Efficacy and safety of indigo naturalis oil extract (Lindioil ointment) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a randomized, crossover, evaluator-blinded, controlled trial.

Introduction: Lindioil ointment or its compound formulations are commonly used traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to treat adult eczema or localized dermatitis. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of Lindioil ointment (indigo naturalis oil extract) for treating atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, crossover, evaluator-blinded, controlled study.

Chromoblastomycosis in Northern Taiwan from 2017 to 2024: Unique Characteristics.

Introduction: Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is an implantation mycosis caused by dematiaceous fungi in the tropical and subtropical regions. It is a neglected tropical disease that primarily affects poverty-stricken populations. Although located in tropical and subtropical regions, Taiwan is a highly industrialized country with an advanced healthcare system that offers a unique perspective on CBM.

Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signalling pathway is involved in the immune mechanism of bullous pemphigoid.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a common immunobullous disease that mainly affects older people; however, the molecular pathogenesis of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway in BP is not fully understood.

Objectives: To characterize the immune profiles of and the key JAK/STAT pathway in patients with BP. The clinical efficacy of JAK inhibition in patients with BP was also assessed.

Multi-omics analysis of outer membrane vesicles from P. goldsteinii in a psoriasis mouse model.

Aims: Psoriasis is a chronic skin inflammation with no complete cure. Parabacteroides goldsteinii (P. goldsteinii), a probiotic, alleviates inflammation by modulating gut microbiota.

Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome and Sporadic Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Comparative Study of Clinicopathological Features.

Basal cell nevus syndrome is caused by mutations in the Sonic hedgehog pathway and characterized by early-onset basal cell carcinoma. The features of basal cell carcinoma in basal cell nevus syndrome compared with sporadic basal cell carcinoma have not been explored. This study is a retrospective study of patients with basal cell nevus syndrome in two medical centres in Taiwan from 1991 to 2021 and patients with sporadic basal cell carcinoma excised from 2015 to 2020.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced severe epidermal necrolysis mediated by macrophage-derived CXCL10 and abated by TNF blockade.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) represent new anticancer agents and have been used worldwide. However, ICI can potentially induce life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR), such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN), hindering continuous ICI therapy. We examine 6 cohorts including 25 ICI-induced SJS/TEN patients and conduct single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis, which shows overexpression of macrophage-derived CXCL10 that recruits CXCR3 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in blister cells from ICI-SJS/TEN skin lesions.

Generalized pustular psoriasis: immunological mechanisms, genetics, and emerging therapeutics.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare human autoinflammatory disorder with life-threatening systemic effects. Keratinocyte-derived interleukin (IL)-36 signaling has been identified as a key mediator of immune response in the skin of affected individuals. Recognition of various mutations along the IL-36 axis and the downstream nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) signaling have established GPP as genetically, immunologically, and histopathologically distinct and amenable to immunomodulation, which is epitomized by the recent success of IL-36 antagonism.

Immunosuppressants in dermatology on vaccine immunogenicity: a prospective cohort study of pemphigus patients in the pandemic.

Introduction: Both cellular and humoral responses are important for vaccine protection, but recommendations on immunosuppressants in dermatology are largely based on pre-pandemic experiences. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of immunosuppressants on humoral and cellular immunogenicity to COVID-19 vaccinations in pemphigus patients.

Methods: SARS-CoV-2-naïve pemphigus patients and age-, and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited from multiple tertiary medical centers during 2021-2023.

CCR8/CCL1 and CXCR3/CXCL10 axis-mediated memory T-cell activation in patients with recalcitrant drug-induced hypersensitivity.

Background: As a drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is potentially fatal. Most patients with DRESS recover within a few weeks; however, some patients may suffer from a prolonged disease course and develop autoimmune sequelae.

Objectives: To investigate the immune mechanism and therapeutic targets of patients with recalcitrant DRESS with a prolonged disease course.

T-cell receptor diversity and allergen sensitivity in childhood asthma and atopic dermatitis.

Background: Childhood allergies of asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD) involve an overactive T-cell immune response triggered by allergens. However, the impact of T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires on allergen sensitization and their role in mediating different phenotypes of asthma and AD in early childhood remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 78 children, comprising 26 with asthma alone, 26 with AD alone, and 26 healthy controls (HC), were enrolled.

Altered microbiome of serum exosomes in patients with acute and chronic cholecystitis.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the differences in the microbiota composition of serum exosomes from patients with acute and chronic cholecystitis.

Method: Exosomes were isolated from the serum of cholecystitis patients through centrifugation and identified and characterized using transmission electron microscopy and nano-flow cytometry. Microbiota analysis was performed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

Cutaneous adverse reactions associated with COVID-19 vaccines: Current evidence and potential immune mechanisms.

As the number of vaccinated individuals has increased, there have been increasing reports of cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions. The main COVID-19 vaccines administered include messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines, non-replicating viral vector vaccines, inactivated whole-virus vaccines, and protein-based vaccines. These vaccines contain active components such as polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, aluminum, tromethamine, and disodium edetate dihydrate.

Vitamin D level is inversely related to allergen sensitization for risking atopic dermatitis in early childhood.

Background: There are few studies concerning the impact of serum vitamin D status on the risk of allergen sensitization and atopic dermatitis (AD) during early childhood.

Method: Children with AD and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were prospectively enrolled at age 0.5, 2, and 4 years.