Impact of filaggrin mutations on Raman spectra and biophysical properties of the stratum corneum in mild to moderate atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with null mutations in the filaggrin (FLG) gene.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of FLG null mutations on biophysical properties and the molecular composition of the stratum corneum (SC) in healthy individuals and AD patients.

METHODS

A total of 196 French adults, including 97 with a history of mild to moderate AD, were genotyped for the three major European FLG mutations. Components of the natural moisturizing factor (NMF), lipids and water content in the SC were determined using Raman spectroscopy. In addition, trans-epidermal water loss, capacitance and pH of the SC were measured.

RESULTS

Stratum corneum concentrations of total NMF, water, ornithine and urocanic acid (UCA) were significantly lower in AD patients than in healthy controls. Null mutations of FLG were detected in 4% of controls and 10% of AD patients. FLG mutations were associated with increased SC levels of lactate, reduced concentrations of most other NMF components and higher disease severity in AD patients. In AD patients without FLG mutations, the content of NMF constituents decreased with increasing disease severity. The concomittant presence of low concentrations of histidine, alanine and either glycine or pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid (PCA) in the SC was associated with FLG mutations with 92% specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest a low prevalence of FLG mutations in mild AD and support an important role for filaggrin in determining the physicochemical parameters of the SC. The combined measurement of several filaggrin breakdown products in the SC may be useful to specifically predict the presence of FLG mutations.

Valaciclovir as a single dose during prodrome of herpes facialis: a pilot randomized double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Randomized clinical trials of valaciclovir in recurrent herpes labialis are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether a single course of valaciclovir, i.e. 500, 1000 or 2000 mg, administered during the prodrome of herpes facialis, could be beneficial.

METHODS

Three hundred and forty-five out-patients with herpes labialis were screened and randomized for a multicentre, double-blind clinical trial. Ninety-six patients had no recurrence after 6 months of follow-up; 249 patients were finally included in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. The main outcome measure was the rate of aborted episodes at day 3. The three treatment groups were similar at baseline.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in rates of aborted lesions at day 3 in the ITT population, in particular between the 500 mg and 2000 mg treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a placebo group was not included in this pilot study, a single dose of valaciclovir was not considered beneficial in patients with recurrent herpes facialis.

Famciclovir vs. aciclovir in immunocompetent patients with recurrent genital herpes infections: a parallel-groups, randomized, double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Twice-daily therapy with famciclovir (FCV) was shown to be effective for episodic therapy for recurrent genital herpes in a large placebo-controlled trial. However, no study has been published to date comparing FCV and aciclovir (ACV).

OBJECTIVES

We have evaluated the effectiveness of FCV vs. ACV in the treatment of recurrent genital herpes infection.

METHODS

A multicentre, double-blind, double-placebo, randomized, parallel-design study, assessed for equivalence, was conducted. As the analysis was based on confidence intervals, a difference of lesion healing time between ACV and FCV (Delta) of 1.05 days with a standard deviation of 2.30 days was chosen. Two hundred and four outpatients were included. Patients self-initiated oral therapy with 125 mg of FCV twice daily or ACV 200 mg five times daily for 5 days. The principal end-point of the study was the complete healing of lesions. Duration of the complete resolution of all symptoms, and safety were also considered.

RESULTS

The mean healing time was 5.1 days and 5.4 days for FCV and ACV, respectively, with a crude value of Delta = 0.25 days (CI 95%: -0.32; 0.82) in the intent-to-treat population. Therefore, the confidence interval for the difference between the two treatments lies entirely within the equivalence range (-1.05-1.05). The value of Delta in the per-protocol population [0.35 day (CI 95%: -0.24; 0.93)] was comparable between the two groups. No differences were detected in the proportion of patients having complete healing at the different days of evaluation as well as in the duration until the complete resolution of all the symptoms. The frequency, nature and severity of adverse events did not differ among the two treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Twice-daily FCV was as effective and safe in the treatment of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus infection as five times daily ACV.

[Comparison of the analgesic efficacy of EMLA 5% cream and lidocaine infiltration for biopsy of the genital mucosa]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the analgesic efficacy of EMLA 5 p. 100 cream versus Xylocaïne 1 p. 100 infiltration for biopsies of the genital mucosa.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

63 adult patients were randomized. EMLA (0.3-5 g) was applied during 7-12 minutes, and Xylocaïne 1 p. 100 (0.2-5 ml) was infiltrated 0-10 minutes before biopsy. Pain during the anaesthetic procedure and the biopsy was assessed by the patient using a Visual Analogue Scale.

RESULTS

Pain scores were significantly lower with EMLA application than Xylocaïne infiltration, but infiltration resulted in better surgical anaesthesia. The combined pain scores (anaesthetic procedure and biopsy) were lower in the EMLA group, but this difference failed to reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

EMLA is a less painful anaesthetic procedure than infiltration, but has a lower analgesic efficacy. EMLA can be used as an alternative to infiltration for biopsies of the genital mucosa.

Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (Sneddon-Wilkinson disease) with amicrobial lymph node suppuration and aseptic spleen abscesses

Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD) or Sneddon-Wilkinson disease is a skin eruption in which concomitant systemic involvement has not been reported to our knowledge. We describe a patient suffering from SPD of 6 years duration with amicrobial inguinal lymph node suppuration and aseptic spleen abscesses followed by pyoderma gangrenosum.