Photodynamic Therapy of Necrobiosis Lipoidica - A Multicenter Study of 18 Patients

Background: Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) is a granulomatous skin disease of unknown origin, and no reliably effective treatment option exists to handle this often disfiguring disease. Recently, a patient with long-lasting NL was reported to be cured by topical photodynamic therapy (PDT). Objective: To evaluate the overall potential of PDT in the treatment of NL on the lower legs. Methods: Retrospective study of 18 patients (aged 16 - 62 years) from 3 European university departments of dermatology treated with PDT for NL. Methyl aminolevulinate or 5-aminolevulinic acid were used as topically applied photosensitizers. Illumination followed with red light-emitting diode light. Results: Complete response was seen in 1/18 patients after 9 PDT cycles, and partial response in 6/18 patients (2 - 14 PDT cycles) giving an overall response rate of 39% (7/18). Conclusion: Although almost 40% of the cases showed some degree of response, PDT cannot currently be recommended as first-line therapy of NL. Subpopulations of therapy-resistant NL patients may, however, benefit from PDT. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base

A new Agdistis from St. Helena Island (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae).

Agdistis cambriana spec. nov. wird als neue Art beschrieben, Imago und Genitale werden abgebildet.StichwörterSt. Helena, fauna, Pterophoridae, Agdistis cambriana spec. nov.Nomenklatorische Handlungencambriana Arenberger, Karisch & Beard, 2016 (Agdistis), spec. nov.Agdistis cambriana spec. nov. is described as new species. Imago and genitalia are illustrated.KeywordsSt. Helena, fauna, Pterophoridae, Agdistis cambriana spec. nov.Nomenclatural Actscambriana Arenberger, Karisch & Beard, 2016 (Agdistis), spec. nov

Agdistis marionae sp. n., a new Pterophoridae from St. Helena (Lepidoptera).

Agdistis marionae sp. n. wird als neue Art beschrieben. Ihre Imago und Genitalien werden abgebildet. Die Chaetotaxie des Larvalstadiums wird durchgeführt und bildhaft dargestellt.StichwörterTropical Region, Fauna of St. Helena, Pterophoridae, Agdistis marionae sp. n.Nomenklatorische Handlungenmarionae Arenberger, Beard, Hasenfuss & Karisch, 2012 (Agdistis), spec. nov.Agdistis marionae sp. n. is introduced as new species to science. The imago and genitalia are depicted. The chaetotaxie of the larval stadium is done and as graphics pictured.KeywordsTropical Region, Fauna of St. Helena, Pterophoridae, Agdistis marionae sp. n.Nomenclatural Actsmarionae Arenberger, Beard, Hasenfuss & Karisch, 2012 (Agdistis), spec. nov

Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Lepidoptera-Fauna des Sudan (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae).

Es werden drei Arten der Familie Pterophoridae als neu für die Fauna des Sudan gemeldet. Davon sind zwei Arten auch neu für die Wissenschaft: Hellinsia planiunci sp. n. und Paulianilus lolibai sp. n. Alle Arten werden abgebildet.StichwörterLepidoptera, Pterophoridae, Hellinsia planiunci sp. n., Paulianilus lolibai sp. n., Sudan.Nomenklatorische Handlungenplaniunci Arenberger, Gurko &Binyason, 2011 (Hellinsia), spec.nov.lolibai Arenberger, Gurko &Binyason, 2011 (Paulianilus), spec.nov.Three species of the family Pterophoridae are recorded as new for the fauna of the Sudan. Two species of them are new for science: Hellinsia planiunci sp. n. and Paulianilus lolibai sp. n. The genitalia and adults of all species are depicted.KeywordsLepidoptera, Pterophoridae, Hellinsia planiunci sp. n., Paulianilus lolibai sp. n., Sudan.Nomenclatural Actsplaniunci Arenberger, Gurko &Binyason, 2011 (Hellinsia), spec.nov.lolibai Arenberger, Gurko &Binyason, 2011 (Paulianilus), spec.nov

Calcipotriene and Betamethasone Dipropionate PAD-Cream Demonstrates Greater Treatment Efficacy in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis Compared to Topical Suspension/Gel: A Subgroup Analysis of Two Phase 3 Studies

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis ranges from mild to severe with the majority of patients having mild disease. Mild to moderate disease is often treated with topical therapies while photo-, oral, and biologic therapies are generally reserved for moderate-to-severe disease. There is a strong scientific rationale for the combination of calcipotriene (CAL) and betamethasone dipropionate (BDP) with respect to mode of action, efficacy, and safety and CAL/BDP has shown an inhibitory effect on key pathogenic cytokines in psoriasis including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-23. METHODS: The objective of this pooled post hoc analysis is to investigate the efficacy of CAL/BDP polyaphron dispersion (PAD)-cream in subgroups of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis from two completed phase 3 studies conducted in the USA and Europe. RESULTS: The proportion of patients achieving Physician Global Assessment (PGA) treatment success as well as a modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (mPASI)75 response was higher in the subgroup with a body surface area \u3e 10% and mPASI \u3e 10 and Dermatology Life Quality Index \u3e 10 at baseline compared to the overall patient population. Furthermore, the numerical difference in treatment efficacy between CAL/BDP PAD-cream and CAL/BDP topical suspension/gel increased in patient subgroups with higher baseline severity. Similar patterns were shown for the patient-reported outcomes. CONCLUSION: In this subgroup analysis, patients who had higher disease severity at baseline achieved greater efficacy than the total patient population when treated with 8 weeks of CAL/BDP PAD-cream as compared to a currently marketed active comparator. Additionally, as indicated by this analysis, CAL/BDP PAD-cream treatment may also be more convenient and less greasy, which may reduce the burden of daily treatment and improve adherence to therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03308799 and NCT03802344

European dermatology forum - updated guidelines on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis 2020 - part 1.

Following the first investigational study on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma published in 1983, this technology has received continued use and further recognition for additional earlier as well as refractory forms. After the publication of the first guidelines for this technology in the JEADV in 2014, this technology has maintained additional promise in the treatment of other severe and refractory conditions in a multi-disciplinary setting. It has confirmed recognition in well-known documented conditions such as graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, systemic sclerosis, solid organ transplant rejection including lung, heart and liver and to a lesser extent inflammatory bowel disease. In order to further provide recognized expert practical guidelines for the use of this technology for all indications, the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) again proceeded to address these questions in the hands of the recognized experts within and outside the field of dermatology. This was done using the recognized and approved guidelines of EDF for this task. All authors had the opportunity to review each contribution as it was added. These updated 2020 guidelines provide at present the most comprehensive available expert recommendations for the use of extracorporeal photopheresis based on the available published literature and expert consensus opinion. The guidelines are divided in two parts: PART I covers cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, chronic graft-versus-host disease and acute graft-versus-host disease while PART II will cover scleroderma, solid organ transplantation, Crohn's disease, use of ECP in paediatrics practice, atopic dermatitis, type 1 diabetes, pemphigus, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and erosive oral lichen planus

Adjuvant nivolumab versus ipilimumab (CheckMate 238 trial): Reassessment of 4-year efficacy outcomes in patients with stage III melanoma per AJCC-8 staging criteria

Nivolumab was approved as adjuvant therapy for melanoma based on data from CheckMate 238, which enrolled patients per American Joint Committee on Cancer version 7 (AJCC-7) criteria. Here, we analyse long-term outcomes per AJCC-8 staging criteria compared with AJCC-7 results to inform clinical decisions for patients diagnosed per AJCC-8

Adjuvant nivolumab for stage III/IV melanoma: Evaluation of safety outcomes and association with recurrence-free survival

Background Several therapeutic options are now available in the adjuvant melanoma setting, mandating an understanding of their benefit €'risk profiles in order to make informed treatment decisions. Herein we characterize adjuvant nivolumab select (immune-related) treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and evaluate possible associations between safety and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the phase III CheckMate 238 trial. Methods Patients with resected stage IIIB-C or IV melanoma received nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks (n=452) or ipilimumab 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks for four doses and then every 12 weeks (n=453) for up to 1 year or until disease recurrence, unacceptable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. First-occurrence and all-occurrence select TRAEs were analyzed within discrete time intervals: from 0 to 3 months of treatment, from >3-12 months of treatment, and from the last dose (regardless of early or per-protocol treatment discontinuation) to 100 days after the last dose. Possible associations between select TRAEs and RFS were investigated post randomization in 3-month landmark analyses and in Cox model analyses (including a time-varying covariate of select TRAE), within and between treatment groups. Results From the first nivolumab dose to 100 days after the last dose, first-occurrence select TRAEs were reported in 67.7% (306/452) of patients. First-occurrence select TRAEs were reported most frequently from 0 to 3 months (48.0%), during which the most common were pruritus (15.5%) and diarrhea (15.3%). Most select TRAEs resolved within 6 months. There was no clear association between the occurrence (or not) of select TRAEs and RFS by landmark analysis or by Cox model analysis within treatment arms or comparing nivolumab to the ipilimumab comparator arm. Conclusion Results of this safety analysis of nivolumab in adjuvant melanoma were consistent with its established safety profile. In the discrete time intervals evaluated, most first-occurrence TRAEs occurred early during treatment and resolved. No association between RFS and select TRAEs was evident. Trial registration number NCT02388906

Guidelines on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis

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