients reach adulthood, so a wait-and-see approach is recommended

Non-Bullous Pemphigoid: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Introduction: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune disease that typically presents with blisters, but sometimes early lesions may be eczematous, maculopapular, or urticarial. The aim of the present study was to highlight possible differences between typical bullous and non-bullous pemphigoid (NBP) and compare results with the literature. Material & methods: Patients receiving a diagnosis of BP between January 2000 and December 2019 were analyzed. Patients who developed a blister after 3 months from the onset of pruritus were considered as NBP. Demographic features, clinical findings at diagnosis and at 2-year follow-up, histological features, auto-antibodies titers, comorbidities and their treatment were retrieved. Categorical variables were evaluated for normal distribution using a histogram and a Q-Q plot. The chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare categorical variables between the groups. Continuous variables were compared between the groups using analysis of variance and the independent-samples t test. For multivariate analysis, logistic regression was performed. Results: A total of 532 patients received a diagnosis of BP. A total of 122 patients were enrolled in the study; 63 were females, and the mean age at the diagnosis was 77.2 years (+/- 11.9 SD). 98 were affected by BP and 24 were categorized as NBP. Mean time to diagnosis was 2.9 months (+/- 5.8 SD) for BP and 30.4 months (+/- 59.8 SD) for NBP (p = 0.0001). Skin manifestations in NBP patients were, in order of frequency: urticarial, papular or nodular, eczematous, and excoriations. Pruritus intensity was high but similar in the two groups (Numerical Rating Scale - NRS, 9.3 vs. 8.9). Seven out of 24 NBP patients (29%) never developed blisters; the other patients developed blisters after a mean follow-up time of 24.9 months (+/- 54.9 SD). NBP patients had a more frequent history of myocardial infarction than BP patients (37.5 vs. 10.2%; p < 0.003). More NBP patients were taking diuretics than BP patients (66.7 vs. 49%; p = 0.03). NBP patients had a worse response to pruritus compared to BP patients at 2 years (NRS 3.7 vs. 11; p 0.001). Conclusions: NBP patients have a delayed diagnosis and may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, especially myocardial infarction. Severely and persistently itchy skin disorders in aged patients should be investigated for BP diagnosis

Reply to: Non-Bullous Pemphigoid: A Yet-to-Be Defined Disease Entity

Reply to: Non-Bullous Pemphigoid: A Yet-to-Be Defined Disease Entit