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The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2015Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that may develop at any age. Estimates for the United States and Europe suggest that psoriasis accounts for 4% of skin diseases in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that may develop at any age. Estimates for the United States and Europe suggest that psoriasis accounts for 4% of skin diseases in children. In most cases, the condition is mild and can be treated with creams. However, a small percentage of children have moderate to severe disease that requires drugs, such as ciclosporin or methotrexate, and some will require injections with newer biological agents, such as anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) drugs. Anti-TNF drugs (among them etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab) are designed to reduce inflammation in the body caused by tumour necrosis factor. Evidence for the safety and efficacy of these biological agents in paediatric psoriasis is lacking.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF agents for the treatment of paediatric psoriasis.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the following databases up to July 2015: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2015, Issue 6), MEDLINE (from 1946), Embase (from 1974), and LILACS (from 1982). We also searched 13 trials registers and checked the reference lists of included studies and key review articles for further references to relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We handsearched conference proceedings and attempted to contact trial authors and relevant pharmaceutical manufacturers. We searched the US Food and Drug Administration's and European Medicines Agency's adverse effects databases.
SELECTION CRITERIA
All relevant RCTs that evaluated the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF agents for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis in individuals less than 18 years of age.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently checked titles and abstracts and performed data extraction and 'Risk of bias' assessment of the included studies. One review author entered data into Review Manager (RevMan), and a second review author checked the data. We also attempted to obtain unclear data from the trial authors where possible.Our primary outcomes were investigator-assessed number of participants achieving a 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index-75 (PASI 75) compared to baseline, improvement in quality of life using an instrument such as Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), and adverse effects. Our secondary outcomes included the proportion of participants achieving PASI 50 and the Physician's Global Assessment (PGA).
MAIN RESULTS
We included one study with 211 participants (median age 13 years), in which etanercept (dosage ranged from 0.8 to 50 mg per kilogram of body weight) was compared to placebo. Follow-up was over a 48-week period.At week 12, 57% versus 11% who received etanercept or placebo, respectively, achieved the PASI 75 (risk ratio 4.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.83 to 8.65; high-quality evidence). Absolute risk reduction and the number needed to treat to obtain a benefit with etanercept was 45% (95% CI 33.95 to 56.40) and 2 (95% CI 1.77 to 2.95), respectively.The percentage improvement from baseline of the CDLQI scores at week 12 was better in the etanercept group than the placebo group (52.3% versus 17.5%, respectively (P = 0.0001)). Analysis between the groups showed an effect size that was clinically important (mean difference 2.30, 95% CI 0.85 to 3.75; high-quality evidence). However, means, medians, and minimal important difference results and results of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Stein Impact on Family Scale, and Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children scores must be interpreted with caution, as they were not prespecified outcomes.Three serious adverse events were reported, but they were resolved without sequelae. Deaths or other events such as malignant tumours, opportunistic infections, tuberculosis, or demyelination were not reported in the included study.Also, 13% of participants in the placebo group and 53% in the etanercept group had a PGA of clear or almost clear (risk ratio 3.96, 95% CI 2.36 to 6.66; high-quality evidence) at week 12.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
This review found only one RCT evaluating the use of this type of biological therapy. Although the risk of publication bias was high, as we included only one industry-sponsored RCT, the risk of allocation, selection, performance, attrition, and selective reporting biases for all outcomes (except for CDLQI) was low, and no short-term serious adverse events were found.We can conclude, based on this single included study, that etanercept seems to be efficacious and safe (at least in the short term) for the treatment of paediatric psoriasis. However, as the GRADE approach refers not to individual studies but to a body of evidence, we shall wait for the results of the ongoing studies in a future update of this review. In addition, future studies should evaluate quality-of-life endpoints established a priori and standardise primary outcome measures such as PASI 75, and should include the PGA as a secondary endpoint. Also, collating and reporting adverse events uniformly is required to better evaluate safety.
Topics: Adolescent; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Child; Etanercept; Humans; Psoriasis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
PubMed: 26598969
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010017.pub2 -
Skin Health and Disease Aug 2023Cutaneous and systemic signs of acute and chronic arsenic poisoning may be vague. Thus, an awareness of these signs is crucial to prevent late or missed diagnoses. This... (Review)
Review
Cutaneous and systemic signs of acute and chronic arsenic poisoning may be vague. Thus, an awareness of these signs is crucial to prevent late or missed diagnoses. This is especially true in non-endemic countries where individuals may present decades after exposure, or may still be ingesting arsenic via a non-classical exposure. Existing literature emphasizes several well-known cutaneous presentations of arsenic toxicity while ignoring the complete clinical spectrum, including several rare tumours of relevance to the dermatologist. This study aims to review the existing literature on dermatological presentations of arsenic toxicity and their management in adults.
PubMed: 37538334
DOI: 10.1002/ski2.231 -
NPJ Digital Medicine May 2024Scientific research of artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology has increased exponentially. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and... (Review)
Review
Scientific research of artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology has increased exponentially. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the performance of AI algorithms for skin cancer classification in comparison to clinicians with different levels of expertise. Based on PRISMA guidelines, 3 electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were screened for relevant articles up to August 2022. The quality of the studies was assessed using QUADAS-2. A meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity was performed for the accuracy of AI and clinicians. Fifty-three studies were included in the systematic review, and 19 met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Considering all studies and all subgroups of clinicians, we found a sensitivity (Sn) and specificity (Sp) of 87.0% and 77.1% for AI algorithms, respectively, and a Sn of 79.78% and Sp of 73.6% for all clinicians (overall); differences were statistically significant for both Sn and Sp. The difference between AI performance (Sn 92.5%, Sp 66.5%) vs. generalists (Sn 64.6%, Sp 72.8%), was greater, when compared with expert clinicians. Performance between AI algorithms (Sn 86.3%, Sp 78.4%) vs expert dermatologists (Sn 84.2%, Sp 74.4%) was clinically comparable. Limitations of AI algorithms in clinical practice should be considered, and future studies should focus on real-world settings, and towards AI-assistance.
PubMed: 38744955
DOI: 10.1038/s41746-024-01103-x -
Bone Marrow Transplantation Jul 2022Male-specific late effects after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) include genital chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), hypogonadism, sexual dysfunction,...
Male-specific late effects in adult hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients: a systematic review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society...
Male-specific late effects after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) include genital chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), hypogonadism, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and subsequent malignancies. They may be closely intertwined and cause prolonged morbidity and decreased quality of life after HCT. We provide a systematic review of male-specific late effects in a collaboration between transplant physicians, endocrinologists, urologists, dermatologists, and sexual health professionals through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. The systematic review summarizes incidence, risk factors, screening, prevention and treatment of these complications and provides consensus evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and future research.
Topics: Adult; Bone Marrow; Disease Progression; Graft vs Host Disease; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Male; Quality of Life; Transplant Recipients
PubMed: 35523848
DOI: 10.1038/s41409-022-01591-z -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... May 2022Due to their ability to solve complex problems, deep neural networks (DNNs) are becoming increasingly popular in medical applications. However, decision-making by such... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Due to their ability to solve complex problems, deep neural networks (DNNs) are becoming increasingly popular in medical applications. However, decision-making by such algorithms is essentially a black-box process that renders it difficult for physicians to judge whether the decisions are reliable. The use of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is often suggested as a solution to this problem. We investigate how XAI is used for skin cancer detection: how is it used during the development of new DNNs? What kinds of visualisations are commonly used? Are there systematic evaluations of XAI with dermatologists or dermatopathologists?
METHODS
Google Scholar, PubMed, IEEE Explore, Science Direct and Scopus were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2017 and October 2021 applying XAI to dermatological images: the search terms histopathological image, whole-slide image, clinical image, dermoscopic image, skin, dermatology, explainable, interpretable and XAI were used in various combinations. Only studies concerned with skin cancer were included.
RESULTS
37 publications fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Most studies (19/37) simply applied existing XAI methods to their classifier to interpret its decision-making. Some studies (4/37) proposed new XAI methods or improved upon existing techniques. 14/37 studies addressed specific questions such as bias detection and impact of XAI on man-machine-interactions. However, only three of them evaluated the performance and confidence of humans using CAD systems with XAI.
CONCLUSION
XAI is commonly applied during the development of DNNs for skin cancer detection. However, a systematic and rigorous evaluation of its usefulness in this scenario is lacking.
Topics: Algorithms; Artificial Intelligence; Humans; Neural Networks, Computer; Skin Neoplasms
PubMed: 35390650
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.02.025 -
Pathophysiology : the Official Journal... Sep 2022The pigmentation of the fungiform papillae of the tongue is a rare idiopathic condition in which only the fungiform papillae appear hyperpigmented. In the absence of any... (Review)
Review
The pigmentation of the fungiform papillae of the tongue is a rare idiopathic condition in which only the fungiform papillae appear hyperpigmented. In the absence of any reviews on the subject, we conducted a systematic review of the aetiopathogenesis and pathophysiology of pigmented fungiform papillae (PFP) of the tongue, including its demographic and histopathological features, trying to outline a possible aetiology. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) was performed using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE databases and manual searches, for publications between January 1974 and July 2022. Inclusion criteria were case reports defining patients' characteristics, their general medical and dental conditions, histopathological and/or immunohistochemical findings, all with a final definitive diagnosis of PFP. Overall, 51 studies comprising 69 cases of PFP which included histopathological descriptions were reviewed. Prominent features consisted of hyperpigmentation of melanocytes, melanophages, chromatophores, and a lymphocytic infiltrate in the subepidermal area of the fungiform papillae. On special staining, PFP contained melanin, not iron or hemosiderin. On immunohistochemistry, immune-reactive CD3+ T lymphocytes, S-100 and Sox10, but non-immune-reactive melan-A intraepithelial melanocytes were noted in some studies. The presence of hyperpigmented melanocytes and melanophages, with non-immune-reactive melan-A, suggests that PFP are a benign and physiological form of pigmentation. The inflammatory infiltrates described in some papillary lesions could possibly be due to traumatic events during mastication. Nevertheless, the true reasons for the hyperpigmentation of the fungiform papillae are as of yet elusive, and remain to be determined.
PubMed: 36136070
DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology29030043 -
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) 2016Many cases of psoriasis begin in adolescence. The affected adolescents face the combined physical and psychosocial challenges of their disease-free peers with the added... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Many cases of psoriasis begin in adolescence. The affected adolescents face the combined physical and psychosocial challenges of their disease-free peers with the added complexity of a visible disease.
OBJECTIVE
To review the impact of psoriasis on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adolescents as compared to their peers with other chronic diseases and to determine the best tools to measure HRQL in this population.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was completed using PubMed.
RESULTS
256 publications were screened for inclusion, 37 were relevant to objectives and included in the systematic review. Most studies are pediatric psoriasis studies with an adolescent subgroup, very few are dedicated to solely addressing HRQL in adolescents with psoriasis. Adolescents with psoriasis face both the challenges similar to an adult psoriasis population in addition to the complexities inherent to healthy adolescents. Studies often use a general pediatric HRQL measure, PedsQL 4.0, or a dermatology-specific measure adapted from an adult questionnaire. Only one psoriasis-specific measurement tool exists, and it is specifically for scalp psoriasis.
CONCLUSION
Both dermatologists and primary care physicians should treat the visible cutaneous lesions and disease comorbidities and address the psychosocial impact of psoriasis in their adolescent patients. Use of both a general and dermatology-specific HRQL questionnaire may allow physicians to better identify the impact of the disease and recognize improvement or impairment over time.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety; Bullying; Depression; Humans; Psoriasis; Quality of Life; Self Concept; Social Stigma; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 27811471
DOI: 10.1159/000450826 -
Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Jun 2022Male-specific late effects after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) include genital chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), hypogonadism, sexual dysfunction,...
Male-Specific Late Effects in Adult Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Systematic Review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society...
Male-specific late effects after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) include genital chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), hypogonadism, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and subsequent malignancies, such as prostate, penile, and testicular cancer. These effects may be closely intertwined and cause prolonged morbidity and decreased quality of life after HCT. Here we provide a systematic review of male-specific late effects in a collaboration among transplantation physicians, endocrinologists, urologists, dermatologists, and sexual health professionals through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. We used a systematic review methodology to summarize incidence, risk factors, screening, prevention, and treatment of these complications and provide consensus evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and future research. Most of the evidence regarding male GVHD is still based on limited data, precluding strong therapeutic recommendations. Therefore, we recommend systematic screening for male genital GVHD regularly and reporting of cases to large registries to allow for a better understanding. Future research also should address treatment, given the little published evidence currently available. Male-specific endocrine consequences of HCT include hypogonadism, which also may affect bone health. Given the scanty evidence, current recommendations for hormone substitution and/or bone health treatment are based on similar principles as for the general population. Following HCT, sexual health decreases, and this topic should be addressed at regular intervals. Future studies should focus on interventional strategies to address sexual dysfunction. Infertility remains prevalent in patients having undergone myeloablative conditioning, warranting the offer of sperm preservation for all HCT candidates. Most studies on fertility rely on descriptive registry analysis and surveys, underscoring the importance of reporting post-HCT conception data to large registries. Although the quality of evidence is low, the development of cancer in male genital organs does not seem more prevalent in HCT recipients compared with the general population; however, subsequent malignancies in general seem to be more prevalent in males than in females, and special attention should be given to skin and oral mucosa. Male-specific late effects, which likely are more underreported than female-specific complications, should be systematically considered during the regular follow-up visits of male survivors who have undergone HCT. Care of patients with male-specific late effects warrants close collaboration between transplantation physicians and specialists from other involved disciplines. Future research should be directed toward better data collection on male-specific late effects and on studies about the interrelationships among these late effects, to allow the development of evidence-based effective management practices.
Topics: Adult; Bone Marrow; Female; Graft vs Host Disease; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Hypogonadism; Infertility; Male; Quality of Life; Testicular Neoplasms
PubMed: 34757220
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2021.10.013 -
Dermatology and Therapy Apr 2023Although the introduction of biologics and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs) has reshaped the treatment paradigm for immune-mediated... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Although the introduction of biologics and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs) has reshaped the treatment paradigm for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) such as psoriasis, oral conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) remain the cornerstone in their treatment. Combinational use of DMARDs is common in rheumatological practice, but for the treatment of many skin diseases, dermatologists typically use a single oral DMARD, with methotrexate (MTX) being the most commonly prescribed csDMARD for psoriasis.
METHODS
To better understand the potential benefits of MTX combination therapy in psoriasis, a literature review was conducted using Medline (PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, covering articles published from inception until October 2022. Randomized controlled trials, cohort, open-label, and observational studies, and case reports with efficacy and safety results for combination therapy with MTX, csDMARDs, and tsDMARDs or comparisons between MTX monotherapy and combination therapy with other oral DMARDs in psoriasis were included. Studies involving MTX monotherapy alone or sequential treatment with MTX and other oral DMARDs were excluded, as were non-English articles. The results are presented as a systematic review, and the risk of bias was assessed by the corresponding author using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, version 6.3, and confirmed by an independent assessor.
RESULTS
Eleven studies comprising 494 participants were included in the review. Overall, combination treatment with MTX and other oral DMARDs exhibited good efficacy and tolerability in psoriasis. However, the included studies were primarily small scale or retrospective, and larger prospective randomized trials are needed to provide stronger evidence.
CONCLUSION
This literature review suggests that combination therapy with MTX and csDMARDs may serve as an efficacious treatment for psoriasis patients with an inadequate response to oral DMARD monotherapy.
PubMed: 36943580
DOI: 10.1007/s13555-023-00903-5 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023The aim of the study was to identify available polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) models of care (MoCs) and describe their characteristics and alignment with the...
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the study was to identify available polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) models of care (MoCs) and describe their characteristics and alignment with the international PCOS guideline.
METHODS
Ovid MEDLINE, All EBM, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL were searched from inception until 11 July 2022. Any study with a description of a PCOS MoC was included. Non-evidence-based guidelines, abstracts, study protocols, and clinical trial registrations were excluded. We also excluded MoCs delivered in research settings to minimize care bias. Meta-analysis was not performed due to heterogeneity across MoCs. We describe and evaluate each MoC based on the recommendations made by the international evidence-based guideline for assessing and managing PCOS.
RESULTS
Of 3,671 articles, six articles describing five MoCs were included in our systematic review. All MoCs described a multidisciplinary approach, including an endocrinologist, dietitian, gynecologist, psychologist, dermatologist, etc. Three MoCs described all aspects of PCOS care aligned with the international guideline recommendations. These include providing education on long-term risks, lifestyle interventions, screening and management of emotional well-being, cardiometabolic diseases, and the dermatological and reproductive elements of PCOS. Three MoCs evaluated patients' and healthcare professionals' satisfaction, with generally positive findings. Only one MoC explored the impact of their service on patients' health outcomes and showed improvement in BMI.
CONCLUSION
There is limited literature describing PCOS MoCs in routine practice. Future research should explore developing cost-effective co-created multidisciplinary PCOS MoCs globally. This may be facilitated by the exchange of best practices between institutions with an established MoC and those who are interested in setting one up.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=346539, identifier CRD42022346539.
Topics: Female; Humans; Developing Countries; Educational Status; Emotions; Endocrinologists; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PubMed: 37614710
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1217468