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Abstract: The companies publishing predatory journals are an emerging problem in the area of scientific literature as they only seek to drain money from authors without providing any customer service for the authors or their readership. These predatory journals try to attract new submissions by aggressive email advertising and high acceptance rates. But in turn, they do not provide proper peer review, and therefore, the scientific quality of submitted articles is questionable. This is important because more and more people, including patients, are reading such journals and rely on the information they provide. Consequently, predatory journals are a serious threat to the integrity of medical science, and it is crucial for scientists, physicians and even patients to be aware of this problem. In this review, we briefly summarize the history of the open access movement, as well as the rise of and roles played by predatory journals. In conclusion, young and inexperienced authors publishing in a predatory journal must be aware of the damage of their reputation, of inadequate peer review processes and that unprofitable journals might get closed and all published articles in that journal might be lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is known as the major skin angiogenesis factor and can be produced by various resident skin cells including keratinocytes. Objectives To identify and characterize the role of VEGF-A in the pathogenesis of prurigo. Methods Expression of VEGF, VEGFR2, CD-31, and D2-40 was analyzed in the skin of eleven prurigo patients and seven healthy controls by immunohistochemistry. Results VEGF immunoreactivity (IR) was markedly increased in the epidermis, dermis and subcutis of prurigo patients, whereas expression of the main receptor for VEGF-A in the skin, VEGFR2, was comparable to that of healthy controls. The increased VEGF expression in the skin was associated with a marked increase in the number (12.8 ± 2.1 vs 5.6 ± 0.5, P < 0.05) but not in the size of blood vessels, as assessed by staining of the endothelial cell marker CD31. This increase in small blood vessels correlated closely with increases in the epidermal thickness in prurigo lesions. The number of lymphatic vessels as assessed by D2-40 staining was found to be similar in prurigo patients and healthy controls. Conclusions Based on these findings, we speculate that the observed profound vascular remodelling in prurigo might contribute to the pathogenesis of prurigo and the corresponding clinical symptoms and that targeting of VEGF may present a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of prurigo patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Objective: In the age of multiresistant microbes and the increasing lack of efficient antibiotics, conventional antiseptics play a critical role in the prevention and therapy of wound infections. Recent studies have demonstrated the antiseptic effects of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (APP). In this pilot, study we investigate the overall suitability of one of the first APP sources for wound treatment focusing on its potential antimicrobial effects. * Method: The wound closure rate and the bacterial colonisation of the wounds were investigated. Patients suffering from chronic leg ulcers were treated in a clinical controlled monocentric trial with either APP or octenidine (OCT). In patients who presented with more than one ulceration in different locations, one was treated with APP and the other one with OCT. Each group was treated three times a week over a period of two weeks.The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated immediately after and following two weeks of treatment. * Results: Wounds treated with OCT showed a significantly higher microbial reduction (64%) compared to wounds treated with APP (47%) immediately after the treatment. Over two weeks of antiseptic treatment the bacterial density was reduced within the OCT group (-35%) compared to a slight increase in bacterial density in the APP-treated group (+12%). Clinically, there were no signs of delayed wound healing observed in either group and both treatments were well tolerated. * Conclusion: The immediate antimicrobial effects of the APP prototype source were almost comparable to OCT without any signs of cytotoxicity.This pilot study is limited by current configurations of the plasma source, where the narrow plasma beam made it difficult to cover larger wound surface areas and in order to avoid untreated areas of the wound bed, smaller wounds were assigned to the APP-treatment group.This limits the significance of AAP-related effects on the wound healing dynamics, as smaller wounds tend to heal faster than larger wounds. However, clinical wound healing studies on a larger scale now seem justifiable.A more advanced plasma source prototype allowing the treatment of larger wounds will address APP's influence on healing dynamics, synergetic treatment with current antiseptics and effects on multiresistant bacteria. * Declaration of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of topically applied drugs is determined by their action mechanism and their potential capacity of passing the skin barrier. Nanoparticles are assumed to be efficient carrier systems for drug delivery through the skin barrier. For flexible nanoparticles like liposomes, this effect has been well demonstrated. The penetration properties of solid nanoparticles are currently under intensive investigation. The crucial advantage of nanoparticles over non-particulate substances is their capability to penetrate deeply into the hair follicles where they can be stored for several days. There is no evidence, yet, that solid particles ≥40 nm are capable of passing through the healthy skin barrier. Therefore and in spite of the long-standing research efforts in this field, commercially available solid nanoparticle-based products for drug delivery through the healthy skin are still missing. Nevertheless, the prospects for the clinical use of nanoparticles in drug delivery are tremendous. They can be designed as transport systems delivering drugs efficiently into the hair follicles in the vicinity of specific target structures. Once deposited at these structures, specific signals might trigger the release of the drugs and exert their effects on the target cells. In this article, examples of such triggered drug release are presented. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we compared the UV-protective abilities of the europium complex compared to titanium dioxide, which represents the most common physical filter for ultraviolet light in the broad-band spectral range. The UV absorption and light transformative capacities of the europium complex were evaluated using a spectrometer with a double-integrating sphere showing that the europium complex does not only absorb and reflect UV light, but transforms it into red and infrared light. It was found that the europium complex binds to the surface of Jurkat cells in vitro. Cells incubated with the europium complex showed a significantly higher viability after UVA and UVB irradiation as compared to untreated cells and cells incubated with titanium dioxide pointing out its photoprotective properties. The europium complex and titanium dioxide show similar penetration capacities into the stratum corneum as tested in human and porcine skin using tape stripping analysis. The europium complex has proved to be an efficient UV filter with a low cyto- and phototoxic profile and therefore represents a potential candidate for use in sunscreen formulations. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonization and infection of wounds represent a major reason for the impairment of tissue repair. Recently, it has been reported that tissue-tolerable plasma (TTP) is highly efficient in the reduction of the bacterial load of the skin. In the present study, the antiseptic efficacy of TTP was compared to that of octenidine hydrochloride with 2-phenoxyethanol. Both antiseptic methods proved to be highly efficient. Cutaneous treatment of the skin with octenidine hydrochloride and 2-phenoxyethanol leads to a 99% elimination of the bacteria, and 74% elimination is achieved by TTP treatment. Technical challenges with an early prototype TTP device could be held responsible for the slightly reduced antiseptic properties of TTP, compared to a standard antiseptic solution, since the manual treatment of the skin surface with a small beam of the TTP device might have led to an incomplete coverage of the treated area. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies over recent years have revealed the presence of a resident bacterial population in the human skin throughout the entire body. However, the localization and composition of the bacteria within the epidermis and the skin appendages have not been fully investigated. Using differential tape stripping, cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsies and mapping of hair follicles, bacteria on the forearms of study participants were isolated, mapped, cultured and identified with respect to their origin within the epidermis and the hair follicles. Our studies showed that 85% of the bacteria were found within the first 6 corneocyte layers and roughly 25% of the cutaneous bacterial population were localized within the hair follicles. The microbial flora of the skin between individuals is subject to considerable fluctuations. Micrococcaceae represent the biggest fraction of hair-follicle-associated bacteria. The techniques developed for this study allowed us to selectively investigate the bacterial population within the hair follicles. Our results point out the role of skin appendages as potential microbial reservoirs and the need to develop new antiseptic formulations that sufficiently penetrate into the hair follicles. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusion Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are considered standard‐of‐care in the systemic treatment of melanoma. However, management of certain ICI‐associated adverse events (AE) can be challenging. Incidence, course and management of immune checkpoint inhibitor‐induced pancreatic injury (ICIPI) are not well‐documented and specific diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms are lacking. Current management includes serological monitoring of pancreatic enzymes, radiographic imaging and corticosteroid or further immunosuppressive treatment. Objectives: Based on previous data regarding adjuvant ICI treatment, we suspected that elevation of pancreatic enzymes may occur more frequently than reported while the clinical relevance of—particularly asymptomatic—ICIPI is still unclear.A collaboration of eight Austrian and Swiss dermato‐oncology centres was established to retrospectively analyse a large cohort of ICI‐treated patients regarding incidence and management of ICIPI. Additionally, a questionnaire‐based survey concerning ICIPI‐management was conducted.Among 1516 melanoma patients receiving ICI therapy, 204 patients exhibited ≥CTCAE II° lipase elevation. Of these patients, 41 (20.1%) had symptoms suggestive of pancreatitis. Immunotherapy was interrupted or discontinued due to pancreatic AE in almost half of the patients. Systemic corticosteroids were administered in 103 patients (50.5%), with higher doses reported in symptomatic cases. Six per cent of asymptomatic patients had radiographically proven pancreatitis. Maximum lipase elevation was >5xULN in all of these patients.Routine lipase monitoring was conducted in all participating centres, although not recommended in respective guidelines. Elevation of serum lipase was observed more frequently than recently reported. Although radiographic findings indicating pancreatitis were rare in asymptomatic patients, ICI treatment was frequently paused or discontinued and systemic steroids were administered. To reduce the existing uncertainty in routine clinical practice reflected by our findings, we provide an algorithm to guide the monitoring and management of potential pancreatic adverse events. Lipase measurement should be limited to symptomatic patients and/or those with radiographic findings indicative of pancreatic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]