BACKGROUND: Itolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to CD6, is a novel therapeutic agent evaluated in chronic plaque psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the safety and efficacy of itolizumab in moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

METHODS: A total of 225 patients were randomized (2:2:1) to 2 different itolizumab arms (A or B; A = 4-week loading dose of 0.4 mg/kg/wk followed by 1.6 mg/kg every 2 weeks; B = 1.6/mg every 2 weeks) or placebo. At week 12, the placebo arm was ...

Dermatophytosis due to the Trichophyton mentagrophytes-Trichophyton interdigitale complex is being increasingly reported across India. Reports of therapeutic failure have surfaced recently, but there are no clinical break points (CBP) or epidemiological cutoffs (ECVs) available to guide the treatment of dermatophytosis. In this study, a total of 498 isolates of the T. mentagrophytes -interdigitale complex were collected from six medical centers over a period of five years (2014 to 2018). ...

BACKGROUND: Isotretinoin is indicated for moderate to severe cases of acne which are unresponsive to conventional therapy. The classical recommended dose is 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg/day. As the side effects are dose related, low-dose isotretinoin therapy for acne is an attractive option; however, but little data exists on the safety and efficacy of this strategy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, non-comparative study, 50 participants, both male and female, having moderate to severe ...

BACKGROUND: Hair pigmentation is one of the most conspicuous phenotypes in humans ranging from black, brown, and blonde to red. Premature graying of hair occurs more commonly without any underlying pathology but is said to be inherited in autosomal dominant pattern. Premature graying has been shown to be associated with a few of the autoimmune disorders. A role for environmental factors and nutritional deficiencies has also been postulated. However, to date the exact etiology of ...

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a common acquired cause of facial hyperpigmentation seen predominantly among females with significant psychological and social impact. It is often recalcitrant to treatment. Several topical hypopigmenting agents have been used to combat melasma. Hydroquinone and Kojic Acid are well established monotherapeutic agents for treating melasma.

OBJECTIVES: This study focuses mainly on the efficacy of once daily application of 4% Hydroquinone and 0.75% Kojic Acid cream ...

BACKGROUND: Although Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a self-limiting condition, active therapy could prevent further spread and improve cosmesis. Most of the available treatment modalities traumatize the lesions and have to be undertaken in the hospital, therefore evoking panic in children. In the quest for an alternative therapy, this study comparing 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution and 5% imiquimod cream was taken up.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of ...

Context: Psoriasis is a common papulosquamous disorder characterized by increased epidermal turnover resulting in excessive skin shedding and a compromised barrier function of the skin. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is an effective and non-invasive way to measure the barrier function in this condition.

Aims: To measure the physiological changes in the skin barrier function in psoriasis by measuring the extent of TEWL. To study the differences in TEWL in pathologically involved and ...

TITLE: Secukinumab efficacy and safety in Indian patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: sub-analysis from FIXTURE (Full Year Investigative Examination of Secukinumab vs. Etanercept Using Two Dosing Regimens to Determine Efficacy in Psoriasis), a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence has suggested Interleukin (IL)-17A to be an important effector cytokine in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Here, we report results for an Indian sub-population from a ...

BACKGROUND: Warts are a common chronic skin disorder that can be cosmetically disfiguring and, depending on the location, cause inhibition of function. The presence of dozens of topical and systemic treatments for warts is a testament to the lack of a rapid, simple, uniformly effective, inexpensive, nonscarring, and painless treatment.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of 85% formic acid application, an inexpensive therapy, for the treatment of ...

BACKGROUND: Although dermatology is largely considered as an outpatient specialty, dermatological conditions comprise 5-8% of cases presenting to the emergency department. The need for a dermatological intensive care unit is widely acknowledged due to the increasing incidence of acute skin failure. Very few studies have been done to characterize the common conditions seen in the emergency department and intensive care units. We undertook this study to analyze the spectrum of ...

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy, a statistically "eliminated" disease from the globe, continues to linger around in its endemic countries including India.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the epidemiological and clinicopathological pattern of the disease seen in children over a period of 8 years following its elimination in India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of all leprosy cases up to 14 years of age registered between April 2005 and March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Data were ...

Pyoderma Gangrenosum is a rare, ulcerative, necrotizing cutaneous disorder of unknown etiology.1 The lesions usually present as a painful nodule or pustule that breaks down to form a progressively enlarging ulcer with a raised tender, undermined edge.1 Pyoderma Gangrenosum was first described by Brunsting et al. in 1930,2 but the pathogenesis is still not clear. Local infection does not appear to be an etiologic factor even though Brunsting initially suggested this may be the cause.1–3 ...

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya fever (CF) epidemic has recently re-emerged in India affecting large population. Mucocutaneous manifestations are an important clinical feature of the disease. We have reviewed mucocutaneous manifestations of the disease during a recent epidemic in coastal Karnataka.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five "suspect cases" of CF with dermatological manifestations were examined.

RESULTS: WE CATEGORIZED THE MUCOCUTANEOUS MANIFESTATION INTO SIX GROUPS: 1. skin rash, 2. ...

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon, idiopathic, neutrophilic skin disease sometimes associated with systemic diseases. To our knowledge, there have been no case series of PG reported from India.

AIM: To study the clinical features, associated systemic diseases and treatment methods in our case series.

METHODS: In total, 18 cases of PG diagnosed at our institution in Mangalore were evaluated in a prospective study.

RESULTS: Ulcerative PG was the most common variant, seen ...