[A hard subcutaneous swelling: not always as malignant as it seems]

BACKGROUND

Nodular fasciitis is a rare, benign soft tissue tumor in young adults on the arms or trunk.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 24-year-old woman with previous pretibial melanoma in situ presented with a painless, rapidly growing subcutaneous hard swelling on the right forearm since two weeks. Ultrasound showed a subcutaneous, irregularly shaped, vascularized mass, suspicious for malignancy. Three days later, the swelling had subsided spontaneously. A new ultrasound showed a smaller, oval, sharply demarcated lesion with an inflammatory aspect. Histopathological-immunohistochemical examination of a biopsy showed a spindle cell lesion consisting of (myo)fibroblasts with some erythrocyte extravasation, consistent with nodular fasciitis. Three months later the nodule was resolved spontaneously without treatment.

CONCLUSION

Nodular fasciitis should be included in the differential diagnosis in case of hard, fast-growing, subcutaneous bumps in young adults. By ultrasound, it is difficult to differentiate from a malignant soft tissue tumor. A biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis with certainty.

Web-based Guidance for Assisted Reproductive Technology With an Online App (myFertiCare): Quantitative Evaluation With the HOT-fit Framework

BACKGROUND

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are considered to be physically and mentally stressful. During their treatment trajectory, couples express high information and communication needs. They appreciate using the internet to obtain fertility-related information. In a previous study, we developed myFertiCare, an eHealth tool providing personalized information and interactive functionalities for infertile couples in order to improve patient-centered care. The app has already been successful in qualitative evaluations of usability.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current study is to quantitatively evaluate the implementation of myFertiCare by using the human, organizational, and technology-fit (HOT-fit) framework and to study the effects of using myFertiCare on couples' knowledge about infertility, their experience of the burden of infertility, and their experience of patient-centered care. With these results, implementation can be further improved, and patient-centered care can be enhanced.

METHODS

A quantitative study was performed based on the HOT-fit framework using validated questionnaires focusing on the human, organizational, and technology domains. Questions were added on the effect of using myFertiCare on couples' knowledge about infertility and treatment. Questions regarding the burden of infertility, the burden of infertility treatment, and the experience of patient-centeredness were based on the main items of the validated fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) and Patient-Centredness Questionnaire-Infertility questionnaires, respectively. Also, nonusers of the app were included to explore motivations for not using the app and identify opportunities for improvement. Finally, user data were analyzed to provide insight into multiple variables concerning app use.

RESULTS

In the human and technology domains, myFertiCare showed good system usability, high user satisfaction, and high information and interface quality. In the organizational domain, implementation was considered to be sufficient by both patients and staff. Use of the app increased knowledge about the treatment, improved coping with the treatment, and enhanced the experience of patient-centeredness. User data showed that women were the main app users and that use of the app gradually declined during the treatment trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS

A multi-faceted online app, myFertiCare, has been successfully evaluated quantitatively for implementation by using the HOT-fit framework. Use of the app increased knowledge about the treatment, improved coping with the treatment, and enhanced the experience of patient-centeredness. App use could be improved by creating more publicity. By providing myFertiCare, professionals in fertility care are supported in guiding patients through their treatment trajectory and in delivering patient-centered care.

Value of GPSkin for the measurement of skin barrier impairment and for monitoring of rosacea treatment in daily practice

Background

Stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) provide useful information about skin barrier function. This study aimed to determine the value of GPSkin Pro, a new handheld device determining both SCH and TEWL, to measure skin barrier impairment and to monitor barrier function in rosacea in daily practice.

Materials and Methods

Two pilots were performed. Pilot 1: in 27 healthy participants, GPSkin SCH and TEWL were compared to Aquaflux^® and Epsilon^® values at the forearm before and after skin barrier perturbation via tapestripping. Moreover, GPSkin values were measured at both cheeks without intervention. Pilot 2: in 16 rosacea patients, GPSkin measurements were performed at the forearm, and at both cheeks before and during anti‐inflammatory treatment. They were compared to clinical symptoms and to GPSkin values from pilot 1.

Results

Pilot 1: after merging data from before and after tapestripping, a strong correlation was observed between GPSkin TEWL and Aquaflux^® (R_s = 0.9256), and GPSkin SCH and Epsilon^® (R_s = 0.8798). Pilot 2: SCH was significantly lower at the cheeks of rosacea patients compared to controls, with a normalizing trend during successful treatment. TEWL was comparable among patients and controls and did not change during treatment at all locations.

Conclusion

The GPSkin determines TEWL and SCH accurately in healthy and impaired skin barrier state and can monitor skin barrier function in rosacea during treatment. The GPSkin device is much more practical compared to previous skin barrier tools when used in clinical practice. Its further validation in other inflammatory skin diseases is recommended.

Evaluation of a simple image-based tool to quantify facial erythema in rosacea during treatment

Background

Facial erythema is a common symptom in rosacea. To overcome subjectivity in scoring erythema severity, objective redness quantification is desirable. This study evaluated an image‐based erythema quantification tool to monitor facial erythema in rosacea patients during treatment and compared these values to clinical scores.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐one rosacea patients were treated with topical ivermectin for 16 weeks. Clinical erythema scores and clinical photographs were taken at week 0, 6, 16 and 28. Using ImageJ, RGB images were split into red, green and blue channels to measure the green/red ratio of lesional skin compared with a green sticker. With CIELAB colour space, a* (indicating colour from green to red) of a lesional and non‐lesional facial site was measured, calculating ∆a*. Interobserver concordance and correlation between quantitative and clinical erythema values were determined.

Results

Treatment resulted in reduction of clinical erythema scores. No significant changes in red/green ratios were measured. Lesional a* and ∆a* significantly decreased from baseline to week 16 and 28 (P < .05). A weak correlation existed between clinical scores and lesional a* (R_s = 0.37), and between clinical scores and ∆a* (R_s = 0.30), with a clear trend towards higher a* and ∆a* for higher clinical scores. Interobserver correlation was high (R² = 0.82).

Conclusion

ImageJ is a simple, rapid, objective and reproducible tool to monitor erythema in rosacea patients during treatment. The photographs allow retrospective analysis, evaluation of large and small lesions, and discrimination of subtle redness differences. We recommend using lesional a* to monitor erythema of inflammatory dermatoses in clinical practice.

Rosacea and Use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Mask for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Report of Five Cases

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of unknown etiology. We noticed a series of patients who were diagnosed with rosacea as well as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), for which they used a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask. This case series aims to give insight in the possible relationship between rosacea and the use of a CPAP mask for OSAS. We present five patients with OSAS who developed or worsened rosacea symptoms after use of a CPAP mask covering nose and mouth. Two patients showed centrofacial symptoms consistent with the shape of the CPAP mask; three patients had nasal cutaneous symptoms. It is postulated that the occlusive effect of the CPAP mask, increasing skin humidity and temperature, can induce primary symptoms in patients with an underlying sensibility for rosacea. This could have implications for choice of CPAP mask type and topical therapeutic options for rosacea.

Value of reflectance confocal microscopy for the monitoring of rosacea during treatment with topical ivermectin

Background: Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) enables noninvasive Demodex mite detection in rosacea. Objective scoring of rosacea severity is currently lacking.Objectives: To determine the value of RCM for monitoring Demodex, inflammation and vascular parameters in rosacea during treatment.Methods: In 20 rosacea patients, clinical and RCM examination were performed before, during, and 12 weeks after a 16-week treatment course with topical ivermectin. Using RCM, number of mites and inflammatory cells, epidermal thickness, and vascular density and diameter were measured. RCM features were correlated with clinical assessment.Results: Treatment resulted in clinical reduction of inflammatory lesions. Mites were detected in 80% of patients at baseline, 30% at week 16, and 63% at week 28. The number of mites reduced significantly during treatment, but no changes in inflammatory cells, epidermal thickness or vascular parameters were observed. Correlation between number of inflammatory lesions and mites was low. None of the RCM variables were significant predictors for clinical success.Conclusions: RCM enables anti-inflammatory effect monitoring of topical ivermectin by determining mite presence. Quantifying exact mite number, and inflammatory and vascular characteristics is challenging due to device limitations. In its current form, RCM seems of limited value for noninvasive follow-up of rosacea in clinical practice.

Anatomical site variation of water content in human skin measured by the Epsilon: A pilot study

Background

This pilot study aimed to investigate the anatomical site variation of water content of the stratum corneum (SC) on the body by measuring skin capacitance with the Epsilon, a new generation corneometer with multiple sensors. Secondly, values of the Epsilon were compared to values measured by conventional single sensor corneometers.

Methods

The hydration status of SC was measured in 15 healthy Caucasian volunteers with the Epsilon at five body sites (cheek, lower forearm, mid‐calf, lower back and abdomen). Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured with the Aquaflux to get more insight into the condition of the skin barrier. A literature search was performed to compare Epsilon values with conventional corneometers.

Results

The tested anatomical locations showed significant differences in water content (P < 0.001) with large interindividual variations; highest values were found in the cheek (11.64ε) and lowest values in the mid‐calf (4.43ε). No correlation between water content and TEWL was found. In general, Epsilon values were lower compared to values of conventional corneometers, with a similar trend.

Conclusion

This pilot study showed significant variations in water content at different skin locations measured by the Epsilon. Moreover, the Epsilon measured consistent lower values compared to single sensor corneometers. Further validation of the device is recommended.