Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Am J Med Sci 2020 May 11. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan.

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) rapidly inactivates incretin hormones and several chemokines, thus influencing chemokine function. There have recently been several reports that DPP-4 inhibitor therapy is associated with an increased risk of bullous pemphigoid (BP), an autoimmune skin disease. Previous studies have demonstrated an increase of CCL11/Eotaxin, a DPP-4 substrate, in serum and blister fluid from patients with BP. Read More

Ann Palliat Med 2020 Jun 9. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Department of Thoracic Surgery I, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Yunnan Cancer Center), Kunming, China.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The outbreak began in Wuhan, China, and spread rapidly, with many cases confirmed in multiple countries. Usually, after viral pneumonia were clinical cured, the pulmonary lesions of majority patients will gradually be absorbed to complete dissipation, very few severe patients may retain pulmonary interstitial inflammation and fibrosis (1-3). Read More

Acta Biochim Pol 2020 Feb;67(1):1-5

Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.

Numerous epidemiological studies have suggested a link between vitamin D deficiency and the development of various autoimmune diseases, including diabetes mellitus type 1, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis or systemic lupus erythematosus. More recently, such a link has been also proposed for autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBD). This is a relatively rare and potentially life-threatening, organ-specific group of inflammatory skin diseases characterized by the presence of tissue-bound and circulating autoantibodies against various molecules present in desmosomes (in pemphigus diseases) or hemidesmosomes (in pemphigoid diseases). Read More

CEN Case Rep 2020 Aug 28;9(3):189-194. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Rakuwakai Otowa Hospital, 2, Otowa Chinji-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, 607-8062, Japan.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune subepidermal bullous diseases. Autoantibodies against hemidesmosomal adhesion proteins might be involved in the developing process. BP usually affects the elderly with high mortality whereas the drug-induced BP is often improved and rarely relapses after the withdrawal of the suspected drug. Read More

Drug Saf 2019 11;42(11):1311-1327

Global Patient Safety Evaluation Japan, Pharmacovigilance Department, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 1-1, Doshomachi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-8645, Japan.

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) alogliptin is an oral, antidiabetic treatment that is approved in many countries to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), including the USA, Europe, and Japan. Alogliptin is efficacious both as monotherapy and as add-on/combination therapy with other commonly prescribed T2DM treatments, such as metformin and pioglitazone. Overall, alogliptin is well-tolerated in patients with T2DM, including older patients, those with renal and/or hepatic impairment, and those at high risk of cardiovascular events. Read More

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2019 10;6(9):001207. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Department of Dermatology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Bullous pemphigoid is a chronic autoimmune blistering disease. Recently, several reports suggested dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, also known as gliptins, were a potential cause of drug-induced bullous pemphigoid but not of both bullous pemphigoid and alopecia areata together. Here we describe the case of a 68-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus who developed new onset diffuse alopecia on the scalp with diffuse tense bullae over his body a few months after linagliptin was introduced for better control of his diabetes. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2020 Apr 6;45(3):289-294. Epub 2019 Oct 6.

Department of Dermatology, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune, subepidermal, blistering condition that typically affects elderly people.

Aim: To undertake a national clinical audit based on standards derived from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) clinical guidelines on the management of BP.

Methods: In 2018, BAD members were invited to submit data for five consecutive adults with BP per centre, who had been under hospital supervision for at least 12 months, in a national audit over an 11-week period. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 4;10:1238. Epub 2019 Jun 4.

Department of Dermatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an organ-specific autoantibody-mediated blistering skin disease that mainly affects the elderly. Typical clinical features include the widespread blisters, often preceded by and/or associated with itchy urticarial or eczema-like lesions. BP patients have circulating autoantibodies against BP180 and/or the plakin family protein BP230 both of which are components of hemidesmosomes in basal keratinocytes. Read More

Diabetes Care 2019 08 10;42(8):1496-1503. Epub 2019 Jun 10.

Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada

Objective: There are uncertainties regarding the association between dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and bullous pemphigoid (BP), a potentially severe autoimmune skin disease. Thus, we conducted a population-based study to determine whether use of DPP-4 inhibitors, when compared with other second- to third-line antidiabetic drugs, is associated with an increased risk of BP in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: Using the U. Read More

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 2019 Jun 4. Epub 2019 Jun 4.

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Autoantibodies against BP180 and BP230 play major roles in bullous pemphigoid (BP). We are the first to describe the values of serum anti-BP180 IgG and anti-BP230 IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for diagnosis and disease monitoring of BP among Thai patients.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of anti-BP180 IgG and anti-BP230 IgG in BP, to correlate disease activity with autoantibody levels through follow-ups, and to relate BP comorbidities with disease activity and autoantibody levels. Read More

Immunol Med 2019 Mar 6;42(1):22-28. Epub 2019 Jun 6.

a Department of Dermatology , Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine , Sapporo , Japan.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an organ-specific autoantibody-mediated autoimmune blistering skin disorder that tends to affect the elderly. Tense blister formation associated with itchy urticarial erythema is clinically observed in BP, and subepidermal blister formation with eosinophilic infiltration is a histopathological characteristic. BP autoantibodies target two hemidesmosomal components in basal keratinocytes: BP180 and BP230. Read More

Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi 2019 ;56(1):43-50

Department of Diabetes, Metabolism, and Endocrinology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital.

Aim: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by the production of autoantibodies. Several recent reports have described the occurrence of BP in diabetic patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. However, the clinical features of BP in diabetic patients, particularly in those treated with DPP-4 inhibitors, have not yet been examined. Read More

Cureus 2018 Nov 19;10(11):e3608. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Internal Medicine, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, USA.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is a rare autoimmune bullous disease involving the skin and mucosa, most commonly treated with systemic corticosteroids. This case illustrates the importance of counseling patients on medication side effects and ensuring close physician follow-up during an extended course of steroids. A 46-year-old man presented to the emergency department with weakness, fatigue, dizziness and polyuria in the setting of eight weeks of prednisone therapy for a flare-up of his bullous disease. Read More

Am J Clin Dermatol 2019 Jun;20(3):457-463

Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing St., Taipei, 110, Taiwan.

Background: Dementia is a syndrome that involves the deterioration of several higher mental functions in advanced age, and psoriasis is an autoimmune disease characterized by skin plaque. Epidemiological studies have indicated an association between dementia and psoriasis; however, to date, no studies in Asia have reported this association.

Objective: This study used a population-based medical dataset to explore the association between previously diagnosed psoriasis and dementia in Taiwan. Read More

Endocrinol Diabetes Nutr 2019 May 7;66(5):338-339. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital General Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, España.

Turk J Pediatr 2019 ;61(6):905-914

Departments of Pediatric, Sahloul Hospital.

Tfifha M, Kamoun T, Mama N, Mestiri S, Hassayoun S, Zouari N, Jemni H, Abroug S. Childhood sclerosing cholangitis associations in a Tunisian tertiary care hospital: a many-faceted disease. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 905-914. Read More

Seizure 2019 Jan 5;64:59-64. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Achterweg 5, Heemstede, 2103SW, Netherlands; NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom; Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, SL9 0RJ, United Kingdom.

The risk of epileptic seizures seems increased in several systemic autoimmune disorders including systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's encephalopathy, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and bullous pemphigoid. Immune dysfunction may be partly responsible for this association. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, autoantibodies seen in these autoimmune disorders and antibodies against neuronal antigens may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of seizures and epilepsy associated to immune conditions. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 2019 04 10;139(4):835-841. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Dermatology, Rouen University Hospital and Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1234, Centre de Référence des Maladies Bulleuses Autoimmunes, Normandie University, Rouen, France.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors have been suspected to induce bullous pemphigoid (BP). The objective of this study was to compare the observed frequency of gliptin intake in a large sample of 1,787 BP patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2015 in France, with the expected frequency after indirect age standardization on 225,412 individuals extracted from the database of the National Healthcare Insurance Agency. The secondary objective was to assess the clinical characteristics and the course of gliptin-associated BP, depending on whether gliptin was continued or stopped. Read More

Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2020 May-Jun;86(3):272-277

"Mario Aresu" Department of Medical Science, Section of Dermatology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Scleredema adultorum of Buschke is a rare fibromucinous, scleroderma-like connective tissue disease most commonly found in a post-infectious setting or linked to hematological disorders or diabetes. Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is an autoimmune condition only in 2.5% of cases localized exclusively at an extragenital site, occurring in up to 34% of patients in association with other autoimmune diseases such as vitiligo, thyroid disorders, alopecia areata, lichen planus, morphea, pernicious anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus. Read More

Drugs 2018 Oct;78(15):1527-1548

Department of Dermatology, Philipps University, Baldingerstr., 35043, Marburg, Germany.

Autoimmune bullous skin disorders are rare but meaningful chronic inflammatory diseases, many of which had a poor or devastating prognosis prior to the advent of immunosuppressive drugs such as systemic corticosteroids, which down-regulate the immune pathogenesis in these disorders. Glucocorticoids and adjuvant immunosuppressive drugs have been of major benefit for the fast control of most of these disorders, but their long-term use is limited by major side effects such as blood cytopenia, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gastrointestinal ulcers. In recent years, major efforts were made to identify key elements in the pathogenesis of autoimmune bullous disorders, leading to the identification of their autoantigens, which are mainly located in desmosomes (pemphigus) and the basement membrane zone (pemphigoids). Read More

Br J Dermatol 2019 03 17;180(3):553-558. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Department of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune bullous disease. Whether there is an increased risk for subsequent BP among patients with cancer is still unclear.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk for subsequent BP in patients with cancer. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018 12 6;142(6):1754-1756. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Experimental Immunology, Osaka University Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka, Japan.

Immunol Res 2018 06;66(3):425-430

Department of Quality Measurements and Research, Chief Physician's Office, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.

The association of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is) with autoimmune diseases is controversial. While these agents were proposed as a novel therapeutic approach for several inflammatory diseases by blocking T cell proliferation and cytokine production, they were found to trigger inflammatroy bowel disease, inflammatory arthritis and bullous pemphigoid. Our objective is to examine the association between DPP4i and autoimmune diseases. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2018 Dec 25;79(6):1034-1038.e5. Epub 2018 May 25.

PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Dermatology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. Electronic address:

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4is) used to treat diabetes have been reported to be associated with an increased risk of bullous pemphigoid (BP). There are no previous reports analyzing the risk of BP in patients who are using other diabetes medications.

Objective: To evaluate the association between diabetes medications other than DPP4i and development of BP. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 12;9:542. Epub 2018 Apr 12.

Department of Dermatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a common autoimmune blistering disease in which autoantibodies mainly target the hemidesmosomal component BP180 (also known as type XVII collagen) in basal keratinocytes. Various triggering factors are known to induce BP onset, including radiotherapy, burns, ultraviolet exposure, surgery, and the use of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors (DPP4i), which are widely used antihyperglycemic drugs. Here, we present a case of BP triggered by a thermal burn under medication with DPP4i. Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2018 Apr;28(2):157-161

University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, 00029 HUS, Finland.

The incidence of bullous pemphigoid (BP) is increasing in Finland. To investigate the clinical presentation, comorbidities, and medications in a cohort of Finnish patients with confirmed BP managed in a university hospital setting. An observational retrospective study of all consecutive patients diagnosed with BP in 2012-2013 at the Department of dermatology, HUCH. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2018 Oct 1;32(10):1768-1776. Epub 2018 May 1.

Departments of Dermatology, Preventive Medicine and Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.

Background: Pemphigus and pemphigoid are blistering disorders associated with barrier disruption, immune dysregulation and use of immunosuppressing systemic therapy, all of which may predispose towards serious infections.

Objectives: To determine whether pemphigus and pemphigoid are associated with increased likelihood of serious infections and the impact of such infections on mortality and cost of care.

Methods: We analysed data from the 2002 to 2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, including a representative 20% sample of all hospitalizations in the US (total n = 72 108 077 adults). Read More

J Dermatol 2018 May 6;45(5):596-599. Epub 2018 Feb 6.

Department of Dermatology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an acquired autoimmune blistering disease in which autoantibodies against epitopes in the basement membrane zone of the skin such as BP180 or BP230 are produced. Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors have become commonly used to treat diabetes. As DPP-4 inhibitors are more commonly prescribed for diabetes, BP related to DPP-4 inhibitors has been reported and has attracted attention. Read More

Ann Dermatol 2018 Feb 26;30(1):13-19. Epub 2017 Dec 26.

Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a common autoimmune-mediated blistering skin disease that is significantly associated with mortality and morbidity. However, few studies regarding the mortality and comorbidity profiles of BP have been reported in Korea.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the mortality, comorbidity profiles, and risk factors between patients with BP who visited our clinic and an age-matched general population of Korea. Read More

Cutis 2017 Dec;100(6):415-418

Advanced Desert Dermatology/Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA.

A 71-year-old woman presented with pink to violaceous, flat-topped, polygonal papules on the volar wrists, extensor elbows, and bilateral lower legs of 3 years' duration. She also had erythematous, violaceous, infiltrated plaques with microvesiculation on the bilateral thighs of several months' duration. She reported pruritus, burning, and discomfort. Read More

Case Rep Dermatol 2017 Sep-Dec;9(3):217-224. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Division of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) is a rare autoimmune bullous dermatosis. The clinical presentation of LPP may mimic bullous pemphigoid making the diagnosis difficult. A thorough clinical, histopathological, and immunological evaluation is essential for the diagnosis of LPP. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2017 Oct 30;56(10):1010-1016. Epub 2017 Aug 30.

Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most prevalent autoimmune blistering skin disease in Western countries and in Israel. Initial disease control is achieved in 60-90% of BP patients within 1-4 weeks of corticosteroid therapy. In the remainder of patients, recalcitrant disease is controlled with additional immunosuppressive treatment. Read More

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2017 APR-JUN;31(2 Suppl. 2):57-77

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, flagellate, microaerophilic bacterium identified for the first time about 30 years ago, as a pathogenic factor of gastritis and peptic ulcer. Soon after, it was linked to several gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal diseases (hematological, cardiovascular, neurological, pulmonary and ocular diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, growth retardation and extragastric MALT lymphoma). Association and possible cause-effect correlation with H. Read More

Turk J Med Sci 2017 Jun 12;47(3):832-840. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.

Background/aim: The distribution and the demographic, etiological, and clinical features of autoimmune bullous diseases (ABDs) vary according to geographic regions of the world. The limited number of reported studies in Turkey are mostly retrospective and generally include only pemphigus. The aim of our study was to evaluate the demographic data, clinical features, associated triggering factors, and comorbidities in patients newly diagnosed with ABDs. Read More

Am J Clin Dermatol 2017 Dec;18(6):813-823

Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Suite 1600, 676 N. St. Clair St., Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.

Background: Psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or eczema (AD-E), pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid (BP), and hidradenitis are chronic inflammatory skin disorders associated with systemic immune activation, considerable symptom burden, stigma, functional disturbances, and mental health symptoms. All of these might increase cardiovascular risk.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether these inflammatory skin diseases are associated with increased cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risk and/or disease. Read More

Int J Womens Dermatol 2016 Jun 23;2(2):53-55. Epub 2016 Apr 23.

Department of Dermatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Prolactin is a hormone; in addition to it known roles, it has immunomodulatory effects on lymphocytes maturation and immunoglobulins production. Hyperprolactinemia has been demonstrated in various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes mellitus, and Graves' disease. In view of the prolactin immunomodulatory roles, studying prolactin levels in pemphigus as an autoimmune blistering disease may introduce new ways of understanding disease etiology and developing treatment strategies. Read More

Neurodegener Dis 2017 4;17(4-5):166-170. Epub 2017 May 4.

Department of Neurology, Sijhih Cathay General Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.

Background: We hypothesize that autoantibodies are induced after the blood-brain barrier is damaged by stroke and the risk of bullous pemphigoid (BP) is increased after stroke. We assess the risk of BP after first-ever stroke in a nationwide population-based cohort of first-ever stroke patients.

Methods: We extracted data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 and identified patients with first-ever stroke as well as control patients matched for age, gender, and year of enrollment. Read More

Lancet 2017 May 22;389(10083):2031-2040. Epub 2017 Mar 22.

Department of Dermatology, Rouen University Hospital and INSERM U1234, Centre de référence des maladies bulleuses autoimmunes, Normandie University, Rouen, France.

Background: High doses of corticosteroids are considered the standard treatment for pemphigus. Because long-term corticosteroid treatment can cause severe and even life-threatening side-effects in patients with this disease, we assessed whether first-line use of rituximab as adjuvant therapy could improve the proportion of patients achieving complete remission off-therapy, compared with corticosteroid treatment alone, while decreasing treatment side-effects of corticosteroids.

Methods: We did a prospective, multicentre, parallel-group, open-label, randomised trial in 25 dermatology hospital departments in France (Ritux 3). Read More

Br J Dermatol 2017 Jun 10;176(6):1486-1491. Epub 2017 Apr 10.

Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, PP Oerumsgade 11, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a disease of the elderly and may be associated with neurological and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Mortality rates strongly exceed those of the background population.

Objectives: To investigate the frequency of comorbidities and their temporal relation to BP. Read More

Am J Clin Dermatol 2017 Apr;18(2):287-297

Departments of Dermatology, Preventive Medicine and Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Suite 1600, 676 N. St. Clair St., Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.

Background: Little is known about the epidemiology of pediatric autoimmune blistering disorders (PAIBD).

Objective: We sought to determine the inpatient burden and comorbidities of PAIBD.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2012, which contained a representative 20% sample of all US hospitalizations. Read More

FP Essent 2017 Feb;453:18-25

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine Dermatology Residency Program, 410 Market St. Suite 400 CB#7715, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions are among the most common noninfectious rashes of childhood. Cutaneous adverse drug reactions are classified as morbilliform, urticarial, bullous, pustular, or psoriasiform. Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common inflammatory cutaneous eruptions, and is characterized by pruritus and flexural distribution. Read More

Int Wound J 2017 Feb 17;14(1):288-292. Epub 2016 Oct 17.

Department of Dermatology and Immunodermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.

Haemodialysis is the most frequent form of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with end-stage renal disorder (ESRD). Patients with ESRD frequently develop skin problems, mainly xerosis, pruritus and hyperpigmentation, as well as bullous diseases, mainly porphyria or pseudoporphyria and, in some cases, bullous pemphigoid (BP). BP is the most common autoimmune sub-epidermal blistering disease, and it predominantly affects elderly people. Read More

Dermatology 2016 28;232(2):249-53. Epub 2016 Jan 28.

Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an acquired subepidermal autoimmune blistering disease in which there are humoral and cellular responses against the BP180 and BP230 antigens. Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors enhance endogenous glucagon peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide secretion with food intake, which leads to insulin secretion, as well as to the reduction of glucagon secretion. Recently, several cases of DPP-4 inhibitor-associated BP have been reported. Read More

Infect Dis (Lond) 2016 26;48(3):171-6. Epub 2015 Oct 26.

c Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Molecular Microbiology , School of Medicine, University of Crete , Heraklion , Crete , Greece.

Background: Non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae can cause sporadic cases of gastroenteritis and extra-intestinal invasive infections, following exposure to contaminated seawater or freshwater or after consumption of raw seafood. Bacteremic infections with skin and soft tissue manifestations are uncommon and in most cases are associated with liver cirrhosis, haematologic malignancies, diabetes mellitus and other immunosuppressed conditions.

Methods: The medical literature was reviewed and we found 47 published cases of non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae bacteremic skin and soft tissue infections. Read More

Clin Ophthalmol 2015 28;9:1815-9. Epub 2015 Sep 28.

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

Objective: To assess the recurrent rate, mean survival time, and risk factors associated with recurrent painful bullous keratopathy (BK) after primary treatment with phototherapeutic keratectomy.

Methods: Medical records from 72 patients (72 eyes) who had phototherapeutic keratectomy for painful BK were evaluated. Data for sex, age, duration of BK, associated ocular and systemic diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, asthma, dyslipidemia, and rheumatoid arthritis), frequency and degree of pain (grade 1-3), visual acuity, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and laser setting were extracted and analyzed. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2016 Jan 14;55(1):30-5. Epub 2015 Aug 14.

Department of Dermatology, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Background: Cellulitis commonly involved lower limbs. This study was carried out to determine the demography, clinical characteristics, risk factors, microbiological aspects, and antibiotics usage in this group of patients in Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Methods: A total of one hundred and twenty four patients with lower limb cellulitis treated in the Department of Dermatology, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, between January 2008 and May 2013 were included in this study. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2015 Nov 17;54(11):1246-9. Epub 2015 Mar 17.

Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering skin and mucous membrane disease that usually occurs in elderly people. This study was done to determine clinical features, paraclinical findings, incidence of mucosal lesions, prognosis, course of the disease, and mortality rate of patients with bullous pemphigoid.

Method: Retrospective descriptive study that reviews the existing files of 122 patients with bullous pemphigoid referred to dermatology clinics of Ghaem and Imam Reza hospitals in Mashhad, Iran, from 1995 to 2010. Read More

J Proteomics 2015 Apr 14;120:126-41. Epub 2015 Mar 14.

Molecular Virology Laboratory, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India. Electronic address:

Unlabelled: Global re-emergence of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has renewed the interest in its cellular pathogenesis. We subjected CHIKV-infected Human Embryo Kidney cells (HEK293), a widely used cell-based system for CHIKV infection studies, to a high throughput expression proteomics analysis by Liquid Chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 1047 differentially expressed proteins were identified in infected cells, consistently in three biological replicates. Read More