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Jean Krutmann,1 Dominique Moyal,2 Wei Liu,3 Sanjiv Kandahari,4 Geun-Soo Lee,5 Noppakun Nopadon,6 Leihong Flora Xiang,7 Sophie Seité2 1IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany; 2La Roche Posay Dermatological Laboratories, Asnières, France; 3Department of Dermatology, The General Hospital of Air Force, PLA, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4Dr. Kandhari’s Skin & Dental Clinic, New Delhi, India; 5Drs. Woo and Hann Skin Center, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea; 6Division of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; 7Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China Abstract: In recent years, the critical role that inflammation may play in the development and progression of acne has become increasingly recognized. The prevalence of acne is similar between Asian and Caucasian women, but Asian women have a higher prevalence of inflammatory acne. They also report their symptoms exacerbate during periods of high air pollution. The objective of this study was to review the current evidence that links air pollution to worsening of acne symptoms. Firstly, a group of five Asian and three European scientists with expertise in Dermatology reviewed the current literature and described current acne treatment practices in their countries. During this activity, they identified the need for further epidemiological and clinical research. Secondly, additional studies ensued which provided evidence that acne symptoms might exacerbate in regions of high ambient air pollution. Based on these findings, the authors suggest that people with acne should protect the natural barrier function of their skin with emollients and ultraviolet (UV)A/UVB protection. Keywords: pollution, acne, Asia, epidemiology, pathophysiology

We thank the patient for providing informed consent for publication of their case details and images. Our patient also reported receiving an annual influenza vaccination, which contains a similar excipient (polysorbate), without any adverse reactions. No mucosal lesions were observed and the lesions were found in > 2 different sites of the body. gl A punch biopsy was taken, and histopathology findings were consistent with bullous fixed drug eruption (BFDE) (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

Click here for the corresponding questions to this CME article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spironolactone (SPL) is an effective treatment for women acne, but other effects on skin biophysical properties remain to be investigated., Objectives: The aim of the current study was to explore the effects of oral SPL used to treat women acne on skin biophysical properties, including hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin surface lipid (SSL) levels, mechanical properties, color, pH, and pore size., Materials and Methods: Twenty-five Thai women with acne treated with oral SPL were followed for 6 months. Skin hydration, TEWL, SSL levels, mechanical properties, color, pH, and pore size of the forehead, chest, and inner arm were evaluated at baseline and 2, 4, and 6 months after treatment with oral SPL. Facial and upper back pore size were also assessed. Clinical outcomes were changes in these skin biophysical properties at each visit compared with baseline., Results: Skin hydration, TEWL, SSL levels, color, pH, and pore size remained stable throughout the study. Facial skin parameters at 6 months demonstrated the following changes: hydration levels, 7.60 (95% confidence interval [CI], -59.74 to 74.94); TEWL, -2.36 (95% CI, -5.77 to 1.06); L* value, 0.51 (95% CI, -0.70 to 1.72); individual typology angle, 1.65 (95% CI -2.27 to 5.57); pH, 0.01 (95% CI -0.43 to 0.46); pore size, -0.24 (95% CI, -1.21 to 0.73); and SSL levels, 7.60 (95% CI -59.74 to 74.94). Improvement of facial mechanical properties was observed. R0 (indicating skin tightness) and R1 (indicating elasticity) showed significant decreases (-0.076 [95% CI, -0.141 to -0.010] and -0.016 [95% CI, -0.033 to -0.001]). R3 and R4 (representing tiring effects) were also improved (-0.091 [95% CI, -0.158 to -0.025] and -0.022 [95% CI, -0.044 to -0.001]). Parameters in the truncal and inner arm areas remained stable, except for skin elasticity and tiring effects, which exhibited a similar trend of improvement as the facial area. The changes were notable as early as 4 months., Conclusion: Oral SPL used for acne did not impair the skin barrier. Moreover, the skin mechanical properties were improved at 4 to 6 months., (© 2024 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: Biologics has been known to be effective for patients with psoriasis. However, optimal treatment pathways and their cost-effectiveness are limited in a resource-limited country. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of different sequential biologics for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis., Method: A hybrid model from a societal perspective was used. Model inputs were derived from network meta-analysis, clinical trials, and published literature. Three different sequential biologic treatments were assessed; Sequence 1; 1st Interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitor (secukinumab) followed by 2nd IL-17 inhibitors (ixekizumab or brodalumab), then 3rd IL-23 inhibitor (guselkumab), Sequence 2; ixekizumab followed by secukinumab or brodalumab, then guselkumab, and Sequence 3; brodalumab followed by ixekizumab or secukinumab, then guselkumab. Methotrexate or ciclosporin was used as standard of care (SoC)., Results: All three different sequential biologic therapies could gain total quality-adjusted life year (QALY), but they had higher cost than SoC. Sequence 1 had the lowest incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) compared to SoC at 621,373 THB/QALY (19,449 $/QALY). ICER for Sequence 2 was 957,258 THB/QALY (29,962 $/QALY), while that for Sequence 3 was 1,332,262 THB/QALY (41,700 $/QALY). Fully incremental analysis indicated that Sequence 3 was dominated by Sequence 1 and Sequence 2. ICER for Sequence 2 was 7,206,104 THB/QALY (225,551 $/QALY) when compared to Sequence 1., Conclusion: At the current willingness-to-pay of 160,000 THB/QALY, no sequential IL-17 inhibitor was cost-effective compared to SoC. Secukinumab followed by ixekizumab or brodalumab then guselkumab (Sequence 1) may be the most appropriate option compared with other treatments., Competing Interests: Piyameth Dilokthornsakul receives research grants from Novartis (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited. He also receives honorariums from GSK (Thailand) Limited, and Boehringer Ingelheim (Thailand) Limited. Other authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Dilokthornsakul et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Thailand's hospitals face overcrowding, particularly with non-communicable disease (NCD) patients, due to a doctor shortage and an aging population. Most literature showed implementation merely on web or mobile application to teleconsult with physicians. Instead, in this work, we developed and implemented a telemedicine health kiosk system embedded with non-invasive biosensors and time-series predictors to improve NCD indicators over an eight-month period. Two cohorts were randomly selected: a control group with usual care and a telemedicine-using group. The telemedicine-using group showed significant improvements in average fasting blood glucose (148 to 130 mg/dL) and systolic blood pressure (152 to 138 mmHg). Data mining with the Apriori algorithm revealed correlations between diseases, occupations, and environmental factors, informing public health policies. Communication between kiosks and servers used LoRa, 5G, and IEEE802.11, which are selected based on the distance and signal availability. The results support telemedicine kiosks as effective for NCD management, significantly improving key NCD indicators, average blood glucose, and blood pressure.

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) exacerbation after whey protein (WP) consumption remains inconclusive among experts., Objectives: To investigate the association between WP consumption and acne severity in men with acne., Methods: A noninferiority trial was conducted in men with mild to moderate facial and/or truncal acne. After randomization, participants in an intervention group took daily WP 30 g with a non-WP nutritional supplement 18 g (WP group, n = 25), while the control group took a non-WP nutritional supplement 46 g (non-WP group, n = 24). At each follow-up appointment, investigators evaluated acne count (total acne lesions, comedonal lesions, and inflammatory lesions) and severity., Results: Forty-nine participants had a mean age of 19.7 years (standard deviation [SD], 0.9) and 20.3 years (SD, 1.4) in the WP and non-WP groups, respectively. The mean differences in the facial and truncal total acne lesions for the WP and non-WP group were -5.99 (95% confidence interval [CI], -13.18 to 1.19, p = 0.09) and -2.18 (95% CI, -11.83 to 7.48, p = 0.65), respectively. For severity changes, only one (4.3%) participant in the non-WP group reported an increase in the Investigator Global Assessment scale of at least two levels., Conclusions: In this 6-month trial, men with acne who undertook WP supplementation showed a noninferior difference in the changes in total acne lesions and severity of facial and truncal acne compared with the non-WP group., (© 2024 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Background: Drug stores is an option that people can receive health care services for their common illnesses. This is the first study aims to estimate cost savings for 16 common illness symptoms to the Thailand's health system., Method: This study gathered retrospective secondary data from several studies and surveyed the median cost of medicines. Cost savings of care provided by pharmacists at drug stores in comparison to out-patient department (OPD) services at hospitals were quantified using cost of illness approach., Results: The average number of hospital visits for treatment for 16 common illness symptoms was 2,356 visits per month. The estimation of the cost savings per visit from three perspectives, including government, patient, and societal, at tertiary care hospitals were 12.7-19.4, 12.7-25.6, and 18.9-25.6 USD, and at secondary care hospitals were 6.0-12.7, 6.0-18.9, and 12.2-18.9 USD. Every $1 reimbursed at drug stores will save additional costs in Thailand's health system, ranging from $0.04 to $0.24 and $0.02 to $0.16 at tertiary care hospitals and secondary hospitals, respectively., Conclusion: Pharmacy services for 16 common illness symptoms can clearly save costs., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Dietary supplements containing a functional feed additive have been shown to be beneficial to fish and shellfish aquaculture. However, the functional properties of aquafeed formulations have rarely been reported in fish. This study aimed to investigate the effects of natural free amino acid mix (FAAM) supplementation as a functional solution on the growth performance and nutrient utilization in a carnivorous fish, Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were prepared with graded supplementation levels of FAAM at 0 % (control group), 0.25 %, 0.50 %, 0.75 %, and 1.0 %, denoted as FAAM0, FAAM0.25, FAAM0.5, FAAM0.75, and FAAM1.0, respectively. The experimental fish were fed different dietary FAAM supplementations to apparent satiation twice daily for eight weeks. Significant improvements were observed in the growth performance of fish among the five groups (P < 0.05). Fish fed with FAAM0.75 displayed significantly increased activities of lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05). The activities of digestive enzymes, including amylase, protease, and lipase, were enhanced by the supplementation of FAAM in the feed (P < 0.05), especially for the groups that contained more than 0.5 % FAAM in the feed. Furthermore, the morphological profile of the intestinal tract, including the mucosal fold height, width, thickness, and goblet cell, increased in fish fed with FAAM at 1.0 % (P < 0.05). Moreover, FAAM supplementation in diets not only modulated the expression of immune-related genes (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), complement (C)3, C4, and C-reactive protein) in the liver but also positively impacted the growth-ralated genes, including growth hormone (GH), GH receptor (GHR), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and IGF-II. In addition, the amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic acid (C18:1n9c)) and polyunsaturated fatty acids-especially γ-linolenic acid (C18:3 n6) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3n3)-increased in fish fed with diets containing FAAMs (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the diets supplemented with FAAMs also had a positive effect on the economic indices in terms of revenue-to-cost ratios. These findings provide a scientific basis for the application of FAAMs as a functional solution that can be used in feed formulations for Asian seabass., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cutibacterium acnes is associated with the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris (AV). The relationship between antibiotic-resistant C. acnes and AV remains unclear. The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant C. acnes and investigate the association of acne severity with topical and systemic treatments in patients with acne. Samples were collected of inflammatory and noninflammatory acne, including closed and open comedones and erythematous papules/pustules from the face of patients with mild to severe acne. The samples were cultured under anaerobic conditions for the isolation of C. acnes. Antibiotic susceptibility tests for erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline, clindamycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were performed using the agar dilution method. From 153 patients, 143 viable C. acnes samples were isolated (93.5%). They were found resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (143/143, 100%), clindamycin (108/143, 75.5%), erythromycin (105/143, 73.4%), tetracycline (74/143, 51.7%), and doxycycline (73/143, 51.1%). There was no significant correlation between the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and acne severity. High-level resistant C. acnes correlated with higher clinical severity of acne in patients taking doxycycline (τ b  = 0.3). The present prevalence of antibiotic-resistant C. acnes was high in Thailand. Antibiotic stewardship in AV treatment should be encouraged to prevent further antibiotic resistance crises., (© 2023 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Post-acne erythema (PAE) is one of the most common sequelae of acne inflammation. Unfortunately, the treatment of PAE remains challenging due to limited effective topical treatments. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical oxymetazoline hydrochloride (OxH) 0.05% solution for PAE. This study was a split-face, participants-and investigators-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted between December 2021 and March 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. Healthy adults aged from 18 to 45 years with mild to severe PAE, according to the Clinician's Erythema Assessment (CEA), on both sides of the face were eligible. After randomization, each participant applied the OxH to one side of their face and a placebo to the contralateral face twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was PAE lesion counts. The secondary outcomes were erythema index, clinical response rate at week 12 ("clear," "almost clear," or "at least two-grade improvement" by CEA), and patient satisfaction scores. A total of 30 participants were enrolled. The OxH-treated skin showed a significantly greater mean difference (MD) reduction in PAE lesion counts than the placebo after 8 weeks of treatment (4.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-7.18). Similarly, the MD reduction of the erythema index was higher in the OxH-treated skin from the second week (11.82, 95% CI 8.48-15.15). Additionally, the OxH-treated side also achieved a higher clinical response rate after 8 weeks of treatment (40.00% vs. 6.67%; p = 0.002) and rated higher satisfaction than those using the placebo at the end of the study (mean [standard deviation] satisfaction score 8.30 [0.18] vs 7.40 [0.18], P < 0.001). There were no serious adverse events or flares of erythema during the study. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the topical OxH 0.05% solution was effective, well-tolerated, and safe for reducing PAE without a rebound effect. It could be a choice of PAE management. Trial Registration: Thai Clinical Trials Registry No. TCTR20211207004., (© 2023 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

The effects of topical non-antibiotic acne treatment on skin microbiota have rarely been demonstrated. In the study, we randomized 45 mild acne vulgaris participants into three treatment groups, including a cream-gel dermocosmetic containing Aqua Posae Filiformis, lipohydroxy acid, salicylic acid, linoleic acid, niacinamide and piroctone olamine (DC), retinoic acid 0.025% cream (VAA) and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel (BP). At months 0, 1 and 3, skin specimens were swabbed from the cheek and forehead and sequenced by targeting V3-V4 regions of the 16 S rRNA gene. QIIME2 was used to characterize bacterial communities. Acne severity, sebum level and tolerability were assessed concomitantly in each visit. We found that both VAA and BP could significantly reduce the bacterial diversity at month 1 (p-value = 0.010 and 0.004 respectively), while no significant reduction was observed in DC group. The microbiota compositions also significantly altered for beta diversity in all treatments (all p-value = 0.001). An increased Cutibacterium with decreased Staphylococcus relative abundance was observed at months 1 and 3 in DC group, while an opposite trend was demonstrated in VAA and BP groups. These findings suggest a potential impact of DC, VAA and BP on the diversity and composition profiles of the skin microbiota in mild acne participants., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: A better understanding of skin lipidomics and its alteration under treatment administration might offer therapeutic solutions for seborrhea., Aims: To quantitatively and qualitatively explore the lipid-modifying effect of the moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid (LDCS) in seborrhea participants with and without acne vulgaris (AV)., Patients/methods: We conducted an open-label explorative study on 20 seborrhea participants (10 AV and 10 non-AV). All participants applied LDCS for 8 weeks with the addition of benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel and adapalene 0.1%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel in AV. Skin surface lipid (SSL) assessments were performed biweekly, using Sebumeter® and lipid-absorbent Sebutapes® to collect forehead SSL for profile analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)., Results: SSL amount significantly decreased since week 2 in AV (p-value = 0.0124) and week 6 in non-AV (p-value = 0.0098), respectively. Twenty-two important SSLs were annotated from GC-MS analysis, comprising 19 free fatty acids, cholesterol, squalene, and glycerol. There was a significant reduction in 5 and 13 lipid components in AV and non-AV groups, respectively., Conclusion: LDCS, either alone or with topical acne treatment, demonstrated substantial sebusuppressive and lipid-modifying effects among seborrhea participants., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Acne scars are classified into various types based on their appearances, ranging from hypertrophic to atrophic. Abnormal wound healing processes play an important role in the pathogenesis of scars; however, the exact mechanisms involved in various scar appearances have still not been elucidated. In this study, we used immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry techniques to detect the presence of myofibroblasts, B cells, and mast cells in each type of acne scar persisting longer than 6 months. We found the highest density of myofibroblasts in hypertrophic acne scars, while in the other atrophic scars, we could not identify any myofibroblast-rich areas in our specimens. B-cell infiltration was mild and found in only 23% (4/17) of all acne scar specimens. Interestingly, mast cells were identified in all specimens, ranging from minimal to high density, and a high number of mast cells in acne scars were associated with obesity. In conclusion, myofibroblasts are abundant only in hypertrophic acne scars, and mast cells, but not B cells, might play an important role in the pathogenesis of long-standing acne scars., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: During the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, face mask use has increased and became a part of our daily lives. While wearing, prolonged contact time and microenvironmental change profoundly lead to an acne flare-up, defined as "maskne.", Aims: We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glaba root extract combination serum (SCGS) in treating the maskne., Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study. This study enrolled 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne. The SCGS and placebo were randomly assigned for participants to use twice daily for 12 weeks. Percentage change of acne lesion count, acne severity by Investigator Global Evaluation Acne (IGEA), sebum levels, corneometry levels, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema score by Visia®, and adverse events were evaluated 4-weekly at baseline to Week 12. At Week 12, all participants evaluated their satisfaction scores using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS)., Results: In the mask-covered area, the percent reduction in inflammatory acne lesions from the treatment group was significantly greater than the placebo group at all time points (coefficient of percentage change of inflammatory lesions = -33.89 [95% CI -65.24, -2.53]; p = 0.03). Also, a subgroup analysis with participants using concurrent acne treatments revealed similar results (12 participants, coefficient = -50.30 [95% -88.65, -11.95]; p = 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in non-inflammatory lesions, all skin biophysics, and VAS between groups. Adverse events were mild and occurred in a few cases in both groups., Conclusions: The SCGS could significantly improve inflammatory acne lesions and had a favorable tolerability profile, suggesting its role as an adjunctive treatment in maskne., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: Prolonged mask-wearing could modulate the skin microenvironment resulting in several facial dermatoses. Microbial dysbiosis is proposed to be linked with these changes; however, data regarding the association is still limited. Accordingly, we aimed to explore the impact of face masks on the skin's bacterial microbiota., Methods: We classified participants into short (<4 h/day) and long (≥4 h/day) mask-wearing time (SMWT and LMWT) groups according to mask-wearing time per day in the previous 2 weeks. Specimens were swabbed from the cheek and forehead of 45 mild acne vulgaris patients, representing mask-covered area (MCA) and mask-uncovered area (MUA), respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and QIIME2 were used to characterize bacterial communities., Results: There were 12 (26.7%) and 33 (73.3%) participants in SMWT and LMWT, respectively. There were no significant differences in beta diversity across MCA/MUA or LMWT/SMWT groups. In alpha-diversity, the evenness on MCA was significantly lower in LMWT than in SMWT ( p value = 0.049). Among all groups, the relative abundance of bacterial taxa was similar, showing Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes, and Cutibacterium and Staphylococcus as the most predominant phyla and genera, respectively., Conclusion: Our results showed no significant impact of mask-wearing on the skin microbiota in mild acne vulgaris participants., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2022 by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of sources and levels of selenium (Se) on juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). A completely randomized design involving a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments was used in this study. Organic Se (L-selenomethionine; SeMet) and inorganic Se (sodium selenite; Na 2 SeO 3 ) were each added to the basal diet at 1, 3 and 5 mg Se/kg. The basal diet, without Se supplementation, was used as a control. There was a total of 7 experimental diets, and each was fed in triplicate to groups of fish with an initial average body weight of 13.5 g for 8 weeks. The results showed that growth performance was significantly affected by dietary sources and levels of Se (P < 0.05). Fish fed diets supplemented with SeMet of 1.0 mg Se/kg resulted in higher growth performance compared to basal diet (P < 0.05), but Na 2 SeO 3 supplementation did not affect growth. The feed conversion ratio was significantly decreased as dietary sources of SeMet (P < 0.05). Interestingly, fish fed diets supplemented with both forms of Se had lower cholesterol levels than those fed the basal diet (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary sources and levels of Se significantly increased (P < 0.05) the antioxidant enzyme activities such as lysozyme, catalase, myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Dietary sources and levels of Se significantly could enhance the Nile tilapia resistance against Streptococcusagalactiae infection (P < 0.05). Overall, it can be concluded that the inclusion level of 1.0 mg Se/kg of organic Se in the diet is suggested to be the optimal level for the growth performance and immune response of Nile tilapia. Therefore, dietary supplementation with Se is useful for improving growth, antioxidant status, immune response, and disease resistance., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The synthesis of ZnO comprising different ratios of zinc acetate (ZA) and zinc nitrate (ZN) from the respective zinc precursor solutions was successfully completed via a simple precipitation method. Zinc oxide powders with different mole ratios of ZA/ZN were produced-80/1, 40/1, and 20/1. The crystallinity, microstructure, and optical properties of all produced ZnO powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometry. The average agglomerated particle sizes of ZnO-80/1, ZnO-40/1, and ZnO-20/1 were measured at 655, 640, and 620 nm, respectively, using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The optical properties of ZnO were significantly affected by the extreme ratio differences in the zinc precursors. ZnO-80/1 was found to have a unique coral-sheet structure morphology, which resulted in its superior ability to reflect near-infrared (NIR) radiation compared to ZnO-40/1 and ZnO-20/1. The NIR-shielding performances of ZnO were assessed using a thermal insulation test, where coating with ZnO-80/1 could lower the inner temperature by 5.2 °C compared with the neat glass substrate. Due to the synergistic effects on morphology, ZnO-80/1 exhibited the property of enhanced NIR shielding in curtailing the internal building temperature, which allows for its utilization as an NIR-reflective pigment coating in the construction of building envelopes.

Introduction: Seborrhea or oily skin has been one of the most common complaints affecting both men and women physically and psychologically. Chitosan is a biopolymer obtained from the alkaline deacetylation of chitin. Due to its positively charged nature, chitosan can effectively bind to lipids. Therefore, chitosan nanoparticle (CN) formulation may benefit in the reduction of skin sebum., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CN formulation in the reduction of skin sebum., Method: The study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 24 participants aged 18-40 years with clinical seborrhea. Participants were randomly assigned to apply the CN and gum (CN-G) or placebo (gum alone) twice daily for 4 weeks. Sebum level, corneometry, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and clinical seborrhea grading were evaluated at baseline and week 2 and 4., Results: In the T-zone, sebum levels in the CN-G group were significantly lower than the placebo group at week 4 (p = 0.043), while for the U-zone, sebum levels were not different between groups. There were no statistical differences in corneometry and TEWL at any visit. Although the clinical seborrhea grading in CN-G was lower, it was not significantly different from the placebo. A few cases reported mild and self-limiting scaling and acneiform eruption., Conclusion: The CN-G gel could significantly reduce sebum levels on seborrhea patients with acceptable safety profiles., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic, relapsing dermatitis, is characterized by dry and pruritus skin in patients with a personal or family history of atopy. It affects up to 20% of children and 1-3% of adults in most countries worldwide, and leads to significant treatment costs and morbidity. These guidelines are developed in accordance with evidence-based publications and expert opinions. Following simple algorithms, the guidelines aim to assist adult and pediatric physicians in the better care of patients with AD. As with other diseases, there have been several diagnosis criteria proposed over time. Nonetheless, the classical Hanifin and Rajka criterion with no pathognomonic laboratory biomarkers is still the most widely used worldwide for the diagnosis of AD. The management of AD must be considered case by case to provide suitable care for each patient. Basic therapy is focused on avoiding specific/unspecific provoking factors and hydrating skin. Topical anti-inflammatory treatments such as glucocorticoids and calcineurin inhibitors are suggested for disease flare, and proactive therapy is best for long-term control. Other therapies, including antimicrobial agents, systemic antihistamines, systemic anti-inflammatory agents, immunotherapy, phototherapy, and psychotherapy, are reviewed in these guidelines. Crisaborole, a new topical phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, can be used twice daily in AD patients over three months old. Dupilumab, a biological drug for patients with moderate-to-severe AD, may be considered in patients with no improvement from other systemic treatments.

Background and Objectives: Skin barrier is often compromised following ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser (AFCO 2 ) therapy for acne scarring. The resultant downtime, even of a few days' duration, can be of significant concern to patients. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical 0.5% timolol maleate (TM) for its role in short-term restoration of the skin's biophysical properties after laser treatments., Study Design/materials and Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included participants aged 18-50 years with atrophic acne scars for at least 3 months. After undergoing laser therapy, they applied 0.5% TM to one cheek and normal saline to the contralateral cheek (control) for 7 days. Corneometry, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement, colorimetry, and clinical outcome parameters (erythema, edema, crusting, pruritus, and tightness scores) were evaluated at baseline and 48, 96, and 168 hours after AFCO 2 treatment., Results: Twenty-five healthy participants completed the study. Most participants had Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV. The TM-treated side showed statistically higher corneometry values and lower TEWL than the control side at every follow-up visit (P < 0.001). The crusting score at 96 hours post-AFCO 2 treatment was also significantly better on the TM side. No adverse events occurred during the follow-up period., Conclusions: Application of topical 0.5% TM twice daily improves the skin-barrier function and might promote re-epithelialization after laser procedures. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Investigate the cause of hypersensitive dentine (HD) by recording the time course of changes in dentine sensitivity, sensory threshold to electrical stimulation (ET) and pulpal blood flow (PBF) following tubular occlusion using in vitro and clinical experiments., Design: Nineteen teeth with HD and 13 with normal dentine from 8 participants were evaluated, and the intensity of any pain produced by various stimuli was recorded at different times after oxalate treatment. The participants used a visual-analogue scale (VAS) to indicate the intensity of any pain. The ET and PBF were recorded at the same times., Results: Preliminary in vitro experiments showed that oxalate treatment had no effect on the method used to record PBF, and blocked the treated tubules immediately after application. Considering teeth with HD, a decrease in the median VAS evoked by all forms of stimulation was observed at all post-treatment times, except immediately after treatment (p < 0.05), while the treatment produced no significant effect in teeth with normal dentine. No significant changes in ET or PBF was observed in any of the groups., Conclusions: The effect of oxalate in relieving the symptoms of HD is not only due to a reduction in the intensity of stimulation of sensory receptors sensitive to fluid flow in the dentinal tubules, but also to a reduce in the sensitivity of the receptors that respond to dentine stimulation. There was no evidence that acute pulpitis or central sensitization to pain, which would be associated with changes in PBF or ET, contributes to HD., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study examined the effects of a national policy advocating rational drug use (RDU), namely, the 'RDU Service Plan', starting in fiscal year 2017 and implemented by the Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), on trends in antibiotic prescribing rates for outpatients. The policy was implemented subsequent to a voluntary campaign involving 136 hospitals, namely, the 'RDU Hospital Project', which was implemented during fiscal years 2014-2016., Methods: Hospital-level antibiotic prescribing rates in fiscal years 2014-2019 for respiratory infections, acute diarrhea, and fresh wounds were aggregated for two hospital groups using equally weighted averages: early adopters of RDU activities through the RDU Hospital Project and late adopters under the RDU Service Plan. Pre-/post-policy annual changes in the prescribing levels and trends were compared between the two groups using an interrupted time-series analysis., Results: In fiscal years 2014-2016, decreases in antibiotic prescribing rates for respiratory infections and acute diarrhea in both groups reflected a trend that existed before the RDU Service Plan was implemented. The immediate effect of the RDU Service Plan policy occurred in fiscal year 2017, when the prescribing level among the late adopters dropped abruptly for all three conditions with a greater magnitude than in the decrease among the early adopters, despite nonsignificant differences. The medium-term effect of the RDU Service Plan was identified through a further decreasing trend during fiscal years 2017-2019 for all conditions in both groups, except for acute diarrhea among the early adopters., Conclusions: The national policy on rational drug use effectively reduced antibiotic prescribing for common but questionable outpatient conditions., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © Pharmacy Practice and the Authors.)

Background/purpose: Local anesthetics and anesthetic techniques affect the patterns of pulpal blood flow (PBF) and pulpal anesthesia in human teeth. This study aimed to determine PBF changes and pulpal anesthesia of intact mandibular first molars and canines after administration of 4% articaine with epinephrine 1:100,000 using inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB)., Materials and Methods: Ten healthy subjects received IANB of 4% articaine with epinephrine 1:100,000. Laser Doppler flowmetry and electrical pulp testing were combined to assess PBF changes and pulpal anesthesia of intact mandibular first molars and canines. The data were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls test., Results: IANB with 4% articaine and epinephrine 1:100,000 did not have any significant change in PBF for the first 20 min post injection in mandibular first molars, and for 45 min post injection in the canines ( P  > 0.05). However, a hyperemic response occurred during 25-60 min post injection in the molars, and between 60 and 75 min post injection in the canines ( P  < 0.05). Thereafter, the PBF in both teeth returned to the baseline. Onset of pulpal anesthesia was 8.60 ± 2.12 min in the molars, and 9 ± 1.94 min in the canines. Duration of pulpal anesthesia was 82.40 ± 41.56 min in the molars, and 84 ± 47.40 min in the canines., Conclusion: In case of successful IANB, 4% articaine and epinephrine 1:100,000 caused insignificant changes in PBF up to 30 min but a hyperemic response at later time points. Thereafter, the PBF returned to the baseline., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (© 2020 Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser (AFCO2) resurfacing causes transient skin barrier disruption characterized by decreased skin hydration and increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Snail Soothing and Repairing (SSR) cream, containing several glycoproteins with potential antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, may benefit skin hydration promotion after the laser treatment., Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of SSR cream in skin hydration promotion after AFCO2 resurfacing., Method: The study was a double-blinded, split-face, placebo-controlled trial in participants aged 18-50 years with atrophic acne scars on both cheeks. After AFCO2 resurfacing, participants applied the product or placebo on either cheek twice daily for 14 days. Corneometry, TEWL, colorimetry, and clinical assessments (edema, erythema, crusting, pruritus, and tightness score) were evaluated at baseline, day 7, and day 14 after AFCO2 resurfacing., Results: From 22 participants in the study, the SSR cream-treated sides showed significantly higher corneometry levels than placebo-treated sides at day 14 (p = 0.033), while TEWL and colorimetry levels were not different at any study visits. Pruritus and tightness scores of the SSR side were lower, but not significant, than the placebo. Other clinical assessments (edema, erythema, and crusting) showed similar results. No significant adverse events took place., Conclusion: The SSR cream significantly improved skin hydration, highlighting skin barrier restoration after AFCO2 resurfacing, with a good safety profile., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background/purpose: The use of cavity treatments may help in the reduction of bacteria remaining in dentinal tubules after selective carious tissue removal. This study aimed to investigate the effect of selective carious tissue removal and treatment with either 35% phosphoric acid +0.12% chlorhexidine or dentine conditioner on the residual intratubular bacteria in coronal dentine of deep carious lesions., Materials and Methods: Thirty carious human molars were randomly divided into three groups; group 1: untreated carious teeth (positive control), group 2: carious teeth treated with 35% phosphoric acid and chlorhexidine disinfectant after selective carious tissue removal and group 3: carious teeth treated with dentine conditioner after selective carious tissue removal. Another six non-carious teeth was used as negative control. The presence of bacteria and depth of bacteria remaining in dentinal tubules were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chi square test and one-way, repeated-measures analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis., Results: Using SEM, coronal dentine of group 1, 2 and 3 revealed cocci, rod and filamentous bacteria within dentinal tubules. Positive rates of bacteria detection in coronal dentine of group 1 were significant higher than those of group 2 and 3 ( P  < 0.05). The distance of bacteria remaining in the dentinal tubules in group 1, 2 and 3 were 1149.14 ± 384.44, 707.98 ± 357.19 and 869.25 ± 470.75 μm, respectively., Conclusion: Both treatment groups had similar ability to reduce the number of intratubular bacteria in coronal dentine of carious teeth, but not complete elimination., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article., (© 2020 Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The rapid cost escalation of the government employee scheme in Thailand was driven by the overprescription of non-essential drugs (NEDs), which were not listed in the National Lists of Essential Medicines. A restrictive reimbursement policy implemented in October 2012 required prescribers to base the prescription of NEDs on six criteria, including A and B for safety, C for effectiveness, D for availability, and E and F for costs, hence known as the A-F policy., Objective: The A-F policy was examined in terms of its outcomes regarding the prescription volume and reimbursement expenditure for lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs)., Methods: Data on LLD prescription in 2012-2015 from outpatient settings in 29 public hospitals were standardized using quantities based on the World Health Organization's Anatomical, Therapeutic and Chemical (ATC) classification and the defined daily dose (DDD) system. The policy effects were estimated using an interrupted time-series analysis., Results: The restrictive reimbursement policy decreased both the prescription volume and the reimbursement value of non-essential LLDs. Within the first month of policy implementation, the percentage of NEDs, as defined by DDDs and reimbursement expenditure, immediately decreased by 15.1 and 15.2% points in provincial hospitals and by 8.3 and 4.4% points in military hospitals, respectively. The prescription of NEDs continued to decrease thereafter, despite there being no statistically significant changes in the trend of decreased prescribing compared with the prepolicy period. The decrease in the prescription of NEDs resulted in the declining reimbursed amount per day and stable expenditure of LLDs as a whole., Conclusion: The effectiveness on the A-F restrictive reimbursement on NED prescribing helped stabilize the expenditure on LLDs., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Effective therapies for adult female acne (AFA) are limited. Oral spironolactone (SPL), 100-200 mg/day, is currently used off-label to treat AFA. However, high-dose SPL results in clinically significant side-effects which prevent widespread use in clinical practice. The efficacy of low-dose spironolactone in AFA is unknown. We examined the efficacy and tolerability of low-dose (25-50 mg/day) oral SPL in Thai women with moderate AFA. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted for 12 weeks. Moderate AFA patients aged between 25 and 45 years received a combination of daily topical benzoyl peroxide (BP) 2.5% plus either SPL 25 mg (SPL25 group), SPL 50 mg (SPL50 group) or placebo. We performed total acne counts and Adult Female Acne Scoring Tool (AFAST) grading at 4-week intervals. The success rate, defined as the proportion of participants achieving a "clear/almost clear" AFAST grade by the end of week 12, was considered as the main outcome. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) were recorded. We enrolled 63 participants in the study. The total acne counts decreased significantly in all three groups (P < 0.05) as compared with baseline. Participants in the SPL50 group had a significantly higher success rate than those in the placebo group (P < 0.05). Serum potassium and creatinine levels showed no significant changes with treatment or between groups. A small number of participants in SPL25 and SPL50 reported mild and temporary TRAE, such as menstrual irregularities, breast tenderness and dizziness. The combination of SPL 50 mg/day and topical BP proved effective in improving moderate AFA in Thai women, with an acceptable side-effect profile. We propose this regimen as an option for treating moderate AFA., (© 2020 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Objective: To determine the rate of fluid flow through human dentine due to electroosmosis during iontophoresis of either 2 % lignocaine with epinephrine, Ringer's solution, epinephrine, or distilled water., Design: Experiments were carried out on 24 intact extracted human premolars. Dentine was exposed at the tip of the buccal cusp. The cavity was filled with one of the test solutions and the pulp cavity, with Ringer's solution at a pressure of 11 mm Hg. Fluid flow through the dentine was measured using a capillary connected to the pulp cavity. Current was passed between a stainless-steel electrode in the cavity and one in the pulp cavity. The results were analysed using repeated measures, three-way ANOVA, with Bonferroni pairwise comparisons where this showed a significant effect., Results: The current passed produced a significant flow of fluid through the dentine but neither the composition of the test solution nor etching had a significant effect on the flow. During iontophoresis of 2 % lignocaine with epinephrine for example, currents of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mA applied with the cavity electrode as anode produced inward flow rates of 2.25 ± 0.87, 5.00 ± 1.62, 8.60 ± 1.97 (mean ± s.d.) nL/s/mm² respectively, and applying the currents in the opposite direction caused outward flows of 0.76 ± 0.72, 1.00 ± 1.01, 1.12 ± 1.18 nL/s/mm² respectively., Conclusions: It is concluded that electroosmosis can be produced in human dentine, it can enhance the effect of iontophoresis in transporting charged molecules through dentine, particularly large molecules, and it could also enable uncharged molecules to be carried through dentine into the pulp., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Based on projected numbers, approximately only 50% of those requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) receive it. Many patients who require RRT live in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to examine the changing pattern over time of entry into the RRT programme in Thailand following RRT's inclusion in the Universal Coverage Scheme. This study was an ecological study using the age-period-cohort analysis to look at dialysis registration and kidney transplant trends during RRT programme implementation. Data from 2008 to 2016 of patients diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were obtained from the National Health Security Office. The study found that the numbers of new patients with ESRD, aged 20-69, registered with the dialysis programme increased over time. For patients aged 20-40 years, the dialysis programme took up to 400 new patients for every 1000 new ESRD diagnoses. For kidney transplant, the rates increased slowly. The kidney transplant programme could at best treat only around 50 cases for every 1000 new ESRD diagnoses in patients aged 20-30 years. Findings of this study highlighted the importance of promoting strategies to reduce the increasing number of patients with kidney disease, to consider conservative therapy for older/frail patients, and to improve access to kidney transplantation and live-donation., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: The increasing number of patients with end-stage renal disease and the cost of their treatment may potentially place a large burden on overall healthcare spending and human resources for health. We projected the number of patients with end-stage renal disease to better estimate arrangements needed in the future., Materials and Methods: We used a dataset containing information about patients who registered with the three modalities of the renal replacement therapy (RRT) program from 2009 to 2017: continuous automated peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), hemodialysis (HD) and kidney transplant (KT). An autoregressive integrated moving average model was used to predict the number of patients who would enroll in the RRT program from 2018 to 2027., Results: From 2009 to 2017, there was a constant increase in the volume of CAPD patients, although a slight drop in some periods was observed. HD patients outnumbered CAPD patients during the inception period of the program. After mid-2013, the trend in HD patients accelerated to the same pace as CAPD patients. By the end of 2017, the number of patients increased to 20,000 for CAPD and 15,000 for HD. The number of KT patients was extremely small relative to CAPD and HD patients. The program enrolled patients receiving a kidney transplant at a constant rate of approximately 200 per year after 2013. The predicted numbers of patients on RRT corresponded to an annual growth rate of 7.2-7.4% for CAPD and HD and 4.8% for KT., Conclusion: Despite the expected increased volume of patients, the year-by-year growth rate of patients in all RRT modalities seemed to diminish over time. This phenomenon is likely explained by the intensive implementation of policies to address risk factors of non-communicable diseases among Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) beneficiaries., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2020 Thammatacharee and Suphanchaimat.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of intraosseous (IO) anesthesia with 4% articaine and 1:100,000 epinephrine on pulpal blood flow (PBF) and pulpal anesthesia of mandibular first molars and canines in human subjects., Materials and Methods: Ten healthy volunteers with intact mandibular first molar and canine were given an osteocentral technique of IO injection using the Quick Sleeper 5 system and 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine at distal site of mandibular first molar. The PBF was monitored by a laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF). Pulpal anesthesia was assessed with an electric pulp tester (EPT)., Results: IO injection caused a decrease in PBF in molars from 6.31 ± 3.85 perfusion units (P.U.) before injection to 2.51 ± 2.53 P.U. 1 min after injection (P < 0.001). The percentage reduction in PBF was 60% after 1 min and PBF returned back to the baseline after 45 min. No significant reduction in PBF was observed in the canines (P = 0.212). For pulpal anesthesia in the molars, the mean onset was 2.40 ± 0.84 min and the mean duration was 38 ± 16.19 min. In the canines, there was a decrease in the sensitivity to EPT but complete pulpal anesthesia was not achieved., Conclusions: IO injection distal to mandibular first molar caused a decrease in PBF and successful pulpal anesthesia in first molar, but not in canine. Both PBF and EPT readings returned to normal, suggesting that pulpal ischemia may not occur., Clinical Relevance: IO anesthesia is safe to use as a primary technique in teeth with normal pulp.

Objective: To determine the percentage of the blood flow signal that is derived from dental pulp when recording from exposed dentine in a human premolar., Design: Recordings were made from 7 healthy teeth in 5 subjects (aged 22-33 yr.) with a laser Doppler flow meter (Periflux 4001) using either a red (635 nm) or an infrared (780 nm) laser. After exposing dentine above the buccal pulpal horn (cavity diam. 1.6 mm, depth 3 mm) and isolating the crown with opaque rubber dam, blood flow was recorded alternately with infrared or red light from the exposed dentine under four conditions: before and after injecting local anaesthetic (3% Mepivacaine without vasoconstrictor) (LA) over the apex of the root of the tooth; after exposing the pulp by cutting a buccal, class V cavity in the tooth; and after sectioning the coronal pulp transversely through the exposure., Results: There was no significant change in mean blood flow recorded with either light source when the tooth was anaesthetized or when the pulp was exposed. After the pulp had been sectioned, the blood flow recorded with infrared light fell by 67.8% and with red light, by 68.4%. The difference between these effects was not significant., Conclusions: When recording blood flow from exposed coronal dentine with either infrared or red light in a tooth isolated with opaque rubber dam, about 68% to the signal was contributed by the pulp. The signal:noise ratio was better with infrared than red light, and when recording from dentine than enamel., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Scientific advances are continually improving the knowledge of acne and contributing to the refinement of treatment options; it is important for clinicians to regularly update their practice patterns to reflect current standards. The Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne is an international group of dermatologists with an interest in acne research and education that has been meeting regularly since 2001. As a group, we have continuously evaluated the literature on acne. This supplement focuses on providing relevant clinical guidance to health care practitioners managing patients with acne, with an emphasis on areas where the evidence base may be sparse or need interpretation for daily practice., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To investigate fluid flow through dentine in primary teeth in vitro using the replica technique, and to compare the results with those obtained from permanent dentine., Design: The experiments were carried out on 22 extracted, mandibular, primary, incisor teeth. The incisal edge was removed to 1mm below the dentino-enamel junction and half the exposed surface etched with phosphoric acid. The exposed dentine was blotted dry and the pressure in the pulp cavity held at 0, 15, 30 or 45cm H 2 O above atmospheric for 30s. Fluid that accumulated on the dentine surface was recorded with impression material and a replica made with epoxy resin which was examined in a scanning electron microscope., Results: Structures resembling fluid droplets were present in the replicas of unetched dentine in all 22 teeth, and at all the pulpal pressures tested. The droplets formed at 45cm H 2 O were significantly larger (median diam., 5.14mm; interquartile range, 3.26mm; Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance on ranks (RMAVR) and Tukey test) than those formed at other pressures. There was no evidence of droplets in the replicas of etched dentine with any of the pulpal pressures., Conclusions: These results demonstrate that fluid will tend to flow from dentine in deciduous teeth when it is exposed. They are similar to those obtained in a previous study in this laboratory on permanent teeth. The fact that fluid droplets were absent from etched dentine suggests that, after being blotted, the etched dentine matrix absorbed fluid that tended to flow out through the dentinal tubules., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine if full crown preparation causes an increase in pulpal blood flow (PBF), indicating inflammation, in human subjects., Design: The experiments were carried out on 35 intact, mandibular posterior teeth in 13 subjects: 32 were abutments for 16 fixed bridges that replaced first molars; the other 3 were first premolars adjacent to abutment teeth that served as un-operated controls. Crown preparations were made using an air-rotor with water-spray under regional block anaesthesia (4% articaine with epinephrine 1:100,000). PBF was recorded with a laser Doppler flow meter (LDF) before and after administering the anaesthetic, with the LDF probe on the buccal enamel. PBF was then recorded from the abutment teeth with the probe on buccal dentine after preparing the buccal surfaces of both teeth, after completing the crown preparations, and after 1 and 7days. PBF was also recorded from the buccal enamel of the control teeth on each occasion., Results: The mean±S.D. PBF values before and after anaesthesia were 2.63±2.13 and 2.42±2.38P.U. respectively, which were not significantly different (Paired t-test). The mean values for the abutment teeth after buccal preparation, after complete crown preparation, and after 1 and 7days were 5.20±2.49, 4.53±2.52, 4.92±2.98 and 5.48±2.65P.U. respectively. The 4 values for each tooth were not significantly different (two-way RM ANOVA). In the control group, the values under all six conditions were not significantly different., Conclusions: Regional block anaesthesia produced no change in PBF, nor did full-crown preparation, neither immediately after the procedure nor 1 and 7days later., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Urticaria is a common skin condition that can compromise quality of life and may affect individual performance at work or school. Remission is common in majority of patients with acute spontaneous urticaria (ASU); however, in chronic cases, less than 50% had remission. Angioedema either alone or with urticaria is associated with a much lower remission rate. Proper investigation and treatment is thus required. This guideline, a joint development of the Dermatological Society of Thailand, the Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Association of Thailand and the Pediatric Dermatological Society of Thailand, is graded and recommended based on published evidence and expert opinion. With simple algorithms, it is aimed to help guiding both adult and pediatric physicians to better managing patients who have urticaria with/without angioedema. Like other recent guideline, urticaria is classified into spontaneous versus inducible types. Patients present with angioedema or angioedema alone, drug association should be excluded, acetyl esterase inhibitors (ACEIs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in particular. Routine laboratory investigation is not cost-effective in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), unless patients have clinical suggesting autoimmune diseases. Non-sedating H1-antihistamine is the first-line treatment for 2-4 weeks; if urticaria was not controlled, increasing the dose up to 4 times is recommended. Sedating first-generation antihistamines have not been proven more advantage than non-sedating antihistamines. The only strong evidence-based alternative regimen for CSU is an anti-IgE: omalizumab; due to very high cost it however might not be accessible in low-middle income countries. Non-pharmacotherapeutic means to minimize hyper-responsive skin are also important and recommended, such as prevention skin from drying, avoidance of hot shower, scrubbing, and excessive sun exposure.

In patients with darker skin types (Fitzpatrick phototypes III-VI), acne is often accompanied by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Further, acne-related pigmentation can pose a greater concern for the patient than the acne lesions. There has been little formal study of this acne-related PIH. Recently, the Asian Acne Board - an international group of dermatologists with interest in acne research - made a preliminary evaluation of the frequency and characteristics of PIH in seven Asian countries. A total of 324 sequential acne subjects were evaluated for the presence of PIH. The majority (80.2%) of subjects had mild to moderate acne and there were more females than males (63.0% vs 37.0%). In this population of patients consulting a dermatologist for acne, 58.2% (188/324) had PIH. The results also showed that pigmentation problems are often long lasting: at least 1 year for more than half of subjects and 5 years or longer in 22.3%. In accordance with our clinical experience, patients reported that PIH is quite bothersome, often as bothersome or more so than the acne itself and sometimes more problematic. Excoriation was commonly reported by patients, and may represent a modifiable risk factor that could potentially be improved by patient education., (© 2016 Japanese Dermatological Association.)