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The article discusses a cross-sectional study conducted in Greece to assess dermatologists-venereologists' awareness, vigilance, and attitudes towards LGBT individuals. The study utilized the LGBT-Development of Clinical Skills Scale (DOCSS) questionnaire to evaluate participants' preparedness, attitudinal awareness, and basic knowledge. Findings suggest that while dermatologists-venereologists feel moderately prepared to handle LGBT-related concerns, there is room for improvement in addressing healthcare disparities and reducing prejudice. The study highlights the importance of integrating LGBT-oriented training into medical education programs to enhance care for the LGBT community. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the challenges and delays in diagnosing Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic skin condition. The study reveals that dermatologists often struggle to diagnose HS accurately, with only one dermatologist having a strong understanding of the disease during the initial visit. Misdiagnoses of HS are common, with abscess, cyst, and acne being the most frequent misdiagnoses. The study also highlights a lack of knowledge about HS among general practitioners, with many reporting only average ability to diagnose the condition. The findings suggest that better education for all physicians and increased publication of HS research in non-dermatology journals could help improve diagnosis and management of the condition. [Extracted from the article]

Zusammenfassung: Die Daten zu Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)‐bedingten Kosten sind begrenzt und inhomogen. Sie sind jedoch erheblich. Wir führten eine systematische Sichtung der Literaturberichte durch, in denen finanzielle Daten über jeden Gesundheitsbereich oder andere Ausgaben dokumentiert wurden, die durch HS und/oder HS‐bedingte Auswirkungen auf Beschäftigung, Einkommen und persönliches wirtschaftliche Entwicklung entstanden sind (indirekte Kosten). Dafür wurden drei elektronische Datenbanken durchsucht (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect und die Cochrane Library –letzte Suche: 14. September 2021). Alle Kosten wurden inflationsbereinigt (2022) und in US‐Dollar umgerechnet. Es wurden 23 Artikel eingeschlossen (18 Krankheitskostenstudien, 4 Beobachtungsstudien und 1 Fallserie), in denen ökonomische Daten von 77.287 HS‐Patienten erfasst wurden. Die durch HS entstandenen durchschnittlichen jährlichen Kosten pro Patient reichten von 258 $ bis 8.078 $. Diese Zahl erhöhte sich bei chirurgischen Eingriffen, Krankheitsprogression, Antibiotika‐Versagen und bestimmten Begleitkrankheiten. Der kostspieligste Faktor war die stationäre Versorgung, gefolgt von ambulanter und Notfallversorgung. Signifikante Unterschiede wurden zwischen den USA und den übrigen untersuchten Ländern beobachtet. Im Vergleich zu Psoriasis‐Patienten waren Krankenhausaufenthalte bei HS wahrscheinlicher, länger und kostspieliger, während die weniger kostspielige ambulante Versorgung bei HS‐Patienten verringert war. Das Vermeiden der Krankheitsprogression durch frühzeitige Diagnose und Optimierung der ambulanten dermatologischen Versorgung könnte HS‐bedinge Ausgaben reduzieren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Data regarding hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)‐related expenditure is limited and non‐homogeneous, but HS does incur significant expenses. We performed a systematic review of literature reports documenting financial data regarding any healthcare domain or other expenditure incurred by HS and/or HS impact on work, income and personal economic growth (indirect costs). Three electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library – last search date: September 14th, 2021). All costs were adjusted for inflation (2022) and converted into US dollars. Twenty‐three papers were included (18 cost‐of‐illness studies, 4 observational studies and 1 case series), drawing economic data from 77,287 HS patients. The total mean cost incurred by HS per patient per year ranged from $ 258 to $ 8,078. This number increased in case of surgical intervention, disease progression, antibiotic failure and certain comorbid diseases. The costliest healthcare sector was inpatient care, followed by outpatient and emergency care. Significant differences were observed between the USA and the rest of studied countries. Hospitalization was likelier, lengthier, and costlier for HS compared to psoriasis patients, whereas the less costly outpatient care appeared to be reduced among HS patients. Preventing disease progression by optimizing early diagnosis and dermatology outpatient care could decrease HS‐related expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ixekizumab improves disease severity, clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with genital psoriasis: a 24-week real-life experience. Inclusion criteria were (i) adults with moderate-to-severe genital psoriasis; (ii) wash-out period >=4-16 weeks for systemic treatment, >3 years for acitretin, and >=2 weeks for topical one; (iii) patients eligible for biologic treatment. Disease severity, clinical symptoms, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and 4, 16, and 24 weeks of treatment through the Static Physicians Global Assessment for Genitalia (sPGA-G), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, Itch Numerical Rating-Score (Itch-NRS), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). [Extracted from the article]

COVID-19 vaccination intention among patients with psoriasis compared with immunosuppressed patients with other skin diseases and factors influencing their decision. The patients in this manuscript have given written informed consent to the publication of their case details. High COVID-19 vaccination rates are a prerequisite for the establishment of herd immunity.1 Psoriasis patients seem to be more inclined to undergo COVID-19 vaccination, compared with matched controls suffering from other skin diseases and receiving immunosuppressive treatment (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 1.28-1.36).1 Twenty-one per cent of 713 asked psoriasis patients declared fear of potential postvaccination flare of their skin disease to be holding them back from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.1 Actual knowledge of the probability of this negative outcome occurring has largely been inadequate. [Extracted from the article]

In our study, 3 patients (6.8%) experienced >=1 AE: 1 patient reported candidiasis infection while on secukinumab, and 2 injection-site reactions (1 patient on secukinumab and 1 on ixekizumab). Demographics and characteristics of first IL-17 non-responder patients and clinical outcomes after second IL-17 biologic treatment are presented in Table 1. We finally assessed the overall percentage of patients with previous exposure to IL-17 inhibitors obtaining an absolute PASI <= 3 at weeks 12 and 24 after second/third anti-IL-17 agent initiation. [Extracted from the article]

Nail psoriasis and onychomycosis can often be hard to differentiate clinically and may coexist, complicating each other's course. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of onychomycosis among patients with nail psoriasis not being treated with immunosuppressive agents, which constitute an independent risk factor for fungal infections. A cross-sectional study was performed. All adult patients with nail psoriasis who were not receiving antifungal and/or immunosuppressive treatment were recruited at the 2nd University Dermatology Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from 10/2016 till 02/2017. If onychomycosis was clinically suspected, nail samples were collected and direct microscopy with 15% KOH solution and culture were performed. Target- NAPSI and DLQI score were also calculated. Of the 23 patients recruited, 20 were men and 3 were women, with a mean age of 53.43 years (48.25, 58.62), a mean target- NAPSI score of 10.72 (9.62, 11.77) and a mean DLQI score of 10.17 (7.46, 12.89). A total of 34.78% of patients tested positive for onychomycosis. Yeast were isolated in 37.50% of cases, non-dermatophyte filamentous fungi in 37.50% and T. rubrum in 12.50%. The prevalence of onychomycosis among nail psoriasis patients is higher than that among the general population of Greece (15%-20%). Yeast and moulds predominate in infection cases of nail psoriasis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the Secukinumab survival and long-term efficacy in patients with plaque psoriasis. Topics discussed include information on the efficacy of anti-IL17A antibody approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis; discussions on the study on the survival time of Secukinumab in real life comparing to clinical trials; and the information on the influence of drugs on the survival of the patient.

The article offers information on real-life efficacy and safety of secukinumab antibody within a cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. It mentions Secukinumab prevents interleukin 17A (IL-17A) from binding to its receptor and limit inflammatory processes ultimately leading to excessive keratinocyte proliferation; clinical trial of Forty-two patients ; and secukinumab proved more efficacious than phase-III clinical-trial and other real-life data.