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Mariateresa Rossi,* Luca Bettolini,* Grazia Linda Artelli, Alessandro Fraghì, Cesare Tomasi, Piergiacomo Calzavara-Pinton Dermatology Department, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Luca Bettolini, Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy, Tel +39 030 3995301, Fax +39 030 399505, Email l.bettolini@unibs.itPurpose: Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the signaling pathways of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Dupilumab has been reported to attenuate itch and reduce several serum markers, including blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood eosinophil count, and serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE).Patients and Methods: The present study investigated retrospectively changes in clinical scores and serum biomarker from 175 adults with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab. Clinical manifestations were assessed using eczema area and severity index (EASI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for itch at baseline and subsequently at 16-week intervals up to a duration of 48 weeks. Total IgE, LDH and blood eosinophil count were also collected.Results: The dupilumab treatment significantly improved EASI and VAS scores and decreased serum levels of IgE, LDH, and total eosinophil count. The EASI scores were positively correlated with VAS for itch at all recorded time points, whereas serum biomarkers did not exhibit a strong correlation with EASI scores.Conclusion: These findings highlight the close relationship between the extent and severity of eczema and the intensity of itch experienced by patients and suggest that factors beyond the measured serum biomarkers play a significant role in the clinical manifestations of AD, emphasizing the complex nature of the disease.Keywords: atopic dermatitis, dupilumab, itch, immunoglobulin E, eosinophils, lactate dehydrogenase

Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys attracted increasing interest as multicaloric materials for solid state refrigeration. The most effective field coupling is achieved through the combination of the magnetic and mechanical induction of thermoelastic martensitic transformation. In the present work, we present an experimental investigation on NiMnGaCu polycrystalline cast alloy, by means of an experimental setup for compression tests in isothermal conditions under a longitudinal magnetic field. The setup has been ad hoc designed and developed specifically for this purpose. In this way, we can measure the elastocaloric and magnetocaloric effect at the same time. Moreover, the evolution of the entropy changes ΔS and the functional caloric parameters vs the magnetic field is evaluated. The application of magnetic field seems to act like a supplementary mechanical longitudinal stress. These preliminary results are fundamental to achieve a comprehensive understanding and modeling of coupled multicaloric phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pemphigus, an autoimmune blistering disease that affects the skin and mucous membranes, significantly impairs the quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals. While there are a variety of QoL measurement tools available for assessing this disease, there is a lack of studies that specifically evaluate the sexual QoL of patients with pemphigus. Objectives: This case–control study aims to investigate the impact of the disease on sexual activity as well as its overall effect on QoL. Materials and Methods: Fifty pemphigus patients, who were referred to the Dermatology Department at the University Hospital of Brescia in the period March 2019–September 2021, completed several QoL surveys, including the 36‐item Short Form Health survey (SF‐36), the 12‐Item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12), the Autoimmune Bullous Disease Quality of Life (ABQOL) and either the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) or the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The severity of the disease was assessed using the Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI). Differences in QoL surveys between the case and control groups were analysed using either the t‐test or the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test. The correlation between QoL surveys in pemphigus patients and disease severity were analysed using Spearman's coefficient (r). Results: The results revealed a marked impairment in overall QoL among patients with pemphigus compared to the healthy control subjects. Significant differences were observed in various domains of QoL, including physical health, mental well‐being, social functioning and, notably, sexual health. Furthermore, disease severity as evaluated by the PDAI showed correlations with specific aspects of health status, and disease‐specific QoL demonstrated associations with nearly all domains of health status. No significant correlations were found between sexual activity, mucosal involvement or steroid therapy and PDAI scores or disease‐specific QoL measures. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the significant impact of pemphigus on patients' well‐being, with particular attention to the impaired sexual activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, indoor daylight photodynamic therapy (idl-PDT) has been developed; however, its efficacy and tolerability remain to be assessed. This is a not-inferiority study to compare treatment outcomes of cPDT with a red LED lamp and idlPDT with a polychromatic white LED lamp in adult patients affected by symmetrical AKs of face and/or scalp. In this comparative, intra-patient, split-face, randomized clinical trial forty-three adult patients were enrolled. Two contralateral and symmetrical target areas of the face and/or scalp harboring at least 5 AKs were selected and randomized 1:1 to treatment with cPDT and idlPDT. The AKs number and cumulative area were assessed at baseline (T0). Efficacy and cosmetic outcome were assessed 3 months after treatment (T1). Total AKs number and area reduced significantly with both idlPDT (p <.0001) and cPDT (p <.0001) in comparison to baseline. cPDT was more painful (p <.0001) and induced a more severe inflammation (p <.0001). Twenty-nine patients (70.7%) gave their overall preference to idlPDT (p <.001). idlPDT may represent an alternative treatment protocol to cPDT for in-office treatment of AKs patients with better tolerability and a not inferior efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to analyze the structure and transport characteristics of poly(ethylene oxide)-Li2O.3B2O3 mixed-phase composites by adding a lithium triborate glass prepared by sol-gel to poly(ethylene oxide). Lithium triborate was prepared from trimethoxyboroxine and lithium methoxide under dry inert gas environment. Experimental results indicated no chemical interaction between poly(ethylene oxide) chains and the filler.

Background: The efficacy for actinic keratosis (AK) clearance of field‐directed treatments has been investigated in randomized studies against placebo, but the comparison of results is difficult for several methodological reasons. Objectives: The present study aims to compare efficacy of MAL‐photodynamic therapy (MAL‐PDT), ingenol mebutate gel (IMB) and diclofenac plus hyaluronate gel (DHA) on multiple AKs assessing a new performance index of efficacy, the cumulative AK area and evaluating dermoscopical and high‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) changes. Methods: Patients with ≥5 Olsen II AKs in a 25 cm2 area of the scalp and face were enrolled and randomized to one of the treatment choices. Number of AKs and cumulative area were assessed before and after treatment. Dermoscopy and HFUS were performed on a single AK and surrounding photo‐damaged skin in the treatment area. Results: Cumulative AKs area reduced significantly more with PDT compared to other treatment options and with IMB in comparison to DHA. PDT was also the only treatment option that increased at a significant level the dermal density in both target AK and the surrounding skin and decreased significantly the SLEB thickness in the perilesional skin at HFUS. Conclusions: MAL‐PDT is more effective than IMB and DHA for reducing the cumulative AK area which is calculated digitally from 3D pictures and should be the preferred performance index for the evaluation of the efficacy of treatments for AKs, rolling out clinical and dermoscopy evaluation. MAL‐PDT improves all HFUS features of chronic photodamages of the dermis of the skin underlying and surrounding the AK spots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the exposure to Cobalt (Co) and Tungsten (W) in a group of hard metal tool sharpeners through a combined approach of air and biological monitoring, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a control and improvement intervention carried out in collaboration with the medical officers of the local Health Protection Agency, by biomonitoring. Methods: We enrolled 132 workers from 17 companies of the province of Brescia, northern Italy. The study was performed in two phases: (1) an environmental and biomonitoring survey to assess the workers' exposure to Co and W at their usual working conditions; (2) a further biomonitoring survey 3 months after the enforcement of a control and improvement intervention, to assess its effectiveness. Results: Workers were found to be exposed to low concentration of airborne dust containing Co and W but after the intervention we recorded a significant decrease of the urinary concentrations of both Co and W. The extent of the decrease was correlated to the number of preventive industrial hygiene interventions that were carried out. Conclusions: Biological monitoring of Co and W in the hard metal tools manufacturing industry is a sensitive and effective method to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the host-guest interactions in fluorinated polymer electrolytes using a solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and modulated differential scanning calorimetry. Behavior of the longitudinal relaxation times; Level of interaction among ions and the host polymer; Mechanisms that control NMR lineshapes and spin-lattice relaxation times.

Summary: Background: There are few studies in the literature correlating the ultrasonographic findings, clinical scoring systems or histological findings in morphoea after ultraviolet (UV)A1 phototherapy. Aims: To evaluate the quantitative and morphological aspects of high‐frequency ultrasonography in the treatment of plaque morphoea in response to UVA1 phototherapy, and to correlate these with clinical and histological scores. Methods: In total, 17 patients with morphoea were studied. Initially and at study end, high‐frequency ultrasonography (50 MHz) was performed on the edge of a morphoea lesion treated with UVA1 phototherapy. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of dermal features was performed and compared with the features of healthy skin. Skin biopsy specimens were obtained from lesions analysed at the beginning and end of the study, assessing dermal sclerosis and dermal inflammatory infiltrate and their distribution. Results: All affected skin showed a statistically significant increase in dermal thickness and hypoechogenicity, corresponding to a reduction in dermal density by ultrasonography compared with healthy skin. Morphological evaluation identified undulations of the dermis in 11 of 17 lesions (64.7%) and in 5 healthy skin areas (29.4%) (P = 0.08), while 'yoyo' figures were identified in 8 lesions (47%) but only 1 healthy skin area (5.9%) (P = 0.02). Ultrasonographic morphological analysis highlighted an improvement in dermal hyperechogenic bands and disappearance of yoyo figures after UVA1 treatment. Histology revealed a reduction in dermal sclerosis and inflammation, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Ultrasonographic pattern analysis of morphoea is a suitable technique for monitoring UVA1 phototherapy response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]